Welcome my bloody readers. We are in the middle of summer now and I’m sure everyone is enjoying the sun, beaches and plenty of barbecues. Probably not a lot of reading being done. But if there is some spare time or if you happen to have a rainy day, I have two books that would fit the bill. The first book is three people experiencing odd happenings that come together to stop something unfathomably evil. The second book gives you an inside look of women roles in horror movies and how it relates to real life. So enjoy and keep reading!



D.W. Jones



Always Besides You by Damir Salkovic



What first intrigued me about this book was the cover. It had a gothic horror vibe. While the writing had the feel of this, the story was more of horror mystery and kept you on edge until the final pages. Salkovie spins a yarn that begins in three different places but comes together for a great cohesive story.


The story begins like this: A killer escapes after being catatonic for years. A woman being tested on exhibits supernatural powers. A man staying clean getting messages about a woman he hasn’t thought about in years. A detective can’t let a cold case go after a killer impossibly escapes.


What does all of these have in common? A power of unknown origin is trying to escape into their world and each plays a role in helping and stopping it that could end the world as they know it. Detective Palmer needs to put all the clues together to find and stops this evil. But will he figure it out in time or will it be futile and have to live with the consequences.


Salkovic tells a unique story that is a great mix of horror and mystery. Add to this a touch gothic horror style in his writing and you have a great story that sets an atmosphere that brings you into the story. The story starts a little slow until all of the pieces comes together and that’s when the plot thickens to hook you. The characters were written pretty good especially Detective Palmer and Nate Carver, who you really get involved with.


I definitely recommend this book for anyone looking for classic horror seamless blended with a whodunit. You can get this at the usual haunts that sell books like Amazon.



The Science of Women in Horror by Meg Hadfahl and Kelly Florence



I was immediately interested in this book when I was approached to review this book. I knew some of the archetypes of woman in horror like the final girl being a virgin and the girl having sex automatically got her killed. Or at least I thought I did. But Hafdahl and Florence took it to a new level and given me a new education on the different roles women in horror played and the impact they have in the genre,


The book is broken down in 10 chapters and each chapter picks three films that represent the chapter. The highlight the women that is the focus in the movies to show how they feel the impact of their role and how it compares to real life expectations. Along with the films that are highlighted in each chapter there are quotes and interviews with women working in the horror genre like directors, actors, stunt women and behind the camera women involved in films.


Hafdahl and Florence gives the reader an indept look at the roles women in the horror genre both in the movie and in real life. They show the reader the difficulties women have had breaking out of the limited roles like victims and only to be ogled at to breakout role challenging expectations both in real life and movies.


I highly recommend this book for everyone to get an inside look of horror movies and the roles women played in influences the films they were in and society as a whole. It is available where books are sold in paperback, audiobook and Kindle.