MY TOP READS OF THE YEAR
6/12/2016
 2016 has been one the best years for genre fiction, so much so that this post nearly never happened as there was just too many great books over the past twelve months. But with a lot of thought, deliberation and the occasional toss of a coin, here is my personal top 20 reads of 2016. Some of ther books here may not have been published in 2016, if i read it over the past 12 months then it counts in my book. 20. splatterpunk's not dead edited by jack bantry When the spaltterpunk movement first reaered it's ugly head it totally passed me by. So it is great to see that this generation's of spatterpunks is keeping the flame alive with some excellent stories. This anthology from Jack Bantry perfectly shows the depth and range that this horror sub genre is capable off. From deeply moving stories such as Nat robinson's tale, to laugh out loud stories curteosy of Jeff Strand and deeply disturbing cookery based stories by newcomer Saul Bailey this is great read that with shock and tickle your funny bone with equal measure Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 19. the night of elisa by isis sousa This unique world where everyone has their secrets is rich with both ideas and characters. From the reformed vampire and a pair of devilishly creepy Siamese twins this a a world filmed to the brim with great characters. Strong writing, with a slightly cinematic style ensures the reader is enthralled as the heartfelt story unfolds from a slow start to a gut wrenching explosive ending. The Night of Elisa is a deeply satisfying read a clever love story wrapped up in an extraordinary world ripe for a Tim Burton film treatment. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 18. TWO MINDS BY MATT SHAW AND SAM WEST This isn't a book for everyone, but if you are looking to dip your toes into the murky depths of extreme horror, this is a great place to start. If you are already a fan of the genre, then you should already be a fan of the Shaw and West, and this book will not disappoint in any way. A hard hitting, horrible, and harrowing novella with a little bit of heart. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 17. MIDNIGHT MOVIE MONOGRAPHS: THE THEATRE OF BLOOD BY JOHN L. PROBERT This is probably the most enjoyable film study book that I have ever had the pleasure to read, informative, funny and totally engrossing, with amazing production values, this marks the start of what is looking to be a must have for all film fans. Purchase from PS Publishing 16. CLOWN WARS: BLOOD & ASPIC BY JEREMY DRYSDALE AND JOSEPH D'LACEY Clown Wars is a rewarding novel, it is like nothing else you will read this year, gripping, scary, it manages to put a heart into the myth and mystery of clowns, while still keeping them as a figure of fear. If you have a fear of clowns this book might not be for you, but if you are looking for novel that takes bold risks with genre constraints and the readers expectations, then this is the novel for you. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 15. RUN TO GROUND BY JASPER BARK Run To Ground is best described as a fun-filled piece of glorious piece of over the top extreme horror. Bark is a sick man, not content with giving the characters of this book a nasty death; he has also given Mcleod one sick personality trait. I was genuinely chilled at the perverse things that my namesake got up to. Where he gets these ideas from I have no idea but I am glad he does. Mcleod is not an easy character to like; he is a coward and a fool, yet despite this you still root for him, even though you want to grab him by the shoulders and shake some sense into him. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 14. KANYE WEST - RE ANIMATOR by Joshua Chaplinsky This is an acerbic, intelligent and witty deconstruction of one of media's most deluded personalities, and the futility and fleetingness of fame. A perfect example of horror comedy that resists the all too often urge for bargain basement humour for a series of adroit and shrewd jokes that will have you smiling from ear to ear. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 13. breaking point by kit power Kit Power's Godbomb was one of the most assured debut novels I had the pleasure of reading. Breaking Point gathers together the three Lifeline stories into one deeply uncomfortable yet compelling collection. At times this is not an easy read such is the subject matter, but Kit handles it with a deft hand and a keen eye for astute observations on the human condition. It showcases an development of a powerful emerging talent, with a huge breadth of genre and writing styles. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 12. LAUDaNUM NIGHTS BY STEPHEN BACON There is almost a magical quality to Laudanum Nights. The cast of characters and authentic dialogue, even the use of one of George Carlin's "seven words you can't say on TV" which rings true in the context of the story, work together to create one of those brilliant, spooky shows you used to get on the BBC at Christmas. Imagine an even creepier version of Box of Delights. With creepy dolls, burly brutes, and wizened old men, Bacon has delivered a story that captivates and chills in equal measures. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 11. Ruin by rich hawkins Ruin is an emotionally brutal story that will leave the reader feeling battered and bruised. A thrilling story filled with strong imagery and a perfectly pitched ending, firmly cementing Hawkins reputation as one of the great new voices in horror fiction. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 10 THE FACTORY BY MARK WEST When it comes to horror fiction with a heart and soul, then you can probably do no better than read Mark West. The factory is another deeply evocative and emotianally charged spooky story from one of the UK's finest writers of supernatural fiction Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 9. TRYING TO BE SO QUIET BY JAMES EVERINGTON Trying To Be So Quiet is a deeply moving story, emotionally charged,with a powerful and rich narrative, it is an exemplary example of ability for quiet horror to chill a reader to the core. Everington has always been one of those writers to watch out for, a gifted writer with a keen eye for refined horror, Trying To Be So Quiet doesn't so much as cement his place as a great writer, as but catapults him into the ranks of exceptional writers. 8. THE FIREMAN BY JOE HILL The Fireman is powerful and captivating novel, with strong characters and a strong voice Hill has created a story that is far more satisfying than his previous novel, which suffered from a bad case of bloat. Something which this novel never suffers from, and like his previous novel is chock full of nods and winks to so many pop culture icons. From Dr Who, Mary Poppins, Harry Potter, (just be prepared for a shocking appearance of J.K.Rowling), and a hilarious reference to Malcom Tucker, where John teaches Harper to swear properly. These nods and winks are used perfectly to bring sense of relief to the otherwise brutal narrative. They are never over used and never forcibly inserted into the story. However, this novel does suffer from one major problem, and while I understand why Hill chose to do it, I do feel that as in NOS4R2 the reader is slightly cheated with regards to the fate of one of the characters. It almost feels as though they are tossed aside, once they have served their purpose, but this is a minor quibble in an otherwise amazing novel. The Fireman firmly cements Hills position as one of the most important writers of our generation, this is an impressive novel that still manages to have a sense of the wondrous despite the brutal and harrowing backdrop of the narrative. With elegant prose and a keen eye for what makes us tick as a species, The Fireman ranks as one of the most accomplished genre novels of revcent times. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 7. VIGIL BY ANGELA SLATTER Vigil, is an excellent supernatural mystery, Slatter engages the reader with prose that is both gritty and elegant, and a plot that manages to spring a few surprises on the reader, thanks to the clever and natural use of plot twists and reveals. The multiple threads of her investigations all lead to the same place and when the truth of the story is revealed, and motivations of their actions are made clear it makes for a revelation of epic proportions. This where the juxtaposition of the mundane and the supernatural comes to the fore. The grandeur and splendour of the villains of the novel are spectacular; they are totally otherworldly, enigmatic and hell-bent on getting their way despite the cost to the rest of us. In a genre filled with generic books, Vigil dares to be different, eloquent, emotive, and exciting in equal measures; it marks the start of what will become the new must-read urban fantasy series. You will be eagerly awaiting the next trip down under with baited breath; such is the brilliance of this novel. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 6. DEAD SHIFT BY JOHN LLEWELLYN PROBERT Dead Shift is almost cinematic in it’s execution, with the narrative structure, plot developments and amazing descriptive passages all written in Technicolor glory you Dead Shift is screaming out for a film adaptation. In fact you can picture Caroline Munro Doug McClure and Shane Briant wondering the halls of Northcote Hospital. And yet depsite the playfulness of the story Probert still manages to give the story a heart and soul, even though Lipscomb is tryiung to destroy the earth you can’t help but feel for him. A sort of Aqualung for the horror crowd, “feeling like a dead duck, spitting out pieces of his broken luck.| Inventive, fun and highy entertaining Dead Shift has set the bar extremly high for all future novellas from Horrific Tales Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 5. BODIES OF WATER BY V.H. LESLIE Every now and then a book a book comes into your reading life that has the power to move you in a profound and deeply personal way. It doesn't happen that often, which in a way is a good thing as it doesn't dilute the impact of reading a powerful and talented author. Bodies of Water by V H Leslie is one such book, a split narrative story that links Victorian London with modern life in a newly redeveloped London residential property. Where the use of a water as a narrative device allows the two narratives to diffuse together to create a wonderfully evocative modern Gothic story of the highest caliber. Evelyn has been working with the so called fallen women of Victorian London, and when the stress and strains of her work take their toll on her she is sent to Wakewater Hall a Hydropathy residential home that uses water as a therapeutic treatment for various physical and mental conditions. While here she finds herself drawn to Milly, and falls in love with her, and it is the events of her relationship with Milly that traverse the boundaries of time, carried along on dark and uncaring currents of the river Thames. Kirsten, who has recently broken up with her boyfriend moves into Wakewater Hall, which in its present day form has been converted in a modern residential property, lost and battered and bruised Kirsten's plight is similar to many of the Victorian residents of the hall. Haunted by her past life and the Ghosts of Wakewater Hall, Kirsten relationship attempts to discover the truth behind the events that happened at Wakewater Hall. Bodies of Water is a novel of fractured beauty and evocative story that takes a compassionate look at the plight of women in Victorian times and at the plight of those who feel lost and at sea after the break-up of a relationship. The subtle writing gives the story an almost whisper-like quality that makes the reader draw in close to the story, and when Leslie brings out the chills, the intimacy of the reading experience adds to the feeling of dread. There are some real moments of genuine terror, but it is the pervading coldness of the narrative that provides the real scares of the story. The ever evading presence of water throughout and the shadow figure that exists in both time frames works to provide, along with the actual location, a sense of detachment to the events that take place. Water may well be the source of life, but in this story the water doesn't care, it cares not for the lives it takes, and doesn't care about the way it invades Kirsten's life and apartment. Like an unforgiving God, the water is aloof to those that it encounters. Leslie tackles some powerful themes through out the narrative such as the way women were treated in Victorian times and the need for people to feel free from their past. Leslie tackles these issue with a poignant confidence that moves the reader with a deftness that only comes from being fully understanding the subject matter. Bodies of Water is a modern Gothic masterpiece, a haunting and moving story filled with rich, tender writing and an ending that manages to be both melancholic and uplifting at the same time, it is a confident start to Leslie's novel writing career. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 4. BECOMING DAVID BY PHIL SLOMAN The duality of man is a concept that has troubled us as a species since we first crawled through the undergrowth looking for sustenance. It's a simple concept that can be used to great effect to explore the complex nature of what makes us human. It is also a concept that is central to a lot of great horror stories and themes, from Robert Louis Stevenson 's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, to numerous werewolf novels the duality of man has been used to make us think about how we tick, and how even the most respectable of us can turn to animalistic ways at the drop of a hat. Becoming David by Phil Sloman follows in the footsteps of Stevenson, Ellis and Endore, but does it tread over old ground, or does he break out and forge a new a path of his own in the literary world? Richard like most of us has a public and a private persona, however, unlike most of us, Richard's private persona involves him being a serial killer and a cannibal. When he kills David, Richard's life begins to unravel. As things worsen for Richard, and the lines between truth, reality and personality start to blur, sending Richard on a journey that will change him forever. Becoming David is a well written and well-crafted book, Sloman takes a thoughtful look at personality, and what makes us, us. What simply could have been another tale of urban serial killers hiding in plain sight behind the chintz curtains is lifted into an intelligent discourse on the nature of evil and the sense of guilt. Sloman's striped and lean down writing style is perfect for this claustrophobic tale, the small cast of characters and the use of minimal locations allows the reader to focus on the emotional and psychological plight that Richard is put through. Despite the fact that Richard is a cold blooded killer cannibal, you can't help but feel for him as his spectre of David starts to loom every more heavily on Richard's life. Sloman uses the haunting of Richard to provide a compelling look at the feeling of guilt, and how one's past life can suddenly change due to the intervention of one person. Is Richard being haunted by David, is David slowly taking over Richard's personality, or is Richard just an extension of Richard's guilt at the life he has led? Sloman handles these questions perfectly, so much so that Richard manages to turn from being the villain of the story to the victim of the story. While the reader will never fully get on the side of Richard, they will end up rooting for the bad guy. The narrative is helped along with excellent set pieces, such as the scene where Richard first suspects that he is being haunted by David. This section of the book as a real sense of dread and suspense, with Sloman layering on the tension perfectly to create one of the most nail-biting scenes I have read in a long time. The utilisation of a narrative of two halves is sublime, and the claustrophobic restrained first half of the novella gives way to a more action orientated, fast paced second half that mirrors the fractured nature of Richard's psyche with great success. As a lead character, Richard works exceptionally well, rather than going for yet another Hannibal clone, that is often seen in media featuring serial killers, Sloman has opted for want of a better description a rather ordinary leading man. Richard is a disciplined man, nearly devoid of grand personality traits; there is no charismatic American Psycho here. While this may sound like a negative thing, it allows for the story and the themes to breath without becoming drowned out by the character himself. Becoming David is a powerful novella, it is intelligent, thrilling story that carves its own distinct path in a genre filled with far too many cliched psychos. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 3. THE GRIEVING STONES BY GARY MCMAHON In horror fiction, there are varying shades of light and dark, not only within the genre as a whole but also within individual titles. Some books are inherently dark throughout their length, while others balance out the dark with a light and happy ending, and others such as The Grieving Stones from Gary McMahon lurk in shadows between the dark and light. Gary's previous work has, in the main had both feet firmly planted in the dark, he is not an author you should ever turn to if you are looking for a cosy horror story where the hero wins the damsel in distress and beats the bad guy. His books are a dark disquisition on the deepest and most honest facets of the human condition. His books have the power to rip out your heart and crush it on the page. His novel The End is one of only a select few books that have had the power to leave me in tears at the book's conclusion. The Grieving Stones is his latest novella and while it treads familiar McMahon shadowy avenues of the human condition it also breaks new ground regarding resolution and consequences....... Recovering from the death of her partner Alice has joined a therapy group for grieving people, it is a group that she attends but never fully engages with, even here among those who have travelled a shared path she feels isolated and somewhat sidelined. When the group's councillor invites her to a weekend retreat where they will supplement the therapy sessions by doing up an old house as a means to get closer to each other and each other's pain she reluctant agrees to go along. However, it is a house with a dark past, where the crimes of yesteryear are soon awakened and begin to impinge on the present day and lives of those staying at the Grief House. The Grieving Stones is a beautiful melancholic discourse on the process of grief and the transformation process that a person goes through as they come to terms with the loss of a loved one. McMahon's measured and sparse prose carries the emotions that Alice feels with an elegance not seen in a lot of modern horror fiction. The mixing of standard tropes such as witches and spiritual animal avatars with more original objects of supernatural portents, such as the brilliant use of an old sparring dummy is inspired, and the presence of the "backward facing girl" makes for a chilling encounter with the ghost of the past. While this is a dark and brooding tale, there is a, for want of a better phrase, a lightness to the dark. Don't expect a happy ever after ending, but there is a gloomy, pessimistic sense of joy at the stories conclusion, a sort of personal schadenfreude for Alice. The Grieving Stones is a powerful novel that deals with some heavy and personal subjects in a sympathetic manner that can come only come from an author who has a deep rooted sense of empathy. McMahon has fined tuned his unique narrative voice into a bewitching tale supernatural redemption. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 2. THE GRIEF HOLE BY KAARON WARREN They say you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, and some people say you shouldn't judge a book by its opening line, however sometimes the opening to a book is perfect, you can't help but judge a book in this manner. The opening to Kaaron Warren's THE GRIEF HOLE is a perfect encapsulation of why this book is such a triumph. At first glance, it is a simple statement, but when you delve below the surface, this opening sentence is full of subtext, dread and a sense of finality three things which perfectly sum up this powerful and evocative novel. Theresa can see ghosts; she can see the ghosts of how you are going to die, swarming around the victim like a plague of vultures, mimicking the way you are to do. If you are going to drown the ghosts will be the ghosts of drowned people, but since she works as an emergency housing officer for abused women, the majority of ghosts she sees are those of battered women. When she crosses paths with Sol Evictus, a powerful, charismatic singer, who sent her cousin a young artist into The Grief Hole to capture the faces of the teenagers dying there and who subsequently died there, Theresa makes it her mission to bring Sol Evictus to her own brand of justice. The Grief Hole is a poignant and moving novel, blessed with a fluid narrative that captivates the reader in its subtle and unnerving horror. Warren entices the reader into a world of broken characters and broken lives. A world where everyone is circling their own personal Grief Hole, where broken and battered lives urge people to take the final permanent journey into the pit of despair. Even Theresa, the hero of the novel is circling her own grief hole, disenchanted with her personal life and reeling from her tragedies; her job brings her into contact with situations that force her ever deeper into her grief hole. However rather than being battered into submission by the slings and arrows of her life, she makes a stand, not for herself, but for the future victims. As protagonists go, Theresa is an excellent focal point for the book, painted with a pragmatic, down to earth sense of morality, she is an everywoman for everyone. Instantly engaging and likeable her battles against her demons act as a perfect canvas for Warren to paint the subtle, and unnerving narrative. At first glance she is Theresa could be described as plain, yes she can see ghosts, but other than that your initial reaction to her is rather neutral. However, as the story unfolds and secrets are divulged your respect and admiration for Theresa grows exponentially, with all the wonderful character traits converging into one of the most believable protagonists in recent years. Sol Evictus, on the other hand, is the literally, and moral counterpoint to Theresa. Drawing on inspiration from some of the most mysterious singers, he is a pure distillation of the attraction and submission that we have for that artist that act like light bulbs to moths. A Golden God that shines brightly in a world of broken worshippers. Such is the power of Warren's creation, we the reader also fall instantly under the spell of Sol, despite knowing right from his first introduction in the narrative, that he is genuinely dangerous and morally bankrupt person, we can't help becoming enthralled with him. The real power of The Grief Hole comes from the deceptive nature of the story's narrative. Eschewing the trappings of the majority of ghost stories, The Grief Hole carves out new fertile new ground in horror's most ancient of sub-genres. Beautiful and touching prose masks the dark depths that this novel will take you to. This isn't an easy read. The book doesn't so much demand an emotional investment as draw one out of you like some emotional leech." That adage of a book staying with you after you finish has never been more apt; such is the power of this compelling story. Warren peppers the story with perfectly timed reveals, and revelations into the characters and their stories, which leads the reader through a bleak narrative landscape to a truly stunning conclusion. The Grief Hole is a chilling and disturbing look into the world of loss and abuse, one that takes a compassionate look at how we deal with loss, and how those in power have the ability to use and abuse those people looking for something to fill the void in their lives. Rich characterisation and even richer dialogue combine to produce a masterful modern gothic ghost story for the twenty-first century. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US 1. UNGER HOUSE RADICALS BY CHRIS KELSO A varied and widespread reading within the gene should prepare a reviewer for almost anything the genre throws at them, or so I thought. Yes, there has been the odd struggle with a bothersome sentence or a poorly worded paragraph, but in the main the reviews have come fairly easily. That was until I came upon Unger House Radicalsby Chris Kelso, it is a book that made me question my abilities both as a reader and as a reviewer. It pushed me to the limit, knocked my confidence for six and cost me close to 12 hours of deep thought just to get the opening paragraph of the review down on paper. It's a book that will prey on my mind for a long time, but is this for good or bad reasons? Did I find the book challenging, or was the book just a challenge?..... Unger House Radicals is, in essence, a simple tale; When aspiring and nihilistic film-maker Vincent Bittacker falls in love with mercurial serial-killer Brandon Swarthy they decide to embark upon a bloody journey to re-define cinema and create their own sub-culture - Ultra-Realism. However if you have read any of Chris Kelso's previous works, you will know that Chris doesn't like to take the simple approach. He prefers to take the reader on a journey that while never overly pleasant; it will be a journey that the reader will never forget, thanks to a powerful and unique narrative voice. Make no mistakes this is not an easy read, in part due to the in your face descriptions of the atrocities that Bittacker and Swarthy commit. Kelso doesn't mince words here; these sections of the story are grimy, gruesome and upsetting. They are designed to shock without any sense of titillation, unlike similar scenes in horror movies where you can get a rush of excitement, Unger House beguiles you into feeling dirty and shocked for having read such a thing. Nevertheless, these scenes are vital to the narrative and its constant pushing of your boundaries as a reader. Bittacker, and Swarthy are two of the vilest characters ever committed to a page; I'll leave it you to decide who is the worst, Bittaccker the semi-privileged filmmaker, who despite his belief that he was born evil, is more of a spoiled brat. Or Swarthy, an avatar of depravity and evil, born in the gutter, yet alluring and bewitching to all who meet him. Their story and deeds will become so intertwined that you will have trouble deciding who is the real evil. The narrative itself is a thing of beauty shining out against the grime that is attached to it. A fractured narrative that shifts from person to person, time and space, and narrative perspective, this mix of such things as first person, found letters and police reports could so easily have been a mess, and yet it just works. Kelso has taken the theories of "ultra realism" and applied it to the way he has written this novel. This is a dangerous and ambitious move on the part of the author, and one that works perfectly. There will be times where you are confused as to what exactly is going on. You may even get frustrated with the book at times with its ethereal way in which it is structured, but when you get it when the penny drops, then you will applaud the author for his audacity. This is without a doubt the work of a genius, everything thing about this book should have had me screaming at the page in anger. And yet I never did, I sat there in awe at the talent on show. There are some big concepts on display here from the sense of identity, the role of a documentary maker and their detachment from what they are documenting, religion, psychology, the nature of evil, the nature of humanity, I won't be so bold as to say I understood everything that the author was saying. But I will say I was hooked from the first page. Unger House Radicals is a challenging book, and like all great things the reward is more than worth the challenge of the reading experience. This is an outstanding book, brutal, unrelenting and mind bending in its scope. Purchase from Amazon UK Purchase from Amazon US There it is my top 20 of the year. What have been your favourite reads of the year? Leave comment in the section below and lets us know.
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