Book Review: Hiram Grange and the Village of the Damned by Jake Burrows

Meet Hiram Grange. He's got a number of addictions, a tragic past, and a rather unhealthy attraction to Jodie Foster. He's also got a Webley MK VI Revolver and an important job to do, so stay out of his way, will you?

In the first of five novellas in The Scandalous Misadventures of Hiram Grange series, readers are introduced to the aforementioned Hiram and his fellow misfits as they uncover a terrifying secret in the quiet village of Great Bay, New Hampshire. Because Great Bay is one of twelve "major confluences" which house a great amount of supernatural energy, Hiram is sent to investigate, and comes across a plot to destroy the entire village (and possibly the world). The fate of Great Bay ultimately rests in the hands of an opium-addicted, absinthe-drinking misanthrope. So much for playing the odds.

Shroud Publishing's first foray into the world of Hiram Grange is an exciting and pulp-filled thrill ride, with an interesting cast of characters and an almost comically disturbing story. Burrows manages to take an unlikely hero and pit him against impossible odds, all the while laying the foundation for future entires in the series; he also never ceases to keep the adrenaline (and the gross factor) pumping constantly, and though his descriptions can be verbose at times, they ultimately enhance the story's general pulp vibe. Fans of horror and/or pulp will find a great friend in Hiram Grange.

Celluloid Dusk gives Hiram Grange and the Village of the Damned a 5 out of 5.

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