Archive for the ‘Horror’ Category

I like to help promote local book related goings on when I can. Those cheeky young scamps over at Un:Bound sure do make it easy to do so. Check out the poster for their latest event.

Something is sapping the energy of the usually robust dancers of the Moulin Rouge … Zombies roam the streets of New York City … Clowns die in mysteriously humorous ways … Jack the Rippers crimes are investigated by a vampire …

Welcome to the horrific and poetic world of Sam Stone, where Angels are stalking the undead and a vampire becomes obsessed with a centuries-old werewolf. Terror and lust go hand in hand in the disturbing world of the Toymaker, and the haunting Siren’s call draws the hapless further into a waking nightmare.

Thirteen stories of horror and passion, and six mythological and erotic poems from the pen of the new Queen of Vampire fiction.

This collection is split into three sections. The first seven short tales fall under the banner heading of Lucrezia’s Stories. Lucrezia is the main character from another novel called Futile Flame, which is part of the Vampire Gene series. The second section, called Other Bloody Jottings contains six one off short stories. The collection is rounded off with six poems

Of the thirteen stories that make up the main body of the anthology my personal favourites are listed below.

Fools Gold – I have to admit that I’m a bit of a sucker for stories set in Victorian London. Add to that the mystery that surrounds the legends of Jack the Ripper as well as a vampire-cum-detective and you have successfully caught my attention.

Lead Poisoning – Another story that has a definite nod to the detective genre. In this instance however the action takes place in modern day Los Angeles but also has one foot firmly in the past.

Zombies in New York – I don’t want to say too much about this, as it would spoil the surprise, but imagine if 28 Days Later had vampires in it. Zombie purists may disagree a bit with the title though.

Clown Addict – In a collection of macabre and quirky stories I think Clown Addict wins the prize for being the oddest. A civil servant who works in the security services develops an attraction to clowns. Rather than fearing them, Coulrophobia fact fans, he lusts after them. This is definitely one of the stronger stories in the collection. It was nice to see a horror mainstay, the scary clown, de-constructed and stood on its head.

Chillers and Breathers – Two cops hunt down a killer, one is a ghost while the other is alive. I like the premise of this story  - an alternate Earth where ghosts and the living co-exist. I could quite happily read an entire novel that further explores this mythology.

Each story in the collection ends with some additional thoughts from the author. I’m undecided how I feel about these inclusions. In a couple of instances the additional notes do prove to be insightful but on other occasions I think that certain stories may have been better served by leaving them to speak for themselves.

Zombies of New York and Other Bloody Jottings certainly acts as a perfect introduction to Sam Stone’s work. If you enjoy the likes of Laurell K Hamilton’ Anita Blake series then I think it may be worth your while checking this out. The short stories that take up the first half of the book do offer a tantilising glimpse into the Vampire Gene universe.

Overall I found this collection to be a bit of a mixed bag. The stories I highlighted above captured my imagination and were a great deal of fun to read but some of the others left me a little cold. In fairness I don’t think I am necessarily the target audience for this collection. The inner cover mentions, “Chick slash has never been so entertaining”. I think based on the fact that I had to go and look up what Chick slash meant this would suggest that I’m not the novel’s intended target.

I also have to be honest and admit that I didn’t read any of the poetry. My experience with poetry is limited and I fear I could potentially do the author’s work a disservice by attempting to write/review an art form I am largely ignorant of.

Stone is undoubtedly passionate about her work and I think I would recommend this collection to anyone who enjoys his or her horror with a lustful or obsessive edge and is willing to give something new a try.

Zombies in New York and Other Bloody Jottings is published by Telos and is available now.

See larger image Zombies in New York and Other Bloody Jottings (Paperback) By (author) Sam Stone List Price: £12.99 GBP New From: £7.09 In Stock Used from: £6.99 In Stock

Some houses appear to be haunted: their ruined facades and fabled pasts lead to stories of haunts and spirits. Some houses are legitimately haunted: ghosts that refuse to leave this world behind roam their rooms and hallways trying to recapture the life that has been taken from them. But there are some houses that go beyond these simple haunts. There are some houses that hide secrets so dark and grisly that the very essence of evil seeps from their walls. One of these houses sits tucked away in the quiet woods of southern Virginia in the sleepy little town of Ponderbrook. 

Terrence Bennett, an esteemed author, is taking his small crew to Ponderbrook to investigate the house for his next book. A skeptic at heart, he approaches the house and its history as nothing more than another spooky tale. But he will soon learn that there is a very real evil that separates normal haunts from those that twist the mind and damn the soul. And when this evil is stirred awake, it is rarely content to stay confined to the four walls of the house in which it has grown.

I’ve always been intrigued by the idea that buildings retain traces of violent events that have occurred in their history. I’m not saying I would go so far as saying I believe in ghosts but I am open to the possibility that there are things that exist in the world that are beyond our current level of understanding. A book that focuses on this premise certainly appeals.

Jack, Terrence & Hank are three paranormal investigators who visit Hammer House in an attempt to unravel its long and bloody history. Each of the trio has their own feelings about the work that they do and these viewpoints are explored as the plot unfolds. Jack is the believer of the group, ever hopeful that their search will bear fruit and he’ll be there to witness it. Hank is unsure what to believe, he has experienced things in the past that he can’t explain and this uncertainty fills him with doubt.  Finally there is Terrence, the group’s leader and confirmed skeptic.

The initial investigation of the house doesn’t appear, at first glance, to be terribly successful.  As time passes, however, it becomes evident that the team’s most recent trip has left far more of a mark on them than they had realized. Hank and Jack have difficulty sleeping and can’t shake the oppressive feelings that the house created in them. Meanwhile Terrence steadily becomes more and more obsessed about writing his book. The secrets of Hammer House refuse to remain hidden any longer. Unable to step away from his latest project Terrence’s home life starts to breakdown as his compulsion to work escalates. There is a nice nod to another obsessed writer that had to deal with a haunted building at this point that feels entirely apt.

What really sold The Bleeding Room to me was the author’s attention to every detail, this creates some of the novels many highlights. The backstory of Hammer House itself is fully fleshed out and well observed. Finding out, for example, how the building got its name is a particularly gruesome treat.

There is something special about a haunted house story executed well. If the writer has pushed all the right emotional buttons, then the plot will slowly draw a reader in and they’ll become engrossed without even realising that they are doing it. The Bleeding Room manages this unenviable task quite well. It’s easy to become caught up in the detail of Terrence’s life, Hank’s fears and Jack’s hopes.

The Bleeding Room feels like proper old school horror. The novel has a slow build up which works nicely, adding an air of creepy tension that should send the odd shiver up any reader’s spine. The final showdown between Terrence, Jack and Hank and the denizens of Hammer House picks up the pace and provides an extremely satisfying conclusion. Add to that a great little coda that rounds the story off perfectly and you’re on to a winner.

The Bleeding Room is published by Graveside Tales and is available now.

See larger image The Bleeding Room (Paperback) By (author) Barry Napier List Price: £9.80 GBP New From: £8.07 In Stock Used from: £13.13 In Stock

Not all haunting is supernatural…

Rita is a teenage mother who has managed to survive everything life has thrown at her. After finally escaping her abusive, drug-addicted boyfriend, Rita thought she’d found reprieve in her new home, away from the beatings and the constant humiliation. But her nightmare was just about to begin.

It started with simple intimidations; a bump in the night, strange scrawling on the front door, sinister ornaments left in the garden. At first, she thinks it’s neighbourhood kids playing tricks on her, but it soon becomes apparent that something is eerily amiss in the area. Raving lunatics scream into the night while fiendish strangers skulk on every street corner, festering within the shadows.

Now, something terrible is happening in the house on Elmbridge Road. Suddenly, Rita has the horrible feeling that the noises she hears at night might not be her imagination, that they might actually be footsteps creeping up the stairs. And then there is the shuffling in the attic.

You could argue that I am either the perfect audience or entirely the wrong audience for this book. Someone’s in the House is exactly the sort of fiction I probably shouldn’t be reading. The prospect of someone being in my house unannounced while I sleep fills me with a deep sense of dread. For me this is the stuff of nightmares. I enjoy the horror genre immensely but the thought of reading a book about one of my own worst fears had me approaching this novel somewhat nervously.

Bonner’s writing very effectively taps into multiple primal fears that I’m sure many of us share – isolation, madness and the unknown to name just a few. The novel explores the horror of real life and its brutally realistic approach makes for a gripping read.

The characterisation is where I feel the novel really excels. When the reader is initially introduced to Rita, she has reached rock bottom. She is living with her partner, Sean, who is as violent as he is manipulative. His temper, fuelled by drug addiction, is out of control and after one particularly terrifying encounter Ruth flees with her young son. A chance meeting with an old friend offers a glimmer of hope and the chance of a new life, but appearances can be deceptive.  At first glance, Rita appears to be a very straightforward character. It is only as the plot develops that Bonner reveals her hidden depths.  Rita displays great strength in one moment, and a delicate fragility the next. The situation that she and her son, Luke, find themselves in starts off as distressing but thing soon spirals completely out of control.

Be warned, however, if you are easily offended – then this book isn’t for you. The author touches upon, what many may consider, harrowing topics. Sexual abuse, violence and mental health issues all play a part in this story. Personally I’m glad that I took the chance with this book, there is some insightful social commentary hidden amongst the pages. This is undoubtedly a dark subject matter and it’s not always a comfortable book to read but it is certainly as thought provoking as it is horrific.  Last year I read Meat by Joseph D’Lacey and I was surprised to discover a horror title that challenged my preconceptions. I think this title will have to join that select list.

When a book or a film genuinely creeps me out like this, disturbing imagery can pretty much guarantee that, I have a habit of sleeping badly and occasionally wake up rather abruptly. It’s likely that Someone’s In The House is going to stay with me for quite a while. I apologise to Mrs. Cheesecake regarding my nightmares in advance.

Someone’s In The House is published by Pen Press and will be available from 21st January 2012.

See larger image Someone's in the House (Paperback) By (author) Samuel Bonner List Price: £7.99 GBP New From: £7.83 In Stock

Zombie gunfighters, insane cherubs, government sanctioned torturers, bright orange snot and steam-punk thugs are just a few of the delights you’ll find amongst the pages of the latest short story anthology from Anarchy Books. It contains twenty-two, yes you read that correctly twenty two, short stories that range from the sublimely horrific to the ridiculously evil. At the princely sum of just eighty-nine pence that works out at roughly four pence per story, damn good value in these trying economic times.

The collection begins with the following advice -

…Vivisepulture is not a read to be taken lightly. No. You must dim the lights, envelop yourself in a calm, quiet, brooding atmosphere; maybe pour yourself a stiff sherry or a single malt; prepare for transportation into bizarre Other Realms; and hope that YOU, Dear Reader, never succumb to the act of vivisepulture…

Inside you’ll find that there are a plethora of quirky stories to enjoy. Some of my personal favourites are listed below.

Rotten Cupid by Ian Graham  - A man suffering from a broken heart finds himself in a fight to the death with Cupid. Is it just the booze, or is there something far more sinister going on?

You Always Remember Your First by Lee Harris – A young undertaker recounts his unnatural obsession with the fairer sex. This stands out as one of the creepiest entries in the collection.

Juice by Stan Nicholls – Bob and Craig do important work. They ensure the safe use of essences like compliance, joy and luck. They always do the job by the book. Their competition, however, aren’t nearly as strict.

Wanderwaffe by Ian Sales – On an alternate Earth a Nazi scientist is sent to investigate a miraculous weapon that could swing the outcome of World War II in Germany’s favour. He finds himself transported to another place via a mysterious portal.

METAmorphosis by Steve Savile – An author is visited by a group of unsavory individuals. After completing his most recent manuscript visitors all seem vaguely familiar but who are they and what is there intent?

Pipework by Adrian Tchaikovsky – This story confirmed what I have always suspected – plumbing is indeed the root of all evil. The good news is when plumbers fail there are another band of equally dedicated specialists who just may be able to help.

The Devil in The Details by Ian Whates – A man lives a life where he is able to constantly jump between different versions of reality. This ability is triggered by a simple touch. To ensure random jumps don’t occur he actively avoids direct contact with all other humans. Turns out that this isn’t the easiest thing to do when you decide to walk to work.

The rest of the collection is just as strong with excellent work from the likes of Vincent Holland-Keen, James Lovegrove, Ian Watson and Danie Ware.

These are truly iconoclastic tales that offer a marvelously skewed view of humanity.

The Human Dynamo™ that is Andy Remic, has managed in his role as editor to convince, jostle, plead, bully and harangue a host of first class authors to take part. I was consistently surprised by the quality of the work on offer. All of the stories left me wanting more. As an added bonus it is always a pleasure to be exposed to authors who you have never read before. There are are a number of names I will be actively seeking out in the future. This is a great collection that is definitely worth every one of its eighty nine pennies.

Oh by the way, for those of you who I’m sure have been wondering, you may find the following useful  - vivisepulture n. definition: an act or instance of burying someone alive. Not only was I entertained but I also learned a new word, nice. Anarchy Books aren’t just producing absorbing fiction but as and an added bonus, they are educating us as well.

Vivisepulture is available from Anarchy Books now and according to the info at the book’s end there will be a Vivisepulture 2 at some point in the future.

See larger image Vivisepulture (Kindle Edition) By (author) Guy N. Smith, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Gary McMahon, Steven Savile, Colin Harvey, Stan Nicholls, Neal Asher, Tony Ballantyne Release date December 17, 2011.

Imagine there was a supernatural chiller that Hammer Films never made. A grand epic produced at the studio’s peak, which played like a cross between the Dracula and Frankenstein films and Dr Terror’s House of Horrors…

Four passengers meet on a train journey through Eastern Europe during the First World War, and face a mystery that must be solved if they are to survive. As the Arkangel races through war-torn country side, they must find out:

What is in the casket that everyone is so afraid of? What is the tragic secret of the veiled Red Countess who travels with them? Why is their fellow passenger the army brigadier so feared by his own men? And what exactly is the devilish secret of the Arkangel itself?

Back in 1989 I was an impressionable fifteen year old and I had just started to develop a passion for reading and a never-ending love for cinema. One of the first books I read, through what I thought at the time were adult eyes, was Roofworld by Christopher Fowler.

Meanwhile my introduction to horror cinema, via a wonderful horror obsessed grandmother, was the works of Hammer. Little did I realise some twenty-three years later these two seemingly unconnected events would find their way back into my life.

Hell Train starts with an intriguing premise. American screenwriter Shane Carter has left Hollywood and come to the UK during the ‘swinging sixties’, when Hammer Films are at the zenith of their popularity. He is given the opportunity to write a script for the studio. It is the story of the Hell Train, The Arkangel, he writes and this forms the main body of the novel.

I don’t want to give away too much plot detail but suffice to say that the four main protagonists fall nicely into the well-established stereotypes you would expect to find in many Hammer films. Just remember that Hell Train is meant as a homage and everything will make perfect sense. There is the innocent wide-eyed female villager, the womanising army deserter, a weak willed vicar and his over-bearing wife. Each character has their own secrets and flaws and these are revealed as the story unfolds. This is where a novel gets the opportunity to excel over the visual medium of film. Readers get a deeper glimpse into the motivations of the characters. We get to learn more of their back story and their reasons for boarding the train the first place.

Interspersed throughout the main narrative we get a few occasional jumps back to Shane as he continues to write. I have to admit the first time this happened I was so engrossed in the goings on aboard the Arkangel this caught me completely off guard. Kudos to Christopher Fowler, I had all but forgotten that this was a story taking place within the confines of another story.  It was also an unexpected and pleasant surprise to have the likes of Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee appear in cameo. The suggestion of their proposed roles in the Hell Train movie was a particularly nice touch.

Hell Train is a visceral love letter to Hammer Films. If you have ever been entranced by any one of Hammer’s classic movie outings, then you will adore this novel. Personally the thing I remember most about my exposure to Hammer’s films was their constant use of bright vivid colours, especially the bloody reds. There is plenty of that here. It’s rare that you read a book that feels like it has successfully captured that feeling in its imagery. Hell Train feels like it has been written in glorious full screen technicolour.

The storytelling in Hell Train perfectly recreates the atmosphere of sixties horror cinema. With reverential nods not just to Hammer, but also to the portmanteau style film making of Amicus, every page contains horrific delights to discover. Characters are dispatched with the manic glee you would find in any one of the films. I’ll happily admit that within minutes of finishing reading the book I found myself on the Hammer Films website, keen to refresh my memory of their magnificent output and learn more about their contribution to the British film industry.

I’ve been waiting to read Hell Train since I first heard about it at the tail end of 2010. Now I can confirm, what I already suspected, that the wait was well worth it. This was a great novel to kick off 2012 with. Christopher Fowler continues to deliver expertly crafted, gripping work. Now all we need to do is convince someone over at Hammer that the film version of Hell Train really needs to be made. We’ll get Christopher Fowler to write the script and direct. It’ll be great.

Still have book vouchers left over from Christmas? Hell Train is published by Solaris Books and is available from 5^th January 2012.

See larger image Hell Train (Paperback) By (author) Christopher Fowler List Price: £7.99 GBP New From: £1.94 In Stock Used from: £1.43 In Stock

According to the Mayan calendar we only have until 21st December 2012 until the world ends. With that in mind, and the fact that John Cusack hasn’t arrived with a limousine to whisk us off to safety just yet, I suggest we spend the time together reading some great new books. I could have easily included many, many more novels on this list but these are the baker’s dozen that I am currently very excited about.

I have included cover images wherever I have been able to find them, click on the thumbnails to see them in their full glory.

	Hell Train by Christopher Fowler – I mentioned this one way back at the end of 2010. I was looking forward to it then, and even more so now. Roofworld is still a personal favourite and I always enjoy Fowler’s writing. Watch this space as I foresee a review in the very near future.
	The Faceless by Simon Bestwick – I’ve not read any of Simon’s work but I saw the cover and I was immediately intrigued. There is also a superbly creepy book trailer over on You Tube. I do so enjoy the promise of empty old buildings that have a hidden past waiting to be discovered.
	Blackout by Mira Grant – The Newsflesh trilogy comes to a conclusion with Blackout. Zombies and politics are odd bedfellows. They shouldn’t work together but they just do. Feed and Deadline were absolute gems and I’m confident that Blackout will deliver as well.
	The Twelve by Justin Cronin – The Passage was one of the first books I tackled after I launched The Eloquent Page. It was a huge apocalyptic doorstop that I enjoyed immensely. The Twelve promises to be more of the same.
	The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch – Locke Lamora and Jean Tannen have been absent from my life for far too long. I relish the return of the Thorn of Camorr and his erstwhile companion. I may just have to revisit The Lies of Locke Lamora and Red Seas under Red Skies in preparation for this.
	Blood and Feathers by Lou Morgan -  Angels, guns, alcoholism in a novel that has been described elsewhere as Alice in Wonderland Goes to Hell. Oh yes I think I’ll be up for this one. Wait, what do you mean “Its not out until next July”? *Sighs*
	Strangeness and Charm by Mike Shevdon – The more of Mike Shevdon’s work I read the more I enjoy. I have been waiting patiently (mostly – Ed.) for this book to be released since I finished the last page of The Road to Bedlam.
	The Devil’s Looking Glass by Mark Chadbourn – Oh come on. He is my favourite author and he has a book out. Of course he is going to be on the list. I’m looking forward to more Will Swyfte as he continues to battle dark forces for Queen and country. Can’t beat a bit of fantastical intrigue and espionage in the Elizabethan era.
	Silent Voices  by Gary McMahon – For me The Concrete Grove was without a doubt one of the highlights of 2011 so it will hardly come as a surprise that the next novel by Gary is part of my list for 2012.
	Blackbird by Chuck Wendig – I have an admission to make. I’ve never read a single page of Chuck Wendig’s other work. There are two reasons why this book has been added to the list. (1) My evil-twin continually raves about Mr Wendig’s writing. (2) Just look at the cover.
	Hereward: The Devil’s Army by James Wilde – I read Hereward and enjoyed it immensely. Historical fiction is not normally a great favourite of mine but this ongoing series may just be the one to change my mind.
	Bitter Seeds by Ian Tregilis – A retelling of the events of World War II – where Nazis create superhumans that can throw fire, see the future and turn invisible, whilst the British warlocks use dark magics to hold back the German invasion. Nazis, Warlocks, and it is the first part of a trilogy – I’m sold, where do I sign?

And finally, if we do happen to survive past the 21st December, there is already a novel from 2013 that I am interested in reading – Wolfhound Century by Peter Higgins. No cover for this one yet put check out the blurb over at Amazon. Sounds pretty epic in my opinion.

Hopefully I’ll get the chance to review some of these over the coming months. Stick around I’ll be here until December 21st at a bare minimum, I promise.

I do hope everyone is having a relaxing festive season, I know I am. Some new reviews on the way next week but until then how about a public service announcement from the dark forces behind the rather splendid Anarchy Books. I’ve added in a link to the original reviews for the titles I’ve read. Hopefully that will help you make an informed decision. Personally I’d take em all!

Press Release – Anarchy Books – FREE BOOK PROMOTION – 29.12.11

That’s right, Anarchy Books have a very special New Year gift for all you lucky shiny new Kindle owners.

During the next 4/5 days over the New Year period, a selection of Anarchy Books titles will be offered completely FREE! So if you fancy any of the following novels, get yo ass over to Amazon and stock up your Kindle with Anarchy for the New Year….

Participating titles:

GIG (Mik and Kim) by James Lovegrove

Monstrocity by Jeffrey Thomas

New York Nights by Eric Brown

Rain Dogs by Gary McMahon

SIM by Andy Remic

Serial Killers Incorporated by Andy Remic

The Black Seas of Infinity by Dan Henk

The Office of Lost and Found by Vincent Holland-Keen

All free!

Have a HAPPY ANARCHY NEW YEAR!!

www.anarchy-books.com

All the reviews for 2011 are done and dusted but I thought I would share the following press release that dropped into my inbox this morning. A review will follow in early 2012.

Vivisepulture

edited by Andy Remic & Wayne Simmons

Welcome to our anthology, a collection of weird and bizarre tales of twisted imagination by Neal Asher, Tony Ballantyne, Eric Brown, Richard Ford, Ian Graham, Lee Harris, Colin Harvey, Vincent Holland-Keen, James Lovegrove, Gary McMahon, Stan Nicholls, Andy Remic, Jordan Reyne, Ian Sales, Steven Savile, Wayne Simmons, Guy N. Smith, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Jeffrey Thomas, Danie Ware, Ian Watson and Ian Whates. Artwork by Vincent Chong.

The anthology is dedicated to the late Colin Harvey, with great affection.

In the tradition of Poe, Kafka, Borges and H. G. Wells, this collection of weird stories are written with the primary drive of presenting twisted deviations of normality. Whether it’s the deviant factory workers of Neal Asher’s Plastipak™ Limited, the pus-oozing anti-cherub of Ian Graham’s Rotten Cupid, the acid-snot disgorging freak of Andy Remic’s SNOT, or Ian Watson’s alternate zombie-crucifixion, each story will drag your organs up through your oesophagus and give your brain a chilli-fired beating.

FOCUS ON -

• WEIRD TALES

• DISTURBING CONCEPTS

• DEVIATED BLACK HUMOUR

• NO GENRE LEFT UNGOUGED

IF YOU LIKE VIVISEPULTURE, TRY -

METAMORPHOSIS by FRANZ KAFKA

COMPLETE TALES AND POEMS OF EDGAR ALLAN POE

PERFUME by PATRICK SUSKIND

LABYRINTHS by JORGE LUIS BORGES

Vivisepulture is an EBOOK original anthology edited by Andy Remic and Wayne Simmons. Vivisepulture can be purchased from www.anarchy-books.com in PDF, EBOOK and MOBI formats.

EPUB versions can also be read on your PC/MAC by installing Adobe’s Digital Editions for free. Check out: www.adobe.com/products/digitaleditions/

www.anarchy-books.com

Daniel Cole wants the world to end.

Returned home from the Great War, his parents and brother in their graves, Daniel walks a ghost world. When players in a theatre show lure Daniel and his friends, fellow soldiers, into a surreal otherworld they find themselves trapped on an apocalyptic path. A pirate ship, helmed by Death, waits to ferry some of them to the end of the world.

Already broken by war, these men are now the world’s only hope in the greatest battle of all.

Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to read the short story Nowhere Hall by Cate Gardner. I enjoyed it a great deal, and when the chance to read more of her work arose I jumped at it.

Like an expertly crafted piece of classical music, Theatre of Curious Acts has many layers to explore, and it works very effectively on multiple levels. It can be read as a straightforward horror story, and there is certainly enough startling imagery to please the most hardened horror fan, but there is also a psychological element in play that is just as effective. Are the events unfolding all in Daniel’s head? Are Daniel and his comrades alive or already dead? Just who are the strange group of women that Daniel meets on his travels? I think it’s the mark of an exceptional writer that they are willing to leave some of the questions that are posed unanswered; I like this sense of ambiguity. Allowing readers to draw their own conclusions is a brave decision, and makes for a far more personal and engaging experience.

Any story that begins during the horrors of The Great War is going to have a sombre tone but the Theatre of Curious Acts is much more than that. I was captivated by the strength of the writing. The chapters that deal with Daniel’s return to civilian life after the war’s end are pitch perfect. Daniel, still haunted by his experiences in the trenches, yearns for it all to just end. He questions his own sanity on a regular basis and there is a sequence that details his obsession with seeking out silence as this is the only way he can try to find any form of peace. This contains one of my favourite lines of the entire story.

“Sometimes the silence broke him.”

Daniel’s journey from innocent teenager to world weary grown up, through the realms of life and death explores the ephemeral nature of human existence. His odyssey, and that of his brothers in arms, finds them all changed by the experiences that they share together. No one is left untouched by the torment that they all face.

The striking cover art by Simone Held also deserves a mention. The lonely figure of a man standing on a bridge looking out over a desolate sea is a simple but effective image. It captures the mood of the entire story and is a perfect compliment to a perfect story.

One of the things I mentioned the last time I read this author’s work, and it is just as true here, is that her writing has a wonderfully fluid quality.  I’m sure that different readers will take different interpretations from the events in the narrative. From the battlefields of Europe, to the end of the world, this novel is a seamless blend of physical and psychological horror that will leave a distinct impression.

Theatre of Curious Acts is available on 15th December 2011 from Hadley Rille Books