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Puppet Graveyard
Five months after her sister Gloria disappeared, Kitty Seevers receives a lock of Gloria's hair in the mail. No return address. Just a cryptic message that brings Kitty to the Bamboo Lounge and into the twisted realm of ventriloquist Ronny McBane and his dummy, Piggy.
Kitty descends into a haunted place where reality is frayed, where the puppetmaster and puppet seem to have reversed roles—-a nightmare place where a dummy moves and speaks when his master is nowhere near him.
Kitty suspects not only is there something wrong with McBane and his dummy, but a greater evil is at work as those named by the dummy are dying horrible deaths. And now she has been named by the same soul-eater that destroyed her sister.
Kitty descends into a haunted place where reality is frayed, where the puppetmaster and puppet seem to have reversed roles—-a nightmare place where a dummy moves and speaks when his master is nowhere near him.
Kitty suspects not only is there something wrong with McBane and his dummy, but a greater evil is at work as those named by the dummy are dying horrible deaths. And now she has been named by the same soul-eater that destroyed her sister.
211 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
4 people are currently reading
512 people want to read
About the author
Tim Curran
153 books592 followersTim Curran lives in Michigan and is the author of the novels Skin Medicine, Hive, Dead Sea, Resurrection, The Devil Next Door, and Biohazard, as well as the novella The Corpse King. His short stories have appeared in such magazines as City Slab, Flesh&Blood, Book of Dark Wisdom, and Inhuman, and anthologies such as Shivers IV, High Seas Cthulhu, and Vile Things.
For DarkFuse and its imprints, he has written the bestselling The Underdwelling, the Readers Choice-Nominated novella Fear Me, Puppet Graveyard as well as Long Black Coffin.
Find him on the web at: www.corpseking.com.
For DarkFuse and its imprints, he has written the bestselling The Underdwelling, the Readers Choice-Nominated novella Fear Me, Puppet Graveyard as well as Long Black Coffin.
Find him on the web at: www.corpseking.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 8, 2012
This novella ROCKED!
I've always had a slight fear of dolls, puppets and the always scary ventriloquist dummies. Ever since I saw the movie Magic as a child these dummies creep me out. This novella featured the creepiest dummy EVER!
The story starts with a young woman named Kitty who is thinking about her sister who disappeared shortly after joining on with a ventriloquism act. Kitty wants to find out what happened because her sister would never just take off like that without at least a phone call. She tracks down the ventriloquist and gets a job where he works so she can be close and keep an eye on them. She begins to notice that the dummy (Piggy)seems almost to have a life of its own. From there on, reality goes off its rails.
I really enjoyed how this author worked in the stories of several different people to give a full view of Piggy's activities over the years. The way it was done was awesome and it helped to build the tension as more and more was discovered about Piggy and his handler's(Ronny)history. I also enjoyed the pacing of the story-I HAD to find out what happened. There are some very graphic, messed up scenes, so this one is not for the faint of heart.
One last word of warning-don't expect to sleep soundly after you're done.
I've always had a slight fear of dolls, puppets and the always scary ventriloquist dummies. Ever since I saw the movie Magic as a child these dummies creep me out. This novella featured the creepiest dummy EVER!
The story starts with a young woman named Kitty who is thinking about her sister who disappeared shortly after joining on with a ventriloquism act. Kitty wants to find out what happened because her sister would never just take off like that without at least a phone call. She tracks down the ventriloquist and gets a job where he works so she can be close and keep an eye on them. She begins to notice that the dummy (Piggy)seems almost to have a life of its own. From there on, reality goes off its rails.
I really enjoyed how this author worked in the stories of several different people to give a full view of Piggy's activities over the years. The way it was done was awesome and it helped to build the tension as more and more was discovered about Piggy and his handler's(Ronny)history. I also enjoyed the pacing of the story-I HAD to find out what happened. There are some very graphic, messed up scenes, so this one is not for the faint of heart.
One last word of warning-don't expect to sleep soundly after you're done.
March 11, 2022
Five months after her sister Gloria disappeared, Kitty Seevers receives a lock of Gloria's hair in the mail. No return address. Just a cryptic message that brings Kitty to the Bamboo Lounge and into the twisted realm of ventriloquist Ronny McBane and his dummy, Piggy. Kitty descends into a haunted place where reality is frayed, where the puppet master and puppet seem to have reversed roles; a nightmare place where a dummy moves and speaks when his master is nowhere near him.
The creepiest book about puppets I've read next to The Secret of Ventriloquism. The prose is diabolic, the grotesque humor that oozes out of the mouth of Piggy as he degrades and dehumanizes his master, and the nightmarish imagery of the entity within the puppet infiltrating the minds of its victims and driving them insane by defiling their souls. It's hard to make a story about evil puppets terrifying in this day and age, but this book did an excellent job of making me very uncomfortable.
The creepiest book about puppets I've read next to The Secret of Ventriloquism. The prose is diabolic, the grotesque humor that oozes out of the mouth of Piggy as he degrades and dehumanizes his master, and the nightmarish imagery of the entity within the puppet infiltrating the minds of its victims and driving them insane by defiling their souls. It's hard to make a story about evil puppets terrifying in this day and age, but this book did an excellent job of making me very uncomfortable.
May 6, 2013
I am wavering between 4 and 5 stars with this one. Tim Curran is fast becoming one of my all time favorite authors. The dude can flat out write with some of the best descriptive prose in the business.
Ventriloquist dummies are freaky to begin with and Tim bumps up the creepy factor with Puppet Graveyard. A young women goes missing and her sister desperately tries to find out what has happened. As she searches for answers she uncovers some dark secrets that that will test her beliefs and her sanity. Dummies and Kittys and Piggys, Oh My!
Ventriloquist dummies are freaky to begin with and Tim bumps up the creepy factor with Puppet Graveyard. A young women goes missing and her sister desperately tries to find out what has happened. As she searches for answers she uncovers some dark secrets that that will test her beliefs and her sanity. Dummies and Kittys and Piggys, Oh My!
July 5, 2012
Another disapppointing effort from Curran, who has very good concepts but just can't seem to execute them successfully. This story of a disturbed ventriloquist and his possessed dummy Piggy sort of plods along for a while, creating just enough interest to want you to reach the conclusion, which is rather muddled, illogical and anticlimactic, considering the set-up Curran creates for just how powerful and evil Piggy is supposed to be. Curran again overdoes his descriptions of imagery as he did in Dead Sea and just doesn't seem to have the skills to pull off a truly horrific scene with any consistency. I didn't hate the story but it left me feeling unfulfilled, like a golden opportunity had been missed here.
This e-book also contained one of the most glaring editorial errors I have ever seen. The female protaganist, Kitty, is speaking to an investigator in his office and Curran refers to her as "Lisa" on three separate occasions during this scene. I was so confused I went back to the beginning of the chapter to see if I missed another character in the room but, alas, I did not. How does an author make this mistake, and how does an editor not catch it?
This e-book also contained one of the most glaring editorial errors I have ever seen. The female protaganist, Kitty, is speaking to an investigator in his office and Curran refers to her as "Lisa" on three separate occasions during this scene. I was so confused I went back to the beginning of the chapter to see if I missed another character in the room but, alas, I did not. How does an author make this mistake, and how does an editor not catch it?
October 9, 2018
I'm really curious to find out whether or not this story was written very early in Curran's career. Because it reads like it. It feels like it was written as a first draft in a college freshman writing class. Not only is the prose messy with too much telling and not enough showing, Curran also doesn't appear to have much of a grasp of his main character Kitty Seevers (Seavers/Seever). He doesn't even keep her name consistent from page to page. There isn't much consistency even in what little personality is there, and she seems to mostly exist solely because of the need to have a protagonist. There's a big jump in the tone of her character halfway through this novella that was so jarring that it distracted me throughout the whole last half.
And this is sad because there's potential here, with the creepy subject of a ventriloquist doll, and the fact that some of Tim Curran's other work is great, such as The Underdwelling . So it looks like I'm in the minority here, but this one really didn't work for me. It really needed a few additional drafts to make it more polished.
And this is sad because there's potential here, with the creepy subject of a ventriloquist doll, and the fact that some of Tim Curran's other work is great, such as The Underdwelling . So it looks like I'm in the minority here, but this one really didn't work for me. It really needed a few additional drafts to make it more polished.
June 7, 2012
A solid 4 star read that I really enjoyed. Tim has a real gift with words; metaphors in particular. This read flowed so well, it was over before I knew it. Kitty, the main character, who wants to find out what happened to her sister who disappeared while working with Ronny and his dummy Piggy was what knocked this read down for me. The author constantly told me, the reader, why Kitty was doing this and why she was doing that, taking away the suspense, or the surprise me factor. Still...A recommended read.
February 9, 2015
I read this one because it was included in the novella collection with The Underdwelling.
It was okay, but didn't really do a whole lot for me. But a good slant on the ventriloquist-dummy-taking-over thing.
It was okay, but didn't really do a whole lot for me. But a good slant on the ventriloquist-dummy-taking-over thing.
November 10, 2013
Kitty’s sister disappeared 6 months ago and they wait till now to callously send a lock of her hair, what do they want, Kitty is determined to find out and she won’t let her sister go.
Gloria was last seen working for a ventriloquist called Ronny McBane and this is where her investigation starts. As she watches the ventriloquist and Piggy his dummy, she realises something just isn’t right, they are almost too good, the dummy almost too lifelike and things just get creepier from there. Her first interview with the pair in the guise of a college reporter is chilling, Piggy moves it seems of his own free will, this is either a fantastic act or something altogether more sinister.
She speaks to their old manager and if ever there was a point to run away from this malevolent pair, this was it but is he just insane, Kitty just has to follow through with this even if it costs her everything.
Highly recommend this it’s seriously spine-chilling in places, one scene in particular with Kitty and Piggy is really lurid and a touch disturbing but there’s no way you can tear yourself away.
Gloria was last seen working for a ventriloquist called Ronny McBane and this is where her investigation starts. As she watches the ventriloquist and Piggy his dummy, she realises something just isn’t right, they are almost too good, the dummy almost too lifelike and things just get creepier from there. Her first interview with the pair in the guise of a college reporter is chilling, Piggy moves it seems of his own free will, this is either a fantastic act or something altogether more sinister.
She speaks to their old manager and if ever there was a point to run away from this malevolent pair, this was it but is he just insane, Kitty just has to follow through with this even if it costs her everything.
Highly recommend this it’s seriously spine-chilling in places, one scene in particular with Kitty and Piggy is really lurid and a touch disturbing but there’s no way you can tear yourself away.
March 7, 2016
Good creepy and spooky read!!!
March 13, 2013
Ever since seeing that episode of the original Twilight Zone with Telly Savalas and that creepy doll, Talky Tina ("My name is Talky Tina and I'm going to kill you!"), I have been weirded out by ventriloquist dummies. In Puppet Graveyard, my uneasiness is further accentuated, like drilling on a tooth with an exposed nerve. With 1,417 Kindle locations, Curran details the world of Pippy the vent dummy and his master. When Pippy moves without his master, I felt some hair rise on the back of my neck. From there, it gets wilder as a woman tries to find out what happened to her sister at the hands of the dummy and his puppeteer.
There was a lot more telling in this tale, third parties talking about what happened and I didn't find these sections as chilling as they would have been if they had been scenes unfolding. Curran doesn't usually do that with his tales, so not sure what the hiccup was here (was he worried about the pacing? under some sort of word count concern?). Whatever the case, it doesn't really ruin the atmosphere, but it does reduce the horror quotient. 3.75 stars. Still, for those like me that are bothered by creepy vent dummies, this novella comes recommended.
There was a lot more telling in this tale, third parties talking about what happened and I didn't find these sections as chilling as they would have been if they had been scenes unfolding. Curran doesn't usually do that with his tales, so not sure what the hiccup was here (was he worried about the pacing? under some sort of word count concern?). Whatever the case, it doesn't really ruin the atmosphere, but it does reduce the horror quotient. 3.75 stars. Still, for those like me that are bothered by creepy vent dummies, this novella comes recommended.
June 5, 2013
There's something inherently creepy about puppets and Piggy is no exception to this. He is a nasty, foul mouthed puppet who is the property of ventriloquist, Roddy McBane although you could seriously question who is controlling who!
Kitty is looking for her sister who has been missing for the last few months and her investigations take her to The Bamboo Lounge, where Roddy and Piggy stage their act.
As Kitty digs deeper she finds some disturbing information regarding Roddy, his family and their home.
This read was seriously disturbing, one scene involving Kitty and Piggy had me reading it in disbelief, I couldn't believe the author would write something like that. The last few chapters were extremely engrossing and the final confrontation in the McBane house is horrifying. My only gripe would be the very abrupt ending.
October 20, 2013
Puppets are unquestionably hands down creepy. But don't just take my word for it, take a whole bunch of words, a whole novella's worth by the ever terrifying Tim Curran, who definitely knows a thing or two about it. This was freaky, eerie, unsettling, creepy and very scary, all the things a good horror story ought to be. Thanks so much for this one, Kimberly. With his novellas Curran seems to find a subject that's already somewhat unsettling and take it to a whole new level. And this one is pretty much a guarantee that you'll never look at a ventriloquist act the same way again. Highly recommended.
December 30, 2014
A lot of the reviews of this novella seem to focus on what it does well—creepy puppet imagery, hints at even worse things behind closed doors—and overlook what it does poorly—build a story without exposition dumps, realize that it's attempts at building up suspense are largely non-existent, resist the urge to go for easy shocks, maintain a consistent world-view. For the former half, the "does-well", I enjoyed it immensely. I liked the creepy puppet. I liked the uncomfortable dialogue. I was mostly ok with the protagonist, though she was mostly a vessel for Curran to do creepy things with a puppet. However, the rest just left me lacking.
For one, if a story is going to involve (I guess this is a mild spoiler) puppet-on-human rape, then you had best make that mean something. Sure, it is creepy, and shocking, but it is also completely dislocated in the story. It has no impact on the narrative. The description of sap-ejaculate is almost divinely inspired, but like a lot of conspiracy theories, it was smoke-and-mirrors to cover up a magician taking a cigarette break.
Secondly, the story is largely told through documentation and prior investigations. This has potential (I mean, so is "Call of Cthulhu") but this is a story of immediacy, wearing the majority of its whole soul right out in the open. If you invoke the god of investigation, your story needs to feel like a story about investigation, which this does not. The potential of even-worse-surprise-twists does not make up for the fact the core twists are boldly telegraphed.
Had the first couple of scenes being stapled directly to the last couple, it would have made a fairly impactful short story. Had it been longer and had time to build for, it might have been more insightful. At the novella length, it feels both padded and incomplete. Some good moments, some great imagery, but in need of something just a bit more, or a bit less.
For one, if a story is going to involve (I guess this is a mild spoiler) puppet-on-human rape, then you had best make that mean something. Sure, it is creepy, and shocking, but it is also completely dislocated in the story. It has no impact on the narrative. The description of sap-ejaculate is almost divinely inspired, but like a lot of conspiracy theories, it was smoke-and-mirrors to cover up a magician taking a cigarette break.
Secondly, the story is largely told through documentation and prior investigations. This has potential (I mean, so is "Call of Cthulhu") but this is a story of immediacy, wearing the majority of its whole soul right out in the open. If you invoke the god of investigation, your story needs to feel like a story about investigation, which this does not. The potential of even-worse-surprise-twists does not make up for the fact the core twists are boldly telegraphed.
Had the first couple of scenes being stapled directly to the last couple, it would have made a fairly impactful short story. Had it been longer and had time to build for, it might have been more insightful. At the novella length, it feels both padded and incomplete. Some good moments, some great imagery, but in need of something just a bit more, or a bit less.
August 25, 2014
RE-read proves that this is still a book to remain on the favorites shelf! :)
May 6, 2016
I love Tim Curran. Just some good old fashioned twisted creepiness. He always delivers.
June 5, 2012
"Puppet Graveyard" is a classic, action-packed romp through occultism, witchcraft, and reanimation that brought back fond memories of watching horror movies in the mid to late '80s...and being scared to turn off the light in my bedroom for fear that some monster or doll (or puppet, in this case) was waiting for me beneath the sheets.
A tight story rife with family tragedy, a strong and fearless protagonist on the trail of her missing sister, and one seriously creepy ventriloquist doll named Piggy.
A tight story rife with family tragedy, a strong and fearless protagonist on the trail of her missing sister, and one seriously creepy ventriloquist doll named Piggy.
March 31, 2014
Loved this creepy novella. Very disturbing rape scene...can't get it out of my head...so yes, it was good :)
Thanks Brenda for lending it to me! I was chasing the deadline today with 2 books, but I managed...this is a lesson well learned, in the future I will not be so greedy and download all books straight away but use the period of 7 days delay...:)
Thanks Brenda for lending it to me! I was chasing the deadline today with 2 books, but I managed...this is a lesson well learned, in the future I will not be so greedy and download all books straight away but use the period of 7 days delay...:)
June 16, 2018
If you are into ventriloquists and their evil dummies this is the definite novella for you to read. Fast paced, eerie, like an extremely well done horror flick. I really enjoyed this quick and easy to read book. The author builds up tension from the first page and you really stay with the book. Clear recommendation. Good example for modern horror (probably because it has so many old ingredients).
June 29, 2013
This was a very good story. Kind of sick and disturbing in some aspects, but come on, that's what kept me reading! Piggy is so demented. Would have loved this to have been longer. Dummies have always creeped me out and this sure puts the icing on the cake!
February 5, 2014
Tim Curran takes the tried and true horror of the haunted ventriloquist doll and adds his own chapter, merging in elements slightly reminiscent of Robert Bloch's "Psycho" and maybe even a little bit Stephen King's "It". The result is a fast-paced and creepy novella.
4 STARS
4 STARS
February 21, 2014
what great creep novella. i loved it
September 7, 2018
Dated: 7th September, 2018...
HOLY SHIT!
One of the creepiest novella I ever read!...
1. Was that possible? Could some evil intelligence make a vent dummy that was kept in a coffin filled with black, wormy grave earth sit up and smile, start talking to you in the tormented voices of your mother and father…both of whom were long dead.”
2. She could see the digital clock. The numbers flickered from 3:02 to 3:03.
3. “I have a feeling there are things in this world that are not strictly rational by our definition, Mr. Regis. I think they’re rare, but they do exist. And now and again some very unlucky idiot like yours truly gets a glimpse of them.”
There is no way you could put it down, not a chance...
My 2nd read about ventriloquism and I have to admit it creeps the hell out of me. For a moment I do believe I am done with thai ventriloquism matter...
I can relate why some reader didn't like that novella yeah I can relate and no offence of course. I do understand the fact and that disturbing incident that took between that creepy doll and Kitty. I in personal never liked doll, mannequin or such dummy type of things. These things just always give me the feelings of total uneasiness. I absolutely dislike them. And hello better remind you that I have read 'Doll Face' by this same author which was too very traumatic and creepy; though I do not want to compare but in a way with different hype this novella much creepier than that book. Hell I don't even know if I am making the right judgement...
From page no. 1 to end I enjoyed every part of it. I could felt my fear, my uneasiness, discomfort, helplessness all mixing up my whole mind that I couldn't control. In some page I just couldn't help but terrified by the incident that took place on the story, it was truly frightening to read. I wish I never read it but it same time I felt really happy that I read it finally. Double standard? Yeah right...
Anyway back to the story where Kitty lost her sister Gloria in the hand of something unimaginable and unthinkable. It was she who went to the deep in the case about the sudden dissappearness of her sister and what she found was beyond anything that you could ever imagine. She made her journey by going to the world of that Ventriloquist Doll which has that name called Piggy with its owner named McBane who somehow looked always weird. Not only him but his doll too...
A pure good horror read and of course the rating from me 5 out of 5...
August 15, 2016
Ventriloquist's dummies freak me the hell out. I know I'm not alone on this. But once upon a time, I didn't feel that way. Here's a little backstory...
I was a strange and unusual child. Ah,who the hell am I kidding? I'm a strange and unusual adult, too. But as a child, imagination runs free. Especially for me. I have always been introverted so most of my time was spent alone, playing alone, making things come alive. So I thought it was the coolest thing when I saw a ventriloquist for the first time. How did he get that little doll on his lap to talk back to him and move? I made up my mind then and there that I would make that my talent. I bought myself a dummy and began my training, which didn't last long. No matter how I maneuvered the stick up that thing's ass, it just didn't work for me. Alas, the poor thing ended up among my stuffed companions on my wall shelf. As a I got older, I felt an uncomfortable feeling being in the same room with it. Its little beady eyes seem to follow my every move, judging me silently.
I could just imagine it watching me as a slept and it started to creep me out. Needless to say, it went into storage and my fear of those things began. I had forgotten all that stuff until I read this book. Yay!
This book is about the journey of Kitty to find her sister. Her sister Gloria has been missing for five months. One day, Kitty receives a letter containing a lock of her sister's hair and a location of a lounge. The lounge hosted a twisted little duo of Ronny and Piggy. Ronny the ventriloquist and Piggy the foul-mouthed dummy. When Kitty encounters the duo personally she knows something isn't right with the situation. Piggy is a little more animated than he should be. She decides to dig deeper and investigate the pair and uncovers more than she has bargained for. Something much more sinister.
"I've come as I said I'd come, Kitty. I've come to show you tricks. I've come to perform for you. I've come to eat your pretty pussy."
Oh, hell no! This book seriously creeped me out. I can read some of the darkest and twisted tales out there and not be bothered but when these little bastards come to life...no. Just no.
January 14, 2016
My first novel by Tim Curran was "Dead Sea" and while it definitely had its moments, it was flawed in many departments and nearly all of these flaws can be found in "Puppet Graveyard" as well.
First of all, just like "Dead Sea", this novella feels as if it has never seen a (decent) editor. Besides the obvious mistakes (the main protagonist's last name constantly changing in its spelling while in one chapter her fist name all over sudden turns from Kitty to Lisa) which already smells of sloppy or rushed work, the reader is in for a rather bumpy ride with the stories pacing being off more than once throughout the book and the narrative making several odd jumps making especially the first half of the novella read like a series of literary hiccups.
Another problem is that all characters lack depth, even for a novella. Curran even fails to flesh out his main character Kitty which just feels like an empty vessel that Curran can project the horror upon and whose action remain more or less inscrutable for the reader.
A lot of things happening in the story just seem to be there because Curran wanted to do the scene, not because it adds anything to the plot or moves the story forward. The puppet rape scene is a prime example of this and just simply seems to be there for the sake of it shock value.
Overall reading "Puppet Graveyard" felt pretty much like reading a first draft that had all the ingredients but that still needed some major work to tie them together convincingly and iron out the rough parts. So why three stars then you may ask? Well, the thing is that Curran has some major potential and the things his imaginations manages to come up with are downright scary. There some moments of utter brilliance in this where Curran's prose is really dense and on point, creating some outworldly horror scenarios that are just as enjoyable as they are scary. It is truly a shame that he seems to lack the endurance to give his work the final polishing it would deserve...
First of all, just like "Dead Sea", this novella feels as if it has never seen a (decent) editor. Besides the obvious mistakes (the main protagonist's last name constantly changing in its spelling while in one chapter her fist name all over sudden turns from Kitty to Lisa) which already smells of sloppy or rushed work, the reader is in for a rather bumpy ride with the stories pacing being off more than once throughout the book and the narrative making several odd jumps making especially the first half of the novella read like a series of literary hiccups.
Another problem is that all characters lack depth, even for a novella. Curran even fails to flesh out his main character Kitty which just feels like an empty vessel that Curran can project the horror upon and whose action remain more or less inscrutable for the reader.
A lot of things happening in the story just seem to be there because Curran wanted to do the scene, not because it adds anything to the plot or moves the story forward. The puppet rape scene is a prime example of this and just simply seems to be there for the sake of it shock value.
Overall reading "Puppet Graveyard" felt pretty much like reading a first draft that had all the ingredients but that still needed some major work to tie them together convincingly and iron out the rough parts. So why three stars then you may ask? Well, the thing is that Curran has some major potential and the things his imaginations manages to come up with are downright scary. There some moments of utter brilliance in this where Curran's prose is really dense and on point, creating some outworldly horror scenarios that are just as enjoyable as they are scary. It is truly a shame that he seems to lack the endurance to give his work the final polishing it would deserve...
November 20, 2012
Tim Curran continues to write delightfully grotesque works of horror that cement him as one of the brightest stars in modern horror. Puppet Graveyard is an addictive journey into the blackest of evils and corrupted souls. There is no doubt about Curran’s love for macabre and disturbing fiction. Nearly every page oozes with his almost giddy Lovecraftian descriptions. For new readers, this is a great book to get a taste of the author’s sensibilities. Due to the shorter length than his other books, less time is spent on character and more on story and plot. But it moves so fast that you hardly notice. Like a great episode of Tales From The Crypt, Puppet Graveyard is a guilty pleasure you are sure to enjoy.
April 19, 2021
A quick intense read that is guaranteed to creep you out.
May 2, 2024
Aliens come to earth...well sort of. A huge machine is collecting humans on large sticky cables, kind of like a sticky fly trap that hangs from the ceiling. I had major deja vu when I read this like I've read it before or maybe this has been turned into a movie. I'm usually good at leaving reviews, but according to goodreads I've never read this book. Well anyway it was awesome. Sorry it I spoiled this for anyone, I didn't give away ending so there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2022
Really 2.5. I like Tim Curran's "Dead Sea" and enjoyed "The Underdwelling," but just never really connected with this.
November 1, 2021
Ventriloquist's dummies freak me the hell out. I know I'm not alone on this. But once upon a time, I didn't feel that way. Here's a little backstory...
I was a strange and unusual child. Ah,who the hell am I kidding? I'm a strange and unusual adult, too. But as a child, imagination runs free. Especially for me. I have always been introverted so most of my time was spent alone, playing alone, making things come alive. So I thought it was the coolest thing when I saw a ventriloquist for the first time. How did he get that little doll on his lap to talk back to him and move? I made up my mind then and there that I would make that my talent. I bought myself a dummy and began my training, which didn't last long. No matter how I maneuvered the stick up that thing's ass, it just didn't work for me. Alas, the poor thing ended up among my stuffed companions on my wall shelf. As a I got older, I felt an uncomfortable feeling being in the same room with it. Its little beady eyes seem to follow my every move, judging me silently.
I could just imagine it watching me as a slept and it started to creep me out. Needless to say, it went into storage and my fear of those things began. I had forgotten all that stuff until I read this book. Yay!
This book is about the journey of Kitty to find her sister. Her sister Gloria has been missing for five months. One day, Kitty receives a letter containing a lock of her sister's hair and a location of a lounge. The lounge hosted a twisted little duo of Ronny and Piggy. Ronny the ventriloquist and Piggy the foul-mouthed dummy. When Kitty encounters the duo personally she knows something isn't right with the situation. Piggy is a little more animated than he should be. She decides to dig deeper and investigate the pair and uncovers more than she has bargained for. Something much more sinister.
"I've come as I said I'd come, Kitty. I've come to show you tricks. I've come to perform for you. I've come to eat your pretty pussy."
Oh, hell no! This book seriously creeped me out. I can read some of the darkest and twisted tales out there and not be bothered but when these little bastards come to life...no. Just no.
July 4, 2012
Tim Curran has been a favorite of mine ever since I read his novel The Corpse King, and that book was sweet, so, when I was given Puppet Graveyard to review I knew I was in for a treat.
Now don't start thinking Goosebumps dummy horror with its wacky zany shenanigans.
Nope, this one is strictly for the adults and is different from similar themed stories.
It's about a puppet named Piggy who more than lives up to his name. The dummy is crude, mean spirited and downright evil. His controller, a weak and meek man named Ronny M, is the constant butt end of Piggy's torrent of rage out on the stage and behind the curtain.
But when Kitty Seevers goes looking for her sister Gloria, who was once a helper in Ronny and Piggy's act and died under mysterious circumstances, she gets thrown into a world of suspended disbelief.
This novella has a lot going for it in terms of creepy terror and Tim's writing is like reading someone's nightmare, so don't do like I did and read it before going to sleep.
... Nah, where's the fun in that, right? Turn off all the lights and read it by flashlight! :D
Nab this act at darkfuse.com where you can pre-order in the eBook format of your own choosing for $4.99 or in a limited hardback for $30.
Available August 21st, 2012.
Now don't start thinking Goosebumps dummy horror with its wacky zany shenanigans.
Nope, this one is strictly for the adults and is different from similar themed stories.
It's about a puppet named Piggy who more than lives up to his name. The dummy is crude, mean spirited and downright evil. His controller, a weak and meek man named Ronny M, is the constant butt end of Piggy's torrent of rage out on the stage and behind the curtain.
But when Kitty Seevers goes looking for her sister Gloria, who was once a helper in Ronny and Piggy's act and died under mysterious circumstances, she gets thrown into a world of suspended disbelief.
This novella has a lot going for it in terms of creepy terror and Tim's writing is like reading someone's nightmare, so don't do like I did and read it before going to sleep.
... Nah, where's the fun in that, right? Turn off all the lights and read it by flashlight! :D
Nab this act at darkfuse.com where you can pre-order in the eBook format of your own choosing for $4.99 or in a limited hardback for $30.
Available August 21st, 2012.
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