THE VENGEFUL DEAD
John James Minster
May 1, 2023
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello dear readers, it’s your old pal Skull with The Vengeful Dead, an awesome collection of short horror stories by John James Minster. This book yanks readers out of their chairs, slams them against the wall, and drops them on the floor in a terrified heap with a new understanding of the darkness all around us. From perverted teenagers trying to become online sensations, to a creepy cult that targets rich, middle-aged nerds, all will find out that the saying “where there’s a will, there’s a way” can be made horrifyingly true by those who somehow defy the finality of death to exact revenge. Minster’s work feels all the more real because he uses actual places as the locations of his stories so there’s no wishy-washy small town in the middle of nowhere that the reader has to construct in their heads. You’re in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania with a man having the most amazing time of his life, or on the mucky bank of the Schuykill River amongst a pile of junk while a lifeless body sinks below the dark water…Intrigued? Good! Now let’s go visit The Vengeful Dead.

Son of A Ghoul is my favorite story in this collection, not because I’m a big fan of grave robbing but because the mix of super technology and old school money making is awesome. Grave robbing has been going on since time began and it’s still going on today. But the narrator of this tale explains how high-tech things have become in his profession. However, when these robbers cross an ancient curse during one fateful night, they learn the hard way that what you don’t believe in can hurt you. Logic flies out the window as the impossible rears its very ugly head. Anyone for a trip to the remotest parts of Alaska?

Magic 8 Ball Online dating sites have made for some successful relationships, but they also open the door for predatory types with agendas that don’t mean anything good for their victims. Gabe thinks he’s in paradise when he meets a woman who’s half his age, loves having sex, and seems to love him too. Not only that, but due to a creepy yard sale held by one of her friends, he becomes the owner of a Magic 8 Ball that’s helping him build his stock portfolio. Sounds great, right? What could possibly go wrong? Turns out, a whole lot. Gabe’s nirvana turns nightmare when it’s discovered that he has a fatal illness, or does he?

Magus. Why is a Jewish American male walking the streets of Palestine alone? Because he is seeking the best illusions to use in his magic show, of course. Sam Magus is a Las Vegas based magician who needs to knock his crowds out of their chairs or face the consequences. A proud and arrogant man, being the new owner of a talisman that enables him to do whatever he wants makes for astounding performances but also opens up a dark side that gets hungrier with each show. Blood sacrifices are demanded, and not just any old person will do. It must be someone Magus truly loves How long can this twisted relationship of murder and flash go on?

Book of the Dead After doing prison time for granting patients with debilitating conditions the opportunity to end their suffering, Dr. Merrick Arthur Bicko gets released. Unfortunately, his newfound freedom isn’t a source of joy. Stripped of his credentials, Bicko can’t practice medicine anymore, which also means he can’t kill people under the guise of helping them. In an effort to scratch the itch to kill anything, the doctor becomes a tree removal technician. At first, he enjoys his work and the money he makes doing it, but trees don’t show emotion or the totality of human death. So, he decides a new course, becoming a contracted killer for the American prison system. And like an over the hill rockstar returning to the business after hiatus, Bicko is back! He’s got a new drug and some new plans, and the prison wardens love him. Executions are going smoothly, they look good, he works cheap. On a more spiritual level, the darkness is rolling in. Bicko is being haunted by his victims in a rather unique way and there’s only one way to redeem himself. Is that a motor starting in the distance? I wonder what for?

Family Plot When Jayden Bonner sets his sights on getting himself a sugar mamma, he gets a whole lot more than he expected. Arabella’s family is so incredibly rich, they could light their cigars with hundred-dollar bills if they wanted to. But there is a lot more to this family than their bulging moneybags and luxurious estate that just happens to contain a family cemetery with tons of CCTV cameras all over the place. Bonner might be a sham lover with his eyes on the prize, but he’s far from the worst manipulator in this twisted pile of diamond studded cow pies. Like they say, it’s the quiet ones you need to watch out for.

Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer gives THE VENGEFUL DEAD by John James Minster a FIVE STAR REVIEW! This is a massively intense reading experience that will terrify you with its realness, but you won’t be able to put it down. Definitely a book for mature readers and not those who are squeamish or puritanical, this is horror at its finest. So close to the bone, so chilling with the feeling that it could be happening right next door. I mean really, how well do you know your neighbors? Available at Amazon.com and many of your favorite booksellers. Get yourself a copy and tell them your old pal Skull sent you.

For more information about John James Minster, please visit www.JohnJamesMinister.com