Murder Under Contract by Alex Henry

 

Synopsis From Goodreads:

There’s a gruesome start to the day for DI Leon Peterson when he’s called to an airline catering company: the boss has been knifed in his own kitchen. With few people seeming to regret his passing, Leon is spoilt for suspects. But witnesses are by turns defensive, distraught, and drug-addled, leading to frustrations for his newly-formed and sometimes fractious team.

Pressure to solve the case is piled on by Leon’s new boss – who happens to be his controlling ex-lover. Just as Leon thinks he has his murderer, one shocking discovery is followed by another, this one too close to home. Now he struggles to deal with family fall-out, with striking parallels to his case.

Poor Leon just cannot catch a break in this third installment. After being missing for decades, his father’s body has finally been discovered—and, as it turns out, the murderer might be a little closer to home than anyone could’ve guessed. The new case on his desk is horrifically bloody, and not a single person seems willing to cooperate. His brand-new team is fragile (too many personalities in one room), and he’s hoping against hope they come together before they implode. And if that wasn’t enough, his emotionally abusive ex is now his boss—and still thinks he can pull Leon’s strings like he used to. All this while Leon’s just trying to hold onto a new relationship.

If I were Leon, I’d have checked myself into a padded room by now, begging the world for a year of peace and quiet. But Leon handles it all with a kind of quiet strength that I can’t help but admire—though there’s definitely a little bit of avoidance mixed in for good measure. He’s the type of detective whose mind works methodically, clue by clue, until the whole picture forms (and that picture is never wrong). He throws himself into every case, whether it’s considered “important” or not, guided by an unshakable moral center. Watching him work is genuinely a pleasure.

Leon’s a joy to spend time with, and the people around him (well, not the ex) are just as compelling. The cases keep me hooked, and I find myself fully invested in every twist and turn. Here’s hoping Leon catches a break soon—but honestly? I kind of hope he doesn’t, because I never want this series to end.

Happy Halloween!

I wish everyone who is celebrating a spooky and safe Halloween!

 

Favorite Fictional Character --- Elvira

 

Jack-o'-lanterns are being carved, bats are hanging from the ceiling, and costumes are being finalized for Halloween night — just two more short days!

I’m sure a lot of us are also getting ready to watch our favorite scary movies (if you haven’t already started, like I have). I plan to spend Halloween night cuddled up in bed with the lights off, eating popcorn — a mix of butter and cheesy jalapeño — and watching way too many of those spine-chilling movies I love so much.

If you’re a horror-loving movie fan, there’s no way you don’t know tonight’s Favorite Fictional Character: Elvira, Mistress of the Dark. Played by the effervescent Cassandra Peterson, Elvira is both a horror and pop culture icon.

I don’t think I’ve ever seen a full episode of her various TV hosting gigs where she introduced those glorious B-movies — but she was everywhere in the ’80s and ’90s. It was impossible not to know who she was. When she co-wrote her own movie, Elvira: Mistress of the Dark (1988), my lifelong obsession officially began.

Elvira is drop-dead gorgeous, flirty, sarcastic, and completely in control of her persona. Some may see a vapid creature of the night; I see a vamp of a woman whose intelligence shines through every wink and slyly biting quip. I honestly don’t know how anyone resists her charms. Elvira is — and forever will be — my Queen of the Night.

I’ll leave you now, as I have a few final preparations to make. Happy Halloween! 🎃

Wordsmithonia Radio - The Halloween Playlist!

 

When I saw that Billboard released a list of the 25 Biggest Halloween Songs of All Time, I was ridiculously excited. If you couldn’t tell, I’m a huge lover of all things Halloween — especially the music. I even have a Halloween playlist on Spotify, which you’re more than welcome to listen to while you do your last-minute prepping for the best night of the year.

That excitement, however, was quickly snuffed out once I saw the list for myself. Don’t get me wrong — there are some amazing songs on there — but a lot of them don’t exactly scream spooky or Halloween to me. So, I thought I’d share 10 of my own favorite seasonally appropriate songs with you all.

After taking a look at the list, let me know some of your favorites. 

 

One of the songs that both Billboard and I agree on is “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. If you’re of a certain age, I can almost guarantee you remember where you were when the video first premiered on MTV. It wasn’t just a music video — it was an event, and it set the bar for what music videos could be.

Halloween just isn’t Halloween without Bing Crosby crooning “The Headless Horseman” from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. That song has the perfect mix of swing and spooky, and every time I hear it, I can almost see that shadowy rider galloping through Sleepy Hollow all over again.

I absolutely adore Annie Lennox—I’ve yet to hear an album from her that I don’t go crazy for. Her version of “I Put a Spell on You” from her Nostalgia album is, hands down, my favorite take on the song. It’s sultry, haunting, and powerful in that uniquely Lennox way—equal parts elegance and menace.

When Grace is scurrying around, trying to find a hiding spot in Ready or Not, she has no idea what’s in store for her. Having “Hide and Seek” by Headquarters Music blasting through the house sets the perfect stage for the chaos and bloodshed to come.

I’m not sure any other song written for TV will ever top “The Ballad of the Witches Road” from Agatha All Along. The majestic energy that flows through as these powerful women blend their voices creates a truly spellbinding experience.

Obviously, “Spooks” by Louis Armstrong wasn’t written for Mickey Mouse’s The Haunted House (1952), but the two are such a perfect vibe when paired together. If anyone ever had the voice for Halloween music—with that deep, gravelly sound—it’s the legendary Louis Armstrong.

 

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins was the godfather of shock rock, with a voice that demanded to be heard. “Whistling Past the Graveyard” is my favorite of his — eerie, soulful, and just the right amount of unhinged.

I don't know if “Run, Rabbit, Run” by Flanagan and Allen was considered creepy when it first came out in 1939 — probably not, since it was even used as a lullaby — but it’s cadence has always given me the chills. It's appearance in Get Out (2017) sealed the deal, turning it from a cheerful ditty into something downright bloodcurdling.

 

"(Stop, Look & Listen) It's Halloween" by Pete Antell is a jazzy bop that’s so much fun to listen to while putting up your Halloween decorations or getting the candy ready for the monsters, superheroes, and princesses who will be knocking on your door in just a few short days.

When thinking about the last song I wanted to feature, I kept flipping back and forth between "People Are Strange" by The Doors and "Cry Little Sister" by Gerard McMann, the theme song from The Lost Boys (1987). I went with the latter because it sets the mood for the entire movie. It’s a hauntingly beautiful, melancholic song with a slightly Gothic tone, perfectly capturing the ’80s zeitgeist.

Come Knocking by Mike Bockoven

 

Synopsis From Dust Jacket:

When Come Knocking came to Los Angeles, the interactive theater production that took over six floors of an abandoned building was met with raves, lines for tickets, and reviews calling it the "must-see experience of a generation." But after dozens of people were killed and hundreds injured on a bloody night of chaos during the shows run, the nation was captured by one inescapable question: How could this happen?

As the dust settles, investigative reporter Adam Jake's is tasked with uncovering the truth behind the massacre. Through a series of interviews with survivors, cast members, and witnesses, Jakes pieces together the chilling reality behind what was supposed to be the ultimate theatrical experience. 

Somehow I missed—despite it being boldly stated on the cover—that Come Knocking was written by the same author who wrote Fantasticland, a book that’s been on my TBR for a very, very long time. Told through a series of interviews, Reddit posts, voice memos, 911 calls, and the occasional letter, Come Knocking explores the events that led up to more than fifty people being murdered on the night of March 14th.

I was going to talk about the structure of the novel, the play/performance itself (I would’ve loved to experience the show firsthand), and the way the author manages to make each voice distinct and believable. Instead, I want to touch on the not-so-subtle social commentary woven through this heartbreakingly violent act born of rage and pain.

I think most of us are aware of just how mean-spirited the internet has allowed people to become. As a society, we hide behind our screens and usernames, giving ourselves permission to use hurtful, hateful, extreme, and occasionally violent rhetoric when dealing with people or works of art we consider to be the “other.” It seems we can no longer have a civil discussion on most platforms, largely because we’ve segregated ourselves into online communities that think like us and hold the same “values” — values we see as superior to those of the “other” groups we now view as the enemy. That kind of online self-radicalization saturates the narrative of Come Knocking. This was not an act of violence that could have happened twenty years ago.

To a lesser extent — as the real motivation isn’t revealed until the end — the other piece of commentary I want to touch on is probably a bit more controversial. This violent act, like too many of our real-world tragedies, was ultimately born from abuse and trauma that was never treated or taken seriously. Come Knocking may be fictional, but it fits a pattern we’ve all come to recognize. When massive, extremely violent acts are inflicted on the public, we often chalk them up to “mental illness,” yet almost no one asks what caused that illness or what pushed someone to lash out this way. An abusive or violent past can’t excuse what a person does—but how can we ever start preventing such acts if we refuse to address their roots?

What I don’t want you to think is that the social commentary gets in the way of the story—because it doesn’t. The author is skilled enough to let the story tell itself, allowing all these themes to resonate without overwhelming the narrative. It’s a story that’s both violent and heartbreaking, and it’s made all the more frightening by how real it feels. When I finished reading, it took me a few minutes to remind myself that this was fiction—because it felt all too real.

If Fantasticland comes even close to the emotional impact Come Knocking had on me, I really need to move it up on my TBR pile.

Meddling Kids by Edgar Cantero

 

Synopsis From Back Cover:

In 1977, four teenagers and a dog—Andy (the tomboy), Kate (the nerd), Kerri (the bookworm), Peter (the jock), and Tim (the Weimaraner)—solved the mystery of Sleepy Lake. The trail of an amphibian monster terrorizing the quiet town of Blayton Hills led the gang to spend a night in Deboën Mansion and apprehend a familiar culprit: a bitter old man in a mask. 

Now, in 1990, the twentysomething former teen detectives are lost souls. Plagued by night terrors and Peter's tragic death, the three survivors have been running from their demons. When the man they apprehended all those years ago makes parole, Andy tracks him down to confirm what she's always known, they got the wrong guy. Now she'll need to get the gang back together and return to Blyton Hills to find out what happened in 1977, and this time, she's sure they're not looking for another man in a mask. 

Does anyone of a certain age not love Scooby-Doo? How many of us grew up watching Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scooby run through spooky mansions catching thieving butlers and shady real estate developers? I own the entire series of Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! and my favorite episode of Supernatural is the one where they’re sucked into a Scooby-Doo cartoon. I even own all the Funko Pops! I’m saying all this to explain why, when I found Meddling Kids at Barnes & Noble, I bought it faster than a cat lapping chain lightning.

Based on the blurb, I was expecting a more adult version of the Scooby gang. I wanted a story that delivered the humor I’d expect, blended with some genuinely scary happenings. I wanted higher stakes and real monsters. What I wasn’t expecting was a full-on Lovecraftian horror story that was hilarious and still managed to make these “kids” feel fully human—flaws and all—rather than the cardboard cutouts this sort of story usually serves up. I mean, let’s face it: as much as I love Scooby-Doo, I’m not expecting a lot of depth from the gang while we’re all haunting out.

Stylistically, reading this was a fricking blast. It regularly switches between second and third person, slips from traditional prose into play format (complete with stage directions), and includes some brilliantly made-up words that the author seems to have invented on the fly. If that sounds like utter chaos—it is. And I loved every single word of it. If any book should be chaotic, it’s a violent Lovecraftian Scooby-Doo send-up that somehow had me laughing out loud and contemplating life, sometimes on the same page.

I had such a good time reading this book that it reminded me of being a kid again—curled up on the couch, watching Scooby and Shaggy get used, once again, as bait in one of Fred’s elaborate traps. It was both nostalgic and refreshingly new at the same time. I’m just hoping we either get a sequel or, even better, a movie. That’s one I’d absolutely be there for on opening night.

Favorite Fictional Character --- Grace Le Domas

 

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m a huge horror movie fan. At last count, I own over 500 physical movies, and I believe it’s safe to say that almost 70% of them are horror. Hell, it might even be more than that. When I go to the movies, nine times out of ten, it’s going to be a horror film. I saw Good Boy two weekends ago (and yes, the dog will absolutely get his own FFC post). This weekend, I think I may go see Shelby Oaks.

One of the best times I’ve ever had in a theater was in 2019 when I watched Ready or Not. For those of you unfamiliar with one of the greatest horror comedies of all time, let me set the stage. Samara Weaving plays our heroine, Grace Le Domas. She’s just married into a rich and powerful family who made their fortune through games—and a little secret deal on the side. When someone marries into the family, the newlywed has to draw a card from an ancient box in the family’s game room. Whatever game is drawn, everyone must play. When Grace pulls her card, it reads Hide and Seek.

Grace, like most of us would, assumes it’ll be a harmless game—she hides, someone finds her, everyone laughs, and the night ends. But she quickly learns that if she’s found, the seeker gets to kill her. If she survives until sunrise, she wins… and the rest of the Le Domas family loses. And trust me, they really, really don’t want to lose.

Grace is one of those characters you can’t help but admire in a huge way. She’s thrown into a situation that most people wouldn’t be able to handle. I’d like to think I have the same fire inside me that she does. Realistically, I’d probably be curled up in a ball, waiting for my time to come. She’s resourceful, quick-thinking, adaptable, and has a pain tolerance I’m downright jealous of. Grace is the kind of character who embodies the inner strength I want for myself. She’s amazing—and I revisit her story at least once a year. Hopefully, you’ll choose to meet her soon yourself.

And yes, I know I was being a little facetious with my opening line—because let’s be real, this isn’t the first (or the last) time I’ve mentioned my love of horror.