 | James HoggJames Hogg, a Scottish poet and storyteller, in 1824 presents us with The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner, a visionary and disturbing novel whose narrative power anticipates the anxieties of modern literature by nearly a century. Often described as a forerunner of the psychological and gothic novel, this book is a descent into the depths of the human psyche, blind faith, and moral duplicity. The narrative structure is surprisingly sophisticated: alongside the “objective” account of an editor, we find the first-person memoir of the protagonist, Robert Wringhim, a young man convinced he is predestined... Read More |
 | Henry FarrellThe Claustrophobic Theatre of a Shattered Identity.
In the landscape of modern gothic literature, few works fuse psychological melodrama with the macabre of the everyday as masterfully as What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? by Henry Farrell. This 1960 novel is a dark elegy on decay, sisterly envy, and the disintegration of identity through the distorting lenses of fame and resentment.
Farrell invites us into a Los Angeles mansion that is less a home than an emotional mausoleum. The protagonists, Jane and Blanche Hudson—former child stage and film stars—embody the two-faced nature of celebrity: the smiling face turned... Read More |
 | Bari Wood"Doll's Eyes" is a thriller written by Bari Wood, an author known for her suspense and psychological horror novels.
The novel is characterized by increasing tension, a gripping narrative and a strong psychological element that explores the boundary between the paranormal and reality.
Wood once again demonstrates her talent for building dark atmospheres and complex characters. If you like thrillers with a supernatural twist, "Doll’s Eyes" could be an intriguing read, similar to the works of Stephen King or Dean Koontz |
 | Sheridan Le FanuPublished in 1872, Carmilla is a classic gothic tale that laid the foundations for the modern figure of the female vampire. Written by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu, the short novel anticipates Bram Stoker's Dracula by more than twenty years and features many of the elements that will become typical of the vampire horror genre. One of the most fascinating aspects of the novel is its erotic subtext and the ambiguity of the bond between Carmilla and Laura. Le Fanu explores the theme of desire and seduction with great subtlety, using vampirism as a metaphor for forbidden passions and the fear of the unknown. The atmosphere is... Read More |
 | Joyce Carol OatesSix dark stories, where anguish, violence and terror are the protagonists and that tell of an increasingly hallucinated America made of disturbing obsessions that in these pages come to life leading the characters to commit unspeakable horrors. Direct and flowing writing that takes from the first to the last page, a cynicism that you would not expect from a woman, absolutely a must read. |
 | koji suzukiIt is the third chapter of the series of Japanese novels by the same author, which began with "Ring" in 1991 and continued with "Spiral" in 1995 and so far the only one not to have had a film adaptation, for this reason it seems completely detached from the films produced, in fact it is the denial of everything that happened in the first two books... It completely overturns the story with twists never seen before.
Perhaps one could argue that it is not a horror story because it is not scary, but it still takes you from start to finish and continues to surprise. Ultimately, "Loop" attempts to provide a scientific... Read More |
 | Mark Z. DanielewskiOne of the most successful examples of "ergodic" literature, that is, that literature that requires a greater effort from the reader and that allows the writer to intervene graphically on the text with words in different colors, mixed fonts, illustrations and more. This complex novel, perhaps dispersive and a bit long-winded, is a unique work of its kind, a narrative mosaic balanced between suspense and a dreamlike journey into the subconscious, dark and disturbing... it has become a cult, 20 years after its first publication in the United States, also thanks to the praise given to it by Stephen King. It is certainly not... Read More |
 | Wulf DornAn original story that involves and flows quickly. The characters are captivating, especially that of the protagonist, who immediately intrigues. The plot is full of many aspects: Fear, phobias, both physical and psychological violence, child abuse and the hunt for the BLACK MAN... Disturbing and with an unexpected ending. |
 | Jason Rekulak"Teddy" by Jason Rekulak is a psychological thriller that stands out for its originality and a smooth reading (416 pages) that never gets boring, the charm of this story probably also lies in the funny and scary drawings that accompany it.
The cover itself, with a childish drawing of a house and two stylized figures, already announces the disturbing atmosphere of the book. Stephen King also liked it, calling it "the most original and disturbing thriller of the year".
In short, an interesting novel but a little simple, probably designed for a teenage audience and no more. |
 | Marc W. JohnsonWriting this review has taken me a couple of days because it has several subjects I'd like to highlight. It's been difficult though, to put my mind together, because I can't reveal most of the scenes that will get you glue-stuck to the book. I couldn't leave it, and when someone talked to me I got upset because they were interrupting my connection with the story.
Well, that said.
Marc W Johnson is in my list of "Writers Extraordinaire". He is a screenplay writer, and you're going to find that influence on the book. Is it a bad thing? Hell, no. The writing is agile, fresh, always keeping you anxious to find out what'... Read More |
