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Johnny Gruesome
Johnny Grissom—nicknamed "Johnny Gruesome" by his high school classmates—is a heavy metal hellion who loves to party, watch horror movies, and get into fights. One winter night, Johnny's car, The Death Mobile, is discovered submerged beneath the icy surface of Willow Creek, with Johnny's waterlogged corpse inside.
The townspeople believe that his death was accidental. But soon the murders begin—horrible acts of violent vengeance that hint at a deepening mystery and terror yet to come. A headless body is discovered at the high school, a priest is forced to confront his own misdeeds, and a mortician encounters the impossible. The sound of a car engine and maniacal laughter fill the night, and one by one, Johnny's enemies meet a grisly demise.
The students at Red Hill High School begin to fear for their lives—especially Johnny's closest friends, who all harbor a dark secret.
The townspeople believe that his death was accidental. But soon the murders begin—horrible acts of violent vengeance that hint at a deepening mystery and terror yet to come. A headless body is discovered at the high school, a priest is forced to confront his own misdeeds, and a mortician encounters the impossible. The sound of a car engine and maniacal laughter fill the night, and one by one, Johnny's enemies meet a grisly demise.
The students at Red Hill High School begin to fear for their lives—especially Johnny's closest friends, who all harbor a dark secret.
342 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
About the author
Gregory Lamberson
28 books114 followersGregory Lamberson is an author and filmmaker who specializes in horror entertainment. He is a two-time winner of the IPPY Gold Medal for Horror and a three-time Bram Stoker Award finalist. A motion picture based on his award-winning novel JOHNNY GRUESOME will be completed and released in 2017,. Fangoria magazine called him "the hardest working man in horror."
Lamberson is the author of the six-novel occult detective series The Jake Helman Files (PERSONAL DEMONS, DESPERATE SOULS, COSMIC FORCES, TORTURED SPIRITS, STORM DEMON and HUMAN MONSTERS), the werewolf trilogy The Frenzy Cycle (THE FRENZY WAY, THE FRENZY WAR and THE FRENZY WOLVES). In addition to GRUESOME, his stand alone works include BLACK CREEK, THE JULIAN YEAR, the zombie novella CARNAGE ROAD, and the instructional filmmaking book CHEAP SCARES: LOW BUDGET HORROR FILMMAKERS SHARE THEIR SECRETS.
In 2016, Lamberson directed a feature length movie version of JOHNNY GRUESOME, currently in post-production. He previously directed the cult films SLIME CITY, SLIME CITY MASSACRE and KILLER RACK. He is currently hard at work developing his literary properties as films and TV series.
Lamberson is the author of the six-novel occult detective series The Jake Helman Files (PERSONAL DEMONS, DESPERATE SOULS, COSMIC FORCES, TORTURED SPIRITS, STORM DEMON and HUMAN MONSTERS), the werewolf trilogy The Frenzy Cycle (THE FRENZY WAY, THE FRENZY WAR and THE FRENZY WOLVES). In addition to GRUESOME, his stand alone works include BLACK CREEK, THE JULIAN YEAR, the zombie novella CARNAGE ROAD, and the instructional filmmaking book CHEAP SCARES: LOW BUDGET HORROR FILMMAKERS SHARE THEIR SECRETS.
In 2016, Lamberson directed a feature length movie version of JOHNNY GRUESOME, currently in post-production. He previously directed the cult films SLIME CITY, SLIME CITY MASSACRE and KILLER RACK. He is currently hard at work developing his literary properties as films and TV series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 2, 2016
A revenge from the grave novel with little rationale for the events that take place. If a teen could come back from the grave just because he was angry, the world would be crawling with adolescent zombies. It wouldn't be an isolated incident. Perhaps I shouldn't let a detail like this bother me in a a heavy metal horror story but it irritated me anyway.
Other than that, it was decent. Recommended for people who don't care if the story doesn't make any sense.
Other than that, it was decent. Recommended for people who don't care if the story doesn't make any sense.
September 20, 2015
Nice and gruesome revenge tale. Johnny is murdered and has the chance to go on to heaven, but he is hellbent on taking down the people responsible for his untimely demise. as a matter of fact, he wants to take out his whole town! Well written, with plenty of gore and get wrenching action. The characters are all pretty well drawn, as well.
December 2, 2013
Much like its titular character, Johnny Gruesome is a bit of an odd beast. It's both a horrific "revenge from beyond the grave" story and a coming of age tale; whereas Johnny is initially painted as a Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club type anti-hero, only to become a hybrid zombie-ghost that gets off on maiming and murdering anyone who has ever wronged him, however thin his reasoning behind this. The tonal shift that occurs after about 25% of the book was quite jarring for me. One second I found myself rooting for Johnny versus the stereotypical jocks that picked a fight with him; the next I was scratching my head wondering why he was endangering the only people in the world who seemed to care for him by driving at high speeds on ice-coated roads?
Sudden transitions that didn't quite gel aside, there's a lot to like about Gregory Lamberson's tale. Once the kills begin, there's enough blood and gore to keep most horror-hounds well sated. And Johnny's ongoing putrefaction is lovingly described in impressive detail. Eric, the main character, is realistically detailed, and his developing feelings for a fellow student through the chaos unfolding around him rang true for me. There's even a death that I found genuinely surprising amongst the predictable demises of the various Johnny-Fodders that line the book.
Now onto the less good. Discounting the numerous errors in formatting throughout the ebook I purchased, the most difficult part of Johnny Gruesome for me to accept was the rationale behind his resurrection. It's never really explained (which would be fine if left well enough alone), but the implication is that Johnny was just so angry and burning with righteous revenge that he simply managed to will himself back into his dead body. This seems like an odd choice on behalf of Lamberson as surely others would have been doing this when they too were murdered or died unjustly? Perhaps so much so that it would have been a far from irregular occurrence?
Anyway, if you can overlook this gripe and are looking for a solid offbeat read within the undead genre, Johnny could well be your qualified tour guide.
2.5 Mandible-Septum Sutures for Johnny Gruesome.
Sudden transitions that didn't quite gel aside, there's a lot to like about Gregory Lamberson's tale. Once the kills begin, there's enough blood and gore to keep most horror-hounds well sated. And Johnny's ongoing putrefaction is lovingly described in impressive detail. Eric, the main character, is realistically detailed, and his developing feelings for a fellow student through the chaos unfolding around him rang true for me. There's even a death that I found genuinely surprising amongst the predictable demises of the various Johnny-Fodders that line the book.
Now onto the less good. Discounting the numerous errors in formatting throughout the ebook I purchased, the most difficult part of Johnny Gruesome for me to accept was the rationale behind his resurrection. It's never really explained (which would be fine if left well enough alone), but the implication is that Johnny was just so angry and burning with righteous revenge that he simply managed to will himself back into his dead body. This seems like an odd choice on behalf of Lamberson as surely others would have been doing this when they too were murdered or died unjustly? Perhaps so much so that it would have been a far from irregular occurrence?
Anyway, if you can overlook this gripe and are looking for a solid offbeat read within the undead genre, Johnny could well be your qualified tour guide.
2.5 Mandible-Septum Sutures for Johnny Gruesome.
August 7, 2021
One winter night, teenager, Johnny, is betrayed by his friends and he meets his end in a watery grave. But Johnny has always been a little angry, and he is not the type to forgive and forget.
"What the hell are you?"
"Am I a ghost or a zombie? A little of both, I guess. I'm a goddamned angry spirit, trapped in a rotting shell."
Johnny doesn't just feel wronged by his closest friends, but his classmates, teachers, parents and even the town in general.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Nothing's as sweet as revenge. Not even sex."
He doesn't know how or why, but for some reason he was able to come back from the grave; and he's not letting this opportunity go to waste. He's intent on taking down everyone who has ever wronged him.
"How in God's name is this possible?"
"Willpower, my man. What you're looking at is nothing but a husk. I'm holding myself together through sheer, stubborn determination."
I had never heard of this author, but I was drawn in by the cover art, and I'm glad I took a chance on it; I thought it was really good.
"What the hell are you?"
"Am I a ghost or a zombie? A little of both, I guess. I'm a goddamned angry spirit, trapped in a rotting shell."
Johnny doesn't just feel wronged by his closest friends, but his classmates, teachers, parents and even the town in general.
"Why are you doing this?"
"Nothing's as sweet as revenge. Not even sex."
He doesn't know how or why, but for some reason he was able to come back from the grave; and he's not letting this opportunity go to waste. He's intent on taking down everyone who has ever wronged him.
"How in God's name is this possible?"
"Willpower, my man. What you're looking at is nothing but a husk. I'm holding myself together through sheer, stubborn determination."
I had never heard of this author, but I was drawn in by the cover art, and I'm glad I took a chance on it; I thought it was really good.
September 6, 2012
Johnny Gruesome is a heavy metal horror novel, while not especially gory, manages to be quite gritty. In Johnny Gruesome, the lead villain is Johnny Grissom, an angry young man who has a vendetta against the world. He is best friends with Eric Carter, who is a bit more clean cut and lacks Johnny’s bitterness. Despite his anger, Johnny is a likeable character and Lamberson does a good job of crafting well-developed characters throughout the novel. On one fateful night, Johnny is murdered by one of his friends while Eric and Johnny’s girlfriend do nothing to stop it. That sets off a chain of events that really get the novel moving.
Eric and company cover up the murder to make it look like an accident. Later Johnny finds a way to re-animate and come back from the dead. When Johnny comes back from the dead, his anger has intensified ten-fold and he wants revenge on the town and specifically those who had something to do with his death.
Johnny Gruesome is a thoroughly enjoyable, fast paced horror story. Lamberson uses a very visual style in his writing. The novel often plays out like a movie, which might have much to do with the author’s background in film. There is sufficient tension throughout as Gruesome begins a killing spree in the town he grew up in. The one thing I would have preferred is a bit more detail in some of the killings. When Gruesome takes his first few victims, the author completely skips over these scenes and then covers the aftermath. I would have preferred to see the actual killings, but hey you can’t have everything. The buildup and the climax is quite effective. By the end of the story, Lamberson finally does show the bloody details of the killings, which I appreciated it. The ending did not disappoint. All in all, a fun read that will leave the reader satisfied.
Eric and company cover up the murder to make it look like an accident. Later Johnny finds a way to re-animate and come back from the dead. When Johnny comes back from the dead, his anger has intensified ten-fold and he wants revenge on the town and specifically those who had something to do with his death.
Johnny Gruesome is a thoroughly enjoyable, fast paced horror story. Lamberson uses a very visual style in his writing. The novel often plays out like a movie, which might have much to do with the author’s background in film. There is sufficient tension throughout as Gruesome begins a killing spree in the town he grew up in. The one thing I would have preferred is a bit more detail in some of the killings. When Gruesome takes his first few victims, the author completely skips over these scenes and then covers the aftermath. I would have preferred to see the actual killings, but hey you can’t have everything. The buildup and the climax is quite effective. By the end of the story, Lamberson finally does show the bloody details of the killings, which I appreciated it. The ending did not disappoint. All in all, a fun read that will leave the reader satisfied.
December 20, 2007
It’s always good to find a horror novel that knows what a fan likes, jumps right in, and keeps you entertained across each page. For your reading pleasure, check out Bad Moon Books’ latest release, Johnny Gruesome, by Gregory Lamberson. The fun days of high school return complete with bastard jocks, metal stoners, and kids that don’t quite fit. Fights are had, beers are gulped, drugs are consumed, and loyalties shift. “Bad kids” like Johnny Grissom are kept in their place when they fight with the privileged jocks. They get expelled.
With a snowstorm and anger raging, Johnny picks up his best friend Eric after school. Beers and drugs guarantee things get out of hand and Johnny ends up dead. It was a crazy night. Karen was drunk and stoned. Gary was there too, high on coke, and he just snapped. But, Johnny was driving too fast and everybody really thought he was going to kill them all, right? Eric should’ve helped him though. Johnny saved his life once.
There are two compelling storylines in Johnny Gruesome: will our tiny band of forced friends get away with murder and will Johnny get his revenge on the town that treated him like an outcast his whole life? So, tell me Johnny, what happens when you can’t let go of your anger, even after death? The answer does not disappoint. As with the rest of the characterizations in the book, dead Johnny is well done. His reanimation is a frustrating process and I like that he has conflicting emotions about his situation. He could have been completely one dimensional, but readers will actually struggle with sympathetic feelings. The fact that the characters are fleshed out so well becomes even more impressive when you find out that Lamberson wrote the novel using screenwriting software.
Johnny Gruesome has presence—the setting surrounds you. The light reflects off the snow, the chill pinches your nostrils, and you can almost taste the nasty sweet decay in the back of your throat. Lamberson knows exactly where his story needs to go and he stays on point the whole time. He never tries to do too much and he never pisses you off by adding a trip to the college professor who delivers long boring explanations about ghosts and philosophical thoughts on the afterlife. This author knows he’s writing horror, so he gives you the world of Red Hill, New York. John Grissom died young and angry. He’s back from the dead and he wants revenge.
The whole book has this loving Creepshow feel to it. The pacing is fantastic. There are a lot of fun horror movie references, starting right at the expected cemetery scene, Barbara. (Really, many of my all time favorites get mentioned here.) The death scenes have a quick set-up before the jump to the next scene, but don’t feel like you were robbed. You just have to wait for it. Then you get to see the full horror of Johnny’s vengeance. His corpse terrorizes the whole town in one well-crafted scene after another. Johnny’s victims remain confused and disbelieving until the very end because dead things can’t be back, about to…read on for the gore and enjoy.
Gregory Lamberson has delivered a solid, old school horror story wrapped up in the rotten bow of the Creepshow Cryptkeeper.
In addition to the book, enjoy the marketing because if you don’t visit the official website at www.johnnygruesome.com, then you will miss the chance to check out some really fantastic EC comics inspired artwork by Zach McCain, a mini movie, and some Johnny inspired tunes and merchandise.
*note: review based on manuscript/document file provided courtesy of author and not Bad Moon's limited editon version.
With a snowstorm and anger raging, Johnny picks up his best friend Eric after school. Beers and drugs guarantee things get out of hand and Johnny ends up dead. It was a crazy night. Karen was drunk and stoned. Gary was there too, high on coke, and he just snapped. But, Johnny was driving too fast and everybody really thought he was going to kill them all, right? Eric should’ve helped him though. Johnny saved his life once.
There are two compelling storylines in Johnny Gruesome: will our tiny band of forced friends get away with murder and will Johnny get his revenge on the town that treated him like an outcast his whole life? So, tell me Johnny, what happens when you can’t let go of your anger, even after death? The answer does not disappoint. As with the rest of the characterizations in the book, dead Johnny is well done. His reanimation is a frustrating process and I like that he has conflicting emotions about his situation. He could have been completely one dimensional, but readers will actually struggle with sympathetic feelings. The fact that the characters are fleshed out so well becomes even more impressive when you find out that Lamberson wrote the novel using screenwriting software.
Johnny Gruesome has presence—the setting surrounds you. The light reflects off the snow, the chill pinches your nostrils, and you can almost taste the nasty sweet decay in the back of your throat. Lamberson knows exactly where his story needs to go and he stays on point the whole time. He never tries to do too much and he never pisses you off by adding a trip to the college professor who delivers long boring explanations about ghosts and philosophical thoughts on the afterlife. This author knows he’s writing horror, so he gives you the world of Red Hill, New York. John Grissom died young and angry. He’s back from the dead and he wants revenge.
The whole book has this loving Creepshow feel to it. The pacing is fantastic. There are a lot of fun horror movie references, starting right at the expected cemetery scene, Barbara. (Really, many of my all time favorites get mentioned here.) The death scenes have a quick set-up before the jump to the next scene, but don’t feel like you were robbed. You just have to wait for it. Then you get to see the full horror of Johnny’s vengeance. His corpse terrorizes the whole town in one well-crafted scene after another. Johnny’s victims remain confused and disbelieving until the very end because dead things can’t be back, about to…read on for the gore and enjoy.
Gregory Lamberson has delivered a solid, old school horror story wrapped up in the rotten bow of the Creepshow Cryptkeeper.
In addition to the book, enjoy the marketing because if you don’t visit the official website at www.johnnygruesome.com, then you will miss the chance to check out some really fantastic EC comics inspired artwork by Zach McCain, a mini movie, and some Johnny inspired tunes and merchandise.
*note: review based on manuscript/document file provided courtesy of author and not Bad Moon's limited editon version.
February 2, 2018
Johnny Gruesome is a horror book by Gregory Lamberson. The main characters are Johny Grissom and Eric Carter. Johnny is a loner who doesn't like to be around people, and listens to rock music all day. Eric is a athlete who saved Johnny's life in 4th grade, and they had been friends ever since.
So basically Johnny is heading to school, picks up Eric, and then when they get to school the trouble starts. While Johnny and Eric are heading into the school the football team captain Todd starts to harass them. Soon Todd started a fight with Johnny. Johnny won the fight , but his english teacher came into the parking lot and stopped the fight . She sent Johnny to the principal's office, and she sent Todd to the nurses office because Johnny beat him up so bad. The principal expelled Johnny or the week , and told him that if he got in any more trouble he would expel him permanently. Eric didn't see Johnny again that day. When Eric got to school the next day, in homeroom the principal announced that the student Johnny Grissom had died the night before in an accident. In summary after Johnny died he came back as a zombie and got payback on the principal and Todd.
I enjoyed this book a lot, it was very intense and interesting. This was one of the coolest books i've read.
So basically Johnny is heading to school, picks up Eric, and then when they get to school the trouble starts. While Johnny and Eric are heading into the school the football team captain Todd starts to harass them. Soon Todd started a fight with Johnny. Johnny won the fight , but his english teacher came into the parking lot and stopped the fight . She sent Johnny to the principal's office, and she sent Todd to the nurses office because Johnny beat him up so bad. The principal expelled Johnny or the week , and told him that if he got in any more trouble he would expel him permanently. Eric didn't see Johnny again that day. When Eric got to school the next day, in homeroom the principal announced that the student Johnny Grissom had died the night before in an accident. In summary after Johnny died he came back as a zombie and got payback on the principal and Todd.
I enjoyed this book a lot, it was very intense and interesting. This was one of the coolest books i've read.
October 25, 2013
Gregory Lamberson’s Johnny Gruesome is … well, gruesome. Lamberson does a terrific job of crafting a haunting tale of teen revenge. The pace is set on the very first page, where the characters begin to take shape immediately.
The setting envelops you. You can feel the bite of the frosty air on your cheeks, see the sparkle of light on the icy snow, and smell the stench of decay filling your nostrils as Johnny’s hijacked and decomposing body invades your personal space.
The scenes are perfectly crafted, with nothing you don’t want and everything you do.
Johnny Grissom is sort of the anti-hero, at least in the beginning. He is an angry teen who is the outcast of the cozy village, and the jocks are there to remind him of that fact. I wanted to like him, especially after saving Eric’s life in fifth grade. However, with sheer will power, Johnny hijacks his own body after he is murdered, and he clearly becomes the antagonist. His rage at the entire town pushes him to punish them all—violently.
And while I was still cheering for him to get back at those that were cruel to him, he took it too far, murdering for the enjoyment of it, and ignoring any possible consequences.
If you love classic horror, this is the book for you.
The setting envelops you. You can feel the bite of the frosty air on your cheeks, see the sparkle of light on the icy snow, and smell the stench of decay filling your nostrils as Johnny’s hijacked and decomposing body invades your personal space.
The scenes are perfectly crafted, with nothing you don’t want and everything you do.
Johnny Grissom is sort of the anti-hero, at least in the beginning. He is an angry teen who is the outcast of the cozy village, and the jocks are there to remind him of that fact. I wanted to like him, especially after saving Eric’s life in fifth grade. However, with sheer will power, Johnny hijacks his own body after he is murdered, and he clearly becomes the antagonist. His rage at the entire town pushes him to punish them all—violently.
And while I was still cheering for him to get back at those that were cruel to him, he took it too far, murdering for the enjoyment of it, and ignoring any possible consequences.
If you love classic horror, this is the book for you.
June 29, 2011
This book really reads like a great horror film from the eighties, with author Gregory Lamberson directing it like one of the masters. While the story might seem a bit familiar, it's Lamberson's economy of words that rockets the reader forward in this classic revenge tale. There is no fat to be found in this story, anywhere. You're immediately propelled back into the good old days of high school peer pressure, only this time, you get to experience the dishing out of brutal punishment through the eyes of our villain. I enjoyed the fact that even though Johnny is hurting people, you still feel empathy for him and understand the reasons for his slaughter, twisted though they may be.
Fans of the movie Return Of The Living Dead should take note and celebrate and pick up a copy of this book fast. This is one of the most entertaining horror novels I've read in a long time. Simple yet effective, it has all the right beats and delivers all the goods. You won't be disappointed.
Fans of the movie Return Of The Living Dead should take note and celebrate and pick up a copy of this book fast. This is one of the most entertaining horror novels I've read in a long time. Simple yet effective, it has all the right beats and delivers all the goods. You won't be disappointed.
January 4, 2013
Straightforward Headbanger Horror
This is not a novel with nuances. This is exactly what it claims to be: a novel about a headbanger who rises from the dead and gets revenge. As long as you're into that sort of thing, you're going to have fun.
Lamberson does a great job of crafting Johnny Gruesome into a character who really straddles the line between hero and villain. Most of the people he's going after are scumbags, so it's okay to root for him tearing their heads off and conducting appropriately gore-filled slaughters. In the end, he's the bad guy though, and he proves it in the icy and unforgettable climax.
Now I just need to find the short film and the soundtrack that Lamberson created to accompany this.
This is not a novel with nuances. This is exactly what it claims to be: a novel about a headbanger who rises from the dead and gets revenge. As long as you're into that sort of thing, you're going to have fun.
Lamberson does a great job of crafting Johnny Gruesome into a character who really straddles the line between hero and villain. Most of the people he's going after are scumbags, so it's okay to root for him tearing their heads off and conducting appropriately gore-filled slaughters. In the end, he's the bad guy though, and he proves it in the icy and unforgettable climax.
Now I just need to find the short film and the soundtrack that Lamberson created to accompany this.
July 28, 2015
Johnny Grissom is a Hellion, so, it's fitting that upon his death he rejects the White Light and opts to stay in the world of the living as a not-quite zombie, or, ghost and take his revenge on everyone he feels has ever done him wrong. That group includes his friends, who know what really happened on the night of his, supposedly, accidental death. The problem is the only body he can find for his spirit to possess is his own, rapidly, decomposing corpse, but, working with what he's got Johnny makes the best of the situation and goes on a killing spree his hometown won't soon forget.
Fun read for anyone, like me, that enjoys movies along the lines of 'Return of the Living Dead' with a nice mix of humour and gore.
Fun read for anyone, like me, that enjoys movies along the lines of 'Return of the Living Dead' with a nice mix of humour and gore.
January 19, 2009
This is a fun horror novel by a very talented author. It's also a lot of fun to read, ideal summer beach reading (if I lived at the beach, and if it were summer). Don't look for any grand themes or deep hidden meanings. Who needs those? This is great, gory entertainment, and one can imagine the author having a grand old time writing it.
I do have a few quibbles, but they are nothing major, though they probably did prevent a five-star rating. Lamberson wisely keeps the plot simple, the characters to a minimum, and the characterization and grisly murders to a maximum. That's very smart.
Stay gruesome!
I do have a few quibbles, but they are nothing major, though they probably did prevent a five-star rating. Lamberson wisely keeps the plot simple, the characters to a minimum, and the characterization and grisly murders to a maximum. That's very smart.
Stay gruesome!
April 17, 2013
Johnny Gruesome kept me reading late into the night. This is a fast paced horror novel that reads like an 80's slasher film. Johnny Grissom, dubbed Gruesome for his love of death metal is a hard rocking headbanger with a souped up ride called the Death Mobile. After Johnny is found dead in his car which was submerged in an icy river the police are unsure whether it was an accident or a homicide. What follows is a series of grisly murders that terrorize Johnny's hometown. This book was fast paced and well written. I would recommend this book to fans of Joe Hill.
October 28, 2013
Metal, rock and roll and vengeance from the grave. The trifecta of a cool horror novel comes in the name of Johnny Gruesome. Murdered in his senior year of HS, his best friend and girlfriend help cover the crime. Johnny is all about loyalty, and he doesnt take kindly to how he was treated in life, or in death. Most of all, he doesnt like the fact that his girl and BFF didnt do anything to help him when he needed it most. The police rule his death a suicide. That really pisses Johnny off, and not evend death will keep him from wreaking havoc on a town that counted him out from the very start.
September 18, 2008
I'm not sure if this book is even actually out yet - I got a free, signed ARC from the author at Fan Expo in Toronto this year.
This was an interesting book - it strongly feels like an 80s b-horror movie, both in plot and execution. It's part slasher film and part zombie movie; in terms of atmosphere, I would say that it reads sort of like a novelization of one of the Return of the Living Dead films. If you liked those, this would be a good book for you to check out
This was an interesting book - it strongly feels like an 80s b-horror movie, both in plot and execution. It's part slasher film and part zombie movie; in terms of atmosphere, I would say that it reads sort of like a novelization of one of the Return of the Living Dead films. If you liked those, this would be a good book for you to check out
May 14, 2012
This is like one of those classic b-movies that we all love so much. This teenager slasher/zombie revenge story is really great. When Johnny gets killed, Johnny gets mad and comes back from the grave to tear apart the town, and a few residents in the process. This is a real fun book that makes for a great escape from the everyday. Just turn off the brain and plug in for a screaming good time.
August 22, 2013
Not exactly my style of horror, but Johnny earns his name returning from the dead and wreaking gruesome havoc on his small town. Some of it is not for the squeamish. Gore-fest loves will feast on this one.
April 9, 2011
I loved this book. The scene in the funeral home still haunts me. Don't read before going to bed !
July 2, 2013
Really good rock and roll zombie epic!
November 9, 2012
i could not put this book down. i loved every minute of it. it was funny and had serious moments too.
February 3, 2014
A fun story about a down and out rocker... that dies... :)
May 19, 2012
This was a fun, horror kind of comedy book that I just couldn't put down.
February 3, 2014
My personal favorite.
October 12, 2022
This book was a must from my TBR for my October reads. I really enjoyed the story, the scenes of revenge were gory and violent as promised by the book's synopsis. As I read through the novel, I wished the ending didn't feel so rushed and I felt as if there was a pretty large plot hole surrounding the revenge with Father Webb. The other thing I wish had been covered more was just what Johnny was. The characters, for the most part, consider him to be a mix of ghost and zombie, but one character insists they'd heard stories of creatures like Johnny during their time in the Vietnam War. From that brief glimpse I would have really enjoyed more of that story. If these things had been changed, I would say this was a five-star read for myself.
Please make sure to check your trigger warnings before reading this one.
Bonus info - the movie adaptation is on Amazon Prime - the acting is horrendous, but it's a decent b-horror flick if that's what you're into!
Please make sure to check your trigger warnings before reading this one.
Bonus info - the movie adaptation is on Amazon Prime - the acting is horrendous, but it's a decent b-horror flick if that's what you're into!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2017
Johnny Grissom is the bad boy of Red Hill. He runs wild in his Death Mobile with his best friend Eric and girlfriend Karen. One day they are out with another friend Gary. This go south quickly and Johnny's body is found dead in his cR which is in a river. Johnny, nicknamed johnny Gruesome because of his love of horror movies, comes back from the dead to take his revenge. Soon bodies are stacking up and time is running out for Gary, Karen and Eric.
This is a fun romp especially if you love heavy metal and 80's horror movies.
This is a fun romp especially if you love heavy metal and 80's horror movies.
November 19, 2018
What can i sau
I loved this revenge story from the grave. I read another from his and he is a good author. I see to much horror books that get famous and forget what is what in a story and start putting there lives in to there books. I will not give a long boring review bit say if ypu like zombies ghost stories this is it. 10 zombie ghost out of 10
I loved this revenge story from the grave. I read another from his and he is a good author. I see to much horror books that get famous and forget what is what in a story and start putting there lives in to there books. I will not give a long boring review bit say if ypu like zombies ghost stories this is it. 10 zombie ghost out of 10
April 2, 2021
3.5 stars.A fast paced ,sometimes gory,supernatural revenge story with some teenage drama mixed in.Think "Tales from the Crypt" meets "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" with a Death Metal soundtrack.Recommended.
August 2, 2018
This was a load of fun. I had heard of Johnny Greusome before, always with glee, and now I know why. A bit gory at times, plenty of intensity, this will keep you kn the edge of hour seats!
January 7, 2019
Good read, very bloody.
A pretty decent story of bloody revenge and high school drama. Highly recommended. Its a fast read and quite entertaining.
A pretty decent story of bloody revenge and high school drama. Highly recommended. Its a fast read and quite entertaining.
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