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Monkey Love
When Professor Sandra Rixx lost her husband in a terrorist bombing, she turned toward her work for salvation. When Richard kept his vow and returned three years later, she learned to mix business with pleasure. Some times we can't help who we love. Sometimes we can't help what we love.
"John Paul Allen delivers well-drawn characters and emotional dynamite in this tale of dark suspense."
-Scot Nicholson, author of They Hunger
"One sadistic piece of work by one of the most talented new voices in dark fiction."
-Karen Koehler, author of the Slayer series
"Disturbing and intense, this story is a one-sit read that races, carrying you along to grim, uncharted terrain."
-Lee Thomas, Bram Stoker Award-Winning author of Stained, Parish Damned and The Dust of Wonderland
"From the first page, Monkey Love draws you into a surreal world that teeters on a disturbing balance of amdness, eroticism, and obsession. Dark, intriguing, and captivating."
-David Niall Wilson, author of Deep Blue and Ancient Eyes
"It's a wild ride, and I loved it from first page to last."
-John R Little, author of The Memory Tree and Placeholders
"Exquisitley well-written, more than slightly twisted and compelling erotica for all horror readers."
-T.M. Wright, author of Bone Soup and Blue Canoe
"Monkey Love is my first read by John Paul Allen and I can promise it won't be my the last. Touching, perverse, oddly poignant and riddled with interesting questions of love and obsession, I can't recommend it enough. Monkey Love is the sort of tale that pushes the boundaries of comfortable and makes us question our own morals."
James A. Moore, author of Deeper and Blood Red
Reviewed by Jeff Burk
When Professor Sandra Rixx’s husband, Richard, dies in a terrorist bombing, her life falls apart. She travels to Uganda to throw herself into her work studying gorillas. One gorilla in particular catches Sandra's attention, one that has a familiar marking on its fur that bears a remarkable likeness to her dead husband's tattoo. This inspires her to concoct a plan to bring the love of her life back.
Sandra's story makes for a gripping and disturbing tale. Allen cruelly toys with a character whose sense of purpose has been shattered. As Sandra begins to find meaning in life again, various forces converge to unwittingly send her down into unfathomable darkness. Her downward spiral is sure to shock, and what Allen has in store for her made this reviewer gasp aloud on more than one occasion.
As a bonus, the book includes the short story "House Guest", an equally disturbing psychological drama about a couple whose daughter is brain-dead and being cared for at home. Unbeknownst to them, their daughter's boyfriend is living in her closet and has a few ideas on how to make the family happy again.
Both stories explore a very dark world in which individuals attempt to find love through whatever means necessary. Allen places the reader forefront in the characters’ heads in unnervingly clear fashion. While readers can see the terrible fates about to befall the characters, they are able to empathize and understand the desires (as twisted as they may be) that blind the stars of Allen's tragedies. Reader be warned: the book contains very graphic scenes of sexual horror. To Allen’s credit, these scenes come across less exploitative than filled with a genuine sense of emotional torment.
His prose is lean and tight, and each of his characters is written with a distinctive voice. At his best, Allen possesses the rare ability to combine genuine emotional drama and graphic horror. Readers are likely to be smitten with Monkey Love, and will undoubtedly seek to turn this one-night stand with the talented Allen into a long-term relationship
"John Paul Allen delivers well-drawn characters and emotional dynamite in this tale of dark suspense."
-Scot Nicholson, author of They Hunger
"One sadistic piece of work by one of the most talented new voices in dark fiction."
-Karen Koehler, author of the Slayer series
"Disturbing and intense, this story is a one-sit read that races, carrying you along to grim, uncharted terrain."
-Lee Thomas, Bram Stoker Award-Winning author of Stained, Parish Damned and The Dust of Wonderland
"From the first page, Monkey Love draws you into a surreal world that teeters on a disturbing balance of amdness, eroticism, and obsession. Dark, intriguing, and captivating."
-David Niall Wilson, author of Deep Blue and Ancient Eyes
"It's a wild ride, and I loved it from first page to last."
-John R Little, author of The Memory Tree and Placeholders
"Exquisitley well-written, more than slightly twisted and compelling erotica for all horror readers."
-T.M. Wright, author of Bone Soup and Blue Canoe
"Monkey Love is my first read by John Paul Allen and I can promise it won't be my the last. Touching, perverse, oddly poignant and riddled with interesting questions of love and obsession, I can't recommend it enough. Monkey Love is the sort of tale that pushes the boundaries of comfortable and makes us question our own morals."
James A. Moore, author of Deeper and Blood Red
Reviewed by Jeff Burk
When Professor Sandra Rixx’s husband, Richard, dies in a terrorist bombing, her life falls apart. She travels to Uganda to throw herself into her work studying gorillas. One gorilla in particular catches Sandra's attention, one that has a familiar marking on its fur that bears a remarkable likeness to her dead husband's tattoo. This inspires her to concoct a plan to bring the love of her life back.
Sandra's story makes for a gripping and disturbing tale. Allen cruelly toys with a character whose sense of purpose has been shattered. As Sandra begins to find meaning in life again, various forces converge to unwittingly send her down into unfathomable darkness. Her downward spiral is sure to shock, and what Allen has in store for her made this reviewer gasp aloud on more than one occasion.
As a bonus, the book includes the short story "House Guest", an equally disturbing psychological drama about a couple whose daughter is brain-dead and being cared for at home. Unbeknownst to them, their daughter's boyfriend is living in her closet and has a few ideas on how to make the family happy again.
Both stories explore a very dark world in which individuals attempt to find love through whatever means necessary. Allen places the reader forefront in the characters’ heads in unnervingly clear fashion. While readers can see the terrible fates about to befall the characters, they are able to empathize and understand the desires (as twisted as they may be) that blind the stars of Allen's tragedies. Reader be warned: the book contains very graphic scenes of sexual horror. To Allen’s credit, these scenes come across less exploitative than filled with a genuine sense of emotional torment.
His prose is lean and tight, and each of his characters is written with a distinctive voice. At his best, Allen possesses the rare ability to combine genuine emotional drama and graphic horror. Readers are likely to be smitten with Monkey Love, and will undoubtedly seek to turn this one-night stand with the talented Allen into a long-term relationship
ebook
First published January 1, 2007
26 people want to read
About the author
John Paul Allen
14 books75 followersBorn and raised in Michigan, the youngest of five boys, John Paul Allen is described as "Hard to nail down, hard to put down, John Paul Allen's words will envelop your senses and fill your mind with worlds and people too real not to believe." (William Cook - Blood Related). Coming to horror and writing later than most he has quickly become known for his knack of crossing lines in order to tell a story.
His published works include the novella Monkey Love, short story collection Dark Blessings, short stories Weeping Mary and House Guest.
Allen's novel Gifted Trust (originally published in 2002) was recently released as a major revised version and his short, Little Miss is part of the the Fresh Blood Old Bones anthology.
His published works include the novella Monkey Love, short story collection Dark Blessings, short stories Weeping Mary and House Guest.
Allen's novel Gifted Trust (originally published in 2002) was recently released as a major revised version and his short, Little Miss is part of the the Fresh Blood Old Bones anthology.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 2, 2010
Released by Biting Dog Publications as part of their limited edition novella trilogy, John Paul Allen’s disturbingly erotic tale ‘Monkey Love’ was the final instalment into this beautifully presented collection. Utilising the same artwork by illustrator Keith Minnion that donned the covers of the two previous releases, together, the novella’s form an impressive looking set for any collector. As with the two preceding titles, ‘Monkey Love’ was available in either a limited to 400 copies signed (author & illustrator) hardback edition, or a lettered leather-bound and tray-cased edition. The novella also includes five beautifully presented black & white pencil illustrations, incorporated at set stages within the tale.
The novella begins with the introduction of the young married couple, Richard and Sandra Rixx. The couple enjoy a very healthy and fulfilled relationship, both of a physical and emotional nature. However, whilst taking a flight on behalf of his business, Sandra learns that the plane Richard was on was targeted as a possible act of terrorism. Her life is shattered as she learns of the death of her husband.
Grieving for the loss of her one true love, Sandra takes the decision to become utterly immersed within her work – studying gorillas in the tropical depths of Uganda. The anthropology professor sets down disciplined scientific tasks on the behavioural nature of the gorillas, which are to be undertaken and recorded by her small team and the findings subsequently relayed back to her on a daily basis.
The project is going well, with the gorillas bringing together interesting results for analysis. Amongst the gorillas, Sandra Rixx notices one particular subject whose fur sports a startlingly similar design to that of her deceased husband’s tattoo, both of which are positioned in the exact same spot upon their right shoulder blade. Sandra’s interest is only marginally whetted by the matter; that is until she notices the same guerrilla spitting out fig seeds in the exact same way that her Richard used to. The similarities don’t end there. Whilst taking a shower she notices that the same gorilla is watching her with deep blue eyes – the same eyes as of her late husband.
With memories of Richard’s promises that if he were to die, he would come back in search of his loved one; Sandra is now fully taken by the idea that this gorilla is in fact the reincarnation of her late husband. And in order to help bring the memories of their passionate love flooding back to the gorilla, Sandra sees a clear path ahead of how to accomplish this very task...with the power of seduction.
For his second published novel, John Paul Allen once again revisits the concept of reincarnation that was the basis of his previous full length novel ‘Gifted Trust’. However, unlike the graphically violent content utilised within ‘Gifted Trust’, Allen’s novella instead focuses on the unsettling premise of bestiality from the reasoning of a potentially unsound mind.
As the tale progresses, the reader knows what is coming; the storyline is somewhat casually building towards the inevitable finale of such a taboo idea. Allen expertly toys with this mounting suspense, throwing moral confusing justifications, to pave the way for an inner-understanding of such a seat-squirming act. The writing itself shows a vast improvement from that of ‘Gifted Trust’. Allen keeps a tight grip on the direction of the story, with strong, well-developed characterisation drawing together the all important emotional turmoil portrayed within the plot. Whether intentionally fabricated or not, the clever understated play on Richard Rixx’s death creates a cunning void in the storyline, subtly reflecting the definite void that has taken place within the life of Sandra Rixx.
The novella concludes with an utterly unexpected twist-ending that hits the reader like a sledgehammer, with a heavy hand of black comedy thrown in to exit the novella with. Allen’s maniacal desire to plunder into the morally questionable depths of erotica and then throw the whole twisted understanding back at the reader in one fell swoop is what elevates the tale into a true master-class in perverse fiction.
Also included within the book is the short story entitled ‘House Guest’. The short begins with the introduction of Chastity Bream whose life took a sudden unfortunate downfall after she was hit by a Honda Civic which left her in a completely paralysed bed-ridden state. Following the accident, Chastity’s secret lover decides to remain with Chastity in the house where her parents also reside. His hidden life is spent peering from behind closet doors and stealing food from the kitchen when the coast is clear. However, his affections soon shift to that of Chastity’s mother - Mrs Turner. The only obstacle that appears to be in the way of a blossoming relationship is her husband, Herb. But that can soon be fixed...
For this skin-crawling short, Allen once again plays with the idea of obsession gone careering off the tracks at a mile a minute. Our lead character’s voyeuristic nature is set down from the outset, laying out what is to become a short tale of perverse lusting twinged with sexual deviance and a final smattering of murder. The result is a short story that bounds along with the joviality of a surreal comedy, whilst digging further and further into another unsettling taboo.
The short ends with a wallop, concluding with the same no-holds-barred approach that Allen stands proudly aside with each piece of work he unleashes. At only eleven pages in length, Allen crams in a monstrous psychological extravaganza, to thrill, unnerve and amuse his ever-hungry readers.
The book runs for a total of 97 pages, of which ‘Monkey Love’ takes up a total of 82 pages.
The novella begins with the introduction of the young married couple, Richard and Sandra Rixx. The couple enjoy a very healthy and fulfilled relationship, both of a physical and emotional nature. However, whilst taking a flight on behalf of his business, Sandra learns that the plane Richard was on was targeted as a possible act of terrorism. Her life is shattered as she learns of the death of her husband.
Grieving for the loss of her one true love, Sandra takes the decision to become utterly immersed within her work – studying gorillas in the tropical depths of Uganda. The anthropology professor sets down disciplined scientific tasks on the behavioural nature of the gorillas, which are to be undertaken and recorded by her small team and the findings subsequently relayed back to her on a daily basis.
The project is going well, with the gorillas bringing together interesting results for analysis. Amongst the gorillas, Sandra Rixx notices one particular subject whose fur sports a startlingly similar design to that of her deceased husband’s tattoo, both of which are positioned in the exact same spot upon their right shoulder blade. Sandra’s interest is only marginally whetted by the matter; that is until she notices the same guerrilla spitting out fig seeds in the exact same way that her Richard used to. The similarities don’t end there. Whilst taking a shower she notices that the same gorilla is watching her with deep blue eyes – the same eyes as of her late husband.
With memories of Richard’s promises that if he were to die, he would come back in search of his loved one; Sandra is now fully taken by the idea that this gorilla is in fact the reincarnation of her late husband. And in order to help bring the memories of their passionate love flooding back to the gorilla, Sandra sees a clear path ahead of how to accomplish this very task...with the power of seduction.
For his second published novel, John Paul Allen once again revisits the concept of reincarnation that was the basis of his previous full length novel ‘Gifted Trust’. However, unlike the graphically violent content utilised within ‘Gifted Trust’, Allen’s novella instead focuses on the unsettling premise of bestiality from the reasoning of a potentially unsound mind.
As the tale progresses, the reader knows what is coming; the storyline is somewhat casually building towards the inevitable finale of such a taboo idea. Allen expertly toys with this mounting suspense, throwing moral confusing justifications, to pave the way for an inner-understanding of such a seat-squirming act. The writing itself shows a vast improvement from that of ‘Gifted Trust’. Allen keeps a tight grip on the direction of the story, with strong, well-developed characterisation drawing together the all important emotional turmoil portrayed within the plot. Whether intentionally fabricated or not, the clever understated play on Richard Rixx’s death creates a cunning void in the storyline, subtly reflecting the definite void that has taken place within the life of Sandra Rixx.
The novella concludes with an utterly unexpected twist-ending that hits the reader like a sledgehammer, with a heavy hand of black comedy thrown in to exit the novella with. Allen’s maniacal desire to plunder into the morally questionable depths of erotica and then throw the whole twisted understanding back at the reader in one fell swoop is what elevates the tale into a true master-class in perverse fiction.
Also included within the book is the short story entitled ‘House Guest’. The short begins with the introduction of Chastity Bream whose life took a sudden unfortunate downfall after she was hit by a Honda Civic which left her in a completely paralysed bed-ridden state. Following the accident, Chastity’s secret lover decides to remain with Chastity in the house where her parents also reside. His hidden life is spent peering from behind closet doors and stealing food from the kitchen when the coast is clear. However, his affections soon shift to that of Chastity’s mother - Mrs Turner. The only obstacle that appears to be in the way of a blossoming relationship is her husband, Herb. But that can soon be fixed...
For this skin-crawling short, Allen once again plays with the idea of obsession gone careering off the tracks at a mile a minute. Our lead character’s voyeuristic nature is set down from the outset, laying out what is to become a short tale of perverse lusting twinged with sexual deviance and a final smattering of murder. The result is a short story that bounds along with the joviality of a surreal comedy, whilst digging further and further into another unsettling taboo.
The short ends with a wallop, concluding with the same no-holds-barred approach that Allen stands proudly aside with each piece of work he unleashes. At only eleven pages in length, Allen crams in a monstrous psychological extravaganza, to thrill, unnerve and amuse his ever-hungry readers.
The book runs for a total of 97 pages, of which ‘Monkey Love’ takes up a total of 82 pages.
March 29, 2011
I like finding a new author at least one that is new for me, John Paul Allen, a well known name in the horror world is just that. This is a surprisingly deep haunting horror novella. I say surprising because it was a not a gore laced serial killer type of horror that most of us read. Instead, a deep view into anthropology and sex. I found myself thinking about this book for days after I read it. That’s powerful.
His novel “Monkey Love,” takes place in Africa and gives the reader a vivid picture of a different type of horror. I want to avoid any “spoilers,” so I wont explain the story here except to say. This one makes you think. It’s a creepy concept in that next time you’re at the zoo, check out the Great Apes. After reading this book you’ll look at them differently, I guarantee it.
Nice work John…
His novel “Monkey Love,” takes place in Africa and gives the reader a vivid picture of a different type of horror. I want to avoid any “spoilers,” so I wont explain the story here except to say. This one makes you think. It’s a creepy concept in that next time you’re at the zoo, check out the Great Apes. After reading this book you’ll look at them differently, I guarantee it.
Nice work John…
February 13, 2012
The imagination of John Paul Allen is a strange yet exciting to place to find yourself. I read MONKEY LOVE and still, after a day or two, find myself basking in his images of sensuality and anthropology. The transformation of Sandra and the weakening of her inhibitions in this story is well-played. The ending was unexpected. This is a one-sitting read and I enjoyed every minute of it. John Paul Allen is an exceptional writer with a dark and twisted mind. I agree with Norman Applegate: the next time you're at the zoo, you may just see the gorillas in a different light.
January 26, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love 'Monkey Love', September 11, 2011
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Monkey Love (Kindle Edition)
This is the first work of john Paul Allen's that I have had the pleasure to read but certainly won't be the last. i liked it so much that i read it twice. My first reading of 'Monkey Love' revealed a dark, ironic sense of humor that had me in stitches, building the pathos in this unique work until i thought i knew what 'kind' of novel it was, only to flip my notions upside down with surprise after surprise.
This great little book is laced with cultural references and metaphor that take on a new life afforded by the foresight of a well-deserved second reading. This is a well-crafted story centered on a tragic situation and the pursuit of a love that knows no bounds. As the title suggests and the exceptional cover art, the quest for love through tragedy is fraught with the horror of new and bizarre discoveries of the self and the surrounding world.
Other reviewers have mentioned the basic precepts of the novel and Biting Dog Press provide the introductory blurb: "When Professor Sandra Rixx lost her husband in a terrorist bombing, she turned toward her work for salvation. When Richard kept his vow and returned three years later, she learned to mix business with pleasure. Sometimes we can't help who we love. Sometimes we can't help what we love." But there is so much more to this story and the way JPA writes the snappy dialogue and creates evocative imagery with succinct words, 'Monkey Love' is destined to entice and enthrall the reader which it so effortlessly does.
Do yourself a favor and get some 'Monkey Love,' you will not regret it.
I love 'Monkey Love', September 11, 2011
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Monkey Love (Kindle Edition)
This is the first work of john Paul Allen's that I have had the pleasure to read but certainly won't be the last. i liked it so much that i read it twice. My first reading of 'Monkey Love' revealed a dark, ironic sense of humor that had me in stitches, building the pathos in this unique work until i thought i knew what 'kind' of novel it was, only to flip my notions upside down with surprise after surprise.
This great little book is laced with cultural references and metaphor that take on a new life afforded by the foresight of a well-deserved second reading. This is a well-crafted story centered on a tragic situation and the pursuit of a love that knows no bounds. As the title suggests and the exceptional cover art, the quest for love through tragedy is fraught with the horror of new and bizarre discoveries of the self and the surrounding world.
Other reviewers have mentioned the basic precepts of the novel and Biting Dog Press provide the introductory blurb: "When Professor Sandra Rixx lost her husband in a terrorist bombing, she turned toward her work for salvation. When Richard kept his vow and returned three years later, she learned to mix business with pleasure. Sometimes we can't help who we love. Sometimes we can't help what we love." But there is so much more to this story and the way JPA writes the snappy dialogue and creates evocative imagery with succinct words, 'Monkey Love' is destined to entice and enthrall the reader which it so effortlessly does.
Do yourself a favor and get some 'Monkey Love,' you will not regret it.
April 19, 2012
As I look back on this novella, it almost has a flavor of the late 19th century in Britain-perhaps Somerset Maugham, or the Royal Society, or the National Geographic Society (the original, back when Africa was considered “the darkest continent” and subject to exploration and classism). The strongest point I come away with from my reading is that humans are amazing-amazingly trusting, amazingly gullible, amazingly selfish. I refuse to say much more in order not to spoil anything for future readers; but I will say that seldom in Anthropology has a field of study proceeded like this. The first third of the book did not excite me, although it was necessary to lay the groundwork of the relationship between the married couple, Richard and Sandra, and to explore their devoted intimacy. Once I reached the beginning of the anthropological expedition to Uganda, the pace picked up-but I must say there were points when I wanted to cover my eyes with my hand and say, “no, please don’t” to some of the characters.
October 3, 2015
Welcome to the world of creepy, scary, peculiar, very harsh
and harrowing.
After the death of her husband in a plane explosion, Sandra
Rixx buries herself in her work. She travels to Africa where
she finds her husband reincarnated.
The end will shock you.
I received the eBook from the author. My opinion is my own.
and harrowing.
After the death of her husband in a plane explosion, Sandra
Rixx buries herself in her work. She travels to Africa where
she finds her husband reincarnated.
The end will shock you.
I received the eBook from the author. My opinion is my own.
August 5, 2012
Great writing, great story. Some things I saw coming - the ending I did not. Terrific book for those that love horror and are not squeamish, not easily offended and have an open mind.
December 23, 2010
Reads like something you would find in Penthouse.
Read
August 25, 2011this is a harsh book with rough language and storyline. However, it was both true horror and very thought producing.
July 30, 2011
horror, romance, erotica. Story is a hot mess but still an interesting short read. 4 stars
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews