Book Review: Melon Head Mayhem by Alex Ebenstein

“This isn’t a movie. This is real life. . . . The melon heads are real . . . They’re after us.”

📚

Melon Head Mayhem (Killer VHS Series, #1) is a horror novella surrounding a creepy urban legend set along the shores of Lake Michigan. The storyline follows Carson Webber, who has returned to his deceased grandmother’s West Michigan home after more than 10 years away to put her affairs in order. As Carson sorts through a closet, he comes upon an old horror VHS that he watches with his cousin, Sophia. Aching for distraction in the form of a “so bad it’s good” ’80s creature feature, Carson and Sophia get much more than they anticipate when their viewing summons murderous, blood-thirsty monsters called melon heads. Thrown into mayhem more real and deadly than their favorite horror flicks, Carson and Sophia must fight for survival as they attempt to kill the creatures and avoid a grisly sequel.

A story within a story filled with eerie history and fun throwback references, the novella opens with Carson and Sophia as they watch the VHS and learn the urban legend’s sinister origin story, which is filled with deliciously dark and horrific gothic elements. They soon learn not only that the movie is based on a local legend and locale, but that a real mystery accompanies its filming. And when the melon heads attack, Carson and Sophia embark on a fight for survival with the VHS as their only guide, backed by their knowledge of horror films.

This novella is a fun, gruesome, and wild ride. As soon as I saw the cover, I knew I had to read it. Oozing ’80s flair, the awesomely creepy image is a fantastic blast from the past, reminiscent of the many VHS covers I remember seeing in video stores. Those covers displayed hair-raising images that were not only horrifying, but magnetic, exerting a pull like only horror can. This story is more than that, though; it’s also wonderfully nostalgic with two well developed main characters working through their own realistic troubles, regrets, and life hurdles. It’s the ultimate cinematic escapade, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as it weaves a macabre and mysterious tale. Were these films real, I’d be down for a watch (minus the monster-summoning part)!

Thank you to Shortwave Publishing and BookSirens for providing a free e-copy of this recent release in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed it immensely and can’t wait to read Candy Cain Kills by Brian McAuley, the second book in the Killer VHS Series.

❤Amanda

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