School Library Journal Review
Gr 7 Up-These 12 stories are not for the squeamish as they include shudder-inducing scenes of burning flesh, dismembered bodies, electrocution, and death by squeezing in a massage chair. The terror strikes good and bad individuals equally, whether it's a teen whiz kid in "Bet Your Life," a do-gooder in "Plugged In," or a spoiled brat in "The Cobra." If there is a theme that runs through the anthology it's that you can't outsmart a haunting end and if you try, that may just be your downfall. The selections offer clever twists on pop-culture trends such as reality television and MP3 players. One story gives a nod to fellow horror writer Darren Shan. The book starts and ends with fictionalized arguments against publishing horror stories for children. Fans of the morbid will appreciate Horowitz's seemingly unending imagination for the horrific, but alert readers may clue in to some plot twists early on. Teens looking for gruesome tales won't be disappointed.-Shawna Sherman, Hayward Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
This volume presents a collection of horror stories, with an emphasis on the gory; the characters' unfortunate demises are related in intricate, bloody detail. Though not all of the stories are particularly inspired, a few feature some refreshing humor amidst all of the entrails ("Why Horror Has No Place in Children's Books," "The Man Who Killed Darren Shan"). (c) Copyright 2011. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
The creator of Alex Rider follows his two Horowitz Horror anthologies with a new collection of 14 bloody stories. A would-be writer seeking revenge for stolen ideas stalks and apparently kills author Darren Shan (is this wish fulfillment?). In the far future, a robot nanny malfunctions with horrifying consequences. A girl finds herself put up for auction when her family's finances tank and is terrified when she discovers what the bidders plan to do with her should they win. The standouts of this uneven collection include the false introduction and conclusion supposedly written by others and a bad dream recounted in verse. Good kids find themselves trapped in bizarre situations and bad kids get just what they deserve and more every time. Inconsistent Americanization and lengthy setups mar these at-times predictable tales. An overreliance on grisly moments and contrived twists for what scares there are guarantees there's nothing to keep the lights on late, just occasional ick. Fans of the previous collections will be right at home. (Horror/short stories. 9-13)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
With the blood spatters from Horowitz Horror (2006) and More Horowitz Horror (2007) nearly dry, in steps the titular tale spinner bringing another 14 tales of the macabre. There's a decidedly technological bent here, with stories featuring a robot nanny, a murderous GPS system, a vampiric MP3 player, and more. The most fiendishly conceived, however, are an introduction by a teen-lit expert offended by Horowitz's stories; a little ditty called The Man Who Killed Darren Shan ; and a conclusion allegedly written by Horowitz's horrified publisher. No momentous impact, but the ideas themselves are sharp. Razor sharp, in fact.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2010 Booklist
