Chad Lutzke

Shining a light in a dark place

I had zero expectations going into this book, and I think that's the best way to go. This is a different kind of horror story; one about repressed grief, loneliness, uncertainty, and absent parents. But it's also a heartfelt tale of one young boy finding hope, gratitude, and friendship in his darkest moments. I don't want to say much more for fear of spoiling anything.

I love coming-of-age stories and this one was fantastic! It's short (about an hour read), but it will stay with you long after you're done. This is my first time reading Chad Lutzke and I can't wait to dig into his other works!… (mais)

First of all, I really resonated with the introduction from Sadie Hartmann (aka Mother Horror). Meyer's The Switch House and Lutzke's Of Foster Homes and Flies were the first books I read from these respective writers, and they had a huge impact on my love for and exploration of the indie horror scene (which literally began just last year and is continuing to thrive). I'm excited to read more from each of these authors and to continue to mine the horror scene.

Now, on to the book itself. I received the Night Worms/Thunderstorm Books exclusive edition in November of last year, but I didn't get around to reading it until a couple weeks ago. I'm late in writing my review, but this is actually the very first book I read in 2021 and I was so happy to start the year with such a good one!

There's so much to love here, from the fleshed out characters, to the immaculate pacing and suspense, to the thrilling, jaw-dropping final act. I already had a soft spot for this type of story because I'm a big fan of (dark) coming-of-age tales, and I'm pleased to report that the Lutzke-Meyer duo knocked it out of the park. Baker Gray is an authentic and fully realized protagonist, whose burgeoning hormones are fully smitten by the older Cass and yet who still questions his own actions even as he sinks down the well of moral dilemma. I may not have been caught up in the same dark web as Baker when I was young, but many of his thoughts and feelings are strikingly relatable. I think this speaks to the success of the writers in capturing the fears and yearnings of an adolescent male whose loss of innocence begins early in the book and continues on to the shocking finale.

In addition to the characters of the book, I also really enjoyed the pacing. You know, just based on the tone and mood early on, that something is going to go horribly wrong as Baker falls head-over-heels for Cass, but the book is patient enough to wait until the end to reveal the its full horror. Plus the increasing infatuation/sexual tension, growing rivalry with Baker's best friend Seb, and escalation of Cass's demands are plenty engaging and help carry the story along at a brisk, worrisome step. Oh and the countdown in the chapters is a nice touch, clearly spelling out that we're heading towards something bad. I loved every single chapter in this book, but that ending is just amazing. I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say I'm a sucker for home-invasions-gone-wrong. Also there is a twist that, honestly, I should have seen coming but I was so enraptured by the story that it still caught me by surprise.

There are a couple of references to William Golding's Lord of the Flies, and this seems an appropriate connection. In addition to the cruel realities of human nature and the inevitable loss of innocence, there's also a story here about three teens at odds with the world wanting to create new rules in a home they can call their own. And there's something beautiful and inspiring about that, even if it ends up being a home built on mistrust and duplicity.

This is a horror book where the monsters are all too real. There is deviance, violence, and brokenness, but there's also moments of joy and truth (even if that truth is written in blood). To say more would be to spoil the experience. Go, and read it for yourself. You won't be disappointed.… (mais)

I read this in one sitting--and suspect it benefited from that single-sitting reading--but I'm still not sure how I feel about it. In a lot of ways, this feels like a quieter, younger version of Jesus' Son, which I adore, but the almost casual nature of the narrative left me sometimes feeling as if the whole thing was dragging on, or being weighed down with a few too many characters. On the other hand, that's also part of the beauty of what makes it feel weirdly nostalgic and real, at least for me. It was, admittedly, predictable in terms of the final chapters, and that's the biggest drawback of the book for me.

I'll try more of Lutzke's work at some point, though I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I suspect it will either be forgotten fast, or stay with me a very long time, and I'm not quite sure which.… (mais)

Baker is the new kid in school, as he has almost always been. Dragged behind his single mom from job to job and town to town, never staying long enough to settle in. He has never seen a point in making friends since they just end up left behind when it's time to move on. It seems like this time may be different for him when he meets Seb and they hit it off, but then they meet Cass who takes an interest in both of them. Teenage hormones make them an easy target for an older girl with a charismatic personality and an evil intent. Cass is pretty, smart, and dangerously manipulative. If you are on her good side there isn't anything she won't do for you, and I do mean anything, no matter how sick. If you are on her bad side....well that is a terrifying place to be. This coming of age tale leads down a dark and deadly tension filled path and I loved it.

I received an advance copy for review
… (mais)