Bad Moon Books, November, 2007





While the literary Horror genre can be, if one has a mind to, classified into innumerable sub-genres, categorizations, and specializations, the ultimate "bottom-line" for the vast majority of Readers is whether a given story or novel is both truly frightening and entertaining. In JOHNNY GRUESOME, author (and Fear Zone editor) Gregory Lamberson succeeds in both these critical measures, far beyond any expectations. Indeed, JOHNNY GRUESOME is easily one of the most entertaining and enjoyable horror novels of the year.

This is only Lamberson's second published novel, yet it is slick and professional with well above average plotting and execution. Lamberson is a scriptwriter, award-winning author, and director. (An aside: after completing the first eleven chapters of the novel, I was suitably impressed by what I'd read, to tear myself away from reading JOHNNY GRUESOME, for the moment it took to quickly place an online order for Lamberson's first novel, PERSONAL DEMONS, which won the Anubis Award for Horror, judged by noted author, T. M. Wright.)




Any "deep" analysis of the novel should, and must await and be reserved for later, post-publication examination, as in so doing, any number of integral plot-points would be revealed prematurely. This novel is far too much fun to ruin in such fashion for future readers. However, at its most basic, the novel centers on the relationship between two unlikely best friends. The first, Eric Carter, is a smart, sensitive high school senior who is a good student, looking ahead to college and a potentially bright future. Eric is not exactly world-wise, and is trying to come to grips with the age-old conflict between his raging teenage hormones and interest with girls, and his woeful inexperience with members of the opposite sex - and his fumbling, yet tender, budding romance with his first girlfriend, Rhonda.

Eric's improbable best friend, John Vincent Grissom, is his antithesis, a world-wise, super-punk, "bad-boy" and "greaser," complete with mandatory leather jacket, a bad attitude, and muscle car, the "Death Mobile." John is an angry, quick-tempered loner, with no real hopes or plans for his future, but is, at heart, a decent sort. In addition to Eric, John has attracted two others who "hang" with the pair, John's beautiful-but-troubled girlfriend, Karen Slatter, who is hoping that John will provide her with an exit from their small, dead-end town, and Gary Belter, a small-time drug dealer who provides for the needs of all his high school classmates, but isn't above utilizing the power he's gained thereby to advance his own aims and agenda.



The novel is also filled with quite a number of interesting supporting characters, from the town's young, acting Police Chief, Matt Crane, and his wife, the caring and very attractive high school English teacher, Carol, to the beleaguered and small-minded high school principal, Michael Milton. The Reader is additionally introduced to, among others, the town's Catholic Priest, Father Webb, and the Coach and fellow members of the school's wrestling team (Eric being a current Varsity member, and John, a former member of the team). But then, the rather large "cast of characters" turns out to be useful and even necessary, as the plot of the novel unfolds, for reasons that become self-evident.



Of course, most any horror novel is helped tremendously IF it contains an original, captivating, truly terrifying and thus memorable monster/antagonist. Author Lamberson scores a bull's eye here in his title character, John Vincent Grissom, a/k/a Johnny Gruesome. After a startling, violent, and horrifying incident, young Johnny finds himself dead, viciously murdered. As poor John ascends towards the heavenly light and the waiting arms of his beloved, dead mother, the wrathful spirit, filled with rage, rejects this end, and in a remarkable feat of intent and will, descends back to re-inhabit his recently deceased body. This provides for some fascinating and truly horrific incidents throughout the remainder of the novel, from Johnny "living" through his own autopsy, through attempting to learn how to control his now-dead flesh, to dealing with the ever-escalating decay and putrification of said flesh.



Lamberson has an eye for detail and a gift for descriptive prose; as one who has toured Cook County Morgue on a hot Summer's day, just after a record-setting weekend for County homicides, when there were so many dead bodies waiting to be autopsied that they had to be stacked up in the corridors on carts, and having actually sat through an autopsy, I can vouch for the veracity of Lamberson's depiction. John Grissom is one thoroughly pissed-off spirit, who seeks bloody revenge upon all those who have done him wrong. Neither truly a zombie, yet far more than a mere ghost or poltergeist, Johnny Gruesome is one literary monster you are sure to remember long after you've finished the novel.

Lamberson expertly juggles his characters, and continually ratchets up the tension and the horror to a chilling climax. While this is certainly NOT a "male version of CARRIE," stylistically at least, in a good sense, one can discern more than a passing nod to Stephen King in Lamberson's writing. Yet the author certainly displays his own strong voice throughout. Indeed, this is one novel that a reader not only senses could be made into a truly entertaining motion picture, but will actively anticipate and support receiving such transformation to either the large or small screen.



The novel is being published by Roy K. Robbins's Bad Moon Books. This is Bad Moon's first novel, after having produced four very well executed novellas. It is being issued in a Limited Edition of only 250 hardcover copies, and 26 Lettered Hardcovers. It includes truly striking artwork by the talented Zach McCain, and an Introduction by the always-entertaining author Jeff Strand. All books will be signed by all three gentlemen. This is an auspicious debut for Bad Moon Books, and a triumph for author Lamberson - and a special treat for us readers. Very highly recommended.



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Lamberson has posted a prequel short story, "The Johnny Gruesome Halloween Special," illustrated by Kelly Forbes, on his website.