Told from several points of view, Milk-Blood by Mark Matthews is an urban horror novella about ten-year-old Lilly, her dysfunctional life and poor neighborhood. Born with a heart defect, she’s already addicted to heroin and intrigued by the abandoned house across the street. A mysterious homeless man lives there, and he’s been trying to get Lilly to come inside. I’m impressed with the premise and the way Matthews developed it into the fast-paced plot. It’s dark, disturbing, and its gripping narrative will certainly arouse one’s concern about drugs, poverty and the innocent children trapped in that side of society.
Milk-Blood is a real horror story. There’s no need for creepy monsters and supernatural beings here. The humans are enough to incite terror in readers’ minds. That said, there’s a supernatural undertone, but it’s presented in a more realistic manner. It particularly delves into the subject of drug addiction without hesitation. I empathized with Lilly instantly, the daughter of junkie parents, who unwillingly became trapped in the same situations as them.
The transitions from one point of view to another are smooth and deftly executed, another aspect that shows Matthews’ skill as a writer. I found the included author’s notes odd at first, but they made sense as I read through until the end. On the whole, some readers might find this tragic story too upsetting. On the other hand, this brutally frank and gritty novella is a brilliant read and undeniably thought-provoking. Simply put, Milk-Blood is highly recommended.
(MILK-BLOOD has over 125 reviews on Amazon, 77% of them 4 and 5 stars)
MILK-BLOOD, a novel by Mark Matthews, has been optioned for a full length feature film by Monkey Knuckle Films. The option includes rights to the short story, The Damage Done, a companion piece to the novel.
"MILK-BLOOD is true reality horror, with supernatural elements that only serve to make it more believable," explains executive producer Michael Bradford. "The story will certainly hold an audience."
MILK-BLOOD is the story of a ten year old girl named Lilly, born with a heart defect, who lives on a Detroit street where poverty, urban despair, addiction, and both the living and the dead threaten her outside her doorstep. The author has tapped into this experience as a
social worker to create what one review site calls, "an Urban legend in the making.” The author’s previous novel, On the Lips of Children, was a number one best-selling kindle novel on amazon.
The title, "Milk-Blood," comes from the Neil Young song, "The Needle and the Damage Done" and refers to the extensive lengths a heroin addict will go to in order to maintain their high.
Monkey Knuckle Films is a newly created LLC, but the founders have a long history of horror, and have worked with actors such as Sid Haig from The Devil’s Rejects, and much of the cast of The Evil Dead. They are currently in post-production for the horror film, "Elder Island", set for release in 2016. MILK-BLOOD was a semi-finalist for the 2015 Best Kindle Book Awards and is available in paperback, kindle, or audiobook on amazon.
