Synopsis:
When a young woman dies in Willow Zulawski’s arms, it sets in motion a chain of events that will push her to the brink of madness.
A mysterious video is the only clue, but as Willow digs deeper into the murky world of snuff movies, those closest to her start turning up dead. Someone out there will stop at nothing to silence her.
After all, when killing is business, what’s one more dead body?
Part noir mystery, part violent slasher, Dead Girl Blues is the latest twisted shocker from David Sodergren, author of The Forgotten Island and Night Shoot.
Review:
In this gritty, pulpy homage to Giallo, Sodegren expertly marries the non-stop action and gloopy body horror of a slasher with the allure and suspense of classic noir. Dead Girl Blues is free on kindle unlimited, and the perfect story to burst a bubble with. It’s MISERABLE, it’s BRUTAL… but you’ll also revel in the fun of it all.
In Dead Girl Blues, our protagonist Willow Zulawski suddenly becomes entangled in a twisted world of violence and depravity. On her way to what is bound to be yet another terrible date, an injured woman (stabbed) approaches her, and despite the best efforts of Willow and other passers-by, dies in her arms. This grisly encounter is the first in an even gorier chain of events, which leaves with it a trail of bodies and a barrage of questions.
Prior to this, I’ve only read “The Haar,” which was a 5 star read for me. The Haar was tentative, deeply emotional and oddly poetic. Beautiful, saddening but ultimately hopeful. Funny yet existential. Dead Girl Blues is none of those things. Evidently, Sodergren is not only a talented writer, but a versatile one. Not to worry, there’s bucketfuls of grit and bitterness for your enjoyment (or not). One thing the pair do have in common however, is body horror, and some of the very best too. With a gore factor that rivals the works of Edward Lee and Wrath James White, and a level of detail and precision combatted only by the very best in the genre- viscera is something that Sodergren specialises in. One passage in particular, primarily involving a human head and a spiky fence, has plagued me ever since. His narrative voice is so readable, it’s gripping from the outset and leaves you desperate for answers amidst the bloody carnage.
In Dead Girl Blues, Willow becomes involved following a shocking discovery of violent pornography upon the victim’s phone, which is slipped into her bag- a very “Pretty Girls,” by Karin Slaughter approach. What follows (spoiler alert- it’s lots of death) makes Burner by Robert Ford (review here) a much more apt comparison. The final third of the book, (spoiler alert the deaths intensify) almost breaches Survivor by J.F Gonzalez territory. This pretty much summarises the plot, it’s mysterious, then it’s emotional and it very quickly gets very bloody.
Amidst the chaos and bloodshed, Dead Girl Blues offers more than simply adrenaline-fueled thrills. The story is interwoven with deftly navigated themes, morality, identity, and more generally the human experience. Willow finds herself in various life-threatening situations, where every action has its consequences. We’re forced to consider who we can trust, and who we can’t, and feel as involved as she does.
Speaking of Willow’s involvement, it’s definitely worth discussing. We all know how frustrating it can be when a character recklessly, all guns blazing, runs headfirst into obvious danger… for no reason at all. I’m thrilled to say there’s none of that here. Willow’s character arc from unwitting bystander to actively investigating multiple brutal murders is gradually and believably built, from her discovery of the snuff film, to the lack of help from the Police and so on. She’s smart, witty, and just bad-ass in general.
In conclusion, Dead Girl Blues is a relentless descent into the darkest depths of humanity. Its unflinching portrayal of violence and depravity is a harrowing and thrilling reading experience, and a must for those who can stomach its brutality. Sodergren is quickly becoming one of my favourite indie horror authors, and I plan to read more from him this year. If you’re prepared to confront the gristly underbelly of human nature, brace yourself for a ride that will leave you wondering what terror lurks in the dark, and who may be hiding under the bed…
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