Slander Hall by Matthew Tait is a slick horror
novella that delivers on the genre’s basics while adding some metaphysical flair.
Cedar, the lone survivor of America’s largest mass suicide decides to
return to where it all happened. Only
now, where it all happened is an abandoned suburb, a modern ghost town void of
inhabitants (wink, wink). Our pilgrim
returns with a team of paranormal investigators, writers, and a psychic.
Tait created
a wonderful atmosphere that extends throughout the entire novella. The ominous environment is a constant presence
that gets under your skin. I never
forgot I was in a horror novella.
Characters
are well fleshed out for such a short work.
They all have their reasons for being there, and some have their
suspicions about why Cedar is there. You’d be right in guessing they face their
demise one at a time, but the how is the fun part.
The story
gradually unwrapped and flowed forward just like I was going room to room and
building to building with the explorers.
The tension was awesome. I was
turning pages like a Tait junkie.
The ending
was more than I wanted. I know a lot of
people won’t mind but, I wanted more ambiguity. Tait gives you way more than that.
I give Slander Hall by Mathew Tait four severed
heads. I look forward to more of this
guy.
p.s. Just picked up a short story collection of his for free. :)
Heads Will Role,
Everette Bell
Heads Will Role,
Everette Bell
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