As an avid horror fan and reader, I must admit that I haven’t consumed many horror books in the last two years. I’ve instead opted for mystery and true crime, but recently decided that I desperately need some horror fiction back in my rotation. To kick things off, I purchased an eBook on Amazon titled Scratches from author Joshua Marsella. This was, indeed, the right choice.
Anyone who has ever seen a scary movie knows to never go into the basement. For whatever reason, this is where the monsters like to dwell. Scratches follows that same narrative, except this time, we get an explanation as to why. While the events in the book do take place in other areas of an old house, it all comes back to that one room.
RELATED: 13 Horror Movies that are Set in Small Towns
Although he’s a fan of such genre films, preteen Connor eagerly makes the basement his new room after he and his mother Janet move into an old, stale house. The home is the same Janet was raised in, and where her estranged father recently met his untimely demise. What seems like a fresh start for the mother and son soon turns out to be a hunt for answers about the grim secrets the house has held for decades. But something in the house is watching…and reacting.
What starts as a story befitting of Tales from the Crypt goes even darker than expected. Marsella doesn’t shy away from disturbing topics, giving us just enough haunting imagery without making it a gorefest. He sets up the scenes nicely, letting our imaginations take over and fill in any gaps. While there are some questions left behind, Marsella is soon releasing a prequel titled Severed that may provide answers with backstory.
RELATED: Dana DeLorenzo Returns as Kelly Maxwell in ‘Evil Dead: The Game’
Connor is a relatable kid, just trying to make it through the summer with his horror comics and movies as entertainment. When he ventures out of the house, he finds himself at a comic shop and it was a highlight of the book. Set in 1998, the shop is set up exactly as an ’80s/’90s kid would remember, and you immediately want to be friends with the guy working the counter. While the brisk pace of the book doesn’t allow for much character set up, it really isn’t needed here to connect with Connor. You get who he is, and who Janet is, prior to the start of the story.
At just over 100 pages, Scratches is a fast-paced, enthralling read. It is heavy in atmosphere, making you almost smell the bitter wet rot lingering in the basement. This is Joshua Marsella’s debut novel, and while he still has room to grow as a storyteller, the talent is definitely there. If you’re looking for a book you won’t want to put down until it’s finished, you can check Scratches out on Amazon now for just $2.99 on Kindle, or free to read on Kindle Unlimited.
RELATED: ‘Hostel’ 15 Years Later: A Look Back at its Undeniable Infamy
