Spooky Reads

Hats off to all writers of dread, weird and supernatural literature – you’ve kept this reader most entertained with scary texts in 2011; I know from the blogosphere and book review sites out there I am not alone. This really has been a great year for horror fiction.

2011 saw some superb books hitting our shelves, Kindles and suchlike. Whatever your proclivity insofar as the horror sub-genre of choice, there’s no denying there were rich pickings to be had. But to business, and the announcement of this the first Spooky Reads Horror Book of the Year award.

A quick recap then of nominations for this year’s book which were: Adam Baker’s Outpost, Gary McMahon’s Dead Bad Things, The Thing on the Shore by Tom Fletcher, The Ritual by Adam Nevill, and House of Fear edited by Jon Oliver.

As could be deduced from the respective reviews of the titles themselves (aye, there was a clue there all along) all of these books were well received. Really. Not a bad word to say about any of them. However, in my humble opinion, one of these books really did shine out, and another most definitely came close to top them all.

First off then, to award the Notably Macabre Prize. This one goes to that title which left a very strong impression on me, and which whilst not quite the main winner definitely deserves a nod and a half, if you will. Gary McMahon’s Dead Bad Things grabs this award and runs with it to the nearest haunted house.

Dripping a contemporary gothic dread, McMahon’s second Thomas Usher book succeeded in really fusing the hardcore-horror, mystery, supernatural – and not forgetting, human – elements together so very well. Bleak, but brilliant, this one is definitely worth checking out.

So now to our main prize, and Spooky Reads Horror Book of 2011. Insert drum roll here….

Adam Baker’s Outpost was one of my very first reads of 2011, a gripping horror book that kept me up late reading a few nights on the trot. What’s kept this novel at the forefront of my mind is how it very successfully blended a number of genre areas – including those outside of the traditional Spooky Reads stable – to deliver a nonetheless powerful tour-de-force that really does keep you thinking sometime after you’ve put it down.

From its interesting characters, and the manner in which each is brought to life, its compelling premise and jaw-dropping climaxes, Outpost really did deliver the goods. It’s action-horror, it’s thoughtful, it masterfully handles a subject that has otherwise been done to death and been mishandled by so many others.

So it is I’m happy to announce that Outpost is the Spooky Reads Horror Book of 2011. Congratulations to Adam Baker and also to Gary McMahon’s Dead Bad Things for winning Notably Macabre. Here’s hoping 2012 brings as many great reads for us all to enjoy as this year has done!