‘Death Cult’ – Janelle Schiecke (Emerald Link Press)

 

Page Count: 114 Pages

I enjoy reading other bloggers’ bookish thoughts but it’s not often that I’ll act on a recommendation. Nothing against you or what you’re reading; I’ve just got far too many books to get through and I’ll be honest, I’m pretty set in my ways with my reading these days. Not enough time to stick with a book I’m not enjoying, and all that ;o)

There are bloggers whose recommendations I will act on though and Alex, of ‘Spells and Spaceships’, is one of those. I’ve read a couple of very good books thanks to Alex’s blog, so when I saw that he’d read and enjoyed ‘Death Cult’, well… I knew what my next read would be.

Having just graduated from college, Jason and Eddie are ready to let loose and embark on a cross-country road trip in the summer of 1984. After some killer partying at a rock music festival in Nevada, they head out into the desert with girls and adventure on their minds. Their situation takes a dark turn, however, when they lose direction and find themselves at the entrance of a ghost town in the bowels of the sprawling desert. The residents turn out to be… A little off.

Meanwhile, Carrie has just found herself in the depths of a murky lair. Quick reflexes aid in her concealment, but she soon discovers the utter horrors that lurk within the dark recesses. Survival ultimately depends on her strength and cunning.

Tensions escalate as Jason, Eddie, and Carrie come to grips with their new chilling realities. All the while, a dark evil begins to reveal itself. For within this stretch of desolate landscape exists a cannibal death cult, and they have an insatiable lust for blood.

It’s kill or be killed—and as the bloodshed intensifies, so does the fierce will to live.

Reading hasn’t come easily, just recently, so I was after something that would grab me right from the first page; something where I could just ride the energy right through to the end. And I’m more than pleased to confirm that ‘Death Cult’ was exactly what I was looking for last night. Just what the doctor ordered. Well, my doctor normally orders me heart medication, chemotherapy tablets and anti-depressants; you know what I mean ;o)

What I loved about ‘Death Cult’ is how little Schiecke tells you about what is happening, we’re just shown it. Don’t get me wrong, I love a bit of backstory but sometimes, horror doesn’t need an explanation. It’s just right there, in your face and you just have to deal with it, whether you’re the main character or the reader. And that is exactly what Schiecke leaves us to get on with here and it’s brilliant. Whether it's the weird horror of the guy with concrete blocks for feet or the particularly brutal human sacrifice, on the first couple of pages, we are as much in the dark as Jason, Eddie and Carrie and it’s a great way to engage with our leads, trying to solve a mystery together. But it’s not just about that though, there’s danger everywhere and it’s so easy to get caught up in the initial foreboding atmosphere, and then carried along on a wave of viscera when things switch up a gear. Like I said, just what I needed :o) ‘Death Cult’ may be an affectionate homage to classic horror movies but it still has the capacity to surprise and is a book that really keeps you on your toes.

‘Death Cult’ is a little rough round the edges but that doesn’t take away from just how much fun the book is and how effective it is at putting you right alongside the main characters so you experience exactly what they’re going through. There’s definitely scope for a sequel and I would read it like a shot. ‘Death Cult 2: Sects in the City’, just saying… ;o)

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