Genre: Horror
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: 29th July 2016
Pages: 114
REVIEWED BY NEV:
A copy of A Taste of Fear was sent to Confessions of a Reviewer by the author Andrew Lennon in exchange for an honest review. This is said review. This book is self-published.
So, my history of reading Andrew Lennon’s stuff is a bit of a roller coaster ride. I read his stand alone novella Keith and was quite critical of it at the time. It didn’t quite hit the mark with me. I was hoping that review would have been more constructive rather than downright negative. After getting to speak to Andy in person over this past weekend, I found out that was indeed the case and I’m grateful for that.
I have read a couple of his short stories in various anthologies since then. The most memorable for me was his story Twins, which appeared in the wonderful Dark Chapter Press anthology, Kids. It also makes an appearance in this collection.
The second reason for wanting to pick this one up so much is the introduction of Georgia Lennon, Andrews daughter, to the world of published writers. Georgia is only fourteen years of age and from what I hear, has a big future ahead of her. Hopefully I will confirm that after reading this collection.
This is what I thought.
BITE
Aaron has been preparing for the zombie apocalypse for years. Many, including his own family, thought he was nuts. Looks like they aren't laughing now.
Quite a good opener for a collection this one. More of a flash fiction piece about a man that has always suspected the apocalypse would come and always had a strategy for it.
There was one thing he forgot to factor in though.
If you are like me, you will actually snigger a bit at the end of this one. I'll leave you to figure out why.
★★★★ for general.
★★★★ for horror.
APARTMENT 2B
Ryan is a butcher. He also likes taxidermy. His butcher’s business is making a killing. Literally. His meats are honoured far and wide.
When he discovers his wife in a compromising position he has to ask himself a question. Add her to the menu?
Gory. Brutal. Cringe worthy. This made me screw my face up more than once.
Not totally my cup of tea but powerful at the same time.
★★★.5 for general
★★★★ for horror.
KILLING CHRISTMAS
Jeff hates Christmas. He hates that the season seems to start earlier every year. He needs to keep a handle on that anger. It may get him in trouble.
This one will ring true for a lot of people hating Christmas. It is really a story of someone being driven mad by something they have no control over.
Good little tale. Ended a bit abruptly for me though.
★★★.5 for general.
★★★.5 for horror
HUNGER
This is a story told through the eyes of a nameless man. He is trapped. You don't know where or how or how long he has been there but you do know he is hungry.
This was a fantastic piece of tense and suspenseful horror. Horror of the situation and horror of the mind.
It could be a totally innocent predicament but the outcome is going to be far from innocent. This is one where I loved the abrupt ending. It leaves you wondering what exactly happened.
★★★★★ for general.
★★★★★ for horror.
SILENT SCREAM
Mark, Melody, Debbie and Keith are on a camping trip. When they settle down for the evening, new loves and old jealousies collide and tragedy hits when something invades the camp.
Didn't like this one. It had the potential to be a whole lot scarier but just didn't seem to hit its mark.
★★.5 for general.
★★.5 for horror.
MEET VICTOR
Chloe is dared by her friend Sarah to enter the old haunted house. They have no idea if it is haunted or not but there is only one way to find out.
Chloe definitely gets spooked by something. When she meets Victor, she decides to get her own back on Sarah.
This is another one where the basics of the story are there but it just doesn’t seem to go anywhere for me. It could have been so much more than it was.
★★★ for general.
★★★ for horror.
TWINS
Nicole and Georgia are twin sisters. They do everything together. Good things and bad things. They want to play the Visiting the Darkness game. No one else does though.
This was good. This is what punchy should read like. To the point and brutal.
The girls in this are genuinely scary. They have a sort of feel to them that Damien had in The Omen. Quiet and unassuming but bloody evil and doubly brutal.
One part of this made my jaw hit the ground then close my mouth very quickly again putting both hands over it!
A big improvement Mr Lennon!
★★★★★ for general.
★★★★★ for horror.
LAKE
Catherine is waiting in the dark. She is secretly waiting on her lover, Marlon. There love is forbidden in a time of intolerance to interracial relationships.
She can hear the hunt, but who are they hunting for?
Flash fiction piece that left me thinking is that it? Barely got going to be honest.
★★ for general.
★ for horror.
BAD DAY
Walter is having a bad day. He is late for meeting his boss at a new clients and getting permanent hassle from him on his mobile.
If his boss isn't careful, Walter may crack. If his boss doesn't crack first that is.
This one is like Falling Down on a smaller scale. You can feel Walters frustration build and build and you do feel sorry for the guy.
Again it ends a bit abruptly for me. A little more to the ending would have been good.
★★★.5 for general.
★★.5 for horror.
AN INTRODUCTION TO GEORGIA LENNON
DOLLS WITH HUMAN HAIR
A nameless man is celebrating the birth of his beautiful daughter with his wife. As his wife’s mental health seems to go into decline after the birth, his love for his daughter gets deeper.
When catastrophe strikes, his own mental health is called into question.
This was written by a fourteen-year-old? Seriously? This is haunting. This is brutal. This so sad and emotional.
This is a very mature examination of the depths of the human mind and the triggers than can turn us from humans into animals.
★★★★★ for general.
★★★★★ for horror.
TOMORROW NIGHT
A poem.
Can’t say much more than that.
I don’t normally like poetry but this was so deep and profound and again haunting.
This was written by a fourteen-year-old? Seriously?
★★★★★ for general.
★★★★★ for horror.
I AM THE MONSTER IN THE DARK
A first person narrative from the inside of a tortured mind. And soul.
This is just superb. This could read as many different things. It could be someone having a nightmare. It could be someone who is totally insane. It could be someone tortured by demons. It could be whatever you, the reader, interpret it as.
This was written by a fourteen-year-old? Seriously?
This girl has a writing talent way beyond her years.
★★★★★ for general.
★★★★★ for horror.
So there it is. My take on A Taste of Fear. I have to be brutally honest and say this collection was truly a book of two halves for me. Some of the stories I thought were fantastic. Some of them not so.
I think Andrew Lennon is on a steep learning curve. It is almost like he is still trying to find his style and master it. To me, short stories may not be the answer. For the most part the stories had a good base and could have been moulded into something much greater. I just think he needs more time, as in, a longer story, to get across what he needs to say. Sometimes longer is better. It’s no crime to be able to write longer, more meaningful stories. Many people would be jealous of that.
On the other hand, when he gets it right, he gets it right. For example, Hunger and Twins are just superb. I think when his mojo hits, it hits you, the reader, right between the eyes. There is undoubtedly a talent for writing inside of Andrew Lennon. I think it just needs a little more fermenting before it is perfected.
As for Georgia Lennon? Fourteen years of age? Seriously? I can’t obviously give a fair overall appraisal of Georgia from three short stories. What I can say with an air of confidence is that this girl is a natural. Her writing is deep and thought provoking and haunting and chilling and emotional. She has an almost evil side to her writing that makes you scared to read on in case the words invade your head and the things she writes come true.
Watch out for this girl. You will be seeing a lot more of her in the future.
To summarise: a mixed bag of a collection. Some outstanding parts, some not so. But then, collections are a mixed bag for everyone. Stories I loved, you may hate and vice versa. That’s why it is still worth picking up.
As per normal we use the scientific average score for the overall score. A Taste of Fear comes out at:
General rating:
★★★.9 good score for a collection.
Horror rating:
★★★.7 and again.
If you would like to help support Confessions of a Reviewer, then please consider using the links below to buy A Taste of Fear or any other books from Andrew or Georgia. This not only supports me but also lets me know how many people actually like to buy books after reading my reviews.
Thanks.
Book Synopsis:
On tonight’s menu, brought to you by Andrew Lennon.
We have a collection of short stories, each tailored to give you A Taste of Fear.
Something small to whet your appetite.
For starters we have:
Bite – A lone survivor in a zombie apocalypse
Killing Christmas – A man who loses his mind over the festive season.
Apartment 2B – A taxidermist who decides that it may be time to make his wife, his art.
On the main course we have:
Hunger – A cellar dweller who is looking for something, or someone to feed on.
Silent Scream – A group of campers who are soon to be hunted.
Meet Victor – A children’s horror tale about a haunted house.
Twins – Two sisters who invent a game, and they want people to play with.
Lake – Two lovers who are trying to escape, but can they?
Bad Day – The tale of a man who’s had too much. Eventually he will snap.
For desserts we have:
Bonus stories from Georgia Lennon.
Dolls With Human Hair.
Tomorrow Night.
I am the monster in the dark.
We hope you enjoy your meal and leave here with A Taste of Fear.
Please, come back soon.
CONFESSIONS REVIEWS ANDREW LENNON
Andrew Lennon is the author of A Life to Waste, Keith and Twisted Shorts. He has featured in numerous anthologies and is successfully becoming a recognised name in horror and thriller writing. Andrew is a happily married man living in the North West of England with his wife Hazel & their children.
Andrew grew up in Ormskirk, which is a small market town. During his school years he enjoyed writing stories. These were kept locked away at home because he did not have the confidence to show the outside world.
Having always being a big horror fan, Andrew spent a lot of his time watching scary movies or playing scary games, but it wasn’t until his mid-twenties that he developed a taste for reading. His wife, also being a big horror fan, had a very large Stephen King collection which Andrew began to consume. Once hooked into reading horror, he started to discover new authors like Thomas Ligotti & Ryan C Thomas. It was while reading work from these authors that he decided to try writing something himself and there came the idea for “A Life to Waste”
He enjoys spending his time with his family and watching or reading new horror.
And for more about Andrew visit his site or find him on social media:
Website – Facebook – Twitter – Goodreads – Amazon Page
Georgia Lennon was born in 2002. Although relatively new to the writing industry, she has already begun to impress several authors and publishers with her work. Her first short story was accepted into and featured in Jeapers Creepers, by J Ellington Ashton Press. Further stories have been accepted into Kids –Volume 2 and A-Z, both published by Dark Chapter Press.
And for more about Georgia, visit her site or find her on social media:
