Unnatural Bodies in the Water: Girl in the Creek offers a harrowing tale of loss and cosmic horror

 

Girl in the Creek

Wendy N. Wagner

Tor Nightfire, 2025

ISBN-10: 1250908647

ISBN-13: ‎978-1250908643

Ebook, 146 ppg.

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NOTE: This review is based on an ARC I received from the author. The book will release on July 15. The “buy link” provided is for pre-orders of the book.

 

 

Erin Harper is not just a travel writer. She is also someone with a loved one who is missing. And when she goes to the town where her brother went missing years ago, under the guise of a writing assignment, she ends up becoming involved in a horrible scheme of people going missing in that very town that has gone on for years. Girl in the Creek by Wendy N. Wagner is a powerful, gut-wrenching story of one sister’s quest to find out what really happened to her missing brother and the horrible web of deceit and mystery surrounding his and others disappearances.

 

Writers never know what kinds of things they step into when they take on an assignment. That’s what happens for Erin. She’s there to learn anything she can after her brother had gone missing in the area, but when she and her friends end up coming across a poacher camp and finding a body in the creek, things take a horrifying turn. Plus, Erin’s mission to learn more about the town where apparently a lot of people have gone missing gets her in the middle of a town rivalry.

 

Even as Erin tries to play it neutral with the local deputy, the deputy does not trust her. She is suspicious of Erin’s motives and remains tight-lipped about anything outside of Erin’s interests. As she tells Erin at one point, “I’m not telling you anything, Nancy Drew.” It’s apparent the deputy does not trust writers – even travel writers, at that – and her referring to “Nancy Drew” instead of “Lois Lane” gets me thinking that the deputy feels that Erin is sticking her nose where she shouldn’t.

 

Well, in a way, she does, but only because her life and her friends’ lives were threatened. I mean, she’s not going to just sit there and let the police handle it. And somehow, trying to figure out what is going on gets her involved in the mystery surrounding the missing person cases that are rampant in that town.

 

As an Oregonian, I loved reading this book, and not just because it’s set in Oregon. I loved it for the outdoors theme, the description of Oregon forests and wetlands (as well as the constant rain!), and even the exploration of places less traveled through. I thought it was cool this story is set in Oregon; there were so many Oregon vibes I could relate to!

 

I also noticed how this story explores the theme of missing loved ones. The themes of people tearing up in sharing their stories over missing loved ones, the sadness of seeing those “Missing” posters, and the different ways in which people relate to this subject were strong in the story. I do not know anyone with a missing loved one, but after reading this novel, it felt like I did, through the characters in it dealing with this.

 

The part about the “strangeness” in the story and how it affected the body of the girl floating in the creek was confusing. However, I stuck with reading through the whole story, and as certain mysteries were revealed, so, too, was an understanding of what the “strangeness” was. I was shocked by what I learned, but in a way, it made sense. And it gave this story a whole new meaning.

 

I loved how the author wrapped everything up at the end. There was a sense of sadness, regret and longing in those last chapters, but the ending was a satisfying read. After I turned that last page, I walked away from that book with a better understanding of how mysterious nature can be, how unforgiving the forests and trails of Oregon are, and the sorrowful reality people with missing loved ones live with every day.

 

Girl in the Creek is an eye-opening story of horrible truths, unrecognizable nature, and the need for answers to help bring closure when a loved one goes missing.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received an advanced review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Poems and Stories of the Strange and Unusual: A Mirror of Past/Present Self is a collection of interesting and unexpected twists

 

A Mirror of Past/Present Self: Poems and Tales

Andrew Buckner

Alien Buddha Press, 2025

ISBN-13: 979-8310600485

Ebook, 90 ppg.

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If you want to read some poetry and short stories that have you exploring your imagination in a brand new way, you won’t want to miss A Mirror of Past/Present Self: Poems and Tales by Andrew Buckner. This short collection of poems and stories strike the odd notes and bring you unexpected twists. There were many times I had to stop reading this book because it blew my mind! It made me see these fictional worlds in a completely brand new way, in addition to creating a lasting impression.

 

Some of the poems in this book were also nostalgic. The mention of the 80s and certain things from back then took me back to my childhood. They were very interesting poems to read and I appreciated the touch of wishing for the good old days that these poems evoked.

 

But my favorites from this book are the stories. They were just so surreal and unpredictable. I loved how they were so different and not what a reader expects. Some of the stories did have certain moments I connected with in a profound way, while others were more of an entertaining tale of an alternative and bizarre reality.

 

Although it is a short collection, A Mirror of Past/Present Self: Poems and Tales was a huge dose of the bizarre and unexpected. A must-read for fans of speculative poetry and fiction! I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading other books by this author.

 

 

Five stars

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as part of my digital subscription with the publisher.

Good Love Gone Bad: Seventh Circle is a horrifying story of revenge fiction

 

Seventh Circle

William Becker

Independently Published, 2023

ASIN: B0CD4Q4VKD

Ebook, 28 ppg.

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In Dante’s Inferno, the Seventh Circle of Hell is reserved for punishing the people who committed violence. I am not sure if that applies to the novelette Seventh Circle by William Becker, although there absolutely is someone in this story who commits violence. Lots of violence, including the gory kind.

 

Even so, this story was unlike any I have ever read. It’s one in which the main character, Michael, is swept away by the enchanting Mia. Their relationship takes a surprising and violent twist, one I certainly did not see coming. But all the same, I was not surprised by what happened. Shocked by the goriness of it, yes, but not surprised. I know of this kind of thing happening, though the item used in the story to commit that violence is one which I have not heard of ever being a part of that kind of scheme.

 

The character Michael was a likeable guy and I felt he didn’t deserve what happens to him. Mia has “psycho” written in all of her actions, but unfortunately, poor Michael does not see it. Love makes him blind to the red flags.

 

In addition to this, I was enraged by what happened that created the huge downfall for one of the characters. I felt it was wrong for a person innocent of those wrongs that had been done to Mia should not have been punished for them. Apparently, Mia has issues and weighed down by the baggage of the terrible things that were done to her. She should not have taken it out on someone but instead, she should have gotten therapy for it. But I guess a psycho would rather choose violence instead.

 

Seventh Circle was a brutal and horrifying tale of love gone wrong. It was an eye-opener of just how some people we THINK we know should not be trusted, no matter how we feel about them.

 

Five stars

 

 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.