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chasingholden's review against another edition
5.0
As a slightly obsessed horror fan I cannot believe I did not run in to Ronald Kelly's mastermind until now. While Kelly is mostly known for his Down-home horror stories set in the American South this is a whole new level. Fun, twisted, and grotesque in the best way possible. The writing is fantastic, and each story will bring out a whole new fear.
If you're a fan of slasher films this book is for you! Grab this book, get comfy, and turn down the lights...if you dare.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for providing me with an advance copy for me to provide my honest review. Ronald Kelly is sure to be a cult fiction icon
If you're a fan of slasher films this book is for you! Grab this book, get comfy, and turn down the lights...if you dare.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for providing me with an advance copy for me to provide my honest review. Ronald Kelly is sure to be a cult fiction icon
bmacenlightened's review
4.0
A pretty great collection from an author whose story telling chops rival any others. The stories are sick, but in general not that over the top, this isn't extreme horror. A couple of the stories definitely stuck with me more than others, but I believe most people could feel the same way about different subsets depending on what sticks with them.
pbanditp's review against another edition
4.0
“You see, perversity is my forte. It is normality that drives me insane.” -Jerry Weller in the story Diary
These are nice quick stories that make for easy reading with a small twist or unsettling gore to make each story interesting and fun.
Ronald has amazing creativity, I mean, one of the stories is called “The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox”. His stories are unique and bring you into the southern backwoods. With a great variety of creatures, twists, tension, humor, and let’s face it, sick stuff, Ronald keeps you engaged and entertained
These are nice quick stories that make for easy reading with a small twist or unsettling gore to make each story interesting and fun.
Ronald has amazing creativity, I mean, one of the stories is called “The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox”. His stories are unique and bring you into the southern backwoods. With a great variety of creatures, twists, tension, humor, and let’s face it, sick stuff, Ronald keeps you engaged and entertained
pbanditp's review
4.0
“You see, perversity is my forte. It is normality that drives me insane.” -Jerry Weller in the story Diary
These are nice quick stories that make for easy reading with a small twist or unsettling gore to make each story interesting and fun.
Ronald has amazing creativity, I mean, one of the stories is called “The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox”. His stories are unique and bring you into the southern backwoods. With a great variety of creatures, twists, tension, humor, and let’s face it, sick stuff, Ronald keeps you engaged and entertained
These are nice quick stories that make for easy reading with a small twist or unsettling gore to make each story interesting and fun.
Ronald has amazing creativity, I mean, one of the stories is called “The Nipples in Dad’s Toolbox”. His stories are unique and bring you into the southern backwoods. With a great variety of creatures, twists, tension, humor, and let’s face it, sick stuff, Ronald keeps you engaged and entertained
blatdriver's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book, it is one of my favourite reads this year, a lot of fun.
I was a bit worried that these tales would be too extreme for me, but they weren't at all.
Don’t let the name put you off, sure there are icky bits, and blood and gore, but this is horror after all.
There are quite a few stories including a few different creature features, with creepy crawlies, a large ravenous dangerous but intelligent animal, a mad scientist tale, a few psycho tales, a lovecraftian tale, and some good old fashioned revenge.
I will defiantly be reading more by Ronald Kelly!
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.*
I was a bit worried that these tales would be too extreme for me, but they weren't at all.
Don’t let the name put you off, sure there are icky bits, and blood and gore, but this is horror after all.
There are quite a few stories including a few different creature features, with creepy crawlies, a large ravenous dangerous but intelligent animal, a mad scientist tale, a few psycho tales, a lovecraftian tale, and some good old fashioned revenge.
I will defiantly be reading more by Ronald Kelly!
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.*
wellwortharead's review
5.0
I love short horror stories and normally when reviewing a collection I will mention my favorites by name. I can't really do that here because it would end up being a table of contents. I would need to list them all, since they are just that good. Ronald Kelly is a master of his craft and these 23 stories more than live up to the title. There is indeed some very sick stuff to be found in this book. Spiders, ticks, snakes and otherworldly parasites lurk among the pages and infest unsuspecting characters in the most gruesome of ways.
That is not to say the "sick stuff" is confined to blood sucking creepy crawlies. There are plenty of twisted individuals of the human variety as one man finds out on his way home from the happiest place on earth with his young family in tow, when a simple pit stop veers off into horror and depravity. A winter storm awakens a desire to feast on human flesh, a demonic presence waits to be fed, an evil man gets what he deserves on Halloween in a story that made me think if it were a movie I would have to look away and peek at it occasionally through my fingers, not wanting to miss anything but unable to bear the full scope of horror. A mother curses the family who wronged her son with grisly, blood curdling results, culminating in an eerie horseback ride that brought to mind Sleepy Hollow in a far darker and more disturbing way. I may have lost a pound from all the calories I burned due to cringing and squirming in my seat while I read.
I received an advance copy for review.
That is not to say the "sick stuff" is confined to blood sucking creepy crawlies. There are plenty of twisted individuals of the human variety as one man finds out on his way home from the happiest place on earth with his young family in tow, when a simple pit stop veers off into horror and depravity. A winter storm awakens a desire to feast on human flesh, a demonic presence waits to be fed, an evil man gets what he deserves on Halloween in a story that made me think if it were a movie I would have to look away and peek at it occasionally through my fingers, not wanting to miss anything but unable to bear the full scope of horror. A mother curses the family who wronged her son with grisly, blood curdling results, culminating in an eerie horseback ride that brought to mind Sleepy Hollow in a far darker and more disturbing way. I may have lost a pound from all the calories I burned due to cringing and squirming in my seat while I read.
I received an advance copy for review.
crazybooklife's review against another edition
5.0
As a slightly obsessed horror fan I cannot believe I did not run in to Ronald Kelly's mastermind until now. While Kelly is mostly known for his Down-home horror stories set in the American South this is a whole new level. Fun, twisted, and grotesque in the best way possible. The writing is fantastic, and each story will bring out a whole new fear.
If you're a fan of slasher films this book is for you! Grab this book, get comfy, and turn down the lights...if you dare.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for providing me with an advance copy for me to provide my honest review. Ronald Kelly is sure to be a cult fiction icon
If you're a fan of slasher films this book is for you! Grab this book, get comfy, and turn down the lights...if you dare.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for providing me with an advance copy for me to provide my honest review. Ronald Kelly is sure to be a cult fiction icon
thebooklife_'s review against another edition
5.0
As a slightly obsessed horror fan I cannot believe I did not run in to Ronald Kelly's mastermind until now. While Kelly is mostly known for his Down-home horror stories set in the American South this is a whole new level. Fun, twisted, and grotesque in the best way possible. The writing is fantastic, and each story will bring out a whole new fear.
If you're a fan of slasher films this book is for you! Grab this book, get comfy, and turn down the lights...if you dare.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for providing me with an advance copy for me to provide my honest review. Ronald Kelly is sure to be a cult fiction icon
If you're a fan of slasher films this book is for you! Grab this book, get comfy, and turn down the lights...if you dare.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for providing me with an advance copy for me to provide my honest review. Ronald Kelly is sure to be a cult fiction icon
charshorrorcorner's review
4.0
The Essential Sick Stuff was such a fun collection of stories! It was a perfect way to distract myself from the dumpster fire that is life in 2020.
I was a bit worried that these tales would be too extreme for me, but they weren't all all. My favorites among them were:
DIARY-The diary of a sociopath waiting for death by electric chair.
HOUSEWARMING-Spiders!
MASS APPEAL-The truth of this story slowly unfurls until you find yourself horrified.
OLD HACKER-Ewwww. That's all I'm going to say.
MOJO MAMA-Don't mess with her!
CONSUMPTION-Caterpillars, ugh! I found this one particularly disturbing because we had a caterpillar infestation a few years ago and there were so many, our driveway was like a moving carpet of them. I shudder just thinking about it.
EXIT 85-Don't run so low on gas that you're forced to get off the highway in the middle of the night. Just don't do it.
SNAKEHANDLER-A crooked preacher comes to town.
THE THING AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD-Don't pull over to look at it. Don't do it!
CELL NUMBER NINE-Jail sucks! The inmates are just the start of it.
SUCKERS-I thought this story was hilarious and creative. Who doesn't love a good mad scientist tale?
MISS ABIGAIL'S DELICATE CONDITION-It is indeed, delicate, but it's not what you think!
Ronald Kelly is legendary in the world of horror but it seems that not enough people are aware of that, and it's a true shame. The man can write anything, particularly stories of the American south and all the beauty and darkness that surrounds it. He seems like a nice enough guy, but I have to wonder because these stories are just what the title suggests, sick. What fun!
Highly recommended!
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/35O7NJ1
*Thanks to Silver Shamrock for the e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.*
I was a bit worried that these tales would be too extreme for me, but they weren't all all. My favorites among them were:
DIARY-The diary of a sociopath waiting for death by electric chair.
HOUSEWARMING-Spiders!
MASS APPEAL-The truth of this story slowly unfurls until you find yourself horrified.
OLD HACKER-Ewwww. That's all I'm going to say.
MOJO MAMA-Don't mess with her!
CONSUMPTION-Caterpillars, ugh! I found this one particularly disturbing because we had a caterpillar infestation a few years ago and there were so many, our driveway was like a moving carpet of them. I shudder just thinking about it.
EXIT 85-Don't run so low on gas that you're forced to get off the highway in the middle of the night. Just don't do it.
SNAKEHANDLER-A crooked preacher comes to town.
THE THING AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD-Don't pull over to look at it. Don't do it!
CELL NUMBER NINE-Jail sucks! The inmates are just the start of it.
SUCKERS-I thought this story was hilarious and creative. Who doesn't love a good mad scientist tale?
MISS ABIGAIL'S DELICATE CONDITION-It is indeed, delicate, but it's not what you think!
Ronald Kelly is legendary in the world of horror but it seems that not enough people are aware of that, and it's a true shame. The man can write anything, particularly stories of the American south and all the beauty and darkness that surrounds it. He seems like a nice enough guy, but I have to wonder because these stories are just what the title suggests, sick. What fun!
Highly recommended!
Get your copy here: https://amzn.to/35O7NJ1
*Thanks to Silver Shamrock for the e-copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.*