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Ghosts of East Baltimore
Save the Eastside, save the world.
In Baltimore, Worm has just returned from a two year stretch in prison. When he finds out that his hometown is being brutally destroyed by a dangerous new chemical, Worm is reluctantly catapulted into a phantasmagoric journey filled with chaos and destruction. Can one man save the city before his 9:00 p.m. curfew at the halfway house?
In Baltimore, Worm has just returned from a two year stretch in prison. When he finds out that his hometown is being brutally destroyed by a dangerous new chemical, Worm is reluctantly catapulted into a phantasmagoric journey filled with chaos and destruction. Can one man save the city before his 9:00 p.m. curfew at the halfway house?
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 2, 2022
About the author
David Simmons
5 books49 followersDavid Simmons is the author of the critically acclaimed “Eradicator” and the breakthrough cult novels “Ghosts of East Baltimore” and “Ghosts of West Baltimore.” His work has appeared internationally in numerous magazines and anthologies. He lives in Baltimore with his wife and three daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
August 15, 2022
Drug dealers in mech suits and giant Bloodborne-esque monster fights are some of the wildness this book delivers, on top of being about a man fresh out the pen just trying to make it back to the halfway house by curfew, trying to readjust. It's also about Baltimore. There's a vibe to this book that is a mixture of so many things I've never seen blended together before that it becomes something refreshingly unique. A diamond in the rough. Or, a gold tooth in the pool of blood. Equal parts Miike, Soulsborne, and The Wire. But whole time, this a David Simmons joint. Ain't nothing else like it.
August 19, 2022
Worm, fresh out of jail, tries to make a little money to get back on his feet, and make it back to the halfway house before his 9 pm curfew. But what should be a simple drop-off, spirals into a nightmare. Worm is faced with a number of obstacles like crazed drug dealers, gimps, mecha suits, laced drugs, and more. This feels like the perfect cross-genre book written for me especially with the clone conspiracy theory sprinkled in.
Ghosts of East Baltimore is a wild ride and the perfect mix of elegant yet literary cosmic hood horror with textured prose that not many could pull off. Rich with history, and a deep-seated love for Baltimore, this is a fantastic crime fiction debut. Whole time, Simmons is a mercurial force to be reckoned with and I can’t wait to cop his next book. Broken River Books is the wave...
Ghosts of East Baltimore is a wild ride and the perfect mix of elegant yet literary cosmic hood horror with textured prose that not many could pull off. Rich with history, and a deep-seated love for Baltimore, this is a fantastic crime fiction debut. Whole time, Simmons is a mercurial force to be reckoned with and I can’t wait to cop his next book. Broken River Books is the wave...
August 15, 2022
Starts out as a fairly typical crime story, a guy getting released from prison, and immediately looking to get back in the drug game. But things go off the rails quickly and severely, turning this into more of a horror novel. Maybe a bit more so than I would have preferred.
The descriptions of Baltimore and its past do help keep things grounded, even when drug dealers are fighting in giant mech suits. Definitely unique and a great first novel.
The descriptions of Baltimore and its past do help keep things grounded, even when drug dealers are fighting in giant mech suits. Definitely unique and a great first novel.
August 29, 2022
This novel is just absolutely wild. I love it.
It begins as a straightforward realistic novel about someone finally getting out of jail. Worm. He runs into the kind of problems you might expect at first, but money is what he needs, and he knows one way to make money fast.
Picks up some drugs. Makes a drop off. On the way, everything goes sideways.
Cosmic horror bursting through drugs, an exoskeleton made for war, a cult, a gang that wears gimp suits and causes chaos, and all along the way, we actually learn about Baltimore and how the city became the city it is.
Amazing stuff.
It begins as a straightforward realistic novel about someone finally getting out of jail. Worm. He runs into the kind of problems you might expect at first, but money is what he needs, and he knows one way to make money fast.
Picks up some drugs. Makes a drop off. On the way, everything goes sideways.
Cosmic horror bursting through drugs, an exoskeleton made for war, a cult, a gang that wears gimp suits and causes chaos, and all along the way, we actually learn about Baltimore and how the city became the city it is.
Amazing stuff.
March 23, 2024
Now, that's what I call a brutal Urban Horror. Ghosts of East Baltimore blends horror, crime, and social commentary, and does it all very, very well. Don't pay attention to the poor cover, the story here is a good one. Though bleak.
August 25, 2022
Worm is fresh out the pen. He has to make it to the halfway house by 9 pm. Sounds easy enough. But the Baltimore Worm has known his entire life has changed. Worm's journey to the halfway house is paved with monsters, mech suits, and madness.
Ghosts of East Baltimore is genre-bending and brain-melting. A memorable debut book that left me excited to see what's next from David Simmons.
Ghosts of East Baltimore is genre-bending and brain-melting. A memorable debut book that left me excited to see what's next from David Simmons.
August 26, 2022
By the time I got around to reading the ARC, I had forgotten about the blurb. Since I was on the Kindle, I didn’t have the book’s cover in front of me either. As a result, I pretty much went into the book blind. So, you can imagine my surprise when the story did a 180-degree flip mid-way. It starts pretty modestly with Worm getting out of jail and trying to fit back into his neighborhood. The author uses this time to make a commentary on the state of Baltimore, its past and present. All of which made the story very interesting. But then, this one psychedelic episode diverts the plots in a completely new direction. It becomes gory and out-worldly, packed with weird and interesting characters, bizarre happenings, and more gore. Eventually, Ghosts of East Baltimore is a hero origins story about a simple man on the cusp of self-discovery who has a love-hate relationship with the city. Now that I’ve told you the basics, you should also know that I freaking loved it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 19, 2022
This book is cool as hell. I read it in one day and I'll be recommending it to anyone I'm book compatible with. It's literary without being pretentious, imaginative without being sloppy and overall a god damn blast. If you're a fan of Bloodbourne, mecha battles, gangster crime, body horror or just good fucking writing, then read this book. Broken River is easily my favorite publisher and they got another banger on their hands with Ghosts. I'll be picking up anything David Simmons drops in the future, he is a genuine talent and I hope this book gets the attention it deserves.
February 2, 2024
3.5 rounded up to 4
January 25, 2026
3.5/5 (rounded up for GoodReads)
This was a lot of fun and the concept of this was something I had never read before which is always refreshing as an avid reader in the Horror Genre. This follows our main character Worm who just got out of prison and is looking to start over back in his old stomping grounds of Baltimore, with an impending 9pm curfew to make back to the halfway house. With hope and dreams of making it out of Baltimore and turning his life around, he needs to do one more job to get a few bucks to scrap together. What follows is an insane rollercoaster of drugs, hallucinations and violence. This is a trippy, graphic and comical decent into madness. You'll find yourself saying "what the fuck is happening" multiple times while reading. The pacing was really good, it was easy to read as well, I felt like I flew through this one. Overall, I had a lot of fun and I'm excited to read the sequel!
This was a lot of fun and the concept of this was something I had never read before which is always refreshing as an avid reader in the Horror Genre. This follows our main character Worm who just got out of prison and is looking to start over back in his old stomping grounds of Baltimore, with an impending 9pm curfew to make back to the halfway house. With hope and dreams of making it out of Baltimore and turning his life around, he needs to do one more job to get a few bucks to scrap together. What follows is an insane rollercoaster of drugs, hallucinations and violence. This is a trippy, graphic and comical decent into madness. You'll find yourself saying "what the fuck is happening" multiple times while reading. The pacing was really good, it was easy to read as well, I felt like I flew through this one. Overall, I had a lot of fun and I'm excited to read the sequel!
February 4, 2024
“Sweet Galactic Jesus”, that book was terrible!
I’m not one to leave bad reviews, so I feel awful writing this one. I had to read this one for a book club, & it was almost painful to finish.
This book follows ‘Worm’ , who just recently got out of prison. The whole premise is him trying to make it in to the halfway house before 9pm. But all sorts of weird series of events occur- people in gimp suits doing acrobatics, strange monsters, men in biomech, lots of villains plotting evil things, a weird lobotomy like procedure to remove the amygdala, & tamagotchis to name a handful of events.
With that said, I’m normally all for random concepts - but this book just didn’t make sense to me. It just sounds like bad drug trip, but the tone of the book is just strange to me. It goes in so many directions, it’s almost like the author didn’t quite know where to go with it. Reading it just feels almost like a jumbled mess, and it’s hard to follow what’s going on half the time. The dialogue is painful to suffer through, and a lot of the story just feels empty.
Not much really goes on throughout the story, with a series of odd events here & there. The lobotomy scene I’ll call it doesn’t make sense, & the way the characters react about it takes away from the serious moment. It just feels goofy instead of shocking.
I think the author was trying too hard to sound intelligent, by the overuse of medical terminology in segments. Between that & the slang that would be used throughout. Things like that will take your reader out of immersion.
I could ramble on & on, but I feel like I’ve said enough already…
So yeah, those are my thoughts on this one! If you actually enjoyed this one, then I won’t stop ya! This one personally just wasn’t for me.
I’m not one to leave bad reviews, so I feel awful writing this one. I had to read this one for a book club, & it was almost painful to finish.
This book follows ‘Worm’ , who just recently got out of prison. The whole premise is him trying to make it in to the halfway house before 9pm. But all sorts of weird series of events occur- people in gimp suits doing acrobatics, strange monsters, men in biomech, lots of villains plotting evil things, a weird lobotomy like procedure to remove the amygdala, & tamagotchis to name a handful of events.
With that said, I’m normally all for random concepts - but this book just didn’t make sense to me. It just sounds like bad drug trip, but the tone of the book is just strange to me. It goes in so many directions, it’s almost like the author didn’t quite know where to go with it. Reading it just feels almost like a jumbled mess, and it’s hard to follow what’s going on half the time. The dialogue is painful to suffer through, and a lot of the story just feels empty.
Not much really goes on throughout the story, with a series of odd events here & there. The lobotomy scene I’ll call it doesn’t make sense, & the way the characters react about it takes away from the serious moment. It just feels goofy instead of shocking.
I think the author was trying too hard to sound intelligent, by the overuse of medical terminology in segments. Between that & the slang that would be used throughout. Things like that will take your reader out of immersion.
I could ramble on & on, but I feel like I’ve said enough already…
So yeah, those are my thoughts on this one! If you actually enjoyed this one, then I won’t stop ya! This one personally just wasn’t for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2022
This is a debut? WHAT?!
A lot going on in this short novel - what starts as a seemingly standard man recently released from prison narrative mutates at speed into a cosmic horror mind-fuckfest with menace and blood-spattered insanity at every turn. It's hard to overstate quite how fucking crazy a lot of what goes on here is, but David Simmons handles it expertly.
There's an authoritative sense of place throughout the book. There's a lot of history of Baltimore woven into the narrative, and in less skillful hands it could've looked like info-dumping, but it's clearly written with first hand knowledge and a lot of love. I've read bestselling series where the author's research is showing but this is the opposite of that - this feels like the writer's life and passion on the page.
There is some undeniably nasty shit that takes place here, but you never stop rooting for the little guy. S&M death cults, drug dealers in mecha-suits, drugs cut with cosmic meltdown that turn users into relentless cannibals... like I said, there's a lot going on. And the framing device of our hero being on the clock from the start just adds to the non-stop tension. I loved the spin the author puts on the "Wow, things sure have changed a lot since I was away" trope, ramping it up until it catches fire.
Definitely not the last I'll be reading from David Simmons, and this is a perfect addition to the new wave of releases from the ever-brilliant Broken River Books.
A lot going on in this short novel - what starts as a seemingly standard man recently released from prison narrative mutates at speed into a cosmic horror mind-fuckfest with menace and blood-spattered insanity at every turn. It's hard to overstate quite how fucking crazy a lot of what goes on here is, but David Simmons handles it expertly.
There's an authoritative sense of place throughout the book. There's a lot of history of Baltimore woven into the narrative, and in less skillful hands it could've looked like info-dumping, but it's clearly written with first hand knowledge and a lot of love. I've read bestselling series where the author's research is showing but this is the opposite of that - this feels like the writer's life and passion on the page.
There is some undeniably nasty shit that takes place here, but you never stop rooting for the little guy. S&M death cults, drug dealers in mecha-suits, drugs cut with cosmic meltdown that turn users into relentless cannibals... like I said, there's a lot going on. And the framing device of our hero being on the clock from the start just adds to the non-stop tension. I loved the spin the author puts on the "Wow, things sure have changed a lot since I was away" trope, ramping it up until it catches fire.
Definitely not the last I'll be reading from David Simmons, and this is a perfect addition to the new wave of releases from the ever-brilliant Broken River Books.
January 11, 2024
Such a blast. Quickest way I can describe it is John Dies At The End meets The Wire, though that doesn’t do justice to David Simmons’ unique voice. So much horror takes itself so seriously — there is serious stuff here, but also serious fun. Weird fiction fans — and Baltimore friends especially — take note!
September 5, 2022
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
***
I was immediately drawn into this narrative. I loved the voice of the main character and the style in which he was written.
As I was reading, I wasn't sure this was a horror novel. It's about the main character and his life struggles, mostly, until you hit Ch. 16. Then, geez do things get weird. There were odd little one offs but they could always be explained away. Ch. 16, not so much.
It's a quick read. I think I finished in two hours or so.
***
I was immediately drawn into this narrative. I loved the voice of the main character and the style in which he was written.
As I was reading, I wasn't sure this was a horror novel. It's about the main character and his life struggles, mostly, until you hit Ch. 16. Then, geez do things get weird. There were odd little one offs but they could always be explained away. Ch. 16, not so much.
It's a quick read. I think I finished in two hours or so.
October 4, 2022
I feel like this whole book is an epic mindfuck acid trip.
I'm a Maryland girl. So when I saw this ARC pop up I had to snag it. Plus it's horror! In October! I've been looking for some creepy, horror type books to get into the Halloween spirit.
This book is a whole trip. And honestly I didn't know what I was even reading half the time. But the artestry of the authors words alone deserve a few stars. True artistic freedom.
This is the story of Worm, kinda, who gets out of the pen and is trying to make it to the halfway house by 9pm. That's it. That's the whole book. Him trying to get from point A to point B. But holy horrific happenings occur in between.
Thank you to Book Sirens for the ARC and the opportunity to give an honest review of Ghosts of East Baltimore by David Simmons.
I'm a Maryland girl. So when I saw this ARC pop up I had to snag it. Plus it's horror! In October! I've been looking for some creepy, horror type books to get into the Halloween spirit.
This book is a whole trip. And honestly I didn't know what I was even reading half the time. But the artestry of the authors words alone deserve a few stars. True artistic freedom.
This is the story of Worm, kinda, who gets out of the pen and is trying to make it to the halfway house by 9pm. That's it. That's the whole book. Him trying to get from point A to point B. But holy horrific happenings occur in between.
Thank you to Book Sirens for the ARC and the opportunity to give an honest review of Ghosts of East Baltimore by David Simmons.
August 28, 2022
𝐈𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐧. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐚 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥, 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚 𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝟗:𝟎𝟎 𝐩.𝐦. 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞?
•
I was surprised at how good this one was, I really like this authors writing style; it just flows so easily, and it makes for a very enjoyable read.
Starts off with the essence of a crime novel, but it quickly turns into more of a horror novel; I slowly got some Lovecraftian vibes.
It's a phenomenal debut, and I'll definitely be on the lookout for this author's next book.
Thanks for this ARC, I had fun!
•
I was surprised at how good this one was, I really like this authors writing style; it just flows so easily, and it makes for a very enjoyable read.
Starts off with the essence of a crime novel, but it quickly turns into more of a horror novel; I slowly got some Lovecraftian vibes.
It's a phenomenal debut, and I'll definitely be on the lookout for this author's next book.
Thanks for this ARC, I had fun!
March 2, 2024
The first time I ever actually LISTENED to a hip hop album I was in my 20’s. It was 2pacalypse now by Tupac. That album gave me a gut punch I’ll always remember. This is a man who has grown up seeing all the ugliness that’s been forced upon people who are deemed “lower class” and he’s pissed off about it. Ghosts of East Baltimore hit me in the gut the same way. David Simmons makes it clear that he is all too aware of the ugliness portions of his city have to deal with. Simmons uses a style of writing that is so lyrical you can nod your head to it to give you this cosmic horror tale that’s rooted in the societal issues of a city he loves. The horror here is unbelievably creepy in parts, the violence is cold and harsh, the presentation is damn near perfection. This is a horror read that uses the horror as a backdrop for so much more; which, doesn’t all of the best horror do just that? Something I truly adore about this read is how much love is given to Baltimore. It’s clear this is a place Simmons loves with his whole heart. The same can be said about the passages about Simone and Worm early on; Simmons loves these characters. Thats what I love about this book; Simmons shows a kind of love for what he’s writing about that he exposes its darkness and challenges it to improve. Also, yeah, Old Bay seasoning is NOT good. K thx.
December 24, 2024
But as long as you're alive, there's a chance to change and improve. And when you change yourself, you change the immediate world around you.
Met the author at Authorcon last year and grabbed a couple of titles since I am somewhat familiar with the Baltimore area. Really had no idea what I was buying but this was an interesting mix of crime and horror (old gods, maybe......cosmic). Anyway, enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more of his titles.
7/10
Met the author at Authorcon last year and grabbed a couple of titles since I am somewhat familiar with the Baltimore area. Really had no idea what I was buying but this was an interesting mix of crime and horror (old gods, maybe......cosmic). Anyway, enjoyed the story and look forward to reading more of his titles.
7/10
October 10, 2024
this was so fucking dumb, five stars
March 11, 2026
It meant something if you survived Baltimore.
Wow, okay, well you can just rock me to sleep tonight because David Simmons' "Ghosts of East Baltimore" has left me feeling punched, hungover, and more than just a little bit dizzy. I mean, "something isn't right. Oh no. No, not at all." But this relatively quick read is both a beautifully polished and literate adventure as well as being an extremely disturbing, legitimately horrifying story. And it goes from "yeah, I imagine that's just how it is on the rough streets" to "holy Toledo, did that really just happen"? Trust me, you need to see this to believe it because, no, I am not going to pull any kind of trick saying I understood exactly what all occurred or how folks there feel or whatever. Because the real horror is just not knowing how much of what Simmons presents is based on reality, how much went way, way beyond that, and are there any salient points that we can consider as being somewhere in between?
You have to coexist here or not exist.
Our story follows Worm (love it!!!) from literally the exact moment he is released from a 2-year jail sentence up to him trying to make his 9 p.m. curfew at the mandated halfway house. All of this as the book says is going down in East Baltimore, which may or may not be the home to the original Snow Balls or Snowballs as you'll see it written (see cover, sans horrifyingly large African millipede… I hope). To say that some wild shit - and no, there's not a more eloquent way to put that I don't think - goes on within the next 10 - 12 hours or so for Worm is an understatement of the grandest sort. Like I mentioned, there's a lot of emotion involved at first, not the least of which is feeling along with our "hero" as he works through his emotions which includes but is not restricted to getting out of jail. There's also the normal questions of an ex-con, namely, what do I do now, where can I find work, etc. that feel in many ways like right hooks to the solar plexus. And that's before the guy on the bus jabs his own eyeball out.
It’s the cosmic darkness. Can you see it?
So we're walking along after getting off the bus (quickly), feeling kind of nervous about everything happening around us. Then wouldn't you know it, but we run into Simone who is naturally the love of Worm's life. Well, that reunion doesn't really go according to plan, so he moves on to try and find a source of some quick cash so he can at least get himself straightened out for job interviews. Which in East Baltimore apparently means doing something illegal because what else is an almost broke ex-con gonna do? All of which is based either on your own gumption or supplies or most likely running errands for someone else. It doesn't take long then to figure out that Worm's contact, Sweet Breath (I kid you not), doesn't have his - or really anybody's - best interests at heart.
What’s the point? Killing your customers? Why? For what?
This leads then to what I'd call the middle "section" of the book, which focuses on folks getting higher than high. To say that the trio we meet are all having a bad trip is yet another understatement, if - like I said - we believe all this is really happening. Well, when the paths of these folks and Worm cross - and painfully so - we have to acknowledge that something is definitely up and it isn't coming from any drug we know or have heard of in any way. No, it seems that there are new players in town that are spiking "normal" drugs with something unidentifiable but very, very deadly. Cue the incursion of a "cult" of weirdos wearing gimp masks and Latex suits calling themselves "The Antioch" as well as a supposed Greek mafia. Got it? Good, we should be up to speed then.
There was nothing here for him in Baltimore anymore. This was not his city.
After experiencing only a fraction of the hallucinations the others seem to have endured (after dipping the tip of his finger in the stuff), Worm makes up his mind that he is not willing to sit idly by while this group - or groups - destroy Baltimore. We also learn very quickly how this entire action has parallels with various aspects of the city's history. I mean, it doesn't take a genius - just anyone intelligent enough and willing to open their eyes while they shut their racist mouths - that "Baltimore was a city built on enforced segregation and restrictive housing covenants", many of which arguably existed illegally way after all that crap was supposed to be made illegal. In addition to that, there's aspects such as large "corporations" that buy up as much property as they can but then just let it all rot, with the target of forcing gentrification for their own expansion targets (hm, sounds like the Middle East a bit...). Which naturally only works if folks actually leave… or better said, CAN leave!
All killings serve a dual purpose: to address imbalances and as opportunities to create art.
Oh and no one over the age of 30 in America should forget the alleged "War on Drugs", a decidedly rigged game that was first pushed by Nixon and later Reagan (nothing like scaring conservative white folk to get out the votes!). This was a time when the government did its best to put as many black people away as possible in prison while making an obscene profit from same, all on the taxpayers' dime! So it becomes oh-so-clear why Baltimore is the way it is. But Worm is just not going to stand on the street corners and preach, he is going to take up arms, against the as-yet-unidentified poisoners and more. And that's when this horror/historical book takes a leap well into bizarro territory. Oh and if you're the sensitive type, I'll also let you know here that if this didn't start - or maybe just ramp up enough - to qualify as splatterpunk, well, I must have misunderstood the rules in the few dozen books of same I've read before, especially when murder is considered "a medium for creative self-expression."
When life is about seeking redemption, how can one truly live?
Needless to say the ending is just about as effed up as you can imagine. There's a final "shoot out" involving
carfentanil gas (used typically to anesthetize elephants and rhinos) as well as the removal of someone's amygdala - but hey, what's losing an eye matter when you have no fear afterwards, right? There's also very expensive furniture, bizarre and ancient religious mechanisms, and the threat of chemically induced "toxic epidermal necrolysis" which of course leads to total de-skinning. Oh and don't blink or otherwise you'll miss the heavily armed mecha-dealer (drug dealers TRANSFORM!) as well as the Greek-man-turns-into-tentacled-monster attack either. Yeah, I'm considering all this the third "section" of the book and it definitely earns the "scifi" label I checked off as well.
I’m tired of getting fucked up and waking up in brand new places.
Sure there were some confusing bits as well - like when Worm looks into his phone at one point even though we spent a reasonable amount of time talking about how he didn't have a phone. Or how does he keep opening his eyes when one is missing (how does that work if your eye has been yanked out?) and/or punching someone that I understood was in a wheelchair so hard he "lifted him off the floor"? But not a big deal, maybe I'm just reading more (or less?) into some details than I should. I will admit that I am still feeling a bit queasy. So who else needs a good hug before we go to bed tonight? But please: definitely be here before 9 p.m.!
Wow, okay, well you can just rock me to sleep tonight because David Simmons' "Ghosts of East Baltimore" has left me feeling punched, hungover, and more than just a little bit dizzy. I mean, "something isn't right. Oh no. No, not at all." But this relatively quick read is both a beautifully polished and literate adventure as well as being an extremely disturbing, legitimately horrifying story. And it goes from "yeah, I imagine that's just how it is on the rough streets" to "holy Toledo, did that really just happen"? Trust me, you need to see this to believe it because, no, I am not going to pull any kind of trick saying I understood exactly what all occurred or how folks there feel or whatever. Because the real horror is just not knowing how much of what Simmons presents is based on reality, how much went way, way beyond that, and are there any salient points that we can consider as being somewhere in between?
You have to coexist here or not exist.
Our story follows Worm (love it!!!) from literally the exact moment he is released from a 2-year jail sentence up to him trying to make his 9 p.m. curfew at the mandated halfway house. All of this as the book says is going down in East Baltimore, which may or may not be the home to the original Snow Balls or Snowballs as you'll see it written (see cover, sans horrifyingly large African millipede… I hope). To say that some wild shit - and no, there's not a more eloquent way to put that I don't think - goes on within the next 10 - 12 hours or so for Worm is an understatement of the grandest sort. Like I mentioned, there's a lot of emotion involved at first, not the least of which is feeling along with our "hero" as he works through his emotions which includes but is not restricted to getting out of jail. There's also the normal questions of an ex-con, namely, what do I do now, where can I find work, etc. that feel in many ways like right hooks to the solar plexus. And that's before the guy on the bus jabs his own eyeball out.
It’s the cosmic darkness. Can you see it?
So we're walking along after getting off the bus (quickly), feeling kind of nervous about everything happening around us. Then wouldn't you know it, but we run into Simone who is naturally the love of Worm's life. Well, that reunion doesn't really go according to plan, so he moves on to try and find a source of some quick cash so he can at least get himself straightened out for job interviews. Which in East Baltimore apparently means doing something illegal because what else is an almost broke ex-con gonna do? All of which is based either on your own gumption or supplies or most likely running errands for someone else. It doesn't take long then to figure out that Worm's contact, Sweet Breath (I kid you not), doesn't have his - or really anybody's - best interests at heart.
What’s the point? Killing your customers? Why? For what?
This leads then to what I'd call the middle "section" of the book, which focuses on folks getting higher than high. To say that the trio we meet are all having a bad trip is yet another understatement, if - like I said - we believe all this is really happening. Well, when the paths of these folks and Worm cross - and painfully so - we have to acknowledge that something is definitely up and it isn't coming from any drug we know or have heard of in any way. No, it seems that there are new players in town that are spiking "normal" drugs with something unidentifiable but very, very deadly. Cue the incursion of a "cult" of weirdos wearing gimp masks and Latex suits calling themselves "The Antioch" as well as a supposed Greek mafia. Got it? Good, we should be up to speed then.
There was nothing here for him in Baltimore anymore. This was not his city.
After experiencing only a fraction of the hallucinations the others seem to have endured (after dipping the tip of his finger in the stuff), Worm makes up his mind that he is not willing to sit idly by while this group - or groups - destroy Baltimore. We also learn very quickly how this entire action has parallels with various aspects of the city's history. I mean, it doesn't take a genius - just anyone intelligent enough and willing to open their eyes while they shut their racist mouths - that "Baltimore was a city built on enforced segregation and restrictive housing covenants", many of which arguably existed illegally way after all that crap was supposed to be made illegal. In addition to that, there's aspects such as large "corporations" that buy up as much property as they can but then just let it all rot, with the target of forcing gentrification for their own expansion targets (hm, sounds like the Middle East a bit...). Which naturally only works if folks actually leave… or better said, CAN leave!
All killings serve a dual purpose: to address imbalances and as opportunities to create art.
Oh and no one over the age of 30 in America should forget the alleged "War on Drugs", a decidedly rigged game that was first pushed by Nixon and later Reagan (nothing like scaring conservative white folk to get out the votes!). This was a time when the government did its best to put as many black people away as possible in prison while making an obscene profit from same, all on the taxpayers' dime! So it becomes oh-so-clear why Baltimore is the way it is. But Worm is just not going to stand on the street corners and preach, he is going to take up arms, against the as-yet-unidentified poisoners and more. And that's when this horror/historical book takes a leap well into bizarro territory. Oh and if you're the sensitive type, I'll also let you know here that if this didn't start - or maybe just ramp up enough - to qualify as splatterpunk, well, I must have misunderstood the rules in the few dozen books of same I've read before, especially when murder is considered "a medium for creative self-expression."
When life is about seeking redemption, how can one truly live?
Needless to say the ending is just about as effed up as you can imagine. There's a final "shoot out" involving
carfentanil gas (used typically to anesthetize elephants and rhinos) as well as the removal of someone's amygdala - but hey, what's losing an eye matter when you have no fear afterwards, right? There's also very expensive furniture, bizarre and ancient religious mechanisms, and the threat of chemically induced "toxic epidermal necrolysis" which of course leads to total de-skinning. Oh and don't blink or otherwise you'll miss the heavily armed mecha-dealer (drug dealers TRANSFORM!) as well as the Greek-man-turns-into-tentacled-monster attack either. Yeah, I'm considering all this the third "section" of the book and it definitely earns the "scifi" label I checked off as well.
I’m tired of getting fucked up and waking up in brand new places.
Sure there were some confusing bits as well - like when Worm looks into his phone at one point even though we spent a reasonable amount of time talking about how he didn't have a phone. Or how does he keep opening his eyes when one is missing (how does that work if your eye has been yanked out?) and/or punching someone that I understood was in a wheelchair so hard he "lifted him off the floor"? But not a big deal, maybe I'm just reading more (or less?) into some details than I should. I will admit that I am still feeling a bit queasy. So who else needs a good hug before we go to bed tonight? But please: definitely be here before 9 p.m.!
January 2, 2023
A well written horror story
This story follows Worm character that is fresh out of prison and has to make it to his halfway house by 9PM. The time between his release and him reaching there is what this book is about.
It is odd and weird but so very satisfying to read.
Worm wants to make some quick money before he checks into his halfway house. So, he swings by his old acquaintance Sweet Breath. Worm gets a delivery job and that is where things become interesting to say the least. There are creatures, exosuit, robotics, drugs, Greek mafia, and tons of thrill. The author's narration is simplistic, and the language is Baltimore Street specific. I enjoyed the dialogues extremely much!
My favorite line – "When life is about seeking redemption, how can one truly live?"
Grab this one if you want to get entertained by following Worm's twelve-hour adventure through East Baltimore.
This story follows Worm character that is fresh out of prison and has to make it to his halfway house by 9PM. The time between his release and him reaching there is what this book is about.
It is odd and weird but so very satisfying to read.
Worm wants to make some quick money before he checks into his halfway house. So, he swings by his old acquaintance Sweet Breath. Worm gets a delivery job and that is where things become interesting to say the least. There are creatures, exosuit, robotics, drugs, Greek mafia, and tons of thrill. The author's narration is simplistic, and the language is Baltimore Street specific. I enjoyed the dialogues extremely much!
My favorite line – "When life is about seeking redemption, how can one truly live?"
Grab this one if you want to get entertained by following Worm's twelve-hour adventure through East Baltimore.
March 30, 2026
Worm is the ex-con MC. Comparisons always border on sci-fi to beastly biblical, so there you have the creepy crawly cover. This is way better than most crime books because it actually paints a super vivid sense of the town (I hate when books promo à setting and dont color it in), and the characters. It’s more of a druggy conspiracy book but not in a typical hippie or cracked way. It’s more grounded.
Yet it’s not all spelled out for us like we’re kindergarteners. The characters have paranoia and self doubt as illustrated by awkward convos, ruminations, and jumpiness w/ à backstory that holds its breath as it should. Stories take time to bloom, building conflict. Not that this is long winded. It’s only like 150 pages after all (considering it’s indie too-wide-spaced).
I know this author from Craig Clevenger’s Diner Noir anthology and that story rocks too—quirky to wholesome at points even. Plus, I just learned he was in a mag w/ the Áll Night Pharmacy author and comedic actress Ivy Wolk so that will be my next read (Volume 0, Issue 9).
Speaking of funny things, here’s some quotes, “Bad luck. Like, if you threw me into a bathtub full of titties I would probably come out sucking my own dick,” “Let’s make like BBQ sauce and dip,” and “Think he slicker than two electric eels fucking in a bucket of snot.” Or à big man dissertating during a drug run about Megan the Stallion being a good feminist and gangsters that sound like aliens. The dialogue is trippilly unrealistic like satire. Everything is descriptive to the max without page-munching.
I will say after the halfway mark, many things just seem to happen to the MC. He passively watches so the action starts to feel extra dissociated or listy. That is how à drug trip is though and this is all over the course of a day’s walk across town that gets spacey. Don’t really expect to root for anybody because there’re a bunch of rapists, or do-nothings in à general sense. I did like whenever the MC pushed back on himself socially or philosophically so it all felt less preachy/“this is the way.”
Yet it’s not all spelled out for us like we’re kindergarteners. The characters have paranoia and self doubt as illustrated by awkward convos, ruminations, and jumpiness w/ à backstory that holds its breath as it should. Stories take time to bloom, building conflict. Not that this is long winded. It’s only like 150 pages after all (considering it’s indie too-wide-spaced).
I know this author from Craig Clevenger’s Diner Noir anthology and that story rocks too—quirky to wholesome at points even. Plus, I just learned he was in a mag w/ the Áll Night Pharmacy author and comedic actress Ivy Wolk so that will be my next read (Volume 0, Issue 9).
Speaking of funny things, here’s some quotes, “Bad luck. Like, if you threw me into a bathtub full of titties I would probably come out sucking my own dick,” “Let’s make like BBQ sauce and dip,” and “Think he slicker than two electric eels fucking in a bucket of snot.” Or à big man dissertating during a drug run about Megan the Stallion being a good feminist and gangsters that sound like aliens. The dialogue is trippilly unrealistic like satire. Everything is descriptive to the max without page-munching.
I will say after the halfway mark, many things just seem to happen to the MC. He passively watches so the action starts to feel extra dissociated or listy. That is how à drug trip is though and this is all over the course of a day’s walk across town that gets spacey. Don’t really expect to root for anybody because there’re a bunch of rapists, or do-nothings in à general sense. I did like whenever the MC pushed back on himself socially or philosophically so it all felt less preachy/“this is the way.”
August 17, 2023
4.5 Stars
"This was a one-time thing. Just to soften the edges. And man, those edges could be sharp sometimes. How the world could cut into you, slicing off pieces of your body and making you into something colder and harder."
David Simmons dazzles in this amazing debut. GHOSTS OF EAST BALTIMORE is a hybrid blend of gritty urban fiction, cosmic horror, bizarro surrealism, Baltimore history, medical textbook, and civic planning.
Fresh out of prison, our protagonist Worm only wants to make it across town to the halfway house to meet curfew. But first, he's gotta scratch up a little dough so he can get by. GHOSTS starts out with a gritty look at the life of a freshly released ex-convict and soon devolves into something otherworldly.
How wild can one guy's day get? Well, in here you'll find a gang of one-eyed, violence worshipping cats in gimp suits, a new drug that offers passage to unbeholden cosmic horrors, a drug-dealer in a mecha-suit, and so much more.
There's a lot of creative violence in this book, and most of the trigger warnings are here, but the book seldom dwells on such scenes, the quick prose doesn't allow it. However, transgressive fiction and splatter-punk fans will find much to enjoy in this one.
In some ways, these earlier sections felt more immersive. Maybe because they were grounded a bit more in reality, a little more slowed down. I wish we could've spent a bit more time in these parts, just walking around the neighborhood with Worm. Regardless of this, the trippier elements and forward-driving plot kept me turning the pages and blazing through this thing. So maybe it's a perfect balance.
After finishing, I'm already ready to return to the world of Simmons' Bizarro Baltimore. I had fully intended to take a book break between this one and the next in the series (GHOSTS OF WEST BALTIMORE), but that has proven futile as I've already started its successor.
"This was a one-time thing. Just to soften the edges. And man, those edges could be sharp sometimes. How the world could cut into you, slicing off pieces of your body and making you into something colder and harder."
David Simmons dazzles in this amazing debut. GHOSTS OF EAST BALTIMORE is a hybrid blend of gritty urban fiction, cosmic horror, bizarro surrealism, Baltimore history, medical textbook, and civic planning.
Fresh out of prison, our protagonist Worm only wants to make it across town to the halfway house to meet curfew. But first, he's gotta scratch up a little dough so he can get by. GHOSTS starts out with a gritty look at the life of a freshly released ex-convict and soon devolves into something otherworldly.
How wild can one guy's day get? Well, in here you'll find a gang of one-eyed, violence worshipping cats in gimp suits, a new drug that offers passage to unbeholden cosmic horrors, a drug-dealer in a mecha-suit, and so much more.
There's a lot of creative violence in this book, and most of the trigger warnings are here, but the book seldom dwells on such scenes, the quick prose doesn't allow it. However, transgressive fiction and splatter-punk fans will find much to enjoy in this one.
In some ways, these earlier sections felt more immersive. Maybe because they were grounded a bit more in reality, a little more slowed down. I wish we could've spent a bit more time in these parts, just walking around the neighborhood with Worm. Regardless of this, the trippier elements and forward-driving plot kept me turning the pages and blazing through this thing. So maybe it's a perfect balance.
After finishing, I'm already ready to return to the world of Simmons' Bizarro Baltimore. I had fully intended to take a book break between this one and the next in the series (GHOSTS OF WEST BALTIMORE), but that has proven futile as I've already started its successor.
October 31, 2023
While Horror Month 2023 has been a minor disappointment, it did encourage me to finish books I would have otherwise put off reading. That includes this little ditty, which I greatly enjoyed.
I’ve worked and lived in Baltimore. I love the city so much. But it is a city of heartbreak. Violent crime, racial disparity, income inequality, a paucity of resources for young people, drug overdoses everywhere. It’s not the citizen’s fault, it’s the city’s for being so inept, the state of Maryland for being so indifferent, the United States for being so morally bankrupt, the world for being so militantly anti-Black.
David Simmons taps into all of this as only a native can. While the horror stuff (violence, weird magic drugs, hallucinations, creepy villains) is all entertaining in its on right, this is very much a Baltimore Book for Baltimore Folk. I could feel the eastside at my feet, the sun soaked streets near Hopkins, the rowhomes facing Patterson Park, the urban expanse creeping out past Greektown and onto I-95 for those foolish enough to leave the city.
Our protagonist, Worm, wants to do just that but he knows he can’t. He knows he has to defend this city despite its bullcrap, to love it even when it won’t love him. And even with Charm City lore and horror gore, Worm’s story is what really moves the narrative, as I found myself rooting hard for him to beat the bad guys in time for his halfway house curfew.
I didn’t know until looking for a cover photo that David Simmons’ has written a sequel set in West Baltimore. I will most certainly check it out.
I’ve worked and lived in Baltimore. I love the city so much. But it is a city of heartbreak. Violent crime, racial disparity, income inequality, a paucity of resources for young people, drug overdoses everywhere. It’s not the citizen’s fault, it’s the city’s for being so inept, the state of Maryland for being so indifferent, the United States for being so morally bankrupt, the world for being so militantly anti-Black.
David Simmons taps into all of this as only a native can. While the horror stuff (violence, weird magic drugs, hallucinations, creepy villains) is all entertaining in its on right, this is very much a Baltimore Book for Baltimore Folk. I could feel the eastside at my feet, the sun soaked streets near Hopkins, the rowhomes facing Patterson Park, the urban expanse creeping out past Greektown and onto I-95 for those foolish enough to leave the city.
Our protagonist, Worm, wants to do just that but he knows he can’t. He knows he has to defend this city despite its bullcrap, to love it even when it won’t love him. And even with Charm City lore and horror gore, Worm’s story is what really moves the narrative, as I found myself rooting hard for him to beat the bad guys in time for his halfway house curfew.
I didn’t know until looking for a cover photo that David Simmons’ has written a sequel set in West Baltimore. I will most certainly check it out.
February 17, 2026
David Simmons' mind, man. Ghosts of East/West takes you on a funhouse mirror hero's quest through the streets of Baltimore with casts of hapless junkies, ruthless fates, Greek gangsters, Jewish messiahs, drug dealers in mech suits, idiot cultists in gimp costumes, talking machine guns, and psychopath parole officers, all told from the perspective of Worm, a recently-released ex-con bent on defending his city.
Simmons' great gift is in crafting gut-twisting horror, but "Ghosts" also finds room for moments of high philosophy and pure comedy. ("Not my Enrique!" has to be one of the funniest lines in all of indie lit, and a needle drop on Steal My Sunshine had me laugh out loud.) He's also a gift to his hometown; Baltimore is lucky to have a writer who parses the absurdities and heartbreak of the city with as much love as criticism. Simmons' heroes and villains may be hyperbolic, but Baltimore's citizens are written with grounded respect for their grit and survival.
The crux of Worm's quest to defend Baltimore is laid bare by Sweet Breath: "Why you think nobody out here tryna save the city? Think about it. Because it can't be done, motherfucker. You think you the first to try?" And maybe I'm an optimist, but I think Worm's decision to fight offers hope in the midst of "Ghosts" numerable horrors. Places don't become better with apathy. Maybe it's a fool's errand, and maybe you'll die trying. Better to die trying to defend something rather than break it down.
Whatever else, Simmons takes you on a hell of a ride. Well done.
Simmons' great gift is in crafting gut-twisting horror, but "Ghosts" also finds room for moments of high philosophy and pure comedy. ("Not my Enrique!" has to be one of the funniest lines in all of indie lit, and a needle drop on Steal My Sunshine had me laugh out loud.) He's also a gift to his hometown; Baltimore is lucky to have a writer who parses the absurdities and heartbreak of the city with as much love as criticism. Simmons' heroes and villains may be hyperbolic, but Baltimore's citizens are written with grounded respect for their grit and survival.
The crux of Worm's quest to defend Baltimore is laid bare by Sweet Breath: "Why you think nobody out here tryna save the city? Think about it. Because it can't be done, motherfucker. You think you the first to try?" And maybe I'm an optimist, but I think Worm's decision to fight offers hope in the midst of "Ghosts" numerable horrors. Places don't become better with apathy. Maybe it's a fool's errand, and maybe you'll die trying. Better to die trying to defend something rather than break it down.
Whatever else, Simmons takes you on a hell of a ride. Well done.
October 8, 2022
A Mind-bending Dose Of Reality. It's a cliche way to start a review, but what a ride!
Is Simmons flying under-the-radar, so to speak? I don't know. Certainly shouldn't be. So many wonderful authors, so little time to find them, so many forces and distractions working against the efforts TO find them as well. I'm so grateful that Ghosts Of East Baltimore found its way in front of my brain.
In the wrong hands, Worm's story, or something similar, simply isn't this engaging, believable, oddly relatable as it swings you silly around facts, hard-truths, and the reality we inhabit. I feel confident in saying that Simmons found a way to walk-a-line that will pull in readers who might not ordinarily give a novel like this the time of day. No easy task. I loved it. Simmons' writing, pacing, and cosmic characters are excellent. And my affinity for Worm was legit.
First thing I did after finishing this book was search for what else he had out. I’m eager to read more from David. Would buy another book from him off the heels of having read this one, no questions asked. If that isn't at least one of the surest signs of a book's power, I don't know what is. Grab this book for your TBR, you won't regret it.
Is Simmons flying under-the-radar, so to speak? I don't know. Certainly shouldn't be. So many wonderful authors, so little time to find them, so many forces and distractions working against the efforts TO find them as well. I'm so grateful that Ghosts Of East Baltimore found its way in front of my brain.
In the wrong hands, Worm's story, or something similar, simply isn't this engaging, believable, oddly relatable as it swings you silly around facts, hard-truths, and the reality we inhabit. I feel confident in saying that Simmons found a way to walk-a-line that will pull in readers who might not ordinarily give a novel like this the time of day. No easy task. I loved it. Simmons' writing, pacing, and cosmic characters are excellent. And my affinity for Worm was legit.
First thing I did after finishing this book was search for what else he had out. I’m eager to read more from David. Would buy another book from him off the heels of having read this one, no questions asked. If that isn't at least one of the surest signs of a book's power, I don't know what is. Grab this book for your TBR, you won't regret it.
December 30, 2022
The book started out great.
Worm's character is well written and the whole scene of him getting out and thinking about a new beginning, no matter how hard it would be to achieve was all great. Then he starts talking to Simone and I get lost a bit. All those big fancy, or maybe not fancy but definitely very specific words he uses in the conversation made me wish I had a dictionary. But then again, needing a dictionary to decipher what is supposed to be a normal conversation seems like an overkill.
For quite a long time Worm just wonders the streets of Baltimore and you'll get the whole history of the city. I believe I might be a bit too young to have enjoyed the recount.
I'm sure Worm's childhood flashbacks were important in shedding the light into his past. The way it connected to his current situation was rather well done. But the whole flashback itself included a whole lot of words I did not understand, again.
I expected Worm to get in trouble a lot sooner than he did, and meanwhile I was already stumbling through conversations and memories that were hard to follow to begin with. When he finally did get in trouble it was a sort of relief.
As of the writing style itself, it was definitely well written. And I think I'm simply not the audience this book is intended for.
Worm's character is well written and the whole scene of him getting out and thinking about a new beginning, no matter how hard it would be to achieve was all great. Then he starts talking to Simone and I get lost a bit. All those big fancy, or maybe not fancy but definitely very specific words he uses in the conversation made me wish I had a dictionary. But then again, needing a dictionary to decipher what is supposed to be a normal conversation seems like an overkill.
For quite a long time Worm just wonders the streets of Baltimore and you'll get the whole history of the city. I believe I might be a bit too young to have enjoyed the recount.
I'm sure Worm's childhood flashbacks were important in shedding the light into his past. The way it connected to his current situation was rather well done. But the whole flashback itself included a whole lot of words I did not understand, again.
I expected Worm to get in trouble a lot sooner than he did, and meanwhile I was already stumbling through conversations and memories that were hard to follow to begin with. When he finally did get in trouble it was a sort of relief.
As of the writing style itself, it was definitely well written. And I think I'm simply not the audience this book is intended for.
October 21, 2025
Worm has just finished a two year stretch in prison with an eye to go straight and work shaping lens for an optometry practice. But first, he just needs a little cash to get started. One last drug drop and check in to the halfway house by 9pm. Easy. But Baltimore has changed in the two years Worm was away and the streets are now filled with sociopaths in gimp suits. The new street drug is causing people to lose their minds and their lives. Worm may not love Baltimore, but it is his home and he's determine to rid it of the current invasion.
Let me start by saying David Simmons is a genius. I don't mean that in the "this is the best book you'll ever read" kind of way. I mean, the man has his mind wrapped around science and literature in a way you don't often find with horror writers. And that serves as an interesting juxtaposition between scenes of graphic violence and gore. (Maybe that's why you don't see it often?) The social commentary resting just below the surface of the plot, combined with the scientific exploration of narcotics and fear were phenomenal. I personally could have done without so much of the blood and guts aspect, but I definitely know there's an audience for that. And if that is your thing, boy is the book going to knock your socks off.
Let me start by saying David Simmons is a genius. I don't mean that in the "this is the best book you'll ever read" kind of way. I mean, the man has his mind wrapped around science and literature in a way you don't often find with horror writers. And that serves as an interesting juxtaposition between scenes of graphic violence and gore. (Maybe that's why you don't see it often?) The social commentary resting just below the surface of the plot, combined with the scientific exploration of narcotics and fear were phenomenal. I personally could have done without so much of the blood and guts aspect, but I definitely know there's an audience for that. And if that is your thing, boy is the book going to knock your socks off.
November 15, 2022
This one is a literal trip. Some great drugged out chapters that spiral into cosmic horrors while we journey with Worm through the streets of Baltimore on the day he's released from prison.
It flows like a crime novel until it doesn't and looks at Baltimore and its well documented issues through a B-Movie plot lenses, which to my mind plays upon those who would look to profit from the problems rather than solve them and those who don't take the time to understand the real issues that have beset the city and its underprivileged neighbourhoods.
The easiest comparison might be to call this Lynchian or perhaps it's simply pure Cronenberg, but it seems to owe a debt to both in terms of the levels of strangeness and body horror that leech their way into the story.
This is a book that feels like a writer cutting loose and having fun with story tropes before pulling you places you least expect.
It flows like a crime novel until it doesn't and looks at Baltimore and its well documented issues through a B-Movie plot lenses, which to my mind plays upon those who would look to profit from the problems rather than solve them and those who don't take the time to understand the real issues that have beset the city and its underprivileged neighbourhoods.
The easiest comparison might be to call this Lynchian or perhaps it's simply pure Cronenberg, but it seems to owe a debt to both in terms of the levels of strangeness and body horror that leech their way into the story.
This is a book that feels like a writer cutting loose and having fun with story tropes before pulling you places you least expect.
February 18, 2025
This book puts all the “charm” of Charm City on full display. I live near Baltimore and have spent a lot of time in that city so I have some bias but I appreciated all the local nods and references. It was fun to read. I also liked that this book illuminated Baltimores problematic past and present in a very organic way. Probably like most locals, I also found the main characters feelings about Baltimore very relatable-proud but ashamed, love and hate our grimy little Baltimore. This book is also super weird and I like it. I backtracked and reread several parts because sometimes it was just so trippy I needed to make sure I read it right haha. Somehow it’s believable that these events could actually take place in Baltimore. I love this disgusting, weird, and grimy but wonderful book. It represents Baltimore well-In all the best “Aaron earned an iron urn”, John Waters, Bal-de-more/Balair Rd/hon kinda ways. Definitely going to read the sequel next-I won’t tell Worm I’m reading it in the Johns Hopkins waiting room though…
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