Book Description
Johnny Jenkins is the child star of a controversial exorcism film, The Damned.
A soldier suffering from PTSD, the only way he can keep his demons at bay is by writing.
As the cloistered, highly-successful writer of feel-good novels about mothers and sons, he has created for himself a comfort zone.
But he is soon brought back to the epicentre of his nightmares, his role in the movie and along the way discovers the horrifying backstory of The Damned.
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Stage Mother's Club' by Ron Capshaw.
Read and reviewed for ZooLoos Book Tours, Ron Capshaw and Dark Edge Press.
Publication date 6th June 2022.
This is the first book I have read by this author.
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching creepy cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Dark Edge Press. I have yet to read a book published by Dark Edge Press that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of 32 chapters and an epilogue written in 6 parts. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in Florida, North Caroline and Hollywood, USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in first person perspective and the main protagonist is Johnny Jenkins. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them.
'The Stage Mother's Club' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Ron discusses/includes satanism, sexual content, cults and child abuse. Due to this I would recommend this be read only by people over the age of 16.
Wow!!! Best horror I have read in a long time!!!
This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions that really set the scene and put you in the storyline. The cover and synopsis suit the book perfectly.
The storyline was a very quick and easy read. It was full of action from the first page until the last. It was absolutely rammed full of blood, gore, murder, action, horror, shocks and much more. This book is 'The Exorcist' meets 'Hamburger Hill' through and through. It is NOT for the rainy hearted. However if you are looking for a gothic horror then this is perfect for you!! However there are scenes of child and sexual abuse so be warned before you start. It is one of the most gruesome books I have ever read. Johnny was the child star in an exorcism movie called 'The Damned' and as an adult has PTSD from what he remembers from set, getting flashbacks and blackouts. Johnny is then approached by Mason who wants him to be in the sequel. This leads to Johnny wanting to get his revenge on everyone who had been involved in the movie. Some of the killings were unique and I thought that the one with the Stage Mother's Club was creative!!
Clear your day as once you've picked this up you won't be able to put it down!!
The 'Exorcist' meets 'Hamburger Hill'!!!
There was a quote at the beginning of the book that I absolutely and thought to be extremely thought provoking..
"“Somewhere in the publicity for the film there was an item about William Friedkin’s having looked at five hundred little girls before he chose his Regan, and, indeed, Linda Blair is a sparkling, snub-nosed, happy-looking little girl, who matches up perfectly with Ellen Burstyn. I wonder about those four hundred and ninety-nine mothers of the rejected little girls—or about the hundred and ninety-nine, if that’s a more reasonable figure. They must have read the novel; they must have known what they were having their beautiful little daughters tested for. When they see The Exorcist and watch Linda Blair urinating on the fancy carpet and screaming and jabbing at herself with the crucifix, are they envious? Do they feel, ‘That might have been my little Susie—famous forever’?” Pauline Kael"
This quote was perfect to include at the start of this book especially considering what went on in it and I'm glad that Ron decided to include it.
The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in both Johnny throughout. I also enjoyed meeting Meredith and Professor Don. Mason absolutely sickened me as did Father James Poole. When I spotted some celebrity names I actually googled 'Father James Poole' and discovered there was actually a Father Poole who was alleged to have molested countless children, but has never been convicted of a crime because the Jesuits have settled out of court for the silence of the victims. I'm unsure of whether this was a coincidence or whether Ron knew this and decided to use his name in the book but it gave me something else to look into along with the book
Malleus Maleficarum which is also an actual book. I have always had a bit of a morbid fascination when it comes to cults, withcraft, satanism, etc and found this book to be an absolute page turner which has given me plenty of other names to look into.
Congratulations Ron on one of the most action packed gothic horrors I have ever read and I'm looking forward to your next success 🥂
Overall a gothic horror which will make your heart pound, raise the hairs on your arms and keep you up at night!!
Genres covered in this book include Horror, Thriller, Single Authors Short Stories, Suspense, Horror Short Stories, Crime and Psychological Thriller amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of anyone who enjoys gothic horrors or enjoys reading about cults, exorcism and more.
177 pages.
This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Author Bio
Ron Capshaw is a writer based in Florida. His work has appeared in The Daily Beast, National Review, and The New York Post. The Stage Mother's Club is the culmination of his childhood obsessions with 70s horror films (The Exorcist and The Omen) and 80s action films.
Buy Links Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stage-Mothers-Club-Ron-Capshaw-ebook/dp/B09SQ84MGW Amazon US - https://www.amazon.com/Stage-Mothers-Club-Ron-Capshaw-ebook/dp/B09SQ84MGW
Thank you as always for all your support x