Genre: Horror
Length: 215 Pages
Publisher: Honey Badger Press
Release date: October 5, 2018
Synopsis: March 29, 1987… For metalheads Mike Rawson, Lonnie Deveroux, and Pork Chop, an RV road trip to Wrestlemania III becomes a one-way ticket to hell. While delivering an illegal shipment of counterfeit wrestling merchandise, an ill-fated shortcut through the Kentucky backwoods leads them to a teenaged girl carved head to toe in arcane symbols. Soon our unlikely heroes are being hunted through the boonies by a cult of religious crazies who make the Westboro Baptists look like choirboys… a cult that will stop at nothing to get the girl back and complete a ritual that has held an ancient evil at bay for centuries… Until now.
Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review
I’ve been a fan of Adam Howe’s writing since I came across Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet. I love his twisted, non-political correct writing with great characters who can’t get out of their own way. When I saw Scapegoat was released I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of this one! Adding to my excitement, I saw co-writer James Newman was listed on the cover. I read his book Animosity years ago and loved the way he explored the societal breakdown of a neighborhood based on a series of assumptions and misunderstandings. If you haven’t read this one, do so, it’s intense and a hell of a ride. Now on to their current work.
Scapegoat started off just as I had thought it would with a great set of characters set on the path of a ridiculous adventure. I was right back in Adam Howe’s twisted world and laughing at the stupidity of Mike, Lonnie, and Pork Chop. Then things got real as I could feel the influence of James Newman’s style taking the lead. Shit hit the fan, and the story took a decidedly dark turn. I thought he captured a stereotypical religious nut job preacher perfectly. With this dark turn I didn’t know what to expect, and couldn’t have imagined the path this story was taking. I’m a huge fan of a good apocalypse, and boy this was one of epic proportion that blow me away. Scapegoat struck many nerves, had me laughing, and scared me out of my mind. It also left me feeling crushed and hopeless right along with the characters. This was on heck of a story, many thanks to you, Adam, for my review copy.
Adam Howe, biography
Adam Howe writes the twisted fiction your mother warned you about. A British writer of fiction and screenplays, he lives in London with his partner, their daughter, and a hellhound named Gino. Writing as Garrett Addams, his short story Jumper was chosen by Stephen King as the winner of the international On Writing contest, and published in the paperback/Kindle editions of King’s memoir. His fiction has appeared in places like Nightmare Magazine, Thuglit, Mythic Delirium, and Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Volume 1. He is the author of Tijuana Donkey Showdown, and two novella collections, Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet, and Black Cat Mojo. His latest novel is Scapegoat, co-written with James Newman. He is the editor of Wrestle Maniacs, an anthology of wrestling-themed fiction, and the debut release from his indie publishing label, Honey Badger Press. Stalk him at Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter @Adam_G_Howe.
James Newman, biography
James Newman is the author of a diverse selection of horror and suspense tales, dark fiction told with a distinct Southern voice and more often than not with a hint of pitch-black humor. His published work includes the novels MIDNIGHT RAIN, THE WICKED, ANIMOSITY, the collection PEOPLE ARE STRANGE, and the fan favorite novella ODD MAN OUT.
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