Tag: book-review

WHILE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME DOES SHORTEN OUR DAYS, IT ALSO PRODUCES THE PERFECT AMBIANCE FOR READING TIM McWHORTER’S FANTASTIC SHORT HORROR COLLECTION “LET THERE BE DARK”

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LET THERE BE DARK
Tim McWhorter
01/16/2024 2nd Edition
Manta Press, Ltd.
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello Horror Fans! It’s your old pal Skull with Let There Be Dark, a seriously awesome collection of short horror stories by Tim McWhorter, that grabs your attention from the start and doesn’t let go until the last word of the final story. A cool thing about this collection is the use of unique locations such as a drugstore bathroom, a Japanese hot spring spa, and a Colorado mountainside. There are also some places you would expect weird shit to go down, but even then, McWhorter stretches your imagination and refuses to take the easy road and that’s exactly what this reviewer likes. Let’s get in there!

Let’s kick things off with Skull Session, because anything with skulls involved kinda gets my attention. If you’re into Horror in all its forms, you’re probably familiar with shops or sites selling oddities that run the gamut from antique weaponry to 3 headed pig fetuses in glass jars of formaldehyde. A lot of people with big bucks dig this stuff and are willing to lay down a lot of green for it. BUT it must be real deal or at least convincing. No one cares how you get the item they just want a real Viking skull with a sword injury and if you screw up, things can go south in hurry. The owners of INFERNALES hope that what Jorn is bringing them today is legit. Otherwise, they’ll have to improvise with what’s on hand…

Speaking of dangerous, big money situations, let’s hop into a stolen Chevy with Tony Malone for The Company You Keep. Tony usually drives a Mercedes, but it’s in the shop after a major accident that just happened to include the boss’ main squeeze. That’s a real bad thing because Vincent Delmonico is a powerful mob boss who doesn’t take mistakes lightly. Getting fired by this guy means you’ll never work anywhere again. So Tony is grateful for this chance at redemption. Well, probably that’s what it is. All he knows for sure is that he and mob enforcer, Visili Prek, are driving out into the middle of nowhere with the plan of retrieving something of great importance. Much is decided that night between a pair of derelict drive-in movie screens with performances worthy of an Oscar. Does Tony keep his job? Who’s the annoyed movie critic and why? Your old pal Skull encourages you to buy the book and find out!

Tim McWhorter is magician who knows how to take words and crystallize them into fear. No Saints Here is an excellent example of this that takes readers on a crazy rollercoaster ride of emotions where every detail counts. We meet Clancy the oversexed handyman and witness his dastardly deeds, but it’s up to us to decide if he’s the absolutely worst person in the story. McWhorter builds tension and raises the stakes by turning the unplanned twosome into a terrifying threesome, which suddenly left turns into a what-the-fuck-foursome with surprises all around. Pow! Things are looking pretty bad for Clancy, especially when a fifth person, who’s definitely not looking for a quintet, walks into the crazy scene…

LET THERE BE DARK-Collected Stories by Tim McWhorter earns 5 Scary Stars and a place on The Skull Cave’s “Wall of Fame”! Like an unstoppable train, the hits keep on coming with stories like The Bridge that explores an urban legend, Rope Burns that summons the spirits of angry witches to an unlikely spot, and Pigs which discourages one from stopping at random farms in the middle of nowhere in search of cheap lodging. Let There Be Dark delivers real feel horror regardless of the format you purchase it in and there are multiples. The recent 2nd Edition published by Manta Press is available in digital format only at this time. If you’d rather read a physical copy of this excellent collection, the original 1st Edition is still available in tradebackfrom Hydra Publications. Both of which are easy to find on Amazon.com and most likely your favorite bookseller as well. That is the current info as of this writing. Whichever format you choose, be prepared to make an evening of it, because you won’t be able to read just one story.

Thanks for spending a few minutes with your old pal Skull. If you enjoyed this review, please take a few minutes to share it and consider following me on WordPress at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com or Twitter/X @skullsnflames76 or Facebook at: www.facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer

I’m sure you’ll want to get in touch with/follow Tim McWhorter! Some good ways to do that are to visit him at: www.timmcwhorter.com Or say howdy on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Tim-McWhorter-author Don’t forget twitter/X @Tim_McWhorter

Stay safe and keep reading independent Horror!

About your reviewer:

Brian James Lewis/Your old pal Skull is a disabled writer, poet, and book reviewer with PTSD whose work has appeared in Trajectory Journal, Mythic Picnic, The Awakenings Review, and multiple horror anthologies. Please visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com, X/Twitter @skullsnflames76, or https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer

NEED A TIMLESS SHORT HORROR COLLECTION THAT’S PERFECT FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR? THEN GET YOURSELF A COPY OF “BURNED MAN AT NIGHT” BY JOHN S. McFARLAND!

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BURNED MAN AT NIGHT
John S. McFarland
JournalStone (10/24/2025)
Reviewed by Brian James Lewis

Hello there, Horror Fans! Are you ready to take a trip back in time? If so, Burned Man At Night-Pensive Horrors by John S. McFarland is your ticket to that ride. Even though this collection of short horror stories was published recently by JournalStone Press, readers will swear that an archeologist delivered this manuscript to the editors. This is McFarland’s territory where people walk and use dogsleds as major modes of transportation, their talk more familiar to that of a century ago than our silly modern-day slang that seems quite senseless in comparison. It is also not a place for the faint of heart. So, tighten up your belt, pilgrim, we’re going in!

Case in point, the collection’s first tale Seeping Towards Gehenna is set in 1342. Plague, death, and desolation are running wild across the land but that doesn’t seem to bother our nameless narrator. He is in relatively good spirits as he goes about the tricky job of earning a living, which he does in his own twisted way. Along the road he meets a young dispassionate soul who joins him in his pursuits and speaks with wisdom beyond his years. As their options narrow, it becomes clear that the narrator and his friend must make some serious choices. Will two heads be better than one?

Speaking of the Devil, another excellent tale by McFarland, Oriax of Hell shares with us the plight of a man sewn together after a serious accident, the questionable surgeon using spare parts from other bodies, and naming his creation Oriax, a powerful demon in Hell. The plan is revenge against another doctor in the area, but Oriax is unable to do the evil deed and soon finds himself alone. Finally taken in by some suspiciously “divine gentlemen” as a sideshow attraction to raise money for their church, the scary looking monster goes along with their plan in exchange for food and housing. But the longer he lives, the more Oriax’s brain develops until he sees clearly that evil exists regardless of a person’s title or the flowery words of a sermon. He’s unsure what to do about it until two victims of the church, the only people who have been truly kind to Oriax of Hell, ask for his help.

Burned Man at Night is also a story of good vs evil. This time peaceful Hungarian immigrants dealing with basically white trash hillbillies who consider themselves to be above the basic laws of human decency. The Farrens are an especially vile example who have guns that they enjoy showing off to Ambrus and his granddaughter while hunting game too close to the property line. Basically, redneck intimidation tactics. Ambrus stays peaceful, refusing to engage in their foolishness and quietly continues to practice Hungarian witchcraft until the day he sends his granddaughter on an errand that she never returns from. All clues point directly to the Farren brothers, but legal justice is evasive. Fortunately, The Burned Man knows of Ambrus’ plight and arrives to help in ways unavailable to a mere mortal. Sacred beliefs and quiet knowledge are stronger than loudmouths with guns.

This reviewer gives Burned Man At Night by John S. McFarland Four Stars out of 5! I really appreciated the variety of the collection, solidly defined characters, and the lessons offered by each tale. They were quite vivid and spellbinding, once I was able to get into the book. Big thanks to the introduction by Frank Duffy which hipped me to the fact that many of these stories occur in St. Odile, Missourri a fictional town that McFarland created and has used as the setting for previous work. Once I had that home base as the reason for some characters reappearing in multiple stories, things made more sense. Although one character that dies in an earlier tale, reappears later to engage in some grotesque medical experiments. This collection also confirmed why some nonfictional people consider Missourri and “misery” to be the same thing. If you’re already a fan of John S. McFarland’s work, you will love this. If you’re a newbie, like I was, know that it is well worth the time to acclimate oneself to St. Odile.

JournalStone Press has many fantastic titles available and I highly encourage you to check them out at: www.journalstone.com or seek out their books at your favorite bookseller

John S. McFarland is the author and artist of multiple works who is highly regarded by big name authors such as Ramsey Campbell and Philip Fracassi. You can find out more about him and listen to his stories at: www.jsmcfarlandauthor.com He is also easy to find on Facebook.

About your reviewer

Brian James Lewis/Your old pal Skull is a disabled writer, poet, and book reviewer with PTSD whose work has appeared in Trajectory Journal, Mythic Picnic, The Awakenings Review, and multiple horror anthologies. Please visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com, X/Twitter @skullsnflames76, or https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer

Thanks for taking the time to read this review and support independent horror. See you soon!

“SHOW ME WHERE IT HURTS” BY ROBERT E. STAHL IS A MUST READ COLLECTION OF SHORT HORROR STORIES THAT IS JAM PACKED WITH SURPRISES

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SHOW ME WHERE IT HURTS
Robert E. Stahl
JournalStone (2025)
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello Horror Fans! I hope you’re all in the mood for some good news, because all I have is praise for Robert E. Stahl’s debut collection of short horror and dark poetry, Show Me Where It Hurts. If you’re in a hurry and want to save time then just bop on over to your favorite bookseller and order a copy of this book, pronto! If you’ve got a few minutes and want to get a better idea of what’s inside that terrifying cover, please continue reading. Most of these stories are brief and read fast but deliver a punch harder than Mike Tyson in his prime. The damage lingering in your brain long after you’ve been rocked. Kind of like a crazy ex or that creepy person at work who is always in the bathroom no matter what time it is. What the hell is that about anyway? Let’s get out there and into Show Me Where It Hurts.

Ghosts On Drugs is an interesting and terrifying ride where the reader becomes the protagonist in a twisted ether dream. The damn ghosts in your apartment keep trashing the place and your life! Unable to sleep, life becomes a surreal fog where everything loses importance. Job? Gone. Love? We used to have a thing. There’s a crossroads ahead and decisions to make. Will you choose wisely?

Speaking of work, Evil Inc. is about a guy who works in middle management for a huge company. Lately work has been even more sucky than usual with his highly eccentric bosses demeaning him and forcing him to do nonexecutive jobs like plunging out a clogged toilet. There’s also a secret door that they often disappear behind for long periods of time, having fun while Brian runs the company in their absence. He becomes an exhausted shell with zero self-esteem until an unexpected event triggers some changes in him. Big, scary changes…

While many of the characters in Stahl’s stories undergo a lot of changes, the “main brain” in A Very Stable Zombie does not. However, that seems to be what his fans like about him. Loud, wrong, inappropriate to the max, and somehow…president. I dug this clever piece of writing about a zombie who most readers with brains will recognize as a person whose last name rhymes with grump. There are definitely chuckles to be had, but they’re tempered by the cold chills of reality and the complete lack of humanity that no one seems to be willing or able to stop.

One of my favorite stories in this collection is The Last Night at The Black Boar Tavern. What a total wow! A mythic and terrifying tale of what could have been a boring snooze of a job morphing into something bigger and way cooler than its narrator ever imagined. When Jack Rollins zooms up to The Black Boar Tavern on his Harley to fill an open bartender position, he does so in a tight black t-shirt with his chest out and a pair of muscular arms popping with tattoos. The dusty old bar turns into a pot of gold overnight. Jack’s powerful charisma and deep knowledge of bartending impress 22-year-old Peter Ennis who is a self-described failure at life. Suddenly he goes from barback to a bartender struggling to keep up with Jack who nicknames him “Slim”. Coolness has arrived! Except there are a few conditions to the bargain including being sworn into Satan’s service. But hell, the money’s good and life is amazing! So amazing that it’s impossible to see how close the end of the road is. Arriving in a ball of fire, The Last Night At The Black Boar Tavern is one that nobody is likely to forget.

So, what’s the rating for this crazy cool short story collection? Show Me Where It Hurts by Robert E. Stahl gets a hearty 5 STARS from Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer and a place of honor on the Skull Cave’s “Wall of Fame! Stahl’s fantastic writing pulls you deep into his stories, the variety of which is amazingly wide. The quick pace keeps you engaged and turning pages to read “just one more”. Highly recommended. Buy it, you won’t be disappointed.

While this is Stahl’s debut short horror collection, he’s a seasoned novelist with quite a few titles to his name. To find out more about this awesome author and his other works, head on over to: www.robertestahl.com You can also check in with Robert on “all the socials” as he puts it.  

JournalStone Press is an established independent press with many excellent titles available for your reading pleasure. Be sure to check them out at: www.journalstone.com

Thanks for visiting your old pal Skull again! I hope you enjoyed today’s review subject. If so, please share and give these independent writers and presses a hand. See you soon!

About your reviewer

Brian James Lewis/Your old pal Skull is a disabled writer, poet, and book reviewer with PTSD whose work has appeared in Trajectory Journal, Mythic Picnic, The Awakenings Review, and multiple horror anthologies. Please visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com, X/Twitter @skullsnflames76, or https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer

IF YOU WANT A READING EXPERIENCE THAT’LL KEEP YOU ENGAGED FOR THE ENTIRE BOOK, I RECOMMEND “DARK ROOTS” BY SHELDON HIGDON! PLOT TWISTS, MURDER, AND MAYHEM ABOUND

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Book Review: DARK ROOTS

by Brian James Lewis | Apr 25, 2026 | Book Reviews, Hellnotes Reviews, Horror Authors / Books, Horror Movies, Horror News, Publisher News | 0 comments

DARK ROOTS
Sheldon Higdon
JournalStone Publishing (November 14, 2025)
Reviewed by Brian James Lewis

Hello, Horror Fans! Today’s review subject is Dark Roots by Sheldon Higdon; a powerful combination of constantly twisting mystery and chilling horror that holds readers in its werewolf fangs and never lets go. Never.

Ben is a college professor who’s got a lot going on in his life. Some things are good, like his beautiful girlfriend Aisha who really wants him to put a ring on it. Other things are downright terrible, like the shocking death of his father who suddenly commits suicide at 83 after popping by Ben’s apartment for dinner. Sure, he was getting older, but left in a good mood with muscles that a man half his age would’ve been happy to have, so what the hell?

This leads to Ben tearfully driving back to his dad’s farm at 2 a.m. to meet up with his Uncle George, who lives just down the road from his dad. He gives Ben the keys to his dad’s place and surprisingly, an offer to take it off his hands. What’s a city boy need with a farm anyway? Might be best…George has the money and Ben agrees to think about it. But he wants to check out the old homeplace and reconnect with his roots before making any major decisions.

Turns out that it might’ve been easier to just take the money and run. As Ben pokes around the old house and barn, ghosts start talking to him. Correction: they start screaming at him. While that’s creepy and unsettling, the weird part is that Ben feels like he’s heard their words before. But how could that be? He hasn’t lived there or even visited for a long time and his childhood memories are vague at best. The one thing he does recall is a lot of negative energy, which is why Ben relocated his life elsewhere.

Things progress to downright terrifying when Ben discovers a hidden trapdoor in the barn and finds a bunch of dead bodies stacked up inside. Yikes! Not only that, but a search of his dad’s house reveals most of their identities and why they’re on his father’s farm. None of the information is good, especially the discovery of what Dad’s baseball card collection really is. Ben is horrified and disgusted by his findings. His dad was a salt of the earth, working the land, and repairing things when they broke kind of guy whose only pleasure in life was collecting baseball cards. Well, at least that’s what most people in their small town thought. What the hell is all this other shit? Everything sends Ben’s mind and body reeling until he’s teetering on the brink of sanity.

So Ben does what most people would do, he calls the cops. Except that out in the middle of nowhere, he doesn’t get a whole team of forensics experts; there’s just the sheriff and his not particularly bright deputy. Great. While they poke around and try to make sense of things, Ben calls his girlfriend, hoping for a sympathetic ear and some good vibes to balance out all the badness. Instead, he ends up trying to comfort her. Darren, her son and the light of her life, has been kidnapped.

From here, the book, which was already perking right along, picks up speed. The horrible discoveries continue while Ben and Aisha try to figure things out with both the country police and some detectives from the city who are also trying to rescue Darren. As the heat builds, masks start to slip until the line between good and bad becomes invisible. Everything becomes a question instead of a fact. Did Ben’s dad actually kill himself, or did he have unwanted help? Why is Uncle George so interested in keeping his brother’s farm? Why doesn’t Ben remember his mom, and why did she leave them? How can he and Aisha get Darren back? A standoff situation develops at the farm, pushing Ben past his breaking point. He responds by taking matters into his own hands with some very permanent solutions. Will his gamble work, or is he too late? Available at your favorite bookseller now!

I rate Dark Roots a serious 5 Stars. JournalStone and author Sheldon Higdon have once again delivered a real gripper of a novel with more twists in it than a spiral staircase. Highly recommended! The whodunnit part of Dark Roots is powerful and will keep you turning pages until the wee hours of the morning, and it’s entirely worth it. I lost count of how many times I “figured everything out” and knew exactly who the bad guy was. “Wrong again, Watson!” Well played, Higdon! Dark Roots is a book that never lets up, not even at the end. It has teeth and they are very sharp.

Trigger warning: This book contains scenes of child abduction and violence that might be upsetting to some readers. The author does a great job of keeping anything graphic minimal, using a few brief scenes to establish an undercurrent of evil that drives the story forward. Being a person with PTSD, I just wanted to give readers a heads up so they’re not surprised.

Thank you for taking a few minutes check out this review and your interest in independent horror writers and publishers!

For more information about Sheldon Higdon and his other books, head on over to: www.sheldonhigdon.com

For more information about JournalStone Publishing and their many, many awesome releases, please visit their website: www.journalstone.com

For more information about Brian James Lewis, pop on over to his website: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A FAST AND FURIOUSLY TERRIFYING READ, SCARLETT R. ALGEE’S NOVELLA “AND CAST IT FROM YOU” IS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED. JUST STAY OUT OF THE SHED!

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And Cast It From You
Scarlett R. Algee
Cold War Radio Press (October 1, 2024)
Reviewed by Brian James Lewis

Ever heard the saying, “small but mighty”? It usually refers to someone or something who may not appear to be much of a threat, but when they get going, look out! The something in this case is Scarlett R. Algee’s novella And Cast It From You. Not only does the book appear deceptively brief, but the evil inside waiting for readers is tiny and not the sort of thing that strikes fear into the hearts of anyone except maybe neat freaks. Intrigued? Then let’s check it out!

Our narrator, Kris Winters, has inherited her late grandmother’s house—a place full of fond memories, country goodness, and love. Not too many people can say that about their first home! Everything is great, except for one small problem: the shed is NOT fine.” Readers will soon discover just how much of an understatement that is.

Even so, how dangerous could a small shed full of odds and ends be? I mean, sure, there’s two decades worth of heavy yellow dust on everything, which certainly could be a hazard to a person with allergies. Kris doesn’t say she has a history of allergies and seems unconcerned when she approaches the clean up job, but something in that shed turns what should be a joyful experience into relentless creeping horror that makes you want to scream. Alone in the middle of nowhere with her options narrowing fast, Kris has to make an emergency decision and stop the misery while she still can. Or is she already too late?

Wow! This reviewer gives And Cast It From You by Scarlett R. Algee a hearty 5 Star Rating! At the time of this review, this excellent novella is available on Amazon Kindle for just $2.99 (sale price) or as a paperback for $6.95. A true case of small but mighty, this story will stay stuck in your head long after you read it. Big monsters may be loud and scary, but it’s the tiny ones that’ll take you down and drive you mad while doing it. So, if you happen to be house hunting, just tell your realtor to take any houses with small rustic sheds out back right off your viewing list. Better safe than sorry!

Scarlett R. Algee’s work has appeared in many places, including Bards and Sages Quarterly, Body Parts Magazine, and The Wicked Library. She’s also the author of Bleedthrough and Other Small Horrors. You can find Scarlett on Reddit as u/Cold_War_Radio Thanks for stopping by and keep reading independent horror

Brian James Lewis is a disabled writer, poet, and book reviewer with PTSD whose work has appeared in Trajectory Journal, Mythic Picnic, The Awakenings Review, and multiple horror anthologies. Please visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com, X/Twitter @skullsnflames76, or https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer

Thanks for stopping by and remember: keep reading independent horror!

IF YOUR IDEA OF HAPPY HOLIDAYS INCLUDES READING SOME GOOD HORROR STORIES, “THE RACK II” DELIVERS!

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Book Review: THE RACK II

by Brian James Lewis | Dec 22, 2025 | Book Reviews, Hellnotes Reviews, Horror Authors / Books, Horror News | 0 comments

THE RACK II: More Stories Inspired By Vintage Paperbacks
Tom Deady, ed.
Greymore Publishing (October 14, 2025)
Reviewed by Brian James Lewis

Hello horror fans! I’ve got a special treat to talk about this week: The Rack II is a smoking cool anthology of short horror stories inspired by the vintage horror and mystery paperbacks of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. These were the books that appeared on creaky, wobbling racks everywhere from gas stations to airport gift shops. You’d just be minding your own business when: “Whoa! Is that a giant snake exploding out of that guy’s chest?” They were luridly colored, terrifying, and sometimes pretty dang sexy. Pulling you in, making you want to take them home and soak in every word. The main thing is that these books were our gateway drug, what pulled us in the direction of wanting to be writers ourselves. We wanted to make somebody shiver under the blankets and not want to leave their bed because something might be hiding in the dark, just waiting for a nice, tasty foot…

Some younger writers today are bummed that they missed those predigital times, that first nibble delivered to their eyes by whispering paper that sometimes smelled a little bit funky as that barbed hook penetrated their flesh. Fortunately, Tom Deady and a crew of really cool writers, along with ace artist Lynne Hansen, put together The Rack, which is a true monster of a book. A Whitman’s sampler of short horror (minus the gross downer flavors) that gave readers that same tug and reeled them into our world. The stories were vintage inspired but stepped away from inappropriate stereotypes, cut the racism and sexism and just kicked ass. If you have not yet read The Rack, I encourage you to treat yourself to a good time and get it.

I was a firm believer that nobody was going to top that great work until I got a review copy of The Rack II. Introduction by Mother Horror herself, Sadie Hartman, a great poem by Maxwell I. Gold to kick things off, and more stellar stories by the creepy crew of stalwarts, including Lee Murray, Christa Carmen, and Larry Hinkle, along with all-star contributors like Joe R. Lansdale, Jonathan Maberry, and Poppy Z. Brite. Basically a shit ton of great writers with the aim of terrifying readers. Holy Hades, Batman, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore! Let’s go take a look at what we’re in for…

The Laffin’ Man by Poppy Z. Brite is about a peculiar 70’s and 80’s item that was hung on the wall of many a bar and pizza shop. The one I was familiar with spit water on you when you pulled his tie and then laughed with a voice that’s best described as a “demented old man doing creepy things behind a tall shelf in a porn shop”. The characters in Brite’s story meet a whole wall full of these creepy freaks at a shopping mall tobacco shop and one of them falls in love, most likely because his teenaged life is so devoid of happiness. The narrator is repulsed. Something about these battery-operated novelties is very unsettling, almost as if they’re the harbingers of evil. But he likes seeing his friend happy and buys a Laffin’ Man for him. It’s just a toy, right? Right?

Lee Murray’s story The Mall also uses a similar backdrop of the huge indoor retail acreage with restaurants and a movie theater for her slow-building tale of terror. This one takes a more adult angle of infidelity in a marriage that’s having dire consequences on the one person who’s not guilty of anything. He’s just a kid named Matty with a broken arm caused by his father’s attention to anything female. But today, Dad promised to behave himself so that Mom can do some covert Christmas shopping. I wonder if he’ll be able to hold up his end of the deal?

Christa Carmen always brings her A game, and her story Comeback Kid is no exception. Nan is an Olympic level gymnast who is planning to be a trainer. Unfortunately, to do so, she must work with her former trainers, and things get weird fast. Why are they working her out so hard if she’s just going to be a coach? Who is the other gymnast working in a hidden gym? A lot of unsettling things are often swept under the rug in professional sports, with the victims shoved off into obscurity. This time there’s a lot more at stake than winning a piece of metal to strap around one’s neck.

Greed motivates a lot of people, and Chandler Pratt is no exception. A college professor who marries the daughter of a very rich man in effort to gain his riches, Pratt despises his wife and considers her gross and unattractive. But when you’re a Head Hunter you do what needs to be done until you get what you want. B.D. Prince gives us a great story that juxtaposes horror with humor. An exploding cigar, the father-in-law’s hatred of Pratt’s manbun, and the younger man’s plan that’s hatched in a shop full of dark magic antiques. He practically has the front door key in his pocket when he arrives back at the mansion with a perfect birthday gift for the cranky old bird. What could possibly go wrong?

Joe R. Lansdale stays with the quiet, suspenseful feel of The Rack II with his contribution By the Hair of the Head, which draws readers in dangerously close. A young writer, fresh from college, takes unique lodging in an old lighthouse still inhabited by its keeper even though its time of use has passed. Initially things seem almost idyllic, but as time passes the young writer begins having vivid nightmares. Some nights after too many brandies the lighthouse keeper tells intriguing tales that include a beautiful witch, a magician, and a daughter. But when our narrator asks pointed questions, the lighthouse keeper clams up. What is the old fellow trying to hide? Why doesn’t the lighthouse feel like a safe haven anymore? All will be revealed in time and the answer is as plain as The Hair of the Head.

You’ve probably already guessed, but my rating of The Rack II is a hearty 5 STARS! Every single story inside is fantastic, and I would have loved to cover each of them in great detail, but my goal here is to give you a review that sharpens your appetite and doesn’t flog all the fun into the ground. There is so much more to explore for yourself, such as creepy houses that call your name, a virtual pet that may have a strong connection to the real world, and one day finding out that your marriage is over because of ancient codes your partner must follow, or else. Go on now, take a walk down that dark hallway, so that YOU can enjoy the thrill of being hooked!

Want more information about both editions of The Rack (I seriously encourage you to buy both, because they really are that good) and Stoker Award winning author Tom Deady? Then head on over to https://www.tomdeady.com/ or find him over on Facebook at https://facebook.com/tomdeady.

Interested in getting some awesome artwork or a cool cover for your upcoming release? Then get in touch with Lynne Hansen at www.LynneHansenArt.com.

About Brian James Lewis

Brian James Lewis is a disabled writer and poet with PTSD whose work has recently appeared in Mythic Picnic, The Awakenings Review, and in multiple horror anthologies. Please visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com, X/Twitter @skullsnflames76, or https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer He has been reviewing books for Hellnotes since 2016.

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE! I’VE RETURNED TO HELLNOTES AND HERE’S MY LATEST REVIEW WITH THEM!

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Book Review: THE ZAPHNURR PHASE

by Brian James Lewis | Nov 17, 2025 | Book Reviews, Hellnotes Reviews, Horror Authors / Books, Horror News | 0 comments

The Zaphnurr Phase
Brick Marlin
Seventh Star Press (July 1, 2025)
Reviewed by Brian James Lewis

 Hey there, fans of horror and science fiction! It’s been a while, but I’m glad to be back on your screen giving you the scoop on new books and some classics too. Today’s exciting new read is The Zaphnurr Phase by HWA member Brick Marlin. This novel is a great mix of dystopian worlds with both psychological horror and some truly terrifying scenes. Let’s take a quick peek inside!

The world as we currently know it has ceased to exist, but there is still life in the colonies, city-sized worlds that seem to float above the desolate earth. Sarah is tired of the increasingly dangerous and restrictive colony that she and her boyfriend, Kentil, exist in. But before they can escape, he disappears, leaving her alone and pregnant in a place that is governed by a corporate entity called M-Corp that enforces its laws through the Nazi-like Demi agents who are as evil as they look. Sarah goes through a major shitstorm of bad events until she finally gets a chance to leave Perrill with her baby. Once the Demi realize what’s going on, they do everything in their power to put the blocks to her. Lethal force is authorized, but Sarah is a strong woman who fights until she loses consciousness.

After a pretty entertaining interaction with an alien transport vehicle, Sarah makes it to another colony called Gorph, where everything seems to be much better than it was in her old life. Whew! Now if she can only find Kentil and start fresh… But it’s no small task to find her boyfriend in the huge city where there is just as much virtual reality as there is concrete. Plus, despite the good pay and nice living space, her job is kind of funky. She’s also never truly alone, because a microprocessor has been installed into her brain as part of this “new and improved” world. Nothing seems permanent except her AI assistant, Vodburrk, whom she doesn’t entirely trust. Will Sarah find her missing boyfriend? Will she finally settle in Gorph? Will she ever feel safe in this new colony or go on the run again? I could tell you, but where’s the fun in that? Gleemer says that your best course of action is to get a copy of The Zaphnurr Phase and enjoy all the thrills and chills firsthand. You’ll also find out who or what Gleemer is. It’s currently available in both digital and paper formats from your favorite bookseller today.

I rate The Zaphnurr Phase by Brick Marlin a hearty 5 STARS! It’s a great mix of horror, science fiction, and Marlin’s unique sense of humor which provides some much-needed bright spots in a dark world. All of this is wrapped in a dash of hope, along with some well executed plot twists that’ll keep you turning pages until the dynamic end. Although I have a feeling that the conclusion of The Zaphnurr Phase might just be delivering us to the beginning of Marlin’s next novel, which is currently in progress.

One of the easiest ways to find out more about Brick Marlin is to head on over the Seventh Star Press website at: www.seventhstarpress.com/books/brick-marlin There you’ll find links to Marlin’s Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, and Patreon accounts, as well as what other titles are currently available.

Brian James Lewis is a disabled writer and poet with PTSD whose work has recently appeared in Mythic Picnic, The Awakenings Review, and in multiple horror anthologies. Please visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com, X/Twitter @skullsnflames76, or https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer  He has been reviewing books since 2016

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE READING EXPERIENCE THAT PACKS A PUNCH, CHECK OUT REBECCA GRANSDEN’S LATEST COLLECTION OF WEIRD SHORT HORROR STORIES “HAPPY BUNNY AND OTHER MISCHIEFS”

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HAPPY BUNNY AND OTHER MISCHIEFS
Rebecca Gransden
October 30, 2024
Cardboard Wall Empire
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Hello again, all you horror fiends! It’s your old pal Skull with Happy Bunny and other Mischiefs, a new short story collection from Rebecca Gransden. Behind the grainy security camera footage cover readers will find themselves immersed in a Bizarro universe made up of fourteen stories that strike like an angry scorpion on LSD that’s been hiding in your sleeping bag. Gransden has the uncanny ability of turning the everyday into something terrifying in just a few short pages. So, if you’re looking for weird, follow me into the darkness…

Things kick of with, Turducken: Confirm Humanity. If you’re not familiar with what a turducken is, look it up for the best understanding of what this feisty little tale is trying to illustrate. When this multi-layered creature escapes a transport, it decides to do its best to fit in and create a delightful feast of what it finds in the wild. The guests are certainly in for a surprise!

In Canon Fodder we meet a person who enjoys inducing riots by shooting money out of a confetti canon in busy public spaces. She enjoys the injuries, violence, and deaths caused by the frantic scrabble for cash. But when a rival gang decides that she’s just a little too good at what she does, they come up with a grisly final assignment.

As a former professional driver of 18-wheelers and delivery vans, I’m not a big fan of sharing the road with self-driving cars. They may be presented to the media as the next great thing, but brothers Yuri and Dimos find out how terrifying these vehicles are (and who’s really in control) in the story Slug Slick.

Not even municipal street cleaners are safe in their noble but filthy profession. They have to be alert for the dangers of Disco Rice! Most of the workers just do their time, clock out, and leave the grossness behind. But a few twisted individuals have formed The Disco Rice Club and taken obsession to a whole new level of strange.

In Sparrow Eyes, two couples and a friend head out to a holiday camp where they plan to party hearty and maybe do a little swinging. But something in the woods is waiting for them. It has needs, too, and if the group doesn’t do what it wants, this could be their last trip.

Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs is a unique collection of stories that refuses to be pigeon-holed into a single category, and I think that’s a good thing. Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer rates Rebecca Gransden’s latest collection 4.5 Stars! Be prepared for sudden plunges directly into the action and some entertaining names for characters such as “Gary Hotdog”, “Tall Jim”, and “Fuck It Cat”. These stories may shock you, and some speak out against important topics like child abuse and social media overload, but you sure as hell won’t be bored. Dare to think for yourself and get yourself a copy of Happy Bunny and Other Mischiefs! You’ll be glad you did.

Cardboard Wall Empire is an independent press that has published a large amount of Rebecca Gransden’s books. My favorite so far is Creepy Sheen, which you can read my review of at www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com . There are also some selections from Leo X. Robertson available. You can purchase Cardboard Wall Empire books from Amazon.com or your favorite bookseller. New projects are in the works, so stay tuned!

 About your reviewer:

When darkness falls. Brian James Lewis becomes his alter ego, Skull, and burns the midnight oil reading and reviewing recent arrivals to his lair, the Skullcave! You can catch up with him on social media at: https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer where he’d really appreciate some follows to get more exposure for Indy horror writers and presses!

You can also find him on: X/Twitter@skullsnflames76

And we’re also on Goodreads and leave reviews on Amazon under the mortal’s name Brian James Lewis

To follow Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer, please visit: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com Thanks!

Until next time, be well, stay safe, and keep reading independent horror!

photo credit: “Fallout Shelter-No Days Off” Brian James Lewis

LOVE LOVECRAFTIAN HORROR BUT DISLIKE DISCRIMINATION AND FEELING EXCLUDED? THEN “BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF INFINITY” FROM RAW DOG SCREAMING PRESS DELIVERS DIVERSE COSMIC HORROR AND WEIRD FICTION FOR THE MODERN WORLD

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BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF INFINITY
Edited by Vaughn A. Jackson & Stephanie Pearre
July 10, 2024
Raw Dog Screaming Press
Reviewed by Brian “Skull” Lewis

Greetings Horror Fiends! It’s your old pal Skull with a great new collection from Raw Dog Screaming Press. Lovecraftian horror is a cool mashup of fantasy, dream worlds, and elder gods that have existed since the beginning of time itself. H.P. Lovecraft and his contemporaries came up with some really unique story concepts, but their beauty was marred by the narrow white lens it was pushed through. People of color, working class folks, and women were not respected and treated as equals. Those that were physically or mentally disabled were usually portrayed as ignorant freaks. This was because the majority of publishers and writers were white males. Fortunately, Beyond the Bounds of Infinity is here to showcase a diverse cast of authors and put a new spin on weird fiction and cosmic horror. It’s a great step towards eliminating boundaries and giving readers a kaleidoscopic view of the weirdness that draws us into these types of stories. Speaking of great views, how about that awesome book cover by Lynne Hansen? I’m really becoming a fan! Let’s take a peek within at the horrors that await us…

In Effigies of Monstrous Things, Pedro Iniguez uses the too familiar backdrop of crummy apartments and low income living that Latin Americans are forced to endure in their quest to make it. At first it just seems like Mario is dealing with another cheese bag white slumlord in a janky neighborhood, but a trip into the vast basement of the ancient, mold-ridden apartment complex reveals something much bigger and more terrifying that wants more.

Fractures of Her Reflection by Amanda Headlee tackles the general public’s lack of interest in taking mental health issues seriously. Everyone tells Dava that her tapping rituals are useless and a waste of time, making her feel small and stupid. They’re more concerned about how they feel uncomfortable and weirded out by her behavior. But as this short story reaches its conclusion, something appears on the horizon and the last thing it wants is to be stuck under the rug.

S.A. Cosby takes us out into the woods for 24 Points. It’s hunting season for a trio of men who arrive in the forest with the plan of harvesting the largest deer they can find to get their family through the cold winter ahead. But there’s a line between taking what you need and being greedy. Mother nature is the governess of those laws and when Uncle Ricky oversteps her boundaries, she requires a payment. If it is not forthcoming, the entire fabric of the cosmos opens wide to correct the wrongs. Great balance of the familiar and the terrifying with social commentary.

In Live Free or Die, Danny Brzozowski opens up the cute curtains of a small Connecticut (state motto: Live Free or Die) town to show the rot hidden inside. Many people consider the northeastern states to be safe territory for more liberal thinkers. Unfortunately, I can say from my own personal experiences in a small upstate New York town, that is not always the case. Don’t be doing different loud and proud there unless you want to meet a lot of scary people who masquerade as good ones. When a trans teacher gets fired from a school for teaching both sides of reality in a particularly privileged community, something horrible awakens beneath the hilly ground. Is it a savior or is it a killer? Seeking to make their escape, the teacher comes across a scene that reveals just how deep that evil runs in Briarbrook and prays that they won’t have to follow the latter part of the state motto.

Other great stories in this anthology include Cracks by Mary SanGiovanni, Like Ants We March by Jorja Osha, Six Underground by Vicky Velvet, and You Have Joined the Livestream by Jessica McHugh. Every story inside Beyond the Bounds of Infinity is excellent. You won’t find any filler or pieces you can coast through, here! Like a flourless chocolate torte, this collection is super rich, delightfully dark, and very satisfying.  Raw Dog Screaming Press crushes that narrow white lens and hands readers a kaleidoscope to view cosmic horror and weird fiction with. Because when limits are removed, possibilities open wide, and that’s what it’s all about. Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer rates Beyond the Bounds of Infinity FIVE STARS! If you think that Lovecraft’s work is old and stuffy, this book is for you. Raw Dog Screaming Press brings weird fiction and cosmic horror into the present day and makes it relevant to readers right now.  

For more information about Raw Dog Screaming Press, please visit them at: www.RawDogScreaming.com

For more information about Pedro Iniguez, check out www.pedroiniguezauthor.com

To find out more about Amanda Headlee, go to: www.amandaheadlee.com

To follow Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer, please visit: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com Thanks!

About your reviewer:

When darkness falls Brian James Lewis becomes his alter ego, Skull, and burns the midnight oil reading and reviewing recent arrivals to his lair, the Skullcave! You can catch up with him on social media at: https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer where he’d really appreciate some follows to get more exposure for Indy horror writers and presses!

You can also find him on: X/Twitter@skullsnflames76

And we’re also on Goodreads and leave reviews on Amazon under the mortal’s name Brian James Lewis

Until next time, be well, stay safe, and keep reading independent horror!