Ya know how sometimes a book gives you exactly what you want when you see the cover?  Yes, Dark Harvest did that for me.  Originally published in 2006, this book has been on my TBR for years because of how much the cover makes me think Evil Wizard of Oz Story.  If you didn’t know, Jack Pumpkinhead shows up in the second book and the second movie of the Wizard Of Oz stories.  His pumpkin head sits on top of his stick boy, and has magical life.  When I see the cover for Dark Harvest my mind says Jack Pumpkinhead is burning and I have to know what is going on.  This cover designer did an amazing job. 

 

No on to the story. It’s Halloween night (sing if you must), and The RUN is about to commence.  It’s 1963, and for decades Old Boy (sometimes called Ol’ Hacksaw, or Sawtooh Jack) arises from his cornfields, armed and ready for murder. 

 

Pete McCormick has been held as a type of hostage for the last 5 days.  While provided water, he was otherwise starved.  Many of the kids in town suffered this same fate.  On Halloween night they are released and the hunt or the run begins.  One of these boys, aged 16-18, will be the winner.  Defeat the October Boy and a life out of the small corn town is possible.  Your family will be taken care of: given new cars, homes, money.  What ever is needed.  But the spoils only go to the victor.  October Boy has some trick up his sleeve as well.  Ol’ Hacksaw drops Bit O’Honey candy those starving boys love.  But he is not just a rabbit to be chased.  The October Boy is also a killer, after all it is a kill or be killed world.  

 

This book is full of all the things that make a horror novel a frightful read.  There is blood, there is gore, there is abuse and assault.  It is all in there.  I do not think it’s extremely graphic but to some it may be.  But it is done in such a poetic way.   Once started the reader needs to see the run to the finish line.  

 

I toughly enjoyed this book.  It could become a staple of Halloween, and the prospect of the movie that is out in September 2023, just adds to the anticipation.  This story would work amazingly in film, and I can’t wait to see if the film is as compelling as the novel.  The run has started, do you think you could beat the October Boy to the finish line.  Do you have what it takes to survive a walking PumpkinHead?