On the Lips of Children was not what I expected at all.

Since reading one of Mr. Matthew's previous books, ([b:Stray|12694419|Stray|Mark Matthews|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1328279297s/12694419.jpg|17824536]), way back when I first got my Kindle, I've been meaning to read more of his work. When he offered a free copy of this one, in exchange for an honest review, I said yes. I'm glad I did! "Stray" was a good read but this novella (short novel?) is more up my alley as I am a horror-lovin' gal.

The story begins with a couple (Macon and Erin) staying at a hotel with their daughter, Lyric. They are in town for a marathon taking place the next day. Before dark in the morning, Macon gets some info on a runner's trail that ends at the beach and he's off. That's all I will say about the plot.(The book's description will give you a little more.)

This was an imaginative story. The general subject matter, (I won't be any more specific than that for fear of spoiling something), has been done before. However, Mr. Matthew's characterization is what sets this book apart. From the lead character's inner thoughts while running, to their inner thoughts regarding what happened to them later...they all rang true to me.

The atmosphere in this one was dark-I loved the building sense of dread and tension that I felt. I didn't think the author would be able to keep that sense of tension throughout, but in the end, I have to admit that he did.

Lastly, this book was pretty gruesome. In fact, that may be an understatement. It's nothing a seasoned horror fan would be disturbed to see, but if you're not a regular reader of the genre, the details involved here may disturb you.

All in all, I loved this story. Recommended for fans of horror and dark fiction!

(A copy of this is posted at the Ravenous Reads blog, for which I write guest reviews. You can find this review and more of my reviews there!) http://ravenousreads.blogspot.com/search/label/Guest Review ( )

You can tell the writing style was going for an in-your-face grittiness. It fell flat on it's ass, though, and ended up being an unsubtle romp through grade-school curse words and catch phrases.

This book is screaming for an editor to hack and slash away at it... although beneath all the horrible writing, I didn't even see a thread of an engaging story. ( )

"A riveting story and extremely talented narrator"

If you could sum up On the Lips of Children in three words, what would they be?
Edgy, dark, powerful

What was one of the most memorable moments of On the Lips of Children?
One of the most memorable moments for me was when Macon came back and made his stand. Not to give anything away, but he didn't need to run that marathon to prove himself.

Have you listened to any of Bob Dunsworth’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I've never listened to this narrator before, but he is very talented. Believable voices and appropriate emotion throughout. Very smooth reading, no awkward pauses or stumbling.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
I thought the most moving moment in the book was when Macon had to give up something he wanted to give to the person he loved in order to get that person back. He seemed to put so much stock in that object he had, but when it came right down to it, he knew what mattered most. I love the way he fought for his family no matter how beaten down he was.

Any additional comments?
I really enjoyed listening to this book. The narrator was perfect and the story was a perfect contrast of light and dark. There was plenty of tension and action and moments that made you cheer out loud. I felt a little bit uneasy about how the book did end, though, and wonder if there will be a sequel in that? ( )

My full On the Lips of Children audiobook review can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.

Starting out great with a view of a woman trapped in the dark, underground somewhere, with little memory of how she got there. I really liked where Mark Matthews was going with this. Sort of a The Hills have Eyes twist with the running trail has eyes. Simply a "family" of meth addicts live under a running trail and their only way of getting more money for more meth is to kidnap unsuspecting souls. To me meth heads are more terrifying than pretty much anything. No cares other than that next fix and destroying everything in their path. Making them great antagonists for any horror tale.

We get to know a young hipster couple and their daughter, that are training for a marathon. Macon, the father, gets nabbed by the meth heads. They demand $10,000 for his release. Beginning an adrenaline filled cat and mouse game of survival and deceit. I found I could not connect with any of the characters or the circumstances of the story, keeping me from fully enjoying everything that Matthews created.

Audiobook submitted for review by the author. ( )

Book Info: Genre: Literary Dark Fiction
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: fans of dark fiction
Trigger Warnings: murder, mutilation, cannibalization, cutting (self-injury), reported death of a child, danger to babies, kidnapping

My Thoughts: This is a very twisted book. Dante's behavior due to the excessive drug use and his constant talk about needing to take people's faces off to see who they really are made me think of that movie Face-Off. I also have to wonder why, after seeing what meth and salts do to other people, anyone would even want to try the stuff.

There are some typos. Most consistently, “feint” is used instead of “faint”, and “taught” instead of “taut”, but I noticed others as well.

This is not quite horror, although the ending is left vague enough that you could imagine it so if you wished. The main characters, Macon and Erin, are both adrenaline junkies, into tattooing and running. I know this author is a runner, so it's obvious he writes what he knows. Fans of dark fiction should find this an interesting read, but keep in mind there is a lot of rather nasty gore, so more sensitive readers should beware.

Disclosure: I received an e-book copy of this from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis: Meet Macon. Tattoo artist. Athlete. Family man.

He's planning to run a marathon, but the event becomes something terrible.

During a warm-up run, Macon falls prey to a bizarre man and his wife who dwell in an underground drug-smuggling tunnel. They raise their twin children in a way Macon couldn't imagine: skinning unsuspecting victims for food and money.

And Macon, and his family, are next. ( )