When it comes to a horror staple like vampires, there is so much existing fiction that anything new needs to offer some sort of unique hook, or it won't hold my attention. Redlaw by James Lovegrove goes the political route and makes vampires an immigration issue.

Over subsequent decades everyone's favourite blood-suckers have migrated from mainland Europe to Great Britain. Throughout the country, various segregated communities have been set up to try and contain their rising numbers, but as the novel begins things have finally reached a tipping point. The general public are starting to voice their displeasure at the growing number of undead that live right on their doorstep.

The situation is far from perfect, and it is up to the men and women who work for SHADE (I do love a good acronym) to protect humans from vampires and vice-versa. The `shadies' spend their nights trying to keep the peace. They are drawn from different religions and this gives the author an opportunity to include some social commentary regarding how the different shadies view their role. For some it is a just a job, for others a calling.

The heart of the novel is the character of John Redlaw himself. His stoic demeanor and tough as nails attitude are a sight to behold. Driven by the need to do the right thing, Redlaw may come across as harsh but is ultimately always fair. He is a man of faith and this is what drives him to always try and do right. As far as vampire community is concerned he is the law. I have to admit that Redlaw does remind me a little of another well-known lawman who was known for his granite like exterior. Anyone who has ever read 2000AD will see similarities between Redlaw and Joe Dredd, both exist to deliver their own unique brand of justice. I think it is fair to say that Clint Langley's striking cover art does little to dispel this this feeling.

It would be wrong, however, to think of Redlaw as simply a clone of Judge Dredd though. For me Dredd has always been a little two-dimensional, Redlaw is far more than that. The continuing persecution of the vampires plays a pivotal role in Redlaw's character development. Through the course of the novel, he suffers a crisis of faith and is severely tested by the situations he finds himself in. I'm not religious but even I can appreciate that the trials he faces would push any one to the limit.

I'm a big fan of James Lovegrove's existing body of work. The ongoing Pantheon series in particular is a firm favourite. James Lovegrove has shown with those novels that he has the rare gift of being able to successfully reinvent mythologies and ancient cultures in a modern and thought provoking way. He has managed the self same feat with Redlaw. He has taken the legends and folklore of vampires, that your average horror fan is already familiar with, and tweaked them to fit snuggly in the confines of a fast paced political thriller. This novel features vampires that are still nightmarish creatures to be feared, due to their endless bloodlust, but Lovegrove has also managed to cast them in a sympathetic light.

Kill Shot suffers the unenviable task of try to be all things to all people. It needs to please all the existing Mitch Rapp fans out there, as this is the twelfth book in the series I imagine that there are quite a few, as well as draw in new potential readers. I fall squarely into the second category. I've not read any of the other books, including the 1st prequel novel that precedes Kill Shot, so I'm blissfully ignorant of everything that has happened before and after the events that occur here. The good news, though, is that as this novel acts is a prequel to most of the previous eleven books it does actually serve as quite a good introduction to the murky life of a CIA sanctioned assassin.

The clandestine nature of espionage and assassination feature as a backdrop to the novel's main narrative. The vast majority of the characters that the reader meets are directly involved in spying for their various governments, and it becomes obvious quite early on that all of them have what can only be described as `trust issues'. There are plenty of shady political machinations that will keep any reader's attention.

At this early point in his career Mitch Rapp is driven by his desire for revenge. Events in his past fuel his anger toward all forms of terrorism. When it comes to his work he is like a machine, he lets nothing and no one stand in his way. He will complete his objectives at all costs.

There aren't many moments in the novel where the reader gets to see Rapp's human side, and I have to admit, I am a bit unsure about this choice. I can appreciate his motivations when it comes to his chosen profession but I didn't empathise with him as much as I would have liked. In fairness, this decision may be entirely deliberate on the author's part. It could well be the case that this is something that is more effectively explored in the other novels. I would be keen to see how Flynn marries together the two opposing sides of Rapp's personality - the ruthless efficient killer, and the man.

This small qualm aside, I have to say that overall I did quite enjoy Kill Shot. The final chapters where the whole situation is finally cleared up really picks up the pace and is engrossing stuff. I would be interested in reading some of the other novels in the series to see how this prequel stacked up against them. I'm sure that some of the supporting characters are now well-established series favourites and I admit a certain amount of curiosity as to finding out which ones have survived in the cutthroat spy business.

There comes a time in every person's life when you realise that your parents are only human, that revelatory second when you discover that they are not the giants that you always assumed them to be. It's that moment when you learn that they are in fact just as flawed as everyone else.

Sarah Pinborough does a wonderful job of tapping directly into that sensation. As the family history is explored it is easy to draw parallels between the impending loss of the father and other traumatic events in the past. Old forgotten feelings of anger, grief and impotence resurface and the siblings are forced confront feelings long since buried.

The thing that really struck me about The Language of Dying is that this is an intensely personal story. There is a sense of near voyeurism as you experience the innermost thoughts and feelings of a woman watching her father slowly die and her family drift apart. The writing is so strong that at times throughout the narrative, I felt as though I was genuinely intruding on another person's life.

The relationships between the brothers and sisters, their insecurities, are all laid bare. Though their father may not have been the best parent in the world, he is undoubtedly the lynch-pin of their family unit. The sense that they will all suffer greatly at his loss is palpable.

Effective and subtly affecting this is a beautiful, sometimes harrowing, story that deals with the most devastating of life's experiences in a delicate and thoughtful manner. Anyone who has ever lost a family member or friend, will appreciate the sense of catharsis that Pinborough captures in her writing. There is every possibility that you will be able to relate to the stories darker moments as well.

I have a confession to make - I'm an addict, I'm hooked on Angry Robot books. There I've said it, feels good to finally get it out there into the open. Things got so bad that I've actively avoided Angry Robot publications for the last couple of months. Ever since I pronounced them my publisher of 2011 in December, I realised that I had to go `cold turkey' for a while. There was a serious danger of me reading nothing but Angry Robot books all the time and getting stuck on one publisher doesn't work terribly well if you are a book reviewer.

Up until very recently I've done quite well. There has been the odd wobble (I'm looking at you Empire State), but with the exception of that one lapse my life has been Angry Robot free. I've taken each day one step at a time and I thought that I had my Angry Robot habit beat.

What changed then? Why am I wallowing once again in the quagmire of bookish addiction? I have two words for you - Dead Harvest.

I'm a sucker for novels, films and TV shows that deal with the subject matter of life after death, and the afterlife. The last great unknown is a fertile playground for any author, and Chris Holm has let his imagination have free reign in Dead Harvest. He has created a world where the forces of Heaven and Hell are locked in an uneasy detente, just so long as everyone continues to do their jobs.

Sam Thornton, the novel's main protagonist, has a crumpled world-weariness that makes his character immediately engaging. He has been ground down by having to deal with dark forces, demons and scumbags for decades. Such a long time in fact that it's hardly a surprise that he has finally reached his breaking point. Sam's one act of rebellion, refusing to collect a soul, starts a chain of events that could have dire apocalyptic consequences. Both sides in this cold war don't appreciate anyone changing the rules, and Sam's compassion could be the world's undoing.

I really like the fact that Sam is flying by the seat of his pants for nearly the entire novel. He has spent decades confined by his role but now he is working without the aid of a safety net, just making it up as he goes along. As Sam re-discovers what it means to no longer be bound by the rules of his curse his new found sense of freedom is palpable.

Throughout the main narrative there are flashbacks that cover Sam's introduction into the world of the Collectors. These glimpses into Sam's past offer valuable insight for the reader. You get to discover the man that Sam once was and, more importantly, why he has ended up in the situation he finds himself in.

Dead Harvest is available in multiple formats, as an ebook or paperback, and I have to say that in this case I would favour the paperback edition. Why? Well the paperback has some wonderfully evocative retro style cover art, definitely a handsome addition to any self-respecting bookcase. I was searching for a picture of said cover on the Internet and it appears that the second Collectors novel, The Wrong Goodbye, will be similarly styled. Kudos has to go to Amazing15 for some truly eye-catching designs.

Dead Harvest is a fantastic entry into the every growing Angry Robot cannon. Fast paced dark fantasy that is likely to leave you wanting more. Be warned though, this is the literary equivalent of crack, and it is entirely possible that if you aren't already, you are going to get hooked. Take it from someone who knows.

Dead Harvest is released on 1st March 2012 in the UK and as available now in US/Canada. It will probably come as no surprise to learn that Dead Harvest is published by those fine purveyors of addictive literary genre fiction Angry Robot Books.

Last year I read both of Scott G. Mariani's Vampire Federation novels Uprising and The Cross. After I had finished reading them I discovered that he writes thrillers as well, under the name Scott Mariani. I guess the G. is important when it comes to writing horror? I'm kidding, I realise it's just an easy way to differentiate between the genres an author chooses to write in the same way Iain (M.) Banks does. I enjoyed both the horror novels, they are well worth checking out, so thought I would give his first thriller a whirl.

Ben Hope has all the hallmarks of a classic hero, highly trained and highly motivated he is driven to succeed at all costs. It was nice to see that he wasn't one hundred percent perfect though. As elements of Ben's backstory are revealed, the flaws in his character start to show through. There is a tortured soul existing just beneath Hope's ice-cold exterior. Ben is an engaging lead, a man of direct action, but also a thoughtful soul

When reading `The Vampire Federation' novels, I always found myself thinking of Marinari's writing in terms of movies that I have seen and the same is true here. The Alchemist's Secret is a full on faced-paced action thriller. So fast paced in fact that I rattled through the entire four hundred and sixty six pages in a couple of sittings. Once the action starts, it doesn't let up till the last page. Car chases, knife fights, killers obsessed with medieval torture and the elixir of life. I ask you what's not to love?

The blurb on the back of the book mentions the likes of Dan Brown and Bourne, and I can certainly see the similarities. I think I prefer Mariani's writing over Brown's though. I've always felt that Dan Brown's work suffers because it is stuffed to the gills with pages and pages of exposition. Mariani is far more economical in his text and I warmed to it more because of that.

Is The Alchemist's Secret classic literature? No. Will it change my life? Highly unlikely. Does it entertain? Oh hell yeah. Mariani writes novels that are genuinely exciting, and he does so with a great deal of flair. I think it's a simple enough equation to understand - thrillers should be thrilling. From my perspective this author's writing delivers exactly that.

When John Simpson hears of a bizarre animal attack in his old home town of High Moor, it stirs memories of a long forgotten horror. John knows the truth. A werewolf stalks the town once more, and on the night of the next full moon, the killing will begin again. He should know. He survived a werewolf attack in 1986, during the worst year of his life.

It's 1986 and the town is gripped in terror after the mutilated corpse of a young boy is found in the woods. When Sergeant Steven Wilkinson begins an investigation, with the help of a specialist hunter, he soon realises that this is no ordinary animal attack. Werewolves are real, and the trail of bodies is just beginning, with young John and his friends smack in the middle of it.

Twenty years later, John returns to High Moor. The latest attack involved one of his childhood enemies, but there's more going on than meets the eye. The consequences of his past actions, the reappearance of an old flame and a dying man who will either save or damn him, are the least of his problems. The night of the full moon is approaching and time is running out.

But how can he hope to stop a werewolf, when every full moon he transforms into a bloodthirsty monster himself?

There is a lot of love for lycanthropes in our house. In fact we like werewolves so much so, that Mrs. Cheesecake and I entered into a lively debate about who should review/read this book first as she probably likes werewolves more than me. Fortunately, I'm far sneakier than she and time constraints/technology were on my side.

The events of 1986 form the largest part of the story and offer a good introduction to the world of John and his friends. They are a small gang of typical young children, always looking out for any mischief they can get themselves involved in. Through a stroke of bad luck they get caught up in a hunt between the local authorities, and a violent beast. As the werewolf attacks increase, events swiftly spiral out of control and build toward a violent confrontation that leaves no-one unscathed.

The story then jumps ahead twenty years and the second part of the novel picks up in the present day as events force John to return to High Moor. It's interesting to see how he has changed in the intervening years. John has effectively been on the run since he left town, and his journey from boy to man has frequently been punctuated by an ongoing, often violent, battle with his inner demon. His return home opens up old wounds and he runs into both old enemies as well as friends.

There are some nice touches interspersed throughout the narrative. Growing up in the nineteen eighties, it raised a smile to see references to pirated computer games on cassette tape and temperamental video recorders. Anyone old enough to remember that decade I'm sure will feel the same. Another element that I particularly liked was the short paragraphs written from the werewolf's perspective. Getting some small insight into a werewolf's thought processes adds an extra depth to plot as it unfolds.

This story begs for a sequel and based on the events in the novel's closing chapters, I do hope that there will be one. I'd happily read it. Reynolds has created a gory, graphic tale that features some nice fresh ideas about the werewolf mythos, and I would be keen to see where he could take them in the future. There are plenty of hints that the events in High Moor are just the tip of the iceberg and it struck me that this is fertile ground worthy of further exploration.

Werewolves in literature tend to fall into one of two categories. Firstly there is the purely animalisitic, the creature of base instinct, that is driven to kill, feed and mate. The second is the werewolf that retains some human characteristics while having the added benefits of the wolf. Reynolds story skillfully manages to bring these two differing interpretations together in a rather clever way. I wouldn't dream of revealing any plot details but I do suggest it is certainly worth your while finding out. High Moor is a worthy addition to any self respecting werewolf fan's library.

High Moor is published by Horrific Tales Publishing and as available for Kindle now.

The impulse to collect springs from deep within the human psyche Squirrels gather acorns, rats collect shiny things, but only humans assign meaning to the objects they collect. Detritus is a collection of stories about the impulse to collect, preserve, and display gone horribly wrong. The stories in this collection can be about hoarders, cat ladies, people who keep cabinets of curiosities, folks who have secret stashes of strange and disturbing things or any other sort of person who has a frightening collection or a desperate need to gather up and keep things close.

My own personal obsession with short stories has grown considerably over the last couple of years to the point that any new anthology is something that I really look forward to. Detritus found its way into grubby little mitts via the wonder of technology that is Twitter. This collection contains fifteen short stories that range from the surreal to the gruesome by way of extremely geeky. There is a whole lot to enjoy here and my thoughts about my favourite entries are listed below.

Shots and Cuts by Mary Borsellino - A homicide detective discusses the rise of the violent Internet memes and you-tube videos that depict horrific crimes. This is one of the more gruesome tales in the collection. A fact that is made all the more distressing when you realise it is also likely the most realistic as well.

Mrs. Grainger's Animal Emporium by Phil Hickes - A mysterious shop and an equally mysterious proprietor who knows exactly how to deal with young boys who cause trouble. This was one of the real standout stories in the collection as it reads almost like a modern day fairytale.

The Tick-Tock Heart by L.S. Murphy - When two estranged sisters meet after years apart one finds the constant interruption to her highly regular routine more and more difficult to cope with. She eventually takes matters into her own hands with horrific results.

Arkitektur by Michael R Colangelo - This was one of the more surreal stories in the collection. The old house contains dark patterns and those patterns affect everyone that comes into contact with them. As this tale unfolds things just get stranger and stranger. I'm not adverse to a bit of odd and this certainly delivered that.

Armoire by Louise Bohmer - Sometimes when I read a short story it seems obvious to me that all I'm getting is the smallest of glimpses into a much larger world, Armoire felt like that. I think I could quite happily read an entire novel based around this stories premise - a young woman with magical powers becomes obsessed with collecting the spirits of inter-dimensional parasites.

Heroes and Villians by Michael Montoure - Anyone who has ever collected comic books will enjoy this story. Just how far would you go if the ultimate collection landed in your lap? Darkly comic, please excuse the pun, and just a little bit evil.

In His Own Graven Image by Pete Clark - There is a growing trend in the world for body modification and this story finds a man who has taken one particular type of modification to the extreme. A tale that masterfully examines the nature of obsessive behavior and how it can totally control a life.

Overall this is a solid little anthology that contains some real gems. I wasn't blown away by every single story but at only £2 for the entire collection I think this is still definitely value for money. If you enjoy your horror in the short form then I would suggest you give this a try. I am sure that you will find something that you enjoy.

Detritus is published by Omnium Gatherum and is available for Kindle now.

Outpost, Adam Baker's debut novel, was an unexpected highlight of last year. Creepy, action-packed, with a cast of memorable characters and a darker than dark story it most definitely earned its spot on my book of the year list. When my copy of Juggernaut arrived, I have to admit that my expectations were extremely high.

Like its predecessor, Juggernaut features a strong female protagonist as its main character. Lucy leads the group of mercenaries from the front and she is just as tough as any of her male counterparts. She is ex Special Forces and her calm under pressure makes for an engrossing character. She doesn't panic, she doesn't flinch, and she just does whatever needs to be done. Like the lead character in Outpost, there is an inherent inner-strength that starts to shine through as the plot unfolds.

The rest of the mercs are a rag tag group. My personal favourite was the South African team member, Voss, who has a habit blowing things up and chewing tobacco. I have to admit I kept picturing Jesse Ventura as Blain in Predator every time he appeared. My only minor disappointment was that Voss never delivered the line "I ain't got time to bleed" in a South African accent.

The northwestern Iraqi desert is an ideal backdrop for this story. While war rages far to the south, the blistering heat, inhospitable terrain and desolate landscape creates a sense of isolation. This isn't just mercenaries against hordes of undead but also against their surroundings. As the action escalates and the odds of surviving reduce by the second there is a palpable air of desperation.

I continue to be impressed by Baker's work and Juggernaut expertly showcases a rising talent in the genre. Be prepared for a tale featuring zombies of mass destruction that seamlessly blends together political intrigue with shockingly graphic body horror.

Juggernaut functions as a prequel to Outpost and fills in some, but not all, of the intentional blanks that appeared in the first novel. The reader gets to learn at least a partial origin to the virus that is causing all the mayhem. There are also some insightful flashbacks that shed light on the shadowy government officials who are trying to control it. There are, however, still enough gaps and a tantalising epilogue that makes me think there may be at least one more novel to come. If not, I will be happy to start the campaign here and now that demands that Adam Baker writes one. Juggernaut and Outpost are both masterful works that I would recommend to any reader that enjoys absorbing horror. Mr. Baker is an author that has a flair for the apocalyptic and I'm already looking forward to his next novel.

I have my own mental checklist when it comes to zombie novels like this. I'm looking for seemingly hopeless situations, futile gestures made by characters that know they are living on borrow time, small groups facing insurmountable odds and a climax that takes has you sat on the edge of your seat. The good news is that Juggernaut delivers all of this and more. Sure there are a plethora of zombie books out there but there is a world of difference between a zombie novel and a zombie novel done well. This falls firmly into the later category.

I Have Waited, and You Have Come is a character study that follows the life of a woman who shuts herself away from the world as it starts to fall apart due to global warming.

As her story unfolds, I have to admit that I found my feelings towards Rachel changing on almost a chapter-by-chapter basis. She chooses to live an isolated existence, purposefully avoiding human contact whenever possible. The relationship she had with her previous partner ended badly, and this has undoubtedly left a mark. Her increasingly fragile grasp on reality and deteriorating mental state make her come across as quite abrupt and standoffish at times. There were moments when part of me felt sorry for the situation she was in, but another part of me couldn't help but feel that some of her problems were due to her cutting herself off from what's left of humanity. It's a strength of the writing, and the insight that I gained into Rachel's character, that the author was able elicit these feelings. It's not often I get so drawn in.

Rachel's feelings towards Jez and vice versa have a fluid, almost ambiguous quality that allows for a lot of the interactions that occur to be open to different interpretations. Is Jez stalking Rachel? Is she stalking him? Is Rachel imagining it all? Is the whole situation nothing more than a figment of Rachel's tortured imagination?

Though less evidence is presented, it is also clear that Jez is also suffering from the stresses of a world that that is slowly collapsing. He has his own demons and the relationship that these two share is obsessive on both sides.

This is an extremely intimate story, both characters divulge their innermost thoughts but the majority of the novel is written from Rachel's point of view. A lot of the information that the reader discovers is learnt via her slightly skewed perspective of the world. There are however some short extracts from Jez's diary, which offer glimpses into his mind. It is only in the final chapter that any detail of how other survivors view them both is finally revealed.

At only one hundred and seventy pages long, it's not difficult to read the entire story in a single sitting and it is certainly compelling enough to do just that. I'm still thinking about this book days after I finished reading it. The science fiction element was the initial hook that drew me in but there is so much more to consider - the nature of obsessive behaviour, how differing perspectives can offer completely different interpretations of the same event. This is a thought provoking novel that is deceptively chilling.

It seems entirely appropriate that on the day that marks the 200th anniversary of Charles Dicken's birth I bring you a review of a new book inspired by his body of work. Regular readers will know that I tend to focus primarily on horror, science fiction and fantasy but occasionally I like to read something that is a bit outside my comfort zone. I certainly don't read a huge amount of historical fiction but when I heard about Tom-All-Alone's I have to admit that I was intrigued. The premise of a mystery set in the mists of Dickensian London appeals and by the time I got to the bottom of page one and read "Night and day London moves and sweats and bawls, as riddled with life as a corpse with maggots", I was sold.

Interspersed throughout the main story there is a second narrative following the story of a young woman called Hester. The chapters she appears in detail her life with friends in the seemingly idyllic Solitary House. Through the course of the novel the author starts to slowly drip feed the reader how Hester's tale ties in with the case that Maddox is investigating.

Like Dickens there are many larger than life characters that that vie for your attention, all of them pitched perfectly and each memorable in their own way. Charles Maddox is still finding his feet in his role as a detective and the mistakes that he makes feel that much more real. He is young man driven to discover the truth at all costs.

Maddox has a great uncle who he shares a name with. Maddox Snr was a great ` thief taker` in his time but is suffering from the vagaries of old age. It is becoming increasingly obvious to his family and friends that his once razor sharp mind is beginning to fail him. One moment he is fine, the next his is violent and then suddenly almost catatonic. He endeavours to offer his nephew what little assistance he can but is dying by degrees. The scenes between the two men are particularly touching and very effective. The reader gets glimpses of the investigator the old man once was and the high regard that his nephew still holds him in. Reading the novel with 21st century eyes it is interesting to see how 19th century characters deal with a condition as debilitating as Alzheimer's.

It is only right and proper for a private investigator to have an arch-nemesis on the police force and in Maddox case this comes in the form of inimitable Mr Bucket of the Detective. It's a highlight to see how their relationship evolves throughout the novel.

It's always a pleasure to discover a writer whose work instantly clicks with you. I sincerely hope there will be further mysteries featuring Charles Maddox. The evocative setting, well observed characters and tantalising storytelling had me hooked from the very outset. The writing deftly brings to life all the sights and sounds of the metropolis, however grotesque they have the potential to be. The opportunity to delve into the dark underbelly of Victorian society is just too good to miss. Lynn Shepherd's London is a world of corruption, violence, and dark unpleasant secrets with a little blackmail thrown in for good measure. This is exactly the sort of story I'd like to see adapted for the screen. Actually if the BBC happens upon this review I'm thinking lavish adaption perhaps in time for next winter? Seriously, you'd be on to a winner.

Tom-All-Alone's is published by Corsair and is available in the UK now and will be published as The Solitary House in US/Canada on 1st May 2012.