Michael F. Stewart

Stay calm and read on! When I first intended to read this book, I gave up after the first chapter, deciding it was not what I wanted to read at the time, unsure when (or whether) there would come the right time for it. Recently I gave it a second chance, knowing that I would not like the first chapter, but determined to read on and see if things would get better. And fortunately for me they did.
So what about that first chapter? It explains how Ray's grandmother died and how he was mentioned in her last will to inherit the trailer park she owned. But it does so in such a ridiculous, over the top way it gave me goosebumps, just like certain blockbuster comedy films everybody seems to enjoy but me - just not my style of humor.
Gladly, the story gets much better after that, and though it's often dangerously close to leave my comfort zone and drift into absurdity again, I found most of the plot hilarious in a good way.
Of course, there is also a lot of deeper meaning to be found in this book, and it is those quieter scenes, offering dialogues or reflections of thoughts, that make this book special. So did Ray find out the 'Meaning of Life'? Though there is the one meaning Ray is required to be found by his grandmother's last will, there are many more thought-provoking answers that he - and you - will find along the way...

(thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)

Reminiscent of the Gremlins, but more gruesome, 'Keep in a Cold, Dark Place' is a perfect story about the opening of Pandora's Box and the cutest little furry creatures that make your heart weep...that is, until they grow into something more 'fangy' than furry. Once I saw the cover, I just knew I had to read this book - reading the summary was only a formality born from habit here, but it did confirm that my impulsive reaction was not a mistake.

The story begins harmless enough, introducing our female main character, Limpy, and her really not so nice family, easily having us sympathize with her dream about leaving her father's potato farm in order to visit art school. When Limpy discovers a strange box with even stranger eggs in it beneath the potato sacks in the storage cellar, this triggers an avalanche of weird events. At first, Limpy is delighted about the fuzzy furry big-eyed creature hatching from one of the eggs. She adopts the little buddy, names him 'Chup' (loved that hint) and vows to care for him like a mother.

However, not long after Chup's siblings hatch from their eggs, and the little guys start playing tricks. Limpy tries to cover for them as best she can, but soon things get out of hand and it's not just harmless little tricks anymore. With the help of an unexpected friend, Limpy learns that Chup and his pals are growing into some very deadly ancient creatures which are bound to kill her and her family if she doesn't stop them...

The second main theme of this book, apart from the obvious creature feature, is family - its ups and downs, its cruelty towards each other, but also its bond of loyalty and sense of belonging, whether we like it or not. In this regard, the ending does have a slightly corny taste, but it works so well that it didn't bother me at all.

Featuring my favorite kind of creature, combined with a likable coming-of-age story and a well-balanced mixture of humor and horror, this book was a perfect read for me. I would love to see this made into a movie...or, skip the movie and go straight for the merchandise so that I can get my own little Chuppie!

(Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)