Weak in the Head is the fourth novella in the Hartmouth Horror series by Jan Miklaszewicz. His books are set in the fictional south-west UK coastal town of Hartmouth, a place that will seem familiar to anyone whose ever travelled to and stayed in that part of the country.
Here, a close group of friends head up to Hartmouth moor to camp and look for mushrooms on what happens to be the night of the Autumn equinox. During an exploration sortie they stumble across a shocking sight that, even without the mushroom induced paranoia, would turn the stomach. The reaction of one individual in the group kicks off a series of deadly encounters in the forest which eventually focus in on a final place for its brutal ending.
The Hartmouth Horror tales take different approaches, both in scale and subject, but there is a clear, smart and sardonic tone to Miklaszewicz’s prose. Here, his vibrant and sometimes lyrical descriptions come even further to the fore. The humour and the gross-out moments are all present and correct, as you’d expect, and just as inventive. Honestly, I love the dark comedy on display in these books.
It’s always a treat to get a new Hartmouth Horror story. Weak in the Head is a terrific addition to the collection.