Nana By: Mark Towse Horror Published: March 26, 2021 Print length : 120 pages Nana: A term of endearment used in some countries for one’s Grandma. Some say the title is derived from the Italian word for Grandmother, Nonna. Another theory is that it stems from the word Nanny, i.e., someone who takes care of children.
Meet Olly’s nana, Ivy. It takes more than clean dentures, brandy, and bingo night to keep this one happy!
Nana Ivy lives in Newhaven Crescent, where most of the other residents are past their expiry date and all kinds of batshit crazy, the kind of place where you hang your sanity up at the door.
Being the matriarchal type, Ivy cares for the other residents as though they were kin, so of course, it’s of enormous concern when their veins begin to blacken and they start shedding skin, not to mention the glistening things crawling out of their hair. They’re pushing their luck, and Nana Ivy knows it.
Did I mention she has a dark secret?
Young Olly doesn’t know what to make of it when he comes to visit, but he’s about to find out there’s more to his nana than cough drops and slippers. Oh yes, he’s in for a long night.
Mark Towse is a new to me author. When I came across Nana, I had to check it out. The cover alone caught my attention and creeped me out and the blurb sealed the deal. If you think this is going to be your average visit to grandma’s house, you are completely wrong.
This book started out odd and got even more disturbing as the story unfolds. When Joan comes into the picture I was instantly creeped out and intrigued by her character. I felt this way about several of them. Towse brings a very odd bunch of characters to life. Once you have met them all your mind will be blown.
So many strange things are happening that will have you questioning everything that you just read. The events that take place at the community center make for a very dark and disturbing read. All I could think is poor Olly. I bet he had none of this in mind when he went to visit Nana. I enjoyed the mystery that was scattered throughout this book about Nana and what was yet to come with her.
All the madness leads to an ending that I was not expecting. This was my first read by Towse and I have to say it was gruesome, strange, and rather trippy. He has a wild imagination! I look forward to checking out more of his work. Indie Book Addict Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you want to grab a copy of your own just click the cover above.
About the Author
Mark Towse is an Englishman living in Australia. He would sell his soul to the devil or anyone buying if it meant he could write full-time. Alas, he left it very late to begin this journey, penning his first story since primary school at the ripe old age of 45. Since then, he's been published in the likes of Flash Fiction Magazine, Cosmic Horror, Suspense Magazine, ParABnormal, Raconteur, and his work has also appeared three times on The No Sleep Podcast and on many other excellent productions such as The Grey Rooms. His first collection, 'Face the Music,' has just been released by All Things That Matter Press and is available via Amazon, Dymocks, B&N, etc.
Look out for his story, 'Devil's Ink' in Midnight in the Pentagram from Silver Shamrock. Stay up to date with the latest on Mark's work. Amazon | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter