By Matthew J. Barbour
To outsiders, Mona Straw is a successful mother and wife. She is a sixth-grade English teacher who loves her job. She tutors students in her spare time and does her best to communicate with students’ parents.
The bottom line is, Mona Straw is a monster. The person the public trusts to educate their children is a psychopath, a pedophile, and a killer. She is a parent’s worst nightmare.
Dark RageMona Straw, written by Christopher Conlon, tells her story. From its shocking opening to its inevitable conclusion and its thoughtful epilogue, this is a love story. Dark Rage is a horrific love story between a middle-aged woman and an underage boy. Told from Mona Straw’s point of view, it is a testimony to the madness within her. A madness that ultimately destroys the lives of all who come into contact with her.
Bram Stoker Award for Richard Matheson Tribute Anthology He is a legendChristopher Conlon has been writing for many years. Dark RageConlon has created a story that parents of young children find both frightening and believable. This may be the best book he has ever written, and it is certainly the most disturbing.
While the focus is on psychological horror, Conlon’s straightforward writing style creates a shockingly vivid story. The book describes multiple rapes between Mona Straw and an 11-year-old boy, Connor Blue. Another child, Kelly MacLeod, is murdered by Mrs. Straw because she dared to inadvertently threaten her control over the boy.
Dark Rage Not for everyone. This is not the kind of over-the-top sex and violence romp depicted by Edward Lee or Richard Lemmon. Instead, Conlon gives the reader a close look at the reality of pedophilia and the people who commit such atrocities. Readers are strongly advised to read with caution.
Nevertheless, for those who can take it, the novel is a must-read. Conlon’s work follows in the tradition of Brett Easton Ellis. American Psycho and Ian Bank Wasp Factory. Dark Rage A direct look at the evil of the human heart.
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score: 4/5
