Beneath the Stains of Time: The Frankenstein Factory (1975) by Edward D. Hoch

Beneath the Stains of Time: The Frankenstein Factory (1975) by Edward D. Hoch: Edward D. Hoch was the King of Short Stories, the Man of a Thousand Tales of Mystery and Detection, but, during his five decade run, Hoch a...

Beneath the Stains of Time: The Ark (2022) by Haruo Yuki

Beneath the Stains of Time: The Ark (2022) by Haruo Yuki: When compiling and cobbling together " The Hit List: Top 10 Favorite Hybrid Mysteries ," I mulled over including a disaster-themed...

Scott's Take: The Flesh King: The Discreet Eliminators Series by Richard Kadrey

 

The Flesh King by Richard Kadrey is the second novella in The Discreet Eliminators series that began with The Pale House Devil. I had thought I had reviewed that one, but neither I nor dad can find any trace of it here on the blog.

 

The trio of hit people are now in New York City and living in a former police station. The local mob want them to go after a serial killer called the Flesh King. This killer is absorbing the flesh of people and leaving what’s left behind in a mess. Of course, this is getting the attention of the police who have no idea what they are actually dealing with. The local mob wants them to cap this freak and then they will talk about hiring them for actually paying work. So, the hunt begins.

 

This is a dark horror themed story with plenty of action and some humor. There is a good amount of character development in the short run time of this book. Overall, I enjoyed it. The ending sets up another book, but we will see if we get it.

 

 

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/4asRBzE

 

 

My slim hardback reading copy came from the Central, aka Downtown, Branch of the Dallas Public Library System.

 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2026

George Kelly: WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #259: CTHULHU: THE MYTHOS AND KINDRED HORRORS By Robert E. Howard

 George Kelly: WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #259: CTHULHU: THE MYTHOS AND KINDRED HORRORS By Robert E. Howard

Market Call Facebook -- One Eyed Press

Shotgun Honey is relaunching this and they want novellas 8k to 30K. More info at  https://submissions.shotgunhoney.com/publication/one-eye-press/ 

Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: NOBODY TRUE

Jerry's House of Everything: FORGOTTEN BOOK: NOBODY TRUE:   Nobody True  by James Herbert  (2003) James Herbert (1943-2013) was a bestselling British horror writer whose books sold more than 54 mill...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature by Becky Siegel Spratford

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Why I Love Horror: Essays on Horror Literature ed...: Reviewed by Jeanne I am not really much of a horror reader.   I am definitely not a horror movie fan.   I will read and watch atmospheri...

Jerry's House of Everything: HORRIFIC #3 (JANUARY 1953)

Jerry's House of Everything: HORRIFIC #3 (JANUARY 1953):  A pre-Code horror comic, perhaps a bit mild compared to others of the day, although you may not be able to tell because of the bullet hole ...

Sweet Freedom: Short Story Wednesday: THE YEAR'S BEST HORROR STORIES: SERIES VII (1979), edited by Gerald W. Page

Sweet Freedom: Short Story Wednesday: THE YEAR'S BEST HORROR STOR...: Publication:  The Year's Best Horror Stories: Series VII Editor:  Gerald W. Page Date: 1979-07-00 ISBN: 0-87997-476-1 [ 978-0-87997-476-...

Beneath the Stains of Time: Strange Houses (2021) by Uketsu

Beneath the Stains of Time: Strange Houses (2021) by Uketsu: Back in March, I reviewed Henna e ( Strange Pictures , 2022) written by the pseudonymous Japanese horror and mystery Youtuber, "Uketsu...

Beneath the Stains of Time: Visitors to the Isolated Island (2020) by Kie Houjou

Beneath the Stains of Time: Visitors to the Isolated Island (2020) by Kie Houjou: Last year, Kie Houjou became one of my favorite mystery writers on the strength of two novels, Jikuu ryokousha no sunadokei ( The Time Trav...

The Hard Word: A WEST WILD & WEIRD: FREDERIC S. DURBIN'S THE COUNTRY UNDER HEAVEN

 The Hard Word: A WEST WILD & WEIRD: FREDERIC S. DURBIN'S THE COUNTRY UNDER HEAVEN

Beneath the Stains of Time: Strange Pictures (2022) by Uketsu

Beneath the Stains of Time: Strange Pictures (2022) by Uketsu: I noted in the 2024 roundup post, " Murder in Retrospect ," Pushkin Vertigo had begun to expand their catalog of Japanese detectiv...

SleuthSayers: The Horror! The Horror?

SleuthSayers: The Horror! The Horror?: For the past few years, I've been maintaining a list of markets for short crime/mystery fiction for the members of the Short Mystery Fic...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer: Reviewed by Christy Eve is home alone when she hears a knock at the door. It's a family of five, and the father claims he used to li...

Scott's Take: Blood Hunt by Jed MacKay, Illustrators Pepe Larraz and Sara Pichelli

Blood Hunt by Jed MacKay, illustrated by Pepe Larraz and Sara Pichelli is the latest big crossover featuring marvel heroes facing off against vampires. I read this through the Marvel Unlimited app and I read the regular edition. There is a red band edition that is supposed to be extra gory, but it is harder to get.

 

The Earth is plunged into eternal darkness as hordes of vampires are unleashed upon the marvel universe. So. it is up to the Avengers, Dr. Strange, Spider-Man (Miles) and others ore to face off against the new threat. To deal with this threat they need the help of unlikely ally--Dracula.

 

This is a pretty self-contained book with a limited cast. The tie ins expand the cast as other heroes are featured there. The art is pretty in spots while being horrific in others. There is action, drama, and high stakes as this event sets up the next major event in the marvel universe and has bigger ramifications for some characters. Even the regular edition is pretty horror focused. Characters are killed, some major heroes are infected, some heroes are tortured. It is not your typical Marvel read.

 

I highly enjoyed this dark tale even if I am not a fan of event ending designed to setup another event. I am kind of tired of how everything must setup a sequel now adays.

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/413bcSu

 

My reading copy came by way of the Hoopla App through the Dallas Public Library System.

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2024

Scott's Take: Beyond Mortal by Cullen Bunn, Illustrator Danny Luckert

Beyond Mortal by Cullen Bunn and illustrated by Danny Luckert is the first graphic novel in this very dark adult series. This is a horror series even if this reader did not find this book that scary.  I might have a higher tolerance for that than some.

 

In this graphic novel, a league of heroes that are clearly inspired by more famous characters seek to defend their world from Levithan. In this case, the Levithan is a group of evil elder gods that seek to transform and reclaim the earth. They will transform many against their will into serving these gods in their new forms. Can the heroes of this world withstand the power of these gods?

 

There is a lot of body horror, there is a ton of violence, and a lot of death. Heroes fall alongside civilians. This is an action-packed terror fest. This is not a read for young kids or preteens.

 

The art is not the best, in my opinion, but fits this tale. The cliffhanger ending annoyed me especially since a second book has not been announced yet. There are supposed to be more books in that universe next year, but no follow up is scheduled for this title.  I hope that changes and we do not have a Netflix cancellation after Season One of something situation here.

Amazon Associate Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/48lZfcn

 

My reading copy came through Hoopla through the Dallas Public Library System. 

 

Scott A. Tipple ©2024

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste:   Reviewed by Jeanne   Twenty years ago, a neighborhood vanished.   The houses, the people, everything—gone, hidden behind some sort o...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: The Drowning Kind by Jennifer McMahon:   Reviewed by Jeanne Jackie is a social worker and therapist, dealing mostly with troubled children, helping them to process traumas and...

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Bad Moon Rising: Newer names in horror fiction

Bookblog of the Bristol Library: Bad Moon Rising: Newer names in horror fiction: Compiled by Christy  October is the time for spooky stories and creepy tales!   Usually some of   the first names that come to mind when hor...