Casket for Sale (Used Only Once) is the third in the Andrew Mayhem series and the first featuring Andrew’s wife, Helen Mayhem, in her own voice, which I really enjoyed. She could have her own series about what it’s like to be married to such a trouble magnet and I’d probably go along for that ride. This time, Helen, the Mayhem children, their pug, Roger, and his new squeeze Samantha head out for a little group R&R.

Rest and relaxation is never on the menu when Andrew Mayhem is involved so it is no surprise when their RV camping trip takes the worst of wrong turns leaving the group, again, at the mercy of a band of lunatics.

Much like Single White Psychopath Seeks Same, the story is a sort of a hack-and-slash rampage across a town where pretty much no one lives, works, or travels through. Each car that takes this road leads the travelers to a nasty fate. There is no police presence to speak of and there are traps everywhere. A few times, I just shook my head.

Plot holes aside, this book is creatively demented in the same way the previous installment was. If you like to read about crazy people doing implausible things to folks who survive everything, and you’re not averse to your goons being named things like Goblin, Witch, and Medusa, then hey, Casket for Sale is a good time.

I went back and forth on rating this one 3 or 4 stars and settled on 3.5 rounded up because the characters of Samanta and Helen brought something new to the table. These are smart, capable women. Not victims. I liked that. Not much of a plot here and I don’t love children getting hurt, but it’s horror, and there are definitely a few cringe-worthy scenes that straddle the line between gut-wrenching and sort of hilarious. Recommended for fans of sadistic psychopathy. ( )

This is the third in the Andrew Mayhem series and I have enjoyed all of them. I would give this 3 1/2 stars instead of the usual four for what may be a matter of personal taste. The other two had a tone of darkly comedic spoof that was present in this one til about halfway through when several very disturbing scenes disrupted this tone. Clearly, these are comedies of the darkest sort, but I felt that these particular scenes were out of place considering the overall tone of the novels and left a bad taste in my mouth.

Again, probably personal taste and I really don't want to say any more. If you like Andrew Mayhem I would definitely read it and if you haven't read any of the books, you are missing out on a very good series. ( )

Andrew Mayhem is back, and in this book he is responsible. And still getting in trouble. This is yet another phenomenal book by Jeff Strand. The action starts on page one, and doesn't let up for the entire 159 pages. I'm amazed in every book I read by Strand at the range of emotions he can draw out of me. At points I'm laughing out loud, and then I'm on the verge of tears. I hope that we see this cast of characters again in another Andrew Mayhem thriller. ( )