I’ve been rather slack keeping up with this blog series. Apologies. My intention is to make Creased Spine a more regular feature this year as I become betterat recording the books that I read. Movie reviews and other mediums will remain included here until I decide how best to present them.

Here’s the most recent selection of stories and books, etc, that have made an impact on me.

SHORT FICTION

Mrs Pendleton’s Corpse by Paul Draper (from the collection, Black Gate Tales, pub. TheBlack Gate.co.uk 2020), is a superb story that I read one sunny afternoon by the river near my home. It’s succinct. It’s funny. And it’s beautiful.

Opening sentence: ‘My beloved wife Jane remained ill.”

LONG FICTION

TradWife by T.C. Parker (pub. Nefarious Bat Press, 2024). A deeply frightening, wholly believable read. I suggest it should be read in schools The world needs more fiction like this right now.

Opening sentence: ‘Hi Helen, I’m so sorry to contact you out of the blue, especially since we haven’t properly met, but I wasn’t sure who else I should speak to about this, and since so many of the notes in the attached were addressed to you, I thought you might be the right person to speak to in the first instance.’ 

The Lesser Dead by Christopher Bruehlman (pub. Berkley Publishing Group, Penguin, 2014). First Buehlman book I’ve read. I’ll definitely read more of this writer’s work. The Lesser Dead is a fabulous vampire story, fast-paced and fun, compassionate and horrific. And boy, he does endings well.

Opening sentence: ‘I’m going to tell you about a year.’ 

Metamorphosis by Ross Jeffery (pub. Truborn Press, 2025). This was an absolute hoot. Disturbing and tragic, yes, but also fun.

Opening sentence: ‘Two years ago, Cynthia had had her eggs frozen, for use at a later date, if she decided motherhood suited her.’

OTHER MEDIUMS

Revenge  (2017), dir. Coralie Fargeat (movie available on Mubi and Prime). Theme-wise, there’s a few similarities between this film and Fargeat’s The Substance (2024), and probably the reason why I loved both films. That said, Revenge has the edge. It’s raw and blatant and definitely full throttle.

Barbarian (2022), dir. Zach Cregger (movie available on Prime). Now this was fun. Intriguing, surprising, satisfying. A decent movie, intelligently made.