Husker

by Marc W. Johnson

As a young teenager, running away after her mother died and never returning home, Jennifer Rollins’ fear of forfeiting her mind to the schizophrenia that took her mother has followed Jennifer throughout her life. Jennifer got some lucky breaks. She became a popular model, but her fears, and lifestyle in the fast lane finally take their toll. While Jennifer is recovering she receives news of her father’s brutal murder and comes home. Jennifer’s true nightmare begins. As she reconnects with old friends and her beau from high school, Jennifer sees horrific images, hears terrifying things and is sure her worst fears are now manifesting. While grappling with her sanity, Jennifer is convinced the killer is coming for her after, hidden away in the attic of her childhood home, she discovers a connection to the murders from the distant past. When she takes it to the police, knowing her much publicized history they dismiss her. As the police believe they are closing in on the maniac, and Jennifer wrestles with her demons, neither have a clue of the true horror about to descend.

136 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2018

About the author

My love of horror and science fiction in both the written word and movie began with my mother who loved them as well. It was instilled in my fragile psyche at the tender age of five although, I did not know it at the time. She took me in our Black Ford Fairlane to see Romero’s Night of the Living Dead at the local drive-in. To this day I remember cowering in the backseat asking “is it day yet, is it day yet?” Mom and I had some belly laughs about that for many years before the bell tolled and called her home. The nightmares eventually subsided and as my childhood moved on I found myself drawn to all things scary and scifi. Luckily, she had books by Phillip K. Dick, Isaac Asimov and Harlan Ellison among many others just hanging around the house. I soon found the depraved minds of King and Koontz to my liking and of course other writers as well. It wasn’t long that I became a fan of Hammer Studios and actors like Christopher Lee, Peter Cushing, Vincent Price and the lists could go on. Suffice to say, I was hooked. In my teens I began to write short stories and poems, some of which I had updated and you can find in my first book “A Collection of Dark Short Stories and Poetry.” However, life happens and I had to put away such dreams, until after mom passed and found an old stained and tattered story of mine in a box in her garage, it was then that I felt the barest little warmth begin to surge within me. It took a while for me to understand what it was, it was mom letting me know I could still have my dream.

Reviews

[TBM Horror · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing this review has taken me a couple of days because it has several subjects I'd like to highlight. It's been difficult though, to put my mind together, because I can't reveal most of the scenes that will get you glue-stuck to the book. I couldn't leave it, and when someone talked to me I got upset because they were interrupting my connection with the story.

Well, that said.

Marc W Johnson is in my list of "Writers Extraordinaire". He is a screenplay writer, and you're going to find that influence on the book. Is it a bad thing? Hell, no. The writing is agile, fresh, always keeping you anxious to find out what's next.
I already liked the treatment of his characters in his second book LEGACY, but he has improved it in HUSKER.

Several books listed as "extreme horror" don't affect me at all. Because blood, torture and guts it's nothing that steals my sleep. The psychologic (psychotic, if you allow me) factor in the stories IS what turns into nightmare material.

Well, Johnson has conquered this quicksand territory with astonishing ease.
We have a confused Jennifer diving in her hurtful memories and pieces of her past with her father (who she never remembers being loved by) and her schizophrenic mother who took away her own life in a horrible way.

Amy, her unconditional friend tries to keep her pace during this trip to madness.

What happens in this book that steals your whole attention? Ah, connected perturbing murders multiply as the ghosts of the past hunt our protagonists. The tagline "Even the wicked seek vengeance" couldn't be more appropriate.

The gore scenes are very poetic through the voice of a very complex... character. Again, I can't reveal. Bloody verses and caresses will create a veil before your eyes.
The scene changing can be a struggle in many books but not in this one. He crafts it without a single pause between scenes. Only a couple times you find asterisks breaking the chapter. That is part of the shuddering element, together with the present tense, keeps you at the edge of your chair.

At the same time, we have the police officers trying to figure out what on Earth is going on, followed by the phantoms of their own fathers who have a lot to do in this explosive story.

Johnson lets you think you're the smart one and that you know how this macabre tale is going to finish. LOL, you're not. And I'm a very difficult one to surprise, believe me.

I can imagine the author writing like "I've got a hundred problems but to catch the reader off guard ain't one" *smirk*
And it is certainly not. I found myself several times talking to myself "it's this one! No wait, this one! Dammit, no, then what...?" And I got it all wrong, in the end, I could only laugh saying out loud, "Chapeau, Marc!!"

May I be 10000% sincere? I can't ruin the book explaining WHY this book turns into paths that will bring you such a horrific delight, I just can tell you "Believe me, and check it out by yourself."
Summarising: impressive extreme horror, justice coming straight from Hell, with several poetic licenses that mark the story with the most important of Johnson's prints: REVENGE, VISCERA and love for all BROKEN SOULS.

Fantastic. I had lots of fun with this book, and I honestly hope you give it a try and enjoy it as well.

[Leanne Blakey-Novis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Husker by Marc Johnson
Review By Leanne Blakey-Novis

This is the second piece of work I have read from Marc Johnson, and he didn’t fail me.
After the horrible death of her mother, and no love from her father, Jennifer runs away. Becoming a successful model, she did well for herself. Fears of schizophrenia followed her, praying she wasn’t like her mother. As Jennifer is in recovery, she receives word of her father’s savage murder, and needs to return home. Jennifer soon reconnects her friendships with old friends and her high school love and begins to go through the family home. She comes across an old box in the attic, only to discover the contents connect to past murders. Bringing it to the attention of the police, who brushed her aside knowing the family history, Jennifer feels she’s next in line, but no one believes her.
This is a must read, I didn’t know what was going to happen next! 5stars.

[Amelia.S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Husker is a taut and chilling psychological thriller that plunges readers into a world of fear, suspense, and haunted pasts. Marc W. Johnson creates an intense and emotionally rich narrative through Jennifer Rollins, whose struggles with trauma, mental health fears, and escalating horrors make her journey both relatable and terrifying. The novel’s intricate layering of suspense, past family secrets, and present day danger keeps readers gripped until the final page. With its masterful tension, compelling character arcs, and dark twists, Husker is a must read for fans of psychological thrillers and horror who crave a story that is as emotionally engaging as it is spine tingling.