The Chosen

Some people may take offense to the bizarre sex and violence within but those who like their horror sprinkled with such things, this book is a solid and entertaining read. It isn't as brutal as Edward Lee's later work (like GOON or THE BIGHEAD) but its a fast read with characters that the reader grows attached to. Just think of this as a typical horror newstand paperback but with some extreme sex/violence touches. I also think it would make a pretty cool movie.

I really enjoyed this novel. I actually think it is one of the better Edward Lee books I have read. Sure, he goes off a little bit on descriptions of the kitchen equipment (since spent a few years in the restraunt business I didn't mind) but I felt this was a strong story with good characters. Of all his mainstream press stuff this is my favorite. It has the structure of a typical Lee novel and in some cases it feels like he took more time to write it than some of his other books. I don't know about the cover though. Kind of cheesy. Oh well who cares. I recommend if you are a fan of Lee's or a fan of quick horror novels.

This horror story about a mysterious resort hotel with a sinister secret is a great tale from Lee and one of his faster paced efforts. The idea is handled with humor and originality, the characters are quirky and well crafted, and the story line itself is interesting.There are some great scenes in this one, especially when the protagonist goes into the cellar and gets a glimpse at what she's become involved with. The cook, a parody of Lee no doubt, is hilarious as the foul mouthed comic relief.I would recommend this to anyone who wants to escape for a while with a good horror story. I also recommend Brian A. Hopkins, Richard Laymon, Heywood Steele, and Philip K. Dick.

Vera Abbot's new position as the boss of Wroxton Hall seems like every restaurant manager's dream. A high salary, an unlimited budget, and an exclusive clientele. The perfect escape from her dead-end job in town and a cheating drug-addict fiancé. But pretty soon too many things at the bizarre country inn don't add up. Footsteps and voices when the inn is empty, strange mute servants, and nightmares of demented sex with a faceless stranger. In the meantime, wise-cracking psychopaths Zyra and Lemi scour the countryside for attractive victims to serve some diabolical purpose. Scenes of blistering sex and mind-boggling horror at first seem totally disconnected with Vera's macabre discoveries at Wroxton Hall, but soon we learn that both Vera's engima and the perverted exploits of Zyra and Lemi both serve the same end.In THE CHOSEN, Edward Lee takes the traditional bits and pieces of a standard haunted house story and purposely assaults the reader's expectations byturning all those bits and pieces at opposite angles. The result is a thoroughly entertaining modern horror novel that succeeds in every way. Great writing and great characters skillfully blended into a plot that never lets go. Soon the reader is thrust into an inescapable maze of violence, torture, demonic sex, and loose ends tied up into an explosive climax. As far as erotic horror goes, nobody does it better than Lee, and THE CHOSEN is just one more example. Five Stars, Highly Recommended.