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Johnny Gruesome by Gregory Lamberson 

It’s always good to find a horror novel that knows what a fan likes, jumps right in, and keeps you entertained across each page.  For your reading pleasure, check out Bad Moon Books’ latest release, Johnny Gruesome, by Gregory Lamberson.  The fun days of high school return complete with bastard jocks, metal stoners, and kids that don’t quite fit.  Fights are had, beers are gulped, drugs are consumed, and loyalties shift. “Bad kids” like Johnny Grissom are kept in their place when they fight with the privileged jocks.  They get expelled.   

With a snowstorm and anger raging, Johnny picks up his best friend Eric after school.  Beers and drugs guarantee things get out of hand and Johnny ends up dead.  It was a crazy night. Karen was drunk and stoned. Gary was there too, high on coke, and he just snapped.  But, Johnny was driving too fast and everybody really thought he was going to kill them all, right?  Eric should’ve helped him though.  Johnny saved his life once.  

There are two compelling storylines in Johnny Gruesome: will our tiny band of forced friends get away with murder and will Johnny get his revenge on the town that treated him like an outcast his whole life?  So, tell me Johnny, what happens when you can’t let go of your anger, even after death?  The answer does not disappoint.  As with the rest of the characterizations in the book, dead Johnny is well done.  His reanimation is a frustrating process and I like that he has conflicting emotions about his situation.  He could have been completely one dimensional, but readers will actually struggle with sympathetic feelings.  The fact that the characters are fleshed out so well becomes even more impressive when you find out that Lamberson wrote the novel using screenwriting software.  

Johnny Gruesome has presence—the setting surrounds you.  The light reflects off the snow, the chill pinches your nostrils, and you can almost taste the nasty sweet decay in the back of your throat. Lamberson knows exactly where his story needs to go and he stays on point the whole time.  He never tries to do too much and he never pisses you off by adding a trip to the college professor who delivers long boring explanations about ghosts and philosophical thoughts on the afterlife. This author knows he’s writing horror, so he gives you the world of Red Hill, New York.  John Grissom died young and angry.  He’s back from the dead and he wants revenge.   

The whole book has this loving Creepshow feel to it.  The pacing is fantastic.  There are a lot of fun horror movie references, starting right at the expected cemetery scene, Barbara.  (Really, many of my all time favorites get mentioned here.) The death scenes have a quick set-up before the jump to the next scene, but don’t feel like you were robbed.  You just have to wait for it.  Then you get to see the full horror of Johnny’s vengeance.  His corpse terrorizes the whole town in one well-crafted scene after another.  Johnny’s victims remain confused and disbelieving until the very end because dead things can’t be back, about to…read on for the gore and enjoy.   

Gregory Lamberson has delivered a solid, old school horror story wrapped up in the rotten bow of the Creepshow Cryptkeeper. 

In addition to the book, enjoy the marketing because if you don’t visit the official website at www.johnnygruesome.com, then you will miss the chance to check out some really fantastic EC comics inspired artwork by Zach McCain, a mini movie, and some Johnny inspired tunes and merchandise.  

Rating - ***

- Jennie Milojevic