ART by Matt Shaw and Michael Bray

★★★★★

Yes, it took me long enough, I know.
I read it as soon as I got it, but – you know how life gets in the way sometimes. I’m still trying to get my life in order from my little ‘forced’ vacation. Life. Work. Stuff.
You know.

So. Amazon synopsis is this…

Click the cover to be whisked away to AmazonLand!

“WARNING: The following book has some scenes which some readers may find distressing. This novel is intended for a mature audience only.”

“Martin Andrews is in a rut. Tired of the daily grind of life as a police officer and with a heavily pregnant wife, he is disillusioned, desperate to give his unborn child a chance in a world in which he has lost all faith.

Little does Andrews know that amid the petty crimes and muggings, robbery and prostitution, a new threat is looming, one which will push Andrews to the very edges of his sanity.

His nemesis is a man without limits. A man with a grand idea for a great work; a masterpiece which will give him the recognition he craves, no matter the cost.”

From the minds of Matt Shaw (Sick B*stards, Happy Ever After, The Cabin) & Michael Bray (Whisper, Funhouse, MEAT) comes ART. Told from the viewpoint of both killer (Shaw) and Detective (Bray), ART is a journey into the darkest, most twisted part of the human psyche.

Two authors. One ending.

I’ve been reading a lot of extreme horror. Books like SIXTY FIVE STIRRUP IRON ROAD and SERIAL, ones that have multiple authors for one story… As much as I love those – I don’t think I was prepared for ART to be (pardon the pun…) the masterpiece that it is!

Matt is at the top of his game writing as our friendly, neighborhood serial killer – Arthur, (just Art – for pals like us). Michael is penning the role of Officer Martin Andrews, the cop who catches Art’s interest, and becomes involved in his ‘game’, and his quest for notoriety.

FanGirling – Like A Boss

✽ ✾ Let’s face it – we all know I’m fangirling on an Annie Wilkes level , but remember… I don’t suger-coat these discussions, or bull-shit you guys in any way ✾ ✽
I couldn’t stop reading this.
I’m not sure how the exact writing process goes for stories like this, (different authors have different quirks 😉 and, I know Matt told us on Facebook, but… blonde moment. Sorry.) – Whether they both have ideas and work together daily, or if they email chapters back & forth as they’re written… However it was done this time – these authors worked together perfectly.
It’s suspenseful, it’s gross, it’s emotional. It’s perfect.
It’s SE7EN, if SE7EN were written by Shaw & Bray.

As an added bonus, there is an excerpt from Matt Shaw’s SICK BASTARDS, and from Michael Bray’s SCRATCHERS. Sick Bastards I’ve read, Scratchers in now on my TBR list.
If you’re wondering about any of Matt’s books, check Cover to Cover. For Michael, I’ve only read MEAT, SOMETHING IN THE DARK, DARK CORNERS, and have Scratchers queued up and ready to go, along with Whisper, and I have the Dark Hall Sampler. I’m diggin’ his stuff, I started reading some on advice from those who have never streared me wrong. One note – I was expecting SOMETHING IN THE DARK to be a little worse, as in depravity, but – I’ve been reading some messed up stuff! Give him a whirl! You won’t be disappointed.