Month: April 2024

IN THIS BRAND NEW RELEASE FROM PHILIP FRACASSI AND LETHE PRESS, “NO ONE IS SAFE!”

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NO ONE IS SAFE!
Philip Fracassi
April 5, 2024
Lethe Press
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello once again, you wonderful horror fiends, it’s your old pal Skull with an amazing short horror collection by Philip Fracassi. Not only that, but there is a fab introduction by Ronald Malfi that is an absolute treat to read. Just released this month by Lethe Press, No One Is Safe! Features fourteen stories giving readers over 300 pages of tales that both entertain and deliver that delicious fear we all crave to bust us out of our boring everyday lives. Let’s dig a little deeper, shall we?

Things start off with the innocent sounding title The Wish, but it quickly becomes clear that Jonathan’s birthday party isn’t going to run smoothly. His dad has a heart attack while trying to grill up some burgers mid-party and then has the audacity to die. What a party pooper! Everybody freaks out and boom, party over. Later that evening, a helpful neighbor tries to end the kid’s birthday on a happy note with the whole cake and candles thing. The still angry Jonathan makes a very specific and binding wish that will affect his entire life. Sometimes wishes do come true even if you wish they didn’t.

Another great story is Murder by Proxy which does a seamless job of marrying old school Humphrey Bogart detective fiction with what may be our AI controlled future. The detective on this case is Dixon “Dixie” Merriweather, who’s been a Los Angeles detective for over 20 years. He knows a few things, like how to talk to a homicide victim’s AI tabletop unit about what occurred in this unique case where it appears the guy just exploded. The unit, named “Beximo” seems cooperative, but there’s something about the whole situation that just isn’t adding up right. As Dixie digs deep, he realizes that the problem he’s trying to solve has frightening worldwide implications and that sometimes what you can’t see is the most lethal.

Sometimes a person makes a bad judgement call. We’re human, it happens. Most of the time we realize that there’s been a screw up and can fix at least some of the damage, apologize, maybe grovel if required. But when large sums of money enter the picture, many people toss good judgement out the window and will cheerfully dunk their head in a full toilet bowl again and again. Money talks and nobody walks. Overnight is a story about the treacherous road of deceit and the consequences. Pete is a night guard for a major movie company that’s shooting a flick in a remote area. He’s got his directions, knows what to do, but somehow when this dude shows up waving cash and asking for favors, he lets his guard down. Hell, Pete can make some big green from this guy if he just bends the rules a little. Then some bad shit goes down on his watch, putting him on the hot seat. Pete worries that he might end up behind bars, but soon finds out that there are far worse punishments than cooling your heels in prison.

“Marmalade” is your old pal Skull’s favorite story in No One Is Safe! It starts out with a young guy talking to a person who’s writing a book about exactly what happened in the neighborhood of Sabbath Corners. The main topic is an ancient old woman named Ms. Grimmel and her cat, Marmalade. As the interviewer goes about talking to multiple witnesses, more details fill in the picture, which is both wonderful and completely terrifying. Were miracles really happening in that little neighborhood or was it all the work of the devil? This approach is somewhat akin to Carrie by Stephen King with the kind of social revelations brought to us by Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone.

I don’t think it will surprise anyone who’s read this far that Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer gives No One Is Safe! By Philip Fracassi a very hearty FIVE STARS! I love short stories and these stories are awesome! Every tale grabs you by the collar and thrusts you into a new adventure that’s very different than the one before it. From what I understand, this was Fracassi’s aim with this collection and he definitely achieved it. The movie poster cover by Jim & Ruth Keegan lures you in and then the master takes over, pulling you into the pages like a giant red space monster that wants to “communicate”. No one puts it better than Ronald Malfi who says, You’re in it now, riding the high that is the powerhouse fiction of Philip Fracassi. If this is your first time reading Philip’s work, be prepared to become that self-confessed Fracassi junkie that I, too, have become. Highly recommended.

No One Is Safe is available at your favorite booksellers, including Amazon.com which also features all this author’s work and a cool way to follow him. For more information check out: Philip Fracassi’s website: www.pfracassi.com You can also visit him on Facebook/Instagram at pfracassi and on Twitter/X at: @philipfracassi. Also be sure to check out Lethe Press at: www.lethepressbooks.com for more great titles. You can also find them on Twitter/X @lethepress and Facebook and Instagram. Tell them that your old pal Skull sent ya! Thanks for popping by the Skullcave for another cool review and remember to support independent horror!

Philip Fracassi

About my mortal:

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 prose and poetry that hits 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

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!