The Last Breath Before Death

 

From the back cover of the book: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER

A missing brother … An imminent phenomenon …

Award-winning comic book illustrator and artist Jimmy Cochran is also a freelance reporter in New York City, specialising in the supernatural. Upon hearing that his estranged brother, Quentin, has gone missing with his best friend over in Germany, Jimmy becomes concerned — unable to shake off the feeling of foreboding and dread. Things worsen when he quickly learns that the missing two are in great danger from an unequalled evil, which is connected to an upcoming, ominous and phenomenal event.

A mysterious ‘man’ with a terrifying tale …

With time running out, Jimmy investigates further, in spite of the strong warnings and the danger to his own life — particularly after he is contacted by a peculiar and mystifying man with a horrific, nefarious past of his own, linked to old Serbian and German folklores and a sinister, secret brotherhood.

 In the The Last Breath Before Death author Alan Golbourn has created a genuinely frightening supernatural horror novel. The story becomes ever more creepy, dark and compelling as we travel with the protagonist Jimmy in search of his missing brother and friend. I do not want to include spoilers here, but I will say if you prefer reading novels where the vampires are unhinged monsters this will not disappoint.

I read this book in the dark days of winter while recuperating from a serious illness involving blood and the irony was not lost on me. Its very well written with characters that stick with you. I have followed the author on Good Reads and Amazon and look forward to any future horrors he creates! 

5 out of 5 

Amazon link to purchase 

Please note I am not affiliated with Amazon and make no money from sharing this link. I'm just adding it for reader's convenience. 

A Book Review of Erosion By Lucya Starza

 ​Book Review: Erosion by Lucya Starza Moon Books May 2024

E​rosion is a gothic ​​novel set ​in an English seaside town in the Summer of 1987.  ​Alice is fresh out of University with big dreams of becoming a writer. Her desire for independence and some synchronicity leads her to meeting a new group of friends who become her roommates and a Summer job at a caravan (trailer) park. It is here that she hopes to find the inspiration to begin her first great novel.  But things never quite go as hoped for. The discovery of a mysterious grave and the bones within sets the stage for the magic and darkness that follows. ''It all began when we found the bones.''

​I was already an admirer of author Lucya Starza non-fiction titles and I was happy to hear she was writing a novel in one of my favourite genres. I bought a copy and waited until my own Summer vacation to give it a good read.  ​Erosion did not disappoint. It has a dark foreboding atmosphere with a group of intriguing and relatable characters.  I finished the book in two days as it's one of those stories that makes it nearly impossible to put down.

There are a few unanswered questions that I am left to ponder, which I dare hope may be revealed in a future novel? Hint, Lucya Starza ;)   

If you are a fan of  gothic mysteries, and​ especially if you feel a nostalgia for the 80s this novel is a fun read and I highly recommend it. ​ 5+

This review was originally published to Good Reads You can check out author Lucya Starza's A Bad Witch's blog here.