The Lake Crimes by Gemma Herrero Virto

Ever the sucker for good cover art, I went into this book pretty blind looking for a good, creepy book for this month. I'm always up for giving lesser known authors a chance as long as the premise is good and appeals to me one way or another. Let's get right to it and see how it did.

Eric Armstrong is haunted. While growing up in a small town of Swanton beside Lake Champlain, he witnessed the deaths of three children, one of them being his first crush, drowned in the dark lake by an unknown murderer. Wracked with guilt and nightmares of the drowned children, Eric and his family moved away, with Eric never truly recovering from the shock. But fifteen years after the murders and Eric still only just getting by, he comes across a children's book supposedly written by one of the drowned victims of his childhood. Eric must return to Swanton and confront his childhood terrors, lest even more children lose their lives in the dark waters of the lake.

This book was a little hot and cold for me, to be honest. There were things I liked about it and things that really annoyed me. The biggest gripe I'll get out of the way right now. This book was originally written in Spanish and I read the English translation (the only Spanish I know is Donde es el baño? and Ayúdame, estoy muriendo!) That being said, whoever translated this...did not do the best job. At times it really felt they just put the whole thing into Google Translate and hoped for the best. Too many times did things come out jumbled, are flat-out incorrect, or just come out as things people just don't say. Things like "she no longer had age to play dolls" or "without caring about the hatred look" or "I refuse with my head" (this one is repeated a lot). It's not the author's fault, per se, but it really does take away from the experience of reading the book.

Now, about the story itself. The concept of the story is a very good one. There's a lot of potential here. A murder mystery with supernatural elements with Ouija board sessions, prophetic dreams, ancient curses...I eat this stuff up. But the enjoyment of the these things is much easier to enjoy if you've got a good main character to go on the trip with you. Eric...tries. Now, he's not as bad as I've seen this character done before. Traumatized characters unable to cope with what happened in their childhoods can sometimes be the type of characters that throw huge fits with figures of authority, rave like lunatics so nobody believes them even when they're telling the truth, overreact at the slightest things...that kind of stuff. And Eric, while he does sometimes fall into this category, does manage to play it smart from time to time. He comes up with convincing stories to talk to people and earns the support and respect of the local police. This was refreshing to see. But we do have to see him yell at a publisher for almost no reason, act super paranoid, and he really obsesses over his first crush. Like SUPER obsesses over it. It got a bit unsettling at times for me.

Those things being said, the plot of the story does still come out pretty well. The origin of the evil was interesting and creepy, there were several plot twists that were refreshingly done, the ending was satisfying...there was stuff in here I really liked. It just took awhile to get to these good things because the pace was very slow at times, but picked up right when we needed it. There's good stuff in this book, but you have to dig through a lot to finally get there.

Final Verdict
I liked a lot of what they ended up doing but I just wish that it had been handled better. Great story but slow pace, competent characters...most of the time, fantastic elements but poor translation. If someone asked me if they should read this book, I'd tell them yeah if they were interested...but maybe read it in its original Spanish...and wait for it on paperback.

Have you read the book? What did you think? Comment below and share your thoughts. Please make sure to Follow Midnight Readings for instant updates. Have a book you'd like me to read or would like to make a recommendation? Contact me on goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/65448711-michelle-beer

If you would like to read my book, Powerless, you can find it at:

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Powerless-Shelley-Miller/dp/1543482546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519062043&sr=8-1&keywords=powerless+by+shelley+miller

Xlibris: https://www.xlibris.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001175242

Next Time: Can you be free of the King of Cuffs?

House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker

Okay, here we go! This is what I'm talking about. A no-holds barred, honest-to-goodness horror novel, perfect for Halloween. No more vague novels that are loosely horror based or have concepts that dabble in the supernatural, but a real, gritty, horrifying, terrifying book....or so I had hoped.

The story is that of Jack and Stephanie Singleton, a bickering couple on the brink of divorce, traveling lost and confused on their way to a marriage counselor when their run off the road by metal spikes in the road. The two make their way to a dingy bed and breakfast in the woods, where they encounter another couple in the same predicament as they are and the creepy, possibly inbred caretakers of the building. As night falls, it becomes clear that the seven individuals in the house are being stalked by a terrifying killer with a strange set of rules to his demented game, the most important of which being you might survive...a the cost of someone else's life.

Now, the concept of this book is what really drew me to this book. It's a solid set up. A verity of players, established yet horrific rules, a killer on the loose...let the games begin! Well, the problem is that the execution doesn't pan out too well and the resolution even worse so, but we'll come back to that. The thing is, the concept isn't the most original out there. Games, rules, doing horrific things in order to survive...this sounds familiar, doesn't it? Yeah, it's probably no surprise that Saw come out only two years before this book did and may have had a hand in inspiring it. But where Saw is just really popcorn horror at best and torture porn at worst, this story is neither mindless entertainment nor twisted and gory. It's just...kinda there.

The key elements to survival horror is the characters we're dealing with and their own arcs as they fight to not get murdered. It's too bad, therefore, that there's not much to like about these characters. They have the start of some interesting dilemmas: Jack and Stephanie handle loss in different ways, Randy and Leslie are both survivors of abuse...these can make for good characters, but we also have to like them. Jack is self-righteous, Randy is a control freak, Leslie thinks she's smarter than everyone  and Stephanie is unbearably annoying. I wasn't rooting for any of them to survive because I wanted some I wanted some of them to just die already.

Which brings me to my next problem. It takes forever for things to happen in this book. While it is divided between four people as central characters, leaving one story arc hanging while we're stuck with someone else for who knows how long. Heck, one characters is left sitting in a closet for four hours because they just had nothing to do but be scared and give exposition while never actually being in danger. The pacing throughout, even when it had the ticking-clock time frame of a single night, was handled poorly and just wasn't very well written.

Now...for the ending. I don't really want to do another spoiler alert, so I won't go into too much detail but...it was so disappointing. I just kinda quit caring towards the end. I was just so exhausted by this story (or lack thereof) to care about the message the authors were trying to get across. Even then, it's so odd that I just don't think I get it. Not that I don't understand the message (they hit you over the head with that) but it's that I don't see why the situation these people are put in is necessary to achieve this goal. Yeah, I wasn't crazy about it and it felt a little like a cop-out.

Final Verdict
Yeah, instead of keeping me awake, this one kind of lulled me to sleep. It wasn't scary, it tried too hard to be deep, the characters were annoying and unpleasant, I just didn't like this one. I guess I didn't exactly hate it and, if you wanted to read it for yourself, I wouldn't stop you but suggest you save your money and check it out at your local library.

Have you read the book? What did you think? Comment below and share your thoughts. Please make sure to Follow Midnight Readings for instant updates. Have a book you'd like me to read or would like to make a recommendation? Contact me on goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/65448711-michelle-beer

If you would like to read my book, Powerless, you can find it at:

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Powerless-Shelley-Miller/dp/1543482546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519062043&sr=8-1&keywords=powerless+by+shelley+miller

Xlibris: https://www.xlibris.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001175242

Next Time: I don't think Champie's the culprit this time....

The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures by Aaron Mahnke

Lore is one of only two podcasts that have successfully gotten my attention and kept it (the other being My Favorite Murder). Author Aaron Mahnke does a spectacular job finding the oldest tales and finding the origins of stories that we've known our whole lives. So, when I heard he was putting several of the episodes into book version...shut up and take my money!

This volume of The world of Lore features on creatures and monsters. Now, these can be anything ranging from the first American vampire, Spring-Heeled Jack, ghosts, creatures in the dark forest, even the same cursed doll that inspired the Child's Play franchise. Each tale is full of historical facts along with legends, recognized formulas as well as inspirations behind those legends. In this book you learn that the line between reality and the supernatural is a whole lot thinner than you'd think and there may even be some cases where you can't find it at all.

I've always loved learning about the supernatural and myths and legends. This stuff is totally up my alley. Having read a lot about this stuff back in my school days, I was excited to see some familiar stories popping up as well as fresh new ones to inspire the imagination. This book is such a good Halloween read. It's not only creepy, but the research and actual historical fact makes it that much more unnerving. You learn about what it really was that inspired fear which, in turn, inspired the horror genre altogether. Also, these stories are creepy. He ends some of the stories on these gloriously, ominous notes that leave you double checking the dark corners of the room and wondering if you're too old to sleep with the light on (don't judge me....).

One thing I really liked in particular is that these stories have the feel of just a normal person talking. Mahnke's voice is very strong in the book, as is his sense of humor. He adds little quips and jibes that are perfectly timed throughout the story and makes it feel more relatable. It translates well in the podcast as well. It feels like these are lessons taught in class with that likable teacher all the kids hope they get at the beginning of the school year. You can feel his passion on these subjects and he wants his audience to have fun with it as he does. You learn and enjoy yourself all at once. It's just amazing.

Now, taking a quick trip to nitpick town before we wrap up. If there's any problem with the book it's that it is, really, word-for-word, the episodes of the podcast. Now, this didn't bother me any, personally. Having something material I can flip through to find my favorite story rather than sift through hours and hours of audio is nice for me. Someone already a fan of the podcast might be looking for more than just the same stories all over again, as well as the lack of atmospheric music and Mahnke's narration. But, as I said, super nitpick mode that really didn't bother me and, by all means, shouldn't bother you.

Final Verdict
I totally and completely love Mahnke's work on Lore and want to do my part, as a fan, to share it with the world. If you're interested in the books or the podcast, please do check them out, because these suckers are going straight onto the Shelf of Recommendation!

Have you read the book? What did you think? Comment below and share your thoughts. Please make sure to Follow Midnight Readings for instant updates. Have a book you'd like me to read or would like to make a recommendation? Contact me on goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/65448711-michelle-beer

If you would like to read my book, Powerless, you can find it at:

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Powerless-Shelley-Miller/dp/1543482546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519062043&sr=8-1&keywords=powerless+by+shelley+miller

Xlibris: https://www.xlibris.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001175242

Next Time: Worst...house party...ever.

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Most people will probably be familiar with the movie based off this book (and for good reason it's a really well done movie) and I too was curious about its source material. When I learned that it was Neil Gaiman behind it originally, I couldn't get a hold of it fast enough. Let's dive into this modern children's tale and all the creeps and unease that comes with it.

Coraline Jones moves to a new house with her parents at the end of a particularly rainy and foggy summer. A naturally curious child who likes to explore, Coraline is quickly bored with the house and the weird and very old neighbors that share the building. But a formerly boarded up door suddenly opens to reveal a copy of her own world but where everything is better and controlled by a strange creature that calls itself her other mother. But this new world is not at all what it seems and Coraline must use her wits to save herself, and those she cares for, from a terrible fate.

Coraline, the character, is a great child character you don't find too often nowadays. While she's remarkably self-reliant and independent than most normal kids might be, she thinks and acts very much like a normal kid would. She gets frustrated, she cries, she thinks and behaves perfectly for a kid her age. She's also pretty smart. She hesitates and thinks things through and you know she's got the mentality of a horror survivor. She doesn't let emotions get the best of her and that makes her just great.

The world that Gaiman writes for this character is very much one out of a child's perspective. Kids can read this book no problem and completely understand and relate to this world and Coraline's reactions to both the usual world and the other world lies beyond the door. We all know people like the weird old ladies who revel in their glory days and live with ten or more dogs (or cats). We know what it is to have parents who have a ton of work to do and leave the kids bored or with nothing to do. He brilliantly captures the voice of a young child and their perspective of the world and wrote it so younger readers and older ones alike would understand it perfectly. This guy is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

However, this does make for a good Halloween read because it is creepy. The sense of unease and dread brought on by the other mother and the world she creates is perfectly captured, making you spend a little too much time checking the corners of your room to make sure nothing is staring back at you. There's also a scene where Coraline goes through the door and feels something following her in the darkness that really sends chills down your spine. It all comes together as the mood switches from suspense, to isolation, to dread, and then real fear as Coraline realizes just what this other world is and what her potential fate could be. As such, while this book is the perfect reading level for young kids, the story might not be for little, little kids. Most kids I know might not have a problem with it, but parents might want to read it first then judge for themselves before handing it over to them.

Final Verdict
Ah, just what I was hoping for! Creepy, excellently written, and just the perfect little scary bedtime story where you can still fall asleep but might hesitate before turning off the lights. For this reason, this sweet little thing is going onto the Shelf of Recommendation!

Have you read the book? What did you think? Comment below and share your thoughts. Please make sure to Follow Midnight Readings for instant updates. Have a book you'd like me to read or would like to make a recommendation? Contact me on goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/65448711-michelle-beer

If you would like to read my book, Powerless, you can find it at:

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Powerless-Shelley-Miller/dp/1543482546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519062043&sr=8-1&keywords=powerless+by+shelley+miller

Xlibris: https://www.xlibris.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001175242

Next Time: I'm Michelle Beer and this...is an awesome podcast....

Holtur Stories by Cameron Wayne Smith

This is my third trip into the world of Cameron Wayne Smith and the horrors that plague this extremely unfortunate village and the slayers who rise up and keep them at bay. I've enjoyed the trips so far, as they're full of interesting characters, wonderfully creative and grotesque monsters, and epic feats of heroism. Let's see where this current trip to Holtur takes us.

Holtur Stories is a collection of short stories of the numerous horrors that have plagued the village prior to the events of The Holtur Enigma and The Holtur Curse. These tales feature the characters of the previous books, mostly Sonja and her band of slayers, and the new creatures they face and the horrors they battle on a mostly nightly basis, watching them grow and prepare for the events to come in the future.

This collection of short stories builds up the universe that Smith has created and allows for more hunts and monsters then the books didn't quite have time for. While most of the stories go to Sonja, there are several other protagonists through them. Kallum gets a story, Volk gets one, Rigst gets one...there are a lot of opportunities for some of the more minor characters to shine and develop more than they got to before. There's even a story from the perspective of a wyvern! Each story dives into their backstories, builds their characters, and gives us a bit of insight into what it's really like to be a citizen of Holtur.

While it is interesting to meet some of these new people, there is the unfortunate drawback of several of them just kind of being there for cannon fodder. Yeah, that's kinda the problem when writing prequels in general, but as death is a big theme in these books you had to have some casualties that excluded the people we know are in the later installments. But, honestly, that was just a bit of a nitpick. It's kind of like an episode of Supernatural where, if a new character is being introduced or doesn't contribute to the plot...well, the odds are not in their favor. In fact, this book really reminded me of the earlier episodes of that show. You discover a new monster, people die, the monster is defeated, we all go out for drinks afterward (btw, I would pay serious money to see the Bluwahlts and the Winchesters meet up for drinks).

Final Verdict
Kinda a short review, yes, but there's not much more I could say without going into spoilers so, with that said, this book was a ton of fun and a great way to kick off my month of monsters and mayhem! Any creature fan will like this book, it makes for a great companion to the other books in the series and it's very much worth your money at your local bookstore!

Have you read the book? What did you think? Comment below and share your thoughts. Please make sure to Follow Midnight Readings for instant updates. Have a book you'd like me to read or would like to make a recommendation? Contact me on goodreads at https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/65448711-michelle-beer

If you would like to read my book, Powerless, you can find it at:

Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/Powerless-Shelley-Miller/dp/1543482546/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519062043&sr=8-1&keywords=powerless+by+shelley+miller

Xlibris: https://www.xlibris.com/Bookstore/BookDetail.aspx?BookId=SKU-001175242

Next Time: Beware button-eyed other mothers....