The Midwest Book Review

Misery Plaza is the second book in the New England Southern Horror Anthology Series. It follows the flight of murderer Joseph Griffin (nee William Potter) into a new life in the small village of Missouri Plaza, home to many others who have something to hide.

Turns out Missouri Plaza is no refuge, but holds secrets of its own—which are literally buried in Potter’s backyard. His ability to fall into trouble wherever he goes reaches new heights here, where he confronts a special form of horror out west that challenges even his own ability to run on the dark side of the law and morality.

From the start, J.J. Alo creates a riveting story, opening with a small plane’s crash where a struggle for cockpit control concludes in disaster. The prologue sets the stage with intrigue and contrasts sharply and intriguingly with the first-person narration of Chapter 1, in which the speaker informs readers:

My father was a good man. A decent man, despite what you may have heard about him through folklore or read about him in your history books... I’m certainly not going to stand here and begin to justify any of the things he did or those I happened to be privy to. Some of which stay with me to this very day. Things I couldn’t explain at that time. Things beyond what you good folk would rightfully call rational comprehension. Now, I truly don’t mean to harp on such things, but I would be completely remiss not to mention the impression he left on my brother and me. Especially me.

Between these two events lies a delightful synthesis of intrigue and horror which emerges in different ways to affect the progression and outcome of a smoldering story which grows its horror.

The family’s flight to Missouri Plaza and the events which unfold from there come from different perspectives that reveal impacts, surprises, and revelations in novel manners. Readers absorb the flowing, shifting events from these perspectives, relishing how each piece of the puzzle dovetails to create a new compelling perception.

A wide cast of characters emerges from these encounters, with Alo taking the time and care to cement each character into their world with realistic, atmospheric intrigue. This builds a gripping tale in which social, political, and psychological threads of individual purpose contribute to the evolution of the unexpected.

Libraries seeking stories firmly rooted in thoroughly engrossing characters, special interests, and dangerous decisions and encounters will find Misery Plaza easy to recommend to horror readers who like their choices firmly rooted in a sense of place and purpose.

Those who come to appreciate its notes of Western environment, menace that stems from men and monsters alike, and its ability to weave a complex yarn will delight in Misery Plaza’s unique story of treasure, adversity, bounty hunters, cowards and criminals.

Packed with twists and historical references readers won’t see coming, its sharp contrasts between place and people creates a page-turner of horror and revelation that is impossible to predict and easy to love.