The 1st in the Occult Crimes Unit Investigation series. Finally the Angry Robot publishing house has produced a readable book. Stan Markowski is a cop who investigates crimes in Scranton's supernatural community.
Whilst investigating strange murders Markowski learns that a Dread Tome Of Evil Lore, a mysterious wizard, an all knowing vampire and a pair of obnoxious witch finders are all mixed up in a bizarre plot.
This is excellent, a great fun read. It's got meth addicted goblins! This is what 'Anita Blake' could have been if it hadn't gone all smutty. I am so reading the sequel 'Evil Dark'.
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The Mammoth Book Of Best New Horror 22 edited by Stephen Jones
The introduction is Jones' usual rant.
What Will Come After
A wannabe literary zombie tale. It didn't work for 'The Reapers are the Angels' and it does not work here.
Substitutions
A delightful slice of Lovecraft in the burbs. A man receives someone else’s online grocery shopping and becomes too curious about the intended recipient. Excellent.
A Revelation of Cormorants
Bird watching goes wrong. Navel gazing boredom.
Out Back
An idiot moves to a remote house and gets his unfortunate pet, his best friend and himself killed by a monster cos he's a moron. Dumb.
Fort Clay, Louisiana: A Tragical History
A photographer visits an old fort and learns of its history of yellow fever and murder. Good.
The Lemon In The Pool
An ex-pat finds something in her pool. Uh.
The Pier
A couple visits a pier, bad things happen. Good.
Featherweight
A couple gets into a car crash. Bizarre.
Black Country
A policeman goes to his old home. Bad, bad, bad.
Lavender And Lychgates
A tale of family, love and a cemetery. Very good.
Christmas With The Dead
In the midst of a zombie apocalypse, a man decides to celebrate Christmas. Excellent.
Best Line:
"It was a new world, and it sucked. And sometimes it chewed."
We All Fall Down
Emma doesn't understand why Holly hates her now but soon she will. Good.
Losenef Express
A bizarre tale of a doppelganger.
Telling
A bizarre tale of a house.
As Red As Red
A woman investigates New England legends and meets one. Good.
With The Angels
Bickering relatives look through an empty house. Good.
Autumn Chill
An okay poem.
