By Damascus Mincemeyer 
Horror Book Review: A Hodgepodge of Horror by Tony Evans
Dark Holler Press, 181 Pages, Available now on Amazon in eBook and paperback
Review by Damascus Mincemeyer
Born into a hostile universe without any advance knowledge regarding the nature of existence, humanity has often turned to storytelling to understand its surroundings. Our collective cultural myths are a desperate attempt to derive meaning from the chaos ever-present around us, and though we’ve largely embraced the surefooted certainty of science in recent centuries, shades of our primordial past still linger. Urban legends and regional folk tales are modern remnants of the stories told by our ancient ancestors, passed down by word-of-mouth through ensuing generations, fictions meant to explain the truth of our reality.
In horror, more than any other genre, there’s unabashed respect paid to that lore of old: vampires, werewolves, zombies, demonic entities—all began as yarns spun by our primitive forefathers, and countless books, movies, television shows, comics, and video games have utilized those dark fables to scare audiences. One writer who understands the raw power inherent in such storytelling is Kentucky native Tony Evans, whose recent Dark Holler Press release, A Hodgepodge of Horror, is a fevered collection of eleven tales showcasing his fearless talent for exploring the shadows.
The father telling his son ‘A Bedtime Story’ is the reader’s introduction to both the book’s foreboding atmosphere and the nightmarish legend of Bloody Bones. Creepers crawl in ‘Katsaridaphobia’, a portrait of one man’s psychosis-induced insect infestation (or is it?), while a teenage boy new to town accepts a challenge from a local girl to venture into a haunted house in ‘The Dare’. An office worker who’s the celebrated guest at ‘The Annual Soiree’ thrown by his employer quickly learns the honor isn’t what he expected. Witty banter between the stranded city-slicker protagonists livens a bizarre encounter with the titular object in ‘The Donkey Tree’.
Latin American lore, bullying, and revenge intertwine in the chilling ‘Trouble Dolls’, which kicks off the book’s second half. A man lost in a blizzard finds himself at the mercy of a malevolent crone with an unusual assortment in ‘A Collection of Souls’. And a serial killer who’s made a devilish pact to slay ten women learns the hard way that he’s actually ‘The Final Sacrifice’.
A Hodgepodge of Horror is exactly what its title implies, a grab-bag potpourri from Evans’ previous short fiction collection, Better You Believe, combined with several never-before-compiled stories. There’s a cackling, ghoulish delight in Evans’ energetic prose that hearkens back to the Crypt Keeper in both his EC Comics and HBO television incarnations, and the obvious love the author holds for the genre shines through on every page. Themes of trespass and comeuppance abound, and his funny yet flawed characters are easily relatable, ordinary men and women with realistic faults striving to do their best in outrageous situations. And while each entry is worthwhile from a time-investiture standpoint, three pieces stand above the rest for their unerring, unnerving presentation.
Four friends find that a local legend is alive and deadly after they recite the words ‘Miss Molly, Miss Molly’ in a terrifying tale that channels Clive Barker’s classic Candyman films. A consultation worker and his partner find themselves literally ass deep in danger when they run afoul of ‘Big Daddy’, a backwoods bumpkin whose Bigfoot buddies provide all manner of perverse stimulation. But the crown jewel of this hodgepodge is none other than the collection’s final installment, ‘Fecesnura: The Demon Lord of Shit’, about a humiliated teen finding an unlikely ally in an infernal scatological monstrosity that’s by turns hilarious, horrifying, and gleefully gross.
With its stunning cover by Kristina Osborn and impressive book design from A.A. Medina, A Hodgepodge of Horror offers a complete package for fans, a collection of old-school, go-for-the-jugular fiction uncontaminated by pretense or needless posturing. Evans’ rustic stories rooted in Appalachian folklore reaffirm his position as one of indie horror publishing’s best kept secrets, and it’s for those reasons that I’m compelled to grant A Hodgepodge of Horror a thoroughly well-deserved 4 (Out of 5) on my Fang Scale. Perfect reading for a dark and stormy night.
A Hodgepodge of Horror by Tony Evans
A small town’s sinister secret comes to light on a dark and stormy night leaving a young boy to deal with the repercussions.
A man is for forced to confront his extreme fear of cockroaches head on while doing his best to keep a grip on his rapidly declining sanity.
A lone backpacker seeks refuge in a small cabin only to discover that he may have been better off stranded out in the blizzard.
A young lady’s fascination with her barista’s unique tattoos leads to a very unlikely situation that may put one of them in mortal danger.
In his latest collection – A Hodgepodge of Horror – master storyteller Tony Evans takes you on a dimly lit journey to the darkest corners of his imagination with eleven stories, all told in a style reminiscent to that of Tales from the Crypt.
– REVIEWS –
“Dark, twisted, and always unexpected – an authorial voice unlike any other.”
– Laurel Hightower, author of THE DAY OF THE DOOR
“Evans’ bold, energetic prose and cackling Crypt Keeper attitude underscore an array of underutilized genre concepts. There’s an unabashed enthusiasm for pure storytelling in his rustic fables; tales lurk within tales like Russian dolls, each more intricately patterned and unnerving than the last.”
-Damascus Mincemeyer, Ginger Nuts of Horror
“No doubt about it, Tony Evans is synonymous with Appalachian horror.”
-Megan Stockton, author of Pink Neon, Bluejay, and Lovely, Dark, and Deep
Horror Book Reviews on Ginger Nuts of Horror
For fans of horror literature, The Ginger Nuts of Horror website is an essential destination that should not be overlooked. This platform offers a dedicated horror book review section that caters specifically to the needs of horror enthusiasts. With its unique blend of insightful critiques, expert recommendations, and a vibrant community, the site serves as a treasure trove for anyone seeking their next spine-chilling read.
One of the standout features of the horror book review section is its diversity. Readers can discover everything from classic horror novels to contemporary indie gems, ensuring that there’s something for everyone. Each review is thoughtfully penned, providing not just a summary but also a deep dive into the themes, writing style, and overall atmosphere of the works. This allows readers to gauge whether a particular book aligns with their preferences.
For those passionate about horror literature, checking out this section is a must!
Jim Mcleod