James C Harberson III returns with a new collection of new COMORBIDITIES

Published: June 1, 2022, 12:05 PM CST by McEric

Hello friends! McEric here with another book review, this one from repeat offender James C Harberson III, author of A DISGUSTING SUPERMARKET OF DEATH. Since my initial review of this collection of 22 Black Mirror Horror Tales was posted, it has been nominated for a Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award. I know who I voted for.

< /p>

COMORBIDITIES offers three novels, covering irregular subject matter while finding delicate pleasure and fascination along the way. The first is "Cat Problems" featuring heroine Artemis Condon, which graces the cover of the collection. Artemis is a cheerleader secretly crushing a fellow firefighter who suddenly has to become a crusader for justice when guncats are unleashed on her idyllic town. of Felix, Colorado. The story features a sleazy scientific organization (think Hawkins National Laboratory from "Stranger Things"), a trigger-happy military detail, unreliable local law enforcement, a militant store professor, and a kitcher from cute cat that inevitably ends up being bathed in human blood. Heroes emerge in the most unlikely places as the carnage mounts and the bodies pile up, with an ending that fondly reminded me of the 2015 film SCOUTS GUIDE TO THE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE.

The second tale, "Ghost Problems", stuck with me. Protagonist Ajax Reynolds sees dead, and they see him. Like Cole Sear from THE SIXTH SENSE or Frank Bannister from THE FRIGHTENERS, an obvious influence that the short story wears on its sleeve (while two characters wear it on their chests). Reynolds becomes something of a postmortal psychologist, helping departed loved ones through their afterlife through talk therapy and group sessions. An old friend turned enemy shares his gift, and when the latter finds a way to swap souls and bodies, chaos ensues on the set of a reality show. Intended to cause cheap scares, he quickly becomes host to a reincarnated serial killer who wastes no time falling back into old ways, smashing his way through the cast and dangerously close to the new fascination. from Ajax, actress Dodger Warwick. While "Ghost Problems" features much of the shock and gruesome murder that seems to be Harberson's style of authorship, it stands out from his other works for the unwavering virtue of its protagonist. A DEATH-TESTING SUPERMARKET featured virtually no swappable characters, much like the roster of every popular TV show of the past two decades. Morally dubious characters are all the rage, and why not? We live in an increasingly non-binary realm of good and evil, and our "heroes" have become much grayer as a reflection of this understanding. That's why it's so refreshing to read about a character like Ajax Reynolds, who navigates a trickier landscape than our own and does so with fairly rigid divination. Even with all the murder, soul theft, body bouncing, arson, and betrayal, Ajax remains steadfast as a good guy in a bad world. You rarely see that, even in fiction, and I didn't realize how much I missed it until I found it in these pages.

The final story is "Lost and Found" and features grave robbers, a cult deprogrammer, a troubled starlet, a nefarious spiritual guru, a Hollywood superagent, an overly enthusiastic celebrity journalist, and a spunky comic sidekick. It's fun, funny and, get it: zero murder. (Although there is a slight cannibalism.) Probably the most enjoyable of Harberson's tales for the average consumer, "Lost and Found" excels at likable characters in unusual situations alongside villainous movies. With plenty of tension and humor, it's a fine send-off to this collection that will leave readers new to that unique voice and those revisiting their old friend hungrily expecting more from the ghoulish madman.

COMORBIDITIES by James C Harberson is on sale today at Amazon, Barnes & Noble Online and Kobo. You can find out more about James as well as follow all of his endeavors and order any of his previous titles on his brand new website...