REVIEWS

Jonathan Nasaw, acclaimed author of The Girls He Adored, The Boys From Santa Cruz, and Fear Itself. says Blood Related by William Cook is “Dark and deeply disturbing.”
— Jonathan Nasaw, acclaimed author of The Girls He Adored and Fear Itself.

***************************************************************

“This man is simply scary. There is both a clinical thoroughness and a heartfelt emotional thoroughness to his writing. He manages to shock as well as empathize, to scare as well as acclimatize, yet beneath it all is a well read intelligence that demands to be engaged. I loved Blood Related. Ordinarily I hate serial killer stories, but William Cook won me over. He is a unique and innovative talent.”
– Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Flesh Eaters and Dog Days

*****************************************************************

"Blood Related is a nasty but nuanced take on the serial killer genre. Cook’s bruising tale of twin psychopaths who are as cold as mortuary slabs is not for the weak-kneed.”
— Laird Barron, award-winning author of Occultation and The Imago Sequence.

*****************************************************************

“Blood Related is a terrifying psychological thriller. William Cook is an author to watch.”
— Mark Edward Hall, author of The Lost Village and The Holocaust Opera.

*****************************************************************

“William Cook makes serial killer fiction exciting again! Expert narrative, bursting with flare, originality, and enough passion and brutality that even a real-life serial killer will love this book . . . and it’s twisted and complex enough to make you question your own sanity after the first intense read.”
— Nicholas Grabowsky, best-selling author of Halloween IV and Everborn.

*****************************************************************

“A thought-provoking thriller!”
— Guy N Smith, legendary author of Night Of The Crabs and Deadbeat

*****************************************************************

“Great – Riveting – Amazing – take your pick. I just read William Cook’s Blood Related for the second time. Both readings were followed with one thought, Wow. “A horrific crime-filled tale of terror that makes us understand why we lock our doors at night, Blood Related is by far the best read I’ve experienced in years.”
— John Paul Allen, author of Monkey Love and Gifted Trust

*****************************************************************

William Cook ‘Blood Related’ Review

Posted by Matt Molgaard on June 5, 2013 in Authors A-L

Written by: Drake Morgan

William Cook’s Blood Related delves into the mind and dark psychology of a serial killer named Caleb Cunningham. The story centers around Cunningham and his family who have all been connected to a series of brutal murders over a number of years. The story begins with a psychiatric overview and then progresses to Caleb’s version of events.

The format of the narrative is interesting in that it makes not two shifts, but several. The first chapter is a first-person perspective from a court appointed psychiatrist. Through her, we get a very rough overview of the Cunninghams. We learn that there are twin brothers, both deeply psychotic and sinister. The psychiatrist examines Charlie during the course of a trial, but then becomes heavily involved with Caleb. We learn that Caleb is the true monster and the bulk of the narrative then becomes Caleb’s diaries, journals, and psychiatric sessions. Later chapters shift again to a series of newspaper articles giving the reader a final summary of the events that Caleb’s first-person account misses. The novel closes with a series of letters from Caleb explaining his motives and leaving the reader and his doctor with a cryptic goodbye.

Caleb’s story is fairly straightforward. Abused as a child, he’s described as “evil,” “one of the most dangerous men alive,” and the like. Cook’s writing is fluid and descriptive, but Caleb’s exploits take on mythological proportions as the story progresses. Cook goes to great length in his research of abnormal psychology. He skillfully uses the terminology and psychiatric evaluations to create an authentic element to the narrative. Caleb’s excesses are in stark contrast to the realism in other areas and it’s a jarring juxtaposition at times.

As a study in dark psychology, Blood Related is an interesting tale. Cook does an excellent job grappling with the disturbed mind. Psychiatry struggles with the abnormal that goes beyond the human comprehension of evil. Cook takes on the challenge of this struggle and handles it well. A more subtle handling of Caleb’s story would have added a great deal to the psychological framework. Definitely worth a read for the insight into a twisted mind.
Grab it here!
Rating: 3.5/5

Saturday, May 18, 2013

BOOK REVIEW: Creep by William Cook

http://www.amazon.com/CREEP-Cassandra-Hunter-Darkness-ebook/dp/B00CSGOUAK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368924475&sr=8-1&keywords=william+cook+creep

(Short Story - approx 8,500 words + Novel Excerpt from Blood Related)

Be careful who you get into a car with, even if that car is a taxi! A dark story of a young girl's date with death. CREEP is a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the gripping climax which is unexpected and will leave the reader cheering for more. Serial Killers don't always get away with murder, no matter how hard they try.

CREEP, is the first story in an exciting and gritty new psychological thriller series. Cassandra: Hunter of Darkness, is a hero to the victim and a merciless angel of death to the evil ones. A killer of killers, she strikes fear into the hearts of those who get their kicks off hurting others. Join Cassandra on her quest for justice and revenge as she begins her journey into the dark underbelly of serial murder and takes care of business as only she knows how.

CLICK HERE FOR US VERSION!

CLICK HERE FOR UK VERSION!

Amazon Stars 5/5

An origin story drenched in blood, "Creep" is an excellent precursor to an intriguing premise. By reading the title and the story synopsis, readers will know what to expect from this tale, but Cook's method of introducing his new brand of madness is where the intrigue lies.

Cassandra's development is the result of the detailed writing that Cook uses to capture the sensory deprivation and overload; emotions broil over in stomach-churning revelation. The story is a moment of self-discovery for Cassandra; with so many torture movies and stories on the market, the audience is quite familiar with this scenario. However, this story is the chrysalis; Cassandra's physical and emotional transformation is revealed through the amount of detail Cook pours into the environment around her. On the literal level, "Creep" offers visceral scares and bestial symbolism to explain Cassandra's moment.

Read by itself without any further context, "Creep" stands by itself well enough. It's a quick read if you allow yourself a quiet, dark place to read with low light. Cook continues to improve as a writer; there are still some moments / actions that are characterized through "telling" rather than showing, but this remains a personal preference of mine. Personally, I don't think Cook necessarily has to include this origin story in the upcoming novel; it can be referred to in scattered flashback moments, because this is rather a complete episode in Cassandra's life.

Considering what the story is designed to achieve/explain, Cook delivers upon his promise: the terror is personal and life-changing for Cassandra, and he explains why with well-crafted imagery and moments of revulsion.

Side note: Cook included one of my favorite scenes from his highly recommended novel, "Blood Related." There's enough entertainment value in this package to turn lovers of serial killer horror into William Cook fans.

Visit Vincenzo Bilof's website.

Book Reviews for 'Devil Inside' by William Cook

William Cook ‘Devil Inside’ Review

Posted by Matt Molgaard

Written by: Drake Morgan
William Cook has a wonderful talent with disturbed psychologies. Now normally, this would not be a compliment, but for a horror writer I suspect that he will appreciate it. In his short story, “Devil Inside,” Cook explores the symbiotic relationship between real and imagined horror through the eyes of an abused child.
Child abuse is an often overused trope to frame nightmares, but in this case Cook gives it a fresh spin by blurring the lines between reality and fantasy. He explores those dark places of the mind where real fear churns and morphs into something far worse. Psychologists work very hard to bring abused children back from their nightmares, but Cook examines that place that cannot be fixed. What happens when a child can no longer process the horrors? Where does the fear gnawing in the dark go? Can fears feel so intense, so real, that they in turn become real? This short story explores those deeply frightening questions and like all great horror, leaves us wondering as to the answers.
This story also includes several interesting pieces of dark poetry and a sample of Cook’s psychological serial killer novel Blood Related. If you’ve never read Cook’s work, start here. This is a fantastic introduction to his skill with dark, twisted minds.
Order Devil Inside right here.
Rating: 4/5