CREEPERS BY DAVID MORRELL LIVES UP TO ITS NAME AND TAKES READERS ON A THRILLING RIDE THROUGH A PAST AND PRESENT FULL OF EVIL

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CREEPERS
David Morrell
9/1/2006
CDS Books
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello horror fiends, and welcome to the Skullcave! Today your old pal Skull wants to share one of his favorite late-night reads, Creepers by David Morrell. One reason I like it is that it’s about a dank, treacherous place where one can be easily trapped and possibly die waiting for rescue. You know, a cozy place that seems a lot like home. Heh-heh-heh! But enough of my sentimental drivel, let’s get down to business and head over to the Paragon Hotel…

Located in the not very lovely seashore town of Asbury Park, New Jersey, the hotel was the brainchild of an eccentric millionaire. In the beginning it was quite famous and very classy and cutting edge. Unfortunately, it became a place left behind as the years rolled by and Asbury Park declined into a dangerous ghost town. Not the sort of place you want to hang out with the kiddies or have a carefree frolic. In fact, its owner committed suicide for mysterious reasons and the hotel remained shuttered for decades, unavailable to anyone until now. Unable to pay property taxes, the estate has no choice but to step aside and let the wrecking ball do its dirty work.

But before this can happen, the Creepers arrive for one last look at history. Professor Conklin and his small team of urban explorers will be the Paragon’s last guests. Leaving no mark, making no changes, the ghostly team will ease their way in to see what’s left. This time, things are a bit different. Frank Balenger, a reporter from the New York Times, is joining them to collect material for a feature he’s doing on the hot trend of urban exploring, a highly illegal activity that could have serious consequences for the individuals involved. Well, that’s what Balenger says he’s there for. It’s not long before he’s forced to reveal skills that no newspaper reporter is required to have and the other members of the group start asking questions.

When what seems like a lark turns into a trip into hell, the Creepers need Balenger just to stay alive. Booby traps made both by nature and man are everywhere in the rotting tomb that was once a proud pyramid. The Paragon Hotel is full of strange, mutated creatures, pirates, and a person so deranged that every step becomes a nightmare. There are also more complications when the professor reveals why the team of urban explorers is really risking life and limb inside the dark death trap. Also revealed is Balenger’s true reason for accompanying the team and why he’s so good at what he does. But as the odds keep mounting against them, the fun history trip becomes a fight for survival and all bets are off as to whether any of the Creepers will make it out of this hellhole full of twisted secrets alive.

Your old pal Skull gives CREEPERS a FIVE STAR RATING, without reservation. This action-packed thriller will get your blood pumping and keep you turning pages long after lights out. Morrell packs his work with well researched historical bits, something that makes the reading experience even more tangible. Kind of a 3-D effect, if you will. He also addresses mental health issues, PTSD to be exact, in Frank Balenger, connecting it to the nightmarish conflicts in the middle east that melted soldiers’ minds. Overall, a powerful novel that I’m very glad I read. There is also a sequel to Creepers called Scavenger that takes readers on another adventure with Frank Balenger. He’s tough and smart, but also human which makes him the kind of hero who’s accessible to readers. According to David Morrell’s website, davidmorrell.net there will be a movie made of Creepers in 2024. If that pans out, it should be a very interesting flick. Stay tuned!

Brian James Lewis is a disabled poet and writer with PTSD who finds writing to be vastly important to his recovery. Working class to the bone, he writes inclusive, real-world stories and poetry that hit home. Brian’s work has appeared in anthologies from Smoking Pen Press, No Bad Books, and HellBound Books. He’s also appeared in online publications like The Sunlight Press, the Hook of A Book Poetry Project, and The Sirens Call e-Zine. Besides writing, Brian enjoys bringing old typewriters back to life, including a Royal KMM formerly owned by Rod Serling. Visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com for news and independent book reviews, or on X/twitter@skullsnflames76

“THE ELEVENTH DOOR” BY JAMES G. CARLSON IS THE PERFECT READ FOR LOVERS OF ALTERNATE WORLDS, AMAZING CREATURES, FRIGHTENING PLANTS, AND TOUGH DETECTIVES. JUST MAKE SURE TO BRING YOUR FLASHLIGHT!

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THE ELEVENTH DOOR
James G. Carlson
January 15, 2024
Gloom House Publishing
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Are you a fan of fantastic new worlds, detailed
mystical creatures, and detective stories? If so, your old pal Skull has a book
that you will absolutely love! Recently released by Gloom House Publishing, The
Eleventh Door by James G. Carlson is an amazing trip into the 11th
Realm, a magical but extremely dangerous place that exists within the cosmic
plane along with the Earth experience that most of us choose as our “normal”.

Madeline Sharpe is a disgraced detective who’s now in
the business of being a private eye. She’s also trying to heal after being the lead
detective on a bizarre series of grisly murders. Unfortunately, she’s spending
too much time pouring firewater down her neck in an effort to burn out the
horrors and having zero luck with that. She is succeeding at making her own
life a huge depressing mess, though. Her attempts at throwing herself down the
crapper are interrupted by two of her former police colleagues who are baffled
by a horrible case they can’t make any headway on. Especially not in the official,
rule following capacity they’re forced to operate in.

After an awkward start, Madeline takes the case. She’s
broke and not exactly having to turn jobs down, so getting paid is a good thing.
But if she thinks her previous case was a mind breaker, she ain’t seen nothing
yet! Dealing with a strange and very dangerous man named River and the eleventh
realm is going to stretch Madeline’s physical and mental capacities so far that
she may not make it back. Her journey starts with a cabbie named Flynn who
likes to travel with unique companions from the animal kingdom, a house from
hell, too many visits from the creeptastic River, a peeping Tom cockroach, and
falling in love with Lucas Hill. Nothing about this case is casual or business
as usual. Strange places, windows into another world that seem to open at
random, and creepy crawlies you’ll have nightmares about abound. River tells
Madeline that she must walk away from the investigation to save herself. But
there’s no way she’s going to do that. Too much damage has already been done in
the name of evil. With the fate of our world as we know it hanging in the
balance, Madeline leaps through The Eleventh Door.

Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer gives The
Eleventh Door by James G. Carlson a glowing FIVE STARS! This
novel is an excellent combination of real and alternative worlds populated with
amazing creatures and unique characters that Carlson describes to us just
enough, so that our brains get to have fun picturing them. If I were to
make a comparison, I’d say that The Eleventh Door is a bit like Harry
Potter for adults with some Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy thrown
in. When I say that, I mean feel wise, Carlson’s work is not derivative of
those books in any way. Everything you’ll read is original James G. Carlson
magic, that’ll keep you in your seat for the entire ride. Have a snack and a
drink handy because once you start reading The Eleventh Door, you’re
not going to put it down until the very last sentence. You might even be sad
that the ride is over.

Or is it?

Fortunately for all of us, James says that he’s hard
at work on the next book in what might just become a series. Whoo-Hoo! While I
don’t like to go overboard on reviews, your old pal Skull encourages the folks
in Hollywood to take a walk through The Eleventh Door and get in
touch with Mr. Carlson before competition starts driving the price up for movie
and merchandise rights. Time for a hot new series to wow the world instead of remaking
the same damn movies multiple times. Also, consider checking out James’ novella
Midnight In The City of The Carrion Kid which also features an alternate
world and an awesome story line. Your old pal Skull says, “get it!”

For more information, check out the following links:

https://gloomhousepublishing.wordpress.com



https://godless.com/collections/james-g-carlson



www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-eleventh-door-james-g-carlson/1144576790



www.amazon.com just
click Books and type in The Eleventh Door

*Links are arranged in this order starting with
independent companies who really need your purchase vs more mainstream
companies like Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Whatever way you choose to get your
reading material, thank you for being brave and daring to step out of the corporate
boring box. You’re in for a treat!



SMOKING PEN PRESS DELIVERS 18 GREAT STORIES IN THEIR NEW WEATHER THEMED SPECULATIVE FICTION ANTHOLOGY “ILL WINDS AND WILD WEATHER”!

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ILL WINDS AND WILD WEATHER
Edited by Catherine Valenti & Laurie Gienapp
January 24, 2024
Smoking Pen Press
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello friends, It’s your old Pal Skull with a review of the very cool weather themed speculative fiction anthology Ill Winds and Wild Weather. Recently published by Smoking Pen Press as part of their Read On The Run series, this collection of 18 great stories includes work from both seasoned writers and those just getting started. This makes for a delightful mixture of voices telling stories in perfect-sized bites to enjoy throughout your day. Two thumbs up to Smoking Pen Press for this idea that helps people still enjoy reading in a world that continues to move faster with each passing year. Sometimes the idea of committing to a 500 plus page novel can be really daunting between all the smartphone alerts, having multiple jobs, and people just not being polite as they used to be. But a quick 15-minute story that packs a punch is perfect!

Care to take a peek inside Ill Winds and Wild Weather? Then put on your rain slickers, sunglasses, rubber boots, and helmets. There’s an Aggressive Mist heading our way! Cheryl Flinn tells us a tale of Irish magic gone wrong in this one. Molly had wanted to see Ireland and when a friend offered her son Dermot, as a guide, she took her up on it. Things had started well, but now she was waking up in a cave with giant cows walking about in a thick mist that was nearly impossible to see through and no Dermot. Something about the place with its giant stones and timeless aura seems wrong, so when an ancient looking woman arrives to lead her to Dermot and safety, Molly follows her. It’s the worst possible action she could take, but are there really any other options when one is trapped in an Aggressive Mist?

Well shiver me bones! There’s something about rain and especially lightning that can make for some truly terrifying times. Another good example of this is Stormy with a Chance of Murder by Alan Orloff. Meteorologist Mike Martell is TV weatherman whose forecasts haven’t been going so well lately and that’s not the only problem he has. In too many moments of weakness, Mike got involved with a much younger woman at the station and it was wonderful. Well, until recently, when she started blackmailing him for big bucks. If he doesn’t pay up, she’ll spill the beans to his wife and likely get him fired. Mike doesn’t have the money, still wants the mistress, and needs some kind of way to get out of the mess he’s in. Now he’s betting everything on his forecast of a MegaStorm that could help him get the hell out of dodge. But sometimes one can be too correct and that might be even worse. Great story with more twists than a cyclone!

Wet, wet, wet…I don’t know about you mortals, but too much rain makes your old pal Skull’s bones hurt, so for our next stop we’re going somewhere hot and dry. How about the dust bowls of Oklahoma? In Breathtaking by Warren Benedetto, Anabel and her brother Toby must stick close to the house because a dust storm can whip up any minute, turning a sunny day into gritty night within minutes. The dust is a terrifying killer that tries to get into everything it can, including the unfortunate neighbors who got caught walking home from the store. But there’s something else out there in the storm that looks like a woman in a billowing white dress and it screams. When Anabel tries to ask her parents about it, they clam up and say it was nothing. Still, there’s some kinds of nothing that can hurt a body real bad and you can’t ignore a banshee for long…

Ahhh! Well I’m all warm and toasty now, how about you folks? Oh right, I forgot flesh people still have to breathe! Sorry about that, heh-heh. That was just a tiny peek into this thrill-filled collection of weather themed stories that will make your days more exciting when you read them. Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer rates Ill Winds and Wild Weather from Smoking Pen Press a brightly glowing 5 STARS! Your old pal Skull highly recommends this collection of 18 great speculative tales that are currently available for purchase in both e-book and physical format on Amazon.com and your favorite booksellers. For more information about Smoking Pen Press’ other fine titles and upcoming calls for submissions, go to: www.smokingpenpress.com.  As always, thanks for visiting the Skullcave, if you’re not yet a subscriber, please do so to help more independent writers be seen. We’re all in this together!

Brian James Lewis is a disabled poet and writer with PTSD who finds writing to be vastly important to his recovery. Working class to the bone, he writes inclusive, real-world stories and poetry that mirror real life. Most recently, Brian’s work has appeared in The Sunlight Press. His poignant piece “Flag In the Wind” can be read on their site free of charge. He’s also been featured in the Hook of a Book Poetry Project discussing mental health and the power of writing. A frequent contributor to Trajectory Journal, Brian’s short story, “Going To Be A Long, Cold Winter” will be included in upcoming issue #26. Besides writing, Brian enjoys bringing old typewriters back to life. Visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com for news and independent book reviews, or on X/twitter@skullsnflames76

JAMES G. CARLSON’S NEW NOVEL “THE ELEVENTH DOOR,” JUST PRINTED BY GLOOM HOUSE PUBLISHING, HAS ARRIVED AT THE SKULLCAVE!

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Hello horror fans, it’s your old pal Skull with a cool new release from Gloom House Publishing! I’ve read previous works by James G. Carlson, and am looking forward to checking out The Eleventh Door. Here’s the back cover synopsis:

Madeline Sharpe, a disgraced detective turned private eye is asked by a former colleague to consult on a perplexing homicide case. She reluctantly accepts the job, but while following her quarry’s trail she encounters things she can’t explain. Things that defy reason. She then finds herself transported to a hidden realm populated by wild landscapes and strange creatures. All she can do is fight for survival and seek a way back home before the universe, and her sanity fully unravel…

Sounds intriguing, does it not? Those familiar with the work of James G. Carlson will know this is not his first foray into uncharted territory. Most recently his novella Midnight In The City Of The Carrion Kid took readers on a wild ride of a crazy underground city that is both beautiful and horrifying at the same time. Put plainly, it’s a really cool book. Carlson’s writing is also inclusive, bringing diversity to his characters that makes them OUR characters. This is really important because besides horror, James G. Carlson makes positive social statements with his work and this is something we need more than ever in our fast-paced world that seems to be trying very hard to de-humanize us.

The Eleventh Door is beckoning, so I must step inside, but your old pal Skull will be back soon with news and a review of this journey I’m looking forward to taking. For more information about this release and others, you can visit James G. Carlson and Gloom House on Facebook or visit Gloom House Publishing at: http://www.gloomhouse@yahoo.com

EXCITED TO HAVE MY STORY “FLAG IN THE WIND” PUBLISHED BY THE SUNLIGHT PRESS!

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FLAG IN THE WIND

by Brian J. Lewis | Jan 25, 2024 | Fiction | 0  |

by Brian J. Lewis

The wind waves a small American flag, the only moving thing on the chilly apartment balcony until a white-haired old man shuffles out the sliding door. Cigarette ready in hand, he lights it with a well-worn Zippo lighter. It’s engraved, a souvenir of his time in Vietnam. Why he re-enlisted was always a mystery. Most soldiers had more than enough of the blood, sweat, bullets, and pain during their first tour in that napalm hell. But that became his normal. In the jungle, nobody questioned his actions or why he enjoyed killing. It was more than just a job he had to do. Out in the oppressive heat of the jungles and rice paddy slogs, he was free in a way that was unavailable stateside. The dog was off the chain and running wild.

Letters from those who made it home didn’t paint many pretty pictures. Unfaithful wives and girlfriends running off to shack up with some draft-dodging longhair. Kids you barely knew stared at your scars with fearful eyes. Either that, or they didn’t understand why you weren’t a fan of playing War. Hey, you had the outfit, right? But they’d never seen their best buddy get blown to hell by a hidden mine, body fluids and pieces of flesh raining down. Not to mention your own family selling the souped-up Dodge you’d so lovingly put into storage when you got called up. The only thing left was a stupid sign you painted in High School saying “Mopar or NO CAR!” When the kid next door came home in a box, they just figured you were a goner, too. So, they slapped an ad in the paper and sold your dreams for two hundred lousy bucks. It was like being released from prison and coming home to a kennel.

The flag keeps waving as the old man lights a second cigarette from the butt of the first one. He still keeps the cherry concealed behind his hand, to avoid attracting enemy fire. Old habits die hard. As he sucks in another lungful of rich smoke, his body starts to spasm, mouth going slack. The spasms turn into deep coughs racking the man’s now frail body. He flops about like an out-of-control puppet.

“Hack hack hack! Hoog! Hooog! Hooooog! Ahhh-HAAACCCKKK!”

A huge wad of yellow mucus lands in the wife’s potted plant but at least he can breathe again. The man quickly brings the cigarette to his lips and refills his lungs with smoke. His doctor has warned him to slow down, encouraged him to quit. But the doctor is just some kid with a mustache that looks like he drew it on with a sharpie. Always wears a pink tie, too. So what does he know about life? Back when he was in the service, cigarettes were good for you, beer had vitamins, and nobody wore a pink tie unless they were looking for a busted lip. Uncle Sam even handed out two free packs with the weekly rations, along with rubbers, candy bars, and razors. He always traded the chocolate bars for smokes.

As the night comes on, a breeze comes in from the east and makes lighting the third cigarette a challenge. But the old man’s smoked in rougher conditions than this. He looks around the crumby, post-industrial city he’s stuck in and grimaces. This isn’t where he wanted to retire, but Clarice wanted to be close to her family. Oh yay…She hates that he still smokes and makes him do it outside. Whatever, he likes being by himself anyway. Out here he doesn’t have to listen to Clarice’s sister rattle on about what surgery she’s having next or whether margarine is just as good as butter. She made her husband quit “that nasty habit.” Now good boy Ralph just sits there silently holding his hat over his crotch while the two sisters blab.

Another round of coughing rocks the old man in his flimsy plastic chair. He grimly endures it, knowing it’ll pass. In the distance, a train whistle blows as the 7:15 rumbles down the tracks just a block away. They sure didn’t mention that wonderful feature in the apartment listing! Damn it, why can’t he stop coughing? The old man fights to pull in some kind of breath, smoke, anything, but the gates are down, blocking his way, alarm bells clanging in his head. The tracks are bathed in yellow light as the huge freight train roars into view.

With his last bit of energy, the old man launches himself towards the balcony railing, hoping to dislodge the sticky blob of mucus blocking his trachea. Just a little air, a little time, a little rest. Train cars roar past, chained to each other like prisoners of war; some scream as they are dragged along. Whugguh-chuggah, wugguh-chuggah…Screee…reee…eeee! The old man appears to be dancing to the rhythm of diesel and steel. That familiar petroleum stink filling the air. A thin stringer of drool stretches down from his mouth to the asphalt below. They often lit the flamethrowers with their cigarette butts, everything bursting into dancing orange and blue flames, sucking up all the oxygen in the jungle air until there was nothing left.

The thud of the old man’s body is masked by the passing train, and no one notices that he’s not standing there when it passes. Inside, just feet away, on the other side of the sliding glass door, Clarice continues talking to her sister. Together they wonder just who will be the ten-thousand-dollar winner on this season of, “Baking With Rich Movie Stars’ Kids That Nobody Likes,” or a similarly themed reality game show. Ralph holds his hat in his lap and keeps quiet because those are his orders. Out on the balcony, the flag still waves in the wind as a thin ribbon of smoke slowly spirals skyward.

Image by Sandeep Singh via Pexels

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brian J. Lewis

Brian J. Lewis

Brian James Lewis is a disabled poet and writer with PTSD who finds writing to be vastly important to his recovery. Working class to the bone, he writes inclusive, real-world stories and poetry that mirrors real life. Most recently, Brian’s work has appeared in Ill Winds and Wild Weather a speculative flash anthology from Smoking Pen Press, and the Hook of a Book Poetry Project which mixes horror poetry and mental health awareness to promote the healing power of writing. He is a frequent contributor to Trajectory Journal. Brian lives in Endicott, N.Y., with his wife Michelle, their rescue animals, and too many old typewriters. For news and independent book reviews, find him online at: damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com.

Thanks for taking a few minutes to read my flash piece! Be sure to check out THE SUNLIGHT PRESS for a wide variety of stories, poetry and artwork. You can visit them at: http://www.thesunlightpress.com for good reading, submission opportunities, and as a nonprofit they would certainly appreciate support from readers to help them do what they do.

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM DAMAGED SKULL WRITER! STARTING OFF RIGHT WITH MY FIRST PUBLISHING CREDIT OF THE YEAR IN “ILL WINDS AND WILD WEATHER” FROM SMOKING PEN PRESS

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Happy New Year all you monsters! It’s your old pal Skull with some good news for lovers of all thing speculative: A brand new Read on the Run anthology has just been released from Smoking Pen Press, and it includes a story from my mortal host Brian James Lewis! How about them poisoned apples? His short story “Too Cold For July” is one of the many great stories included in Ill Winds and Wild Weather, a collection of intriguing pieces that are just the right size for reading while one is riding the bus, waiting for food, sitting in your car while an oil change is happening, or chilling between classes. If you’ve got a few free minutes and an e-pub reader, the Smoking Pen Press has an anthology to help you escape the boring normality of the usual day. In fact, Brian’s story is about a person who likes to hit up thrift shops for cheap music to break their writer’s block. I don’t want to spill the bones, but I CAN tell you that it doesn’t take long for the blocked writer to wish they were back at their boring office. Unfortunately when one is dealing with dark magic, a quick sidestep is pretty much out of the question…

Currently, Ill Winds and Wild Weather is available from Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Gardners, and of course Amazon. Here is the link for obtaining it there: https://www.amazon.com/Winds-Wild-Weather-Smoking-Press-ebook/dp/B0CRTCVBZG There will be a physical ink and paper option available in the next few weeks as well. As always, thanks for following your old pal Skull and his mortal Brian James Lewis at http://www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com . You can also catch up with us on Twitter/X @skullsnflames76 . Stay tuned for cool things happening this year, including posts about writing and mental illness, Brian’s upcoming publications in Trajectory, The Iconoclast, and Sunlight Press. There will also be book reviews, and more information about Ill Winds and Wild Weather from Smoking Pen Press.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND SOME GIFT IDEAS FROM DAMAGED SKULL WRITER AND REVIEWER

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Happy Holidays, Horror Fans! It’s your old pal Skull here with a few ideas for your next reading experience. It’s almost Christmas and for many of us that means two more days of mindless panic. If you’ve waited this long to start shopping, you’re obviously not a big planner and that’s okay. But instead of getting your partner another fragrance gift set that they’re not going to use, why not give the gift of kickass independent horror? Not only will you be cooler than a Polar Bear, but you’ll also be helping authors and small presses who really need your support. Depending on your bookseller of choice, you can pick these titles up in store, get 2-day shipping, or easiest of all-purchase it for their Kindle or other e-reader.

If you like your horror mixed with humor, check out Blood & Swine by A.R. Yngvie. This entertaining book follows the adventures of Carl Olsen Krocek as he applies for and gets a middle management job with the huge multinational hog farm, Hogoration, Inc. This should be a good thing, but as Carl digs deeper into strange goings on at the factories, he comes to the grim realization that his boss might be a vampire. They also aren’t very good farmers. Your old pal Skull is currently reading this novel and I’ve laughed out loud at all the awkward moments and been scared when the big boss sticks his talons out. Will Carl succeed in making life better for the pigs and people at Hogoration, or will be the big boss’ next victim?

One of my favorite ways to enjoy horror is by reading anthologies of short works from different writers. I also dig collections by a single artist and The Vengeful Dead by John James Minster really delivers the goods. Inside you’ll find grave robbers on the run, a player who gets played but comes back for a grisly encore, a man who thinks he’s found a dream love only to realize too late that he’s trapped inside a nightmare, social media stars who go too far, and an executioner who gets to experience the misery wrought upon the people he was “helping” by tenfold. These very real feeling stories uphold the laws of physics and the supernatural. For every action, there is a reaction and when multiplied by dark forces beyond our understanding there’s going to be one hell of an aftershock. Should you get this terrifying collection? The Magic 8-Ball says YES.

My favorite book of 2023 is The Daughters of Block Island by Christa Carmen. It has a great storyline. strong characters, and unexpected twists around every corner that will keep you turning pages until well after midnight. You might be groggy in the morning, but the powerful conclusion that pulls the covers off centuries of evildoing against female inhabitants of Block Island is totally worth the price of the triple espresso shot you’ll need to function. I’m a big fan of Christa Carmen’s work and this novel is awesome! Highly recommended.

Last but not least, I’d like to mention The Growth and The Growth Lives! A two novella series by Adam Hulse. Something evil is travelling through every possible waterway in Great Britain. It’s not even safe to use the toilet because the growth can suck you down the pipes as it burns all the flesh off your body. The military is having zero success eradicating The Growth, but there may be a light at the end of the tunnel. Kevin and Tax are an unlikely duo. Tax the inevitable man is a brawny mob enforcer while Kevin is a computer nerd who often forgets to eat and couldn’t fight his way out of a wet paper bag. Despite all that, these dudes partner up for the common good and eventually become fast friends. There are many other subplots that make this series a cool read like the hate cult that forms to worship The Growth and an Olympic boxer searching for her missing girlfriend in a dystopian land. Both books focus on the power of love and question the powers that be. Can we really trust our government or the military as a whole, or does it come down to each individual’s moral code? Interesting, thought-provoking, and sometimes, pretty damn funny. Check this guy out!

Well, my fiendish friends, 2023 is rushing to an end. So, it’s likely that this will be the last post from your old pal Skull until the New Year. If that’s so, many thanks for reading my writings and let’s hope that 2024 will bring good things to us all. Until then, hug your babies whether they be fur, feather, or human, and love your partner. Share holiday warmth with your chosen family and enjoy the small acts of kindness during this time of year. Love is love, all colors are equal, and real bodies are beautiful. Don’t let the haters win.

DAMAGED SKULL WRITER AND REVIEWER’S REVIEW OF “THE DAUGHTERS OF BLOCK ISLAND” IS NOW ON GOODREADS!

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The Daughters of Block Island by Christa Carmen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


The Daughters of Block Island
Christa Carmen
10/10/2023
Thomas & Mercer
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis
Hello speculative fiction fans, it’s your old pal Skull with an exceptional tale of mystery by the one and only Christa Carmen. The Daughters of Block Island is a two-part journey that follows sisters Blake Bronson and Thalia Mills who have reached their twenties with no knowledge of each other until the recent unfolding of events. It appears that they’re both daughters of Maureen Mills who lives and works on the New England summer vacation destination, Block Island. But it’s not a very nice place to visit in the off season when all the sunshine, laughter, and quaint beach umbrellas disappear into stormy darkness where it is easy to hide secrets and maybe even a few bodies.
Blake Bronson arrives on Block Island with the hopes of finding answers about her tumultuous life of foster homes, bad relationships, and addiction to drugs and alcohol that have made her life unmanageable to say the least. She wants her newfound sobriety to keep her strong and in control. Instead, she finds the B and B she’s staying at, a New England manor called White Hall, vastly unnerving. Blake feels as if she’s stepped into one of the Victorian novels she read as a child. Still, she squares her shoulders and tries to focus on her goals even as the ghosts of her past and the real one that inhabits White Hall do their best to push her off course. Maybe if she can meet her birth mother, it’ll help her to understand why she’s the way she is. Maybe they can even be friends? She finds some unexpected allies to help her with her quest and a few really smarmy ones, like the owner of Graham’s Resort whose hormones go into overdrive the minute anything remotely female comes into view. It is during this time that she gets ahold of Thalia’s address and writes her a letter about what’s happening on Block Island. Unfortunately, Blake meets a gruesome end before she can reunite with her sister…
Somehow Blake’s letter makes it to Thalia’s apartment in Boston and even after death she can still speak to her sister through the power of the written word. A quick internet search reveals that Blake is real and also quite dead. The media claims that it’s the work of one of White Hall’s owners. That’s enough to make Boston lawyer Thalia leave her partner Laura behind to tackle the mystery of Blake’s sudden death and also to revisit her difficult mother, Maureen, who appears to have forgotten to tell her some important things. Even though the geographic distance isn’t huge, Thalia feels like she’s on another planet when the ferry deposits her back onto the tiny place where she grew up. It’s not a good feeling and if it weren’t for her best friend Sarah greeting her at the dock, she’d probably just jump back on the ferry and abandon Block Island like she did so many years ago to be rid of the pain, her weird mother, and the discrimination she felt for preferring women over men. Having a friend on the island is good, but it isn’t long before Thalia finds herself deep into trouble. Her arrival hasn’t gone unnoticed, and a lot of people don’t seem very happy that’s she’s come home. White Hall’s owner claims she’s innocent of wrongdoing while her greasy boyfriend keeps showing up unexpectedly. Thalia begs her mother to just tell her the truth, but Maureen can’t. As she learns the reasons why, The Daughters of Block Island rockets into high gear, pulling readers along with it. Heart pumping action, unbelievably good plot twists, and the secrets being revealed will keep your eyes glued to the pages until the ending.
Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer gives The Daughters of Block Island a glowing 5 STARS! This is without a doubt, the best novel your ol pal Skull has read in many moons. In fact, The Daughters of Block Island by Christa Carmen gets my vote for best book of 2023. The twin story lines weave around each other beautifully and readers will be surprised by what develops before their amazed eyes. Carmen continues to pull tricks out of her hat until the terrifying, wave crashing finale. Not only is this one hell of a fine story but the author continues to do what makes her previous work so strong and special. Christa Carmen weaves important issues into her work without being preachy. She shows us all sides of addiction, the fear of relapse in recovery, the hurt and anger, and some of the whys. How violence against women is often condoned, the victims force fed excuses, repeatedly hurt and lied to. Carmen also pulls aside the curtains of a cute little town, the kind that is idolized in America, and shows what’s really going on, especially when no one’s looking. Her portrayal of Block Island really resonates with your old pal Skull because in a former life, I lived and ran a business in a similar place and the scars still remain. Bottom line, The Daughters of Block Island is an excellent book that appeals to a wide scope of readers. It’s for lovers of mysteries, horror, and excellent storytellers who have something to say and the power to help old wounds to finally heal.
Want more information about Christa Carmen’s work? Then go to: www.christacarmen.com She’s also taking orders for signed copies of The Daughters of Block Island which would make a great holiday gift! While you’re at it, please consider giving Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer a follow here on WordPress. This is your old pal Skull wishing you Happy Holidays and safe travels until we meet again!
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