Genre: Horror
Length: 232 Pages
Release date: November 11, 2018
Synopsis: THE SMELL OF ASH
The earth is dying, nature poisoned by nuclear, chemical, and biological war. Eating a contaminated plant or animal means a painful death. Children, whose sense of smell is not yet obliterated by the corrosive air, hold all the power. Yet they are still vulnerable to corruption of other kinds. A fully unique take on survivors-of-the-apocalypse tales!
LUNATICS AND MARTYRS
A cynical photographer is hired for a photo shoot of a famous wealthy family on their remote island. He arrives with an open agenda and a hidden one. The ancient secrets he uncovers are far more disturbing than anything he’s encountered before, even on the most sordid paparazzi gigs, and even in his worst nightmares.
FOR REASONS UNKNOWN AND UNKNOWABLE
Authorities are calling it the American Dyatlov Pass incident. Four campers on an overnight hike fail to return. Only three bodies are found. Authorities piece together what happened using the latest in cell phone video enhancement and GPS tracking technology, but disturbing questions remain. A literary take on the “found footage” horror film genre!
SPIRIT BOARD
A bored and lonely girl finds a unique way to communicate with the dead. As her life becomes more unbearable, she spends more time between worlds. Is she escaping her daily horror or letting in something far more disturbing?
Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review
Four Weird Tales of Horror was a real mixed bag, and I almost gave up on it after the first short. Story one, The Smell of Ash, was a mess filled with inconsistencies throughout. The dialog was all over the board and very unpolished. The scenario with the old man in the chair was either poorly described, or at closer wasn’t logically possible. This short needed a couple of good revisions to remove the wrinkles and make it readable. I can see where the author wanted to go, but the writing didn’t get him there.
Story two, Lunatics and Martyrs, was another mess. While better than the previous story, it still had its share of rambling dialog. The plot was vague, not believable and hinted at a superior race or creature. More dialog problems persisted, this time between the photographer and the ‘unknown other’.
Story three, For Reasons Unknown and Unknowable, was great and what I was hoping to find throughout this book. It had my full attention and it was suspenseful as all hell. The writing was smooth, the plot creative, and just plain fun to read. The final story, Spirit Board, was good, disturbing, and had some nasty imagery. I didn’t love the characters, but the story held my interest. The third and fourth stories felt completely different from the first two. It made me wonder how this much variation could exist in a book…
Link to purchase Four Weird Tales of Horror
Larry Nocella, biography
I do not do book “dedications” to someone you never heard of. Every word I write is for you, the reader. Yes, YOU! The person reading this now. You are entrusting me, the writer, to make the best use of your time. As a thank you for that trust, and to reward your faith, I promise to work hard writing the best works possible. I intend to leave you with something positive – be it a compelling story, an interesting thought, or a laugh. Thank you so much for reading!
The Scary Reviews 