After finishing this collection of short horror stories, entitled Abhorrent, I had one distinct thought; Michelle Merz is a talent waiting to explode into great things. So, if you can appreciate a fresh voice, in the process of finding its calling inside the world of horror, give Merz a shot at keeping you up at night.
The collection consists of 9 short stories, although Merz had an interesting approach. One of the stories, namely The Emergency, is broken up into 5 different parts, and they are scattered throughout the collection. Just before the last story, The Boy, you get to read the final scene to what is definitely a twisted tale.
Overall, expect a mixture of nightmarish dreams, sick individuals, and evil entities that rightfully leave you on edge. You will also be introduced to ordinary people, struggling with extraordinary odds.
The first point to be made is the clear writing skills on display. Merz gets her message across and she is more than able to carry the reader along the dark journey. In fact, every page is a testimony that she loves and respects the art of great story-telling.
The plot choices are very creative, and while they reach for something different, they play out in very familiar scenarios. And I get the feeling that Merz uses these familiar scenarios to boost the shock value of the stories. For example, the characters are not exceptionally smart, rich, or gifted. But how they ultimately end up dying is something that will easily reach headline news.
As for her style and pacing, I feel compelled to say readers are likely to fall in love with both. There is just something about the collection that stands out and makes you want to remember the author, even though there is still a journey ahead of her.
Out of everything I loved about the stories, I did notice a lack of conviction from the killer’s point of view. When people die or go missing, it seems to be at random and sometimes I could not get why certain victims were targeted in the first place. An important part of sending shivers down the spine of the reader lies in the connection between the good and bad, which I thought could use more substance with some of the stories.
No, not every story is going to bring a twist, but the passion behind the writing is visible right through the collection. And if you want to know how graphic Merz can get, she does not hold back or spare you any explicit detail.
Her next book/publication is going to be something to look out for because just like the stories in this collection evolved with style and technique, the talent is evident. Merz is an author still finding her voice, and these stories take the reader on that journey with her. This is also the element that tells me Michelle Merz is taking the first steps as a great author, so remember her name.
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.
