PopHorror Let's Get Scared
George A. Romero is considered by most to be the father of the modern zombie horror genre. I will be real here, I am not a huge fan of zombie films, with the exception of Night of the Living Dead (1968). I didn’t see this film until I was an adult and it is definitely on my list of favorite horror films. What I really enjoy about George’s films, is the fact there is an actual plot and usually a lesson learned or some sort of moral test within. Additionally, I love his characters he created and the uniqueness and quirkiness of them.
New York Times Best Selling author Daniel Kraus, who was hand picked by George’s widow to bring his unfinished novel, The Living Dead to the world in 2020. You may read our review here. Daniel is well known for his collaborations with Guillermo Del Toro on both The Shape of Water (2018) and Trollhunters (2015). You can read more about Daniel in our interview here.
So needless to say, when I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. What intrigued me about the book, Pay the Piper, was this book had nothing to do with zombies. I read the synopsis and I knew I had to read this book. I was excited to read something other than zombies and the story idea just called out to me. What did I think of this book? Read on to find out…spoiler free of course!
About Pay the Piper
In 2020, while sifting through the University of Pittsburgh Library’s George A. Romero Archival Collection, Daniel Kraus—who was then working on Romero’s Living Dead, what was thought to be Romero’s final work—discovered a surprise: a half-finished novel called Pay the Piper, a project few had ever heard of. In the years since, Kraus has worked with Romero’s estate to bring this unfinished masterwork to light.
Synopsis
Alligator Point, Louisiana. Population 141.
Young Renée Pontiac has heard stories of “the Piper”—a murderous swamp entity haunting the bayou—her entire life. But now the legend feels horrifically real: children are being taken and gruesomely slain. To resist, Pontiac and the town’s desperate denizens will need to acknowledge the sins of their ancestors—the infamous slave traders, the Pirates Lafitte. If they don’t . . . it’s time to pay the piper.
My Thoughts
This book does such an effective job of transporting you into a different world. I am not familiar with the South at all, but I felt right there in the humid Southern Bayous of Louisiana. The story is focused in Alligator Point with a population of 141. It is a fascinating location for this story, which includes slang and Cajun dialect to enhance the story . Note- that this will not take away from the story or make it difficult to read.
We are then introduced to the many characters in Alligator Point and I just loved meeting these oddball characters and by the point of the “meat and potatoes” of the story, I really did end up caring about all of them. They are vivid and 9 year old Pontiac is such a great character. I love the representation of a strong young female protagonist. Note- this story is a slow burn, which I am a big fan of. The story takes the time to set the rest of the story up, which includes a lot of information about the characters and the lore.
This story combines gothic, supernatural and some cosmic horror along with folk horror. It is a perfect blend of all of these genres. There were some parts that definitely brought uneasiness and at the same time written beautifully. The characters are what drive and make this story so wonderful. The horror elements are an added bonus.
Daniel Kraus brought this story together so well. My only “complaint” would be the at times inconsistent pacing, which at times felt off. I never lost interest in the book though, definitely a page turner, however the pacing did distract me for a moment. This could also be just a “me” issue.
Final Thoughts
Pay the Piper is an immersive and atmospheric gothic tale set in the humid Bayous of Louisiana. An oddball character driven story, a strong plot with elements of not only gothic horror, but supernatural, folk and cosmic horror as well. If you enjoy any of these elements of horror or if you are looking to read something different this spooky season, be sure to check this one out. I highly recommend. Pay the Piper is now available in both paperback and ebook formats.
