Category Archives: Dark/Sordid/Bizarre

Poso Wells- Gabriela Alemán (Translated from the Spanish by Dick Cluster)

Posted on September 3, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Something crouches in the streets of Poso Wells, and it attaches the nerves like a persistent drumbeat. Whatever it is haunts the dreams of the residents, panting I their faces, slobbering them with noxious saliva and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Latin American Literature, Noir-esque fiction, Political fiction, World Issues, World Literature | Tagged corruption, Crime, cults, Ecuador, politics | Comments Off

The Third Hotel: A Novel – Laura van den Berg

Posted on August 27, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “The foundation of horror is a dislocation of reality, a dislocation designed to reveal the reality that has been there all along, and such dislocations happen all the time. “ That was according to the fictional … Continue reading →

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Modern Literary Fiction, Noir-esque fiction | Tagged cinema, Cuba, death, grief, Havana, Latin America, surrealism | Comments Off

Serial Killers: Horror and Murder: Scary and True Stories of the Most Terrifying Serial Killers the World has Ever Seen! – Frank C. Chastain

Posted on August 13, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) Don’t be fooled by the book cover! You may think it was taken right out of a tabloid headline. No, Serial Killers takes a mostly objective look at some of the world’s darkest and most notorious … Continue reading →

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, History | Tagged Crime, murder, psychopaths, serial killers | Comments Off

The Skin Room – Morgan Fleetwood

Posted on May 22, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…I was already imagining her insides —I am not one to stop at the body naked. My imagination ran behind the flesh, into the pulp. I imagined her glistening innards, her yellow and purple heart, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Dark/Sordid/Bizarre | Tagged crime fiction, psychological thriller, serial killers, suspense | Comments Off

Sugar Skulls – M.R. Tapia

Posted on April 8, 2018 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Celestial authorities have coordinated with the Emergency Alert System to issue this warning: Your soul is now properly fucked…” Micah DeAtta, a young drug and alcohol addicted, depressed, deadbeat dad is faced with finality—death itself. Death … Continue reading →

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Modern Literary Fiction | Tagged book reviews, death, fiction, memories, regrets | Comments Off

Siphon – A. A. Medina

Posted on March 8, 2018 by J D Jung

Reviewed by JD Jung) Hematopathologist Gary Phillips continually pulls all-nighters at the hospital and hates his job. He has no girlfriend or social life, though he has an infatuation with a female co-worker who is at least ten years his … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Skinny reads | Tagged book review, medical thrillers, psychological thriller | 1 Comment

The Ultimate Guide to Strange Cinema – Michael Vaughn

Posted on December 4, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “Welcome seeks of the odd and the strange! What you hold in your hands is not merely a book but a map to the sublimely weird, the wonderful, and the grimy side of cinema from all … Continue reading →

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Non-fiction, Our Best | Tagged cinema, cult film, Grindhouse | Comments Off

What Lies Within – Clare de Lune

Posted on November 3, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “…I learned how a body could become a beautiful contribution to the power of cosmetics…the most exquisite, deepest shade of blood red lipstick you’ve’ ever seen, rich soaps made from the finest fats…all those parts put … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Our Best | Tagged book reviews, fiction, horror, New Orleans, psychological thriller, San Francisco, suspense | Comments Off

Fall – Candice Fox

Posted on September 23, 2017 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “How to explain it all to him, a normal human man, someone with all his faculties, with a soul. How to explain that at the core of her being Eden killed people the way she breathed, … Continue reading →

Posted in Australian Literature, Crime, Mystery and Thrillers, Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Our Best | Tagged Australian fiction, book reviews, crime fiction, sociopaths, Sydney | 1 Comment

The Glorious Heresies – Lisa McInerney

Posted on November 18, 2016 by J D Jung

(Reviewed by JD Jung) “I don’t spend every second social occasion fantasising about enormous inanimate objects that one time used to mean something to me. But I’ve been fucked these past three weeks. I’ve been sick, and tired, and dizzy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dark/Sordid/Bizarre, Irish Literature | Tagged book reviews, drugs, gritty | Comments Off