The Innswich Horror [Paperback]

Edward Lee (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 14, 2010

The sickest writer in horror takes on the Cthulhu Mythos In July, 1939, antiquarian and H.P. Lovecraft aficionado, Foster Morley, takes a scenic bus tour through the wilds of northern Massachusetts. He wants to go where Lovecraft went, and to see what Lovecraft saw, to further distill his understanding of history's most impacting horror fantasist. When he happens upon the curious, secluded waterfront prefect known as Innswich Point-not to be found on any map-he assumes the curiosity of the name is mere coincidence, but in less than twenty-four hours he'll learn that he couldn't be more mistaken. Deeper and deeper, then, Morley delves into the queer town's dark mystique. Has his imagination run rampant, or are there far too many similarities between this furtive fishing village and the fictional town of Lovecraft's masterpiece, The Shadow Over Innsmouth? Could it be possible that Lovecraft himself actually visited this town before his death in 1937? Join splatter king Edward Lee for a private tour of Innswich Point - a town founded on perversion, torture, and abominations from the sea.

Product Details

• Paperback: 170 pages
• Publisher: Deadite Press (July 14, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193638311X
• ISBN-13: 978-1936383115
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #511,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Edward Lee is an American novelist specializing in the field of horror, and has authored 40 books, more than half of which have been published by mass-market New York paperback companies such as Leisure/Dorchester, Berkley, and Zebra/Kensington. He is a Bram Stoker award nominee for his story "Mr. Torso," and his short stories have appeared in over a dozen mass-market anthologies, including THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES OF 2000, Pocket's HOT BLOOD series, and the award-wining 999. Several of his novels have sold translation rights to Germany, Greece, and Romania. He also publishes quite actively in the small-press/limited-edition hardcover market; many of his books in this category have become collector's items. While a number of Lee's projects have been optioned for film, only one has been made, HEADER, which was released on DVD to mixed reviews in June, 2009, by Synapse Films.

Lee is particularly known for over-the-top occult concepts and an accelerated treatment of erotic and/or morbid sexual imagery and visceral violence. He was born on May 25, 1957 in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Bowie, Maryland. In the late-70s he served in the U.S. Army's 1st Armored Division, in Erlangen, West Germany, then, for a short time, was a municipal police officer in Cottage City, Maryland. Lee also attended the University of Maryland as an English major but quit in his last semester to pursue his dream of being a horror novelist. For over 15 years, he worked as the night manager for a security company in Annapolis, Maryland, while writing in his spare time. In 1997, however, he became a full-time writer, first spending several years in Seattle and then moving to St. Pete Beach, Florida, where he currently resides.

Of note, the author cites as his strongest influence horror legend H. P. Lovecraft; in 2007, Lee embarked on what he calls his "Lovecraft kick" and wrote a spate of novels and novellas which tribute Lovecraft and his famous Cthulhu Mythos. Among these projects are THE INNSWICH HORROR, "Trolley No. 1852," HAUNTER OF THE THRESHOLD, GOING MONSTERING, "Pages Torn From A Travel Journal," and "You Are My Everything." Lee promises more Lovecraftian work on the horizon.

Bibliography

Nightbait (1982) written under the pseudonym Philip Straker
Nightlust (1982) written under the pseudonym Philip Straker
Ghouls (1988)
Coven (1991)
Incubi (1991)
Succubi (1992)
The Chosen (1993)
Creekers (1994)
Sacrifice (1995) written under the pseudonym Richard Kinion
Header (1995)
Goon (1996) with John Pelan
The Bighead (1997)
Shifters (1998) with John Pelan
Portrait of the Psychopath as a Young Woman (1998) with Elizabeth Steffen
Splatterspunk: The Micah Hays Stories (1998) with John Pelan
"Masks" (1999)
"Operator B" (1999): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 450-copy limited hardcover.
"Dahmer's Not Dead" with Elizabeth Steffen (1999): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.
"The Stickmen" (1999): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.
"The Deaths of the Cold War Kings: The Assassinations of Diem & JFK" with Bradley O'Leary (2000): Cemetery Dance Publications.
"City Infernal" (2001): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.
(April 2002): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
"Mr. Torso" (2002): Published as a 52-copy hardcover and 300-copy limited softcover.
"Sex, Drugs and Power Tools" (2002)
"Family Tradition" (2002) with John Pelan
"Monstrosity" (2002): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.
Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
"Ever Nat" (2003): Published as a 52-copy hardcover and 300-copy limited softcover.
"The Baby" (2003): Published as a 52-copy hardcover and 300-copy limited softcover.
"Teratologist" (2003) with Wrath James White
"Incubi" (2003): Necro Publications.
"Infernal Angel" (2003): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 750-copy limited hardcover.
(January 2004): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
"Messenger" (August 2004): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
"The Backwoods" (October 2005): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
(December 2005): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 52-copy leather-bound hardcover and 750-copy limited hardcover.
"Monster Lake" (2005). Necro Publications. First book for young readers.
"Flesh Gothic" (February 2005): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
"Slither" (2006: Necro Publications.)
"Gast" (2007)
(October 2009): Leisure Books. Revised, retitled "Black Train", and published as a Mass Market Paperback.
"House Infernal" (October 2007): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
(February 2008): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 1000-copy limited hardcover.
"Minotauress" (December 2008): Necro Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 300-copy limited hardcover.
"Brides of the Impaler" (September 2008): Leisure Books. Published as a Mass Market Paperback.
(May 2011): Cemetery Dance Publications. Published as Hardcover Limited Edition of 1000 signed copies bound in full cloth and Smyth sewn and Traycased Hardcover Lettered Edition of 52 signed and lettered copies bound in leather with a satin ribbon page marker.
"Golemesque" (March 2009): Necro Publications. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 300-copy limited hardcover.
(April 2009): Leisure Books. Published as "Golem" as a Mass Market Paperback.
"Trolley No. 1852" (May 2009): Bloodletting Press. Published as a 26-copy leather-bound hardcover and 300-copy limited hardcover.(October 2010) Deadite Press, Trade Paperback.
"Haunter of the Threshold" (Summer 2009) Bloodletting Press. Exclusive limited-edition. (December 2010) Deadite Press, Trade Paperback.
"City of Sixes" (2009) Necro Publications. Exclusive limited-edition chapbook included with copies of "Infernally Yours".
"You are My Everything" (January 2010) Necro Publications.
"Going Monstering" (January 2010) Bloodletting Press. Exclusive limited-edition.
"Header 2" (June 2010) Camelot Books. Exclusive limited-edition.
"The Innswich Horror" (Summer 2010) Cemetery Dance. Exclusive limited-edition (Club Members Only), (July 2010), Deadite Press Trade paperback.
"Lucifers Lottery" (October 2010) Leisure Books. Currently eBook only, possible release date of July 2011 for physical book.
"Pages Torn From a Travel Journal" (January 31, 2011) Bloodletting Press.
"Vampire Lodge" (January, 2011) Necro Publications. E-Book only (second book for young readers)
"Witch Water" (Spring 2011) Bloodletting Press. Limited edition hardcover
"The Dunwich Romance" (tbd)
"Header 3" (Heads) (tbd) Bloodletting Press. Limited edition

Collections
The Ushers (1999)
Of Pigs and Spiders (1999) with John Pelan, Brett Alexander Savory and David Niall Wilson
Partners in Chyme (2001) with Ryan Harding
Sleep Disorder (2003) with Jack Ketchum
Haunted House (2007)
Brain Cheese Buffet (2010) Deadite Press
Bullet Through Your Face (2010) Deadite Press
Carnal Surgery (April 2011) Deadite Press

Anthologies
Infernally Yours (2009) 'The Senery' by Edward Lee Necro Publications, a limited-edition hardcover.
Dark Seductions: Tales of Erotic Horror (1993) 'Private Pleasures' by Edward Lee
Bizarre Sex and Other Crimes of Passion (1994) 'I'd Give Anything for You' by Edward Lee & Jack Ketchum
Deadly After Dark: The Hot Blood Series (1994) 'Mr. Torso' by Edward Lee
Seeds of Fear: The Hot Blood Series (1995) 'Grub Girl' by Edward Lee
Stranger By Night: The Hot Blood Series (1995) 'Dead Girls in Love' by Edward Lee & Gary Bowen
Darkside: Horror for the Next Millennium (1996) 'The Stick Woman' by Edward Lee
Fear the Fever: The Hot Blood Series (1996) 'Love Letters from the Rain Forest' by Jack Ketchum & Edward Lee
White House Horrors (1996) 'Night of the Vegetables' by Edward Lee
The UFO Files (1997) 'Secret Service' by Edward Lee
Inside The Works (1997) 'The Pig' by Edward Lee
Whitley Strieber's Aliens (1998) 'Scripture Girl' by Edward Lee
999 (1999) 'ICU' by Edward Lee
Graven Images (2000) 'Masks' by Jack Ketchum & Edward Lee
Triage (2001) 'In the Year of Our Lord 2202' by Edward Lee
Excitable Boys (2002) 'The McCrath Model SS40-C, Series S' by Edward Lee
Damned: An Anthology of the Lost (2004) 'Angel' by Edward Lee
Small Bites (2004) 'The Room' by Edward Lee

Movies
Edward Lee's story "Header" has been made into the film Header. Edward Lee and Jack Ketchum are featured in cameo roles in the movie.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Suspenseful (and slightly perverse) tribute to Lovecraft, August 7, 2010

By 

J. Krall "Horror/Bizarro/Noir Author" (Noir Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Innswich Horror (Paperback)

To be honest, I was a tiny bit disappointed with THE INNSWICH HORROR. It wasn't a bad book by any stretch of the imagination but after reading Lee's books BRAIN CHEESE BUFFET, HEADER 2, and GOING MONSTERING, I think I was spoiled by the author's brand of extreme gross-out. I was expecting the same in THE INNSWICH HORROR.

That being said, this is still a strong book. It's sort of a sequel to Lovecraft's THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH but with a bit more violence and perversion. Yes, there is some twisted stuff that would have made Lovecraft cringe and will probably gross-out a normal person but it's pretty tame compared to a lot of Lee's recent work.

What THE INNSWICH HORROR has going for it mostly is plotting. This is one of Lee's most suspenseful books. It's well-paced and is neither too long or too short for the story he wants to tell (Some of Lee's mass market novels are a bit too long such as BRIDES OF THE IMPALER).

Just so you don't think Edward Lee is just another author who has decided to cash in on the name of Lovecraft, it should be known that Lee is a true fan of HPL. Just check various interviews with the man to see that he is not just a casual devotee to the Cthulhu mythos. Edward Lee respects the source material and the author. Keep in mind, though. Lee does not really write mythos fiction. He tells the stories he wants to tell but often uses the backdrop or style of Lovecraft/Cthulhu mythos. You'll know what I mean after reading THE INNSWICH HORROR and also his very excellent TROLLEY NO. 1852.

This will please fans of Lovecraft who don't mind a little bit of sex and gore to go along with the suspense. For fans of his more hardcore work, just be prepared to NOT be grossed out but instead, enjoy this enjoyable suspense tale in the tradition of the master himself H.P. Lovecraft.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Watch what Rocks you turn over, October 3, 2010

By 

TastyBabySyndrome "Matthew Lewis, author of M... ("Daddy Dagon's Daycare" - Proud Sponsor of the Little Tendril Baseball Team, USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Innswich Horror (Paperback)

Foster is a grand Lovecraftian fan. He is also rich, allowing him to carry his fantasies to the next level. That means finding rare ooks, looking for rare items, and taking trips. In the late 30s Foster decids to do just that, hoping to seek out the same spots that inspired Sahadows over Innsmouth. What he finds is a town that is not on the map, buildings with names that seem misdirected by only a few letters, and oddities that seem to follow the book. Things get odder when he finds himself befriending people who go missing, falling in love, and then finding himself in a place that seems all-too-real when it comes to H.P.L's works.

I've been a Lee fan for a long time and was surprised by this book because it didn't have a hardcore horror feel to it. That wasn't a bad thing, either, because too much of something sometimes says that a writer is running low. Besides, writers plow out tributes to the people they look up to all the time, and Lee seemed to know quite a bit about Shadows. He knew passafes that would fit and buildings that would work, plus a way to hide the town. He also knew some characters to add and a person to put in as a main character, keeping everything flowing. He even put mysteries here - the hotel that seems to have eyes on you always, beautiful women everywhere but always pregnant, and social programs that fixed up this town and made it look nothing like it once was.

That begs the question - what else can it hide?

Without giving too much away, I have to say that I liked a lot of the chase through the book. i kept waiting for something horrific to show its head but, in Lovecraftian style, the thing stayed just out of sight. In Edward Lee style the things that ahppen are a bit worse than L.P.H. would have shown, howeve,r but that was fine. What was great was that the world he was fielding was one that I really liked. The only thing that really hurt was the ending.

When it came to the ending, you expect the follow-up that both Lovecraft and Lee would give. No happiness, no touching things, and a lot of monstrosity. There is little to none of the rules that are followed here, however, and they seem to force themselves on the reader. I am only talking about a 10 page area, mind you, and these do not keep me from the 4 stars I think the book should get. Still, the thing should have been different and that would have made a more beautiful Lee/Lovecraft mix.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Macabre and Fantastic, February 10, 2011

By 

gargirl (Heath, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Innswich Horror (Paperback)

Though not a lengthy tome, coming in around 165 pages, "The Innswich Horror" is a masterpiece of horror.

The main character, Foster Morley, is likable, imperfect and charmingly stilted in the manner of The Master's most memorable protagonists. Only two years after H.P Lovecraft's death Morley, a wealthy, idle gentleman in his early thirties, sets off on a scenic tour along the route his idol, Mr. Lovecraft, once traveled. He expects nothing supernatural or mysterious, he merely wants to see the places that inspired his idol's imaginative tales, but in a pleasant and prosperous little fishing village he finds that his assumptions about reality may be horribly, terribly in error.

The story is creepy and twisted, occasionally sickening; it is not for the young and innocent nor anyone faint of heart, but it is outstanding as both a gripping adventure and nightmarish work of horror. I have never read Edward Lee before but if this book is any indication of his talents I will be reading everything by him I can get my hands on. I highly recommend this book to lovers of darkness, despair and depravity. If those things aren't your cup of tea; move along, there is nothing for you to see here.