That Ghoul Ava on the Lam by TW Brown

Jump on a few months and my favourite pop culture referencer and dead body muncher is back in favour with the fairies having royally upset them in the last story. However, she is now hunted by the Templars.

We start this story with her throwing doggy poop down a neighbour’s chimney! You have to read this now huh!  With two hilarious Great Danes who are so dense they are a comedy double act, please let them be a bigger part in the future

There are hilarious moments in this book and you can tell that TWB really enjoys writing this character but there is also a dark and sad edge to it, please read the forward to understand the mind-set, also because the author really puts a part of himself in there.

This chapter sees Ava battling a revolting creature and coming to terms with certain facts about her undead life now and the community she has joined. As the story comes to a close it is clear another danger is imminent, great tease TWB!

Having visited Portland, Oregon, and had a personal tour given to us by TWB (ok I’m showing off now) I loved all the references to the places.  A Xmas tree farm!!! Wahahahah (personal joke from TWB – btw if the books he writes get 5* from me it’s because he has EARNED them, not because we are pals, he sucks – I tell him, but so far so good!)

I thought I cracked how to read these by always having one in the wings, so to speak but now I am Ava bereft.  Smaller more frequent bites (pun intended) please TWB even if you have to split a few books, like the old Saturday morning cliff-hanger movies!

That Ghoul Ava on the Lam

Next on the very special That Ghoul Ava

Ava is back with SASS! and a multitude of pop culture references; which are great to work out or memory joggers.

When she meets a tall dark stranger, with knobs on! in the park another adventure begins.

This time she is whisked off to Texas with some new and strange critters, I love the way TWB brings his own version of things to current "fictional" creatures

She also discovers a new skill as her head starts to fill with voices. This, of course, brings its own hilarity.

However, there is an underlying darkness to her situation and even through Ava thinks of herself as more the butter than the sharp knife she is great at sorting out problems that seem to surround and gravitate towards her.

Not quite left on a precipice but I was left staring down the mountain of a cliff-hanger; I am thankful I have the next instalment to hand.

The flashbacks to movies, songs and tv programmes are a hoot and the chapter titles are a joy all their own.

RARARARA that’s me shaking my pompoms for this brilliant series.

Next on the very special That Ghoul Ava

Wrapped in White - Anthology

The introduction basically asks why do we like to be scared, especially by ghosties?  This made me think…. I love to read horror because it is escapism at the highest level for me, I can have romance, the news shows me real crime, murders and thrillers every day but sci-fi and horror are something that has to be fiction, please.

I was worried about this anthology as I don’t believe in ghosts, so how was I to be scared, spooked or terrorized? Not to worry, I had shivers, shakes and something definitely tapped me on the shoulder.  I have alwasys said I have  never been a fan of ghost stories, I don’t believe in them I say….. or maybe I do and that’s why they give me the shivers so much.

I really enjoy the little author bios but IMO they should be at the start or finish of each story so that I can run off and grab their other works.  That said the editor has done another splendid job in arranging this in just the right order to freak you out!

 Daddy’s Glasses by Allison M. Dickson  

Loved the southern twang to the story. An early baby death sets the tone for this nightmare riddled story. 

So much death in one family but AMD also manages to show what happens in “real” life as families stretch, change and lose contact. 

However, when a blast from the past arrives in a little wooden box the narrator of this story gets a full front seat to the true horror of human nature.

The Curse of Kirby by Patrick C Greene

Poor Dawson he cant seem to get any peace with Butthole the cat pooping everywhere or scratching him to hell, not to mention his wonderful party hard neighbours. 

Mendelbaum, his only other sane neighbour, is also having a hard time sleeping. Then they meet Abigail and Kirby; a mischievous ghost! and a plan is hatched.

However, as is always with hauntings there are dark currents and secrets, and with PCG you can always expect some even darker comments, not forgetting the gore, always lots of gore! But funny gore!

A fantastic climactic and grin worthy ending.

The White Boy by Joshua Rex

Micheal is down on his luck, however, not all the back story is laid bare, some is hidden, this unfolds later in little scary drips. He finds Jacob, alone, cold and white.

As Michael is led through a torturous route to really finding Jacob its all quiet sad.  Well written enough to draw some serious emotions.

Unseen by James Glass

Omg! So spooky, two dimensional people and rustling. 

The end of the world is nigh according to our narrator. Really enjoyed this story as it gave me goose bumps. 

The tension of not knowing if he is going mad or actually seeing ghosts is riveting.

John by G. Elmer Munson

I was a bit confused at first. 

It started out like John was kidnapping Janelle, but then they get caught in a storm and a strange house appears. 

The time line is all a bit squewhiff in the spooky house with the freaky old lady and ever spookier noises, but all sort of becomes clear at the end. 

Weird little story.

You’ll Thank Me by Tomorrow by Michael D. Matula

Liam and Molly are trying to enjoy a little naughty week away, and the temperature is getting a little hot when the screaming starts. 

This story is very much Groundhog Day for horror lovers, as three people and two rooms rotate in varying fashions to kill each other. It’s exhausting reading in a fantastic way.

The ending is amazing and I think this was my favourite story.

Thursday Night Bingo by Kelli A. Wilkins

Betty gets midnight visitors, she is used to them. 

Her son Jimmy, just thinks she is gong senile. Blackie her dog saw the ghostie too, but as the story unfolds something more sinister is afoot. I really enjoyed this until the ending, it just finished to quick and too predictably for me, great writing style though.

The Witness by Bryan W. Alaspa

Clever nods to your novels BWA! 

In this little story Tabitha is the Witness to all the strange goings on in Knorr, especially the tale of the House on Kettle Street & Clara.

Well written little piece with lots of love and tension, the build up is good and then the final reveal is good if a little cliché. 

However, it did have the best line in the anthology for me: I am the witness. And I shall remain so until I become my own ghost story.

His Shrine to Santa Muerte by Michael G. Williams

Four people who regard themselves as book witches effectively. 

I did not connect with this story I found the writing style too flowery and flowing for my tastes, but thought the overall story was well thought out and deeply complex.

The Other One by Patrick O’Neill

Set out as a testimony which was an interesting way of starting a story but just reduced to a normal telling after a while.

However, I found the “old, rich and educated” flavor of the prose and the perfect little wife and child routine far to sickly for my tastes, in short not making me care about the characters at all, and little niggles regarding time lines such as the visit to the towns tiny Xmas market, they spent all day there??

That all said, there was some beautiful descriptions of places giving a sense of immersion in the story.

As the narrator keeps seeing a little wounded boy night after night, he becomes a little jumpy, however when his wife and child confess to the same vision it all gets a little spooky (I think that seems to be the theme of this anthology!).

As the coincidences and sightings occur the history is revealed and PN leaves us with a little after thought.

Inseparable by Solomon Archer, Ph.D.

The first paragraph left me feeling nauseated, such was the portrayal of devastation and lost come to physical being.

As you continue to be dragged down the rabbit hole of depression that has a dream like edge to it, I was wondering where the spooky would be in this well penned tale.

I need not have worried as the very last line sent such shivers down my spine I needed to stop reading for a while.  Brilliant.

Whiteout by Gary Buettner

Derek and Evie, she is trying to get him killed for a cheating moment but he refuses to die. 

On the way to their cabin Evie crashes and leaves Derek, blinded by the latest assassination attempt, alone in the snow.

Who is guiding him? Who is pointing him in the wrong or right direction?

I had to smirk at the ending,  I wouldn't normally like to be left that way but it suited the story.

Ain’t They Bright by Cecilia Dockins

In the world of Nursing and Medicine I found myself nodding and understanding all the pressures that CD was portraying.

Even with a busy shift it seems Hell has followed our narrator into work.

I was left a little perplexed by this story, maybe it was too close to home.

Wrapped In White

Blood Under The Mistletoe by Blaze McRob

No Joyful Noise by Blaze McRob: John now lives a in a cave after the plague has come. He manages to sustain his needs and many others follow him due to his skills in finding food. As it is Xmas Eve, they decide to sing carols to earn their supper from those that live in the houses, above ground,  protected and safe; but this is a horror book, expect a twist in the tale!

Blood Mass by Blaze McRob: The church is ready for Mass but is hung-over Monsignor Alfonse? He ponders the strange country wide murders that are going on, bodies that are drained of blood, over his thick, black coffee? As he stumbles in to church to take the offering of "blood and body" he soon finds out what is going on.

A Christmas Slaying by Lisa McCourt Hollar: Lisa awakes in her bed, stumbles for her first drink of the morning and gets berated by her husband, then her son decides to make her morning even worse by showing her his uniquely decorated xmas tree.....what makes this gory? well lets just say it has my favourite line in the whole book. He began singing, "Deck the halls with bowels of Holly..." !!

In Elf Defence by Jeffrey Hollar: Oisin, the Elf, is a member of the Alfar Special Forces unit. The Snowmen are attacking, Santa is well..... Santa is something! and the Elves are committing suicide, something must be done. This is one of the best xmas horror stories I have EVER read, its cleverly thought out, well written and funny but in a ghastly way, not to mention the amazing use of words.

Ghoul Yule by Blaze McRob: poor Torget he cannot celebrate the xmas festivities, he is sad and alone, but that's what being a dead flesh munching ghoul will do to your social life. All he wants is a nice cold beer.

A Zombie Christmas by Lisa McCourt Hollar: Jenny, Dale & Danielle; surviving as a thrown together family after the zombies have come. A xmas wish is made and Mum tries her best to fulfil it, now if only Santa would deliver too.  Another very comical view of the apocalypse.

Claus and Effect by Jeffrey Hollar: Santa is an alien, I knew it! Close to the knuckles of decency in this story but riveting nonetheless. I'm sure there is some moral tale in all this horror but I just enjoyed another well thought out world with every little detail accounted for.

No Time For Holidays by Blaze McRob:  who are the real monsters in this tale of transformation.

Christmas in Hell by Lisa McCourt Hollar: Thomas has done some very bad things; was he a man made monster or a natural quirk? Who cares? in Hell, nobody.

Presents of Mind by Jeffrey Hollar: a man and his unique take on xmas and gift giving, it's all in the preparation and it's the thought that counts, right?

He Sees You When You're Shopping by Blaze McRob: OMG this was horrific!

The End to Christmas by Lisa McCourt Hollar: toys are not being made fast enough and elf stew is on the menu, as a riot ensues and teddy bear parts go flying this is one messed up Santa's Grotto.

Overlooked by Blaze McRob: the poor, murderous Blue Spruce, all he wants is a bit of tinsel.

Retribution by Blaze McRob:  a Demon? The Devil? Is given an xmas eve gift of rampage, and he certainly enjoys it! A shudder to end on!

Blaze McRob is so rich in his story telling you are absorbed into his little, horror filled worlds, only to raise your head at the end of each story to gasp for breath and check your surroundings.

Lisa McCourt Hollar is very concise in her writing, she also has this marvelous sense of humour wrapped up in the horror she writes.

Jeffrey Hollar writes in a genre all his own, somewhere between horror and sci-fi with some fantasy thrown in for good chewing. He has such an expanse vocabulary that it is exciting to read the words let alone the fantastic stories he tells.

There are some “beautiful” bits of art throughout the book too, so thank you Thomas Arensberg.

Blood Under The Mistletoe

Jar Baby by Lori. R. Lopez

Emerson Folly. What a fabulous name.

He starts the story off with a dramatic flourish that promises murder and mayhem.

In contrast is the gorgeous Alice in dealing with the weird Dmitri and his projectile vomiting inducing smell. Although I loved their little love affair at the end!

In a flurry the jar is opened despite warnings of curses and demons, which have a wonderful spookily told back story.

Salah, the Arabian Knight has family and bloating issues of his own, but finds the time to write a beautiful love letter to his pregnant wife.

UMBRAL is the word of the month - I adore how LRL just appears to casually throw a word in to her writing that makes you stop dead, go look it up and then it dawns on you just how complex and beautiful that word is.

There is an underlying element of smirk as Boris Karloff and his mates make an appearance and all manner of fun starts to occur; a more macabre version of Night at the Museum came to mind.

LRL manages to make mummy/zombie killing so eloquent sounding as you would you were at a tea party with Earl Grey and cucumber sandwiches.

The finale is brilliant, my favourite story by LRL to date!

Jar Baby

That Ghoul Ava: kicks some Faerie A*** by TW Brown (also That Ghoul Ava & TGA & The Queen of the Zombies

A little novella that sparkles from the beginning.

Poor Ava wakes up from the death to find she is a ghoul.

There is much to learn in her new underworld and her great narrator style and wit introduces us to some of the supernatural world and its goings on with little quips, witty observations and a shark grin!

A brilliant concept loved this story and really looking forward to more episodes!

That Ghoul Ava: Her First Adventures

Love the little catch up comments, not too much for the faithful reader but enough to refresh a memory or two.

Bucket loads of new monsters, characters and friends. A first novel in what is no doubt going to be a truly amazing series! 

In this episode Ava is sent on a mission by her vampire boss to discover where all the zombies are coming from and why. It has a definite Thriller edge, but sadly with no dancing.

The style is a type of narration as we are informed of the supernatural  new world in which she 'lives'; all sorts of monsters are thrown in with some brilliant  twists on the  zombie, vampire, and other similar "myths" come horror.

The humour is so wonderfully subtle you find yourself smirking and snorting through the gore and slime.

No actual comedic moments, just the run of the mill everyday stuff is seen in the colour of comedy, like an excellent comedian TWB manages to point that out, giving you great snorting moments. Such as the ghost writer!

Some really clever movie references..... and omg how funny at Mark Tufo Zombie Fallout ref!

I want that story about the not real dead seeking cats!

That Ghoul Ava & the Queen of the Zombies

No dicing around here, straight in there with the action.  Some brief catch up notes, so you can read this as a stand-alone story if you wanted but works best as part of the series.

I really enjoyed all the little nods to “reality”. TWB has outdone himself with the clever chapter titles and the Spotify link. Really gave a holistic feel to the whole thing.

In this episode of Ava’s unlife we find her trying to bulldoze her way through battling fairies and discover what has got their panties in a bunch. It is a complex world that Ava lives in and nothing is what it seems; who needs politics when you have supernaturals!

The humour has really been ramped up in this one, M. Knight Shamalammadingdong had me giggling for ages! The fight scene in the fairies’ house was brilliant; only TWB could write with Star Trek theme music and a Daffy Duck voice over and still make me feel tense.

I will be ordering the Unnatural Grimoire from Amazon.su.uk

More monsters, some great connections, a few really lovely heart touching moments regarding friendship and I absolutely loved the Nessie comments!

(just a little side comment, yes I DO beta read for TWB but I ALWAYS buy all of his books; I believe THAT much in his work I wish to continue to support him. If I hate a concept or part of a book, or character I tell him at that stage, he is the talent so if that bit stays - I moan about it in the review!)

That Ghoul Ava: Kicks Some Faerie A***