Hollow Folk by Andrew K. Clark — A trippy ride through a hotel trapped in time by the sins of the land’s past.

Cover Image courtesy of

Quill and Crow Publishing 

No, this is not some ripoff of The Shining by Stephen King, but it does share some common ideas. This is arguably the third book in Clark’s Dark Things series, although it’s billed as a standalone. The first two books are connected by family histories that overlap. You wouldn’t know there was a connection to the first two books here if you didn’t have the privilege of reading them, but there is, and that connection is the hotel’s location in the Hollow and a similar backstory involving a dreadful religious past.

Clark plays with a deeply flawed rural Christian history in these books, a history that intertwines with an evil backwoods folklore that creates some sexually charged creepy stuff relating to our fears, our inhibitions and our carnal desires. We are guilt ridden by what we are taught by the church, but it can fuel us into unconscionable acts that are worse than the sins we have been taught to feel bad about. …I’m speculating here, as I’m only halfway through the book at this point. But maybe I’ll leave this part in to prove this isn’t some stupid AI summarization and to prove I was right.

Anyway…yes. My speculation still feels spot on. The book has three Holloway employees trapped in time when the hotel’s grandfather clock—and every clock—stops ticking at 3 AM. The characters, Ethan (our narrator), Teresa and Kal, begin having weird experiences with ghosts and creatures who may or may not be real as they try to figure out what the hell is going on. The existing guests have essentially disappeared, and the hotel itself seems to be gradually overtaken by poisonous things and gothic creatures of menace.

Also, Ethan and Teresa are falling in love. It’s a weird and creepy developing relationship filled with bugs and body horror linked to a heartbreaking past buried deep underground. It’s an interesting read filled with creatively gross and erotic scenes that will evoke readers to say “what the hell..?”

The gothic nature of this book is more reminiscent of a Shirley Jackson piece, although there are plenty of nods to King’s Overlook Hotel.The hotel feeds the characters and makes them complacent in a way that is sometimes frustrating, because it doesn’t foster propelling the story forward at times. But there is a reason for this that makes sense. It’s not a book for everyone, but if you enjoy the weird and grotesque, and you’re not shy of explicit sexual scenes, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy it. 

Some of it was too much for me, because I was thinking, “guys, we get it. You’re mad hot for each other, and the weird stuff that’s happening during the sex doesn’t creep you out, but come on! Your buddy’s gone missing and this isn’t natural. Where’s the moment of freaking out?” But like I said, there is a definable reason…

It’s a solid piece of weird, dark romance/horror. But it is weird. It is dark. It is erotic. You have been warned.

Find Hollow Folk here, or at your favorite online book retailer.

A Sum of Destructions by J.J. Campanella --A book review recommendation for the procedural crowd

A strong new voice in the world of Psychological Crime Thrillers

Cover courtesy of Uvula Publishing

If you enjoy the likes of Lee Child or Michael Connelly, add J. J. Campanella to your list of new authors to read.

My go to read is not the psychological crime thriller, but I check the genre out once in a while, and this book came upon my radar because of a Christmas letter. An old college friend responded to my reading and writing news by mentioning this author and thought I might enjoy his work. I often have reservations when “not horror” readers give me recommendations, but I was curious enough, and I was not disappointed. A Sum of Destructions by J.J. Campanella is a solid entry in its genre.

Eddie Bratenahl is a psychological therapist for the Cleveland PD who is suffering through his own depression after the loss of his wife, when he is dragged into a murder case involving a professor from his old alma mater. The case dredges up open wounds involving the loss of his wife and reignites ties to his extended mafia family that he would prefer to have laid dormant. It’s a political, psychological, crime thriller all rolled into one, with a touch of science fiction that borders on the all too real. The characters are nicely depicted, although maybe a tad too reliant on certain stereotypes. But overall, it’s a good read with a strong plot and some nice twists.

Some minor drawbacks for me:

I don’t know, there were times when I felt like the detail I was being given slowed the pace of the story. BUT a lot of that detail felt like a bit of a love letter to the history of Cleveland. The detailed history that serves as a backdrop for much of the story often felt specifically tailored for residents of the Cleveland area. So if you are a Clevelander, definitely check out this book. Also, due to that detail, the book felt longer than I would have liked. I feel like the book could have been edited down by 50-100 pages without sacrifice to the characters or the story.

I was able to overlook the length of the book to some degree though, due to the strong development of the main character, and many of the supporting ones. The plot is engaging. This is a solid thriller, and I’m glad I took the time to check it out.

Find A Sum of Destructions here, or at your favorite book retailer.