Book Reviews by Elizabeth A. White

Murder is only murder when it robs the world of innocence. – Edward Pritchard Caine

To say Ed Caine has some interesting views on life, and death, is putting it mildly. He could be forgiven though, given the tragedy he has endured. His wife, Jill, was one of the nine victims of the Solemn Stalker serial killer. That Ed was inside watching game shows when she was murdered just across the street while gardening only adds to the crushing intensity of his loss.

Perhaps not unexpectedly, Ed spirals down into a deep depression. He quits his job, rarely leaves the house, and retreats into his own head, obsessing over Jill’s murder. Over time, and with tremendous effort, he slowly pulls himself out of his dark hole, moves to another town, and begins a new relationship.

Just when things seem to be resuming some semblance of normalcy, while on a camping trip Ed again loses the woman he loves. Except this time he is responsible through more than just negligence. Ed is the instrument of her death, and not only does he not feel guilt this time, he feels it was his duty. Ed, you see, has discovered he is a One Percenter. (more…)

“Whoever would have guessed I would be doing what I am now… for a living. When I distance myself from the prospect it seems entirely surreal, yet here I am…” – Dr. Canterberry

Genesis of the Hunter, author Joshua Martyr’s debut novel, presents the story of a single vampire’s life during two time periods: his initial transformation in the 1400s, and his quest during modern times to fully understand the genesis of his species.

The passages that take place in Berwick Upon the Tweed during the late 1400’s detail the chance encounter with two vampires that forever changes the life of The Sentry, as we know the vampire during this time period. In fascinating detail The Sentry’s process of transformation into a vampire is chronicled, including the fact that for some reason he retains a higher level of intellectual functioning than the creatures whom he fought.

Flash forward to modern times where Gabriel, as we now know The Sentry, has employed immunologist / hematologist Dr. Canterberry to study the evolution of the vampire species. The investigations are being carried out both with urgency and in the utmost secrecy as there are people in shadowy positions of power (the CIA, Knights Templar and Illuminati are all hinted at) who seek to capture Gabriel in furtherance of their own agenda.

Author Joshua Martyr certainly has a grand vision of the story he wants to tell regarding the evolution of the creature we call vampires (a sequel is planned). As Richard Matheson’s 1954 I Am Legend did, Genesis of the Hunter contains a substantial exposition on the possible scientific explanations for the existence of the vampire, and Martyr has put considerable effort into creating a scientific backstory on the evolution of the species.

The only minor quibble I had is that the jumping back and forth was a bit distracting at times, and I believe the two time periods that alternate in the story could have stood on their own as separate books. Having said that, there is no question that Martyr’s approach is from a refreshing perspective, one that is built around neither romance nor gore but takes a more analytical approach to the legend.

So if you’re looking for a story that tackles the legend of vampires with a blend of historical setting and scientific theory, give Genesis of the Hunter a try.

“Everyone’s patience has its limits.” – Rampart

The fourteen tales that comprise author Amy Grech’s second collection of short stories, Blanket of White, are all about finding people’s limits. Grech takes common themes – love, death, coming of age, sex, family relationships – and drags the reader across the line of comfort on an exploration of the dark side of those familiar situations.

In some, Grech forces the reader to confront that darkness head on, sparing no detail in the horror that people can inflict upon one another: “Prevention,” a demonstration of how the pressure of decades of sibling rivalry and parental neglect can explode horribly sideways; “Raven’s Revenge,” a supernatural tale that tips its bloody cap to the master, Edgar Allan Poe; “Russian Roulette,” in which a love triangle turns decidedly deadly; and “Perishables,” a post-apocalyptic exploration of just how far one man will go to survive.

In others, however, Grech builds her stories around the more nuanced psychological and emotional traumas that people encounter: “Blanket of White,” the title story, is a poignant look at the desperate measures people are willing to take in the name of love; “Initiation Day,” in which a young man makes a life altering choice between fitting in and standing alone; “Crosshairs,” where a father learns, with devastating consequences, just how much his young son has taken his teachings to heart; and “EV 2000,” a clever, futuristic tale of an electronic vampire run amok in its desire to understand what it is to be human.

It is in exploring those emotional shades of gray where the true power of Grech’s writing shines through. As such, it is the wonderfully understated “Damp Wind And Leaves” that is far and away the standout of the collection. Set against the backdrop of a Halloween party, the story skillfully unfurls the emotional evolution of a seventeen year old, over the course of a single evening, from that of a child trying to hold on to his delight in the manufactured scares of Halloween to that of a young man ready to let go of childish things and take the truly scary step forward into adulthood.

While each stands on its own, taken collectively the stories in Blanket of White represent a complete journey through emotions that everyone has experienced – love and hate, jealousy and rage, pride and shame – and does so in an unflinching way that packs a huge emotional wallop.