Like Death

This book was not what I was expecting. I was expecting dark fantasy, this is fairly dark supernatural horror. I found it actually a bit disturbing and was debating if I could make it through the book. I did and while I would say I’m glad I did, I will say that the story did come together very well by the end.

The book started with a man who was possibly going insane, or was being driven insane. The man already had issues, he was the sole survivor of his family being massacred almost in front of him. He had managed to block out almost the entire episode except for the bits and pieces that come back in dreams or flashes of memory.

He has recently been estranged from his wife and son. His wife made the separation because she could see his show more violence slowly escalating. She partly blamed it on his childhood trauma, and partly on the job he chose for himself. He writes about true crime and all the grisly details.

Now, after following his family to a new town, his actions appear very stalkerish and he’s on the trail of a new story. A little girl that disappeared a year ago. When he tries doing research for the story he meets an interesting woman who leads him down the rabbit hole. A trip that would make the Divine Comedy seem like a jolly jaunt.

Overall, a very disturbing read. Very well done, very well put together. The story had a lot of very vividly described gruesome scenes. The book was not for the faint of heart, nor for the squeamish. It took me over half-way through the book before the last piece clicked and I had a good understanding of what was going on and where it was likely to be going. After that point, it flowed much better for me and I could almost enjoy the book. In the end I thought it was rather brilliant but enjoy, is not the word I would use to describe my experience in reading it. show less

Review copy

Apparently, Like Death, is not a new book. It's just new to me and I couldn't be happier that the folks at Apex Publications are putting it back out there in both paperback and ebook formats.

The opening paragraph sets the tone and is just a sample of things to come. "Huddled beneath the kitchen table, knees drawn to his chest, he crouches with hands balled into fists, jammed against his ears, kneading them as if he might cut off the screams by grinding cartilage and flesh to a pulp. It doesn't work; the screams come through just fine."

The entire opening sequence is like a punch to the gut and like a prize-fighter that finds his opponents weakness, Waggoner just doesn't let up.

If you've read any of my previous reviews, you show more probably already know I like my horror to be a bit disturbing. Gore doesn't bother me, violence is OK, even the occasional bloodbath is fine. But let me tell you, there were times that some of the subject matter made me downright uncomfortable and it wasn't this...

"His abdominal muscles bucked and the cords of his neck pulled wire tight as his digestive system prepared to initiate an emergency purge. But before he could bring anything up, he felt the gentle touch of spider legs making their way deeper inside him, and with each inch farther they traveled, the need to vomit subsided a little more. Within moments he no longer felt the urge to puke at all. His stomach muscles unclenched, he stopped trembling, and his temperature returned to normal. More, he felt a growing sense of well-being. Not only was he alright, but the entire universe and everything in it was honky-dory, a-okay, and peachy-keen."

There are times in Like Death where the line between reality, dreams and hallucinations becomes razor thin, the story telling is raw and you will get to the point where you will just learn to expect the unexpected. In three words, I loved it.

OK, it's not for everyone. It's certainly for mature readers and if you're a part of what we used to call the Moral Majority, please steer clear. But if you love horror that knows no bounds and pulls no punches, then plop this baby right on top of your To Be Read list. You can thank me later.

Like Death is available right now. You can get details here from Apex Publications or you can order online now at Amazon.com.

What are you waiting for? I can't recommend this one enough. show less

The plot is complex with tentacles dangling every which way possible. By the end of the story, Waggoner successfully pulls all the loose threads back together again, leaving me satisfied that I knew what was going on. (Even if it did blow my mind at the same time, but still…) Much of the work is daring, with scenes that ‘cross the line’ and go to ‘no, he didn’t just go there’ places. Like Death had its share of unsettling, frightful moments. The mystery of the adult Miranda was powerful, boosting up the surreal and demented atmosphere. Waggoner’s strengths are in his bizarre plots and excellent writing style. This man is just a cinch to read, his words smooth and strong. He doesn’t deaden the reader with too many show more unneeded words and silly phrases; he doesn’t go heavy on the dramatic side. Instead he conveys emotion, action, and reaction very well. Waggoner’s writing style is pleasant and addicting, the plot is way out there and works – he took care to make sure it was all explained, too, I thank you -, and the characters were solid. On the bad side the ending was a bit of a let down, some of the scenes were too overdone to where they were a little weak and took me out of the story. That earns a low grade four – certainly worth reading!! show less

In Like Death, true crime journalist Scott Raymond witnessed the brutal murder of his family as a child. Despite that, he has managed to settle into a somewhat normal life with his wife and child. After Scott starts to exhibit bad signs of extreme rage, his wife leaves him. He starts to investigate the disappearance of a six year old girl named Miranda. During the investigation, he is pushed into a world that exists beneath the surface of our world, one that he is starting to get glimpses of. During the investigation, he develops a strong attraction to a sixteen year old girl who is also named Miranda. Meanwhile Scott is being targeted by the people living underneath this surface.
I didn't particularly enjoy Like Death. For me, it was show more just a strange novel that didn't appeal to me. I could never fully get myself engrossed in the book. The writing was competent and professional. The characters for the most part felt underdeveloped and not characters that I could root for, especially the main protagonist, Scott. All in all, it's a book that I would avoid. It's not terrible, but there are far better offerings out there.
Carl Alves - author of Blood Street show less