Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer: horror fiction

Showing posts with label horror fiction. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 23, 2025

[Review] — BELLEVUE by Robin Cook ╍★★★✰✰

Twenty-three-year-old Michael “Mitt” Fuller starts his surgical residency with great anticipation at the nearly three-hundred-year-old, iconic Bellevue Hospital, following in the footsteps of four previous, celebrated Fuller generations. The pressure is on for this newly minted doctor, and to his advantage he’s always had a secret sixth sense, a sensitivity to the nonphysical. But quickly, one patient after another assigned to his care begin to die from mysterious causes. As he tries to juggle these inexplicable deaths with the demands of being a first-year resident, things rapidly spiral out of control.

Visions begin to plague Mitt—visions of a little girl in a bloodstained dress, bloodcurdling screams in the distance, and worse. As bodies mount and Mitt’s stress level rises, he finds himself drawn to the monumental, abandoned Bellevue Psychopathic Hospital building, which to his astonishment has somehow defied the wrecking ball and still stands a few doors north of the modern Bellevue Hospital high-rise. Forcing an unauthorized entry into this storied but foreboding structure, Mitt discovers he’s more closely tied to the sins of the past than he ever thought possible.

[Review] — BECOMING THE BOOGEYMAN by Richard Chizmar (★★★½✰)

B.J. Burgess books , horror fiction

I’m back! Well, sort of—I am attempting to reignite my habit of writing reviews for this blog. Admittedly, I've been a bit of a recluse lately, but everything is all right—at least as good as it can be under the circumstances. For those who remember, last year I reviewed Richard Chizmar's gripping fictional true-crime thriller, Chasing the Boogeyman. I found it thoroughly engaging and ended up giving it a five-out-of-five-star rating. Since then, I dove into its sequel, BECOMING THE BOOGEYMAN, and I'd like to share my thoughts on it.

[Review] — WE KEPT HER IN THE CELLAR Gives a Horrifying New Twist on the Classic Cinderella Story

B.J. Burgess books , fairy tale

Retellings of classic fairy tales have long captivated readers, but the horror adaptations have carved out a particularly intriguing niche, gaining popularity over the years. New titles in this genre continue to emerge, one of which is the chilling reinterpretation of Cinderella titled WE KEPT HER IN THE CELLAR, penned by W.R. Gorman and published by Crooked Lane Books.

[Review] — RUIN ROAD is a Dark, Fast-Paced Read

B.J. Burgess books , horror fiction

I picked up RUIN ROAD, written by Lamar Giles and published by Scholastic, predominantly due to its unique cover art—which evoked a nostalgic sense of '80s horror reminiscent of The Twilight Zone. When I learned of the plot, I was intrigued by how it seamlessly weaving elements of R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps while echoing the psychological twist that characterized The Twilight Zone.

[Review] —THE HOUSE OF LAST RESORT is a Tumultuous Blend Cloaked in a Haunted House Yarn

B.J. Burgess books , horror fiction

In my possession for far too long is a copy of Christopher Golden's THE HOUSE OF LAST RESORT, which was published earlier this year by St. Martin's Press. The delay in getting this review out has nothing to do with forgetfulness; I devoured the book right after receiving an advanced reading copy (ARC). However, life threw me a curveball, and my procrastination spiraled out of control. So, I am penning this review on Thanksgiving night, hoping to articulate my thoughts on this intriguing novel.