At Lake Mountain,
Death is only the beginning...
Her name is Raven...
Raven – a bird of large size, with black lustrous
plumage and raucous voice, who feeds chiefly on carrion or
other flesh. The Raven is mischievous and thievish, and is
regarded as an evil omen and of mysterious character.
Quick-sighted, sagacious and bold, Ravens take away by
force; to seize or divide and spoil. They plunder. They
devour voraciously; feed hungrily or greedily; they prey on
or upon.
Her friend is Amber...
Thrown out of home by her alcoholic father, and with no
place to stay, Raven is the only friend Amber has. Raven
takes her in and lets her stay in her small trailer at the
Pine Hill Trailer Park. Amber relies on Raven, she needs
her, she can’t live without her...
But then there’s the body. And the need to flee...
And the road to Lake Mountain is their only hope of escape.
Until they meet Tyler...and everything changes.
For their destinies lie along the long, lonely track to
Lake Mountain. It's gonna be one hell of a road-trip...
Steve Gerlach’s Lake Mountain.
Because after death, only love remains...
Read reviews of LAKE MOUNTAIN by Steve Gerlach here:
"Lake Mountain is a buddy-story of the darkest
kind...
A Thelma and Louise gone mad."
-- Elizabeth Massie, author of The Fear Report,
Sineater, and Wire Mesh Mothers.
"Steve Gerlach is really an unusual writer -- he writes
with grit and blood and real human darkness in his
stories...
and normally, I wouldn't go for this level of noir crossed
with horror, but...I loved Lake Mountain."
-- Doug Clegg, author of Nightmare House and The
Infinite.
"LAKE MOUNTAIN surpasses everything that's gone before.
This is the most extreme and refined Gerlach novel to date.
A psychological slaughterhouse of power."
-- The Meat Socket Magazine, Issue II, November 2004
"Lake Mountain is so extreme, it out-hitches Hitchcock.
It's a story where ROPE meets PSYCHO in a modern-day tale
of high-charged, hard rock gothic thrills and chills."
-- Oh Yeah! Magazine, October 2004, Australia
"Lake Mountain by Steve Gerlach is unrelenting, this is
another page-turning thriller from the heir-apparent to
Richard Laymon's legacy. Seriously, if you dig Laymon,
you'll dig this.
But here's the thing. It's very easy to compare Steve to
Dick. The influence is obviously apparent.
But Steve's voice has truly grown with this book. He is his
own writer, with his own style that, while offering a nod
to Laymon, now becomes something more."
-- Brian Keene, Multiple Bram Stoker Award Nominated
Author of No Rest For The Wicked, 4X4, and More Than
Infinity.
"Writing a review for a Gerlach novel is a difficult thing.
His books unfold with cliffhanger building upon cliffhanger
so that by the end you’re falling through the pages
faster than physics should allow. To elaborate on *this*
scene in chapter four or *that* scene in chapter fifteen
just to entice a would-be reader doesn’t necessarily
harm the structure Gerlach has in place, but it does cheat
the reader of those surprises in their proper sequence
– there’s a reason the sentences, paragraphs,
and chapters are short, it’s all part of the
suspense-building that echoes the plot’s momentum.
Following on the trail blazed by THE NOCTURNE and RAGE, but
to a far greater extent in LOVE LIES DYING, is LAKE
MOUNTAIN, not just another thriller, for Gerlach
doesn’t write mere thrillers, he writes Psychosexual
Thrillers which involve protagonists who take both
sexuality and psychology to jaw-dropping extremes. No
matter how skewed the sexuality becomes it is always
plausible because Gerlach does his homework, as such, he
knows what he’s talking about and it comes across in
the way things happen and the way things are described.
You’ll be shocked at what people can do, but
you’ll be even more shocked when you realize
Gerlach’s not pulling this stuff out of a magic plot
hat – some of these things really do happen. So it
was with LOVE LIES DYING and so it is with LAKE MOUNTAIN.
This one concerns two friends, Raven and Amber, who find
themselves involved with a corpse and a race against time
to get rid of it. It’s a study in friendship, love,
lust, jealousy, and the lengths people will go to control
themselves, others, and their circumstances. There
aren’t a lot of characters in this book, just Raven,
Amber, the corpse of Duke (technically, he’s around
long enough to qualify as a character) and a mysterious
fourth who happens upon the situation (or does he?). Bit
players drop in and out, but this novel is basically the
story of four people, one dead, the other three jockeying
for the aforementioned “control,” and narrated
by Amber, the woman in the middle of it all.
The characters are well-fleshed and the titular setting is
vibrantly realized. He’s written another fast-paced
yarn that will thrill and shock."
-- Brent Zirnheld, author of Mercy Kills, USA
"Steve Gerlach (THE NOCTURNE, LOVE LIES DYING, et al)
continues his macabre exploration of the deviancy and
devilishness of the human psyche with his latest release,
LAKE MOUNTAIN (2005, signed/limited HC, Bloodletting
Books).
A hybrid of classic noir and dark menace, this chilling
road trip to Lake Mountain is a frenzied ride that will
leave new readers breathless...and longtime Gerlach
devotees engrossed and impressed with the new level of
maturity and character complexity that Gerlach has infused
into this splendid new work. As with his other works, what
Gerlach deliberately lacks in subtlety -- and in one
particular scene in LM, he eclipses the extremism of his
other works tenfold -- he more than makes up for in his
vivid depiction of both a landscape and mindscape of
madness and desperation.
LAKE MOUNTAIN is Gerlach's finest work to date, and
deserves a prominent place on the bookshelf of anyone who
enjoys outstanding horror fiction or the
moldering-but-treasured Gold Medal noir paperback-originals
of the 50's and 60's."
-- Ron Clinton, TALES FROM THE GOREZONE, IN LAYMON'S
TERMS, Mystery Scene Magazine, Cemetery Dance Magazine,
Washington, USA
"From the first sentence, Gerlach grabs hold of the reader
and won't let go.
As he did so successfully with RAGE, he spins this tale
with a natural storytelling ability. I have always believed
that the mark of a great writer is the ability to start a
novel on the run, with the story taking hold within the
first few pages and making the reader want to return to the
pages as quickly as possible. Most of us are unable to sit
down and swallow a book whole in one sitting, so the
ability to keep the reader thinking about the characters
and the plot while not reading the book is a special gift.
In my experience, the list of authors who can do this
consistently is short, and Gerlach with RAGE and now with
LAKE MOUNTAIN has put himself in that category.
Raven and Amber are the best of friends. Such good friends
that they share the most intimate secrets. Secrets about
family. Secrets about death. Raven, a beautiful stripper,
has the usual problem beautiful women and in particular
strippers have- every guy wants her! Duke, the manager of
the trailer park where Raven and Amber live, is no
exception. When he pushes himself on her, he quickly learns
that Raven is one tough lady. The story is told from the
point of view of Amber, who adores her friend and wants to
help her deal with her problems any way she can. We are
taken on a journey with Amber, Raven and Tyler, who happens
upon the girls and "just wants to help." The journey
involves lust, death and jaw-dropping depravity that the
reader will never forget. Trust me.
Gerlach's characters are easy to identify with, likable and
yet they elicit disgust by their behavior at times. He also
has the ability to really paint a vivid picture of the
scenes he is creating. I was shocked when, three-quarters
of the way through this book, I found a video at Gerlach's
website promoting the book which contains scenes from the
ACTUAL LAKE MOUNTAIN and surrounding area, in Australia.
Upon watching the video, there was a striking similarity
between the actual place and the scenes I had created in my
mind based on Gerlach's descriptions. It made the book that
much more enjoyable.
The heart-stopping ending leaves the reader satisifed, as
if a large, 5 course meal has been consumed followed by a
tasty dessert. To say any more would be to include
spoilers.
For those of you who read and loved Richard Laymon, you may
remember Stephen King's jacket blurb, 'If you've missed
Laymon, you've missed a treat.' Gerlach has obviously been
influenced by Laymon, and he has that easy, folksy style of
writing Dick had that makes the pages turn effortlessly and
joyfully. I applaud his latest effort, and suggest that you
read LAKE MOUNTAIN, or you will definitely miss a treat."
-- Jamie la Chance, USA.
"LAKE MOUNTAIN is Steve Gerlach’s newest horror
novel. It’s the story of two women, Raven and Amber
in Australia. At the very beginning of the story, we find
that Raven has just killed a man named Duke. What to do
with the body? Why did she kill him? Why are Raven and
Amber living in a run-down trailer? And, why do so many
things seem to go wrong for them?
This is a story of two very close friends, and the
adventures that follow them after Raven kills Duke. The
novel absolutely races from beginning to end; it’s a
gripping page-turner that grabs you by the balls and
doesn’t let up.
Gerlach’s style is eerily similar to that of Richard
Laymon. Any Laymon fan is going to love this novel, but I
think it will appeal to anybody who loves a truly horrific
story. There are a few scenes in the book wander into
extreme horror territory. I liked the shocks when Gerlach
pulls out all the stops.
I can’t praise this book enough. I hope it gains
enough of an audience to get attention at Stoker time.
It’s that good.
Lake Mountain is currently only available as a limited
edition from Bloodletting Press. The cover is gorgeous and
the production values are as high as you expect from BLP.
It’s easily their best book. Buy it."
-- John Little, USA
"I had a very nice surprise waiting for me when I got home
from work yesterday. LAKE MOUNTAIN!!! I've got to say it's
a gorgeous looking book, loved the cover and the author
inscription too. I started reading it right away and I'm
glad to say I was hooked from the very beginning, (really I
was hooked from the cover!) I was sucked in from the start
and only just managed to tear myself away to watch
Liverpool in the champions league in the UK.
But Raven and Amber were never far from my thoughts and I
started reading again at half time only to have to tear
myself away again when the second half begun. Needless to
say as soon as the match was over I was right back to Raven
and Amber.
I love this book so far. Not since I read Island, my first
Laymon have I been so completely immersed in a book. It's
as if I'm actually there with them.... I love it! Chapter
11 was great! Very creepy.
I was up until 1.00 am reading, the last chapter I read was
17 and boy what a chapter!!! I've seen a few dead bodies in
my time! (My uncle being an undertaker and having his own
shop) I thought it was extemely well written and very
realistic. I don't know how I managed it after reading
chapter 17 but I finally gave in to my body 's demand for
sleep. I could barely keep my eyes open at this point and
grudgingly put the book down.
As soon as I woke this morning my thoughts turned to Raven
and Amber. I couldn't bear the thought of spending the day
in work wondering what was happening to them, so I phoned
work and took the day off! I've now got the rest off the
day to read lake mountain... YEAH! :)
Well, I'm off now to see what else LAKE MOUNTAIN has in
store for Raven and Amber and Duke! I'll let you know what
I thought once I've finished it."
-- Anthony McCartney, UK
"Finished LAKE MOUNTAIN and am very very impressed.
Fantastic production and great story. Steve has outdone
himself. This may become a must read horror novel. The
characters are very well fleshed out and believable but the
things some of them do are...well...unbelievable. I was
grossed out a few times but it all fits the story. Amazing
what trying to get rid of a dead person can lead to. Steve
takes us many places we wouldn't normally go. Man oh man
you have to read this and get blown away. Steve Gerlach can
really write. Couldn't put it down. Kept surprising me with
new twists and plot thickeners and I really didn't want it
to end. Would love to read more of the two gals."
-- kresby, USA
"This is the story of two girls, a dead body, and a trip
into the mountains. With a lesser writer the book might
never have moved beyond that simple premise. However, Steve
Gerlach writes with such power and such skill, and twists
the plot and characters in so many ways, that the end
result is one of the most involving and exciting books you
are likely to read for a very long time.
The story is told from the point of view of Amber, the more
timid of the two girls, and it is her relationship with
Raven that drives the story along. Without wishing to give
too much away, Amber's character develops as the storyline
unfolds, and no one is more surprised than Amber herself at
the directions she moves in. And those directions are
extreme!
This is full-on hardcore horror, and I haven't seen it
written better since the heyday of the great and sadly
missed Richard Laymon. But Gerlach is no Laymon copycat. He
has a voice and a style of his own that will win him his
own fans, as well as pleasing those looking for someone to
fill the gap left by Richard Laymon's untimely death. This
is not a book for those easily shocked, but for the rest of
us it is the best thing to come on the market in a long,
long time.
After reading Rage, his first book, I knew that Steve
Gerlach was an author to watch. After LAKE MOUNTAIN he is
an author to buy and read and read again. This book
impressed me, both with the skill of the writing and the
intensity and tension of the story. His drawing and
development of the characters is such that, half way
through the book, I found myself falling for Amber, right
up until.... but that would give too much away!
My final summary is simple. Buy this book. Read this book.
Tell everyone about this book. It's that good!"
-- Neil Davies, UK - http://www.nwdavies.co.uk
"I love Gerlach novels."
-- Gerlach Fanatic, USA
"LAKE MOUNTAIN just might be the best book I've read this
year -- certainly in the top three. Gerlach is a phenomenal
writer at the top of his form here. And the production
values are fabulous."
-- John Little, USA
"LAKE MOUNTAIN by Steve Gerlach makes my top 3 books of
2005 easily and very well may be the best book I have read
in 2005. A must read for all horror and thriller fans, LAKE
MOUNTAIN is like reading a classic Laymon, which is a
compliment in the highest form coming from me."
-- TC, USA
"Okay, finished LAKE MOUNTAIN last night and boy what a
finish! I loved it, I can't praise it highly enough. Loved
the ending, very creepy. And chapter 37 WOW! Very sick and
twisted, I love it! I've started recommending LAKE MOUNTAIN
to everyone I know!
I've got to say, after reading LAKE MOUNTAIN, your now
right up there at the top of the list alongside Richard
Laymon as my favourite writer. I'm looking forward to
reading a lot more from you. I have a nice little
collection of Gerlach novels building.
As I said, I can't praise this book enough, it's a great
read and if it doesn't get nominated for a Stoker, hell if
it doesn't win a Stoker then I don't know what will! Had a
great day lying in bed finishing LAKE MOUNTAIN."
-- Anthony McCartney, UK