The Leeds Point Horror By John Collins, The Journey Of A Debut Author

John Collins doesn’t disappoint with this multiple POV tale. His dialogue is genuine. The characterizations are pitch perfect. And the descriptions are evocative. The Leeds Point Horror is a quick, fun read that will satisfy anyone’s itch for classic horror thrills.

Review by Debra K. Every

The Leeds Point Horror by John Collins, The Journey of a Debut Author

Horror writers generally come to the genre early, disproving that old adage, “Once Bitten, Twice Shy”. For a horror lover it’s more like, ‘Once Bitten, Twice as Excited’. John Collins, author of the debut novella, The Leeds Point Horror, is no exception. He, indeed, came to horror early. But in his case it was really early.

As he remembers it, his parents were keen for a night out. It was summer and catching a movie at their local drive-in was just the ticket. The movie was Jaws and John was three years old. They’d bundled him into the car and headed to the drive-in where little Johnny played on the swings until it was dark enough for the movie to start.

They, then, scooped him up and settled him into the back seat, figuring he’d quickly fall asleep. What they didn’t realize was that the little tyke was wide awake…and he was watching. The scene that stands out in John’s memory is Roy Scheider kneeling at the edge of the boat scooping chum over the side and – well, we all know what happened next. ‘Bigger boat’, indeed.

John saw those teeth, let out a tiny, “Wow,” and the die was cast.

But one small moment does not a lifelong interest make. There was his grandmother who loved to read. She could always be counted on to give great anthologies at Christmas. The standout? Alfred Hitchcock’s Sinister Spies. That led John to classic horror movies on Saturday afternoon TV. Added to the mix was the fact that he didn’t have a lot of friends back in the day. The separateness of monsters resonated with him.

John tried his hand at makeup effects imaging all the monsters he would create. But buying makeup kits is an expensive way to go. Libraries, on the other hand, are full of books. Free books. Not to mention that crafting a story can be done without spending a dime. And so, with a head filled with ideas, he switched to writing. By fifteen, he’d written a sequel to Nightmare on Elm Street. And with that book, his love of writing was set.

As he wrote, he expanded his horror interests. Stories about the Jersey Devil and Big Foot were always circulating around his Long Island neighborhood. He added them to his group of monsters.

And then there were haunted house rides at carnivals where transient people peddled not-so-family-friendly fare, like gambling and go-go girls. What used to strike John, even then, was the cheap façade – not knowing what was behind the curtain.

The more John read, the more he wrote. He started friending writers on social media, which led to an invitation into a writers’ group. He got lucky. They turned out to be his first mentors. With a community of support now surrounding him, John decided to spend a focused year of writing; no submissions. It paid off with his short story, Old Spirits and Fine Tobacco getting included in the 2022 anthology, Even in the Grave.

John has now released his debut novella The Leeds Point Horror on July 1. It is a tribute to all of it – 80s horror films, and the haunted house industry, and carnivals, and his monster-companions when he was a kid.

Fans of classic horror will love the fast pace and care with which this book has been written. The shifting points of view and changes in voice keep the reader engaged. The language is evocative when it needs to be and down-to-earth when it doesn’t.

The Leeds Point Horror takes place at a carnival, a gathering place for sketchy people and even sketchier fun. Older sister, Lisa has taken her too younger brothers, fifteen-year-old Tommy and thirteen-year-old Mike to the Transom Brothers Autumn Carnival. Driving them there is Lisa’s boyfriend, Jason. It’s the perfect spooky event for two young kids. Jack-o’-lanterns and thrill rides and games of chance and, best of all, a spook house. The sign at the entrance invites people to try it all, including taking a picture with one of their “wandering creatures of the night”.

Their group pushes past an angry mob of protesting church-goers (“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live) and once inside, decides to check out the spook house. Everyone is ready for a good time – except Lisa who feels uneasy with the small things she notices. Strangely dressed people. Unfriendly workers. John then pulls back the carnival’s curtain and – no spoilers – here there be monsters. T

John Collins doesn’t disappoint with this multiple POV tale. His dialogue is genuine. The characterizations are pitch perfect. And the descriptions are evocative. The Leeds Point Horror is a quick, fun read that will satisfy anyone’s itch for classic horror thrills. I recommend it highly and look forward to watching what comes next for this author.

The Leeds Point Horror by John Collins

“the novella you’re holding marks the arrival of a major new voice in horror. I’m jealous that you’re getting to it with fresh eyes because John Collins is about to entice, horrify and ruin you.”

“fans of fun, vintage horror and fast-paced storytelling will love The Leeds Point Horror by John Collins.
I look forward to more from this debut author.”

– Rebecca Cuthbert, author of Six O’Clock House & other Strange tales

“I believe in John Collins. Each of his stories that I’ve been honored to publish in Soul Scream Antholozine has shown his growth as a storyteller, his passion for horror, and, most of all, the heart of a writer. His first novella, The Leeds Point Horror, continues his journey, as he lures us into dark territory indeed, somewhat like Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes if it were written in the era of slasher fiction. This is a page turner that will forever alter how comfortable we feel at carnivals.

– Christopher Ryan, editor/publisher of Soul Scream Antholozine, author of Mallory and Gunner: City of Woe

“Immersive, kaleidoscopic, and visceral, The Leeds Point Horror takes readers on a literary dark ride charged with pure nightmare fuel. John Collins delivers the horrific goods- imaginative, unexpected, and unflinching- with emotional depth that will resonate in the darkest realms of your soul.”

– James Chambers, Bram Stoker Award-Winning Author of A Bright and Beautiful World

Purchase a copy here

Author

Debra K. Every
Debra K. Every is a self-described adrenalin-fueled writer focused on horror, thrillers, and stories that make the heart beat fast. Her debut novel, Deena Undone, won gold in the 2023 Pitch Week XXIX competition and has been shortlisted for the 2024 Hawthorne Prize. It will be published by Woodhall Press with a release date of October 2024. Her short stories have appeared in various literary magazines, as well as in soon-to-be published anthologies by Fairfield Scribes, Penumbra, and Hippocampus.
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