Book Review--FRANKENSTEIN'S WITCH: ST. LIZZIE, PRAY FOR US

 

The esteemed classic horror film historian Gregory William Mank has written his first novel. FRANKENSTEIN'S WITCH: ST. LIZZIE, PRAY FOR US (published by Bear Manor Media) spans two different eras in Hollywood--1931 and 1967. 

In the spring of 1967, a fire breaks out at Universal Studios. A bizarre-looking naked woman is reported near the scene. Private investigator Porter Down believes the woman may have something to do with a similar figure he dealt with in 1931, a woman who caused mayhem during the production of Universal's FRANKENSTEIN. Is it the same woman? Does she have supernatural powers? Or are there all too real forces behind her diabolical designs?? 

The first thing I must say about FRANKENSTEIN'S WITCH is that it is a very frank and intense novel, with plenty of adult language and situations. Those who are familiar with Greg Mank's work, or who have met him at any movie conventions, might be surprised at the content in this book (in person the author is a true gentleman). 

I don't believe that the salacious elements in this work are just a way to get the reader's attention. This is a dark, complex tale, dealing with guilt, sin, redemption, religious mania, and sexual obsession. Nearly every major character in this book is trying to come to terms with a past traumatic experience, and the Southern California that Mank details--1931 and 1967--is a seedy, seductive, scary place, seemingly drawing the worst out of everyone. 

This is not just a collection of factoids that film geeks will recognize, or a nostalgic look at the Golden Age of film making. There are plenty of references and characters that old monster movie fans will recognize, but these connections are more than just gimmicks. 

FRANKENSTEIN'S WITCH is a fascinating, if at times disturbing, read. Despite the fact that the novel runs nearly 400 pages, the pace never slackens--it's a fast-moving story. 

If you are a film or history buff, and you are looking for some unique fiction, FRANKENSTEIN'S WITCH will fit the bill. Just be aware that it is the equivalent of an "R" rated film--and a hard "R" at that. I have a feeling that we might have more adventures featuring Porter Down in the future--but I don't know how they can top what happens to him in this book.