Althea M. (althea) reviewed on 9/11/2008 + 774 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

· 9 The Dripping David Morrell
This was originally published in the 70s, unlike most of the stories, which were new for the book (mid-90s). However, its quite good. A man comes home to the old country house where his familys been staying for the summer. But all is silent except for the milk dripping from the ceiling. Where are his wife, daughter and elderly mother? What has happened?

· 18 The Wringer F. Paul Wilson
An American of Middle-Eastern descent has had his family kidnapped. The abductor is calling, spewing anti-Arab sentiments and demanding that he do progressively more humiliating and dangerous acts or his wife and son will be killed. In desperation, he calls a mercenary(?) hitman(?) called Repairman Jack. Good ending!

· 68 A Season of Change Richard T. Chizmar
A policeman whose partner has been killed by a drug dealer takes justice into his own hands. Not that memorable or scary.

· 86 Good Vibrations Richard Laymon
A flirtatious teenager gets more than she bargained for when she meets a good-looking but strange young man while sunbathing at the beach. And it was almost such a sweet story.. ;-)

· 104 The Tulsa Experience Lawrence Block
Last time I read this was before Id been on tripadvisor.com and read peoples trip reports about their (mostly rather mundane) vacations. This story of a guy and his brothers vacations to not-so-exotic cities and the touristy things they do on these trips reads just like one of those except for the shocker. Pretty funny!

· 117 Trolls Christopher Fahy
Straight out of college, a young woman gets the job she was hoping for a teaching position. However, the school is an institution for mentally disabled adults, rather rundown and in an isolated location. And some of the students seem more full of malice than youd expect. Is this why staff members keep quitting unexpectedly, never to be seen again? Or does the school hide a deeper secret? (The title does rather give it away.)

· 141 Small Deaths [Newford] Charles de Lint
Not really a horror story, per se. A young woman whos a late-night radio DJ gets stalked by a weirdo and learns some things about hope and despair.

· 164 White Lightning Al Sarrantonio
An abused kid goes nuts and goes on a killing spree. Extremely violent. Quite good.

· 176 Hitman Rick Hautala
A Mafia hitmans car breaks down and hes forced to hitch a ride from a passerby but then the good Samaritan thinks he sees a dead hand flopping around, sticking out of the truck in front of them More like an episode of The Sopranos than a horror story.

· 192 Vympyre William F. Nolan
An ancient vampire is dying. Only 3 pages long. He reminisces a bit, then dies.

· 195 ...And Eight Rabid Pigs [Satan Claus] David Gerrold
A writer makes up a story about the anti-Santa Claus. But naming things can bring them into being, and as the story gains popularity, perhaps Satan Claus will actually come into being. Nice holiday tale! tongue.gif

· 210 Bringing It Along A. R. Morlan
A rather nasty boyfriend likes to scare his wussy girlfriend on camping trips. But this time he doesnt get the last laugh.

· 219 Redemption Jack Ketchum
An ex-girlfriend has made a habit of offing her exes new dates. Nobody suspects a well-dressed young woman of being a killer. But she gets more than she bargained for when she meets a dangerous dominatrix. Eh. The story tries too hard to say too much.

· 232 The Graveyard Ghoul Edward D. Hoch
A mystery in the gothic vein A rich gentleman calls for an investigation. Someones been desecrating graves on his estates private cemetery, and he suspects it might be his own son but what could be the motive for such a gruesome crime? I dont really think it works all that well the clues dont necessarily add up to the conclusion but its fun enough.

· 249 The Rings of Cocytus Katherine Ramsland
Another serial killer story. Remember, you never know what could set off a killer they could seem normal until the trigger is pulled, and they snap Not one of the stronger pieces in the book.

· 255 Late Last Night John Maclay
A young drifter/musician meets a similar girl in a bus station. They hook up, then they get killed randomly by hoodlums. If you have a deep fear of unknown cities at night, this story might do it for you, but its just too random and unrealistic. Theres no point to it.

· 264 Beasts in Buildings, Turning Round J. N. Williamson
A group of people are stuck in a hotel in a war-torn (Middle-Eastern?) city. And someone is killing them, one by one? Who is the murderer? The lip-reading nun may be able to find out. Interesting setting/premise, but not that well executed.

· 287 Dark Side of the Moon Barbara Collins
An abused wife goes missing from her home. Did her husband kill her? The leader of the local feminist group, jumping to conclusions, certainly thinks so. But the psychic detective seems to think shes alive and well on the moon.
If a guy had written this one, it would never have been published.

· 303 Honor Bound J. M. Morgan
Best serial killer story of the lot. When he was little, Gershoms mother was attacked and killed. Now Gershom feels compelled to reenact this crime again and again, preying on mothers with young childrenforcing them to make a choice between their lives and that of their children. Believable and creepy.

· 318 The Instrumentalist William Relling, Jr.
Short piece from the point of view of a hospitalized psycho. Not too impressive.

· 321 Corpse Carnival [as by D. R. Banat] Ray Bradbury
Another older piece originally published in 1945. A classic. One of a pair of Siamese twins is stabbed at a carnival freakshow. The quick work of a surgeon saves the other twins life. Now he is a normal man finally, it seems, hell be able to be free and be alone with the woman he loves. But first, even though he always disliked and resented his twin, hes honor bound to find his brothers killer.

· 338 The Book of Blood Clive Barker
This is really just the introduction to Barkers Books of Blood series of short stories. Previously published, and certainly doesnt deserve the top billing its given. Still, Barkers always good

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