Little Lugosi: A Love Story

by Douglas Ford

From the author of Ape in the Ring and The Reattachment comes a tale of transgressive love and unnatural birth. When Madeline senses something missing from her life with Trevor, she tries to fill the gulf between them by ordering a leech from a medical supply company. Troubled by this new pet and the special feedings it requires, Trevor must also deal with his co-worker’s Ahab-like obsession with killing a monstrous pig, a creature of myth known as “The Minister.” Finding this creature brings Trevor to a reckoning with the truth behind the arcane beliefs and practices of a lost cult, as well as the meaning behind problems much closer to home.

With undertones of folk horror, Little Lugosi: A Love Story, is a bizarro odyssey of blood and other bodily fluids.

Genres: Horror

172 pages, ebook

Published April 8, 2022

About the author

Douglas Ford's short fiction has appeared in a variety of anthologies, magazines, and podcasts, as well as two collections, Ape in the Ring and Other Tales of the Macabre and Uncanny and The Infection Party and Other Stories of Dis-Ease. His longer works include The Beasts of Vissaria County, Little Lugosi (A Love Story), and The Trick, his newest from Madness Heart Press. He lives on the west coast of Florida.

Reviews

[Stitching Ghost · Rating 5 out of 5]

The amount of perversion in this book was either way oversold by a fellow reviewer, or I have grown completely desensitized, both are plausible. Also, in comparison to The Reattachment, this was positively hinged and just medium gross.

So, yeah, it was that kind of weird that's just bizarre enough to keep it interesting and a little surreal without going outright into dream logic and with a splash of cult horror, I was hooked.

Ford, who seems like he's quickly cementing himself in my list of favorite authors, ALMOST made me root for a character named Trevor, which I am morally opposed to on general principle, and did make me root for a pig—an actual pig not the kind with a badge. Which is to say that I really liked the characters in this one, I thought they were developed really well without using too many pages. Oh, and as someone who has been accused of having an altar to their weird pet (though I will argue that a snake named Noodle Mayonnaise is NOT a weird pet) I could totally relate to some (that some does a lot of heavy lifting here) of Mads choices in regard to Little Lugosi so there's that too.

[Horror Bookworm Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Horror Bookworm Reviews
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/

A loving couple discuss owning a well needed pet, maybe a dog, perhaps a cat? Before you know it, a package has arrived on their front doorstep from a medical supply company. The more eager in the relationship has admitted to ordering a cute little segmented parasitic leech which happens to be appropriately named…Little Lugosi.

From a predatory organism to a terrifying legend known as The Minister to an eccentric church congregation, there are many bizarre layers that lay hidden within Douglas Ford’s novella entitled Little Lugosi. The development of historical monsters and supernatural legends are cleverly woven together with a sinister thread of “a fondness for human flesh.” Suspense and tension build as vengeance is fueled with an unusual obsession toward a renowned adversary.

Strange images of ritualistic fiction prompts Little Lugosi to straddle the fence of reality and dark delusion. These unnerving inventive formulas catered by the author result into a page turning hallucinatory horror. Keep all hands and feet inside this Douglas Ford rollercoaster and strap in to ensure your safety, it’s gonna be bumpy ride.

A leech is the perfect pet, no shedding, no veterinary bills and no high expense supplies. Leeches increase blood circulation, break up blood clots and only an occasional feeding is required from a used tampon. A highly recommended five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ sacramental baptism from the Horror Bookworm.

[Holly Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Douglas Ford has given us something special with Little Lugosi. I could talk about the writing, which is tight and evocative. I could talk about the characters, which are relatable and complex. I could even talk about the title character, a fast-growing and seemingly anthropomorphic leech.

You read that right.

This is a story about a pet leech who becomes more than a pet. It's about Trevor, a maintenance worker at a university who is married to Madeline who comes home one day with a pet leech. This is is where things get bizarre.

But that isn't what I want to talk about here.

I want to talk about THAT scene. There is a scene where Trevor is in bed recovering from a sickness. There's confusion as he comes in and out of consciousness and isn't sure if the strange things he's experiencing are real or not. The way Ford writes this is just masterful. I was physically ill. I'm saying I genuinely thought I was going to throw up. I had to put the book down and go outside for a few minutes to get some fresh air.

Was it the way it was written, the confusion of Trevor bleeding onto the page and contaminating my fingers? Was it the truly disgusting scenes regarding blood just before and during that event? I honestly don't know. I typically have an iron stomach, but something about all of this melting together into a nausea-inducing scene just has me in awe.

I'm also a writer of horrific and disgusting things. Reading this has freed something in me, to just write what I want to write no matter how weird or gross others may think it is. To just have fun with it. You know it's a good book when it inspires other writers.

So... proceed with caution. This book will disgust you. It will enthrall you, it will inspire you, and it just might make you sick.

:)

[Danger]

A twisted li'l folk horror tale that I found delightful. Gory. Funny. Scary. But above all: deliriously weird. I always appreciate a love story that also goes for the jugular. This short book has it all.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his latest release, Douglas Ford returns with a creature feature centered around the most unusual of monsters: leeches and wild pigs. On the surface, the two life forms seem wildly incongruous, but Ford expertly weaves a yarn of Trevor, a university maintenance worker, his wife Madeline, a herd of aggressive swine oppressing a college campus, and a new pet that (literally) grows to become something much more in Little Lugosi, and (read the rest of the 5-star review on Ginger Nuts of Horror)

[Shandi York · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished Little Lugosi last night and OMG… I don’t like bugs so the thought of a leech, let alone tons of leeches, was just 🤢 yet I loved it!

Madeline and Trevor have been together a good while now but Madeline is missing something and thinks a pet will fill the void in her life. Trevor isn’t ready for a pet and it becomes an issue between the two of them. When a delivery arrives, Trevor discovers Madeline took it upon herself to obtain a pet, in the form of a leech. She names him Little Lugosi after the Béla Lugosi, the 1930s Count Dracula - not gonna lie, I thought the name was adorable. Anyways, she’s gotta feed it somehow right? Between Trevor’s issues at work with a monstrous wild boar tearing up the place and Little Lugosi and his feedings, everything takes a crazy turn. I think it’s also important to mention that the story is set in Vissaria County, Florida, so if you haven’t read The Beasts of Vissaria County, it’s not detrimental to the storyline but it does add some insight. The ending was perfect, and really did make it a love story enveloped in horror and I loved every quick second of it!

Little Lugosi is available today on godless.com and will soon be available on Amazon. Hope you check it out! Thanks to Doug Ford for sending me an advanced copy!

[Pan | Book Reviews and Recommendations · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the year of our lord 2022 and Douglas Ford has managed to create the most original story I have read so far this year. Hell, even probably for the rest of the year too.

If the words 'pet leech' doesn't sound weird, then perhaps a monstrous, evil pig that proudly holds the name 'The Minister', will seal the deal.

Douglas Ford was awesome enough to sent me a copy of his super cool and uniquely weird novella 'Little Lugosi', for review.

Believe me, just by the title and the book cover, you know you've bought your ticket to a beautifully weird and bizarre horror fun ride.

Things take a u-turn for Trevor when his partner, Madeline, decides that it is wise to 'enrich' their life together, by introducing a one of a kind pet. Enter 'Little Lugosi', a wonderful pet leech, acquired from a medical supply company. All Little Lugosi needs is lots of love, affection and.. well.. Its regular feedings..... And no, there is no packed pet food for Little Lugosi. It requires his fair share of blood.

Well that's the err.. normal part. What follows is the entanglement of Trevor in a situation where his colleague's obsession with killing 'The Minister', the mythical monstrous pig, will get him involved in the practices of a lost cult and turn his life even more upside down. So just sit back and enjoy the crazy ride.

The author managed to put together a wonderfully written, fast paced, fun thrill-ride and injected the right amount of bizarro horror and folklore elements, that along with the deliciously fresh and unique prose, create a bloody great and fun combination. Did I just say bloody? Oh there's lots of it.. along with other fluids..

Have you ever watched 'The Twilight Zone' or 'Tales from the Crypt'? Well this one reads like a great episode on steroids, laced with the right amount of wonderful, dark humor to ensure pure, undiluted horror entertainment that 'sucks' you right in.

I am hooked. Straight into my top reads for the year.

[riley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found Little Lugosi in a small bookshop in Florida. It took me 3 hours to both finish reading it, AND regret buying it. This book makes you ponder, "Is this Douglas Ford guy ok? Does he need to be medicated?" Now I don't know whether I should give this book to an unsuspecting friend, or throw it in a fire while saying a prayer. If you can sit through the author's twisted thoughts being splattered on the page, with many just as many typos as fetishes, I commend you. I am writing this review a year after reading it, and I did actually give it to an unsuspecting friend. It's the equivalent of saying: "Omg this smells so bad! Here, smell it!" Little Lugosi haunts my nightmares, and now my friends nightmares! The only plus side is that now every one of my friends are now equally traumatized by this read, and we can't stop making Lugosi jokes. So as my review comes to an end, my last words to you Douglas Ford are... thanks I guess?

[Dakota Dawe · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something about the books that Douglas Ford writes. There’s always a sense of the world not being completely right that adds an unsettling vibe to the already nerve wracking story based around leeches.

Life takes an unexpected turn when Madeline orders a pet leech through the mail in order to enrich her and Trevor’s lives. What starts as a heathy amount of affection turns into obsession when the feedings become a constant thing, leading Madeline to have an unending period and boosting the couples libido tenfold.

While this unfolds, the legend of The Minister comes to light; a larger than life wild pig that is said to live deep in the woods surrounding Trevor’s workplace. It and the other pigs in the area continuously destroy the grounds of the campus, causing Trevor’s coworker to become obsessed with it’s demise.

Little Lugosi is a love story that is unique in its delivery and shows the trials one will go through in the name of love. Little Lugosi defies subgenre, mixing cults, the paranormal, body horror, folk horror, bizarro, and creature features together in order to deliver a story that could not be told as well by any other author.

[Damon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, with twists and turns that keep you engaged for the duration. Very original.

[Nicole Amburgey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Zach Rosenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leeches really are low maintenance, aren't they? All they need is blood.

Trevor is nonplussed by his love Madeline's decision to get a leech. He'd prefer a nice rabbit or something similar. Madeline is set on it, and gets a leech. One she names Little Lugosi....and then it gets weird. So a story like this has to live and die on the strength of its leads and Douglas Ford, I am pleased to say, nails it. Madeline and Trevor bicker. They have hopes, aspirations. They fight, they love one another in spite of it all. I felt throughout that I was watching a real and genuine relationship.

And there's an evil pig that walks around, violating and destroying what it encounters. It's called the Minister. The writing is tight. It's skillful. Little time is wasted and you read over and over again for the weirdness, which is exquisite. And poor Trevor can't catch a break, wiht demonic pigs needing hunting down, mysterious cults...

This book is a ride, from start to finish. It's an absolute blast, it's fun and clever and wholly unique, with the question of Little Lugosi's nature continuously lingering. It's a love story and a horror story all in one and I can't way to check out what's next.

[Christina Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trevor and Madeline are a young couple who work in and around a local university. Trevor is part of the landscaping crew that has to deal with repeated damage by wild hogs to the campus. Trevor learns from his coworkers of a folk tale involving cults, sacrifice and shapeshifting in the area just behind the university. They have to stop these pigs from destroying the property and commit to tracking these things to kill them once and for all. But they don’t realize that tales have some element of truth in them and will be shocked with what they find!

Meanwhile, Madeline and Trevor feel like they are missing something in their lives. So Madeline acquires a pet… but not what we would consider a normal pet. She brought home a leech in a watery cylinder that she becomes enamored with and continually tries to get Trevor to love it too! She names it Little Lugosi and allows it to feed from her regularly.

Folk tales, cults, blood letting oh my! Douglas Ford takes us down a twisted road in this novella. Just when you think it cannot get worse, it exponentially does! Ford does a fantastic job of weaving the debauchery so that it works with the story. I loved this so much! Go grab Little Lugosi and get sucked in too!

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished Douglas Ford’s Little Lugosi just ahead of Halloween, 2022, and the timing was ideal. Over the past few years, I’ve remained in close proximity to Ford’s fiction — from his collection, Ape in the Ring & Other Tales of the Macabre and Uncanny, to his novel, The Beasts of Vissaria County — and have come to know this amazing writer as darkly dependable. His longer literary endeavors are just as strong and self-aware as his short fiction.

Little Lugosi is a compelling novella, highlighting many of Ford’s storytelling strengths and the themes that often occupy his writing: relational navigation, bodily trauma, and gritty, good-old-fashioned horror. Considering its tidy length, whether you’re a fan(g) of Ford’s work or one of the uninitiated, Little Lugosi is a suitable crimson-smeared “point of entry.”

[Jeremy Megargee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Lugosi reads like a delectable fever dream that you're powerless to wake up from, hungry little mouth locked on securely until the tale is finished.

Ford is a powerhouse at crafting prose, the story told with a near laconic hypnotism, and it feels almost like you're floating in the leech-filled pond of Trevor's own delirium.

There is a demonic pig called the Minister, a cult that worships parasites, and a bloated voracious child that latches onto a relationship that is struggling. All of these bizarre elements tie together, and Ford makes the webwork of the narrative feel seamless.

Beneath it all, at the heart of the novella, it feels like this is a man rediscovering his love for his wife: through blood, through viscera, through shared nightmare trauma.

This was my first Ford book, but it certainly won't be the last!

[Stephanie Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Lugosi: A Love Story by Douglas Ford

Trevor and Madeline have a normal relationship. At least until Madeline insists they need a pet. Trevor doesn’t really want a pet but gives in to Madeline’s request because he fears one day he’ll end up losing her. When Madeline comes home with a more unconventional pet, Trevor tries hard to keep an open mind, soon finding himself in a world of blood, pigs and a cult. Little Lugosi is a leech, and leeches need to eat…

Oo I really enjoyed this novella! Idk, maybe it had to do with the amount of blood. I literally felt like blood was dripping off the pages. If you’re squeamish, this will be a treat. 😉 Little Lugosi is a creature feature that doesn’t disappoint. The writing draws you in immediately with new twists and turns that keep you absorbed into the story. I don’t want to spoil anything at all, but be ready for a particular scene that may turn your stomach a few times. Not your typical love story, but a satisfying one. Make time to read this book! 🩸Oh and let’s not forget, how dope Little Lugosi’s name is. 🧛🏻‍♂️

[Kimberly N · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s an odd little love story. Loved the Jaws reference. An enjoyable way to spend an afternoon reading!