Author: Jonathan Janz
Publisher: Flame Tree Press
Date of publication: April 2019
Ten writers are selected for a summer-long writing retreat with the most celebrated and reclusive author in the world. Their host is the legendary Roderick Wells. Handsome, enigmatic, and fiendishly talented, Wells promises to teach his pupils about writing, about magic, about the untapped potential that each of them possesses. Most of all, he plans to teach them about the darkness in their hearts. The writers think they are signing up for a chance at riches and literary prestige. But they are really entering the twisted imagination of a deranged genius, a lethal contest pitting them against one another in a struggle for their sanity and their lives. They have entered into Roderick Wells's most brilliant and horrible creation. The Dark Game.
The Dark Game is the latest book by this author. As you know, I love haunted house stories, so I was excited to give this one a try. The presume sounded great. Ten authors are invited to a house for a retreat. All is well until the contest turns deadly. Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.
I did enjoy my reading time, but I didn't love it. I thought the gory scenes were done well. This author is a master at writing them well enough to make you just a bit uncomfortable, but not extremely grossed out. I also liked the ending. It was a nice classic horror twist. What disappointed me were the characters. There were just too many of them. It was hard to keep them straight. None of them were very likable, so I didn't know who to root for. This story is very similar to Kill Creek by Scott Thomas (my review). I liked that one a bit more. Despite my disappointments, this is still a good and enjoyable horror story and I would recommend it.
Author: Jonathan Janz
Publsiher: Flame Tree Press
Publish date: September 2018
When David Caine, a celebrated skeptic of the supernatural, is invited by an old friend to spend a month in “the most haunted house in Virginia,” he believes the case will be like any other. But the Alexander House is different. Built by a 1700s land baron to contain the madness and depravity of his eldest son, the house is plagued by shadows of the past and the lingering taint of bloodshed. David is haunted, as well. For twenty-two years ago, he turned away the woman he loved, and she took her life in sorrow. And David suspects she’s followed him to the Alexander House.
I've been on a horror kick lately. The Siren and The Specter was a recommended book on SCRIBD, so I gave it a shot. The story involves David who is a known skeptic. He has debunked several supernatural mysteries and written successful books. His friend Chris invites him to live in a property recently purchased by him and his wife. David's task is to prove it's haunted so it can be turned into a B&B attraction.
I have mixed feelings about the book. On one hand, I did think it was a good horror story. It was creepy, spooky and had a lot of tension. It's filled with gory scenes and what would amount to "jump scares" if it was a movie. I liked watching David as he realizes the haunting was real. It was fun seeing a skeptic lose his grasp on reality. I also appreciated that there was more going on than just a haunting.
What I didn't love about the book was the in your face grossness of certain scenes. The couple next to the house have no qualms about playing porn in front of their small children. The mother is not shy about her overly sexual advances toward David. I can buy into a lot, but I didn't love the way the clear child abuse was used as a plot device here. It was unnecessary and could have been left out.
Overall, I did end up enjoying the book. It's definitely an adult horror novel, so keep it way from the kiddos. I did like this author's writing style, so I want to try out some more of his work in the future.
