In his brilliant debut novel, Michael Louis Calvillo tells the story of Charlie, a frustrated and disillusioned line chef who's just trying to fit into a world that he doesn't really like to begin with. He was born with a strange growth on the palm of his hand and eventually realizes that he can bring death just by touching someone. He also that his "purpose" is to destroy humanity. I don't want to give away too much plot, so i'll just say that the writing was superb, and the idea is very original. Like a few others said, it does start off kinda slowly, but if you stick with it you'll get your reward at the end. If you're looking for something other than the ordinary zombie, vampire, ghoust, etc, stories you should definitely give this one a try.

If you love horror fiction, and if you love short stories, this one is a must have for you. I had the pleasure of purchasing and reading this collection recently and have to say that it was quite enjoyable. Some of my favorites were the stories "The Box", "Consumed", and "The Shape of Things to Come" although I honestly enjoyed every story in the book. These stories really make you think. Its not your typical "Hack and Slash" type of horror. Yes, some of the topics written within here are "horrorible" some even "gory", but at the same time the writing...the way he describes it all is quite beautiful. This guy can flat out write. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Wow...just Wow. Three of these four stories just blew me away, although every single one was enjoyable. Classic Stephen King! The first story, "1922" had me in awe of the man once again. It reminded me of his earlier works, and brought back a strong feeling of nostalgia for his writing. The second story "Big Driver" was also excellent with a slight twist towards the end. The third story "Fair Extension" was the shortest of the four, but I enjoyed it as well. Then we get to the final story "A Good Marriage". Probably my favorite one of the book. The sense of dread and despair it evokes in you is really powerful. I highly recommend this collection of novellas, even if you're not a "Horror" fan. The stories will move you in unexpected ways. Also, I think they should all be read in order.