5 years ago I read the first published version of THE RACK AND CUE from acclaimed Welsh author of Extreme Horror David Owain Hughes. I was thoroughly taken with it, but somewhat distracted by the inclusion of a second wild ride in the form of an interconnected novella. At that time I gave it 4 Stars [August 2017]. As time passed, I noticed I had not forgotten it and still fondly recalled my enjoyment, no, engrossment. When I discovered in November 2022 it would be republished in a revised version, I was tremendously excited, realizing any book whose memory held that strongly after more than 5 years had to have impressed me. The new version of THE RACK AND CUE not only didn't disappoint, it's even more engrossing! I read it straight through and couldn't stop. Bloodstained, gore-drenched, knocking at the doors of taboo, over-the-top Horror, THE RACK AND CUE is totally a not-for-the-faint-of-heart-gore-fest (really, no winners here), but I devoured it. Author Hughes made me empathize with many of the characters; I could even understand the economic and societal failings of circumstance that led "the bad guys" to the path that they took to survive. I didn't have to approve, but I could experience their desperation. Well done, David Owain Hughes! THE RACK AND CUE is a winner. Full on 5 Stars.
Here also is my review of the original version, August 2017 [my prediction then of reading it again came to pass]:
"Review: THE RACK & CUE by David Owain Hughes
WHITE WALLS AND STRAITJACKETS and its sequel ESCAPEES AND FEVERED MINDS served as my introduction to Welsh extreme horror author David Owain Hughes. Delighted by the humour he laced into his horror, I hoped for similar in this tale of a lonely, isolated, definitely "off-the-beaten-track" rural English pub. The setting is gorgeous. The plot premise is intriguing: What are the options for a close-knit family, business-owners, when modernity decides to reroute your highway, and your farm clientele moves away? Give up and give in? Be saddled with a monstrous big antique building you simply can't sell? Not the option for these folks. Instead, they've found a solution, one guaranteed to keep the property, maintain the business, and get wealthy as well. I won't tell what they've chosen, but it will chill your spine.
THE RACK & CUE is in essence a rather long novel followed immediately by a linked novella [linked by character and location, plus serious backstory]. I rated the entirety as 4, since I'm unable to give the two segments disparate ratings. The latter segment, the novella involving a character from the main novel plus the backstory, is super. This is full-on, trademark, David Owain Hughes-style Horror, seriously in-your-face with both horror and humor. Hughes really knows how to explicate his psychopaths, and he promotes equal rights when it's a question of psychopathic gender. {I nominate the late Anthony Perkins to play the role of Johnson--and the even more chilling Dawn.} I loved this segment (the latter novella). The gore is appropriate, and the ending is poetical justice, throughout. Excellent. 5 stars for this story.
However, the main body of the novel I didn't find so impressive. There's a great reader's hook--but unfortunately it's not at the beginning where I would prefer it, because it introduces the setting, the family, and some of their important characteristics. There's suspense, tension, and okay, gore. (This is an author of extreme, after all.) For those who've read it, I'm referring to the very first pub visitor, who rather suspensefully walks up "out of nowhere" during a blinding rainstorm and flooding. The actual lead-in is pedestrian, no suspense; so in a future edition, give us "Grant" head-on and let Rigs {whom I quite liked, along with his friend/partner} drive in a bit farther on.
The novel carries on at some length. Tremendous amount of explicit carnage, nice budding romances, good friendships, well done on the bikers and the police. But the pool tournament play by play goes on, too long for me, as each single match (several) were elicited in perfect detail. Perhaps that's fine for aficionados, but it disinterested me. All in all, 3 stars for this longer segment. I felt Mr. Hughes saved his best for the latter segment, which I would like to see as a standalone publication. I loved it, and would definitely read again."
