The Last Church Reviews:



The Last Church is available from Amazon.com. Other availability details are on Lee Pletzers' website. The Last Church is published by Black Bed Sheet Books, RRP US $20.95.

New Zealand horror writer Lee Pletzers' The Last Church does the job of a good horror novel (or, I suppose, any novel): it keeps you turning the pages, wanting to know what happens next, and hoping that at least some of the characters - not to mention the world - will make it out alive at the end of the story.

And the fate of the world is very much at stake. I don't want to give too much away, so let's just say that there's a man with a plan for the future of the world which isn't what most of us would wish for; that this man has, or embodies, demonic assistance; and that a diverse coalition of characters with less power but equal determination come together to stop him — or, at least, to try.

Along the way, quite a lot of the characters meet gruesome fates. And some of them are very gruesome: The Last Church doesn't stint on sex, violence, and in some cases sexual violence. You have been warned.

It took me a while to get into the story. There is a large cast of characters to start with - before the main villain and his henchpeople start to whittle them down — and the story jumps between several time periods. I had trouble keep track of everything and everyone for about the first quarter of the novel. Also off-putting were quite a few proofreading and grammatical errors: mostly minor things, like missing apostrophes, but until I got into the flow of the story I found these distracting. I know only too well how hard it is to eliminate all such errors, but another proofreading run would benefit future printings of the novel.

As I read, I wasn't always convinced that characters' motivations for their actions were sufficiently well established. The principal villain is a nasty piece of work, but he has a goal, and his actions are consistent with that goal. On the other hand, to my eyes at least, the behaviour of his "dream woman" and subsequent consort seems inconsistent; or, put another way, I didn't feel I had a clear enough understanding of her character, so that her actions sometimes seemed arbitrary rather than well-founded.

But it would be a mistake to dwell on the negatives. The Last Church is scary, gruesome at times, and increasingly gripping as it approaches its climax. If you like horror with a side order of apocalypse, The Last Church is worth a visit.

Reviewer: Tim Jones



Lee Pletzers novel 'The Last Church' is a fine balance of just enough horror to satisfy those who love a bit of gore, and not too much to scare off those who don't. Add in a realistic future setting, and a twist I have not seen before on the Devil's attempts to lure man to his side and you will find a fast paced novel that keeps you wanting to read on. You will also find an interesting array of characters who interplay nicely, coming together in an ending that was both satisfying and unexpected. Lee certainly knows how to spin a good yarn.

Reviewer: Cassie Hart


I am not a horror person. I prefer not to read anything that will scare me so much I can't sleep, but I do enjoy a good thriller, and Lee Pletzers is New Zealand's answer to Dean Koontz, Stephen King and however else you can think of out there. The Last Church is a Horror story combined with a liberal dose of Science Fiction which creates a story that is exciting, chilling and surreal all at the same time. This man can tell a story that packs a punch and keeps you reading until you get to the last page. So what is the story? The Last Church revolves around a man with a lot of power, who seems to be able to get anything he wants, and he does, all because of the power of one book. But this man wants more power and he transcends time to make sure he gets it. Mixed into the story are several other characters and their stories that ultimately come together, rather intricately and without losing the main focus of the story. In fact they add to it, rather than detract from it. The ultimate solution to the problem, an amazing ending that has you thinking for hours. With a fast pace, Lee tells a story and keeps you reading, wanting to know more, learn more, read more until you get to the end and want more.

reviewer: Karen Johnson Mead


Just read the Last Church…..awesome…..Pletzers is on the cutting edge. This is the kind of gritty read the genre has been crying out for.

Reviewer: Lone Wolf


The Last Church is one of those books that drive marketing departments insane. It's equal parts horror and science fiction and because this is a book that is more about the characters than the props in the story, The Last Church really does not belong entirely to either genre. Maybe it should be marketed to both fields.

This novel begins with Peter Clement, a down on his luck antique dealer, being given a supernatural book that grants all wishes to the person who possesses it. Of course there is a price tag that goes along with the unlimited good fortune that the book brings. You'll have to read The Last Church to find out what it is.

The Last Church shifts to the year 2368. For me this is where the novel really shined. The future world that Lee Pletzers described was entirely believable and plausible. The technological advancements that have been made since today are realistic ones. Everything in this future world fit together in the same kind of misshaped jigsaw puzzle way that our world fits together now. The future is not a Utopia. It was as screwed up as it is now. I felt entirely at home in the world of 2368 and in most science fiction novels of the future I don't get that.

The only thing that knocked down the score a half point was the story shifting between several different characters a few times I got confused as to who was doing what. I have made this same complaint against King and Koontz so maybe it's just my worn out old brain that isn't keeping up.

I do highly recommend The Last Church. Lee Pletzers more than passed my quota for gruesome violence and wild sexual scenes and he did it without becoming redundant. That is not an easy accomplishment. The Last Church was hard driving and inventive in the extreme. I predict Lee Pletzers will one day be on the bestseller lists. Pick up a copy of The Last Church and find out why.

Rating 4.5 out of 5
Reviewer: John Dark



There's going to be hell to pay after Peter Clement signs his name in a supernatural book that can make all of his wishes come true. The Devil's wish book collects its payment and annihilates the simple world that Peter used to know. In "The Last Church" Peter transforms from an ordinary antique dealer into a powerful, bloodthirsty force that seems unstoppable. Unlike the other victims of the Devil's wish book who followed the rules, Peter decides to shatter every rule established and refuses to give up his possession of it.

Throughout this richly detailed and horrific story, you'll feel bewitched by the strong desires of Peter Clement. You'll dive deep into hell and into the twisted mind of Peter, as you engage with a dagger that can kill and entrap its victims, plus you'll meet characters who will linger in your mind long after they've been seduced by evil. You'll also meet characters, such as Penny, Ami, Samantha, and Father Michael who will stop at nothing to prevent Peter from claiming victory. And, you'll have to travel hundreds of years into the future to keep up with the likes of Peter.

"The Last Church", although most definitely a horror novel, has shreds of science fiction seeping throughout it, too. The futuristic world that Peter emerges in is vividly described and seems quite real. Don't make the mistake of getting overly attached to any of the characters and don't assume you know what Lee Pletzers is going to throw at you. His words will shock and amaze you; the storyline is excellent. If you dare to walk that line between sanity and insanity and where the Devil plays with your mind, read "The Last Church" for a hell of a good time.

Reviewer: Nora Weston



Lee Pletzers is a writer who is very active in the genre world, online and off. Over 40 short stories have found publication in anthologies and magazines, zines and online. In September 2009 his first novel was released by BBS books. Lee is an avid reader and writes reviews for SFFANZ. He is also a member of AHWA and a founding member of SpecFicNZ. He has edited 4 anthologies, worked as editor for Sinisteria magazine, and edited several novels for small press authors. In 2008 he created Masters of Horror social site. You can find him online at: http://thestoryteller.co.nz







When blood spills -- souls are taken. In fewer words than that, this book will hook you. Brimming with a complex plotline, vivid imagery, and gut-wrenching suspense, The Last Church will no doubt knock you for a loop. Deeming himself as a master of horror, Lee Pletzers proves he knows how to twist both your insides and your mind.

This talented author has put together a delicious array of darkness, combining time travel, altars, daggers made from blood, a book that may save or end your life and souls seeking revenge. Add to that intriguing characters, demons, solid dialogue and sinister atmosphere and you have a fantastic novel that keeps your blood pumping and your heart racing. While it is indeed a work of horror, it's also a mix of gothic, sci-fi, and true macabre scenarios; unlike anything I've ever read before.

I found myself lost in the mind of Peter Clement, owner of an antique shop left to him by his father. There are secrets in the shop, and once he learns of it -- everything changes. Almost overnight, the character is thrust into a mad, dark world, one that involves a dagger that sucks in both people and blood like a portal. He finds a book, a kind of "devil's wish book", one created by the devil himself with intent to prey on the greed of man, and Peter must learn how to use its content wisely and still remain alive.

We enter new realms where we meet figures such as the elusive Meph-Man, No Neck, and the tortured souls of those Peter has killed and collected. When the devil wrote the book, he had hoped there would be one who could decipher the real purpose of the book, someone to get in deep, and perhaps bring him right into their world. Is Peter the one he can count on, or is there something else in store for him?

It's a gripping book, truly an art of page-turning situations and an incredible use of imagination. From the beginning you are cast along on a journey that sucks in your mind, body, and soul until the climatic yet satisfying ending. Lee Pletzers can count himself as a writer with substance, style, and a solid future in horror and the macabre. I look forward to reading any and all of his future works, hoping to be terrified, surprised, and as thoroughly intrigued, as The Last Church was for me.

Dreamforge Review/Mohr reviews
Reviewed by Nancy Jackson



Remember when you were a kid, and Grandma used to tell you to stay away from that dark cellar door. You didn't listen, did you? The Last Church, the new novel from horror author Lee Pletzers, is that dark cellar door, beckoning to you. Once you open the cover, and begin the dark journey through this novel's pages, be ready to sleep with your lights on.

Enter the mind of Peter Clement-a simple man, when we first meet him in the opening of The Last Church, who owns an antique shop handed down to him from his father. But once Peter finds the devil's wish book, his life will never be the same. With the help of the Meph Man, Peter begins his descent into a world filled with ultimate power and unforgettable terror.

The Last Church offers up the perfect recipe for a good long-lasting scare. Take a healthy helping of horror, add a pinch of science-fiction and a generous dash of action, and you have the page turning read that fuels this heart-pounding novel.

Horror author Lee Pletzers offers you a sneak-up-and grab-you creep out with The Last Church. So go ahead, read the first page, open those cellar doors, and take the black, wispy hand that summons you into the heart of an unstoppable plot. The Last Church will have you in its grip after the first sentence, and I guarantee you'll be back for more of Lee's gripping, creepy tales.

Night Allusions review
REVIEW by Louise Bohmer


Short Comments

Hey Lee, Just read fifty pages of The Last Church in a single sitting. I like that you have characters (in this and your stories) who are a little morally ambiguous. Your style flows so well, that I feel like I'm reading a mass market paperback. In fact, it's as well written as anything I've read by the big name authors. If you'd still like to send me a signed copy I'd appreciate it a lot.

~ Richard Moore, author of In the Lonely Fen


Hi Lee, Loved The Last Church, it was a very imaginative and well-constructed novel, blending horror and science fiction into a seamless work from an emerging talent, full of characters with real lives, not just plot details, and it definitely keeps you wondering What's next?

~ C. Dennis Moore.


"Lee Pletzers tells the gritty tale of a book with pages of human skin parchment--its contents promise irresistible ambition spanning space and time. Dark and gutsy, brimming with murder and mayhem--The Last Church packs the action!"

--T. M. Gray, author of MR. CRISPER, THE RAVENOUS and GHOSTS OF EDEN







"The Last Church" will grab you by the throat, spin you around and throw you to your knees, making you beg for more. If you haven't checked out Lee's latest experiment in dark, world-bouncing horror, you're missing out on one "Hell" of a trip!

-Stephanie Simpson-Woods, Author of Internet Message

When the blood spills, souls are taken. In fewer words than that, this book will hook you. Brimming with a complex plotline, vivid imagery, and gut-wrenching suspense, The Last Church will no doubt knock you for a loop. Deeming himself as a master of horror, Lee Pletzers proves he knows how to twist both your insides and your mind.

--Nancy Jackson

"When I was a snivelling, wheezing little lonely child who stayed up too late watching HAMMER HOUSE OF HORROR movies, I would have to turn down the volume of the screams and howls of wind and shrieks of demons. THE LAST CHURCH so successfully brought back that nostalgic thrill, I finished reading it behind the couch."

~Hertzan Chimera - surrealist

After reading Lee Pletzers The Last Church, I discovered a passion for NZ Horror and Lee Pletzers