Thin Red Membrane
John James Minster
JJM Publishing (September 2, 2025)
Reviewed by Brian James Lewis
Welcome horror fans! Today we’re checking out Thin Red Membrane-A Demonic Horror Collection by John James Minster. These powerful stories tackle topics that are not for the faint of heart or easily triggered readers. Minster delves deep into Horror, Occult & the Supernatural, Multiple Religions, Demonology, and Satanism. He researches his topics thoroughly and lays everything right on the table, so get ready for a bumpy ride!
Thin Red Membrane is made up of three short stories and one novella, starting with Little Voices. Webb Constantine opens his front door to horrible news; his wife and daughter have been killed by a drunk driver. Webb tries to believe in the legal system and seek sanctuary at his church, but it’s just not enough. The anger burning inside his body morphs into a black hatred that clamors for vengeance. Especially when the repeat offender who destroyed his life gets to walk free after serving a few measly months of his sentence. To say Webb is disappointed is to say that Chicago is a nice little town. He wants justice, dammit! As do the spirits of his late wife and daughter, who keep encouraging Webb to take action, along with something else that wants to help. But as the medium he engages to make contact with them says, “once you open the door to the other side, there is no telling what will come through.”
Succubus is an entrancing tale of terror that pulls you in with all its amazing details. Uno Rubi is a very rich and powerful man who makes a very good living selling drugs. This guy isn’t a nickel bag peddler, either. He brings in boatloads of uncut “good stuff” from all over the world and somehow remains untouched. No arrests, no problems with the competition, and Dave, his right-hand man, is about to find out his secret in exchange for a little information. Uno sends him to a beautiful fortune teller in the untamed mountains to get the name of the person who stole from him. It is a hellish trip, and Dave nearly dies before reaching his goal. Fortunately, he is rewarded by amazing sex with an equally amazing woman. Unfortunately, it is also revealed that he is dealing with a horribly evil entity from Venezuela that is more than four centuries old. La Sayona does not appreciate Dave’s claim of loyalty to Jesus Christ one bit. There will be punishments, but first he must go face his boss. Oh, and just in case Dave thinks he can make a run for it, she puts a little something on him to make sure that’s impossible. Will there be any mercy from Uno Rubi? Should Dave tell his secret? There is only one way to find out.
Decibel gives scientific logic a hard kick in the teeth. Seeking the truth via microscope, millions of measurements, and mounds of data paints a picture of perfection that we should be able to achieve if the concept of a higher power is thrown out. But when scientists start getting decibel readings of a sound powerful enough to destroy all vertebrate life on earth, there is no objective logical explanation they can provide. We’re doomed. Or is it that we’ve shut ourselves off from religion and spirituality too long, dulling our senses to reality? A family of doomsday preppers decide to follow their hearts and go with God and a bit of technology. The journey they take is both frightening and inspiring.
Thin Red Membrane by John James Minster is a multifaceted collection of demonic horror that gets FIVE STARS from this reviewer! It’s difficult to show every side of the ancient argument of what constitutes good and evil along with the hard reality that there are places where evil rules the roost. There is also the question of honest intent when people make lip music. Humans are great at making life way too complicated and leaving the door wide open for demons to waltz right in. It just takes that blinding rage or sometimes, temptation to add something unwanted to your darkness. Good luck getting rid of it once it’s in.
Thanks for reading independent horror and checking out this review! For more information about John James Minster and his books, visit him at: www.JohnJamesMinster.com He’s also active on Facebook and has videos on YouTube about haunted places that are cool and educational.
