River shmiver. Bully is where it's at.

I first met JF Gonzalez at a book signing in Virginia, where he was doing a book signing with about seven other authors. I had picked up his book or short stories, Maternal Instinct, and the story of the same name blew me away.

A few months later, Survivor - a full blown novel based off the “Maternal Instinct” short story — hit my hands, and I blew right throw it.

Survivor, a family tale about snuff movies, a kidnapped woman and, well, survival, was intense as hell and showed that this guy wasn’t afraid to touch any taboo subject. I liked it.

So, when Gonzalez’ third novel, Bully, was announced, I immediately placed my pre-order. Weeks later, I had it in my hands and then I put it to the side. I was in the middle of two books at the time. You know how it goes.

After meeting Gonzalez again at another signing, I put Bully at the top of my pile so I could read it before HorrorFind — where he would be doing a reading appearance. The sweet thing about author appearances is, in my experience, they are always willing to answer any questions you have about their work. And, given the opportunity, I always ask questions. No, I have never asked “Where do you get your ideas?” That, hands downs, is probably the dumbest thing you can ask an author.

Anyway, I didn’t read the back of the book to see what it was about before I started it. Sometimes, with authors you know you like, it doesn’t really matter what the back of the book. It’s not going to stop you from reading it, and, like a movie trailer, the back of the book is sometimes misleading.

But about halfway through Bully, I did look at the back of the book. Because Bully wasn’t quite like Gonzalez’ previous work. It was more of a mystery than a mental beatdown.

Bully is the story of an innocent man set free as a decades old murder investigation is reopened, police corruption, dysfunctional families and things kids should never, ever see. The book mainly centers around Danny, a man who was tormented by Raul, the boy the now-innocent man was accused of raping an murdering. Danny knows much more than he’s telling the police, but Gonzalez makes you wait to hear his whole story. He drags it out so slowly — and so well — that if it were a movie, I’d be tempted to fast forward to the end. Very well done, sir.

The book cover calls it a cross Mystic River meets The Lords of Dogtown. The Dogtown is right on, because Gonzalez nails that 80s feel of skateboarding kids, but I think Mystic River is a bit off. Yes it has that feel as far as story, but Bully is a far better book than River. It has more heart, more soul and is a more enjoyable read. There’s another book that I would compare it to, but to put it here would be a spoiler, due to the book’s topic.

The one let down of the book is the ending. Well, the second ending. The final chapter, the epilogue I guess, is entirely too forced. It’s as if Gonzalez was tying up a loose end that didn’t need to be tied up, and going for either a setup for a sequel or trying for a shocking ending. But it doesn’t work because the book is perfectly fine up until that last chapter.

That doesn’t hurt the book, though, because it’s the best I’ve read from Gonzalez to date. But, when you read it — because you really should — just stop before the final chapter. If you do read that final chapter, think of it as an alternate ending as opposed to the real thing.

You can pick the book up at Amazon, and I highly recommend it. It’s $15, as it is not a trade paperback, but it’s well worth the money.

Sex, Blood and Rock 'n' Roll.

Horrorfind weekend has come and gone, and, once again, I am riddled with new authors.

I love Horrorfind. It's the only time of year I can completely dork out, and it's acceptable. Not that I have any problem dorking out any other time of the year.

I've been turned on to some pretty amazing authors at HF: Brian Keene, Jack Ketchum and JF Gonzalez, among others. And let's not forget awesome book companies like Cemetery Dance.

Well, this year I helped run the table for Timewarp Films, and at the table right next to Timewarp's was a woman pimping her first novel, "Sex, Blood and Rock 'n' Roll." Always one to support new authors (and always looking for any excuse to talk to hot women), I asked her about the book. Well, first I asked her if it was any good, then I told her to disregard the question before she answered. She laughed.

"It's about a dominatrix who becomes a serial killer..."

"Sold."

From Amazon:

Cassie Chambers, refugee from Middle America to New York's East Village, is a typical young woman, until she decides to become a professional dominatrix. When she is attacked by one of her customers and suffers a miscarriage, she decides to exact revenge on her male clients, enacting the murderous fantasies that have haunted her sleepless nights. In the tradition of American Psycho, Sex, Blood and Rock 'n' Roll is a shockingly graphic novel about the psychological development of a female serial killer, and a biting commentary on gender.

Now, that's just a little misleading.

Yes, there is a female serial killer in this book, but she doesn't really get her groove on until towards the end of the book.

But that's cool and the gang, because the rest of the book is so well written -- and uniquely written -- that I didn't feel cheated in the least.

Kimberly Warner-Cohen's style is one I've not read before. But her style really works, it's almost poetic.

Check this...

He's sitting alone on a worn brocade couch in Cafeggio, the place right off Bleecher with the hundred-year-old espresso machine. Shaggy black hair, green eyes haunted by his own shadows, looking like he survives on a deli coffee and Ramen noodles. Get my double espresso and pretend to look around though there are enough seats, slowly walk over. Illumination is coming from the fake gaslights, and the air is moist and sweet though it hasn't been raining out. Sit on the other end of the couch and rummage through my bag, pull out a wrinkled copy of On the Road. Ignore him and scan the pages, wait for it. When I put down the book to take a sip, he turns.

The majority of the book has this flavor, and it's a flavor, while admittedly takes a bit to get used to, really, really worked for me.

So, what is it about, if not a female serial killer -- as the back promised.

In a nutshell:

Girl takes job as dominatrix, starts to change, has a life-changing moment, starts killing men.

Good times.

The strength of this book is Warner-Cohen really manages to change the character believably. There was a natural transition from cool chick (pre-dominatrix gig) to fucked-up bitch. Well, natural as can be expected when someone starts to slaughter people. But it's, as mentioned, believable. And that's key.

If there's a weakness in the writing, it's that Warner-Cohen is almost too good with the gore. She is obviously not a wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am type of author. She'll sit her victim in front of you, and slowly and methodically dismember, maim, penetrate and torture him. Admittedly, there were parts I had to skim over because, fuck, man, I was too pussy to really read it. Last time that happened, Gonzales was fucking with a baby in "Survivor." And, like "Survivor," "Sex, Blood and Rock 'n' Roll" is not over-the-top gore. Yes, it's there. Yes, it's hard to read. But it's also well written and fits with the book. But if Warner-Cohen would ease up just a bit, she will reach a much broader audience.

Now, that said, there aren't that many parts in the book I had to glaze over. Maybe two or three. And, admittedly, it's hard for me to read about a guy getting raped by a dildo. But it's never "hey look how gross I can be!" It always fits the story, and it never felt forced or contrived.

But, on the flipside, Warner-Cohen can write a mean sex scene. Intense and erotic. And fucking hot.

I'm looking forward to her next novel. Her style isn't for everyone, but those who dig it will really love it.

I'm buying it for some friends.