Michelle Merz

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.

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Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha  is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.

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For readers looking to take a journey into the darkest part of your soul, Michelle Merz has put together the perfect selection of stories. The title of the collection, Dark, is definitely appropriate once you finish the first short nightmare, and you probably won’t forget about it for a while. With an amazing style and some very dark inspiration, Merz reminds me of what real horror is all about.

The collection features 13 stories, and the dominant theme appears to be “family”. More specifically, when family members aren’t killing each other; they work together to kill other people. Loving mothers evolving into cold murders, fathers going on a rampage, and even some of the kids have some twisted details to add.

Every story in the collection typically comes with a twist. And while you might see how one or two plots play out, just keep reading. There is usually something very sadistic, or strangely satisfying, about ending another person’s life from the viewpoint of the characters, leaving the reader shocked and haunted for several nights to come.

My initial thought as I got into the first story, The Reunion, is that I love Merz’s style and execution. Her turn of phrase and descriptive details are neither boring nor irrelevant. In fact, every detail leads to something, and by the second story, I was hooked.  Merz has a very special way of choosing these small moments that seem typical and mundane. But then, the stories slowly start to unravel, and as the ending edges closer, the real darkness sets in.

While I am not a fan of slow-paced writing, Merz could not have chosen a better tempo to deliver the setting of the stories or the shock that slowly sinks in as you realize what just happened.  At the same time, the characters are refreshingly authentic, even though they paint the picture of suburban individuals who just want to get through the day. Within the first few paragraphs of each story, I easily related and connected with these characters that seem to be dealing with ordinary situations. Little did I realize how unconventional these characters would react.

If nothing else, this collection cuts through the horror until you can see the bone with all the gory details. And when you turn the last page and wonder why these stories do not want to leave your thoughts, it is the beautiful way Merz describes the darkest events. It is this specific contradiction that really had me finishing the collection in a single setting. However, be warned that it is not for the faint-hearted.

As someone who loves horror and the diversity that comes with it, I did not expect this collection to be so powerful and so downright horrific. And do not think that Merz requires any special monsters or creatures to send chills down your spine. All she needs are some real people with some serious issues, and the result is going to be nothing less than absolutely Dark.

Readers who may have lost their love for horror along the way, you will find it again in this collection.

Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha  is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.

More Horror Book Reviews