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Mama Said Kindle Edition

3.4 3.4 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

Horrific crime at its darkest.

On his thirteenth birthday, Buddy gets shipped up north by his religious mother, who can't cope with his sister's teenage pregnancy. Just as he resigns himself to spending the entire summer at Gram's farm caring for kittens and cows, his bitter sister Brinda arrives, ending his peace and solitude.

When her boyfriend Jackie shows up and turns his attentions to Buddy from his bride-to-be, Buddy must do what Mama said—or take matters into his own hands... A chilling conclusion!
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Editorial Reviews

Review

If Joe Lansdale and Carson McCullers somehow managed to spawn a literary, fictional child, "Mama Said" would probably be it. A damn good read! --Trent Zelazny, author of The Day the Leash Gave Way and Other Stories

About the Author

Lee Allen Howard's dark fiction spans the genres of horror, supernatural crime, and psychological thrillers. Lee earned his BA in English from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and an MA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. He's been a professional writer in the software industry since 1985.

Howard's fiction titles include THE BEDWETTER, DEATH PERCEPTION, THE SIXTH SEED, and THE ADAMSON FAMILY. His Kindle-only titles include MAMA SAID, STRAY, DESPERATE SPIRITS, NIGHT MONSTERS, and SEVERED RELATIONS.

Besides editing fiction and non-fiction, Lee serves as a book publishing consultant. He blogs about his fiction and fiction writing at leeallenhoward.com. Please visit and subscribe. Lee is also the founder and editor at Dark Cloud Press, which has published the horror and dark crime anthologies THOU SHALT NOT... and TALES OF BLOOD AND SQUALOR.. He resides in western New York state with a lot of books.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B006134C2C
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Three First Names; 10th edition (July 1, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 1, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1143 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 30 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.4 3.4 out of 5 stars 16 ratings

About the author

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Lee Allen Howard
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Lee Allen Howard’s fiction explores the genres of horror, supernatural crime, and psychological thrillers. His trade paperback publications include:

* THE COVENANT SACRIFICE

* THE BEDWETTER: JOURNAL OF A BUDDING PSYCHOPATH

* DEATH PERCEPTION

* THE SIXTH SEED

* THE ADAMSON FAMILY

* PERPETUAL NIGHTMARES (collection)

* TALES OF BLOOD AND SQUALOR (anthology)

* THOU SHALT NOT... (anthology)

His Kindle-only titles include:

* MAMA SAID

* DESPERATE SPIRITS

* SEVERED RELATIONS

* NIGHT MONSTERS

* STRAY

Although born and raised the son of a preacher, Lee Allen Howard knew since second grade he wanted to be a horror writer. Having a love for all things creepy and a recurring nightmare in which Dracula, the Wolfman, and the Mummy chased him all around the house led to his telling stories on the dark side of reality.

Since then he’s written six novels and a collection of short stories. He earned an MA in Biblical Studies and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction. He edited two horror anthologies for Dark Cloud Press: THOU SHALT NOT… and TALES OF BLOOD AND SQUALOR.

Lee also edits dark fiction and nonfiction.

Visit him online at https://leeallenhoward.com, Lee Allen Howard, author on Facebook, @LeeAllenHoward on Twitter, and @leeallenhoward1 on Instagram. You can sign up for his private email newsletter at https://bit.ly/3n67VKL.

Customer reviews

3.4 out of 5 stars
3.4 out of 5
16 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2012
When one of your favorite writers recommends a book, you just can't ignore it! So when Trent Zelazny suggested I read Mama Said, I was on it in a heartbeat. Turns out, Trent Z did not steer me wrong.

Mama Said is a firecracker of a story, told from the viewpoint of a 13-year-old boy who has been sent to stay with his Grandma. It seems his mama is busy trying to recover her glory days so she sends Buddy off, unhappy about leaving his home. But then again, his sister and her despicable boyfriend were making Buddy's life miserable, so it might just be for the best. He's getting used to life on the farm when his sister swoops in, destroying his peace and quiet. It's not long before her boyfriend follows her and he's got bad intentions for Buddy. As a good boy who always obeys, Buddy does what Mama Says and who can blame him.

Mama Said gives us a look at the life of someone powerless by virtue of age and size, and the many ways adults can hurt a child, most painful of all, by neglecting the child who is in peril. Buddy demonstrates that strange creature, a 13-year-old boy, caught between wanting his mama to save him and deciding a man can only take so much, even if he is only on the cusp of manhood.

I'm looking forward to reading more from Lee Allen Howard. This story just whets your appetite for more.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2023
I enjoyed this story. Psychological horror with a dash of vengeance mixed it. Once you start reading you won't be able to stop.
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2011
The darkest parts of human nature can create some of the most disgusting, despicable and disturbing things imaginable. Every person has the capacity for evil, be it from something buried deep inside of them, or from something catalyzed by outside forces. Lee Allen Howard walks us through some of these dark places with mindful grace, and exacts revenge for his main character in such a way that leaves you both horrified and cheering him on at the same time.

I was very interested by my own reactions to what I was reading as I read this story. My feelings for each of the characters changed as the story unfolded, but all the while I was compelled to continue reading. Skilfully written and executed with class, I'm definitely glad I took some time out to read this well-crafted tale. I'll be grabbing some more Lee Allen Howard stories to enjoy now that I've discovered this fine author.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2013
A delightfully nasty little story that will have you hooked and on the side of the disturbed narrator. Read it in your lunch break, you will be glad you did.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on March 4, 2013
I love the author's style of writing, it pulls me in and keeps me reading way past my bed time.
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2020
Lee Allen Howard explores the darker reaches of what sons will do to impress their mothers in Mama Said! Buddy gets shipped off to a farm while his mother tries to deal with his teenage sister’s pregnancy. But when she shows up with her boyfriend, Buddy decides to take matters into his own hands. Howard packs a lot of great moments into this chilling short story, and I especially loved the moral crossroads Buddy comes to! This one’s short and sweet (in a dark way), and sticks with you long after reading!
One person found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on December 16, 2011
This is a great story with great characters. Vivid as hell, and you'll find surprise after surprise in this one. Short but "sweet", and very, very much worth your time. Howard is a great writer. I can't wait to see what else he has in store for us.
3 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2012
An engrossing story. I was captured from the start and had to read on. Sometimes, when you have a secret that weighs heavily on your mind, the only way to ease the pain is with revenge. Enjoyable!
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Janet Stewart
1.0 out of 5 stars Quit at 15%. Disturbing subject matter, just not ...
Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2015
Quit at 15%. Disturbing subject matter, just not for me.
krg
4.0 out of 5 stars Fab short story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2012
When I got this I hadn't realised it was quite so short, but because it was it made the story so much better than if it had been stretched out more.
Buddy goes to stay with his Grandma and helps look after a neighbouring farmers cow who is heavily pregnant. Unfortunately his happiness is shattered when his sister (also heavily pregnant) and her horrible husband to be also turn up.
Can he make anyone believe how awful Jackie really is or will he just have to take advice and do what 'Mama Said'?
Really well written story that makes you realise not all the scary monsters are fantasy characters.........
One person found this helpful
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