Kissing the Devil

C.J. Lines, Filth Kiss, 2007
Two brothers barely in speaking terms (one is a paedophile that just got out of prison) travel to a remote town in Gloucestershire for their father's funeral. The town in which they were born, Broadoak, seems at first to be its usual small, boring self; but lurking underneath the doilies is an evil intent on disgusting the reader with extreme acts of violence and sex. Just the thought of the author's mom reading this little piece of filth makes me squirm. But in a good way.

The story is short and to the point, the action barely letting up. Key horror films are influences - Rosemary's Baby, The Wicker Man and even the little known Race with the Devil (this one perhaps unintentionally) - as well as the work of 80s horror writer Guy N. Smith (the father to the brothers was surely named after him.)

The novel was originally written for the NaNoWriMo challenge and is of interest to anyone who ever took part in it. It's also an accomplished example in the genre, succeeding in doing everything it says on the tin.

The Gloucestershire council might want to consider suing for gross and indecent attempt to scare away tourists.