Ancient Horror History Unearthed: Deathwalker by R. Patrick Gates REVIEWED

It's a pretty loud non-secret of mine that since running the blog, and digging more deeply into the obscure titles of Horror fiction, my favorite discovery has been R. Patrick Gates.

I try to read one of his books quarterly, as I make my way through his back catalog, trying to maintain fairness to all the other books on my to-be-read list, but often times, I get a bit greedy and need to catapult one of his books to the top of my list.

His fourth novel here, Deathwalker, is a shining example of why. Gates' writing style is just a perfect match for me as a reader. It's fast, frenzied and no-holds-barred. When I pick up a R. Patrick Gates book, I am married to it in ways that few other writers can muster.

Despite my adoration, I heed absolute warning to readers new to the author. He goes places that other writers will not, often in violent and perverse ways, that will absolutely alienate some. I would be lying if there weren't strange pangs of guilt tapping on my skull when I'm reading one of his books.

However, if you're not afraid of some morality questioning, stomach turning violence that noone is safe from, as horror should ultimately be, I recommend this and every Gates novel prior without hesitation.

Deathwalker is the sequel to 1991s Tunnelvision, featuring all of the survivng major players from that great book, in a new horrific adventure. God damn, these guys have bad luck.

However, you do not have to have read Tunnelvision to have a full understanding of what's going on, so if you've got a copy of this guy and not of his older brother, you can dig right in without worry.

Bill Gage, the talented former cop from Tunnelvision, is left a hot mess after the events that transpired. He's a hardcore alcoholic, a shell of his former self and working as a Kmart security guard. He's doing his best to maintain a decent relationship with his family, which takes a sour turn when gets wrapped up in cocaine.

He hits rock bottom and finds himself in a detox and rehabilitation facility, a last gasp opportunity to make amends and get clean.

Meanwhile, a new even more horrible killer is on a rampage, with Gage and his family marked for dead, naming him at each of his brutal crimes.

Deathwalker is a great read, but man is it a nasty one. The titular villain wields a razor-sharp dildo as his key dispatch utility and the victims are chosen to mirror Gage's own family constellation. It's relentless in it's graphic violence towards children and families. I have to stress that if sheer nastiness, that noone is safe from, isolates you from certain books, Gates may not be your match.

I also have to stress he is a fantastic storyteller, who often wears graphic gore and sexual violence on his sleeve, but just beneath has wonderful, very human messages to send.

Just inside of it's graphic horror shell, Deathwalker takes a candid, harrowing look at addiction and the effects it has on all. Each of the characters in the book are profoundly impacted by the nature of addiction, and it plays a role in the book in such a way that it is, in fact, the villain itself.

The reality is that addiction ruins lives and few are safe from it once it's reared its ugly head.

Razor dildos, just the same.

I give Deathwalker a solid 4.5/5, and a hearty recommendation for those not squeamish.

Cheers to you, R. Patrick Gates, for writing some of the most fucked up, powerful stuff I've had the opportunity to read.