Readers This book is completely true. The murders. The spilled blood. The incident in the bathtub… When Harry Peck kills a chicken, he never expects the scratching under the floorboards. Or the awful clucking coming from the darkness. As the haunting gets worse, it becomes clear what the chicken wants. It wants Harry dead. It wants his soul. Can the mysterious Vegan Shaman save Harry? Or will his soul be devoured like … well, chicken? Inspired by classic horror, this book explores the totally true history of animal hauntings and will make you think twice about eating meat… and then make you hungry for it.
David-Jack Fletcher is an Australian author, specialising in LGBTQI+ horror fiction. He dabbles in comedy-horror and dark fiction, but his true love is body horror.
His debut novella, The haunting of Harry Peck, is a 2022 Amazon international best-seller across several lists including Gay Fiction, Horror, and Two-Hour Literature.
He has also appeared in several anthologies across the US, Canada, and the UK. David-Jack's latest novel is due for release in 2023, and he is currently working on the next one: Indentured, which focuses on a pair of bloodthirsty cursed dentures.
He is also a qualified editor, operating a small online business, Chainsaw Editing, where he specialises in copyediting and developmental editing for horror/thriller, dark fiction, mystery/suspense, and the occasional historical romance.
When not writing and editing, David-Jack can be found on the couch with a book, cuddling his dogs and his husband.
“The Haunting of Harry Peck” is a brisk horror novella the jumps between the present day, focused on the titular Harry Peck, and past events that are the subject on ongoing superstition and debate, such as the mysterious event at Roanoke and Australia’s Great Emu War, in which the book’s absolutely bonkers theme of animals returning from the grave for vengeance is framed. This is the situation poor Harry Peck finds himself in after being encouraged by this Uncle John to “man up” and kill an innocent chicken. The fowl’s vengeful spirit really gives the story a bizarre edge through a masterful balance of comedy, horror, and homage to horror films. The chicken’s ruthless targets Harry’s crotch whenever it bursts to unlife, forcing him first to turn to veganism and then the mysterious “Vegan Shaman” to try and appease the spirit.
This is all intercut with the aforementioned flashbacks in with other unjustly killed emus, raccoons, and rats return to take a bloody revenge and the gory details are presented unapologetically throughout. The concept is very intriguing and the book’s message is clear: cruelty to animals is inhumane and carries a heavy toll, though obviously this is taken to a horrific extreme with even the use of shampoo evoking the chicken’s wrath. Still, this was certainly an entertaining read throughout; Harry’s character has enough quirks and backstory to be likeable and relatable, and I found the gory imagery and horror tropes evoked to be both familiar and imaginative, so I’d absolutely recommend “The Haunting of Harry Peck” to fans of the genre or as a pallet cleanser between longer reads.
A visit to an Uncle’s farm turns into an emotional downward spiral of nightmarish proportions for Harry Peck. It begins with the violent death of a rooster that Harry is ultimately responsible for. Vowing to never kill again, he revisits his ethical beliefs and eventually seeks forgiveness. However a manifestation of an animal curse emerges with an unearthly vengeance initiating an unholy transformation.
Welcome to the peculiar world of author David-Jack Fletcher. Where possessions of a chicken spirit becomes a haunting reality. Where spiritual exorcisms are performed upon the innocent as evil is attempted to be evicted from the soul. Where Vegan Shamans and lemons are the only savior from a sacred possession. These strange occurrences are centered around the theory of…when an animal is killed in a violent way, it can turn into a malevolent spirit.
Even though the bizarreness of this story reaches crescendos of demon chickens and exorcism, a steady undercurrent of morality remains a clever solid anchor that gives the story a compelling amount of passion. As lemon juice seeps from page to page, lessons are learned through barbaric actions and justice to be served moments of fictional fun. Fletcher has written a perfect balance of comedy & tragedy into his book, The Haunting of Harry Peck.
Have you been haunted by the possession of a raven, maybe an unhappy soul of a guinea pig, raccoon or emu? Gather your peace offerings and call the nearest 1-800-SHAMAN. Harness all those demons within and all your problems should be solved in two shakes of a tail feather. Take heed..He That Would Have Eggs Must Endure The Cackling Of Hens. A must read Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
When Harry Peck kills a chicken, he never expects the scratching under the floorboards. Or the awful clucking coming from the darkness. As the haunting gets worse, it becomes clear what the chicken wants. It wants Harry dead. It wants his soul. Can the mysterious Vegan Shaman save Harry? Or will his soul be devoured like ... well, chicken?
A definite homage to the 80’s horror books of old, this was a fun read mixing horror and comedy both, not so much in the words as the situation and what happens throughout.
The book is constructed with backstory mixed with current events, bringing them both together in the final act and the conclusion hints that there might be more to come which I hope is true!
So if you’re after a fowl and bloody book, this one will scratch that itch, an eggsplosion of fun that should be read. Unless you’re chicken.
This book seems silly and fun but GOT DANG the writing is real bad!! Also I’m 25 pages in and this guy has pooped his pants…TWICE! Not able to finish due to the following sentence: “the meat tenderizing with each bubble farting to the surface.”[referring a stew being made]……..FARTING! I had to look up the author and make sure he wasn’t a 16 year old boy.
I never realised how much I needed an animal haunting book until I read this, and now all I want is more. The Haunting of Harry Peck is a horror/comedy with a unique take on the haunting subgenre, bringing in a man who is absolutely wrecked with the regret and grief of killing an animal and now that animal is trying to get revenge. Fletcher not only creates a great story for this character, but also additional animal haunting stories of history between chapters that bring the whole novel together (I already didn't like emus…thanks). The story was constantly evolving, the haunts were quite unsettling, and the comedic moments feel natural, well done sir. I will definitely keep an eye on this author and his future work. I want more Harry Peck and Vegan Shaman!
How many times do people just casually kill a raccoon or two while hunting in the wild, or shoot a chicken at their uncle's farm and then go about their days without a worry in the world? Not anymore. In the world of David-Jack Fletcher's humorous horror novella, the prey has become the predator. These little animals are not so little anymore, as their bloodthirsty spirits come back to haunt the life out of their killers! This book grossed me out and amused me so much I was confused about whether to laugh or feel bad for the characters!
In this horror story, the author does a remarkable job of creating a character, young and guilt-ridden, for killing an innocent chicken but still carrying an innocent charm that made me like him instantly. But apparently, Harry's guilt is not enough.
The haunting of the chicken won't let Harry sleep or rest. The strange approaches and attacks from the chicken's spirit will not stop until Harry is dead! When guilt, repentance, and asking for forgiveness all have failed Harry, the Vegan Shaman, comes to his rescue as his knight in shining armor (dare I add carrying lemons around as his ultimate weapon instead of swords)! Will the Vegan Shaman be able to rescue Harry from the chicken's clutch?
Apart from Harry and his chicken haunting, the book also tells us historical tales dating back to the sixteenth century! The characters all immensely captured my interest, and so did the background these different stories were built upon. The mystery and the gruesome hauntings did not let me put the book down.
The author is so good with the details of the peculiarly scary and, at the same time funny incidents that occur that I got chills and laughed out loud all at once. That's something that I rarely get to experience while reading the usual horror books! Animal haunting is a genre that I didn't know existed, but now I need more of it because of these charming characters! I hope we get to read more of this from the author in the future.
'The Haunting Of Harry Peck' is a ray of sunshine in this gloom. Thank God for this novella as it managed to spread some fun and joy along with some terrific horror during these desperate times we live in.
David-Jack Fletcher was awesome enough to send me a copy of his fantastic horror comedy novella for review and managed to put a smile on my face.
You know you are in good hands when the story begins with 'Book of Shaman: The Massacre at Roanoke' back in 1585. Ooh the mystery and the horror. Instantly hooked.
The story kicks in when macho man uncle John mentions to little Harry Peck that 'No member of the Peck family being a shotgun virgin' and makes him kill a chicken. What follows is a story of grief and regret and extreme animal haunting.
Wait, what?? Animal haunting?? That was a first for me and I tell you I've enjoyed that immensely. A case of terror, a haunting so terrible that puts Harry's soul at stake laced with supreme notes of comedy to put you a smile on your face.
Beautifully developed characters and a story that progresses with the right pace in order to keep you hooked and asking for more the moment you finish this fantastic literary experience.
The author manages to deliver a great and unique story perfect for a night of chills and thrills and a lot of giggles.
A great read. Highly highly recommended. I guarantee you will see chickens with a different eye after this 🖤🤘
Harry Peck kills a chicken. Seems harmless enough but now the chicken wants Harry to suffer. His only hope of survival is someone called Vegan Shaman. The Haunting of Harry Peck is a creative horror story I thoroughly enjoyed. The descriptive narration is well detailed and allows me to sink into the story right away. The world-building oozes creepy, especially when it comes to the spectre chicken. The Haunting of Harry Peck might be short, but it packs a punch. Fans of classic horror like King, Poe, and Lovecraft will love The Haunting of Harry Peck.
Let’s talk about these characters. Harry is a realistic main character. He’s traumatized by the killing of a chicken. Sure, he killed it, but he never expected the dead chicken to haunt him. Poor Harry. I connected with him and his plight.
The rest of the characters are well-written and fill out the story nicely. They are everyday people, and you’ll relate to them, like I did.
The descriptive narration propels the reader into the heart of this horror novella. There’s a spookiness vibe layered throughout the story.
Classic horror readers will love this spooky read. Brilliantly written!
The Haunting of Harry Peck was not at all was I was expecting. A fun horror comedy that reads like a B rate movie (which I seem to love). This is another book not to be taken seriously, and I mean that in the best way. Harry is visiting his uncle out at the farm when he is told to kill one of the chickens, and all hell breaks loose following the chicken murder. Do you know what happened to the lost colony of Roanoke? What about what eventually happened after the Emu War in Australia **if you don't know about this war please read about it before or after this book for some truly amusing history.** The story of Harry Peck is gonna answer all of those questions and keep you giggling along the way. The back and forth through now and history really pulling this story together was hilarious and always seemed to pull events together out of left field in the best way. If you enjoy horror comedy or b rate movies, you're gonna love this one and every absurdity thrown at you. Plus at one point the line "NOT MY WORM!" shows up and made me laugh way harder than I planned. Hunters, farmers, omnivores....beware. Your food may just hunt you back.
David-Jack Fletcher’s horror-comedy tale is a joy for fans of both the sub-genre, and the novella format. A super fun, quick paced read with memorable characters, some genuine funny but gross-out horror moments and one hell of an angry dead chicken!
After Harry Peck kills a chicken, he wrapped up in guilt about killing it, but then the dead bird returns from the dead and torments Harry. With the help of Vegan Shaman, Harry tries to get rid of the angry bird.
What I loved about Fletcher’s prose was the character voice, especially during the main story with Harry, but also the flashback sections about other animal hauntings from different eras. Harry is absolutely adorable—and equally as hilarious—as the main character, while Vegan Shaman is someone I would love to read about in more stories.
There are also several references and parodies to some well known classic horror films which were really fun. But overall, it was an original and fresh read for me. I can’t wait to read more of the author’s work.
Full disclosure, I'm not a fan of horror due to my acute capacity for empathising with fictional characters; it can feel way too real for me. So, I found myself closing the pages and walking away when the vivid depictions were more than I could bear. For most people, I'm sure the intensity of horror is well-measured. With that said, the patina between reality and fiction is never dull in this extemely well-written tale. Many times, Peck's world and world history are disturbingly familiar, and while I may have closed the pages occasionally they didn't stay closed for long. The characters are compelling, jocular, shocking, awkward and above all, highly relatable. It is a tale of tales, captivating and cogent, horrific and humourous. While building to a turbulent climax, connections are revealed between seemingly disparate elements. Mesmerising sub-plots drew me in and witty interjections helped me survive this thrilling read. Frankly, I was enthralled and I comfortably/uncomfortably consumed this book over a lazy weekend.
The Haunting of Harry Peck is described as a horror comedy, and it meets both those criteria and more. I found myself chuckling and laughing whilst cringing at the horror. The almost absurdist nature of the book is its biggest asset because even though the premise seems completely unfeasible, you read it with a notion that it could in fact be true. The linking of the modern story to the famed Roanoke mystery works well, and as I was reading, I could totally visualise the story as a film with flashback sequences. The writing was in equal parts descriptive and simple; a rare quality for which the author should be commended. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this story, and I hope the author might consider a sequel focused on Vegan Shaman, my favourite character. In short, do yourself a favour and indulge yourself into the world of animal hauntings so expertly conveyed in The Haunting of Harry Peck.
Is this an allegory for queerness? [...] I got this book from a warehouse's $30 fill-a-bag. It was one of the first ones I picked up because the blurb sounded so god damn ridiculous I had to know what it was all about. I am so so so glad this was my first read of the year. I've seen plenty of horror comedy films but I did not know what I was missing from this genre's literature. I loved this book! I really did. And I'm usually pretty pretentious about the type of writing I enjoy. I had such a good time every page of this. I laughed out loud several times and simultaneously got squirmy at some of the descriptions. And it was so nice to read a book with a queer relationship where it wasn't a big deal! No one batted an eye. It was awesome, I would highly recommend this quick read for anyone who just wants to have a good time.
An immensely enjoyable read! Fletcher's characters are unique, likeable and memorable (Vegan Shaman is just great!), and the blend of horror and comedy works so well, you'll be laughing but also horrified at the same time. There really aren't enough horror comedies out there! Fletcher's novella takes this under-explored genre to a new level, focusing on animal haunting, an idea which I really love. You'll never look at a chicken the same way again. I also really loved the historical flashbacks, which add to the 'realness' of the story. Can't wait to encounter these characters again!
This gem of a novella made me laugh so hard, I choked on my tea. A genre I rarely read, I find horror comedy refreshing. “Rage did funny things to people, and to chickens, I supposed.” Ever wondered what happens to the spirits of slaughtered animals? This book explores human corruption and vengeful spirits in such a hilarious way, it’ll keep any reader thoroughly entertained. Fletcher’s writing is a balanced mix of gore and whimsy that will possess you. An entertaining experience for fans of slashers and comedy. They say laughter cures many ailments, so why not grab a copy?
This book started out humorous. It slowly evolved into demented and bizarre. The further I read, the more wrapped up I got. It combined horror, humor, and fictionalized versions of real history. I'm a huge fan of The Tell-Tale Heart, so it seemed a no brainer that I'd love this too, but it diverged SO FAR from that. I normally hate cliff hanger endings, but this one leaves me hoping there might be more to this tale.
When Harry Peck kills a chicken, he never expects the scratching under the floorboards. Or the awful clucking coming from the darkness. As the haunting gets worse, it becomes clear what the chicken wants.
With this ominous blurb, the reader is launched into the fabulously entertaining world of author David-Jack Fletcher. The story is utterly unique and highly imaginative. There is horror, but not too much gore. There are some hilarious moments too, a little romance, and razor-sharp observations about today’s world and our obsession with clean living and the esoteric. There is the hint of a second book, and I really can’t wait to see this happen!
Thank you to the author for providing a review copy. For fans of: animal revenge, Poultrygeist This book takes a ridiculous premise and makes it really serious. It's also fun (and funny) too. It's fun in a B-movie schlock kind of way, but that also does the book a disservice because it is very well-written. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
This was my first read of animal haunting and a first read from this author . It had me hooked from beginning to end. This book was both funny and creepy at the same time. I highly recommend for your animal haunting reads and I plan on checking out more books from this author. Great job
This book was absolutely ridiculous...in the best way possible!!! I've never read anything that was both legitimately creepy, AND made me laugh out loud! I truly hope this book was the first in a series, because I need more Harry Peck! Also lemons....
This is the story of a man being haunted by the vengeful ghost of a chicken. While this is a horror comedy, this book never winks at the audience, it treats its unconventional threat as a real danger, making this one of the weirdest horror novels I've read recently. I loved it.
This book was so ridiculous. It’s so entertaining, well written. You actually feel bad for the main character(s). They don’t want to do the stuff they have to, to poor animals. Animal spirits come back with a vengeance. This was one of my favorite reads of this year.
He tied the Roanoke Colony disappearing to a modern-day Chicken haunting in Australia.
Threw in all kinds of nerdy references.
And has a character named Vegan Shaman.
How can you not love this book?
Fletcher moves the story at a brisk pace, weaving together history and pop culture to create a narrative that haunts and entertains. One of the most creative novellas I’ve read this year!