She was on his sofa, reading a book. She was a complete
stranger.
And she was naked…
Her name was Zoe, and she had survived a horrific ordeal.
Fleeing from trouble and the threat of death, Zoe turned to
her best friend, Helen. Driving for three days straight,
she arrived cold and hungry on Helen’s doorstep.
But Helen was at work. Leaving Helen’s husband, John,
and Zoe together…all alone.
Having escaped from a life of terror and violence, Zoe was
sure she could hide out with them for a while. Just long
enough to get back on her feet and her life in order again.
John’s only mistake was to agree she could stay with
them…
Because Zoe’s past was fast catching up with her.
And that past would draw them all into a game of life and
death.
By letting her stay, John had no idea of the horror that
would be visited on them all…
For someone had a game to finish – a game that could
turn very deadly indeed.
LOVE LIES DYING
You always love,
The ones you hurt...
Read reviews of LOVE LIES DYING here:
"Love Lies Dying is a disturbing, twisted,
sexually-charged dark ride of suspense."
-- Douglas Clegg, author of Naomi, USA
"Gerlach has created a tense, tightly-written, and
terrifying suspense novel. Fans of Ketchum, Laymon, and
Slade won't want to pass this one by. Love Lies Dying truly
does leave the reader on the edge of their seat. I
challenge you to try putting this one down once you've
started it!"
-- Brian Keene, Multiple Bram Stoker Award Nominated
Author of No Rest For The Wicked, 4X4, and More Than
Infinity.
"LLD is a desperate journey with plenty of masochistic and
violent detours along the way."
-- Cemetery Dance Magazine, Issue 51, USA
"With Love Lies Dying, Steve Gerlach gives us a
page-turning psychological thriller of bizarre twists and
never-to-be-forgotten characters. Truly a terrific read."
-- Rain Graves, author of Blood of a Black Bird and The
Gossamer Eye, USA
"LLD's lead female character, Zoe, is one of the most
intriguing and beguiling femme fatale antagonists in recent
genre fiction."
-- Cemetery Dance Magazine, Issue 51, USA
"A terrific read (with the lights on)!"
-- The Spook Magazine, USA
"LLD is a spare and fast-paced novel - erotically-charged,
bizarre and horrifying - drenched in gut-wrenching suspense
and sexual savagery."
-- Cemetery Dance Magazine, Issue 51, USA
"Love Lies Dying has a terrifying premise."
-- Shadow Writer, UK
"Gerlach possesses a one-of-a-kind style, a singular voice
of clipped sentences that pulls you along and at each
chapter break leaves you hungering for more."
-- Brent Zirnheld, author of Mercy Kills, USA
"With the newly released erotic thriller, LOVE LIES DYING,
Australian horror/suspense writer Steve Gerlach has
produced a terrific new addition to his recent string of
high-octane novels.
Following closely the narrative recipe that has made
previous novels such satisfying fare, LOVE LIES DYING tells
in spare, clipped sentences the horrifying ordeal of a man
caught up in a tangled web of deceit, sexual savagery and
bloodlust.
Gerlach has woven this cum-soaked web around perhaps the
most intriguing and sinister female antagonist ever to
spring from his work...and she wears it like the finest
pearls.
With LOVE LIES DYING, Gerlach has matured in both style and
content; this sleek, assured novel is not one to be
missed."
-- Ron Clinton, Washington, USA -
r-and-jclinton@email.msn.com
"Gerlach totally corrupted me."
-- Bob Strauss, USA - strauss@email.wcu.edu
"I just finished Steve Gerlach's LOVE LIES DYING. Damn,
where has this guy been hiding? An awesome read. If you
don't already have this book get it now!"
-- Larry Roberts, http://www.bloodlettingpress.com,
USA
"Just finished LLD. What a book! I've spent every spare
minute reading it, and struggled to put it down when I had
to for things like work and exams. Steve - it's brilliant.
Really different in style to THE NOCTURNE, but equally
captivating and enjoyable."
-- Neil, Scotland - ElTazar@aol.com
Horrorfind review by Brian Keene...
LOVE LIES DYING
Reviewed by: Brian Keene
On Tue Jul 23 17:16:49 2002
Review rating: 4 Skulls
(Probable Cause Productions, 2002, Limited Edition Signed
Hardcover, $27.00, 563 pages, ISBN-0-9578641-1-6)
It would be easy to compare Steve Gerlach’s writing
to that of the late Richard Laymon. As he did many young
horror authors, Laymon befriended the Australian writer.
It’s clearly evident to even the most casual reader
that Gerlach cut his teeth on Laymon’s sparse,
hard-hitting and unique prose. The more dedicated horror
fan will also know that Gerlach is responsible for the
Richard Laymon Kills website (affectionately called RLK! by
devotees worldwide).
Yes, the Master was an influence on Gerlach, and it shows.
But in LOVE LIES DYING, Gerlach has developed a powerful
voice that, while echoing of Laymon’s style, is
distinctly his own. He uses that voice to push the art of
the psychological thriller to newer and even more brutal
heights than any of his predecessors.
LOVE LIES DYING is the story John Murdock, an easily
identifiable every-man caught up in a bizarre and
horrifying chain of events. Wasting no time with literary
feel-good nonsense, Gerlach opens with a bang. By the end
of the first page, John’s wife Helen is missing, and
a clearly psychopathic nymph is lying naked on his couch.
The serial killer/sex kitten turns out to be Zoe Barber,
one of the most interesting and chilling female killers
since Robert R. McCammon’s MINE.
Zoe has something to do with Helen’s disappearance,
and if John can resist her advances and hold her at bay
long enough, he might discover what that is. But time is
running out for both John and his wife, and the terror is
just beginning.
(And that’s only in the first chapter!)
Gerlach’s chapters read like short
stories—complete, satisfying and leaving you wanting
more. Skilled at both plot and pacing, his narratives keep
the story moving at hyper-speed. This is the perfect summer
book.
It will be interesting to see Gerlach’s style develop
with future offerings. If this sophomore work is any
indication, he could prove to be a major name in
psychological horror.
LOVE LIES DYING is a fast, fun and heart-pounding read! If
you enjoy the works of Jack Ketchum, Ed Gorman, or (of
course) Richard Laymon, then pick it up quick. The limited
edition is sure to sell out fast!
* * *
Brian Keene serves as Horrorfind’s Fiction Editor,
and was the editor of the BEST OF HORRORFIND anthology. He
is a four-time nominee and one-time winner of the Bram
Stoker Award. His books include NO REST FOR THE WICKED, NO
REST REDUX, TALKING SMACK, and 4X4 (co-written with Geoff
Cooper, Michael T. Huyck and Michael Oliveri). His next
book is the post-apocalyptic zombie novel MORE THAN
INFINITY. To learn more, visit his website at
www.briankeene.com.
"LOVE LIES DYING works best when you don't know what comes
next, so to elaborate on the plot or its twists would be
criminal, I'll just refer you to the title of the book and
let you know Gerlach gives each word a thorough workout.
The tale unfolds in a clear, vivid prose that doesn't bog
you down with unnecessary detail, yet is descriptive enough
so that you are there. You share the characters' joy and
pain; you share their torment and their fears. Gerlach
posesses a one-of-a-kind style, a singular voice of clipped
sentences that pulls you along and at each chapter break
leaves you hungering for more.
The reader won't find it easy to put this book down because
once you start, there's no stopping point. The narrative
propels you along at a breakneck pace that leaves you
wanting more. LOVE LIES DYING is a book you won't soon
forget. It has moments of terror and pain that will stick
in your throat like grandma's stew. "
-- Brent Zirnheld, USA. Author of "Lynchville Pop.
5150" - brent@ntr.net
"Just thought I'd let you all know that I finished reading
LOVE LIES DYING on the weekend.
I figured that as the book hasn't reached everyone yet, I
might give you a bit of an idea of what it's like!
I really enjoyed it!! For those of you who have read THE
NOCTURNE, this book is quite different from that one (well
I thought so anyway). The story is filled with lots of
gore, lots of sex and lots of PAIN!!! It kept my interest
the whole way through, and kept me guessing right until the
end with lots of twists and turns!!
Ever since I started on Laymon books about 9 years ago, I
can never seem to get through a book writen by another
author... until now. Steve Gerlach's books are great, and
if you want to talk about your biggest 'gross out' factor
in a book, I would say that mine is in LLD!! His books are
writen in a similar style to Laymon and keep you reading
all through the night. If any of you are umming and ahhing
about whether or not to get one or both of his books, I'd
say that you're a loony if you miss out.
I recommend both books to anyone who likes horror...which
obviously you all do because you're here. So I guess what
I'm saying is get your hands on them now!!!"
-- Tamra Reid, Australia - rtamra@hotmail.com
"Love Lies Dying was great!
The book had me on edge the whole way through. I couldn't
see where it was going and couldn't wait to find out. Great
locations - the church was fantastic. I could really feel
the cold at times. It had a life of its own. It's great
when a writer can create locations that are as interesting
and realistic as a character. And that farm - very creepy.
As for Zoe - what a gal!
Overall it was well done. I probably enjoyed this novel a
little better than The Nocturne - but I loved the fast
paced action of The Nocturne. This novel got you into the
characters a lot more, which I prefer. "
-- Brett McBean, Australia -
brettmcbean@hotmail.com
"Steve Gerlach owes me some sleep. I finished LOVE LIES
DYING this past weekend in several marathon stretches. What
a wicked read! You can see the Laymon influence in Steve's
writing, but he's got a style all his own, a good one at
that! LOVE LIES DYING is a well-crafted thriller that I
would recommend to anyone. Steve, you are a sick and
twisted person. Keep it up!"
-- Ron Dickie, USA - rdickie@canada.com
"I loved LLD! A real page turner and full of unexpected
twists and turns. This book could never be described as
predictable. There was a definite difference in style from
The Nocturne. Still I enjoyed both of them very much."
-- Dana Danchik, USA - ddanchik@speakeasy.net
"I just finished Love Lies Dying. It is very hard to put
into words how I feel right now. I don't know if a book has
affected me mentally since The Girl Next Door. Honestly, I
kept waiting on the edge of my seat till the very last
word. Thank you so much for a story that won't leave me
anytime soon. Let's get those hardcovers out there so more
people can experience this roller coaster ride of twists,
turns, and sexual fright.
I noticed that the lettered edition of LLD that will be
published is going to have a kiss mark from the real Zoe. I
can't wait! Bravo!!"
-- Donald Koish, USA - dkoish@yahoo.com
"Love Lies Dying is an intriguing twisted tale of love,
deception and betrayal. Prepare to be transported through
the lives of Zoe and John; their troubled past, their
unruly present and their desperate fight for a future. This
is a true roller coaster journey, complete with all the ups
and downs, hidden corners and sharp turns, and there is
definitely no getting off this ride until it comes to a
complete halt."
-- Sharon Gough, Australia -
Sharon.Gough@carrier.utc.com
"Well what can I say? What a ride I have had - to hell (or
somewhere similar, I imagine) and back again. It seems I
have found another great author to keep me company of a
night! ;) An unbelievably good read which I now have passed
onto a good (male) friend that I work with for his
enjoyment. Though I have warned him (as he has never read
this genre before) that he is likely to find himself
'squirming' now and then. Keep-em coming Steve"
-- Anne Lacey, Australia -
Anne.Lacey@norske-skog.com.au
"Just to let you know that I have finished Love Lies Dying
and think it is sick, perverted & twisted - just what
we all like. The scary thing is that over the last week I
have gone to my local shops and on returning to my car I
have had a red Jeep parked beside me.....that's eerie ha
ha. Keep up the good work Steve, I love your stuff."
-- Annie G., Australia - macg@shoalhaven.net.au
"Steve Gerlach's LOVE LIES DYING is one suspense-filled
rollercoaster ride of mayhem, madness, and masochism - and
I thoroughly enjoyed every page of it! The language is
crisp and sparkles with wit and ingenuity, and the
enigmatic and compelling character of Zoe is one girl you
will never, ever forget. The locations are superbly defined
and became very real in my imagination.
While the major plot twist becomes fairly obvious to astute
readers about mid-way through Part One, Gerlach refuses to
let readers off the hook, forcing his naive main character
into ever more shocking situations and revelations, with
such relentless inevitability that it will have the reader
twisting in their chairs with suspense right to the end.
It is that same sense of suspense that Richard Laymon wrote
so well - the art of dragging an inept character deeper and
deeper into trouble of their own misguided making - and it
is an art which I believe Steve Gerlach has equalled the
master in LOVE LIES DYING (and in some ways even excelled;
because he NEVER gives in to our thirst for revelation
until the last possible moment).
You owe it to yourself to check out Steve Gerlach's work,
as one of the most promising new talents to emerge in
horror writing. As seen in LOVE LIES DYING, his writing is
already top-notch, and will only continue to improve over
time."
-- Shannon Rowe, Melbourne, Australia -
srowe@itsgroup.net
"Love Lies Dying takes you on a rollercoaster ride through
hell and back.
Gerlach will push you into the deepest, darkest depths of
the mind and what you find there will horrify you. Love
Lies dying is a story like no other. The story is
constructed from twist after twist and you won't know where
it's going to go, even while you're reading the last page
of the book.
Gerlach's style is made to pull the audience in, to kidnap
your mind and keep it stuck with the characters from the
first page until the last. He picks you up and then throws
you down again so many times that you'll come out of
reading Love Lies Dying as a wreck. His characters are
somewhat normal people who the audience easily relates to.
Even the bad people in the book relate to us as human
beings. Gerlach's choice of words and sentence structure
makes LLD a nice, easy read. No, wait, easy isn't the right
word. LLD is far from an easy book. It's hard, rough and
painful! Never has a horror book taken us to such extremes,
and that's a great thing for Gerlach. He's pointing the
horror genre in a different direction while he shows us
that horror doesn't just mean werewolves, vampires or
homicidal maniacs killing just for the taste of flesh. It
can mean normal people, pushed to their limits and far, far
beyond.
BE WARNED! Love Lies Dying is definitely not for the faint
at heart. But, if you think you can hack it, stop reading
my review and start reading Love Lies Dying - You won't
regret it! "
-- Troy Taylor, Melbourne, Australia -
troyt@bluetechnology.com.au
