Book Review: A Paroxysm of Fear by Chad Miller

Title: A Paroxysm of Fear (A Doyle & Braham Mystery, Book 2)

Author: Chad Miller
Genre: Horror - Historical Mystery - Thriller
Publisher: Hear Our Voice, LLC - Copyright 2023
Publication Date: January 26, 2023
ISBN: 9781947913360
Read: April 4-8, 2023
Disclaimer: I received a review copy from the author. All opinions are my own.

Trigger Warnings: Graphic depictions of medical procedures, domestic abuse, insanity, depression, and alcohol consumption.

Synopsis from Publisher: Fear and mystery follow me like an unwanted shadow. As the case of my missing friend, Dr. Charles Thorton, has horrifically concluded, a new mystery emerges! My miserable colleague, Thomas Braham and I discovered that Cordelia had been transformed into an abominable monster, and now we are now off on a discovery to find the root of her evil. We are whisked off on many twists and turns as our adventures lead us to lunatic asylums and underground surgical arenas. Our new apprentice, Scarlett, also joins our endeavors as I pray she only acts as our silent observer and resists sticking her nose where it doesn’t belong. 

And still, our anonymous prisoner remains. They sit there waiting to be rescued and survive the torment and torture that awaits them. I’m confident they will be discovered, but I worry that the empty cell will be quickly filled by another poor soul. 

I say with the greatest of confidence that Thomas, Scarlett, and I will uncover the truth. My fear and anxiety still remain. Sometimes it’s better to let things lie peacefully in ignorance. What sordid and cruel vermin will slither to the surface once we start turning up stones and digging holes? But my curiosity and need for discovery tamps down any trepidation I may have, and besides, I owe it to Dr. Thorton. Pray for us. 

To life and light, 

John Doyle

Review: As with the first installment in the Braham and Doyle books, The Prisoner of Fear, Chad Miller's A Paroxysm of Fear is written in an epistolary style, which lends the overall historical effect of the story. And, as with the first book, Miller's penchant for the dark, disturbing, and macabre are on full display.

What can I say? I'm hooked. I need more Braham and Doyle. They're like Sherlock and Watson crossed with Lovecraft or Poe. Mystery. Darkness. Terror. Suspense. Otherworldliness. Madness. Braham and Doyle encounter it all and yet remain grounded in logic and science that would be appropriate for the time period in which they inhabit.

But be warned, dear reader, A Paroxysm of Fear is not for the faint of heart. The story delves into the rudimentary field of psychology, as it was understood during the 19th century, and explores the treatment of those deemed "insane," which often consisted of locking them away in asylums, performing horrific experiments, and trying pseudo-science "cures." The brain is still one of the greatest mysteries facing humankind, and although our understanding of its structure, function, and even psychology have greatly increased in the past century-plus, the sad truth is that our early attempts to unlock its secrets often resulted in more harm and help. 

Another area Miller explores is the ages-old pursuit of immortality. I can't say much to this aspect of the story as it would be giving away spoilers, but I will say this: Miller has written one of the most beautifully horrific deaths of a beloved character I've ever had the pleasure to read. I'm so conflicted by this death. At once, I'm outraged Miller had the audacity to write this character's death, and yet, it's so poignant and necessary for the plot--not to mention to well-written--that I have no choice but to offer my praise for the brazenness of it. Well-played, sir. Well-played, indeed.

Overall, if you like dark fiction with a healthy dose of mystery, I highly recommend the Braham and Doyle books. I don't know if there will be a third installment, but I sincerely hope there will be because there are still so many unanswered questions. (Not to mention a certain character's death to avenge.) If there is to be a third book, I will repeat my plea from the review of the first book: write faster.

Book Review: How To Sell A Haunted House by Grady Hendrix

Title: How To Sell A Haunted House

Author: Grady Hendrix
Genre: Horror - Supernatural Thriller - Ghosts
Publisher: Berkley - Copyright 2023
Publication Date: January 17, 2023
ISBN: 9780593201268
Read: March 28-30, 2023
Disclaimer: I purchased a hardcover copy via Amazon. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher: When Louise finds out her parents have died, she dreads going home. She doesn’t want to leave her daughter with her ex and fly to Charleston. She doesn’t want to deal with her family home, stuffed to the rafters with the remnants of her father’s academic career and her mother’s lifelong obsession with puppets and dolls. She doesn’t want to learn how to live without the two people who knew and loved her best in the world. 

Most of all, she doesn’t want to deal with her brother, Mark, who never left their hometown, gets fired from one job after another, and resents her success. Unfortunately, she’ll need his help to get the house ready for sale because it’ll take more than some new paint on the walls and clearing out a lifetime of memories to get this place on the market. 

But some houses don’t want to be sold, and their home has other plans for both of them…

Review: Dear Grady Hendrix... Get out of my freakin' head!

As a born-and-raised Southerner, How To Sell A Haunted House hits just a liiiiiittttllllle too close to home. (No pun intended.) Why do I say this? Well, let's see... 

Book: Protagonist suddenly loses both parent. 

Me: Lost both parents suddenly but years apart.

Book: Protagonist must contend with colorful family members.

Me: I mentioned I'm from the South, right? Colorful family members are the only family members we have down here.

Book: Puppets are central to the plot.

Me: Was a part of a puppet troupe in high school and knows the ins and outs of such all too well.

Book: Creepy dolls galore.

Me: Loves creepy dolls...except clowns. Clowns are creepy in general.

Therefore, I must kindly ask Mr. Hendrix to please refrain from getting into my head when searching for material for his next book. (Naturally, I jest. I have no relationship with Mr. Hendrix--personal, professional, puppet-based, or otherwise in this realm of existence or any other.)

Needless to say, I loved this book. Even though the arguments between Louise and her brother, Mark, became a little tedious because they kept stomping over the same patch of ground, they were still believable as siblings. It's in the nature of Southern siblings to drag up every hurt and slight ever committed against one another. If there's one things Southern family are good at it's holding grudges. The other is keeping secrets, and there are plenty of both in How To Sell A Haunted House. There are also plenty of creepy dolls. So many creepy dolls.

Overall, if you're looking for a modern-day Gothic ghost story, check out How To Sell A Haunted House. You'll never look at dolls, or your family, the same way again.

Book Review: Whispers of a Gypsy by J.T. Patten

 

Title: Whispers of a Gypsy

Author: J. T. Patten
Genre: Horror - Thriller - Dark Fiction
Publisher: Helbound Productions - Copyright 2022
Publication Date: November 18, 2022
Read: December 17-20, 2022
Disclaimer: I received a digital advanced reader copy from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Trigger Warning: Contains references to domestic violence, child abuse, racism, The Holocaust, and scenes of graphic violence and medical procedures.

Synopsis from Publisher: Neurodivergent, young Dwight Skinner considers his mental challenges to be a superpower, but it's a pure bloodline that will put him in danger. When a tragic event brings a mysterious Romani neighbor, Mr. Mortimer, out of seclusion and into the Skinner family's lives, Dwight and his emotionally overloaded mother find an unsuspecting protector in this dark whisperer. Death and horrific secrets trail the unfolding life of Mr. Mortimer's past, and questions soon arise as to who has the more sinister of intentions, Dwight or the "Gypsy" he unconditionally trusts. The whispers have the answer. 

Note: Whispers of a Gypsy is a story about how purity of heart dies in a world of hate. Using the word "Gypsy" refers to members of the Romani people (and/or their sub-groups Roma, Sina, etc.). The G-word, however, is pejorative. It is used in this case for conscious correction and to relate to an Auschwitz-Birkenau Camp book and the over 500,000 Romani killed by the Nazis. This group was one of the foremost peoples who suffered inhumane tests while in the camps. Na bister 500,000

Review: J. T. Patten is a former government intelligence and special mission advisor, and it clearly shows in his writing. Whispers of a Gypsy is more than a horror story. It's both a historical in its scope and contemporary in its tone. It's both a spy thriller and a commentary on modern society. It's both a "whodunnit" and a supernatural horror show. It's a blend of genres, beholden to none, and I loved every page of it.

The plot is complex and spans decades from the horrors of Auschwitz and Josef Mengele to the modern-day Chicago suburbs. It touches on both Jewish and Romani folklore with references to both dybbuk and golem legends and even blends a little Shelley's Frankenstein and zombies into the supernatural aspects to create a truly unique version of an anti-hero. Told in alternating timelines of past and present as well as multiple points of view, the overall effect is a dark tale rooted in historical fact with far too plausible outcomes.

Whispers of a Gypsy is a thought-provoking novel that treats one of the most horrific episodes of human history with care and the reverence it deserves while also spinning a yarn of contemporary fantastical horror and international intrigue. Any fan of dark fiction will be delighted by J. T. Patten's work, and I look forward to his next book.

Book Review: The Prisoner of Fear by Chad Miller

Title: The Prisoner of Fear (Book 1 Doyle and Braham Series)

Author: Chad Miller
Genre: Horror - Gothic Fiction
Publisher: Hear Our Voice LLC - Copyright 2022
Publication Date: October 1, 2022
Read: Oct. 8-11, 2022
Disclaimer: Author requested a review and sent a free paperback copy. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis from Publisher:  It is 1889 in Philadelphia, and detective John Doyle is restless. Along with his miserable partner, Thomas Braham, Doyle pursues mysteries, strange sightings, and other obscurities tossed aside and disregarded by the police. For years, Doyle has taken on these cases in the hopes of discovering something supernatural - something that could upend and dispute his long-standing, debilitating fear that immortal souls do not exist. 

Doyle's search for the supernatural remains unsuccessful until he receives a strange letter from an old doctor friend regarding a young woman with a mysterious and rather disturbing illness. When the doctor goes missing in the same town that this young woman resides in, Doyle and Braham decide to take on the case and search for clues regarding their missing friend. In doing so, they discover that there is no longer any suffering young woman, but a dangerous abomination whose origin cannot be explained by science nor modern medicine. 

Meanwhile, an unnamed victim has been kidnapped. Trapped in a cell with nothing but a journal to document their experiences, this mysterious Prisoner must undergo terrifying scientific experiments while trying not to lose all hope and sanity.

Review: Anyone who knows me know I'm a huge fan of Gothic literature and its contemporary descendent, horror. My friends (and family) have heard me expound upon the virtues of dark fiction over the years. If it's dark, disturbing, psychologically scarring, and even the tiniest bit creepy, I'm all over it like flies on a corpse. 

So, dearest reader, you can imagine my excitement when I was offered a review copy of Chad Miller's The Prisoner of Fear. I waited with antici...............pation for it to arrive. When it finally landed on my doorstep, I was giddy, and yet I was in the midst of reading another book for review so I set Miller's book aside. Still, the cover haunted me. The promise of a Sherlockian-style mystery combined with the Gothic epistolary-based chills of Bram Stoker and Mary Shelley seduced me like a siren's call. For a week, I held firm and didn't give into that call. However, curiosity soon gave way to desire and I had no choice but to dive into those dark waters, whether for good or ill.

Oh, dearest reader, why did I wait to satisify my dark urges? Why, oh why, did I torment myself with fleeting glances at that haunting cover? Once I read the opening line, my resolve crumbled, and I came undone. Although I continued to read the other book in line for review during the day, I secretly stole precious hours each night to navigate the twists and turns and delightfully view the dark images Miller skillfully paints on the pages of The Prisoner of Fear. Yes, I lost hours of sleep, but what I gained is so much more valuable: a new "must-read" author. 

At the heart of Miller's work is a mystery that seems simple enough to solve. However, that simplicity is deceptive. I've admitted in other blogs that I'm often able to figure out the Who in most WhoDoneIt book, but Miller kept me guessing to the end, and then had the nerve to end the book with a cliffhanger. (AND the sequel isn't scheduled to be released until next year? WTF? Cue the hellish wailing and gnashing of teeth... *deep breath* It's fine. I'm calm. I can wait.) The plot twists were subtle and yet my mind was continually blown. Although I could tell a twist was coming soon the shapes those twists took were unexpected and shot the story into a completely different direction than I'd predicted. 

It wasn't until I'd finished reading the book that I realized the title didn't actually refer to a single character: The reader is The Prisoner of Fear, and like any good horror author, Chad Miller is the puppet master gleefully pulling strings. I, for one, will happily take up the roll of marionette. 

But....Miller, if you're reading this review, I have two words for you: Write. Faster.