One of the things that horror does, is take something we often WISH for- and make us rethink that wish... After Bill Halleck accidentally runs over an old gypsy woman, a simple word is whispered to him- and his life becomes a living hell. The word is, "Thinner"... This book is one of Stephen King's earlier books, written under the name "Richard Bachman", but isn't what I would consider one of his better novels. The premise is interesting.  The old gypsy guy and the "fixer" friend of Halleck's are interesting.  The writing style isn't bad, and there's a decent flow to the words. The fault isn't with those things.  Rather, the problem for me lies in the character of Halleck, and the pace of the story.  I had zero sympathy for Halleck, so felt no real tension on his behalf.  Maybe if he had some redeeming qualities, and felt real remorse for what he did, then I might not have minded the slow pacing of the story.  As it was...

Regular readers of my blog will know that I'm a big fan of William Castle.  The man was a visionary that made horror films fun, entertaining, and more than just images on the screen. Well, he's at it again- this time with a new book... the first book ever written by a ghost! William Castle finds himself a ghost in the quiet tomb of Saint Sarah in France.  While learning to adjust to his new "life", he discovers that his fate is tied to the lives of four teens who are soon sent on a terrifying quest to uncover the the truth behind Castle's death... and keep those responsible from gaining the tool for taking over the world... I have to admit, I was excited to read this book.  Seriously excited.  That last time I was THIS excited over a book was when I found a bunch of old " The Shadow " books at the book store I frequent.  And I was seriously geeking out at that time. And as far as I'm concerned, that excitement was worth it. The book, si...

Those of you that keep an eye on this blog will probably have figured out that I'm a fan of William Castle- having reviewed two of his movies (so far), spent a month paying tribute to his birthday, and even posting updates (and soon participating in) about his 2011 " Scare It Forward! " project. Well, here I am letting you know that William Castle is once again bringing horror to his fans with a new book that goes on sale July 18th, 2011. The book is- appropriately enough, titled, " From the Grave: The Prayer ".  From comments made by William Castle on his blog , it tells the story of how he died... and returned from the other side. I, for one, think this is fantastic- especially since the first hundred or so books are autographed by the spirit of William Castle.  Thinking about it makes my fingers tingle with the need to hold such a book, and turn each page as I'm gripped by the suspense and horror put forward only as the great Mr. Castle could do it...

I first heard about the "Ghost of Flight 401" as a kid, and saw a movie... appropriately titled, "The Ghost of Flight 401".  I'd heard that it was based on true events, and was interested in learning more about this case of the paranormal.  What I didn't know at the time was that it was also based on the book of the same name by John G. Fuller. Then one day, while rummaging through the Paranormal section of one of my favorite book stores, I came across this book.  Remembering the case from my childhood, I that it would be a good addition to my collection.  And it was. John G. Fuller was a journalist/author that at one time wrote a regular column for the magazine, " Saturday Review ".  He also wrote several non-fiction books regarding UFO's and the paranormal, including, " The Interrupted Journey: 2 Lost Hours 'Aboard a Flying Saucer' ", "Incident at Exeter: The Story of Unidentified Flying Objects Over America Now ...

A father is devestated when a firey car crash kills his wife and daughter- Audrey Rose.  Seeking comfort in their passing, Elliot goes for advice from a psychic- who informs him that his daughter has been reincarnated... and is in torment.  Enter Ivy Templeton, a sweet girl whom Elliot is convinced houses his dead daughter's suffering soul.  Is she, and what lengths will Elliot go in order to save his dead daughter? This 1975 novel by Frank De Felitta came at a time when the New Age movement started gaining popularity.  The idea of reincarnation was catching on, and interest in the supernatural was growing.  Questions about whether or not a soul maintains memories from its previous life when reincarnated were being asked.  What if the previous life ended horribly- would those memories be transferred to the new body? "Audrey Rose" examines that question, and uses it as the basis for an interesting and eerie read.  Like some of the best hor...

Well all know it's coming.  We've seen the movies.  We've seen the Facebook tests.  We've seen it in the blank expressions of people shuffling off to their morning Starbucks... The zombie apocalypse.  Hoardes of the dead rising from their graves to feast upon the flesh and brains of the living.  We've seen the progression- from "Night of the Living Dead", through it's dawn, and day until the world is the "Land of the Dead". So, yeah- we all know it's coming.  The question is: "What do we do when it comes?"  Well, here's the answer: "Max Brooks' 'The Zombie Survival Guide', that's what." This book, though obviously tongue-in-cheek, could very well be an honest to goodness survival guide.  It is well thought out, clear, precise, and logical in its approach to how one could survive a mass uprising of the feasting dead. "The Zombie Survival Guide" covers the "known facts" abo...