Gary A. Braunbeck Mr. Hands

Mr. Hands

Gary A. Braunbeck

Leisure, August 2007, $6.99, 354 pp.

ISBN: 9780843956100

Most people thought Ronald J. Williamson (not that he was known by that name) aka Uncle Ronnie was a serial killer with seven kills attributed him in one year. Ronnie was a child when he discovered he had the ability to know if a child would suffer as a grown up or inflict agony or others. Those like that he killed until he realized decades later that he made a mistake when he destroys the fetus of a pregnant woman.

This killing caused Sarah to be kidnapped and never found because the big brother she was supposed to have was never born thanks to Ronnie. In his grief, he killed himself, his essence seeping into the ground. Lucy, the bereaved mother of Sarah, happens upon the spot during a storm carrying Mr. Hands, a figure that was Sarah's favorite toy. An alchemical mix of rain lightening, blood, and spirit caused Mr. Hands to come alive under Lucy's command. She had him kill, in horrific ways, the monsters that killed innocent children until the day she made a mistake and condemned an innocent to death. She vows to find a way to stop Mr. Hands from completing his last command because she can't handle the responsibility of an child's death who doesn't deserve it..

Want to get creeped out? Read MR. HANDS, a horror story of the supernatural and human kind. Gary A. Braunbeck is one of the new breed of horror writers, writing dark noir that will have readers back with the lights on and jumping out of their skin. Both Ronnie and Lucy are typical villains in many ways yet have a conscience that disturbs them as to err may be human, but deadly. Their methods are unlawful and ugly but they somehow reach an understanding audience. "Kiss of the Madman, the author's international horror guild Award-winning novella, is included in this book as a fabulous bonus.

Harriet Klausner