The Power of Christ Compels You!

Ever since I was a kid and I'd heard of Hans Holzer and Ed and Lorraine Warren, I had wanted to become a paranormal investigator. This joins cryptozoologists in a list of jobs I would do if I ever had enough money that I wouldn't need to work for a living. But as childhood flights of fancy are prone to do, they fade away like dreams, to be replaced by the realities of the everyday world and adulthood. I'd never really given it any thought in my adult life, but with the release of The Conjuring several years ago, it awakened those memories. Not in a way where I wanted to chuck my day job to chase ghosts, but in a way where I wanted to explore it more for... Let's call it research. And what better place to start than with The Demonologist: The Extraordinary Career of Ed & Lorraine Warren. Yeah, yeah, I know. They're frauds. Or so many people claim, some of whom have worked with them and offer that as supporting evidence. But I wanted to read more about their cases. Turns out, this particular book was not the book to read to satisfy that itch.
What you have in Brittle's "biography" is a look inside the lives of the Warrens -- when they are not on a case. You learn a bit about their early lives, pre-ghost hunting: how they met, what they did and what they wanted to do with their lives, and how they got involved in their current profession (if profession is the correct word, as they claim they never took a dime from the people they helped). Makes you wonder where the money came from that allowed them to travel across the country and all over the world. That's something that is never really discussed. One would assume it was from their speaking engagements and one course Ed taught at a Connecticut university.

What you don't get is an in-depth discussion of their cases. Yeah, there's a mention of Annabelle, the haunted doll, and the Enfield haunting, and they do touch upon the Amityville Horror and The Exorcist. And while they do discuss in detail one or two cases, it wasn't enough. Not by a long shot. With that said, I did enjoy what I read, I just wish there was more. The balance of the book is religious discussion on demons, devils, inhuman and human spirits, and what to look for if you suspect someone you know is being haunted. They also tell the reader how to safeguard against spirit oppression and possession. Again, it was interesting, but not what I was looking for. Rating? Three stars. Could have been four if they had more case study and less chatter.

Never Make a Deal with a Demon

This past July saw the debut of Tony Tremblay's The Moore House. I'd been hearing great things about this book for the past six months or so, so I was excited to get my hands on it. When I finally did, I placed a number of things on hold so I could delve right into it. For me, it sadly did not live up to the hype.

We've all seen this type of story before. Paranormal investigators are called in to investigate a house that has been the site of numerous brutal murders over the years and is assumed to be haunted or possessed. In this particular case, the paranormal investigators are a priest and three nuns. Well, former nuns. Each has left their respective sisterhoods for their own reasons, which we learn about as the story unfolds. Once they venture into the house, they become trapped, and the demon within proceeds to have his fun with them. The question becomes: Can they withstand the torments imposed on them, summon their strength through their belief in God, and vanquish the demon, or are they destined to become the next ghostly residents of The Moore House?

I'm not going to deny that the book is well written and the pacing is such that you are carried along to the end on a wave of suspense. You can't help but to read on to find out what happens. So what was my problem with the book? Well, for one thing, I've seen so much of what transpires within the pages of The Moore House in other books and films, so to me it just didn't feel fresh. The opening sequence in Tremblay's work could have been lifted from the movie See No Evil, a film I have watched numerous times.

My other problem with Tremblay's novel is the characters. In this type of story, you're supposed to be rooting for the heroes and heroines. You're supposed to want them to vanquish the evil and escape unscathed from their haunted prison, and you'd figure that wouldn't be a problem with a priest and three nuns. And if that's what you figured, you'd be wrong. The characters turn out to be vile creatures, each harboring dark secrets that make them awful people who are hoping to erase their dastardly deeds from their past by doing good work. They hope to find redemption by doing the Lord's work, so they are not acting selflessly when they put themselves in danger, but selfishly. I found myself hoping they'd all get their comeuppance. In addition to their base nature, they also behave like a bunch of amateurs. These are supposed to be seasoned professionals who have battled demons in the past, yet they make every mistake in the book, mistakes you'd expect a novice to make, but not someone who has done this type of thing before. You can't reward stupidity, so by the time they all become ensnared in this demonically designed web, you find yourself rooting for the demons.

So do any of them make it out? I'm not going to ruin that. You'll just have to read it for yourself. Does that mean I'm recommending it? You might think my answer to that would be no, but it isn't. Tony Tremblay's The Moore House is NOT a bad book; it just wasn't for me. I said it earlier, and I'll say it again—The Moore House is a well-written, fast-paced novel that hooks you on the first page and keeps you hooked until the end. Tremblay's strength here is creating a narrative that moves you swiftly along, so settle back for the ride. If you are a fan of haunted house novels, I think you'd enjoy it. Just don't go into it expecting anything new. And if you're a horror fan, it's definitely worth the read. Maybe you'll come away from it with something I didn't.

A 1950s Style Horror Romp through Florida

My first exposure to the works of Hunter Shea was The Jersey Devil. I was so impressed with that novel that I followed up immediately with Loch Ness Revenge. Another winner. I have some of his other books on Kindle, which I will get to when some of my time frees up, but when I saw Jurassic Florida, I had to drop everything and read this, especially since I had just watched The Giant Gila Monster, one of those 1950s horror movies where nature strikes back, and unfortunately, I have to say this wasn't nearly as good as the two novels I had already read. Don't get me wrong. It was a fun read, but it lacked the depth and detail of The Jersey Devil and Loch Ness Revenge. The main focus here is on moving the story along without bogging it down with any backstory. As a result, you don't become invested in any of the characters, and therefore you don't feel anything when they die their gruesome deaths.

The story set up for Jurassic Florida is one we've all seen, especially if you've seen any of the recent SyFy giant creature movies or any of the movies of the 1950s that featured small towns being attacked by supersized bugs and spiders. An environmental disaster, in this case a BP-sized oil spill, riles up the wildlife along the Florida coastline. The town of Polo Springs see a dramatic increase in the iguana population. The little beasts are everywhere, and they just keep coming. Here, Shea borrows from the 2010 remake of Piranha, and we find out these vicious little guys are only the babies. So where are Mommy and Daddy? It doesn't take long to find out. Chaos ensues as the behemoths push their way to the surface and the residents of Polo Springs are running and fighting for their lives. Who lives? Who dies? Does anybody survive? You'll just have to read it to find out.

As I already mentioned, this was a fun read, but it could have been so much better had Shea adhered more to formula for this type of tale. The residents assume the oil spill forced these giant iguanas from their underground lairs. What they don't say is that the oil caused a genetic mutation that allowed these creatures to grow to the size of dinosaurs. As a reader, I don't accept the fact that they were always there, not in the numbers that surface. Some one or some thing created these creatures. Had Shea adhered to formula, the scientist(s) would have been brought in, as well as the military, who, working with the good Professor, would find a way to defeat these monsters and rescue the trapped townsfolk. Leaving the townsfolk to fend for themselves as they attempt to vanquish these beasts is anticlimactic, at least for me. You're prepared for a big showdown between man and beast that never really manifests. That aside, I would still recommend it, especially if you're looking for something light to kill some time. It's perfect for those couple of hours spent on the beach or by the pool.

Going 'Squatchin'

Ever since I was a kid, I had a thing for cryptids, so imagine my surprise when I saw that Frank Peretti had written a book dealing with Bigfoot.

I had my first exposure to Peretti years ago when I read The Oath, which, if memory serves me correctly, I enjoyed. At the time, I made it a point to check out more of the author's work but just never got around to it. Between life and other books, he just got lost in the shuffle. Part of the reason he got lost is because I heard he was "Christian author," which turned narrow-minded me off to his books; however, he wrote a book about Bigfoot. Bigfoot! Despite the mixed reviews, I HAD to check it out.

Monster gets off to a mysterious start with a hunter covering up  an obvious murder, staging the scene so that it looks like the man died in an accident. Why? Well, it's obvious he's tracking something, and he doesn't want people to know what actually killed the man. One can assume it's a bear, but is there something else loose in the woods, something more vicious than a bear?

The scene then jumps to two couples who are planning to meet up for a survivalist weekend. Reed and his wife, Beck, arrive at the rendez vous point ahead of their friends, only to find the cabin they had been planning on staying in destroyed and the hired guide nowhere to be found. They investigate the cabin and the area surrounding it and come to the conclusion that it was a bear. Because it's so late in the day, they are left with no recourse but to camp out for the night, as there isn't enough daylight left for them to make it safely back to civilization. They set up camp away from the cabin take the necessary precautions so as not to attract the bear to their campsite, but as soon as the sun goes down, the surrounding forest comes alive with grunts, howls, and what they swear is a woman sending out a a mournful wail into the darkness. They become aware of a presence in the woods, and they realize it isn't a bear, but something with intelligence, as it's keeping just far enough within the shadows of the trees so it can't be detected. They try to stay calm, but fear takes over, and soon they are running through the woods. In the process of trying to evade whatever is pursuing them, they stumble across the body of their guide, hidden in a tree and practically decapitated. Needless to say, the chase ends with Reed witnessing some creature carrying his wife off into the woods. This sets the stage for the rest of the book: a search for and rescue of Beck from the creature that took her.

Despite the mounting evidence that the creature in the woods is definitely a biped, there is a resistance group among the rescuers who continue to insist it's a bear and try to convince the others that there's no such thing as Bigfoot and that what carried off Reed's wife was indeed a bear, and they shouldn't expect to find her alive -- if they find her at all. Meanwhile, we find out Beck is alive. Injured, but alive, and being held "captive" by a family of Sasquatches: an adult male, two adult females, and a juvenile male. It become obvious that the one adult female view Beck as her child and is determined to take care of her and protect her from the other members of her family (?), who make it clear they do not want Beck among them. Will Beck survive long enough to be rescued by her husband? Will her husband give up the search in light of evidence that points to Beck no longer being among the living? And what of the mysterious hunter from the beginning?

With Monster, Peretti has created a thrilling novel that is so much more than just a tale of survival. It's also a tale of intrigue because yes, there is a cover up, and there's also a twist that you won't see coming. His characters are fully realized, and you come to care what happens to them. As far as his creatures are concerned, you gain an insight into them that you wouldn't expect, so yes, you even care about what happens to them, more so as the truth is revealed.

The thing I can't understand are some of the reviewers' comments, saying that the religion is laid on rather thick. I didn't find that to be the case at all. I've found Koontz's later work to be rather heavy handed and preachy when it comes to religious beliefs, but within the context of the book, the characters praying and asking God to deliver/return them safely is quite believable. Even the most un-religious person will sometimes throw up a prayer to the Man upstairs asking them for a little help, so this aspect didn't bother me nearly much as it seems to bother other readers. And it certainly hasn't turned me off to the author. I know I said this once before, but I definitely will be seeking out more works by this author, and this time I fully intend on following through.

Would I recommend Monsters? Absolutely! I think it's one of the best Bigfoot novels I've read to date.



  

No More Teachers, No More Books...

William Carl's The School That Screamed has been sitting on my TBR mountain for quite some time, and I just now got around to reading it. Part of my hesitation on actually starting it comes from the fact that I've recently been inundated with haunted school stories, be it on TV, short stories, or novels, and none of them offered up anything new to this particular sub-genre of horror. The School That Screamed is no different in that respect, but that doesn't mean I didn't enjoy it -- because I did.

The novel takes place at the Dolly (or is it Dollie? My one BIG gripe with the novel) Elliott School for Girls, a last-resort boarding school for "bad" girls, or girls that parents just don't want to be bothered with anymore. Laura Pennington is one of these girls. She's the "new girl" and arrives at the school carrying a secret she doesn't want to share with anyone, not realizing the school also possesses a secret. The new teacher, Sarah Stallworth, also has a secret, one that could get her relieved of her position if anybody were to find out about it. Rounding out the cast of characters is Yvonne Blaylock, the tough-as-nails head mistress, Jon O'Hara, the token male character (who's really one of the girls), and the rest of the "Scooby Gang" -- Allie Sayers, the self-proclaimed Queen Bitch Brandy Huber, and Goth girl Jane Melville, who also happens to be a practicing witch.

Carl doesn't waste time getting into the story, as we soon learn that Allie is having visions. She keeps seeing an eyeless nun (are spooky nuns the genre's new clowns?) staring at her from the mirror, but when she turns around, there's no one there. She eventually confides in the new girl, and we quickly find out that the school has a past. It was known at one time as the Mary Magdalene Home for Wayward Girls, a half-way house run by nuns and populated by unwed mothers. And as all nuns are evil bitches, we soon learn that these Godly women were far from Christian-like with their charges, which resulted in many of their deaths. It is these girls and the nuns who haunt the school.

As the story progresses, the supernatural events and the body count escalate quickly, and we can tell by the chain of events that Carl is building up to something. Just what that something is, we don't know, but we can suspect. Chances are, if your familiar with this type of story, you know what the climax is going to be. I'll leave that to you to find out.

Carl has a way of moving us quickly through the story so there's no lag in the narrative, and combine this with the author's style of writing, you can find yourself caught up in the events and reading right through to the end in one sitting (if time allows). 

However, as much as I enjoyed the book, it isn't without its faults, the most obvious being names. As mentioned earlier, the school is referred to at times as the Dolly Elliott School, and at other times it is the Dollie Elliott School, a teacher's name switches between LeBoum and LeBouf. For me, the relationship between the girls develops too quickly. The book reads like it takes place over the period of a few days to a week or so, so for Laura to be calling the other girls friends doesn't seem right or natural. Roommates, acquaintances, classmates, but not friends, which leads me to the way the characters react and respond to certain situations.  Reactions don't ring true, which for me is a definite minus. I want characters to respond realistically within the world the author has created, so when one of the girls makes a play for one of the other girls, it's brushed off as if nothing happened. Within a serious horror novel, which is what Carl is trying to paint here, there should be an awkwardness between the girls that lasts awhile, but for the sake of moving the novel forward, they treat it as if it's no big deal. That kind of revelation could put a strain on even the best of friends, and for two strangers? Awkwardness, silence, avoidance, until the one has had a chance to take it all in and decide how she wants to handle the situation.

Later on in the novel, Carl attempts to throw some humor into the mix (I guess, to alleviate tension), but it falls flat because it comes out of nowhere. Were we in a Buffy-type situation, where these types of quips and banter are a staple of the show, it seems out of place in Carl's work. One can very easily imagine Cordelia hesitating as the action plays out to consider her dress or her shows and how she really doesn't want to damage them or get them all bloody, but for these characters, when they are stressing how important it is that they move quickly in order to save the day, to stop and worry about their designer shoes and to actually remove them so they won't get ruined, opting to walk across a blood-soaked floor, has the reader rolling their eyes instead of laughing. While this might not bother some readers, it was enough to pull me out of the story.

Issues aside (as I said, they might not bother some readers), I would still recommend The School That Screamed, especially on a day when you find yourself locked inside with nothing to do. With the Northeaster heading our way, I can't imagine a better way to spend the time.