Kristopher Rufty

Review copy

In the early 1950s there was a man named Ed Gein who committed some pretty despicable crimes. He was a real person, just as real as you and me https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Gein.

What Kristopher Rufty has done here, and in my opinion has done rather well, is take this real-life story and re-imagined it as a vampire tale. The result is the best damn vampire book I've read in forty years. In case you're wondering, I'm referring to the seminal work on the subject by Stephen King. show more That being 'Salem's Lot.

The Vampire of Plainfield has all of the key ingredients for a powerhouse story. A town with a secret past, a likable group of children, and a central character that does something really stupid. Put all of this in a big pot, add heat, and stir vigorously.

Rufty's characters are all fully developed; the banter between the kids in the story is spot on. At this point I think it's important to bring up that this a very adult story. Even with that being said, there are some adults who are likely to think the author takes the story too far, as he deals with some subject matter that many consider to be taboo. If you have light sensibilities you may want to read something else, maybe something with sparkly vampires.

The Vampire of Plainfield is quite disturbing, as good horror should be. There are a number of good "Oh, wow!" moments. Even aside from the vampires there are some strange goings on in Plainfield, Wisconsin. The end result is the darkest story I've read this year. It's pretty cool when you're reading with the lights down low and suddenly gasp audibly and utter "Uh, oh."

The Vampire of Plainfield is available in both paperback and e-book formats from Sinister Grin Press.

Highly recommended, but not for the fainthearted or easily offended. Read at your own risk.

Kristopher Rufty is the author of Angel Board, The Lurkers, Pillowface, A Dark Autumn, and Oak Hollow. He has also written and directed the independent horror films Psycho Holocaust, Rags, and Wicked Wood.

He hosts Diabolical Radio, an internet radio show devoted to horror fiction and film.

But what he's best at is being married to his high school sweetheart and the father of two crazy children who he loves dearly. Together, they reside in North Carolina with their hulk-like dog,Thor, and numerous cats. show less

I'm generally not a fan of home invasion story lines, I have read so many that I have become bored with them. Most seem to merge into each other creating a been there read it already feel but I was completely drawn into this one right from the start. The chilling atmosphere and descriptive scenes really captured my attention, I could picture everything so clearly.

I initially picked up Desolation with the intention of reading a chapter or two before sleeping but ended up reading it in one show more sitting. It's a perfect mixed bag of suspense, tension, horror and chilling emotional scenes that will keep you turning the pages eager to know what happens next.

There are twists a plenty to be found here and some grisly goings on that will satisfy many a horror lover. But, at the same time it's a heartbreaking and emotional tale of revenge and loss and the two intertwine nicely to induce not only fear and anticipation but also heartbreak and sympathy for the characters within the story. It's quite a roller-coaster of a ride. One minute you're grabbing onto the rails dreading what's round the corner, the next you're reaching for the hanky and full of remorse for disliking the characters previously.

Definitely one I would recommend. show less

In this "boy looking for friend, finds fiend instead" gore-filled splatterfest, Kristopher Rufty picks up the mantle left behind by Richard Laymon and establishes himself as his worthy successor. The novel has all of the elements that Laymon used to entertain his fans: gore, sex, moments of sheer terror, a fast moving plot, and interesting characters.

"Pillowface" revolves around the unique bonding between a 12-year old boy and a psychopathic, emotionally scarred war veteran who displaces show more his anger over his facial disfigurement by killing as many people as he can. All 12-year old Joel wanted was a friend and someone to relate to after the tragic loss of his parents in an automobile accident. His guardian and older sister, Haley, didn't understand him and forced him to do "awful" things like clean his room and mow the yard.

The friendship started out innocently enough as Joel came across the badly injured Pillowface in the woods. The fiend had suffered some knife wounds during his most recent kill. As Joel helped the giant back to his house for treatment, Pillowface was struck by the boy's kindness. No one had treated him this way since before the war. It was Joel's kindness that both saved his life and started the unique relationship between monster and boy. Not sure what to do with him, Joel hid his new friend in his room (and away from Haley) until he recovered. Once back on his feet, the urge to kill resurfaced for Pillowface and he soon began to start claiming victims again. Joel soon found himself in an uncompromising situation when he found the remains of another Pillowface murder. Does Joel risk his friendship with his new buddy or listen to his conscience?

Rufty does a great job answering that question as he introduces and weaves new characters into the book. The book is a very quick read and the plot moves swiftly to a somewhat predictable, but not unsatisfying ending. This is the first book that I've read by Rufty, but guaranteed not to be the last from a better-than-expected substitute for Richard Laymon. show less

If you're looking for something with a unique take on classic 80's slasher horror, Kristopher Rufty's Something Violent is a must read. Imagine a social media site like Facebook, but with a targeted demographic of murderers and you have Something Violent, a site dedicated to the worst of the darkest, most disturbed minds roaming the world. Here, people come together to share the grisly details and even video footage of their feats - even going so far as to trade off partners in a grotesque show more version of swinging.

In Something Violent, the main characters aren't victims struggling to save their own hides, but rather a couple that is aptly named Satan's Sweethearts. Together they wreak havoc, slaughtering those that cross them. When their marriage seems at risk of falling apart, they kidnap a famous marriage counselor and recount the events that brought them together in grisly detail.

I think what I liked most about this book was its perspective - I couldn't help but feel disgusted with myself for feeling any amount of sympathy for a pair of murderers, but I suppose in this case, the saying that "anything is possible" rings true. While the book wasn't quite as gory as I would have liked, it certainly kept my interest.

On the other hand, it felt a little too sexualized. Of course, being a fan of the horror genre, this is an aspect of my taste in fiction that I have become accustomed to. Any true horror buff knows that the couple having sex will be one of the first to die after all. While it makes sense for one character to be sexually attracted to another, and go into detail about how and why, there are a few areas where I felt the sexual notes to be a bit too extreme and out of place. For instance, there's a moment where Jody Covington, one of the main characters, thinks to herself about how slick her thighs are with sweat.

Aside from that, Something Violent offers an entertaining insight into the lives of killers and is definitely worth the read. I have to give Rufty kudos for pulling off the normalization of serial killers.

Thanks to NetGalley, DarkFuse, and the author for providing me with an advanced copy for the purpose of review. show less