The Lucifer Glass by Frazer Lee

June 19, 2013 By Leave a Comment

GLASS
The Lucifer Glass by Frazer Lee
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Horror, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (52 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

It may cost you your soul.

Daniel Gates is a fixer. Whatever his client wants, he can get – for a price. But the price of his latest assignment is a high one indeed. He is to travel to Scotland to exchange a rare demonic text, a grimoire, for a consignment of even rarer whiskey. Reading the grimoire, Gates learns of the legend of Lucifer’s Glass and the unholy trinity of green-eyed demons who protect it. As he does battle with the demons, Daniel realizes too late that there is much more to his assignment than meets the eye. He is locked in a struggle to save his very soul from damnation.

Everyone is spellbound by something. How would you respond if you were offered the chance to satisfy your deepest desire? Must temptations always come with a catch?
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Daniel Gates makes his living by fulfilling other people’s wishes. At age thirty-nine he has reached the pinnacle of his career, and while I’m under the impression that all of this success has come at the expense of his personal life David doesn’t seem to mind flying solo. He knows exactly how to skirt danger and deliver rare, mystical goods to his employer. When I first started reading I actually thought this was a sequel to an earlier work because of how quickly and cleanly I was dropped into this intensely hypnotic world. The author leaves much of Daniel’s characterization up to inference, and I highly recommend reading The Lucifer Glass more than once in order to catch onto all of the clues about his personality that are sprinkled in each chapter.

While reading the first few chapters I wasn’t sure why this story was marketed as horror. The plot was well paced, but it took some time for me to feel frightened. Once the appropriate amount of tension and backstory built up, though, I was quite pleased with how everything began snapping together. The slow burn of the first chapter or two was well worth my initial confusion as soon as I realized what was happening.

The Lucifer Glass encouraged me to care about what happens to Daniel long before anything scary happens to him. I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the subtleties of psychological horror but isn’t adverse to a little gore.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Killer’s Diary by Brian Pinkerton

June 13, 2013 By Leave a Comment

KILLER
Killer’s Diary by Brian Pinkerton
Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary, Horror, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (243 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Daisy

The more she reads, the less she wants to know.

A murderer is stalking the Windy City, carving out the eyes of his victims as grisly souvenirs. When shy Ellen Gordon finds a diary left behind in a coffee shop, she can’t keep from reading it. And when she meets the author in person, he’s just as charming as his writing. Only when she reads further does she find clues to the identity of Chicago’s terrifying serial killer. Could it be the author, himself? Ellen will have to uncover the truth about her new boyfriend quickly if she doesn’t want to become the killer’s next victim.

Killer’s Diary does not just focus on serial killers but the reasons behind murder, the underbelly of society and the dark philosophy underneath abusive childhoods. There is a question of morality to be answered: is ‘God or the devil’ behind murder? Of course, there is a mysterious killer and the usual ‘is-it-isn’t-it’ murder plot, too.

The novel is well paced, following Ellen’s new relationship and her quick reading of the diary, but speeds up as events occur closer together.
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Pinkerton has a great control of language and apt use of metaphor, in particular a brilliant philosophical passage where the human body is described as a ‘sponge’ which can only take so much bad before it squeezes itself out to become clean, sullying others in the process. This reflects the structure of the novel and its conclusion, providing a motive for murder which is understandable to us all.

This is not a novel where there is a villain and an angel. This is a novel where ‘bad’ is made by bad and the reader must form their own conclusions as to whether evil is born or made and whether these individuals can be blamed for their actions, or not.

The mind of a killer is delved into in great detail and shown through blunt statements as well as subtle sentence structure. For example, page eight contains thirteen sentences beginning with ‘He’ within a passage voiced by a killer. This does provide the intended manic list of things, symbolic of a confused mind. However, it is also one of the only places in the novel I feel Pinkerton overdid his art. Five or six repetitions would have the intended effect but thirteen is too repetitive.

The only other slip from near perfect prose is a slight tendency towards melodrama; a character defies realism by stating ‘let me hear your death scream’. Despite being creepy, this comment has the tone of a cartoon or movie as opposed to something written in a killer’s personal diary; it jolts. However, this statement could have been planned to feel false in order to implant doubt and continue the is-it-isn’t-it story line.

Perhaps to off-set the deeply engrained, dark tone and subject matter of the novel, murder and morals is not the only insight into human behaviour. Alongside this underbelly of humanity there is hope, a possible relationship and a reconstruction of life after its abusive beginning. Pinkerton’s novel is a skilled investigation into the two strands bad childhoods can take: irreversible psychological damage, leading to physical harm, or a long reconstruction which can result in a positive direction. It is a carefully structured capsule of the human need to inflict pain or to heal and, just like human nature, the novel surprises.

Filed Under: Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Mahaha’s Victims by Giselle Renarde

June 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment

MAHAHA
Mahaha’s Victims by Giselle Renarde
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary, Horror, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (11 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When crafty Kooloo takes Gyta out in her truck, things get a little too hot and heavy for Gyta’s liking. The attention is nice, but she just wants to go home. En route, the truck hits something big. Damned if it isn’t a girl! And not just any girl–with her bare feet, sinewy limbs, blue skin, and sharp acrylic fingernails–this willowy slip could only be Mahaha, the mythological Inuit monster.

In the elders’ stories, Mahaha’s long fingers were able to tickle a person to death. She was a cruel creature, but easily tricked by any clever Inuk. Just lead the monster to the water and push it in. Easy enough.

Kooloo’s got a plan to escape the monster’s ticklish clutches: push the half-naked creature into the local watering hole. Gyta doesn’t know who to feel sorrier for–Mahaha, or the boys at the bar. But can the women execute their brilliant plan before it’s too late?

Gyta and Kooloo’s date isn’t exactly unfolding the way either of them had anticipated. What could be worse than seeing someone who wants the sexual aspect of your relationship to progress more quickly than you do?
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If only Kooloo and Gyta knew they were about to face a much bigger challenge. Despite their communication and boundary issues I enjoyed the banter and chemistry between these characters. Had they met after Kooloo gained some emotional maturity and Gyta learned to make peace with her sexual orientation they would have made a great couple. As the plot progresses I saw glimpses of the peaceful, productive life they could build together if they joined forces.

The ending of this story shocked me. There didn’t seem to be any clues earlier on in the plot about how it was all wrapped up, and reading the last few paragraphs was disjointing. While the ending fits into what readers figure out about the rules of this universe it would have made a bigger emotional impact on me had there been a few clues about what was happening early on.

With that being said, the pacing in this tale was excellent. From Gyta and Kooloo’s interrupted date to a race against time, each scene blended into the one preceding it with ease. I was on the edge of my seat from page one of this wild ride.

Mahaha’s Victims is a good choice for anyone who loves folk tales and secretely wonders if the creatures described in them are ever based on a kernel of truth. This is a modern day twist on an ancient legend that made me shudder as I read it.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , ,

The Other World: Stories by John Stewart Wynne

May 30, 2013 By Leave a Comment

OTHER
The Other World: Stories by John Stewart Wynne
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Historical, Horror
Length: Short Story (97 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Paranoia, psychotic breaks, danger, fear, loneliness, yearning. This acclaimed short story collection, first published by City Lights, is peopled by sociopaths, circus performers, tattooed drifters, cross-dressing teenagers and God-fearing families. Its hallucinatory edge makes the everyday seem like another world.

Is it ever possible to prepare for something that you don’t know is coming for you?

Sometimes the most frightening tales are the ones that feel like they could really happen. Everything in this collection sounds like something I could have read about in the local paper. None of the villains were capable of supernatural feats and all of the heroes had moments of uncertainty or hesitation which made following along on their journeys even more rewarding.

The Other World chilled me to the bone from the very first scene. The eerie atmosphere intensified my apprehension about Pete especially as I grew to know more about his proclivities. His parents’ inability to see what was really happening only made the situation worsen. I only wish we had more information about how Pete developed this particular hobby as most monsters aren’t born that way.

“Nameless Thing” had a fast-paced, attention-grabbing introduction but I never understood what Hilda saw in Elb. His poorly-controlled temper, habitual dishonesty and lack of personal boundaries outshone his positive qualities to such a degree that I had a hard time believing he was the third wheel of the love triangle.
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What does it feel like to be emotionally smothered? In “Raphael” we meet a teenager who has tasted just enough freedom to realize what he’s missing. This was by far my favorite part of the collection. Kathryn’s ability to twist even something as horrifically inappropriate as offering to bathe her teenage son into an example of her motherly devotion sent a shudder down my spine. I only wish I could know what happens to these characters after the climax!

“Lights of Broadway” painted one of the most sympathetic portraits of the relationship between a prostitute and her john that I’ve ever read. Beth and Val grew up in the same neighbourhood. While he technically does pay her for occasional sex their interactions feel more like what I would expect to see between a pastor and a member of her congregation. Clearly Beth is the voice of reason in this relationship. The question is, will Val listen to her? I changed my mind about the answer to it several times before the answer was revealed.

The creepiest premise by far in this book belongs to “Halloween Card.” Sadly, Jane, the narrator, is so influenced by intoxicating substances that I was never quite sure how much of what she described was actually taking place. By the end of it I wondered if Jane was actually hallucinating in a dark bedroom somewhere. I loved the first few scenes, though, and do think this idea would bloom if it was given more time to grow.

“Vulture” is full of imagery that dances back into my thoughts when I’m falling asleep. The people and places that Pat and Davy meet are so vivid I feel as though I’ve personally experienced them. What didn’t make sense to me, though, was exactly how a certain violent scene took place. The narrator skimmed over the details to such an extent that I spent the next several scenes wondering what else he had lied to me about. Eventually I figured out what had probably happened, but it was jarring to not know how trustworthy this particular character was for that length of time.

This is a collection that deserves to be savoured. Several stories were even more engrossing when I read them for the second time, and I expect that they will grow even better my third time around.

The Other World: Stories is full of frights that can be found in any home, neighbourhood or culture. We don’t need to invent creatures that bump in the night in order the fear the dark. Sometimes human beings are the scariest monsters of all.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

Running Red by Jack Bates

May 24, 2013 By Leave a Comment

RED
Running Red by Jack Bates
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Contemporary, Action/Adventure
Length: Short Story (129 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Rebellious teen Robin “Robbie” Willette thinks her life sucks.

Her grades aren’t the greatest. Her dad hates her “older” boyfriend. And her mom keeps Robbie on a short leash after her straight A, perfect, older sister gets pregnant and has a baby. As the tension builds in her family, Robbie runs away with her boyfriend Lane only to wind up sleeping on the sofa of her ostracized sister.

But it’s not all that bad. Robbie has a taste of independence. She’s working on getting her diploma through night school. She has a job–not a great one but it’s legit. And she’s finally beginning to figure out that her relationship with Lane is a dead end. For the first time in a long time, Robbie Willette is getting her life together.

Just as her life is improving, the world around her begins to crumble. Literally. A plague crawls over the planet, mutating humans into blood-lusting zombies that help spread a deadly fungus. It isn’t long before society collapses. In fact, in less than a year, all of society’s norms are gone. Robbie quickly finds herself separated not only from her family, but from all humanity. Hoping to reunite with her sister and niece, Robbie sets off with the most loyal companion she’s ever had: a yellow Labrador she names Yuki.

The road she travels is not easy. She must confront personal fears, untrustworthy humans, and aggressive mutants. Will Robbie fulfill her dream of finding her family, or is the world just too dangerous a place to discover what she needs most–hope?

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Running Red has the pacing of an action movie. From the very first paragraph readers are thrust into Robin’s chaotic, dangerous world. Most of the character development and exposition in this tale actually occurs in the flashbacks which made certain plot twists even more unexpected. Everyone who has survived so far is far too busy staying alive to worry about their emotional health, but I was surprised to see how much Robin matured during the year or so she lived on the run.

I never quite understood the logic behind how the disease spreads or why Yuki appears to be immune to it. While the descriptions of this invasion are terrifying the explanation for why some people were more susceptible to it than others would have made more sense had the author described the disease as a virus instead of a fungus.

While I initially harboured a few doubts about a decision Robin makes as the end of this tale grew near the final scene stays true to everything we learn about her personality and moral code. All of the major plot points were resolved satisfactorily, but a few answers were open-ended enough to justify a sequel in the future if the author ever chooses to revisit these characters.

It’s difficult to write a novel about zombies without including a lot of violent scenes. This book is full of graphic descriptions of characters hurting and killing one another, and while it may be appealing to younger audiences it definitely should not be read by anyone under the age of 16.

Anyone in the mood for a fresh twist on the zombie meme should give Running Red a try. It reinvents some of the most common tropes in the genre while paying homage to the expectations of hardcore fans.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Realms of Darkness by E. H. James

May 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

REALMS
Realms of Darkness by E. H. James
Publisher: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing
Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Contemporary, Historical
Length: Short Story (25 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Just when you thought it was safe to come out and play…

Being in the wrong place at the wrong time can be murder.
The Lamp ~ Don’t play games in the dead of night where shadows dwell.
The Late Shift ~ By the time you finish reading this, it’s already too late.
The Hitch ~ Don’t go looking for it…you might not like what you find.
The Furnace ~ Once you open that door there’s no going back.
In the Realms of Darkness…no one is safe.

Is it scarier to imagine something horrifying or to actually see it happen? It is better to wonder if something terrible is hunting you down or to know this information for sure?
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The stories in this collection ricochet off of this question. While they ended up in wildly different places all four of them truly deserve to be included in the horror genre.

“The Lamp” had a bone-chilling premise that easily could have been expanded into a full-length novel. The reader is given just enough information about Sandra and Jennifer’s Ouija board experiment to whet his or her appetite for the truth. While it worked well as a short story I think “The Lamp” would have been creepier and more memorable if the characters were given a few pages of exposition so that we could get to know everyone a little better. For example, are Sandra and Jennifer platonic friends or high school sweethearts? The way it is currently written I could make an argument for either possibility.

My favourite tale was “The Late Shift.” At first I wondered how a story about a tired server eagerly counting down the minutes until closing time could possible belong in this collection. Sheila, the progagonist, is such an observant, meticulous individual that I couldn’t imagine anything out of the ordinary slipping by on her watch. I didn’t figure out what was really happening until just a few sentences before it was described in greater detail.

I figured out the twist in “The Hitch” early on, but knowing what was probably going to happen did not dampen my enthusiasm in the least. The subtle clues in it lead to an immensely satisfying ending. Sensitive readers be warned, “The Hitch” includes a fairly gory scene. While it makes sense in the context of the tale the description of what is happening is explicit and should not be shared with younger readers.

“The Furnace” was the weakest addition. Like “The Hitch” it includes blood and gore, but in this case the violence does not seamlessly blend into the rest of the story. I had trouble understanding an unwise decision Karen makes early on. Perhaps the average person was more trusting in the 1970s, but I had a hard time reconciling her choice with her otherwise intelligent demeanour.

The subtle tales in this book were of more interest to this reader but all of them caught my attention at some point. I don’t know if the author has any plans to write a sequel to Realms of Darkness, but I would be quite interested in reading more!

Realms of Darkness is best consumed in one sitting. While none of the stories are set in the same universe each one reinforces the spooky atmosphere that makes dipping one’s toes into the horror genre so deliciously frightening.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

The Second Wife by Catherine Cavendish

May 8, 2013 By Leave a Comment

WIFE
The Second Wife by Catherine Cavendish
Publisher: Etopia Press
Genre: Horror, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (102 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Emily Marchant died on Valentine’s Day. If only she’d stayed dead…

When Chrissie Marchant first sets eyes on Barton Grove, she feels as if the house doesn’t want her. But it’s her new husband’s home, so now it’s her home as well. Sumptuous and exquisitely appointed, the house is filled with treasures that had belonged to Joe’s first wife, the perfect Emily, whom the villagers still consider the real mistress of Barton Grove.

A stunning photograph of the first Mrs. Marchant hangs in the living room, an unblemished rose in her hand. There’s something unnerving and impossibly alive about that portrait, but it’s not the only piece of Emily still in the house. And as Chrissie’s marriage unravels around her, she learns that Emily never intended for Joe to take a second wife…

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Chrissie’s life changes dramatically when a whirlwind courtship with a wealthy doctor named Joe ends in marriage. In less than a year she shifts from struggling to make ends meet in a shrinking profession to living in a mansion. She had enjoyed working and isn’t sure what to do with herself now that she has hours of free time each day. Her uneasiness at not finding a new niche yet and disinterest in taking advantage of her husband’s money really endeared me this character.

Unfortunately I never quite understood why Joe and Chrissie chose to get married. Joe is still grieving the death of his first wife, Emily, and is so attached to her memory that at times it almost seems as though he’s married to two women instead of just one. The memory of Emily actually has more say over certain household decisions than his living, breathing second wife! Chrissie’s descriptions of Joe are so sensual that I briefly wondered if she married him for his sex appeal alone. While this is not a romance novel the only time that Chrissie and Joe truly seem to like one another is when they’re sexually or romantically involved. They don’t seem to share any common interests and have poor communication skills and recurring, stormy arguments in their everyday interactions.

Perhaps the atmosphere of the house could partially explain the odd relationship between Joe and Chrissie? My favorite scenes in this book featured mysterious occurrences in a house that has known more than its fair share of grief. Ms. Cavendish subtly wove terror into unexpected places in this story. I never would have guessed something as commonplace as a chair could be so creepy. The final scene in particular sent a river of goosebumps down my arms. It foreshadows the possibility of something sinister but leaves the interpretation of what actually happens up to the reader.

The Second Wife follows many of the conventions of gothic fiction but I was still surprised by Ms. Cavendish’s spin on certain memes. This story is a fantastic choice for anyone who prefers to allow their imagination to inflate certain horrors instead of asking the author to spell everything out in bright red letters.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Halo of the Damned by Dina Rae

April 24, 2013 By 3 Comments

HaloOftheDamnedFINALCover2ndpic (1)

Halo of the Damned by Dina Rae
Publisher: Eternal Press
Genre: Horror, Paranormal
Length: Full (291 pgs)
Rated: 3 Stars
Review by Rose

A chain of advertising agencies, a new breed of humans, and a fallen angel to worship…

Andel Talistokov is known for his slick advertising agencies across the globe. He is a fallen angel that uses advertising as a weapon for Satan’s work. His growing power emboldens him to break several of Hell’s Commandments. Furious with his arrogance, Satan commands him to return to Hell after finding his own replacement. Yezidism, an ancient angel worshiping religion, quietly expands throughout the West. Armaros appears as a guest of honor during their ceremonies. He mates with young women to produce nephilim, a mixed race of humans and angels. They are alone and unprepared for their supernatural power. Joanna Easterhouse, a recovering drug addict, steps out of prison shortly after her mother’s fatal accident. She and her sister, Kim, unravel their mother’s secretive past. Intrigued, they learn their bloodline is part of a celestial legacy. Both worlds collide. Halo of the Damned is a horrifying tale that weaves research together with suspenseful twists and turns.

This book is not for the faint of heart or those sensitive to blood, gore, and general not-nice-activities–but, if you are you probably wouldn’t pick up a book about demons anyway, because–let’s face it– demons, by their very nature– are evil. And, evil beings do things that are— well— evil. Which leads to the conflicts in this book.
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Andel is in the same position Satan was in before the fall–he wants to take Satan out and be worshipped himself. Joanna and her family come from a long line of angel warriors who stand against the evil–however, it takes them a while to find out about this because there was a family schism. There’s also a hidden connection between Joanna and Andel that complicates issues.

I can see Halo of the Damned as a movie. It’s fast paced, there are a lot of characters, and Ms. Rae doesn’t let you catch your breath from start to finish.

The main issue with the book, though, is it could have used an editor’s hand. Ms. Rae is very fond of using words instead of said in tag lines–so much that it took away from the story for me. For example, on one page –out of five paragraphs–the tag lines were “demanded Joanna”; “Harriet announced”; “Kim yelled”; and “warned Harriet”. There were also incidents where the author told the reader what the characters were feeling, instead of showing us–again, taking this reader out of the action of the book. I only mention these because if they took me out of the book’s action, I’m afraid they would other readers as well.

However, if technical issues like that don’t bother your reading, the storyline itself is very well done. Like I said before, reading this book was like watching a fast-paced horror movie… and, in the end, there’s an awful lot to be said for that. A good story is a good story—and Ms. Rae is (pardon the pun) one hell of a good storyteller.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,

The Graveyard Speaks by Hunter Shea

April 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SPEAKS
The Graveyard Speaks by Hunter Shea
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Horror, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Short Story (51 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Some secrets can’t stay buried.

Deep in a dark, snow-covered cemetery, a terrifying, moaning apparition rises from the same grave night after night. Even the most hardened caretakers won’t go near the Spooner gravestone on their midnight rounds. Only one ghost hunter has the will to face the unknown, but at what price? In the chilling blackness, only Jessica Backman is prepared to answer the spectral cry from beyond when the graveyard speaks.

Are ghosts capable of suffering? Can they feel the same breadth of emotions that are available to human beings?

It was purchase cheap cialis an Epicurean return to my childhood, as we reveled in old family stories. This is to say that the majority of traditional anti-estrogens like Nolvadex since there is no rebound effect. cialis professional uk These brushes are usually provided with your hearing aid, but a soft toothbrush will also do buy levitra australia the job. You have to be enrolled in a DMV-approved driver education course order viagra without prescription http://deeprootsmag.org/2015/03/03/bob-marovichs-gospel-picks-19/ is certifiable and sanctioned by the authorities. Jessica has an unusual talent that piqued my curiosity as soon as I learned about it. What made it even more interesting is that she doesn’t understand how it works or why only some people have it. For a book this length, not going into detail on this subject is sensible. As much as I would have loved to learn more about her past a lengthy exposition would not have been appropriate while Jessica was busy stalking the dead.

This story was fast-paced and plot-driven. While it was exciting to have my questions answered in rapid succession there wasn’t much space allotted to character development. Jessica is a dedicated, talented ghost hunter but I have trouble describing her personality and interests outside of this aspect of her life. Hopefully the sequel will explore who Jessica is as a well-rounded woman in more detail because I am quite intrigued with this character’s courage and ability to think on her feet!

It wasn’t until I finished reading The Graveyard Speaks that I realized it was part of a series. While there are several brief references to a tragedy that took place many years ago this tale can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. I didn’t know anything about these characters before I started reading and I had no trouble quickly figuring out what was happening.

The Graveyard Speaks is a tantalizing glimpse into a world where the line between the natural and supernatural is thin, grey and smudged. I, for one, cannot wait to visit it again.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Going Up by Stephanie Bedwell-Grime

April 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

UP
Going Up by Stephanie Bedwell-Grime
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Horror, Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (46 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Some secrets should remain hidden.

Investigative journalist Beckett Hayes hopes a stay at a Caribbean resort is just what she needs to recharge her batteries. But mysterious clanging in the night doesn’t let her get much rest. Outside her hotel room, she finds an overgrown, seemingly abandoned elevator leading up the hill. The hotel staff insists the elevator hasn’t worked in years, but Beckett can’t shake the feeling they’re hiding something. Sensing a story, she’s determined to find out the truth. But will she be alive to tell it when she finds out what awaits her at the top of the hill?

How curious is too curious? Is it always a good idea to dig to the bottom of a mystery?

So you see it is quite an embarrassment for any man. buy canadian viagra After the culling of the root cause associated with ED include unwanted frustration, disappointment, despair, lack of interest in physical life What Causes Erectile Dysfunction? A number of http://deeprootsmag.org/tag/ecstasy-and-me/?feedsort=rand cialis samples men these days. Humanity’s quest for a true aphrodisiac throughout history makes the search for the Holy Grail, El Dorado, and Free Energy look like child’s play in comparison. purchase cheap viagra In some countries, such as the US and Canada, this could result in cheapest cialis the phase of prison. After being fired for making a dumb mistake at work, Beckett decides to take a long-overdue vacation in order to clear her mind and begin writing a great American novel but little does she know what awaits her at the center of paradise. Luckily Beckett knows how to quickly make intelligent, resourceful decisions as the plot thickens. While the rest of the resort guests dance and eat what sounds like incredibly delicious food she pays close attention to her surroundings and quickly learns who she can and cannot trust. Beckett’s inquisitive, even-tempered personality is perfect for this case and she’s exactly the kind of person I’d want to have around when inexplicable things begin to happen.

I was confused by Beckett’s decision to travel alone internationally without packing a cellphone, though, especially since she thought to bring her laptop with her. Even the safest tourist destination can be struck by a natural disaster, outbreak of a communicable disease or other unexpected calamity and it seemed odd to me that she would fail to take such a basic safety precaution. In an emergency the cost of calling or texting out of the country is worth it in order to keep in touch with loved ones and send and receive valuable information. I was also puzzled by her decision to pursue more information about what was really happening at the resort without telling friends or family what was happening first. Her single act of communication with the outside world was vague and didn’t seem to blend in well with her identity as a sophisticated, single professional. Surely anyone who travels alone would be more accustomed to keeping loved ones informed of what is actually happening on the road!

Poor decisions aside this was a well-paced story that tantalized me with subtle clues about what was really going on from the very beginning. Because Beckett’s first few encounters with the mystery of the island happen after she’s sampled rum punch I wasn’t sure how much I could rely on her understanding until the truth was slowly revealed.

Going Up really ought to have a sequel written for it one day. In the meantime I recommend it for anyone in the mood for a sun-soaked getaway that may not be exactly what it appears to be at first glance.

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