The Mourning House by Ronald Malfi

This is the story of Sam Hatch. One new years eve, he tragically loses his family in a car crash after a party at his best friends house. Devastated and bewildered he embarks on a two year drive across America until he is drawn to a ramshackle house. He buys it with the intention of living there and doing it up. That is until he gets the feeling he is not alone....


This is everything a good haunted house novella should be. It is tight, brooding, very descriptive and atmospheric. The lead character is likeable and you feel his pain and feel sorry for him and his loss, and the fact that his sanity is slipping further away the longer he stays in the house. The story has a small cast, so you know who is who at all times. The pace is pretty relentless, grabbing you at the beginning and not letting go until the end. (I read this in one sitting, it grabbed me so totally!) A great haunted house story and a fine example of the genre.

Long Black Coffin by Tim Curran

This is the story of Johnny Breede. A young man whose life isn't really going anywhere, content to goof around and get drunk and high with his best friend Kurt. That is until Kurt winds up dead, asphyxiated in his father's GTO. That same car that his father killed himself in some years previously. Now an evil has been unleashed and Johnny must piece together the mystery before anyone else dies. A mystery that will involve Kurt's family, the woods, Johnny's boss, some missing children and a malevolent entity connected with the car. Can Johnny solve the puzzle or are more people doomed to die?

This was quite creepy. It was a book that I shall be thinking about for quite some time I think. I enjoyed it very much, this being the second book I have read from this author. The characters were all well-rounded, but not really likeable in the conventional sense. The were all wasters but somehow I was invested in finding out more about them. The paranormal aspect of the story was introduced and handled well. Be warned though, some scenes are quite graphic, both gorily and sexually. Not for the faint hearted! If I have one gripe though, it is the car. Supposedly the focal point of the story, I would have liked more back story to it. This is another fine offering from DarkFuse, and I recommend it for a creepy, stay-with-you ghost story.

An Actors Life by Duncan Whitehead

This is the story of Terry Sparkes. A failed actor, he is reduced to catching glimpses of his hero, Sir Michael Brookes on TV. Tonight he is watching him at the Oscars, hoping he will win the double of best supporting actor, and best actor...

Right off the bat I will admit I find short stories really hard to review, its so difficult to give a quick synopsis without giving away the entire story! That being said, on with the review. This was a lovely quirky little tale. It made a passing nod to Duncan's full length novel, 'The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club', which I have also read and enjoyed. This story had the same offbeat, slightly flawed characters, and the same vein of dark humour running through it. I would recommend this as an excellent introduction to Duncan's work. A nice, light easy read over a cup of coffee.

The Lost Son by Matt Shaw

This is the story of Jason and Emily. they move into a new house with their dog Roald. They haven't been there long before strange things start happening in the house and they have the feeling they aren't alone. The house used to be occupied by Aimee and Ian. They moved out after a tragedy befell the family. What is happening in the house and can Jason get to the bottom of the mystery before anymore sadness occurs?

This is something of a different subject matter for Matt to write about. Normally his books are full on, in your face, gory serial killer thrillers. This was a journey into the world of the supernatural. It was well written and I was sniffling quite loudly by the end. The characters were solid, and as this was longer than Matts usual style, they had more of a chance to develop. The pace was blistering and I spent two nights glued to my Kindle not daring to stop lest I miss anything! I thoroughly enjoyed this and recommend it to Matt fans and new readers alike.

Nightshade by Stephen Leather

This is the fourth in the Jack Nightingale series of book. This time Jack is investigating the murder of 8 children in a school, for the shooters brother. Alongside of this is the kidnap of a nine year old girl. She was rescued and brought back from deaths door by paramedics. Now anyone who has had any contact with her is dying a truly horrific death. Jack's investigations will take him into the realms of the supernatural and the occult. The further he digs, the more people he is upsetting and soon he finds his life in danger. Can Jack solve both mysteries before anyone else dies?

This is the second Jack Nightingale book I have read and it is safe to say I am hooked! The balance between mystery and supernatural is just right and keeps the reader interested. The pace is fast and although it is quite a long book, the story never flags and kept me page turning until the end. There were two distinct story lines at first but both converged towards the end and everything began to make sense. Jack was again excellent as the slightly battered Private Investigator, who travels the length and breadth of the UK to try and solve the mysteries. I recommend this to readers who have read others in the series but also if you are new. This works well as a standalone or as part of the series.

Bend Me, Shape Me by Debra R. Borys

This is the second in the 'Street Stories' series of suspense novels that highlight the trials and tribulations of young kids homeless and on the street. Focussing on Snow and her brother Alley (Alejandro), Jo Sullivan must investigate concerns that a psychiatrist working with the youngsters is driving them to suicide. Snow is concerned her brother may be next after her friend slits his throat after a session with this psychiatrist. Can Jo solve the mystery or will her own demons refuse to let her see what is under her nose?

Told in three distinct voices, Jo, Snow and Snow's Great Uncle Leonard - this was a fantastic follow up to the first 'Street Stories' book, Painted Black. This was a rollercoaster of a book both with regards to the action and emotionally. I enjoyed it and found it hard to put down. The characters were all realistic, and the vivid descriptions of a bleak wintery Chicago made me think of all those poor kids that have nowhere to go. This is a series that can only get better and better, and although the books are linked, they can be read quite happily as standalones. I can't wait for the next one!

Wheezer and the Shy Coyote by Kitty Sutton

This is the second in the series of books featuring Cherokee Sasa and her doggy friend Wheezer. This time they are trying to solve the mystery of who is selling whiskey to the Cherokees. With the help of Coyote, a half Lakota, half Blackfoot and a wild coyote Sasa has named Yellow eyes - it's not long before she finds herself over her head and in very real danger. With two Native Indians already dead, can Sasa and Wheezer solve the mystery before anymore lives are lost?

I really enjoyed the first Wheezer story and its follow-up was certainly no disappointment. It was nice meeting up with familiar characters, and Kitty truly does bring them to life in a wonderful way. Once again, this was a work of fiction but it has it's roots in real life history. it was easy to read and I got into the story very quickly. We were introduced to a few new characters this time around, and I do hope some of them find their way back again. The story itself was fast paced and hard to put down. Once I had started I found myself saying 'Just one more chapter....' I hope it won't be too long before we see Wheezer and Sasa again as I will be having withdrawal symptoms!