'Twisted Tales' by Brandon Massey/'The Mephisto Club' by Tess Gerritsen.
Two quite quick reviews.
First of all, 'Twisted Tales' by Brandon Massey. Massey is a horror writer in the vein of Dean Koontz and Stephen King. I'd not come across him before, but then I'm not a big horror reader, and was a little suspicious when my housemate brought this book home from the library. I still don't think I'm a horror reader - I enjoyed 'Twisted Tales', but I think that was because the format (a collection of short stories) meant that I could dip in and out of it, and also kept some of the things that tend to put me off horror (mostly excess gore) in check.
'Twisted Tales' is well written, and has a wonderful range of tales. Massey is a very talented writer, who writes strong PoC characters, who are very clearly and unapologetically coded as such, which I liked. I loved the variety as well; although some of the stories didn't work for me (I cringed rather at the Succubus story), others were wonderful (with the werewolf story being my favourite).
I'm not sure if it's sold me on Massey as a writer - I suspect I'd struggle through a full novel, in much the same way as I struggle with most horror novels - but for someone who just wants to 'taste test' the genre, it was a really good read.
Secondly, 'The Mephisto Club' by Tess Gerritson. I don't think it matters what I say in this review, really. The fact of the matter is that I walked home from work whilst reading this book, and spent ten minutes standing on the side of the road, not wanting to take my nose out of it to check for traffic, despite the freezing temperative in London today. So, I think we can safely say it grabbed me.
It isn't high literature, I must admit. To me, it felt like a far more intelligent Dan Brown. It is another of Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles series, but this novel took an odd and occult turn, with the pair getting involved with a series of killings linked to a strange group called 'The Mephisto Society'. There is conspiracy, suggestions of the supernatural, ancient and hidden 'histories', and a twist in the tale that I actually wasn't expecting. I suspect that a proper theologian, or anthropologist, may well weep bitter tears at this, but I really enjoyed it.
As ever, I also loved Jane Rizzoli. I love her messy, complicated, unglamourous life - her parents are divorcing, she's trying to cope with a new baby, and she's still a kick ass cop.
Overall, a very fun read. But then it's Tess Gerritsen. She's always good.
First of all, 'Twisted Tales' by Brandon Massey. Massey is a horror writer in the vein of Dean Koontz and Stephen King. I'd not come across him before, but then I'm not a big horror reader, and was a little suspicious when my housemate brought this book home from the library. I still don't think I'm a horror reader - I enjoyed 'Twisted Tales', but I think that was because the format (a collection of short stories) meant that I could dip in and out of it, and also kept some of the things that tend to put me off horror (mostly excess gore) in check.
'Twisted Tales' is well written, and has a wonderful range of tales. Massey is a very talented writer, who writes strong PoC characters, who are very clearly and unapologetically coded as such, which I liked. I loved the variety as well; although some of the stories didn't work for me (I cringed rather at the Succubus story), others were wonderful (with the werewolf story being my favourite).
I'm not sure if it's sold me on Massey as a writer - I suspect I'd struggle through a full novel, in much the same way as I struggle with most horror novels - but for someone who just wants to 'taste test' the genre, it was a really good read.
Secondly, 'The Mephisto Club' by Tess Gerritson. I don't think it matters what I say in this review, really. The fact of the matter is that I walked home from work whilst reading this book, and spent ten minutes standing on the side of the road, not wanting to take my nose out of it to check for traffic, despite the freezing temperative in London today. So, I think we can safely say it grabbed me.
It isn't high literature, I must admit. To me, it felt like a far more intelligent Dan Brown. It is another of Gerritsen's Rizzoli and Isles series, but this novel took an odd and occult turn, with the pair getting involved with a series of killings linked to a strange group called 'The Mephisto Society'. There is conspiracy, suggestions of the supernatural, ancient and hidden 'histories', and a twist in the tale that I actually wasn't expecting. I suspect that a proper theologian, or anthropologist, may well weep bitter tears at this, but I really enjoyed it.
As ever, I also loved Jane Rizzoli. I love her messy, complicated, unglamourous life - her parents are divorcing, she's trying to cope with a new baby, and she's still a kick ass cop.
Overall, a very fun read. But then it's Tess Gerritsen. She's always good.