Lydia’s Birth. A Novel by Michael Garrett. Reviewed by Brian Kirst
Like the beloved pulpy paperback horror novels of the 1980’s, Michael Garrett’s Lydia’s Birth pleases with a hardcore, semi-sleazy vibe. Fast paced and gritty, Garrett tells the story of the beautiful Lydia – a perfect wife and mother transformed into a flesh craving demon by her husband’s romantic betrayal.
While Garrett’s prose does not make clear whether Lydia was always evil (and just unaware of it) or exactly how she mutated into the seductive and murderous beast that occupies the novel, it does little to spoil the pleasure of this quick and nasty read.
Garrett’s phrasing can be awkward, here and there, and the text does have some grammatical errors, but for a first novel Lydia’s birth is highly enjoyable. Garrett, also, wisely uses his experience in the law force to dive deeply into the thought processes of his small town sheriff and heroic investigating FBI agent, making one look forward to the next dripping red tome to emerge from Garrett’s fertile, chunk strewn mind.
(Lydia’s Birth is available on Ebay and other online outlets.)
