Slash: Hunter Shea
Reviewed by Steve Stred
- Paperback: 288 pages
- Publisher: Flame Tree Press (24 Oct. 2019)
Big thanks to Netgalley, Flametree Press and Hunter for letting me check this one out. Big apologies to those three – as I mixed up a bunch of my release dates!
I’ve become a big fan of Shea’s writing over the last few years. Most people talk about how phenomenal ‘Creature’ was, and while I’m firmly in that camp as well, I’ve also loved his creature-feature releases. I recently read a stunning paranormal story by him in the anthology ‘Midnight in the Graveyard,’ and it’s great to see just how varied Shea can be.
KR: You can read the Kendall Review for Midnight In The Graveyard HERE
This one comes off as a giant ode to the slasher film genre and for that, it was a lot of fun.
I really enjoyed the emotional opening, which gave Todd the kick in the pants to head back to Hayden Resort. Once there, Shea introduces us to The Wraith – a murderer who appears to have returned. A key figure in Todd’s deceased fiancé Ashley’s past.
The action comes fast and furious and at times it reminded me of ‘Kill Hill Carnage’ by Tim Meyers, which was also a ton of fun.
Shea worked hard to create a fluid back story that popped up time and time again, and filling in a lot of the answers to those lingering questions for the readers as well as for Todd was great.
Hunter created a really ideal setting for creepiness with Hayden Resort. The location helped to make the character of The Wraith that much more ‘other-worldly,’ if you will.
I think it was Char in her review who said something along the lines of; ‘what was that noise? Was it a leaf or is it The Wraith.’ I really can’t think of a better way to describe how putting this story in an urban-exploration type scenario could make it any better.
This was a really fun run through the trees, another great outing by Shea, and Flametree continues to deliver with their releases, time and time again.
Slash
Five years after Ashley King survived the infamous Resort Massacre, she s found hanging in her basement by her fiancé, Todd Matthews. She left behind clues as to what really happened that night, clues that may reveal the identity of the killer the press has called The Wraith. With the help of his friends, Todd goes back to the crumbling Hayden Resort, a death-tinged ruin in the Catskills Mountains. What they find is a haunted history that s been lying in wait for a fresh set of victims. The Wraith is back, and he’s nothing that they expected.
You can buy Slash from Amazon UK & Amazon US
Steve Stred
Steve Stred writes dark, bleak horror fiction.
Steve is the author of the novels Invisible & The Stranger, the novellas The Girl Who Hid in the Trees, Wagon Buddy, Yuri and Jane: the 816 Chronicles and two collections of short stories; Frostbitten: 12 Hymns of Misery and Left Hand Path: 13 More Tales of Black Magick, and the dark poetry collection Dim the Sun.
On September 1st, 2019 his second collection of dark poetry and drabbles called The Night Crawls In will arrive. This release was specifically created to help fund the 1st Annual LOHF Writers Grant.
Steve is also a voracious reader, reviewing everything he reads and submitting the majority of his reviews to be featured on Kendall Reviews.
Steve Stred is based in Edmonton, AB, Canada and lives with his wife, his son and their dog OJ.
You can follow Steve on Twitter @stevestred
You can visit Steve’s Official website here
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