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Cursed Words
Some stories should be left unwritten...
Fifty years ago the Van Lundgren estate was the sight of unspeakable acts of evil. The truth has been long buried and forgotten. Now, the house is re-opening as a bed and breakfast and twelve souls show up for the weekend. But some crimes transcend time and when a raging thunderstorm traps them inside, the guests start dropping one by one. Soon the survivors are going to learn that some horrors can never truly be locked away.
Trapped in a nightmare, there's only one truth...
Sticks and Stones may break your bones but Cursed Words can KILL YOU!
Fifty years ago the Van Lundgren estate was the sight of unspeakable acts of evil. The truth has been long buried and forgotten. Now, the house is re-opening as a bed and breakfast and twelve souls show up for the weekend. But some crimes transcend time and when a raging thunderstorm traps them inside, the guests start dropping one by one. Soon the survivors are going to learn that some horrors can never truly be locked away.
Trapped in a nightmare, there's only one truth...
Sticks and Stones may break your bones but Cursed Words can KILL YOU!
343 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 28, 2022
47 people want to read
About the author
I.D. Russell
18 books22 followersWinnipeg based author and filmmaker, I.D. Russell has created a shared universe of books (15 published so far) and films (2 features released) featuring River City Cop Frank Malone in ever crazier comedy/horror/action stories.
High School Hell (Heart of Stone, Heart of Clay, Heart of Flesh)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VWWXX5M
River City Hell (Rock 'N' Roll Nightmare, Sudden Death, Political Suicide)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKP38HF7
The Revengist (Lethal Dosage, Blood Money, Iron Curtain)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08W27RTYL
Go-Team (Bitter Rivals / African Assault)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKH1KCN7
River City Horror:
The Killing Death
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/198...
Under Blood Lake
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09H9K3QQ8
Cursed Words
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988383242
Demon in the Sack
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHPMRQF8
Beyond the Dark Forest
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988383463
Two feature films: The Killing Death (Available on Amazon Prime Video) https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Death-...
Cybernetic Showdown (Available on Amazon Prime Video)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detai...
Youtube channels:
The Official Ringo Jones Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoTD...
Jeremy Sockman Movie Reviews:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbeR...
Check out www.ringojones.com and follow him on Facebook, twitter, instagram, tumblr, and youtube
High School Hell (Heart of Stone, Heart of Clay, Heart of Flesh)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VWWXX5M
River City Hell (Rock 'N' Roll Nightmare, Sudden Death, Political Suicide)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKP38HF7
The Revengist (Lethal Dosage, Blood Money, Iron Curtain)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08W27RTYL
Go-Team (Bitter Rivals / African Assault)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CKH1KCN7
River City Horror:
The Killing Death
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/198...
Under Blood Lake
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09H9K3QQ8
Cursed Words
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988383242
Demon in the Sack
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHPMRQF8
Beyond the Dark Forest
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1988383463
Two feature films: The Killing Death (Available on Amazon Prime Video) https://www.amazon.com/Killing-Death-...
Cybernetic Showdown (Available on Amazon Prime Video)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detai...
Youtube channels:
The Official Ringo Jones Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoTD...
Jeremy Sockman Movie Reviews:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbeR...
Check out www.ringojones.com and follow him on Facebook, twitter, instagram, tumblr, and youtube
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 20, 2022
I would love to see this book as a movie! I loved it! I couldn't put it down and read it in a day!
June 7, 2023
I'm in two minds with Cursed Words. I absolutely love Frank! He's so much fun to read, and I love his dialogue. He's a mix of traditional noir detective and goofy slapstick private eye and it makes him a great character.
I'm really confused about what was going on though. I feel like I had a fever dream and the details are all jumbled around. Was Dex just hallucinating everything that happened? Was any of it real? Who got killed and when? How much time passed? I feel like I need someone to SparkNotes this as a supplement so I know what's going on.
It was a little hard for me to get invested in the characters because I'm not entirely sure that they even existed. It's a pity about Ariel, if she was even a person, because I liked her with Dex. But I'm not overly sure that they even hooked up so I don't know if I'm upset at the missed opportunity or not.
I'm also not sure where this is in Frank's timeline. I assumed after Under Blood Lake because I don't remember him having a partner then, but Frank doesn't really mention anything about experiencing weird things before so maybe it was before that one and something happened to Jimmy that he wasn't in Under Blood Lake?
I'll give this a 2.5. I'm just too confused by everything to give this anything higher. Thank you, Ian, for providing me a copy!
I'm really confused about what was going on though. I feel like I had a fever dream and the details are all jumbled around. Was Dex just hallucinating everything that happened? Was any of it real? Who got killed and when? How much time passed? I feel like I need someone to SparkNotes this as a supplement so I know what's going on.
It was a little hard for me to get invested in the characters because I'm not entirely sure that they even existed. It's a pity about Ariel, if she was even a person, because I liked her with Dex. But I'm not overly sure that they even hooked up so I don't know if I'm upset at the missed opportunity or not.
I'm also not sure where this is in Frank's timeline. I assumed after Under Blood Lake because I don't remember him having a partner then, but Frank doesn't really mention anything about experiencing weird things before so maybe it was before that one and something happened to Jimmy that he wasn't in Under Blood Lake?
I'll give this a 2.5. I'm just too confused by everything to give this anything higher. Thank you, Ian, for providing me a copy!
November 2, 2025
This book wasn’t what I expected (in a good way). I went in thinking it would follow the usual trope: someone dies, and the group scrambles to uncover the murderer or solve some paranormal mystery. But I was completely wrong. The story turned out to be refreshingly unique, and I loved every bit of it.
I wasn’t expecting a horror/mystery/comedy blend, but it turned out to be a wild and entertaining read. And even though the characters weren’t exactly likable, I couldn’t help but stay interested in each of them.
The story started strong with a great build-up and atmosphere. But towards the end, i thought the first killing scenes felt rushed, followed by moments that dragged. Then came the parts that were downright chaotic, leaving me a bit confused at times. But the final chapter? I think it tied everything up in a neat, if somewhat mysterious, bow.
I didn’t bother trying to guess or crack the “mystery” myself; I just sat back and let the characters figure it out while I enjoyed the chaos. Overall, it was a weird, clever, and surprisingly fun read that definitely stood out from what I expected.
I wasn’t expecting a horror/mystery/comedy blend, but it turned out to be a wild and entertaining read. And even though the characters weren’t exactly likable, I couldn’t help but stay interested in each of them.
The story started strong with a great build-up and atmosphere. But towards the end, i thought the first killing scenes felt rushed, followed by moments that dragged. Then came the parts that were downright chaotic, leaving me a bit confused at times. But the final chapter? I think it tied everything up in a neat, if somewhat mysterious, bow.
I didn’t bother trying to guess or crack the “mystery” myself; I just sat back and let the characters figure it out while I enjoyed the chaos. Overall, it was a weird, clever, and surprisingly fun read that definitely stood out from what I expected.
January 31, 2023
Comedy horror is a favourite subgenre of mine and I always enjoy discovering new authors who write that style. It is the first book I've read by I.D. Russell and knowing that many of his other books feature one of the cops in this story is making me think I definitely need to look into his other books too!
This story was definitely a wild ride where nothing is what it seems. The whole thing is dotted with silly humor throughout which made it very enjoyable.
I was invested in all of the characters and very much looking forward to seeing how things turned out for everyone.
Highly recommend this one!
This story was definitely a wild ride where nothing is what it seems. The whole thing is dotted with silly humor throughout which made it very enjoyable.
I was invested in all of the characters and very much looking forward to seeing how things turned out for everyone.
Highly recommend this one!
July 23, 2023
Boh indie brawl runner up. I was hooked on this book from the very beginning. The characters were relatable, and their situations interesting. For whatever reason, I like stories about writers.
An author makes a bet with her soon to be husband that he can't write a book. He goes to a haunted b&b and sets off to prove her wrong.
The ending did get a tad confusing, but I think I got it all figured out
An author makes a bet with her soon to be husband that he can't write a book. He goes to a haunted b&b and sets off to prove her wrong.
The ending did get a tad confusing, but I think I got it all figured out
October 15, 2022
I have no clue how to feel about this book. I really enjoyed the humor throughout, and I liked the setting. In the beginning it felt like a really dark version of the movie Clue, mashed up with the Shining, but the further I got into it the crazier it became. It was a wild fever dream of a novel. I enjoyed it quite a bit, and will look for more by Russel in the future.
February 23, 2024
This story was absolutely wild.
It definitely kept me on my toes until the very end. Although, I will say that at certain times it felt like there was almost too much going on. Especially as you get into the last handful of chapters.
It’s a lot to keep up with but it was a unique, well written story.
It definitely kept me on my toes until the very end. Although, I will say that at certain times it felt like there was almost too much going on. Especially as you get into the last handful of chapters.
It’s a lot to keep up with but it was a unique, well written story.
October 14, 2024
I enjoyed this horror comedy. I’ve come to really like reading about the exploits of Frank Malone.
Haunted house stories are my favourite horror topic. This one checked all the boxes. It was like a fever dream at times, and the narrator is unreliable which is always fun. Loved the Winnipeg and Manitoba references. Nothing like a skinner’s hot dog or Louie the Lightning Bug.
Haunted house stories are my favourite horror topic. This one checked all the boxes. It was like a fever dream at times, and the narrator is unreliable which is always fun. Loved the Winnipeg and Manitoba references. Nothing like a skinner’s hot dog or Louie the Lightning Bug.
January 3, 2024
Love the characters in this book and look forward to seeing what type of antics they get up to next time
November 2, 2022
The story starts with an ominous figure approaching a boy playing in the woods. The year is 1956. The boy is Clarence Van Lundgren.
In present times an eclectic mix of people show up unexpectedly to stay the night at the Van Lundgren estate. It’s a dark and stormy evening, and mysteries abound; dark deeds are confessed and the guests are in for a frightening ride.
Feedback: I found most of the women in the story were plain awful.
Pam- toxic
Claire- bitchy/rude
Ariel- overly sarcastic to the point our MC thinks she’s seriously man-hating.
Sandra- drinking in her “condition”
I would’ve loved to see a normal woman written into the story.
One of the best parts of this book is the banter between characters; there’s a lot of humour & engaging conversations.
It’s great to see a Canadian setting in a horror book and there are lots of references (although I felt a certain animosity towards Alberta haha).
Russell also adds in flashback sections of the past to help the reader understand what’s currently going on in the present. This was done very well, and the story had a nice flow to the plot.
Favourite line(s): He saw something white and pink and yellow in the midst of his slithering intestines. “My sandwich,” he said, reaching out for it before collapsing on to the pile of his innards.
Gotta add in that the River city police detectives Frank & Jimmy were fantastic characters and I hope they make an appearance in future works by Russell.
Thank you to I.D. Russell for a copy of this awesome book!
In present times an eclectic mix of people show up unexpectedly to stay the night at the Van Lundgren estate. It’s a dark and stormy evening, and mysteries abound; dark deeds are confessed and the guests are in for a frightening ride.
Feedback: I found most of the women in the story were plain awful.
Pam- toxic
Claire- bitchy/rude
Ariel- overly sarcastic to the point our MC thinks she’s seriously man-hating.
Sandra- drinking in her “condition”
I would’ve loved to see a normal woman written into the story.
One of the best parts of this book is the banter between characters; there’s a lot of humour & engaging conversations.
It’s great to see a Canadian setting in a horror book and there are lots of references (although I felt a certain animosity towards Alberta haha).
Russell also adds in flashback sections of the past to help the reader understand what’s currently going on in the present. This was done very well, and the story had a nice flow to the plot.
Favourite line(s): He saw something white and pink and yellow in the midst of his slithering intestines. “My sandwich,” he said, reaching out for it before collapsing on to the pile of his innards.
Gotta add in that the River city police detectives Frank & Jimmy were fantastic characters and I hope they make an appearance in future works by Russell.
Thank you to I.D. Russell for a copy of this awesome book!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews