Saturday is Horror Day #169 - The Girl in the Basement

 The Girl in the Basement

Like most teenagers, Sarah (Stefanie Scott) wants to do the things she wants to do. But that's hard to do when your father is as strict and domineering as her father Don (Judd Nelson) is. Defying him, she slips out of the house to meet her boyfriend Chris (Jake Etheridge) to go to a party together. However, her father is waiting for her when she returns and he is angry. One day he overhears Sarah talking to her mother Irene (Joely Fisher) and her sister Amy (Emily Topper) about how she  plans to leave as soon as she turns 18, get out from under her father's controlling thumb. Don realizes he needs to act fast.

In basement, hidden behind a bookcase, is an old bomb shelter built by a previous owner. While Amy is  off at college and Irene at the store, he tricks Sarah into going down to the basement under the pretext of helping him to carry something. She is surprised to see the bomb shelter but enters it nonetheless - big mistake. Don locks her in immediately and life as she has known it is now over.

The Girl in the Basement is based on a real life horror story that happened in Germany. Josef Fritzl locked up his daughter Elisabeth, whom he had been molesting since about the age of 11, and held her hostage for 24 years. She bore him 7 children, one of whom died, three she raised in the basement, and 3 he "found" on the doorstep, claiming Elisabeth had left them there. The movie is pretty accurate on the basic details and it is horrifying. Judd Nelson plays a darker character than any I've ever seen him play.  The really horrifying thing is that this is probably far from being an isolated incident. 

 

The movie itself will keep you watching with horrified wonder, asking yourself how low can he go? The answer is pretty low. It was once a Lifetime movie and as such you can still see the cuts for the commercial breaks. I'll give this film 3.5 Stars.

Book Review: Extinction by Douglas Preston

 

Extinction       

Author: Douglas Preston

Publisher: Forge Books

American release date: April 23, 2024

Format/Genre/Length: Hardback/Technothriller/384 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

Frankie Cash receives her first assignment as AIC – Agent in Charge – as a member of the Colorado Bureau of investigation – a kidnapping and possible murder at the Erebus Resort. Erebus is a 144 square mile resort in the mountains of Colorado where the wealthy come to play. But the big attraction lies in the various animals, once extinct, that have been de-extincted by scientists and brought back to life, now roaming the self-contained land of Erebus. Animals such as the wooly mammoth and the giant sloth. The victims are a young couple on their honeymoon – he’s the son of a billionaire and she’s a former Olympic Gold Medalist. Things don’t look good for the young couple, considering the size of the blood stains found by their tent. But there’s no need to spread panic until they know more.

Jim Colcord is the local sheriff. An older man, with many years of experience, he heads immediately to the crime scene where he meets Cash. Looks like they’ll be working together. Colcord brings a team of dogs and their handler, Acosta, to follow the scents. But they lose them in a massive heap of mammoth dung. The head of Erebus’s security team is a man named Maximillian. Something seems off with him, almost like he’s hiding something. The arrival of the father of one of the victims, the billionaire Gunnerson, does nothing to help the situation. He wants answers and he wants them now!

To further complicate matters, a film crew is filming within Erebus, having paid a high price to do so, and they have their own security team. Cash thinks they need to close the resort, but her boss, McFaul, is having none of it. It’ll look bad, not to mention cost the resort money… and money talks.

One avenue they need to explore is the mines that are situated beneath Erebus, long disused. And yet Maximilian seems reluctant to discuss them, for some reason. That only makes Cash even more suspicious. Especially when she learns the security chief told them about two of the mines but neglected to mention a third mine. The deeper she and Colcord go down the rabbit hole, the worse it gets. And now more people are dying in terrible ways. What in the world is going on here?

Douglas Preston is one half of the fabulous team that brings us the Pendergast novels, which I dearly love. He also writes his own novels, which are just as wonderful. Extinction is no exception. He has a way of posing questions and then pondering possibilities. Imagine Jurassic Park… but worse.  And it’s not farfetched either, considering how far modern science has advanced. Preston creates living, breathing characters, some of whom you’ll love, some you’ll come to hate. Action is never lacking, and the mystery will keep you guessing until the very end. Don’t forget to read the Afterword, it contains some fascinating information!

If you’re new to Douglas Preston, go back and read his other books. Also, delve into the Pendergast series. You’ll be glad you did!

Virtual Book Tour: Crossing Day by William A. Glass

 Good morning, everyone! Please welcome author William A. Glass to Full Moon Dreaming today! He is here to discuss his new release, Crossing Day! William will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning! To find the other stops on the tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of the post!

 

CROSSING DAY

William A. Glass

 

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GENRE:  Young Adult/Alternate History

 

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BLURB:

 

It's been one hundred and sixty years since the Confederacy won its independence at the Battle of Altamaha Crossing. Slaves of African descent still perform most of the work in the South. This seems normal to Ryan Walters and his friends who attend high school in Huntsville, Alabama. Like teens everywhere, they enjoy sharing videos, playing sports, and hanging out with friends. Jaybird's drive-in is their favorite gathering place. There, they befriend Mish, a slave girl who works as a car hop. When the drive-in’s owner sells Mish to a dirty old man, Ryan and his friends awaken to the injustice around them. Despite the danger, they decide to help Mish escape. Will they succeed?

 

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EXCERPT:

 

 

 

Melanie wanders into the dining room and finds her parents already seated at the table with their personal slaves standing behind them. Her mother, Dorothy, takes a sip of orange juice and replaces the glass on the lace tablecloth. Her servant, Natty, immediately gets a pitcher from the sideboard and refills the glass. Meanwhile, James is smiling at Melanie. “Morning, Miss,” he says. The white-haired Black man pulls out her chair. Once she’s seated, he spreads a cloth napkin over her lap.

 

“What was all the ruckus at Jaybird’s last night?” Dan Montgomery asks. He’s the mayor of Huntsville and knows everything.

 

“A German boy started it,” Melanie says defensively.

 

“Yes, and his father already called me to complain. He’s a big wheel at The Space Flight Complex.”

 

“Sorry!”

 

Montgomery points to the syrup. His slave, Parker, reaches for it and then pours. “Enough,” Montgomery snaps. He turns back to Melanie. “You and all the others will have a week of detention.”

 

Melanie gasps. “What about cheerleading practice?”

 

“You should have thought of that before you went to the drive-in. That’s where all the delinquents hang out and you with them.”

 

“I won’t go anymore. Please.” Melanie bats her baby blues at her father. His expression melts. “Go to detention after school today, and maybe we’ll see about tomorrow.”

 

“Thanks, Dad.”

 

Montgomery cuts off a bite of pancake and pops it into his mouth. That reminds Melanie to eat as well. It’s almost time for the bus.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

 

Bill is a retired business executive who now lives in a small southern town with his wife, Bettina. She’s a retired high school German teacher. Bill coaches soccer at a small college. Often, Bettina, who has a commercial driver’s license, pilots the soccer team bus to away games.

 

Bettina and Bill have three sons, Alex, Robert, and Gordon who have all graduated from college and moved away to pursue careers. Instead of having an empty nest, Bettina and Bill now host three rescue dogs. They enjoy finding promising hiking trails to explore with their dogs.

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/william.glass.50767

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/williamasaglass

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/WilliamAGlass3

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-glass-1281609/

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20170818.William_A_Glass

LibraryThing:  https://www.librarything.com/profile/Glaswa4611

 

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Crossing-Day-William-Glass-ebook/dp/B0CW8HBGV4/ref=sr_1_1

 

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Q. You’re marooned on a small island with one person and one item of your choice—who is that person and what item do you have?

A. If I was marooned on a desert island my choice for the one person to be with would be my wife, Bettina. She is a very resourceful, competent person who would help make the most of the situation. The one item I would want to be sure of having is my fishing rod. That would enable me to either catch fish or at least look like I was doing something constructive while actually goofing off!

Q. Which musical would you say best exemplifies your life – and which character in that musical are you?

A. I think the musical “South Pacific” would best exemplify my life. It’s about the interactions between US military personnel and the local population of the Pacific Island where they are based. The musical came out in the late 40’s about the time I was born into a military family. My first memories are of living in an exotic foreign country. “South Pacific” was controversial when it came out because of its forthright treatment of racial prejudice. I lived on army bases and attended integrated army schools in Europe at a time when strict racial segregation was the norm in the American South. Many students my age went on to protest in favor of civil rights. The “South Pacific” character I would most identify with is Luther Billis. In the musical Billis provides most of the comic relief. In high school I was always the class clown and like Billis evinced little respect for authority.

Q. Take these three words and give me a 100 word or less scene using them: hammer, saucer, traffic lights

A. With a sigh, Jake lets in the clutch and downshifts. Should have taken the bypass, he thinks as he comes to a stop, how can a town this size have so many traffic lights? The signal changes and Jake gets the motorcycle back into gear. He passes a brick building and with a glance ascertains that it’s the town library. Further down a neon sign hanging in the window of a modest building promises liquid refreshment. Might as well hammer a couple of beers, Jake decides and downshifts again.

Inside the dimly lit establishment three grizzled heads seated at the far end of the bar swing in unison to gaze at Jake as he enters. Disappointment at not seeing another regular is written on their faces. Sullenly the old timers turn back to concentrate on their drinks. A woman holding a whiskey bottle pushes through a pair of swinging café doors and Jake gets a glimpse at the tidy kitchen behind her. Setting the bottle on the bar the woman dries her hands with her apron. “What’ll you have?” she asks Jake.

You! Jake thinks, staring into her sparkling green eyes. He bites his tongue to keep from blurting out that thought. “What’s on draft?” he manages to get out.

“All we got is PBR.”

“That’ll do.” Dave lays a five-dollar bill on the counter to prove he’s not a deadbeat. The woman reaches for a mug in an overhead rack accentuating her slim figure. She turns to the beer tap.

Jake is smitten. Red hair and green eyes! What’s she doing in a place like this? He watches her carefully top off the mug with just the right amount of head. “What’s the cat’s name?” he asks pointing to the tabby licking a saucer of milk in the corner.

Q. What is your idea of how to spend romantic time with your significant other?

A. My wife and I both enjoy quiet evenings at home with our assortment of rescued dogs and cats. We love to curl up in bed surrounded by our furry friends who are happy to watch whatever is on PBS with us. Our evening probably wouldn’t impress outsiders as overly romantic, but we’re happy!

Q. When you start a new story, do you begin with a character, or a plot?

A. I almost always start with a character or in the case of my new novel characters. I had an idea for the theme I wanted to develop with Crossing Day in mind for a several years, but was unable to find the right approach to take until one day, it hit me to put a group of high school students in a story that would bring out the topic. Once I began writing about these characters, they helped me develop the plot.

Q. If they were to make the story of your life into a movie, who should play you?

A. Without a doubt I would want Adam Sandler to play me if they were to make a movie about my life. He is a great actor who in several movies has shown that he can convey the sort of give-a-damn attitude I had growing up!

Thank-you for featuring my novel Crossing Day on Full Moon Dreaming today!

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Virtual Book Tour: My Gangster Father and Me by Marcia Rosen

 Good morning everyone! Please welcome author Marcia Rosen to Full Moon Dreaming today! She is here to talk about her new release, My Gangster Father and Me. Marcia will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to one randomly drawn commenter via Rafflecopter during the tour. The more you comment, the better your chances of winning. To find the other stops on her tour, go here. Don't forget to look for the Rafflecopter at the end of this post!

 

MY GANGSTER FATHER AND ME

Marcia Rosen

 

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GENRE:  Memoir

 

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BLURB:

 

Happy Fathers Day.
Our history and experiences can define us, inspire our actions and as writers impact our words and stories.  Mine most definitely has. My father was a gangster. Really!

This is my story about my relationship with my father and how his profession affected me and my life, “He called me Sugar Plum. Both a blessing and a burden, I learned interesting lessons from my father: about generosity and determination, taking risks, and certainly finding the willingness to live life as an adventure.”

 

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EXCERPT:

 

 

You can command respect by your actions and deeds. You most certainly can’t demand love. I’m pretty sure my father never really felt loved by his family or by my mother, except perhaps briefly when they were dating and first married.

 

My father showed me by example the importance of helping someone who is homeless and hungry. He often bought a meal for those in need. I watched him do those things. One time, I was walking with him on Main Street in downtown Buffalo, past the five and dime store. A man, who looked like he was around fifty, asked for money. My father said, “Let’s go inside and I’ll buy you something to eat.” I can still picture us going inside to buy him a meal.

 

I grew up learning to be tolerant, yet at times he was intolerant. He taught me to believe in the necessity of fairness and justice, yet he himself did not always demonstrate those traits. He taught me to respect others, yet from my point of view he showed a lack of respect for some people. I believe he was a racist and told him so. His own history figured largely in his feelings and way of thinking.

 

My father’s attitude towards Black people had its source when he was in his early twenties. He and my grandfather had a small, thriving business providing farm-grown produce to some of the larger grocery chains in the city. Several times a week, leaving well before dawn, they would drive outside of the city to buy fruits and vegetables, often returning after dark.

 

Tired and in need of some rest, a young Black man who worked for them took over the driving. He too must have been tired and fell asleep at the wheel. There was a serious accident killing my grandfather and sending my father to the hospital for several months. He was lucky to have survived, as was the driver. My dad was not told about his father until the doctors were sure about his recovery. He spent the rest of his life taking a small white pill each day to stop him from shaking; he had nerve damage from the accident. He rarely spoke about it. Yet it affected his entire life.

 

We strongly disagreed about his being a racist. He would always say, “I’m not racist.” I think he was. When I became very friendly with the daughter of a Black family who moved in next door to us, we moved. As a teenager, when my African American boss drove me home from work one day, my father had a fit. “What if someone sees you? What will they think?” It was the 1950s and people thought all sorts of illogical and irrational things.

 

There was more of this type of attitude and comments from both my father and mother. I was not at all happy with them, and they were not too pleased with me. This was a frequent topic of controversy between us.

 

For me, like many others in this country, I cried tears of hope on November 4, 2008, when it was announced an African American was elected President of the United States of America. Tears were on my cheeks, as they were on thousands of others: leaders and everyday Americans, white and Black. We voted and sent an important message. Not everyone heard it, but on that day reasonable voices prevailed.  

 

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

Marcia Rosen is an award-winning author of twelve books including nine mysteries, the most recent is An Agatha, Raymond, Sherlock, and Me Mystery: Murder at the Zoo. She is also the author of The Senior Sleuths, the Dying to Be Beautiful Mystery Series, and The Gourmet Gangster: Mysteries and Menus (Menus by her son Jory Rosen). She wrote The Woman’s Business Therapist and My Memoir Workbook and has given Memoir Writing presentations and classes for close to twenty years. Her Memoir Blog can be found on her website. For twenty-five years she was owner of a successful national marketing and public relations agency.

 

Marcia has frequently been a featured speaker at organization meetings, bookstores, libraries, and Zoom Programs presenting talks on Encouraging the Writer Within You, Marketing for Authors, Writing Mysteries…Not A Mystery and A Memoir Detective…Writing Your Life Story. She has also helped numerous writers develop and market their books.

 

She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Southwest Writers, New Mexico Book Association, Public Safety Writer’s Association, International Memoir Writer’s Association, Women’s National book Association and National Association of Independent Writers and Editors—for which she is also a board member.

 

www.MarciaRosen.com

 

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Book Review: Assassination Classroom, Vol 17 by Yusei Matsui

 

Assassination Classroom, Vol 17           

Author: Yusei Matsui

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: August 1, 2017

Format/Genre/Length: Paperback/Action Adventure Manga//200 pages

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

 

The students of Class 3E are in a battle – against one another! Divided on the question of whether to assassinate Koro Sensei or try to save him, they have decided this is the best way to reach an agreement, with the understanding that either way, the entire class will support the winning side. The team to save the teacher is led by Isogai while the opposing team is led by Karma, with Karasuma as judge and Ritsu will keep score.

Each member of the class has a decision to make  -  continue with their assignment to assassinate Koro Sensei, or use what time is left to try to save him. The decision they make will decide which team they are on.  Karma’s team becomes the Red Team and Isogai’s the Blue Team. The two teams are just about evenly matched in number, but not necessarily with skills. Unfortunately, the Red Team ended up with most of the specialists – combat, marksmanship, defense, and recon. Each team has a flag, and the object is to capture the flag, knocking out as many opponents as possible along the way (using paintball guns).  Koro Sensei is happy to see his students do their very best work, what they have been training for.

Let the battle begin…

This volume was really good, as we watch the students fight one another in order to see whether they will try to kill or save Koro Sensei. They all care about their teacher, but some of them feel they need to justify their new skills and use them for the purpose for which they were intended. They have all agreed that whatever the outcome, the losing team will wholeheartedly support the winners and the class will then continue to work together toward a common goal. We get to see how much the individual students have developed since their training began, both as assassins and people. It’s not surprising that the end of the battle turns out the way it does.

After the battle, still seeking information, they learn that the data they seek is on the space station, which is in orbit. To request the information would take too much time, time they don’t have. But Koro Sensei has an idea of how they can acquire the info sooner. However,  this solution is not without its risks. Naturally, his students are all in! Can’t wait to see how that works out in the next volume!

Wednesday Briefs: Dracula #17 (4.6)

 Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.

Well, this night is not going well. Dracula's paramour is dead and so is her husband, though not by the same hand. Now he and Avram have to hide before the villagers catch up to them. What are they to do? See what's going on  in this week's chapter of Dracula. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up with them. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!

Dracula #17 (4.6)

Avram shot Dracula a look that clearly warned him not to argue. The vampire managed to hold his tongue, although he was clearly disgruntled at having to do so.

You’ll get over it.

“I have to make arrangements to get you both away from here,” Gunther continued, “but I’ll need a little time. In the meantime—”

“Time is what we don’t have,” Dracula snapped. So much for good intentions. “Did you not hear what I just said? Villagers with torches are headed in this direction. Unless you want to see a bloodbath in your precious church, it is imperative that we leave here immediately.”

Gunther took a deep breath before responding. “There is no need for the threat of violence, Count Dracula. Might I remind you that we are in a holy place—”

“I am very well aware of that, priest, and I have been coming to this so-called sacred place of yours for far longer than you have walked on this earth. Longer than anyone else in this village.” The vampire drew himself up to his full height, his fists balled by his side, as if he intended to strike. Despite his outward ferocity, Avram realized that was just a façade to cover his inner turmoil. He could tell that the woman’s death had affected him more than he cared to admit. Despite having seen many deaths during his lifetime, he was not the hardened warrior his ancestor had been. Avram had known Nico far too long to be fooled by his affectations in front of others. But he was also revealing secrets he should not reveal to anyone. Did he not understand the meaning of discretion?

“We do not have time for this. Nico, please.” He placed a firm hand upon Dracula’s sleeve. He could feel the tension in the arm beneath the white silk of his expensive shirt. Not that he really expected him to attack Gunther. His words were meant as much to reassure the priest as to deter the vampire. “In the meantime, what?” That question was aimed at Gunther.

“There is no other recourse,” Gunther continued, as though Dracula had not spoken. “It’s dangerous for you to leave the church, and you can’t afford to be caught here either. You have to hide, at least for now. Obviously, returning to the castle is not an option.”

“Obviously,” Dracula seemed about to begin another rant, but he subsided when Avram applied subtle pressure to the arm he still held. Gentle but firm.

“But where can we hide?” Avram asked Gunther.

“Come, I will show you.” He beckoned them to follow as he hurried in the direction of the altar. “And bring that trunk. Unless you don’t care if it’s found.”

“Wait a moment.” Avram forestalled the complaint the vampire was no doubt about to voice, holding him in place where he stood. He stared into Dracula’s hazel eyes intently, wondering if Shakespeare was correct when he claimed that the eyes were the window to the soul.  If so, Nico’s did not seem as impure as others would choose to think. “You don’t have to do this, you know. As fast as you are, you can evade the villagers quite easily if you leave here alone. There’s no need for you to be burdened by me, I’ll only slow you down. You should get away, Nico. Go quickly and I will follow you as soon as possible. We can arrange—”

Dracula was shaking his head before Avram had even finished speaking. “No, no, no. I will not have that. You think you are so clever but your so-called solution is out of the question. We will leave together or not at all. Do you think I am so weak as that? Come, let us see what this priest of yours thinks he can do for us.”

“And yes, first the trunk,” he added before Avram could remind him. He couldn’t help but smile behind Nico’s back but hid it quickly on his return with the item in question.

Confident that Dracula would now follow without argument, he led him past the pew where the blacksmith’s wife lay, past the altar, to the spot where Gunther stood waiting.  Dracula gave no indication that he’d noticed his coat no longer covered the dead woman, or that Avram now carried the garment.  Avram wasn’t sure if that was due to indifference or distraction. He hoped it was the latter.

The church lay in almost total darkness. The only light came from a few candles grouped about the altar that someone had lit, and what moonlight that was filtered through the stained-glass windows. The flames flickered eerily, but   Avram wasn’t bothered by the almost ghostly shadows they cast. He didn’t find the darkness unnerving, as many of the villagers did. Residing as he did with Dracula, he’d become accustomed to living mostly during the hours of the night.

“Where is this hiding place, priest?” Dracula’s patience seemed to be reaching an end.

In response. Gunther pressed on the floor with one foot. At first, nothing happened. Then Avram watched in amazement as the floor began to move back, revealing an opening just beneath. He gestured toward it. “There is the hiding place, Count.”

Avram had a feeling this revelation would not go over well with Nico, and it didn’t. Something about the blackness beneath their foot bore too strong a resemblance to a tomb, and he knew that was something the vampire could not abide.

“You expect us to… to scurry underground, like rats?” His indignation was rising steadily. “And then what, you seal us up, perhaps forever? What if you die, what then? We are unable to exit your tomb. I—”

He stopped abruptly, listening. Now Avram heard it too. Angry voices. Many of them.

No choice now. It was either descend into the earth or face the villagers. Into the darkness they went.

 to be continued

Now see what the other Briefers are up to!

Cia Nordwell

J Ray Lamb

 

 

Saturday is Horror Day #168 - Talk to Me

 Talk to Me

Mia (Sophie Wilde) hasn't had it easy, especially since the death of her mother. But luckily she has the love and support of her friend Jayden's (Jayden Davison) family to fall back on, including her little brother Riley (Joe Bird) and her mother Fiona (Sarah Brokensha). And oddly enough, Mia's ex, Daniel (Otis Dhanji) is now dating Jayden, but he and Mia have stayed good friends.

Some of the kids at their school have gotten into something new. Instead of using a Ouija board to speak with the dead, they use a hand. The person whose turn it is to invoke said spirits, sits in the center, and grips the hand before chanting "Talk to me". When they can see a spirit that no one else can see they invite them to come into them, and the rest sit back and watch what develops.

One night, Mia and Jayden go to one such party, and Riley blackmails his way in as well. Mia volunteers to go first with the hand, and has quite the experience. Then the other want their turns and they have a ball. But when Riley wants a go, Jayden puts her foot down, no matter how much he begs. However, when she has her back turned for a few minutes, Riley gets his way, and the results are not pretty. Mia is blamed for allowing him to be in this position. To make matters worse, she has begun to see her dead mum. She feels obligated to save Riley before he can become permanently ensnared as a torture victim by those on the other side forever.

I read a few reviews that complained that the movie wasn't scary, maybe because of a lack of jump scares. But I have to disagree. I think it's scary because it's more realistic. The teenagers are typical in that they are focused on their own desires and what they want to do and don't ever really consider the consequences of their actions; Typical teens, they feel immortal and act accordingly. I saw Mia as being a tragic character from the beginning, because of what she has gone through, and because of that, I think she is more vulnerable to what happens. There is a scene at the beginning, when she picks up Riley because Jayden forgot, that showcases what a sensitive person she is.

I liked the unusual premise, and watching Mia struggle with what she has inadvertently done. You never know if what she sees is real or if her own overwrought mind is playing tricks on her and us. I think it's definitely worth watching. I'll give this film 4 Stars.