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Dead Shift
Nobody Likes Going to Hospital They thought the old man was harmless. Just another tramp found collapsed in an abandoned housing estate. At Northcote Hospital they put him in a bed and let him keep the strange old book he insisted on clutching. Nobody Likes Having to Stay In Three friends working through the night at Northcote Hospital are about to experience the worst shift of their lives, trapped inside the building as creatures undreamed of in their worst nightmares begin to crawl from the walls in a bid to make the place their own. And Nobody Wants to Die There Soon everyone and everything in Northcote Hospital will be changed. Will anyone be able to stop the evil worming its way through the building? Or will the horror escape to infect the planet? John Llewellyn Probert's Dead Shift Where the worst thing in this world is nothing compared to what's lurking just outside it
152 pages, Hardcover
First published March 19, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
August 15, 2016
In his new novella "Dead Shift" by John Llewellyn Probert who is a writer in the field of weird and macabre fiction and who also does a bit of film reviewing (check out this link “House of Mortal Cinema”) http://johnlprobert.blogspot.com/ presents to the world a Lovecraftian venture.
The story begins with as grubby, damaged, and demented homeless guy seeks to conduct magic rites in a rundown part of town. He has a book of ancient power and it just so happens that the interdimensional break-through occurs inside of a a hospital where the homeless man has been taken.
Mr. Probert gives us the whole ball of wax, the outreaching tentacles, the growing fungi, the crablike creatures, buckets of blood, the walking dead and just to add a bit of flavor, enough humor in the characters cleaver repartee to make the whole adventure a bit of fun.
The book's dust jacket is beautifully depicted by the truly talented artist Ben Baldwin making this a great creation.
The story begins with as grubby, damaged, and demented homeless guy seeks to conduct magic rites in a rundown part of town. He has a book of ancient power and it just so happens that the interdimensional break-through occurs inside of a a hospital where the homeless man has been taken.
Mr. Probert gives us the whole ball of wax, the outreaching tentacles, the growing fungi, the crablike creatures, buckets of blood, the walking dead and just to add a bit of flavor, enough humor in the characters cleaver repartee to make the whole adventure a bit of fun.
The book's dust jacket is beautifully depicted by the truly talented artist Ben Baldwin making this a great creation.
March 20, 2016
Review copy
There's something off about Arthur Lipscomb who finds himself on the fifth floor of Appleton Court, at the very center of the Northcote housing project. It's a building that's been abandoned and scheduled for demolition, but an old book, written in an archaic language, has drawn Arthur to this very location. The book demands he perform a ritual, one that require requires his blood. Before he can complete his mission a security guard shows up and because of his condition, Arthur is rushed to the emergency room at Northcote hospital.
Dr. Richard Dearden is near the end of his shift in the emergency room. When Arthur is brought in, Health Care Auxillary, Kerry Morris commented "...he was rambling about gods and monsters and parallel universes. I though I was in the X Files for a minute."
The overall feel of Dead Shift was familiar, yet there were a few genuine surprises, enough to keep the story fresh.
In addition to a bit of Lovecraftian horror, there are elements of The Evil Dead series in Dead Shift. The scene in the hospital morgue is to die for. (Pun intended).
This book was a lot of fun, particularly if you enjoy inter-dimensional monsters and such. Things like monsters, zombies, and fungi...oh my (I couldn't resist).
Dead Shift is available from Horrific Tales Publishing in both paperback and e-book formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this one at no additional charge and if you are an Amazon Prime member you can borrow the book for FREE from the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Recommended.
John Llewellyn Probert won the 2013 British Fantasy Award for his novella The Nine Deaths of Dr. Valentine and 2015 saw the publication of its sequel, The Hammer of Dr. Valentine. He is the author of over a hundred published short stories, six novellas, one collection, and the novel The House That Death Built.
There's something off about Arthur Lipscomb who finds himself on the fifth floor of Appleton Court, at the very center of the Northcote housing project. It's a building that's been abandoned and scheduled for demolition, but an old book, written in an archaic language, has drawn Arthur to this very location. The book demands he perform a ritual, one that require requires his blood. Before he can complete his mission a security guard shows up and because of his condition, Arthur is rushed to the emergency room at Northcote hospital.
Dr. Richard Dearden is near the end of his shift in the emergency room. When Arthur is brought in, Health Care Auxillary, Kerry Morris commented "...he was rambling about gods and monsters and parallel universes. I though I was in the X Files for a minute."
The overall feel of Dead Shift was familiar, yet there were a few genuine surprises, enough to keep the story fresh.
In addition to a bit of Lovecraftian horror, there are elements of The Evil Dead series in Dead Shift. The scene in the hospital morgue is to die for. (Pun intended).
This book was a lot of fun, particularly if you enjoy inter-dimensional monsters and such. Things like monsters, zombies, and fungi...oh my (I couldn't resist).
Dead Shift is available from Horrific Tales Publishing in both paperback and e-book formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this one at no additional charge and if you are an Amazon Prime member you can borrow the book for FREE from the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Recommended.
John Llewellyn Probert won the 2013 British Fantasy Award for his novella The Nine Deaths of Dr. Valentine and 2015 saw the publication of its sequel, The Hammer of Dr. Valentine. He is the author of over a hundred published short stories, six novellas, one collection, and the novel The House That Death Built.
June 14, 2020
This was a fun modern Lovecraftian tale. The characters and action was a lot of fun. I listened to the audio book which is read by Chris Barnes. He did a great job and I enjoyed listening to him.
I requested this audio book in exchange for a honest review.
I requested this audio book in exchange for a honest review.
July 9, 2020
First up, the cover. Sums up the story in one great cover. Three friends battling against an evil creature.
Arthur Lipscomb is in possession of an old book which demands he carry out a ritual in his own blood. He ends up in Northcote Hospital at the start of the night shift and the terror begins as another dimension opens with monsters, creatures and fungi everywhere.
Richard (doctor), Dev (pathologist) and Sandra (nurse) are the staff on duty who must join together and fight against this portal from hell. Dark and gritty, there is also a humour element which works exceedingly well. The banter between the three friends is funny and genuine. Exactly how I hope my night shift colleagues and I would react and interact with each other while battling evil demons of some sort.
It is written at a good pace with very vivid images and at 152 pages does not take long to read (even if a slow reader like myself).
Arthur Lipscomb is in possession of an old book which demands he carry out a ritual in his own blood. He ends up in Northcote Hospital at the start of the night shift and the terror begins as another dimension opens with monsters, creatures and fungi everywhere.
Richard (doctor), Dev (pathologist) and Sandra (nurse) are the staff on duty who must join together and fight against this portal from hell. Dark and gritty, there is also a humour element which works exceedingly well. The banter between the three friends is funny and genuine. Exactly how I hope my night shift colleagues and I would react and interact with each other while battling evil demons of some sort.
It is written at a good pace with very vivid images and at 152 pages does not take long to read (even if a slow reader like myself).
March 15, 2016
I received an ARC of this novella in exchange for an honest review from the fine folks at Horrific Tales Publishing. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this story.
Reading Dead Shift is like a trip to Hell's emergency room as imagined by Lovecraft. The story is a little slow at the beginning but once the ritual begins things escalate quickly. Parts of this novella quite literally made my skin crawl with disgust. The creatures on the second floor and things growing throughout the hospital were the stuff of nightmares for me. I loved the banter between Richard, Dev, and Sandra. The witty dialogue and some of the scenes were laugh out loud funny, making some of the darker scenes more horrifying by comparison. This fast paced novella is well written and filled with such vivid imagery that it almost feels like you're there. An utterly enjoyable 3.5 star read.
Reading Dead Shift is like a trip to Hell's emergency room as imagined by Lovecraft. The story is a little slow at the beginning but once the ritual begins things escalate quickly. Parts of this novella quite literally made my skin crawl with disgust. The creatures on the second floor and things growing throughout the hospital were the stuff of nightmares for me. I loved the banter between Richard, Dev, and Sandra. The witty dialogue and some of the scenes were laugh out loud funny, making some of the darker scenes more horrifying by comparison. This fast paced novella is well written and filled with such vivid imagery that it almost feels like you're there. An utterly enjoyable 3.5 star read.
June 23, 2016
Dead Shift by John Llewellyn Probert is a horribly good book. LOL It has the horror, the dry humor and satire, and action to keep it a fun and exciting read. There is never a dull moment. Although it is a horror book, and meant to be taken as such, it has a lot of low key humor in it, which I enjoyed. Three friends take on stopping the end of the world. I was a night shift nurse for twenty years and that is hell enough but I never had a patient trying to open a portal to hell before, in the hospital no less. Very entertaining and creative characters and great plot. Enjoyed it greatly. Won this book from LibraryThing.
May 6, 2016
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
January 19, 2017
My original Dead Shift audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
‘Lovecraftian’ is the word I’d use to describe this book.
I can also tick that off the list of 'Most Pretentious Things I've Ever Said'.
A homeless man is corrupted by a mysterious and evil book that he finds in suspicious circumstances, eventually convincing him to perform a ritual which allows a demon dimension to cross into ours. Of course, nobody knows that when he arrives at the hospital and undergoes treatment for his broken shoulder otherwise they might have reconsidered their decision to be quite so hospitable.
During his stay at Northcote Hospital, the old man causes an ancient evil to begin infecting the building… it’s too late for most of the inhabitants of the hospital but a few of the staff realise early on that something untoward is going on and try their best to reverse the evil taking over.
The book is dark, gritty and incredibly satisfying.
Though none of the characters are particularly complex, it’s the way that they all work together that makes their journey satisfying. Adding to that Barnes' ambitious decision to give each character a different regional accent, the diversity of a hospital environment is really brought to life.
Chris Barnes did a really good job with this book, keeping the pace flowing and enhancing the overall experience. I was really impressed with the number of accents that he incorporated in this performance, though his attempt at a scouse (Liverpool) accent slightly missed the mark. It's nice to hear a British audiobook which has a bit of variety rather than just the standard BBC English voice.
The story itself isn’t an original premise but there’s a reason demon raising rituals are a classic, this book is well written and compelling which is what stands it apart from the other books in this genre.
Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.
‘Lovecraftian’ is the word I’d use to describe this book.
I can also tick that off the list of 'Most Pretentious Things I've Ever Said'.
A homeless man is corrupted by a mysterious and evil book that he finds in suspicious circumstances, eventually convincing him to perform a ritual which allows a demon dimension to cross into ours. Of course, nobody knows that when he arrives at the hospital and undergoes treatment for his broken shoulder otherwise they might have reconsidered their decision to be quite so hospitable.
During his stay at Northcote Hospital, the old man causes an ancient evil to begin infecting the building… it’s too late for most of the inhabitants of the hospital but a few of the staff realise early on that something untoward is going on and try their best to reverse the evil taking over.
The book is dark, gritty and incredibly satisfying.
Though none of the characters are particularly complex, it’s the way that they all work together that makes their journey satisfying. Adding to that Barnes' ambitious decision to give each character a different regional accent, the diversity of a hospital environment is really brought to life.
Chris Barnes did a really good job with this book, keeping the pace flowing and enhancing the overall experience. I was really impressed with the number of accents that he incorporated in this performance, though his attempt at a scouse (Liverpool) accent slightly missed the mark. It's nice to hear a British audiobook which has a bit of variety rather than just the standard BBC English voice.
The story itself isn’t an original premise but there’s a reason demon raising rituals are a classic, this book is well written and compelling which is what stands it apart from the other books in this genre.
Audiobook was provided for review by the narrator.
October 24, 2016
I have to say that I'm surprised with how much I ended up loving this and I think it was a combination of the authors imagination, enjoyable characters and narrator that made the book a 5 star read.
The plot of this was extremely fast paced and utterly freaky, but in a good way! ;) We start with seeing a homeless man going into an abandoned building with a book. This book has drawn him to this particular place in the hopes this man will unleash hell on earth. He has nothing to lose as he is at deaths door already. But before he can complete his ritual he is interrupted and ends up being rushed to the hospital. While there he knows he has very little time left and ends up doing the ritual in his hospital room. What he brings forth is something nightmarish and hungry.
Meanwhile, three friends working at the hospital at the time the homeless man comes in are in for the worst night of their lives!! Richard, Sandra and Dev think that the hospital can't get any worse than it already is, but when tentacles and other hideous things start appearing, they are the only ones able to figure out what is happening and why. Can they stop this evil from spreading??
This was a well written and quite entertaining read. We all probably have horror stories from hospitals but I think this one trumps them all!! This is a hospital that one won't return from and one where the bugs aren't on the inside, but are intent on killing you. We have some freaky ass stuff coming out of the woodwork, terrible tentacles, fatal fungi, disturbing dead people and other heinous things brought to this world by a cantankerous old man. This reminded me of one of those old horror movies that came on on a Sunday night or one of those Fright Night movies my parents watched. I could totally picture this as an episode of the twilight zone!! Lol.
Despite the gory and scary bits, there are moments of humour thrown in. The bond between the 3 friends was well done and I loved the banter between them. It's a fast paced, entertaining and scary read, perfect for Halloween ;) This is the first book I've read by this author but it won't be my last! I will definitely see what others, if any, he has written!! His imagination was astounding and totally fascinated me. Never in my wildest dreams could I come up with half the things he did.
I've listened to numerous books narrated by Chris Barnes and never once has he failed to deliver! He has such an array of accents and tones that no matter what he reads, he'd make it interesting!! He made for effortless listening and is a narrator I always recommend!
The plot of this was extremely fast paced and utterly freaky, but in a good way! ;) We start with seeing a homeless man going into an abandoned building with a book. This book has drawn him to this particular place in the hopes this man will unleash hell on earth. He has nothing to lose as he is at deaths door already. But before he can complete his ritual he is interrupted and ends up being rushed to the hospital. While there he knows he has very little time left and ends up doing the ritual in his hospital room. What he brings forth is something nightmarish and hungry.
Meanwhile, three friends working at the hospital at the time the homeless man comes in are in for the worst night of their lives!! Richard, Sandra and Dev think that the hospital can't get any worse than it already is, but when tentacles and other hideous things start appearing, they are the only ones able to figure out what is happening and why. Can they stop this evil from spreading??
This was a well written and quite entertaining read. We all probably have horror stories from hospitals but I think this one trumps them all!! This is a hospital that one won't return from and one where the bugs aren't on the inside, but are intent on killing you. We have some freaky ass stuff coming out of the woodwork, terrible tentacles, fatal fungi, disturbing dead people and other heinous things brought to this world by a cantankerous old man. This reminded me of one of those old horror movies that came on on a Sunday night or one of those Fright Night movies my parents watched. I could totally picture this as an episode of the twilight zone!! Lol.
Despite the gory and scary bits, there are moments of humour thrown in. The bond between the 3 friends was well done and I loved the banter between them. It's a fast paced, entertaining and scary read, perfect for Halloween ;) This is the first book I've read by this author but it won't be my last! I will definitely see what others, if any, he has written!! His imagination was astounding and totally fascinated me. Never in my wildest dreams could I come up with half the things he did.
I've listened to numerous books narrated by Chris Barnes and never once has he failed to deliver! He has such an array of accents and tones that no matter what he reads, he'd make it interesting!! He made for effortless listening and is a narrator I always recommend!
March 16, 2016
John Llewellyn Probert is an award winning author and (equally fascinating) a full time Consultant Urologist working at my local hospital.
Fans of Lovecraft, especially those who are fans of Probert’s work will really enjoy this. It was an absolute pleasure to review a book that delighted me from start to finish, Probert is revealed a master at the peak of his powers.
It took me two hours to read, so I would say it’s a little bigger than a novella. Bear this in mind if you’re thinking a quick read at lunch.
After years of investigating various theories, searching for clues and practising a language alien to him, Arthur Lipscomb finally gets his moment. With nothing to lose, and nothing to live for, this elderly man has no idea what he is attempting to unleash onto the world, and all this set against a vivid background. Three unwitting hospital staff battle to save themselves and the hospital in this amusing tale. It reminded me at times of Shaun of the Dead, a hilarious combination of comedy and tragedy, spiced with the Cthulhu Mythos.
Told in a style reminiscent of Lovecraft, the book moves smoothly between the characters and Probert unfolds his story quickly. The speed and complexity of the various machinations taking place, means that the book rewards excited reading. Probert also ably mixes together humour and characterisation with a raft of grotesque horror. The book captures the mood of hospital life and it exceeds as Cthulhu-based horror. The final twenty pages or so make for compelling reading as the story builds to an understated, but surprising and gripping conclusion.
On the negative side, Probert stretches out the scenes in the hospital in the lead-up to Arthur’s ritual. Nevertheless, it is an impressive story and a very enjoyable read.
We need to celebrate books like this. We need to encourage writers like Probert to write more.
If you are at the official book launch on Saturday 19th March taking place at Books on the Hill in Clevedon, I will see you there.
Fans of Lovecraft, especially those who are fans of Probert’s work will really enjoy this. It was an absolute pleasure to review a book that delighted me from start to finish, Probert is revealed a master at the peak of his powers.
It took me two hours to read, so I would say it’s a little bigger than a novella. Bear this in mind if you’re thinking a quick read at lunch.
After years of investigating various theories, searching for clues and practising a language alien to him, Arthur Lipscomb finally gets his moment. With nothing to lose, and nothing to live for, this elderly man has no idea what he is attempting to unleash onto the world, and all this set against a vivid background. Three unwitting hospital staff battle to save themselves and the hospital in this amusing tale. It reminded me at times of Shaun of the Dead, a hilarious combination of comedy and tragedy, spiced with the Cthulhu Mythos.
Told in a style reminiscent of Lovecraft, the book moves smoothly between the characters and Probert unfolds his story quickly. The speed and complexity of the various machinations taking place, means that the book rewards excited reading. Probert also ably mixes together humour and characterisation with a raft of grotesque horror. The book captures the mood of hospital life and it exceeds as Cthulhu-based horror. The final twenty pages or so make for compelling reading as the story builds to an understated, but surprising and gripping conclusion.
On the negative side, Probert stretches out the scenes in the hospital in the lead-up to Arthur’s ritual. Nevertheless, it is an impressive story and a very enjoyable read.
We need to celebrate books like this. We need to encourage writers like Probert to write more.
If you are at the official book launch on Saturday 19th March taking place at Books on the Hill in Clevedon, I will see you there.
March 16, 2016
Richard and his colleagues thought it was just going to be another regular, boring shift at the hospital when they got up this morning.
They were wrong.
When a homeless man is brought in with self-inflicted injuries, frantically clasping a strange book he refuses to let go of, the hospital staff thinks he is probably just harmless.
But Arthur Lipscomb is not himself.
The book he's holding is the source of great power, a power that has taken hold of Arthur Lipscomb and wants him to finish what he's started.
Before anyone can stop him, Arthur opens up a gateway into another world, another reality, and that's when all hell breaks loose!
This is a highly engaging and entertaining novella that starts at a fast pace and doesn't let up for a single second, right up and until it's shocking, brutal climax. The action and the pace at which this book moves is relentless and though this is a fairly short, light read, don't let that put you off because this author has a highly terrific and engaging style that sucks you in right from the start.
Reading this put me very much in mind of an early Brian Lumley.
There is lots of similar imagery here as employed by Lumley in many of his own books, and the subtle nods to Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos are obvious throughout.
I really, really enjoyed this and could not recommend it enough.
I simply love the way Llewellyen Probert utilises and manipulates all manner of people's fears about hospitals to his own agenda and there were plenty of moments here that even made this horror writer want to squirm and itch and scratch...
I must confess, I have never stumbled across this particular author before, but one thing is for certain - I will be keeping a keen eye out for his work in the future.
If you want something light, quick and easy to read that will still give you nightmares, I recommend this.
I probably wouldn't be reading this though either before or during a hospital visit though....
They were wrong.
When a homeless man is brought in with self-inflicted injuries, frantically clasping a strange book he refuses to let go of, the hospital staff thinks he is probably just harmless.
But Arthur Lipscomb is not himself.
The book he's holding is the source of great power, a power that has taken hold of Arthur Lipscomb and wants him to finish what he's started.
Before anyone can stop him, Arthur opens up a gateway into another world, another reality, and that's when all hell breaks loose!
This is a highly engaging and entertaining novella that starts at a fast pace and doesn't let up for a single second, right up and until it's shocking, brutal climax. The action and the pace at which this book moves is relentless and though this is a fairly short, light read, don't let that put you off because this author has a highly terrific and engaging style that sucks you in right from the start.
Reading this put me very much in mind of an early Brian Lumley.
There is lots of similar imagery here as employed by Lumley in many of his own books, and the subtle nods to Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos are obvious throughout.
I really, really enjoyed this and could not recommend it enough.
I simply love the way Llewellyen Probert utilises and manipulates all manner of people's fears about hospitals to his own agenda and there were plenty of moments here that even made this horror writer want to squirm and itch and scratch...
I must confess, I have never stumbled across this particular author before, but one thing is for certain - I will be keeping a keen eye out for his work in the future.
If you want something light, quick and easy to read that will still give you nightmares, I recommend this.
I probably wouldn't be reading this though either before or during a hospital visit though....
March 20, 2016
NOTE: I received a free copy of this book to read in exchange for giving a fair, honest review. Said review contains mild spoilers.
I didn’t have high expectations for this book. Much as I enjoy Lovecraft and the many works inspired by his style, I feel like Lovecraftian stories are overdone, much like zombie fiction. Indeed the book does start off like a typical Lovecraftian tale and I thought it was shaping up to be predictable. Thankfully, I was wrong.
Despite the generic and slow-paced beginning, story quickly delves into new, unpredictable territory and the pace steadily increases as one reads more and more. The style appears to be a combination of classic Lovecraft and old, B-movie creature features. I mean this in the fondest way possible, as it works very well. The horrific parts, and there are some truly gut-wrenching moments, are balanced with darkly enjoyable humor.
There are a couple of parts that strained my suspension of disbelief (Mostly the fact that the Internet was still working) but it wasn’t enough to pull me out of the story.
My favorite aspect of this novella is the world building and the imagery. John Llewellyn Probert expertly conjures up vivid and detailed images of the world of the story and the creatures in it, which are as hauntingly beautiful as they are nightmarish. His creativity has rarely been surpassed, at least in the scope of the many stories I’ve read.
I was pleasantly surprised by how good this book is and I will probably read it again in the future. It’s a fun romp and a great page-turner, perfect for settling into after work.
I didn’t have high expectations for this book. Much as I enjoy Lovecraft and the many works inspired by his style, I feel like Lovecraftian stories are overdone, much like zombie fiction. Indeed the book does start off like a typical Lovecraftian tale and I thought it was shaping up to be predictable. Thankfully, I was wrong.
Despite the generic and slow-paced beginning, story quickly delves into new, unpredictable territory and the pace steadily increases as one reads more and more. The style appears to be a combination of classic Lovecraft and old, B-movie creature features. I mean this in the fondest way possible, as it works very well. The horrific parts, and there are some truly gut-wrenching moments, are balanced with darkly enjoyable humor.
There are a couple of parts that strained my suspension of disbelief (Mostly the fact that the Internet was still working) but it wasn’t enough to pull me out of the story.
My favorite aspect of this novella is the world building and the imagery. John Llewellyn Probert expertly conjures up vivid and detailed images of the world of the story and the creatures in it, which are as hauntingly beautiful as they are nightmarish. His creativity has rarely been surpassed, at least in the scope of the many stories I’ve read.
I was pleasantly surprised by how good this book is and I will probably read it again in the future. It’s a fun romp and a great page-turner, perfect for settling into after work.
March 19, 2016
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.
March 19, 2016
First of all, I got a free advanced copy of Dead Shift from the publisher in return for an honest review.
I'm sure we've all been in a hospital at one time or another and the vast majority of us don't enjoy the experience. After reading Dead Shift, I'm not sure I will look at other patients in hospitals, the same way ever again!
As you may (or may not) have guessed from the cover, this story does contain a certain Lovecraftian twist but rather than it being overdone or, even worse, a parody, the author had managed to strike the correct balance and in the process has produced one of the finest horror novellas I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
The book had me gripped from the beginning and the only reason I didn't read it in one go, was because my train journey ended and I had to get off. When I went back to it, I was immediately gripped again and thrown right back into the story, this time nothing would stop me and whilst I lost track of time, the book was devoured.
As some others have said, there is humour in the book and I'm not usually one to mix horror and humour for fear that there book gets confused about what it is trying to be. However, that being said, the author does a marvelous job of intertwining humour to the horrors that are occurring and at no point is it over done. In fact, it is more like the kind of dark humour you would expect of you were in that situation.
Overall, a superb book that does so much right. Sure, sometimes the descriptions may be a bit over the top but in general this is perfectly done.
I'm sure we've all been in a hospital at one time or another and the vast majority of us don't enjoy the experience. After reading Dead Shift, I'm not sure I will look at other patients in hospitals, the same way ever again!
As you may (or may not) have guessed from the cover, this story does contain a certain Lovecraftian twist but rather than it being overdone or, even worse, a parody, the author had managed to strike the correct balance and in the process has produced one of the finest horror novellas I've ever had the pleasure of reading.
The book had me gripped from the beginning and the only reason I didn't read it in one go, was because my train journey ended and I had to get off. When I went back to it, I was immediately gripped again and thrown right back into the story, this time nothing would stop me and whilst I lost track of time, the book was devoured.
As some others have said, there is humour in the book and I'm not usually one to mix horror and humour for fear that there book gets confused about what it is trying to be. However, that being said, the author does a marvelous job of intertwining humour to the horrors that are occurring and at no point is it over done. In fact, it is more like the kind of dark humour you would expect of you were in that situation.
Overall, a superb book that does so much right. Sure, sometimes the descriptions may be a bit over the top but in general this is perfectly done.
September 16, 2016
Well, this was a fun little read. Nice vivid imagery and a great cover. Really enjoyed this.
June 22, 2016
The beginning was great, I loved the humorous undertones and the fast-forward plot. I sympathized with the characters and enjoyed their banter. However, towards the end I felt lost, just like the main characters running around the hospital. The idea of having different horrific creatures on each level of the building was great, but it seemed like a listing of striking scenarios rather than a coherent plot. I missed background detail on the mysterious book, the different layers and the world they came from. While I usually prefer fast paced action that doesn't linger to describe each setting in detail, I felt there was something important missing here that would have made the story more 'whole'.
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
(I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)
March 16, 2016
I recieved an ARC of this book from Horrific Tales in return for a honest review.
an old man with a mission,an overworked young doctor and nurse, and an ME with an attitude are the people you will meet and learn to love in a short novel with a touch of Lovecraft. The author sets the atmosphere in the first chapter, and the fun is on from there .
Our heroes battle things from the dimension beyond while carrying on a sometimes comedic conversations that will make you laugh while at the same time cringing from some of the graphic descriptions. You will never look at the ER the same.
All told,a fun fast read.
an old man with a mission,an overworked young doctor and nurse, and an ME with an attitude are the people you will meet and learn to love in a short novel with a touch of Lovecraft. The author sets the atmosphere in the first chapter, and the fun is on from there .
Our heroes battle things from the dimension beyond while carrying on a sometimes comedic conversations that will make you laugh while at the same time cringing from some of the graphic descriptions. You will never look at the ER the same.
All told,a fun fast read.
June 19, 2016
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.
January 6, 2019
I really liked this. A Lovecraftian horror story in the middle of the nightshift at a hospital. That's a brilliant and scary premise. The cast is fun and interesting, and work well together.
March 2, 2019
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.
January 4, 2020
A decent read, and a different take on Lovecraftian themes
Dead Shift claims to be a horror comedy, but I'd rather call it a "light horror". There's comedic elements, but it feels far more of a lighthearted journey through eldritch terrors.
Set in an anonymous part of Great Britain, an accursed site and a book of spells bound in human flesh and written in blood are the focal points which accidentally spill over into a nearby and underfunded hospital.
Generally, Lovecraft's themes lend themselves to Gothic or Noir settings. Moving it to a hospital, putting a host of night shift medical professionals against ancient, slithering evil is refreshing.
It's a very short read, throws itself into action very quickly. I hesitate to criticize fiction writers like I occasionally savage non-fiction, but I did find the comedy part a little absent. Although it was lighthearted in a way a comedy can be.
I recommend it, a good read.
Dead Shift claims to be a horror comedy, but I'd rather call it a "light horror". There's comedic elements, but it feels far more of a lighthearted journey through eldritch terrors.
Set in an anonymous part of Great Britain, an accursed site and a book of spells bound in human flesh and written in blood are the focal points which accidentally spill over into a nearby and underfunded hospital.
Generally, Lovecraft's themes lend themselves to Gothic or Noir settings. Moving it to a hospital, putting a host of night shift medical professionals against ancient, slithering evil is refreshing.
It's a very short read, throws itself into action very quickly. I hesitate to criticize fiction writers like I occasionally savage non-fiction, but I did find the comedy part a little absent. Although it was lighthearted in a way a comedy can be.
I recommend it, a good read.
June 3, 2017
Definitely lives up to the claim: "a lovecraftian novel." The narrator had an accent that was just a smidge difficult to understand at first, but halfway through the chapter 1 I was used to it. Oh and the book itself? I gasped aloud in disgust multiple times throughout the novel, and I couldn't listen to it while walking my dog at night or while eating. I'm not sure how I feel about the ending. A part of me loves it, but there's another part of me, the part that loves a specific type of ending, that is very, very angry.
June 29, 2019
Short but entertaining
Really enjoyed the start and really felt like the workings of a real hospital at night. The horror element came well with the story and a few parts made me smile with the friendly banter I could see normal getting into. However it dropped during the end and felt like it was rushed alittle to just keep it short. I wouldn't have liked a larger ending and kinda of battle.
Overall worth a read
Really enjoyed the start and really felt like the workings of a real hospital at night. The horror element came well with the story and a few parts made me smile with the friendly banter I could see normal getting into. However it dropped during the end and felt like it was rushed alittle to just keep it short. I wouldn't have liked a larger ending and kinda of battle.
Overall worth a read
November 7, 2017
I haven't read any of John Llewellyn Probert's works before but it definitely wouldn't be the last. I loved that most of the floors had different monsters for Richard, Dev & Sandra to face trying to defeat the monster that Arthur unleased in Northcote Hospital but I did not expect the book to end the way it did.
August 14, 2019
Nothing special
It was a fast read. The beginning was written very well but then story descended into silliness. The comedy part wasn’t funny. The horror part was imaginative but not original as it was based on something done before. Ok first try but lacks foundation.
It was a fast read. The beginning was written very well but then story descended into silliness. The comedy part wasn’t funny. The horror part was imaginative but not original as it was based on something done before. Ok first try but lacks foundation.
October 31, 2017
Interesting book, not quite what I expected, but fun to listen to in the car.
August 11, 2019
Entertaining, gory and funny in many moments. For fans of other-dimensional lovecraftian nightmares.
May 20, 2020
Well written short Lovecraft style story about the barriers between dimensions, coming down, in a Hospital. If you like British humour, and weird horror, give this a go
September 29, 2020
This was okay. It started off well and the creatures/demons were great. However, the comedic parts were lost on me (I've got a strange sense of humour) and the ending was a little anticlimactic.
August 29, 2023
Very fun monster romp!
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