Brides of the Impaler

It’s probably overstating the obvious to note that vampires are, again, a hot item these days. But while Stephenie Meyer dominates the best-seller list with everything bearing her name, and cable TV and print advertising overwhelm us with promotions of the new TRUE BLOOD series (sometimes even remembering to acknowledge the Charlotte Harris novels), it’s easy to miss out on this new work from horror veteran Edward Lee.

Which is too bad. Not without its shortcomings, BRIDES OF THE IMPALER is nonetheless a noteworthy addition to the ever-growing genre and worthwhile reading.

Cristina Nichols, the novel’s central character, has just moved to New York City. A former Stamford, Conn. resident, she agreed to move to the big city to share a newly acquired house with her boyfriend, Paul, co-owner and partner of a aggressive law firm. Cristina is successful in her own right as the creator and designer of a popular line of humorous-horror figurines called “Cadaverettes.” The entire line sold out quickly, and she is now creating a new line she terms “Evil Church Creepies.”

The house where Cristina and Paul live is a huge, old brownstone that once was the annex house to the St. Amano’s Church. The church is now abandoned, and the alley directly behind it and the house is frequently visited by the homeless, as is the case with just about every alley in the city. But the church, the old house and the alley are being watched by the pastor who long ago served at St. Amano’s.

Cristina is at first reluctant to embrace her new environment. But then she finds the perfect room in her house to use as a studio. Before long, she is troubled by strange, vivid dreams of mysterious colors and a woman dressed in clerical garb. She slowly notices that, as these dreams become more frequent and detailed, they are influencing her figurine designs.

She also finds herself behaving differently. For the most part, she is filled with feelings of almost uncontrollable lust. Or as Paul expresses it to his partner, “She’s as horny as a mutt in heat.” Not that Paul is complaining, but he soon finds it difficult to fulfill her increasing desires.

Meanwhile, neighborhood police investigators have discovered murders in a nearby alley. The victims are homeless women. But what is more disturbing is the way they are discovered: impaled on long, sharp, wooden poles.

Cristina’s strange dreams continue, hinting at some strange ritual, and soon she finds herself exploring the basement of the old house. Buried below the concrete floor, under a strange insignia, she finds a chest containing weird objects, some of which have appeared in her dreams. As the fears of the watchful pastor increase, and the police track down clues to the murders, it soon becomes apparent that the old house is beckoning Cristina to conduct the resurrection of some ancient and murderous evil.

For an author called “the hardest of the hardcore horror writers” in promotional blurbs, this new novel is surprising old-school — meaning it relies more upon the suspenseful build up of its story and development of its characters than on a steady supply of graphic violence and endless gore. But most notably, rather than adding more revisions or reinterpretations to the vampire legends, Lee reaches back to the historical sources of Dracula — the Romanian legends of Vlad Tepes, or Vlad the Impaler.

But ironically, these same techniques are the source of the book’s deficiencies. Vampires themselves don’t appear until the final quarter of the story. Thus, much of the story development comes off more like a haunted house tale. Then, too, horror fans will soon and easily sense where the plot is headed, especially if they have even the slightest knowledge of the story of Vlad Tepes.

Sensing this, perhaps, Lee throws in a series of plot twists and
surprises. But while they avoid the expected, they occur way too late in the story and feel rushed and awkward. And the shifting point of view between characters, while generally effective, spends a bit too much time on minor characters, and creates some cringes when Lee assumes the voice of a hip-hop-inflected drug dealer.

But for all this, BRIDES OF THE IMPALER still comes recommended. Lee is a fine story spinner and, among other things, proves there is still lots to mine from the historical sources of these enduring horror archetypes. —Alan Cranis

Buy it at Amazon.

“Paul’s hand slipped between them, his fingers hunting for nipples to tweeze in time with his thrusts, and when he began to pinch, she panted, ‘Harder, harder,’ into his mouth. ‘Please, honey, as hard as you can.’ She squealed and orgasmed when her plea was answered, and a moment later, Paul spent himself as well.”

OTHER BOOKGASM REVIEWS OF THIS AUTHOR:
• TRIAGE by Jack Ketchum, Richard Laymon and Edward Lee

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