Ladies' Night

By: Jack Ketchum

Narrated by: Anthony Mendez

Ladies' Night is a non-stop rollercoaster ride of sheer nerve rattling terror, previously deemed too violent for mass-market publication. In this modern tale of the ages-old battle of the sexes carried to the extreme, Jack Ketchum again provides listeners with an excursion into horror as relentless as a John Woo film.

Tom Braun and his wife, Susan, aren't exactly a picturesque couple. Thus it comes as no surprise that Tom continually spends late evenings in bars and cheats on his wife. Unfortunately, their son, Andy, is caught in the middle of his parent's childish banter and family chaos. One life-altering evening turns this family's, along with most of New York's, perceptions on the nuclear family and male/female relationships upside down.

When a tanker trunk with "Ladies Inc." emblazoned on the side crashes in a quiet area in New York, an area it doesn't have authorization to be in, it liberally spills its contents all over the road and into the surrounding atmosphere. The local authorities deem the contents of the spill to be safe, based merely on the assumption that products coming from a women's label are more than likely benign. Moreover, the smell emanating from the spill is one of sweet cherry, similar to lollipops, which must of course be harmless if not favorable. This aforementioned assumption proves fatally incorrect. The chemical load the truck was hauling procures a discomfiting, bestial effect in women, forcing them to savagely attack males in their vicinity - be they former friend or foe.

Tom, while at a local bar, absorbs the evening's strange turn of events with traumatizing clarity as he witnesses first hand the metamorphosis of surrounding women into gruesomely instinctual brutes and mantis-like predators. He must get home to his son Andy, who is currently alone with his wife, Susan - before it is too late. (A multicast production.)

©1997, 2011 Dallas Mayr (P)2011 David N. Wilson

calling1

Ketchum is a sick genius. i have loves every book of his I've read look. looking forward to next one

The female, zombie apocalypse

Reads like a bad teenage male fantasy on acid; the female, zombie apocalypse! The narrative is urgent and intense but can be messy as the story transitions in "quick cuts". From memory in the prologue the author says that he was trying to write a movie script at the time and 'Ladies' Night' reads that way. It would make a great B-grade horror movie. The narrator's gravelly voice seems a bit abrasive to begin with but once the action kicks off it suits the story down to a t. I'm still not sure if I "like" 'Ladies' Night', but it certainly leaves an impression while it lasts.

HER THINKING WAS UNSTRUCTURED AND WITHOUT LOGIC

Introduction
I really enjoyed the introduction, in which Jack Ketchum explains what he went through to get this book published. I admire a man who sticks to his guns, but perhaps he might have taken some advice. I am a Jack Ketchum Fan, but this was hard to listen to. Not because of the gore, but due to the lack of plot or character development. The concept of the book was great, but what it turned into was one gory scene after another for almost three hours. I actually found my mind wondering and had to concentrate to know what was going on. With no plot and no characters to care about I was bored as people were being stabbed, shot, heads cut off, blood here, blood there, etc...

This was my intro to Jack Ketchum

The story was good, not incredibly involved, but if you're looking for that serious fix for 1980's style B horror movie with action and violence this is it.

It's like really tasty candy. It's not good for you, but you can't help but to rot your teeth out.

My personal, very subjective criticism is Anthony Mendez the narrator. He read the book fine, but the tone of his voice is very deep and I found it distracting. Totally my problem, not his. 🙂

wish it was longer!

narrator was great. love how raw Jack writes. wish this one was longer for sure