Review: Boys in the Valley

Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Philip Fracassi's Boys in the Valley may have you considering the difference between "evil" and "EVIL" as you enter the the world of Peter and his fellow orphans in a remote Pennsylvania orphanage in the early 1900s. The boys are expected to do chores as part of their daily activities under the watchful eyes of the priests and Brother Johnson, a lay person with a violent past. Fracassi doesn't pull any punches when describing the conditions, discipline and punishment that the boys live under, but he also warmly conveys the friendships and relationships developed among the boys.

Life at the orphanage is difficult, with never enough food for growing boys, but it is predictable... until the night a group of riders approach and evil is unleashed within the orphanage's walls. The boys' friendships break down as sides are chosen amid horrendous violent acts. Some within the orphanage recognize what is happening, while others seem to willfully reject the possibility that evil has taken root.

This story grabbed me at the beginning and didn't let go until after I turned the final page. It's been described elsewhere as a melding of The Exorcist and Lord of the Flies, and that certainly seems accurate. It's a well paced tale, full of twists and turns, that will break your heart and lift your soul, and leave you guessing until the end about what the outcome will be.

Highly recommended for horror fans.

Review: Duma Key

Duma Key by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Duma Key is one of King's best! I can't help but think that King drew from his own experience recovering from the horrific injuries he endured when hit by a van in 1999 as he was writing this.

It has a slow, but fascinating build to a great ending, with lots of chills & creepy moments along the way.

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Review: The Forgiven

The Forgiven by Paul Michael Kane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Forgiven by Paul Michael Kane is a fantastic tale, told from an interesting and unusual point of view. The characters may seem familiar at first, but are surprising in unexpected ways. The accompanying illustrations are not only beautiful but they fit the story well.

If you haven't read this yet put it onto your TBR pile... near the top!

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Review: Memorials

Memorials by Richard Chizmar
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Memorials may be Richard Chizmar's best, scariest book yet. It follows the journey of a trio of college students, Billy Anderson, Melody Wise and Troy Carpenter, as they embark on a trip to create a documentary telling the stories behind roadside memorials in the Appalachian region of Pennsylvania for a class project. Along the way they encounter both friendly support and encouragement, as well as antagonism from members of the communities they visit. They also begin to suspect that someone who doesn't want the documentary made is following them, and their growing sense of paranoia isn't eased when they experience disturbing dreams and odd encounters.

Fair warning: some readers may be bothered by scenes of graphic physical violence, including some that involve sexual encounters, along with brief mentions of a drug overdose, drug use and gang violence. For the most part these serve to move the story forward but may be uncomfortable for some.

Chizmar provides the necessary background about the earlier lives of the 3 unlikely college friends, each of whom has suffered a personal loss. This background helps to explain their willingness (compulsion?) to continue the trip even as they face mounting opposition to their undertaking as they find odd similarities and connections between many of the roadside memorials. The trio begin to wonder who they can and cannot trust as they go deeper into the hill country and on their return, as they try to unravel the mystery surrounding the memorials and the strange events they experience.

Written from the perspective of Billy Anderson, Chizmar builds suspense and then lets it taper off for just a bit before ratcheting up to an even higher level. The climactic scene is satisfyingly horrific and leads to further revelations that help life return to normal. Almost.

Fans of suspenseful thrillers and horror blended with a touch of the occult will enjoy this.
Highly recommended.

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Review: Other Places

Other Places by Thomas Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a fun read - many of the stories were "snack size" but very satisfying nonetheless. There's something for just about everyone here, several of them with a bit of a Twilight Zone vibe. As for me, I hope I'm never in A Bad Place Alone ... such a nice set up and plenty of twists along the way.

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Review: Sister of Starlit Seas

Sister of Starlit Seas by Terry Brooks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I like Terry Brooks and his writing. I enjoyed the previous 2 books in this series very much, but I had trouble connecting with this book and its main character Char. I would say it IS a good story overall that serves as a nice continuation of the series, and could stand alone reasonably well. It is definitely worth a read, especially if you've enjoyed Child of Light and Daughter of Darkness, and you may find that connection that I did not.

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Review: Lost on a Mountain in Maine

Lost on a Mountain in Maine by Donn Fendler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An enjoyable and quick read. The true story of a young Donn Fendler who gets lost in the woods when he strays off a trail on Maine's Mt Katahdin. It tells the tale of his nearly 2 weeks in the woods trying to survive while dealing with unforgiving terrain, weather, bugs and animals. Likely an inspiration for Stephen King's tale The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.

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