Grim Root

By Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam

Dark Matter Ink (June 4, 2024)

Review by The Horror Zine Staff Reviewer Jon R. Meyers

Buy the book HERE

I think it’s safe to say that the author’s name is just as much fun as the title and cover art of their excellent debut horror novel. This will not be the last time we’ll be seeing their name recognized in the horror community.

The writing throughout the entirety of the book is top-notch. The characters are very well-developed. The author does a fantastic job of mashing-up the horror and romance genres into one exciting package that is intended for mature audiences. It’s important to note that this book contains scenes of gore, suggestive sexual innuendos, and other content specifically written for an adult audience. The author presents these elements of their writing in a professionally acceptable and tasteful manner, as it is all meticulously part of the sinister plot, and creativity of the genre mash-up being presented to the reader.

Think adult romcom gone horror just for fun! Graham Masterton’s The Shadow People but on the set of Sex and the City. Imagine reality television shows such as Love Island, The Perfect Match, Love is Blind, and most importantly, The Bachelor.

Grim Root takes us to Matrimony Manor on the set of a popular reality television series, The Groom, as a group of loveable and, well, not-so-lovable women compete for a chance to marry the man of their dreams, a dull and boring Midwestern farmer, Tristan. The author has tons of fun with the typical stereotype of the groom here, blending the physical reality of the dramatic behind-the scenes illusions from actual reality television with a barrage of satirical and entertaining horror tropes when the sinister host and camera crew take the remaining contestants to the set of a notoriously haunted house called The Manor to see if the contestants have what it takes to survive a haunting.

Deja, the sinister host of The Groom has promised Linda, much like the other remaining contestants of the show, the opportunity for money, power, and fame. If they have what it takes, that is. Linda’s character is one of the main focuses throughout the narrative here. She is different than the others. She is honest, genuine, and could care less about the man of their dreams here, seeing through the facade of stereotypes and gimmicky gimmicks. Things begin to heat up when we as the reader discover that one of the members of the cast has been found dead. They’ve been brutally murdered and tortured. Who could do such a thing? Linda is all too familiar with the likes of the manor, her past, issues with her family, and several failed relationships, but maybe she’ll be able to find love at the manor after all, on her terms.

As Linda, Sabrina, and Charity continue to compete for the man of their dreams we as the reader begin to realize that things are not at all what they seem. Will they pass the test? Is the manor actually haunted? Will they make it out alive? Or will their secrets be exposed to the world on live television before the next episode airs?

Simply put, the book is just that good. I found myself genuinely interested and curious as to where the plot was headed from scene to scene.

The author’s ability to progress the plot, while strengthening the emotional depth of their well-developed characters was executed very well here and kept the pages turning quickly. The overall layout, subject matter, and mix-mash of genres allowed the author to explore, develop, and introduce their characters to the reader in a unique, enticing, and creative way, as if taking us as the reader to those very grim roots of their human psyche, humanity, thoughts and desires, while exposing the darkness to be found behind the scenes of love, lies, and deception behind the scenes of reality television.

Every word throughout the entirety of the book is screaming with horror tropes in a fun and playful way. The author’s voice here in this book is a breath of fresh air. Often when playing with horror tropes in a satirical fashion such as this one, it’s easy for the author to get lost in the moment and become overly predictable in a negative way. Stufflebeam does the exact opposite here while keeping the reader on the tips of their toes, engaged in the story, and absolutely knocking it out of the horror park.

Here is one of my favorite quotes to help showcase the author’s unique writing style.

“This big old house here is haunted. It’s got a lot of history. As you all know, I like scary stuff. But more than that, I need a woman who isn’t afraid—of haunted houses, tough conversations, a kid’s temper tantrum, or of new adventures. I do a lot of scary stuff. I need a lady who can be by my side, from bungee jumping to jumping from a plane. Man, I need a lady who can handle a haunting.”

Grim Root is a sultry dish of horror reality television chock-full of laugh-out-loud fun, satirical horror tropes, twists and turns, love and desire, deception, hidden secrets, and a past just as gruesome as the present as those very grim roots lie dormant beneath the haunted soil of the Manor.

Highly recommended.