Book Review: Filthy Appetites | Author David Young

Filthy Appetites

David Young

Spider Web Press

An imprint of Silkworm Books

328 pages

When an ancient paranormal entity, or Krause escapes imprisonment to wreak havoc upon the citizens of Thailand, there is seemingly no one or nothing can stop her. Mickey McCormack, a washed-up child celebrity and host of a ghost hunter television show may be the very key to locking up the abdominal krause once and for all.

I must confess upon the initial page turns (or more accurately clicks for eBooks) I was reluctant it was a reading journey I would enjoy. A certain sense of dread was in the back of my mind, thinking the tale would fail to connect or resonate with me. Dawned upon Thailand origins, my main fear would be the culture, dialogue, customs, etc. would be too obscure to fully enjoy.

My main piece of advice to would be readers of Filthy Appetites is to keep an open mind with boarding pass in hand. Rest assured your next destination will be filled with wonder, intrigue, and vicarious escape.

We all find ourselves within the domain of horrornews.net as contributors or readers for a collective reason in we’re avid fans of all things horror. Whether we find we gravitate to the same sub-genre time and again, or more adventurous and expand our interest beyond our comfort zones our common denominator remains the same. For those who prefer to expand their terror pallet then I certain encourage you to follow your Filthy Appetites.

The novel by David Young without question offers international intrigue. There is something a little different lurking around each corner. The types of things the unnerve or give the folks from Thailand the heebie jeebies may not exactly mirror the things that terrorize their western counter parts. I think that’s just one element that makes this book all the more fascinating.

Mai, the age old krause who has escaped confinement carries much mystery and beckons endless questions.

Mickey McCormack the unrelenting paranormal investigation show host will not rest until he finds the truth.

The two seem like a match made in hell all the while the shift from protagonist to antagonist shifts more rapidly like a teeter totter.

While the initial pages tend to reside exorbitant volumes of exposition. It sets the pace for the forthcoming tale as a necessary evil. Rest assured once the momentum gains traction, Filthy Appetites becomes a ravenous undertaking of gluttonous proportion.

At times we naturally subconsciously vie for McCormack to prevail in his quest for truth and rise above all adversity. The relationship between fans and the public eye is explored on numerous levels. It is evident McCormack is a product of the type of celebrity in which author David Young admires as his character development mirrors all influence here. We write what we become and become what we write.

Take not my word for it however, Filthy Appetites is not all consumed with the forlorn and doom. A copious serving of levity can be found without. Its indicative Young’s talent for humour is every bit as honed as his flavour for horror. A parody type presence is noted in creating commercials and taglines for products such as Woot Dishwasher Detergent. The calamity eases the tension effortlessly.

With countless sphincter references and situation comedy, the author finds balance in calming the subconscious of the reader. Just when our vulnerability is insured, the true horror is unleashed.

Grisly and often macabre, Young paints and picture that simply cannot be unseen. His use of song lyrics, music and chants provides another medium that will assist this novel in resonating long beyond the final pages and encore.

I look forward with bestial hunger in anticipation of feasting upon further works of one David Young.

By David Gammon