Category Archives: Dark/Sordid/Bizarre

The Shining – Dorothea Lasky

(reviewed by JD Jung) The Shining, a collection of over thirty poems, takes us to places similar to those that the Overlook Hotel made famous through Stephen King’s novel and Stanley Kubrick’s film of the same name. Though just as … Continue reading

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Poetry | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Shining – Dorothea Lasky

Many People Die Like You – Lina Wolff, translated by Saskia Vogel

(reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned Those who enjoy eclectic short stories that explore human nature are sure to relish the stories in Many People Die Like You. From bizarre relationships to unexpected power dynamics, this collection of fourteen stories takes … Continue reading

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Scandinavian Literature, Short stories | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Many People Die Like You – Lina Wolff, translated by Saskia Vogel

Blind Dates: Weird Stories – Harambee K. Grey-Sun

Reviewed by JD Jung) #CommissionsEarned Being close to Halloween, I was in search for a good horror read. So, when I started reading these stories, I was expecting them to center on blind dates gone tragically wrong. Or maybe the … Continue reading

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Mythology, Short stories | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Blind Dates: Weird Stories – Harambee K. Grey-Sun

Confessions of a Gentleman Killer – Johnny Payne

(reviewed by JD Jung) “If I didn’t kill them afterward, you’d say I was the perfect client, boyfriend, husband, or lover. And believe me, that’s the man I want to be, the man I tried to be. And failed.” It’s … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Historical Fiction | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Confessions of a Gentleman Killer – Johnny Payne

The Patient – Jasper DeWitt

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Patient additionally shows a high propensity toward violence and sadism. Patient has assaulted numerous members of staff and has had to be restrained. Despite relative youth, patient seems intuitively aware of which parts of the human … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Modern Literary Fiction | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The Patient – Jasper DeWitt

Nairobi Noir (Akashic Noir Series) – edited by Peter Kimani

(reviewed by JD Jung) > “In this concrete jungle, the hunters and herders live on. As do the hunted…” This summarizes the essence of Nairobi Noir, a collection of fourteen stories released early this year from the Akashic Noir Series. … Continue reading

Posted in African Literature, Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Noir-esque fiction, World Literature | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Nairobi Noir (Akashic Noir Series) – edited by Peter Kimani

Berkeley Noir (Akashic Noir Series) edited by Jerry Thompson and Owen Hill

(reviewed by JD Jung) “I arrived in Berkeley, back in 1991. A Berkeley that seemed to be still living off the fumes of the late sixties, which were fumes so strong you might just want to breathe them in all … Continue reading

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Noir-esque fiction, Short stories | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Berkeley Noir (Akashic Noir Series) edited by Jerry Thompson and Owen Hill

Bound by Blood: An Erotic Thriller – Clare Castleberry

(Reviewed by JD Jung) (A recent re-release. This was formerly titled  What Lies Within, and was reviewed under that title.) “…I learned how a body could become a beautiful contribution to the power of cosmetics…the most exquisite, deepest shade of … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Our Best | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Bound by Blood: An Erotic Thriller – Clare Castleberry

To My Beloved Heart: The Last Journey Of Edgar Allan Poe – James Marchiori

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I felt as if my native land was rejecting me. Making me more hostile. My country was dismissing me all means. I thought about the many unintelligent and corrupted doctors that tried to place me in … Continue reading

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Historical Fiction | Tagged , | Comments Off on To My Beloved Heart: The Last Journey Of Edgar Allan Poe – James Marchiori

Mother Of – Lauren Coffin

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Meredith Mayes is facing the unthinkable. Her husband and son died in a car crash ten years ago. Now, her other son Percy has been penned with the nicknames “The Minor Street Monster”, “The Ann Arbor … Continue reading

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Skinny reads | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Mother Of – Lauren Coffin