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mothgender's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book from LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. If you like Lovecraftian stories filled with eldritch horrors then this is the book for you. Dead Shift is a story that takes place inside a hospital where an old man has unleashed eldritch horrors on the unsuspecting patients and doctors. Three friends attempt to overcome the nightmarish creatures that have emerged. I'd highly recommend this fairly short read to anyone who enjoys Lovecraft's works.
mike_brough's review against another edition
4.0
A rollicking good read. I could give you a synopsis - Lovecraft and Doctor Who - and tell you how good-humoured and funny it is is but, at 150 pages and two-quid, just buy it and read it. Now.
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book but that in no way swayed my assessment.
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this book but that in no way swayed my assessment.
stanwj's review against another edition
3.0
This is a fast-moving and witty romp that starts with a cancer-riddled old man completing the proverbial deal with the devil shortly after being brought into Northcote Hospital. He summons Terrible Things, gets his just reward (not so good), then leaves the hospital staff to deal with the cosmic horrors he's invited to our dimension.
Complete with a literal shout out to Lovecraft, Dead Shift is full of gruesomely gory scenes and characters both smart and sarcastic. They take the whole "world transforming into some unspeakable place" thing well, considering.
The story zips by quickly and though the climax is predictable, the journey getting to it is entertaining as the three central characters--a doctor, a pathologist and a staff nurse--team together to undo what the old man has done, showing resolve, ingenuity and that ineffably dry British wit along the way.
The only reason I rate the novel three starts instead of four (come on, Goodreads, add half stars already) is I felt there was an unnecessary tonal shift in the final scene. It is rather humorlessly grim, unlike all that came before it, and feels designed more to show off a shock/twist ending. As such, it left me disappointed, because the twist is trite and doesn't earn the abrupt shift in tone.
Everything before is a spiffy take on the ever-growing library of Lovecraftian fiction. If you like yours with a dash of sarcasm and a handful of sensible characters that don't behave stupidly to advance the plot, Dead Shift is recommended.
Complete with a literal shout out to Lovecraft, Dead Shift is full of gruesomely gory scenes and characters both smart and sarcastic. They take the whole "world transforming into some unspeakable place" thing well, considering.
The story zips by quickly and though the climax is predictable, the journey getting to it is entertaining as the three central characters--a doctor, a pathologist and a staff nurse--team together to undo what the old man has done, showing resolve, ingenuity and that ineffably dry British wit along the way.
The only reason I rate the novel three starts instead of four (come on, Goodreads, add half stars already) is I felt there was an unnecessary tonal shift in the final scene. It is rather humorlessly grim, unlike all that came before it, and feels designed more to show off a shock/twist ending. As such, it left me disappointed, because the twist is trite and doesn't earn the abrupt shift in tone.
Everything before is a spiffy take on the ever-growing library of Lovecraftian fiction. If you like yours with a dash of sarcasm and a handful of sensible characters that don't behave stupidly to advance the plot, Dead Shift is recommended.
sralgee's review against another edition
5.0
First off: I received an ARC of this book from Horrific Tales Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.
I've spent a lot of time in hospitals, and even fully staffed and lighted ones have their creepy sides: basements, creaky elevators, empty hallways at 3 AM. After reading "Dead Shift," I may never see a hospital in quite the same light.
Arthur Lipscomb is a sick man: too sick to be alive, really, but he's come into possession of an arcane book, and is frantically trying to complete the bloody ritual it contains. He lands in Northcote Hospital when his attempt is interrupted, and that's when things get...interesting.
When Arthur puts a blood bag to use and performs the ritual in his hospital room, he disappears--and so does the outside world. Inside the hospital, reality bends: corpses come to life, bloodthirsty tentacles break through walls, living people mesh with stonework. And in the middle of it all, a handful of medical personnel are left trying to keep their sanity long enough to save the world...
"Dead Shift" is a solid, fast-paced mix of medical horrors, malevolent eldritch entities (*lots* of malevolent eldritch entities) and dark, sarcastic comedy. The protagonists are engaging in their determination, the story's imagery would make the most devout Cthulhu cultist squirm, and the ending...well, I'll let you find out for yourself.
One of the best and most visceral horror tales I've read in quite some time. I'm already feeling unsettled at the prospect of my next medical appointment.
I've spent a lot of time in hospitals, and even fully staffed and lighted ones have their creepy sides: basements, creaky elevators, empty hallways at 3 AM. After reading "Dead Shift," I may never see a hospital in quite the same light.
Arthur Lipscomb is a sick man: too sick to be alive, really, but he's come into possession of an arcane book, and is frantically trying to complete the bloody ritual it contains. He lands in Northcote Hospital when his attempt is interrupted, and that's when things get...interesting.
When Arthur puts a blood bag to use and performs the ritual in his hospital room, he disappears--and so does the outside world. Inside the hospital, reality bends: corpses come to life, bloodthirsty tentacles break through walls, living people mesh with stonework. And in the middle of it all, a handful of medical personnel are left trying to keep their sanity long enough to save the world...
"Dead Shift" is a solid, fast-paced mix of medical horrors, malevolent eldritch entities (*lots* of malevolent eldritch entities) and dark, sarcastic comedy. The protagonists are engaging in their determination, the story's imagery would make the most devout Cthulhu cultist squirm, and the ending...well, I'll let you find out for yourself.
One of the best and most visceral horror tales I've read in quite some time. I'm already feeling unsettled at the prospect of my next medical appointment.
caomhin's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books with a cover where the artwork gives you a good clue if you'd enjoy reading. The digital rendering is good, the hardback is even better. The writhing mass of tentacles hint at the beats inside, the vagueness of their identity is mysterious, the three (almost) silhouettes at the base give a nod to the dry comedy that works well in British horror. It feels good too. Someone cared about this book. It's not been churned out mindlessly, this has been nurtured.
After such a strong introduction to the book how would it fare? Very well. Probert obviously knows hospitals and horror very well. A slightly disturbing combination that makes me think he should be invited to every dinner party possible. The storyline is refreshingly brief - just one night, well not even that, a few hours really. It allows a good pace for the events as they unfold. It's not a frantic pulse racing tempo, but it does move along well. It allows some glorious details in the writing without it bogging down. And oh those details. Probert's use of language is extremely pleasing. I relished the choice of words, they add so much texture to the pages.
The plot unfolds well. It's a not uncommon trope but it's done well. Ancient text, ritual, creatures breaking into the world, trying to escape and/or fix things. The hospital setting is a nice touch, a lot of hospital based horror is about blood and gore. Here it's far more subtle- using the building for a purpose rather than letting the building define the story. It helps with the characters too, giving them all a pretty much instant backstory just through their job whilst also offering them enough possibilities to allow them to easily fit their roles without having to squeeze them in awkwardly. The way hospitals are built also allows a nice variety in the problems faced; even with a common thread binding them you're never quite sure what will be in the next department.
With a few wry jokes scattered around to keep the mood just so it all comes together for a very enjoyable read. Not for everyone it's true, but if you like your horror to be shadowy and ever changing it hits the spot. If you've got past the blurb to the point you're reading reviews, you'll probably enjoy reading this.
I received my copy through First Reads
After such a strong introduction to the book how would it fare? Very well. Probert obviously knows hospitals and horror very well. A slightly disturbing combination that makes me think he should be invited to every dinner party possible. The storyline is refreshingly brief - just one night, well not even that, a few hours really. It allows a good pace for the events as they unfold. It's not a frantic pulse racing tempo, but it does move along well. It allows some glorious details in the writing without it bogging down. And oh those details. Probert's use of language is extremely pleasing. I relished the choice of words, they add so much texture to the pages.
The plot unfolds well. It's a not uncommon trope but it's done well. Ancient text, ritual, creatures breaking into the world, trying to escape and/or fix things. The hospital setting is a nice touch, a lot of hospital based horror is about blood and gore. Here it's far more subtle- using the building for a purpose rather than letting the building define the story. It helps with the characters too, giving them all a pretty much instant backstory just through their job whilst also offering them enough possibilities to allow them to easily fit their roles without having to squeeze them in awkwardly. The way hospitals are built also allows a nice variety in the problems faced; even with a common thread binding them you're never quite sure what will be in the next department.
With a few wry jokes scattered around to keep the mood just so it all comes together for a very enjoyable read. Not for everyone it's true, but if you like your horror to be shadowy and ever changing it hits the spot. If you've got past the blurb to the point you're reading reviews, you'll probably enjoy reading this.
I received my copy through First Reads
kellswitch's review
4.0
**Full disclosure: I received this book in exchange for an honest review**
What starts out as a typical night at the Northcote Hospital soon turns deadly as something is trying to break through into our universe and they are at it's epicenter.
The overall atmosphere and feel of the book was more creepy and unsettling than frightening especially once the action got started and the books pace became more frantic. While I feel the fast pace of the story telling helped keep the story moving without giving you to much time to get bogged down on details, it did make it harder to really let the horror of what was going on sink in and take hold.
And for all that we had so little time to spend with our main characters, they felt like real people and I was invested in what happened to them...a dangerous thing in a book like this.
The Lovecraft influence is strong and obvious but in no way feels derivative, the author has given it his own spin and I loved his take on what the creatures coming through would look like and how they would work. I found his creatures eerie and unsettling and yet also compelling.
I also love the cover art, it definitely clues you in to the fact that you are in for a fun ride.
This was a short, quick and awesome read, it was so much fun and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
What starts out as a typical night at the Northcote Hospital soon turns deadly as something is trying to break through into our universe and they are at it's epicenter.
The overall atmosphere and feel of the book was more creepy and unsettling than frightening especially once the action got started and the books pace became more frantic. While I feel the fast pace of the story telling helped keep the story moving without giving you to much time to get bogged down on details, it did make it harder to really let the horror of what was going on sink in and take hold.
And for all that we had so little time to spend with our main characters, they felt like real people and I was invested in what happened to them...a dangerous thing in a book like this.
The Lovecraft influence is strong and obvious but in no way feels derivative, the author has given it his own spin and I loved his take on what the creatures coming through would look like and how they would work. I found his creatures eerie and unsettling and yet also compelling.
I also love the cover art, it definitely clues you in to the fact that you are in for a fun ride.
This was a short, quick and awesome read, it was so much fun and I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
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