Following a series of deaths due to Red Ant attacks Dustin Abbott is sent to Florida to investigate. Dustin is an entomologist who specialises in research into the Solenopsis Invicta, the Red Fire Ant. However before he can start his investigations he is waylaid by a couple of psychotic killers who take him hostage during a hold up at a convenience store.

The ant attacks take on a more sinister tone when the ants involved start to grow in size. Soon the ants are the size of dogs and are showing a surprising intelligence.

Is this a case of accidental toxic contamination resulting in abnormal ant growth or is there a darker force at work? Will Dustin be able to escape his captors in time to save the people of Tampa? Only time will tell.

When you first start reading this novel it seems like it is a simple schlock-horror with more gory deaths than the average Troma movie. As you read further it becomes obvious that Jeff Strand has his tongue well and truly lodged in his cheek when writing Mandibles. you will find yourself re-reading sections of htis book to check that he really did write that.

If you take the classic "Attack of the Killer Giant Insects / Dogs / Bunnies" movies of the 1950s and adapt them to 21st Century America then you will get Mandibles. Yes, we have giant ants running around and killing anyone who gets in their way. Needless to say, Hack and Slash (the psychotic killers) are taken care of in a most satisfactory manner.

Jeff Strand is renowned for writing some extremely warped and twisted novels and Mandibles is no exception. It is described as "an outrageous blend of the humorous and the horrific" and it definitely doesn't take its self seriously.

A truly unusual book that is guaranteed to leave you thinking "What the..."

Synopsis
The demented mind behind GRAVEROBBERS WANTED (NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY) and SINGLE WHITE PSYCHOPATH SEEKS SAME, is back with MANDIBLES, another outrageous blend of the humorous and the horrific.

Extremely large and vicious red fire ants are on the loose in Tampa, Florida, and those who don't immediately become ant show must figure out how to stop this attack before the entire city becomes overrun by the creatures.  Of course, a pair of psycho killers named Hack and Slash aren't exactly helping things out...

Whether you love ants, hate ants, or have no real opinion of them as long as they're not currently stinging you, you'll love this over-the-top, action-packed, tongue-in-cheek insects-on-the-rampage thriller!