Leech

by John C. Foster

Archibald Leech is the secret weapon Control unleashes when the fabric of reality tears and alien mathematics leak into our world. Control wields him like a barely understood instrument, because Leech can see through the curtain, and it’s enough to drive a man mad. But now his relationship with Control is slowly disintegrating as his need to create a safe home for his volatile and hard-drinking wife increases. Unfortunately, people in Leech’s line of work don’t retire so easily—not when he’s pitting himself against doppelgangers, demigods, and whatever the hell else might be waiting in line to give him a bad day.

Genres: Horror

186 pages, Paperback

Published April 26, 2022

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile may contain books from multiple authors of this name.

Other authors publishing under this name are:

John C. Foster
John C. Foster

Reviews

[Thomas Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic mixture of horror and noir. Once I started reading I didn't want to stop. I've read a few books by Foster now, so I knew what to expect. Strong characterisation, great pacing, wonderful attention to sentence and paragraph structure, fantastic descriptions and language by all of the characters, especially Leech. The premise of a secret agency investigating supernatural events isn't a new one, but Foster's take on it is refreshing and unique. Everything comes with a layer of grime or sweat, Foster opting to infuse his characters with real emotions and desires, making them more relatable and 100% more compelling. The structure of the novel is interesting, but makes sense given the mysterious nature of Leech and those who struggle to Control him. I love how the final section of the novel ties in with his short story "Armageddon Baby" from the anthology Lost Signals. Reading both at the same time and seeing where they diverge was a fun experience. While some mysteries still remain about the character of Archibald Leech and the history of Control and how it operates (possibly enough for another novel, please?), the novel is perfectly complete, and perfectly written. Foster has delivered yet another intriguing combination of horror and noir; incredibly rich and oppressively dark. The perfect intersection of the horror of the great unknown and the darkness in a person's soul.

[Paul Preston · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My name is Archibald Leech and I’m a man of many stories.” So states Leech in this dark and murky book that feels like everlasting night. He is sent by Control as a kind of secret agent into a hell scape of a world where the people seem to have gone mad.
This book feels like a found footage that has missing parts and a nonlinear timeline. As explained in the book- “Hollywood films are shot out of order, their sequence a pure chaos only understood by the director.”
In LEECH, vague images flash past as you try to capture the action and danger that is all around you.

[Ben Francisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read several of Foster's novels and loved them all, but this one is particularly creative and engrossing. It deftly combines elements of suspense, horror, noir, and surrealism. The protagonist, Archibald Leech, is a special ops agent, "the man of many stories," who investigates and solves extraordinary threats that exist somewhere in between the scientific and the mystical - and that often jeopardize time and space itself. The novel is told non-sequentially, which makes the story even more enticing and beautifully matches the temporal threats that Leech faces. Leech as a protagonist is complex and fascinating - you root for him from start to finish. Foster's prose, as always, is excellent, combining pulpy grittiness with evocative imagery and language.

[Eva]

Horror author John C. Foster returns with a new tale of the bizarre to terrify readers. His protagonist, Leech, is a special operations type who has travelled to a small Southern town for an investigation. It ends up being like something from the film Zombieland crossed with The X-Files. Insects and other animals fall from the sky and as it turns out, a Big Brother-like organization is involved. They thought they could see through time and space, and as the reader can guess, it doesn’t take long for that scenario to go badly. Leech encounters everything from scientific conspiracies to Norse mythology to doppelgangers, and things even odder than that. As he tries to navigate his way out of this precarious situation and try to sort out what has actually happened versus what he has imagined, fans will be taken on a roller coaster ride that gets stranger as the book goes on. Will he escape and prevail or will he succumb to the web he’s gotten himself tangled into? Fans of science fiction horror infused with a healthy dollop of humor will enjoy Leech, which is similar in some ways to the television show “Stranger Things,” particularly in terms of the apocalypse humor. If one were to cross the works of Southern crime novelist Hank Early and horror humorist Jeff Strand, one would end up with Leech.

[Lor · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wild ride! I grew really attached to Leech and his adventures. I love the use of different mythologies and cosmic horror madness. I also love his dedication to his lady back home.

[Andrew Schultheis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down to 3.

[Layne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very rapid and easy read. What would have been a fairly straightforward plot is made tantalizing by the nonlinear structure. Leech and the world he lives in are given great depth.

[H.V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, deeply weird read!