Heart-Shaped Box
by Joe Hill
Jude is an aging heavy metal icon who has matured a bit since his hard rock days, living in a farmhouse with his
Goth stripper girlfriend, Georgia, and his fanny-kissing publicist, Danny. However, he still maintains an eye for
collecting odd, darkish relics. So when Danny discovers that someone has placed their stepfather's ghost on an
internet auction it's too intriguing for Jude to pass up. Jude pays a large sum for the eBay poltergeist and what
follows is a "more than he bargained for" tale of horror.
Soon strange things begin to happen around the house. It isn't long before Danny runs away and Jude begins
having homicidal and suicidal urges that get more and more difficult to resist. After contacting the seller, Jude
learns that he has crossed paths with this ghost before and finds himself confronted with scary skeletons in old
closets. This may not have been a chance purchase after all. The haunting of Jude is revealed to be part of a
curse rather than reckless meddling with the spirit world. Hoping to rid himself of the ghost, Jude and Georgia
begin an investigation into his troubled past and soon they learn that the ghost has a few skeletons as well. The
story culminates in a showdown as Jude does battle with the vengeful spirit as well as the selfish mistakes of a
rock and roll youth.
What I like about this book is it's not a typical slash and gash horror story, complete with the double-digit
body count that seems to permeate today's culture. No, this story has depth. This story is multi-talented. There's
the fear factor, of course, and it's hard to beat a murderous ghost when it comes to scary. Read this book in a
quiet, late night room and you may find yourself jumping at the slightest outside wind gust or nearby clock chime.
There's also a touch of mystery as Jude seeks to learn the truth behind his haunting. Then there's the love story,
and it's not the typical hokey, corny love story that most horror writers obligatorily add to their tales of terror.
No, this is actually quite good. It expresses the depth of the author's talent and adds a nice touch to an already
great book. This one was great from the first page and left no disappointment at the turn of the last. |
The Book |
William Morrow |
February 13, 2007 |
Hardcover |
ISBN-10: 0061147931
ISBN-13: 978-0061147937 |
Horror |
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at Amazon.com |
Excerpt |
NOTE: |
The Reviewer |
John Washburn |
Reviewed 2007 |
NOTE: Reviewer John Washburn
is the author of When Evil Prospers. |
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