Milk-Blood

By: Mark Matthews

Narrated by: Jay Wohlert

Length: 3 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Lilly is 10 years old, born with a heart defect, and already addicted to heroin. Her mother is gone from her life, and there are rumors that she was killed by her father and buried near the abandoned house across the street. The house intrigues her, she can't stay away, and the monstrous homeless man who lives there has been trying to get Lilly to come inside.

For her mother is there, buried in the back, and this homeless man is Lilly's true father, and both want their daughter back.

©2014 Wicked Run Press (P)2014 Mark Matthews

Incredibly disturbing

Milk blood is a bleak, unflinching look at people in desperation situations. When I say bleak, I am not exaggerating. These people are more than down on their luck, they have hit rock bottom. It’s a gripping mix of the horror show that is drug addiction and otherworldly horror that feels so natural your skin may crawl. It’s descriptive and gut- wrenching and some truly terrible things happen to an innocent young girl. You might want to have something upbeat nearby because some of these scenes may wreck you. Unless I’m just getting wimpier as the years go by. Nah. I don't think that's it.

I listened to this story in its unabridged audiobook format which immerses you in the desolation of the story. The narrator is deadly serious (as he needs to be) and, to be honest, though it’s only 3 hours or so, I had to take breaks and listen to some silly horror podcasts in between. This story is intense and bothered me on a level that most horror can’t reach. It’s similar to Lynda Barry’s Cruddy in that way. Only without the humor. There's nothing humorous here.

Don’t do drugs people. Just don’t.

*I received a copy of the audio from the author.

realistic drug addict monsters that actually exist

If there is one thing that I have come to expect from Mark Matthews, it is extreme horror. But not from the likes of paranormal monsters or zombies or anything like that. It comes from the realistic drug addict monsters that actually exist. I expect nothing less than that here.

Not having any idea what milk-blood was, I was horrified as Matthews layed out the definition. Full of intense, fully conceptualized characters. A story line that gives me goosebumps every time I think about the story. There are some many different things that subtly happen that I am not going into a summary. Just know this, reality horror at its finest.

There were times that I had to stop listening and wasn't sure if I could finish. Not because of a bad story but by disgust. I didn't know if I could stomach it. Matthews takes it to level that I haven't encountered anywhere else.

If you are looking for a short listen that will make you sweat with anticipation, nauseous with disgust, uncomfortable with uneasiness and horrified with real life monsters. Look no further. If you can stomach listening to the entire book, like I did, you will wonder what is wrong with you for doing so.

Jay Wohlert did a great job bringing the madness of the secret lives of addicts to light. He was able to successfully create believable voices for the characters. Even thought there were a few times when he sounded a bit stiff and uncomfortable himself. I can only imagine what is was like to create this performance.

Audiobook provided for review by the author.

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Dark. Raw. Gritty. Disturbing.

What did you love best about Milk-Blood?

A view into a life that I have never experienced, and never plan to. The supernatural elements in this story were added in perfectly. The twist at the end makes you want to go back and listen to the whole book over again.

In the beginning of the book you are given 'The definition of milk blood according to the urban dictionary. The act of extracting heroin laden blood for reinjection at a later time. It's usually one’s own blood, but could also be the blood of someone who has just overdosed. It is done as insurance in case ones heroin supply runs out.'

There is also a pretty nifty disclaimer that really sets the mood.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Milk-Blood?

Jarvis is locked in the basement by his mother, and he shoots up with his father's ashes. It shows the extent people will go to to acquire a high. I was cringing the entire time through that part.

Have you listened to any of Jay Wohlert’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Not yet, but plan to. He did a wonderful job. Jay has a very pleasant voice, and he does different characters very well.

Who was the most memorable character of Milk-Blood and why?

They were all memorable, and written very well. My favorite had to be Jarvis, and that is kind of surprising to me as he is not necessarily the main character.

Any additional comments?

I received a copy of this audio book for an honest review.

Disturbing and engrossing

What did you like best about Milk-Blood? What did you like least?

The ease in which the author draws you into the life of urban decay, drug use, and mental illness was surprising. I found myself questioning whether the story was indeed real, fiction, or a hallucination on my part.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

I admit to being a little confused by the ending. It seemed abrupt and unfinished.

What does Jay Wohlert bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jay brought each of the characters to life, and his effortless drop into dialect and pacing for urban Detroit made it all the more real.

Did Milk-Blood inspire you to do anything?

It inspired me to never do heroin. Ever.

Much better than I expected it to be

If you could sum up Milk-Blood in three words, what would they be?

dismal urban horror

What other book might you compare Milk-Blood to and why?

Not a book but a movie - Wes Craven's "The People Under the Stairs".... except the movie had a happier ending.

Which character – as performed by Jay Wohlert – was your favorite?

Lily

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No.

Any additional comments?

Not a story for everyone. There is no happy side to this tale. It's gritty and dirty and makes you feel like you want to shower after reading/listening to it. But very very well written and I actually like stories that are not formulaic. This tale took me places I didn't think it would. Nice little gem.

UNSETTLING AND RIVETING

What made the experience of listening to Milk-Blood the most enjoyable?

The story was compelling, as was the storytelling. The narrator delivered a strong performance which brought the book to life and gave it texture and dimension. He has the kind of tonality and inflection that fixed my attention. I listened to the book from beginning to end in one session. I couldn't stop.

What other book might you compare Milk-Blood to and why?

The Outsiders was a trip to Disneyland compared to Milk Blood. I've never heard an urban tale that was quite this dark. And I've lived in Manhattan for nearly 30 years. This piece of work proved the adage that as bad as inner city life may look from the outside, it's much worse on the inside.

Have you listened to any of Jay Wohlert’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't, but I feel compelled to seek out other work he's done. His performance was superb.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I think the moment a grown man injected heroin into a 10 year old, beginning an addiction in this innocent child is perhaps the darkest thing I've heard in a long time.

Any additional comments?

The narrator delivered a performance with unflinching commitment to the art of this story. Given the grit and truth of Milk Blood, that was no easy feat. He is to be commended. Thanks to a superb story and storytelling, Milk Blood will haunt me for a long time.

SCARY

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Nope, there is nothing I would change about this book. The author wrote this book and it's intended to be what it is. Mark Mathews is a social worker and a therapist and has probably had to deal with these types of things. It's just not for everyone.

What was the most interesting aspect of this story? The least interesting?

The interesting part of the story is the way it was told. The least interesting is the subject matter. Not only is it sad but also scary. It gave me the heebie jeebies. I didn't know what milk blood was and now I do.

What does Jay Wohlert bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Jay Wohlert does a fine job performing the story. He has good voice inflections and made it more real.

Do you think Milk-Blood needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

I don't know. Probably no. It made it's point. I feel really bad for anyone born into these circumstances and children born addicted to drugs. I wish that society could be free of these afflictions.

Any additional comments?

I received this audiobook foc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Milk Blood

Any additional comments?

This was a short and scarey book.One never knows what is real and what isn't.I liked it!The narrator ,Jay Wohlert,was perfect for this project.

A bit more gruesome than horror.

Any additional comments?

I'm not usually one for horror, but this didn't really feel like horror to me. Gruesome, to be sure, and violent, but not much in the way of horror. This was a hard read, but only because it is difficult to listen to a child go through such terrible things. I didn't really get the writer part of the story though. It felt too much like a quick fix.

I must say that the narrator did a decent job. The accents were a bit much for me, but the characterization was good and the speed was great.

A bit more gruesome than horror.

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.**

Not a bad story but very dark!

I had to listen to this story twice because the first time I listened to it I had way too many distractions and missed most of it.

The second listen I got relaxed in a quiet room and did nothing else but listen. I am glad I did for this was a very dark story of drug abuse by pretty much every active character in the book with some horror thrown in towards the end for good measure.

The narrator could have been better. He sounded like a white man trying to do the voices of what sounded like black characters. Most of his character voices sounded more or less the same and it was difficult at times for me to follow who was talking unless it was Lily, the only female character to speak. Even the pitch of her voice was different depending on who she was talking to and when. sometimes it was high and squeaky and other times more mature sounding.

I am glad that I received this audiobook for free in exchange for an honest review because I would hate to think I had had to pay for it. The narrator did not do justice to what was otherwise an engaging story. I really feel that a better narrator would have made a huge difference in the story. I don't see myself buying any audio books narrated by Mr. Wohlert.