Last year I read and enjoyed Eric LaRocca's "Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke," an unusual and, at times, gruesome trio of stories. "Trees Grew Because I Bled There" has met with overwhelmingly positive reviews and I looked forward to reading it.

The eight stories here are a mixed bag. At one point, early on, I was ready to toss this, but I feel a responsibility to try and finish anything I had specifically requested. The story that triggered me was "Bodies are for Burning," where we are dredged into the mental illness of someone struggling to keep from torturing a baby. Granted, the author has the skill and talent to make this vividly real--it is just a place I do not need to go to.

I did enjoy "You're Not Supposed to be Here," where a couple is drawn into a dangerous encounter with body parts and the life of a child at stake. Another interesting one was "You Follow Wherever They Go," about the parting of a father and his daughter. The bottom line is I cannot really recommend a book for a couple of stories. I understand this is a specific genre of horror. If I am reading about mutilations and amputations, I need more than just the gross outs and shocks. Again, I recommended "Things Have Gotten Worse" with all its gore, I just found it to be a stronger set with more to offer.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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