Deathwatch

by Lisa Mannetti

In Dissolution, Stuart Granville is a would-be medical student from the South who's been expelled for drinking and believes he's heading north to Hyde Park, New York to tutor twin girls. Instead, he discovers that his charges, Abby and Eleanor, have never been to school of any kind. They are also Siamese twins and their father, a doctor with grandiose dreams, means to separate them surgically. He intends to take advantage of Stuart's expertise and vulnerability; but unbeknown to both men, the supernatural force in the house has an agenda--and a will--of its own.

In The Sheila Na Gig, Tom Smith is on a ship in steerage and bound for New York from his native Ireland after facing down the constraints imposed by his family, overcoming the loss of his first love, circumventing his grandmother's wiles and occult knowledge, and trying to save his younger, mentally challenged sister, Delia, from both witchcraft and sexual abuse.

In a genre glutted with soulless practitioners, grinding out “product” like sausages, Lisa Mannetti’s continues to be a refreshingly personal voice. Her work is idiosyncratic, erudite, intense … and authentically nightmarish.
~ Robert Dunbar, author of MARTYRS & MONSTERS and WILLY

Genres: Horror

Kindle Edition

First published December 17, 2010

About the author

Lisa Mannetti’s debut novel, The Gentling Box, garnered a Bram Stoker Award and she has since been nominated four times for the prominent award in both the short and long fiction categories: Her story, “Everybody Wins,” was made into a short film and her novella, “Dissolution,” will soon be a feature-length film directed by Paul Leyden. Recent short stories include, “Esmeralda’s Stocking” in Never Fear: Christmas Terrors; “Resurgam” in Zombies: More Recent Dead edited by Paula Guran, “The Hermit” in Never Fear: The Tarot, and “Arbeit Macht Frei” in Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories. Her work, including The Gentling Box, and “1925: A Fall River Halloween,” and The Box Jumper has been translated into Italian.
Her most recently published longer work, The Box Jumper, a novella about Houdini, was not only been nominated for a 2015 Bram Stoker Award and the prestigious Shirley Jackson Award, it won the “Novella of the Year” award from This is Horror in the UK.
She has also authored The New Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn, two companion novellas in her collection, Deathwatch, a macabre gag book, 51 Fiendish Ways to Leave your Lover, as well as non-fiction books, and numerous articles and short stories in newspapers, magazines and anthologies. Forthcoming works include more short stories and a dark novel about the dial-painter tragedy in the post-WWI era, Radium Girl.
Lisa lives in New York in the 100 year old house she originally grew up in with two wily (mostly) black twin cats named Harry and Theo Houdini.

Reviews

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dissolution Review
The Horror Writers Association generally know a good novel the nominees and winners of Bram Stoker awards have nearly always proven to live up to their awards. Lisa Mannetti's name has been up there in their awards and her work has been long overdue for a read, and oh boy can she write a chilling, shocking, eerie tale of horror. Think of those movies like Exorcist, The Shinning and Psycho and then you have the right feel of the story you will be reading in this story Dissolution. An Insidious presence will not let go of te stories characters until it's task has been achieved. Their is some gore of the medical strain and some brutal behavior in a story that does not waste any words and grips right from the the beginning. This one is another shocker that would stay with you. It plants some haunting images in you're mind long after you have finished. Why has her novels not been heard of much? Yet another underrated writer that's not getting enough credit, for such a good horror tale. This one was nominated for a Bram Stoker award.

http://more2read.com/?review=deathwatch-...
A book teaser here

http://more2read.com/?p=1757

[Jason · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dissolution 

1.5 Stars

This, being my second foray into the nightmarish worlds created by Mannetti, i had high expectations for a great ride. This novella however, simply did not work for me. There are too many similarities between this story and Mannetti's great novel The Gentling Box to keep your interest. Where the full length novel worked, and was truly a great read, this short story does not. Her stories take their life from their settings, from their backstories, and from their time periods. A novella simply cannot provide any of this, and as a result things start to look a bit too dirty and too muddy to be called good.

This novella, Dissolution,  deals with a would be medical student charged with separating Siamese twin girls.  He becomes entangled with the family, has extra relations, and comes up against a supernatural force. I wanted to like this book but found that I could not. The main hurdle that needs to be overcome is simply something that is in very poor taste. As a result I hated Stuart and did not get one bit invested in his outcome. I would have stopped reading this halfway through, but my respect for Mannetti made me push through. I was looking to find a great payoff, but was extremely disappointed when one was never found.

I should have put this book down after this first of the two novellas that are in this book, but I pushed on. After, 25 pages or so, I could not recall one real detail about the protagonist Tom, nor did I care to finish. The first novella turned me off and as a result I deleted this book. I am a fan of this very talented and gifted author. Lisa Mannetti has a great future in front of her and I really do look forward to what she will bring us. 

Pass on this one and go grab Mannetti's The Gentling Box...

[Shane Douglas Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every now and then I’ll read a book that is so freaky good I’m almost too intimidated to review it. Lisa Mannetti’s DEATHWATCH is a prime example of this. It’s so well written I find myself wondering what I might have to say that will do it the justice it deserves. I started reading it at 1:00 AM on a sleepless night and didn’t end up sleeping–or doing anything else–for the rest of the night. From the first word of the Bram Stoker Nominated novella “Dissolution” to the last word of the Author’s Note at the end of the book, I was mesmerized by Mannetti’s lyrical prose and hopelessly glued to the pages.

I’ve read in other reviews that “Dissolution” was the standout novella, or, conversely, it was “Sheila Na Gig” that was the better story. I can’t agree with either position. The two companion novellas complement and enhance each other beautifully and, while either work can stand on it’s own merit, they each benefit from the inclusion of the other, a fact that isn’t readily apparent until the surprising connection is made at the end of “Sheila Na Gig.” That said, I’m not going to spend a lot of time rewriting the synopsis. Instead, I’m going to talk about the things that make DEATHWATCH, and Mannetti herself, special.

In her author’s note, Lisa says she’s “in love with voice and character”, a fact that is immediately obvious in the first few paragraphs of “Dissolution”. She has a passion for the art of story that shines through in her work. Her voice is captivating, her language musical, and her characters fully realized and easy to empathize with. And her villains are delightfully terrifying. In “Dissolution” there’s Regina, a sadistic, vengeful ghost who delights in the fear and anguish she visits upon her victims, even her own daughters. On the other hand, in “Sheila Na Gig”, Rose is a very human, hideously cruel witch who controls and torments her family through the use of her witchcraft and an evil artifact known as the Sheila Na Gig.

I had not previously read Mannetti’s work but, after reading DEATHWATCH, it’s easy to see why she’s won the Bram Stoker award for her novel THE GENTLING BOX, and has received multiple nominations for her other work, including “Dissolution”, which is currently in development for film by director Paul Leyden. Both of the novellas in DEATHWATCH are intelligent, sensual, and genuinely horrifying stories that left me yearning for more. Much more. Lisa Mannetti is a master wordsmith and now one of my favorite authors. I will be reading and reviewing her newest novella, THE BOX JUMPER, in the next few weeks and will read everything she publishes in the future. If you haven’t read Lisa’s work yet, go get DEATHWATCH and discover what you’re missing.

[Chris McMillan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish this site offered half-star ratings, as I wanted to rate it a bit higher. This collection of two novellas is well written and very engaging, but the opening tale just didn't work for me.

Dissolution follows a disgraced medical student in the late 1800s traveling to an isolated home under the pretense of being a tutor twin girls. Instead, he becomes involved in a medical procedure, performed by the girl's father, to separated the two, who are conjoined at the hip. Unfortunately, a supernatural presence is waiting for the procedure to be completed.

It's an intriguing tale, full of characters haunted by their past failings, and the presence that takes advantage of their feelings of guilt and remorse. But my complaint is the main character just is so weak willed, his ultimate fate, and the fate of the others, just didn't matter to me. I know the narrator is intended to be flawed, but he barely resists his fate, even as he knows what's happening. And it's never explained why he doesn't just leave, except that the house has a hold on him. And even when he tries to stand up against the presence, his efforts are weak, to say the least.

But the second novella, The Sheila Na Gig, is terrific. A young boy, living on a farm in Ireland during (I assume) the very early 1900s, deals with a family that is falling apart, due to his father's desire to write and his grandmother's supernatural power to make his father's dream a reality and insure her immortality.

The protagonist in this tale, as in the first, finds it difficult to resist the forces pit against him. But he's a twelve year old boy, battling forces beyond his comprehension and feelings within himself that his grandmother is able to exploit, due to his youth. I found this much more engaging and I became very involved in the protagonist's struggle to find a way out, while protecting his sister, who has been targeted by the grandmother as the next to help her son write his novel.

And yes, you can see this as an allegory to the creative process at times, and the toll it can take upon those around the artist. But it's still a great supernatural tale, full of despair and helplessness fighting against overwhelming forces.

You know, after writing this review, I'm upping my rating to four stars. Despite my inability to engage with the protagonist in the first novella, it's still a damn good story. Fans of slow burning supernatural tales will be well advised to check this one out.

One word of warning, however. Both novellas deal with sexual content involving children and, especially in the first tale, might be considered too taboo, or possible triggering, to some readers.

[Robert J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creepy, powerful stories

Lisa Manner spins a couple of dark, twisted tales with these two novellas, blending historical details and disturbing topics with a calm, rational voice. An original voice taken from us too soon, sadly.

[Stephanie]

I found both novellas in this book to be well-written with purposefully-developed characters and intriguing storylines. The style of writing kept everything smooth and comfortable to read without any awkward lapses in pace or voice. I think that both stories are so multidimensional that any reader would feel a bit of trepidation about all of the “ends” being tied by the end. (They are and are not. It might all depend on your own interpretation as a reader.) Beyond that, I'm electing to review the novellas separately.

DISSOLUTION

The synopsis of this novella is what drove me to purchase the book. My mind was so filled with questions that I simply had to know how everything took place and how it all worked out. The background and layers of this novella are divulged and included in such a way that it just seems to bloom. Ms. Mannetti (smartly) did not add chapter after chapter of explanation for things that can be revealed through conversation or other, shorter means. The reader is given everything that they need without a bunch of chopped up bits between –and with very little “fluff.”

As others have mentioned, there are “graphic” scenes in this novella. The medical scenes are just as one might expect –graphic and matter-of-fact, for the most part. To me, the scenes with sexual content are much the same; they are done quite well –on the “cleaner” side of graphic, and not in so much detail that it ever felt anywhere close to erotica. This whole novella felt very “no nonsense” to me and these scenes are no different. You are given what the author feels you need to read/see to understand. These are just bursts of sudden gore, horror, terror, and/or weight that are needed for the whole. (It's not television. A scene cannot just end for a commercial break and everything is understood.)

I will say that I was a tad disappointed with the ending. I really wanted more of a resolution. (More on that later...)


THE SHEILA NA GIG

I had not even looked at the synopsis for this story before reading it so I was completely open for anything when I started. This novella definitely stirred more emotions for me as characters' motives were more clearly and quickly defined than in the first tale. I did feel a bit lost, however, at the beginning whilst trying to place my mind in time. When I read the first two paragraphs, I was in a much different mindset than after the third –I mention this because I think it's a wonderful display of Ms. Mannetti's talent. (I was hooked by the hook!)

This is another multi-layer story, but handled much differently than the first. It reads more like some odd variation of “The Gambler” by Kenny Rogers –It is so very different, but my mental image while reading called the song to mind. The changing of pace throughout the novella is well-done, but definitely a big change from Dissolution. Clearly, these are not meant as to parts of a whole.

The plot for this one had more turns and twists than I really expected (when judging by the number of pages left). I was truly amazed how much the author fit into the book –and I was satisfied by the ending.


SPOILER ALERT FROM HERE TO END. STOP READING HERE IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE BOOK.
For several minutes after finishing this book, I truly just sat and let my brain make connections. I was genuinely surprised by the tying together of ends and all of the connections. I will say, though, that I'm still trying to figure out if Regina was Jack's daughter or if there were a few generations. If she was Jack's daughter, why wouldn't Tom run as soon as he heard the last name? (I explain this to myself in the next paragraph.)

Both of these stories have a strong current that I think some reviewers may have missed. In 'Dissolution', there is acceptance of accountability, blame, responsibility, and shame. In 'The Sheila Na Gig' those same things only exist on the sides of victims. The common current is manipulation. Human-to-human, spirit-to-human, even mind-to-body: This book explores so many angles of how being manipulated can change a person –and how manipulating others can change a person, too. Maybe that's just my interpretation of the reading, but I thought it was very real and wonderful. No sugar-coating, no down pillows for a soft landing: This is manipulation and how it works.

To conclude my opinions/thoughts about Dissolution's ending, 'The Sheila Na Gig' added more depth to the ending, but I still want to know what happens next –because this whole twisted tale may have done a figure-eight (or several), but it is not finished.

[D. Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every so often, a novel or novella comes along that just gets me excited about horror again. Not that there aren't tons of great and innovative things going on by talented authors but Mannetti's DEATHWATCH and particularly the opening novella, Dissolution really struck a chord with me. I found it phenomenal and I suspect it will be lingering with me for a good while.
Both beautiful and disturbing, terrifying and gripping, the two novellas in DEATHWATCH, Dissolution and The Sheila Na Gig pair well together and, though I have not yet read anything else by her, Mannetti seems very much in her element with period Gothic horror. The characters, particularly the villains, are nasty little things that really creep off the page and ingrain themselves in your thoughts.
I enjoyed this collection so much that I may immediately follow it up with Mannetti's novel, The Gentling Box and then wait with baited breath for whatever new dark delight she is likely conjuring up right at this very moment.

[Jo Anne B · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved Lisa Mannetti's The Gentling Box but I had to stop reading this one. It is very similar to The Gentling Box in that a guy lusts after a woman that isn't whom she appears to be. The lines between hallucinations and reality are once again blurred. However, I was disgusted and couldn't continue to read about an adult male having sex with a 13 yr old girl and describing her body in sexual ways. It seemed like child porn or pedophilia and illegal. Gross!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely give 5 stars to something I've read. It simply has to blow me away, and Lisa Mannetti succeeded in doing just that. Dissolution is a warped tale similar in fashion to The Turn of the Screw and Saki's The Open Window, only darker and more twisted. The Sheila Na Gig is a heart-breaking tale, no less dark, rooted in Irish folk lore. Both of these tales will haunt you for a long time.

[Heidi Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed along with The Gentling Box, here: http://battyward.blogspot.com/2012/09...