When I stop and think that a year ago I had only seen Glenn
Rolfe’s name on a couple of books on the Samhain Horror website, I wish I’d
taken a chance sooner. Now that I’ve managed to dig into his works, he’s
rapidly becoming one of my favorites among the new generation of horror authors. His
latest release from Sinister Grin Press, Chasing Ghosts, only helps cement that
into place.
I knew I wanted to see what it was all about the second I
saw that cover: it manages to be haunting without giving anything away for the
plot, leaving the story as a blissful surprise.
Okay, so blissful is probably a bad word choice. Chasing
Ghosts is a blistering, mile-a-minute ride into fear, desperation, and
depravity. Three boys out snooping in
abandoned houses; a cheating husband and his devastated wife mourning the
disappearance of their child; the husband’s mistress and the couple’s best
friend; and a rock band playing a strange gig in a cabin in the woods. These are the major players here, and as their
paths begin to collide, they all learn there’s someone else out there, maybe
several someones, folks who the town thought had vanished years ago.
I love the way Rolfe writes about small towns and the people
who live in them. It keeps the story cozy and contained, and gives the reader a
chance to really build up affection for the folks they’re reading about, even
when the story’s not that long. And the people he has living and visiting in this town? Don't even think they're cookie-cutter. Every character on the pages is flawed in some way, just like us, all of them trying to make their way through life as best they can, even before they're thrust into the madness that ensues over the course of the tale. These are folks you could've had a beer with down at the local bar, or seen on the stage there, or - if you're not old enough to be going to bars - could've gone to school with. All of them immediately come to life in your mind, which makes the horrors they encounter all the more heart-wrenching as well.
The villains, the notorious Cobb family, are suitably creepy, with a
definite throwback to the near-primitive maniacs found in Richard Laymon’s
mountain novels or Jack Ketchum’s cannibalistic ones. Rolfe mentions both in
his dedication for Chasing Ghosts, and once you read the sequences with these
guys, you’ll feel that dedication was well-warranted.
If there’s a complaint to be had here, it’s that we don’t
get enough about those villains. You can see the hints of backstory there, but
we're only granted small doses of them and still know next to nothing about them when the story reaches its end. I would have loved to see this be maybe fifty
more pages dealing with the monsters, their history and sick motivations. That being said, if those extra pages were there, it would slow the pace
considerably, taking away the “pedal to the floor” feel that keeps you turning
the pages until there’s no more to turn, so I can respect the balancing act that went into giving us what we needed about them, and keeping the story moving.
Overall, Chasing Ghosts was a fun way to kill a couple of hours,
and the hints at a possible prequel (and sequel, maybe?) made me anxious to see
what else Glenn has in store for this already troubled little town. Definitely
pick up a copy and see for yourself; I promise you won’t be disappointed.
4 / 5 stars.
Follow along
the tour with these hashtags: #ChasingGhosts #Rolfed #WoodsPeople
Chasing Ghosts,
Synopsis
- · File Size: 340 KB
- · Print Length: 102 pages
- · Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
- · Publisher: Sinister Grin Press (August 1, 2016)
- · Publication Date: August 1, 2016
The Cobbs were
ignorant woods-people that died off and left nothing to fear. Locals in Naples,
Maine think they know this story. But are they wrong?
Luke Howard
and his mom move to Naples and Luke’s eager to make new friends. When Jason and
Davey invite him out to the abandoned Cobb place for a game they call “chasing
ghosts,” he’s ready and willing. However, the boys will come to discover that
some vacant houses are better left to die alone.
Meanwhile, a
punk band set to play in a rented cabin out of town feel eyes upon them.
Somebody’s watching, but not their usual audience. When their lead singer
strays too far from the group and disappears, his band mates set out in the
darkness to find him.
Police Chief
Walt Henderson is about to discover that there’s more going on out in the woods
of his town than he ever imagined.
Chasing
ghosts is more than just some children’s game.
Biography
Glenn Rolfe
is an author, singer, songwriter and all around fun loving guy from the haunted
woods of New England. He has studied Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire
University, and continues his education in the world of horror by devouring the
novels of Stephen King, Jack Ketchum, Hunter Shea, Brian Moreland and many
others. He and his wife, Meghan, have three children, Ruby, Ramona, and Axl. He
is grateful to be loved despite his weirdness.
He is the
author the novellas, Abram's Bridge, Boom Town, Things We
Fear, and the forthcoming, Chasing Ghosts; the short
fiction collection, Slush; and the novels, The Haunted
Halls and Blood and
Rain.
His first
novella collection, Where Nightmares Begin, was
released in March 2016.
Praise for
Glenn Rolfe
“Things We Fear is a
compulsively readable tale of obsession and dark suspense, with one of the
creepiest villains I’ve encountered in recent years.” — Tim Waggoner, author of The Way of
All Flesh
“Glenn
Rolfe’s new thriller is addictive. A quick, compelling read. Rolfe
creates tension with a minimal amount of words. His characters are so
well-drawn they come alive (before they die).” — Duncan Ralston, author of Salvage
“Fast paced and tense, with one of the
most interesting monsters I’ve read about in recent times.” — Patrick Lacey,
author of A Debt to Be Paid
“Glenn Rolfe is quickly establishing a name for himself
as one of a number of excellent new writers to ensure the horror genre is kept
alive and well.” — Catherine Cavendish, author of Dark
Avenging Angel
“There is a definite old school feel about this novella (Things We Fear). It isn’t an over the
top gore fest. Instead, what we have is a tense, psychological thriller that
builds steadily towards a fitting climax.” -Adrian Shotbolt, at Ginger Nuts of
Horror
Purchase Links
Also available in
paperback!
Media? Wish to Feature?
If you are a member of
the media or a blogger that wishes to review Chasing Ghosts or feature Glenn Rolfe, contact Erin Al-Mehairi,
publicity and marketing, Sinister Grin Press, at
hookofabook(at)hotmail(dot)com.
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