Lee Allen's Blog - Posts Tagged "elizabeth-j-brown"

The Laughing Policeman by Elizabeth J. Brown

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A supernatural horror thriller which explores how the past may never truly be buried.

DC Stephen Anderson is celebrating with his colleagues on closure of a major case and the successful conviction of two members of criminal family, the Boswells. But his life soon descends into tragedy when the Boswells' revenge mission results in the brutal murders of his wife and daughter.

Intent on bringing retribution upon the Boswells by any means, Stephen pursues his own mission. His friend and colleague, Charlie Haynes, may be his only hope for salvation.

But in the midst this brutal battle, an ancient and relentless evil is unleashed, hell bent on havoc and destruction in its own bloodthirsty quest.

'The Laughing Policeman' is the debut novel by Elizabeth J. Brown, and the first in the Brimstone Chorus series. A tale of demonic possession, family secrets and mystery, wrapped in a concoction of dramatic action, slasher-style violence, folkloric history and superstition, climatic revelations and a dose of witchcraft, this is a thrilling horror novel that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

The build-up to the possession is impressively staged, with the vibe of a traditional police story mixed with personal dilemmas that explode into supernatural horror. The insights into the lives of the criminal family of Travellers were reminiscent of a Martina Cole thriller, setting the scene and developing the cast of characters. Meanwhile, the demon itself was in the vein of characters a certain Robert Englund might play, humorous moments of bickering and banter with its host juxtaposed with the horror and the ensuing violence.

I particularly enjoyed the time spent in the 80s, getting to know Stephen, Charlie, and the Boswells, while the return of younger generations of the family to the UK thirty-four years later, reigniting the bloodshed, brings the themes of family and friendship full circle, the legacy of the curse resurrected and the demon intent on its endgame. Ciara and Addy’s history adds a different component to the second half of the novel, bringing the emotion to the fore for both Stephen and Charlie as we race towards the finale.

‘The Laughing Policeman’ is gripping debut novel and I'm eager to see where the series will take us in the future. In the meantime, prequel novella 'The Foundling' is also available, which I must get my hands on!



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The Foundling by Elizabeth J. Brown

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


An emotional and gripping prequel to the 'Brimstone Chorus' series.

Following the death of his mother, Edmund's father no longer wishes to care for him and Edmund finds himself abandoned at a Foundling orphanage.

Since he was very young, Edmund has experienced phenomena he does not understand - strange occurrences surrounding him when his emotions run wild.

Finding himself targeted and ostracised, Edmund begins to realise a power may reside within him and, in time, something terrible may reveal his true nature.

'The Foundling' is a prequel novella to the 'Brimstone Chorus' series by Elizabeth J. Brown. Set in 1758, over two centuries before the events of 'The Laughing Policeman', this is a superb introduction to the series, a short prologue introducing us to the series’ magical and otherworldly elements through Edmund's experiences and how he must come to learn to control this volatile power, seeding what is to come in the succeeding centuries.

Well-written and deftly paced, the plot is woven perfectly in development of Edmund's character and allowing us to meet the other characters through his eyes. Throughout you deeply empathise with Edmund - the tragedy of his family life leaves him stranded alone, his situation and his powers making him an outsider amongst his peers. Even as he develops friendships, there remains something other about him, never quite fitting in. Of course, that means he becomes the object of persecution, while some come to fear him.

Neatly concluding this chapter of Edmund's life, the novella leaves us poised and eager for more. I would love to revisit this period in future novels in the series. Reminiscent of a concoction of elements often familiar to dark fantasy and horror for younger readers given an adult edge and blended with a pre-gothic vibe for the Georgian period, this novella - along with the first novel 'The Laughing Policeman' - felt very much in the same vein as the anticipated and abandoned 'Dark Universe' movies - bringing together a breadth of supernatural phenomena and entities into a single world, deliciously dark yet still full of adventure.

The second novel in the series (and third story chronologically), 'The Fractured Few', will be released soon. I'm excited to see where the series will take us as we delve deeper into the magic and the horror!



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BLOODY HELL: An Anthology of UK Indie Horror by Sarah Jules

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A stunning showcase of British indie horror.

‘Bloody Hell’ is an anthology of short stories written by multiple authors and set in locations across the British Isles – England, Wales, Scotland, and a bonus story set in the Republic of Ireland. Edited by Sarah Jules, with beautiful illustrations by Rachael Rose, the collection features twenty-seven stories across the spectrum of the horror genre from a legion of indie horror talent, taking us on dark adventures featuring ghosts, stalkers, creatures, supernatural entities, aliens – an assortment of hauntings and folklore, magic and mayhem, slasher and splatter, natural and body horror, tales of vengeance and malign intent, twists of fate and misfortune, and even touches of comedy. Each story offers its own unique premise and style, each author’s signature woven tightly within the DNA of their work – some slow-burning, others fast-paced; some psychological, others visceral; some atmospheric and dripping in suspense, others brutal and bloodthirsty.

Difficult though they were to select, my personal favourites were:
“The God Botherers” by Ashley Lister, for its religious themes and pitch black comedy (I fear I am guilty of all three signs of being a dæmon);
“Pergyl” by C.S. Jones, for its Welsh wilderness and crawling, creeping dread;
“The Dark Heart” by Jim Ody, for toying with our perceptions so brilliantly all the way through;
“Sand” by David Watkins, for its beautiful setting and grotesque hopelessness;
“Brompton Road” by Elizabeth J. Brown, for its haunting atmosphere and delicious twist;
“Down T’Pit” by Sarah Jules, for its claustrophobic tension and jarringly spatial horror.

Overall, this is an incredibly high quality collection, featuring a wide variety that will appeal to all tastes, offering readers the chance to discover new stories from authors they may be familiar with and also discover new writers, all masterfully curated by Sarah Jules. My own story, “Cythraul”, is part of the assembled tales, and it is an incredible privilege to be included in such a strong collection amongst so many of my talented fellow indie authors. I thoroughly enjoyed reading all of the other writers’ stories and look forward to more from both the authors whose work I was familiar with and those whom I read for the first time in this book.

‘Bloody Hell: An Anthology of UK Indie Horror’ in a superb selection of horror stories, perfect for sampling on dark autumnal and wintry nights. Prepare yourself to embark on a journey, as we travel around the United Kingdom (and Ireland), facing mortal perils and dangerous foes, and unleash bloody hell!



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