01.24
MONSTER LIBRARIAN
Review by Erik Smith, Monster Librarian, January 15, 2010
Not all of the stories in The Death Panel are horror, but they are all good. This is more of a hard boiled crime anthology, with some hard boiled horror thrown in the mix. I happen to be a fan of both genres, so I enjoyed the mix of private eyes, dirty cops, gangsters and the occasional monster. With a mix of favorite authors and those who are new to me, the stories range from straight up noir to supernatural crime. Favorites include: “Blood Sacrifices & The Catatonic Kid” by Tom Piccirilli, in which two residents break out of a mental hospital, with violent results. “The Neighbor” by Brandon Ford, asks “What happens when a lonely “trailer” wife thinks her neighbor is a serial killer? Do you really want to know?” In Fred Venturini’s story “Detail”, an ex-cop runs a discreet auto detailing business, and keeps secret files on his customers. When he meets a beautiful woman in trouble, his life gets out of control. John Everson’s “The Mouth” is the story of a sadistic sex freak, always looking for a new thrill, who is pointed towards a girl known only as “The Mouth”. This one is not for the easily offended. “Nine Cops Killed For A Goldfish Cracker” by David James Keaton is difficult to describe. It’s a bizarre story of a man who needs to pay the rent, a goldfish with a thousand dollars in it’s stomach, and all the cops who get in the way. I could go on and on, talking about Tim Curran, Kelly M. Hudson, Simon Wood, and the rest, but you should read these gems for yourself. If you are a horror fan who wants to expand your horizons, I highly recommend picking up The Death Panel.
Contains: Sex, Violence, Strong Language and Gore
