Robert A. Jensen is a man you hopefully never have to meet, but if you do, there isn’t another person more suitable for his job. As Chairman of KenyonRobert A. Jensen is a man you hopefully never have to meet, but if you do, there isn’t another person more suitable for his job. As Chairman of Kenyon International Emergency Services, Jensen has made a career out of responding to some of the worst disasters of the past twenty-five years – the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, the Haitian Earthquake of 2010, the fire in Grenfell Tower in 2017, the Thailand tsunami in 2004 and countless other plane crashes and terrorist attacks.
You would think that having to sort through the overwhelming amount of wreckage, personal effects and human remains would be bad enough, Robert is also tasked with meeting the families of those who have lost loved ones. There are others that are either afraid to be the bearer of bad news or will unintentionally mislead people in an effort to either soften the blow or offer up false hope, but Robert finds that being truthful and realistic is really the only course of action one can take. While Robert writes that this part of the job obviously isn’t something he enjoys, he knows that providing these families with as much information as possible will only allow them to begin their journey to processing their new reality.
Not only does Robert reminisce about his experiences in disasters both natural and man-made, he also discusses the advances in science over his career with regards to identifying human remains. He also shines a light on the political difficulties that come with repatriating those we’ve lost following a large-scale disaster. Robert’s work can be time sensitive and having to navigate the bureaucratic waters is frustrating to read about, especially the chapter focusing on Hurricane Katrina, an event that was not only a weather disaster, but also an organizational one.
The world we live in is not always an easy one and Robert has certainly seen the worst it has to offer. It is comforting to know that there is someone out there with empathy in his role. Robert could have easily grown numb or even jaded following disaster after disaster, but he never fails to put himself in the shoes of those who have suffered tremendous loss. PERSONAL EFFECTS is one of the most engaging and hopeful memoirs I have read in quite some time. It proves there are still good people out there in an age where every event is so divisive and politicized that we often forget our own humanity and capacity for good....more
Rabbits follows K., someone who has become obsessed with seeking out and discovering patterns and connections throughout their day-to-day life. A few Rabbits follows K., someone who has become obsessed with seeking out and discovering patterns and connections throughout their day-to-day life. A few years ago, they discovered an almost alternate reality style game played in secret amongst a select few. Very little information is available about the game, but its roots run deep in both culture and time.
K. is approached by Alan Scarpio, a somewhat reclusive billionaire believed to be one of the winners of a past iteration of Rabbits. Over a plate of pie in a Seattle diner, Scarpio tells K. that something is wrong with the game, that he needs K.’s help to fix it. Before he can explain, Scarpio is interrupted by a phone call and abruptly leaves. The next day, Scarpio is reported missing leaving K. to pick up the ball and run.
Based on a podcast of the same name, Rabbits has achieved a certain level of notoriety through its compelling first season. Author and podcast creator, Terry Miles, launched a Kickstarter to fund a potential follow-up but with the fundraising coming up short, a book became the next logical medium.
The original podcast flew under my radar and was one I’d not heard of before I was approached by the publisher with a review copy, so I was going into this one blind. I would say within the first 10% of this book, I experienced Ready Player One vibes and quickly began to worry that I was getting myself into an Ernest Cline-esque 80s geek reference extravaganza, which is not something I ever want to experience again. Thankfully, the geeky pop-culture stuff is merely window-dressing although it does appear to be ham-fisted at times.
The plot here is a hell of a lot deeper than I expected. Once it’s revealed what the purpose of the Rabbits game is and what is really happening under the surface, I was ready for the story to hit the next gear, but it never really does. It began to feel clunky and almost too expansive. I felt I couldn’t establish a connection with the story because even three-quarters of the way in, we’re introducing new layers and characters. I felt the urgency at which K. had to put things right was at odds with the general pacing of the narrative. It all became very tedious leaving me struggling to maintain my attention.
I also didn’t care much for K. nor the other main character of Chloe. Chloe felt especially thin and seemingly existed as a love-interest/sounding board for K.’s detective work, who at the best of times was barely tolerable. I didn’t feel the slightest chemistry between the two compared to what I felt the author had been trying to portray. I swear, if I ever have to hear the exchange, “Are you OK?” followed by “I’m fine” again, it will be too soon.
I can appreciate what the author is going for here because stories about anomalies in reality and multi-verses are certainly a favorite of mine, but I felt maybe this was a tad too ambitious. I think we could have lost maybe one hundred pages here and tightened things up thus allowing a much stronger story....more
A Writer Prepares is the new memoir from author Lawrence Block that details his early years as a writer and how he broke into the industry offering a A Writer Prepares is the new memoir from author Lawrence Block that details his early years as a writer and how he broke into the industry offering a glimpse into an incredibly successful and prolific career.
How this book came together is just as interesting as the content itself. Block began writing this memoir in the mid-90s while in his mid-fifties hoping to fulfill an obligation to a publisher. Ultimately, even though he was several thousand words deep, Block decided against finishing the damn thing and shelved it. Now, nearly twenty-five years later, and Block now in his eighties, he picked up where he left off and is finally releasing it.
Despite knowing from an early age that he wanted to be a writer, Block didn’t quite know where to start. He took a job early on working for a literary agency where he would read short stories, novellas and novels and offer feedback to amateur writers desperate to break into the market. He’d work that mind-numbing job all day and then turn around and pump out erotica in his spare time as a writer-for-hire under various pseudonyms.
He mentions in the book that much of his early work ended up being stories he wanted to distance himself from as he became more established under his own name. In fact, he would flat-out refuse to sign some of the stuff that had been floating around under any of these old pen names, which is surprising to me considering some of those stories are really quite good (Sinner Man and Lucky at Cards come to mind).
I guess we have a publisher like Hard Case Crime to thank for his change of heart. With Hard Case publishing several of his early novels and the favorable response from readers, Block now takes to self-publishing much of his back catalog. Which is great, because you’ll never hear me complaining about more Block!
I’m happy that Block ultimately decided to finish and release this book. While Block has written several books about the craft of writing, I’ve always wanted to know more about just how one of my favorite authors got his start and A Writer Prepares allowed me to sit down and get to know him a little better....more
A few weeks ago, I received an email from publisher Hard Case Crime offering up e-galleys of a forthcoming novel entitled FIVE DECEMBERS, which is dueA few weeks ago, I received an email from publisher Hard Case Crime offering up e-galleys of a forthcoming novel entitled FIVE DECEMBERS, which is due for release later this year. In said email Charles Adari, founder and editor at Hard Case Crime, called FIVE DECEMBERS “one of our best books ever” and also provided praise from both Dennis Lehane and Megan Abbott (two of my favorite writers) to boot. How could I say no to a book with those accolades?
I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for a review.
FIVE DECEMBERS begins in Honolulu, Hawaii shortly before America enters the Second World War. HPD Detective Joe McGrady is sent to investigate a murder on the outskirts of town and upon arrival, he’s treated to a gruesome crime scene. Believing that the man responsible has fled the country, Joe sets out to Hong Kong in an attempt to track the killer down. Arriving in early December 1941, Joe’s boots are barely on the ground before he’s accused of a crime he didn’t commit and thrown in the slammer. Of course, history tells us that by the 7th, the US is attacked by Japan and all hell breaks loose in the Pacific.
I’d really like to stop things there because it’s probably best to go into this one not knowing much more than what I’ve already said. FIVE DECEMBERS is one of the best modern crime fiction novels I’ve read in quite some time. It begins with a murder on a small scale and expands into something so much more, while never straying focus far from its central mystery. The novel’s protagonist, Joe McGrady, is an unremarkable man, but that’s what makes him relatable. He’s the everyman, the guy you can’t help but sympathize with and root for when things look their most bleak. The reader is right there beside Joe during every struggle and every heartbreaking revelation.
I’ve used this saying many times before, but FIVE DECEMBERS is truly the definition of a page-turner. In the acknowledgements, Kestrel states that the original manuscript for FIVE DECEMBERS had tipped the scales at nearly seven hundred pages, but through advice from his agent, he cut it down to just over four hundred. So, based on that alone, you know this is a tight read. I often harp on books for being too long and overstaying their welcome, but I’d love to read the full, uncut original story. Even when the novel’s nail-biting conclusion arrived, I wasn’t ready to be done with it.
I absolutely loved this book and I truly cannot wait for the world to read it this fall when it hits bookstores. James Kestrel’s FIVE DECEMBERS is an emotionally-charged crime novel shaped by the tragic years of a world at war, a story that is relentlessly hopeful in the face of unrequited devotion and doomed love.
FIVE DECEMBERS is due for release on October 19th, 2021 from Hard Case Crime....more
COACH is the story of the three time NHL coach of the year award winner, Pat Burns.
In 1992, when I was 8 years old, I came home from hanging out with COACH is the story of the three time NHL coach of the year award winner, Pat Burns.
In 1992, when I was 8 years old, I came home from hanging out with my friends and proudly proclaimed that I liked hockey and that I was now a Montreal Canadiens fan. My Uncle got wind of this and sat me down and said, “No, you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.”
And so began a lifetime of pain and suffering.
Funnily enough, at the time, that was probably the best time to be a Leafs fan. The team had been stacked with names like Doug Gilmour, Wendel Clark, Felix Potvin, Dave Andreychuk and Nikolai Borschevsky. The coach behind the bench? Pat Burns. Talk about a memorable bunch of guys!
In 2012, nearly two years removed from his untimely passing, longtime Toronto Star journalist Rosie DiManno tackled the life and career of Pat Burns in her book COACH. Burns, born into an Irish family in Montreal, spent his formative years around the game of hockey before embarking on a career as a police officer. There are some great stories about his time behind the badge including one where he solved a murder while working as a detective in Gatineau, Quebec.
While he devoted his professional life to law and order, he never fully let go his passion for coaching. His success behind the bench led him to a job coaching in the QMJHL for the Gatineau Olympique. When the Olympique were on the verge of collapse, they were given a lifeline by Wayne Gretzky when he decided to buy the team and keep Burns on as coach. Gretzky saw the potential in Burns and wanted to keep him in the game by fostering a path to a job as bench boss in the NHL.
The book follows Burns’ career from the minor leagues to the majors as he would go on to coach the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins and finally, the New Jersey Devils where he would ultimately win the Stanley Cup in2003. The bulk of the book focuses on his tenure as head coach in Montreal and Toronto, where he arguably had his most successful years (Stanley Cup, notwithstanding).
I enjoyed reading about his relationships with his players and how he could often be a tough coach to play for, but treated you well if you earned his respect. His relationship with my all-time favorite player, Doug Gilmour, was a great one. Burns had so much respect for Dougie and often played him to the point of near exhaustion where Gilmour would need to be hooked up to an IV after those ultra-competitive games in the 1993 playoffs.
Because Pat was such an intensely private person and because the book was written after he had passed away, the book is missing that personal touch that I would have liked had he been involved. Although Rosie DiManno was a friend to Pat, it does feel very surface level in its approach despite DiManno doing the grunt work of tracking down and speaking with Burns’ friends, family and coworkers.
Hockey is a tough game to write about at times. There are some authors who do it beautifully and dramatically (Ken Dryden’s The Game), some approach it from a comedic standpoint (Sean McIndoe’s The "Down Goes Brown" History of the NHL: The World's Most Beautiful Sport, the World's Most Ridiculous League) and others just stick to surface level stuff like game recaps and blow-by-blow career retrospectives. Rosie DiManno’s Coach sort of hangs around in the latter category while offering glimpses into the preceding ones. While I did learn a lot about Pat Burns, it isn’t a book that will stick with me for years to come....more
Last fall, I had the pleasure of reading Grady Hendrix’s My Best Friend’s Exorcism (great title), a book I had avoided because it seemed overly gimmicLast fall, I had the pleasure of reading Grady Hendrix’s My Best Friend’s Exorcism (great title), a book I had avoided because it seemed overly gimmicky and made me worried about discovering another author who wrote only in 80s references like good ol’ Ernie Cline. Thankfully, while it was jam packed with 80s nostalgia, it wasn’t ABOUT 80s nostalgia, so it succeeded in my book.
A few months ago, I was perusing the Kindle Daily Deals section (like you do) and noticed Grady Hendrix’s follow-up, The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires (another great title) on sale for two bucks. I figured, what could go wrong? Thankfully, nothing did go wrong.
I’m not a horror buff by any means. I generally like what came out Stephen King’s word processor in the 1980s and I enjoy his son Joe’s stuff as well. Other than those two, I’ve read a few classics, some Nick Cutter, Paul Tremblay, and most recently, Stephen Graham Jones, but I wouldn’t call myself experienced enough to recommend something to a horror junkie. I will say that for a novice like myself, Grady has done a great job in the two novels I’ve read.
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires sounds like it could be a horror comedy. I mean, the name alone suggests it. Also, the cover has a peach with two bite marks on it! However, the story is sinister and suspenseful. Beginning in 1988, the story follows Patricia Campbell, a housewife and mother of two, as she forms a book club with several other neighborhood ladies in which they read and discuss drug store true crime and mystery novels.
A few years pass before a stranger, James Harris, moves in across the street from Patricia. While he appears trustworthy at first, an unexpected encounter leads Patricia to believe James is responsible for the rash of missing persons and the unexplained shift in the behaviour of the town’s youth. The problem? Harris has woven himself into the fabric of the community and finding those to turn against him may just prove to be impossible. Especially when she has to convince those same people that James is a vampire.
On its surface, this is a novel about a group of suburban women taking on a vampire but it is more than that. It’s a commentary on the housewife of the 1990s (or maybe it still applies in 2021?) who people think has it easy, but in reality would cause the lives of many who depend on her to crumble if she were to drop everything. Patricia is the backbone of her family and is absolutely essential to the style of life her husband and children enjoy, but she’s constantly treated as less-than. Trying to convince these men that their buddy James is a blood-sucking menace is probably just as difficult as convincing them that the sky is blue. Seriously, no one cares what these women think. They’re just hysterical! Give them some medication, remind them of their place and what happens when they decide to stray from it.
Be prepared for a considerable amount of blood and guts here. Grady does not hold back. The first scene alone involving Patricia’s encounter with a deranged neighbor rooting around in her trash was akin to ripping off the Bandaid when it came to what was in store. And while not specifically gory, there’s a scene midway through the book involving a cockroach that I believe made me emit a noise that only my cat may have heard. Along with a scene that had more rats in it than a GOP convention, this book had some great, skin-crawling horror.
The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires further cements Grady Hendrix as an author I enjoy. There’s a new book out later this year and a few other novels from a few years back that I will definitely check out. Hendrix says in his intro, “I wanted to pit Dracula against my mom.” I think that’s as good a selling point as anything I’ve said in my review....more
Over the past few years, I’ve had this fear I keep on the backburner regarding retirement. Sure, I’ve got an RRSP that I contribute to but I don’t haOver the past few years, I’ve had this fear I keep on the backburner regarding retirement. Sure, I’ve got an RRSP that I contribute to but I don’t have a pension plan. I’ve read more than a few articles that state that by the time I’m eligible to retire, retirement won’t be a thing that exists. I know I’m in my late 30s and retirement is still a way off, but I can’t help having that worry in the back of my mind. Granted, I live in a country that has a much better social safety net than our neighbors to the south, but it’s still worrying knowing that if I was forced to retire, I’d have considerably less income than I do today. Also, I don’t want to work forever, you know?
Following the market crash of 2008 that not only destroyed the housing market in the US but also wiped the life savings of many Americans, many of those affected walked away from their homes and communities hitting the road in customized vans and RVs looking for short-term employment. Reporter Jessica Bruder followed a handful of these men and women as they worked in Amazon warehouses, for agricultural harvests, and as “hosts” of campgrounds across the country, among other jobs.
These jobs offer little pay for what can be described as grueling work. I can’t tell you how many times I was close to crying while reading about these older Americans working these punishing shifts inside of Amazon’s warehouses. They’re covering miles and miles of concrete every day and struggling to hit time-targets while keeping their aging bodies healthy enough to maintain the brutal consequences of the job. You miss a shift, you miss a paycheck. You’re a cog in a machine and you’re just as replaceable.
However, feeling sorry for these “vandwellers” is the last thing many of them would want from you. While they’re living paycheck to paycheck, they also champion the fact that they’re debt-free. They’re getting to see the country and are forming deep, lasting friendships with those they share the roads with. Also, many of them also want to keep working but they exist within a system that prefers youth over age and experience. I suppose there’s something to be said for the endless optimism that is shared by Americans who think their big break is just around the corner, even if America’s ruthless system is designed to keep people in these positions forever.
I suppose maintaining a positive attitude is essential to surviving this life mentally. One of the founders of a website designed to help Americans successfully make the transition from living in their homes working a nine-to-five job to living in their van often speaks about that first night and how it’s likely one of the darkest in your life. It’s almost like allowing your mind to form a callus, so that this way of life is not only possible, but maybe even enjoyable?
Given all that happens on a daily basis because of roughly half of the apathetic men and women in the United States government who not only demonize social programs and socialized healthcare, but would rather keep their boots on the throats of Americans struggling to get by, it’s hard to find a belief that the system will change drastically in the years to come. People should not need to spend twelve to fifteen hours a day filling boxes full of disposable shit from China in order to afford a tank of gas and a cup of instant noodles....more
Theft By Finding: Diaries 1977-2002 contains the contents of David Sedaris’ diaries.
A few years ago, I had read a book that collected Kevin Smith’s blTheft By Finding: Diaries 1977-2002 contains the contents of David Sedaris’ diaries.
A few years ago, I had read a book that collected Kevin Smith’s blog posts. David Sedaris’ Theft by Finding is essentially the same thing. Theft by Finding is twenty-five years of writing extracted from Sedaris’ journal. I suppose that’s all a blog is, really. Just an online journal that you let people read rather than a book you keep under your mattress.
Comparing this book’s contents to David’s previous work is like comparing a tweet to a letter. There are no essays here – these are quick snapshots into the daily life of David during a twenty-five year period, although you could see snippets of what would become full-length essays in his future books, like David’s job as an Elf in Santaland and his adventures in French language class.
My favorite parts involved overheard conversations where David gleefully does impressions of others. That and incredibly inappropriate jokes that are told to him by friends, coworkers and classmates. Also, his incredibly raw reactions to the 9/11 attacks that are told over several diary entries.
During the intro, David notes that he’s left some entries out because not everything he writes is worth reading, however, there’s still a hefty amount of content here. This is akin to a deep cut from a musician or band you’re already a big fan of. This is the stuff you look for after you’ve listened to all the albums. It should not be a starting point for any newcomer to Sedaris, but it’s an interesting look at his life and how he ultimately became a revered, crowd-drawing writer and performer....more
Lynette Tarkington survived a massacre in the 1990s. Traumatized following the death of her family at the hands of a brutal slasher, Lynn has spent heLynette Tarkington survived a massacre in the 1990s. Traumatized following the death of her family at the hands of a brutal slasher, Lynn has spent her adult years peeking around every corner, staying clear of every window and every door and always having her eyes on all potential exits in the event she has to run.
Lynnette isn’t alone. She’s a “final girl”, the one left standing at the end of a killing spree at the hands of a monster (think classic movie killers Jason and Freddy). Once a month, she gathers with the other final girls living in Los Angeles for group therapy.
That is, until someone begins picking them off.
Grady Hendrix is a delight. Plain and simple. Now that I’ve read all of his novels (and his one non-fiction book), I can cement him as one of my favorite authors today. I know these books are gimmick heavy, but they work. It’s like a big-budget summer popcorn movie or something released from Marvel where I’m generally certain I’m going to enjoy my experience.
THE FINAL GIRL SUPPORT GROUP is no exception. This book pushes the gas to the floor and doesn’t let go. It even flirts with the idea of an unreliable narrator given that Lynn is so mentally damaged that I found myself even having a difficult time trusting her given her propensity for simple explanations while jumping to conclusions. A panic-stricken, anxiety filled mind will do that to you.
There are more than a few gruesome scenes here, which is generally what you want from a horror novel featuring a slasher or two. The body count is on the lower side, but that’s more to do with the fact that someone is hunting finals girls – which, if movies have taught us anything, is not an easy thing to do.
Apart from some of the questionable motivations on the part of the killer, I thought this was a super fun read and along with Stephen Graham Jones’ MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW, should more than fill the average horror readers quota for spooky season....more
Billy Summers is the guy you hire when you need to eliminate someone of ill-repute. No good guys, please. Hmm, that sounds familiar (Red Right Hand). Billy Summers is the guy you hire when you need to eliminate someone of ill-repute. No good guys, please. Hmm, that sounds familiar (Red Right Hand). Where have I heard that before (The Killing Kind)? Ah well, it’s hard to come up with an original idea these days. Given the task of assassinating a hitman moments before he is set to be brought to trial, Billy sets up an office across from the courthouse set to hold the trial in question with his cover being that of an author working on his next big novel. Arriving in town a few months before his target is due to arrive, Billy’s employer sets him up in an unassuming home in a quiet neighborhood with the goal of blending in and gaining the trust of the community to alleviate any suspicion.
What’s that old saying? “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry?”
I am likely a Stephen King fan for life at this point. Outside of those dreadful Mercedes books, I think I’ve picked up everything he’s written on the day it was released within the last twelve years or so. While I consider 11/22/63 King’s modern masterpiece, Billy Summers is one of the better books he’s written in the last decade.
The best parts of King’s novels are the middles – where he gets to develop his characters and play around in the worlds he’s created. Knowing where Billy will ultimately end up after he does the deed made the relationships he developed with his neighbors all the more tragic given that they ultimately learn who he is. However, it’s Billy’s relationship with a woman he saved from death in Alice that really made this story memorable. As the two learned to trust one another, the novel became something deeper than just an action story, as it touched on the themes of loneliness, guilt and responsibility.
There’s always that hope that King will tie his work into his established “dominion”, Billy Summers does indeed weave itself into the Stephen King literary universe as Alice and Billy at one point find themselves in Sidewinder, Colorado in the shadow of the former Overlook Hotel – I’ll just leave it at that rather than go deep into spoiler territory here.
You know how I said earlier in the review that one of the best parts of King’s novels are the middles? It’s because the endings are so awful. However, in Billy Summers, King totally sticks the landing. I thought King came up with a fantastic way to end this story. King was able to get me to bite hard on a misdirection that I did not see coming and when the reveal arrived, it was the right choice.
Billy Summers is one of the few modern King books I could see myself revisiting in the next few years. Although the emotional gut-punch of an ending may not hit as hard a second time, I am looking forward to hanging out in that basement apartment with Billy and Alice once again....more
MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW follows Jade, a seventeen year old on the verge of graduation. She’s lived a pretty rough life and to cope, she immersed herseMY HEART IS A CHAINSAW follows Jade, a seventeen year old on the verge of graduation. She’s lived a pretty rough life and to cope, she immersed herself into an obsession with slasher movies hoping that one day a real-life slasher would manifest in her town. Well, that day has arrived. Someone is killing people in the sleepy town of Proofrock, Idaho and it’s up to Jade to see it through and find the final girl who will be left standing when all is said and done.
I found MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW to be a difficult read at times. While the story starts off strong, it takes some time for things to get going as the author lays the groundwork for Jade and the novel’s wide cast of characters. The bulk of the novel focuses on Jade’s obsession as she guides the reader through the history and importance of the horror subgenre, while at the same time noticing trends in her real life that suggest a maniac is on the loose.
Horror aficionados will likely enjoy the deep cuts in Jade’s knowledge, but to me, it became overly repetitive. I was eager for the blood to start spilling. I found myself growing numb to the constant mentions of the virtues of 80s slasher cinema and the 70s films that paved the way. While the copies of Jade’s essays handed in to her history teacher helped to grow the character, I felt there were too many of them and I began to tire of reading them. Jones really wants the reader in Jade’s head and I felt like I was locked in there at times looking for a way out.
All that said, once the action kicks into full gear around the 70% mark, the book becomes hard to put down. Stephen Graham Jones has a visceral style that is akin to gawking at a car crash – you just can’t look away. Much of the violence here is memorable to say the least and will stick with me for some time to come.
While I generally liked MY HEART IS A CHAINSAW, it’s not the best Stephen Graham Jones book I’ve ever read (THE ONLY GOOD INDIANS holds that title), but it’s definitely one I can see selling well come the spooky season this fall. I think there could be a way to shave off nearly 100 pages and make this story tighter, but that’s just me....more
Following the death of his estranged father, Nate Graves moves his family, wife Maddie and son Oliver, into his childhood home in rural Pennsylvania. Following the death of his estranged father, Nate Graves moves his family, wife Maddie and son Oliver, into his childhood home in rural Pennsylvania. Maddie believes this to be the right move given that their son – an intense empath – is struggling with urban life. However, it’s more an “out of the frying pan and into the fire” situation as their lives become far worse after settling in than they were before.
Nate begins to see strange things. His deceased father often appears out of thin air, a disheveled man appears hiding outside his home and an owl seemingly carved out of wood hangs around his home. Nate isn’t the only one having a hard time adjusting. Maddie begins blacking out during her sculpting sessions as her creations come to life and Oliver, while making friends in his new school, befriends an older boy named Jake who is hellbent on coming between Oliver and his father.
There’s just so damn much going on here. You have the prologue that sets up the mystery of why convicted killer Edmund Reece disappeared while sitting in an electric chair, seconds before his death. From there, Wendig presses his foot on the gas and never lets up. The Book of Accidents is a story filled with equal parts horror and science fiction elements. There are genuinely unsettling scenes built on the backs of mythology and dark magic as the demons come out to play.
I’ve been a fan of Wendig for a few years now since I stumbled across his Miriam Black series of books. While Chuck crafts these wildly original worlds filled with memorable characters and creepy moments, it’s his writing that keeps me coming back. It feels alive in a way I do not typically see from many other authors. It feels electric and engaging. Given that I polished this nearly six hundred page book off in not quite four days, how else can you explain it?
There’s so much that I want to talk about here, but it’s best if I leave you a little in the dark and allow the story to unfold around you. While you could certainly sell the novel on the horror and supernatural elements, you cannot overlook the themes of both the good and bad elements of family life. There is the unbreakable bond between husband and wife as well as between parent and child. There is also the tragedy of hereditary abuse and the constant internal battle between both a hopeful and cynical world-view. The Book of Accidents works so well because over the course of five hundred plus pages, you come to identify with these characters and you feel like the stakes really matter – that there’s a good chance things aren’t going to work out and it’s heartbreaking.
I know it’s an over-used cliché, but it felt like the lost plot to a great Stephen King novel. It gives off vibes of King’s last truly great (to-date) novel, Revival, as well as Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter. Chuck Wendig’s The Book of Accidents jitters on the page with a palpable electricity and tension that builds and builds within a story that is both fascinating and unnerving. Do not sleep on this one. I truly think it’s Chuck’s best work yet....more
Reformed criminal Ike Randolph has cultivated a careful life with the goal of staying out of the prying eyes of the law. But when he’s subjected to a Reformed criminal Ike Randolph has cultivated a careful life with the goal of staying out of the prying eyes of the law. But when he’s subjected to a parent’s worst nightmare – burying your child – Ike takes the failure of the law as fuel to solve the murders of his son, Isaiah, and his husband Derek.
Prior to his son’s death, a strained relationship existed due to Ike’s inability to accept Isaiah’s coming out and his marriage to Derek. Derek’s father, a white hillbilly shit-kicker named Buddy Lee, convinces a hesitant Ike to find some form of justice for their slain sons.
S.A. Cosby released what was probably my favorite novel of 2020 in Blacktop Wasteland. I had pretty high expectations for his follow-up and he definitely did not disappoint. Razorblade Tears took the best parts of a blockbuster action movie and added in an emotional core that completely gripped me from start to finish. There’s an unexpected chemistry between the two leads that gradually forms and never once feels manufactured. If you told me that Ike and Buddy Lee were going to storm the gates of hell, I’d give them a fighting chance.
Despite the near universal acclaim this book has received, it’s bound to ruffle more than a few feathers. Cosby takes on the concept of masculinity and what it means to be a father in the face of deep-rooted cultural beliefs. Ike and Buddy Lee, while not perfect, still have a strong sense of right and wrong, so their growth throughout the novel feels legitimate even if it could be argued that it still shouldn’t be that easy to change the mind of a middle-aged male from the South.
With Razorblade Tears, S.A. Cosby knocks it out of the park yet again. I’m excited to see what lies ahead and can’t wait to get my hands on his next book....more
After an accident leaves him bedridden, author Gerry Andersen begins receiving letters, phone calls and visits from a woman claiming to be Audrey - thAfter an accident leaves him bedridden, author Gerry Andersen begins receiving letters, phone calls and visits from a woman claiming to be Audrey - the central character from his most successful novel DREAM GIRL. With a history of mental illness in his family, is Gerry beginning to lose his mind or is someone from his past out for blood?
I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for a review.
While I’ve read a handful of novels by Laura Lippman, DREAM GIRL immediately jumped out to me after seeing a blurb from Megan Abbott where she said she devoured it in three days; labeling it “razor-sharp” and “enthralling”.
Let’s get this out of the way – I absolutely hated Gerry Andersen. The guy is insufferable. If he isn’t extolling the virtues of his own writing, he’s tearing down the work of others (dismissing the work of Chandler and Hammett) or lamenting the way the world has now turned into something he has a difficult time navigating given the ever-changing landscape of social justice. It’s hard to find sympathy for Gerry at times; having to spend over three hundred pages with him can be grating.
But, that’s the point. Lippman doesn’t want this guy to be likable. Like she has Gerry say in the novel, “my characters are my characters… I think it’s somewhat naïve, as a reader, to talk about whether writers “like” their characters. That’s not the point of what I’m doing.”
Gerry is a character that often tries to do well (despite his actual beliefs) and in doing so, believes himself to be without enemies. However, as one character points out (and I’m paraphrasing here), if he thinks he got to where he is in life without fostering enemies, he’s out of his mind. It’s the crux of the #metoo movement, which this book tackles, that powerful men often underestimate their power and how their actions can carry devastating effects for those who refuse to go along with them.
Despite its rather brief length, I found the story did take a while to get going. Once it does though, it’s pretty hard to put it down. And it has a hell of a twist at the end that I didn’t see coming even though I’m not sure how I missed it. I knew a twist was coming, so maybe I was too busy trying to work out these insane scenarios in my head that in the end, were pretty laughable.
In the author’s note, Lippman said she had been inspired by Stephen King’s Misery as well as a desire to try her hand in the horror genre. I will say that the Misery inspiration is hard to overlook for sure, as it almost feels more like an homage than anything. While I’m not sure if this is one I would want to place in the horror section of a bookstore, it’s definitely a twisty psychological thriller....more
Kit Toliver spends her days picking up men and promptly murdering them afterwards. While her behavior could likely be traced back to a traumatic evenKit Toliver spends her days picking up men and promptly murdering them afterwards. While her behavior could likely be traced back to a traumatic event in her childhood, she certainly doesn’t hide the fact that she enjoys what she’s doing. One day, when thinking back to all of the men she’s disposed of, she’s reminded of the five that escaped with their lives. She decides to put things right in her mind and go after the ones that got away.
Lawrence Block and Hard Case Crime weren’t kidding when they labeled GETTING OFF “a novel of sex and violence”. In the 1960s and 70s, Block had penned a handful of sexually charged novels under the pseudonym Jill Emmerson. Following a brief hiatus in 2010, Hard Case Crime was looking to relaunch in a big way. What better way than reaching out to Block and having him resurrect an old pen name and style that fits perfectly within the publisher’s wheelhouse?
GETTING OFF is without a doubt one of the most violent and sexually explicit novels I’ve ever read. I’d like to consider myself fairly well-read when it comes to Hard Case Crime’s catalog, but I can’t recall anything quite as dark, brutal or sexual from them as this one from Block. That isn’t meant to be a knock, so don’t take it that way. I definitely knew what I was getting into when I had read a few reviews beforehand. That said, I continued to be shocked on occasion throughout the story as Block seemingly refused to hold anything back when it came to Kit’s adventurous side either in the bedroom or on the other end of a knife.
Even though Kit is reprehensible in her actions, she’s an easy character to get behind (pun intended) as she’s equipped with razor sharp wit leading to a level of charm that’s quite infectious. The relationship she develops with Rita, a woman she rents a room from midway through the novel, is an integral part of the story that allows Kit to grow and develop as a character rather than just a mindless killing machine.
Although Kit’s trauma is probably far worse than many of us will experience in our lives, it’s still something that, throughout the novel, she is constantly coming to terms with. GETTING OFF, while at its core is a story meant to affect the reader in a certain way, is more of a nuanced look at how life molds and shapes us, how we’re sometimes powerless to change our behavior despite knowing that it can often be detrimental to our lives. GETTING OFF is proof that genre fiction has much more to say than just what appears at surface level and it’s why Hard Case Crime is one of the best places for those voices....more
Jamie can see dead people. No, we’re not talking about that Bruce Willis movie (he actually says this in the story). Jamie only sees those who’ve receJamie can see dead people. No, we’re not talking about that Bruce Willis movie (he actually says this in the story). Jamie only sees those who’ve recently died and not for long either. For whatever reason, Jamie has found that the dead are unable to lie and must truthfully answer any question asked of them. But Jamie has to move quickly, because it isn’t long before they begin to fade away and venture onto whatever follows life on Earth.
Following the financial crash of 2008, the literary agency run by Jamie’s mother has hit rock bottom. Their misfortune is compounded by the fact that her agency’s star author whose book she had counted on to carry them through another year, died unexpectedly. In a last ditch effort to right the ship, Jamie is taken to the spot where the author had died so Jamie may get all the details on the book’s story and ending so that Jamie’s mother can finish it and publish it posthumously.
Getting wind of Jamie’s talents, an NYPD detective enlists (or forces) his help to track down an explosive left by a serial bomber after he had committed suicide when his identify had been uncovered by the authorities. Can Jamie find the culprit, locate the device in time, and save the day?
When I heard King had a new book coming in 2021 through Hard Case Crime, I was cautiously optimistic. Not only is Hard Case Crime one of my favorite publishers, King’s last effort through them was 2013’s Joyland; a novel I had loved. When I heard his new book would be under 300 pages, my interest then grew exponentially. Given that King is known for being long-winded and that his new stuff isn’t as good as his earlier work (there are a few exceptions with 11/22/63 and Revival coming to mind), I appreciated the opportunity to get something shorter from Uncle Stevie.
I enjoyed the premise and the novel was paced well. There were some great moments between Jamie and the recently departed. I loved that those who had passed took the form of their selves at the time of passing, so when a guy on a bicycle dies in a horrific traffic accident, Jamie has to see or communicate with a ghastly image. King’s on point here with gory descriptions of some of the specters Jamie comes into contact with.
All that said – and I hate myself for this – I think the premise is a bit wasted on such a short novel. There’s a moment near the middle of the story that left me with chills and although it’s such a short scene, maybe a page, it will stick with me long after I’ve put the book back on the shelf. It’s particularly moving and left me wanting more. I would have loved to have King truly sink his teeth into Jamie Conklin and his uncanny ability to talk to the dead. However, I’m not sure modern King could do that justice. If we could invent time travel, I’d love to head back to the 1970s and plant this idea in King’s head as I think it would fit well right alongside The Dead Zone and The Shining.
I thought that as a narrator, Jaime was pretty lame. I couldn’t help but laugh when he would start chapters with “Now, check this out” or “Dig this”. Who talks like that anymore? I’m also a little bit tired of King’s seemingly immense disgust of overweight people. It’s been a problem throughout all six decades of his work and when you’ve read as many of his stories as I have, it becomes distracting and borderline offensive. It’s always a villain or an unimportant side character he saddles with these deeply descriptive bodies, so never someone good or well-intentioned.
Complaints aside, Later is a good read from King that I devoured in just a few sittings. While I knew ahead of time something was coming, there’s a big connection to one of King’s earlier novels that slots this story into the wider King Universe. I thought this was handled really well. Obviously, I won’t reveal it for fear of spoiling it for others, but constant readers will be rewarded.
Note: I originally rated this one 4 stars, but after thinking about it for a few days and in the course of writing my review, I brought it down to 3....more
While visiting his nephew Bill in New Jersey, Vietnam War veteran Frank Thompson has a chance encounter at a trap range with a familiar face. Later tWhile visiting his nephew Bill in New Jersey, Vietnam War veteran Frank Thompson has a chance encounter at a trap range with a familiar face. Later that night, following an attack on Bill’s home, Frank is thrust into a reckoning with his past. Frank’s former troupe, The National League All Stars, are looking to exact revenge against Frank for the killing of one of their own when they were back in “the shit”.
It’s often believed that those who serve never truly leave the war behind them. In Steven Max Russo’s The Dead Don’t Sleep, that belief is truer than ever. The collection of psychopaths that make up the remnants of The National League All Stars set themselves on a collision course with a one-man army in that of Frank Thompson in the wilds of Maine.
The book is split pretty evenly between Frank and his adversaries, which surprised me. It’s not often you really get to learn this much about the antagonists. In Jasper, Birdie and Pogo, Russo has crafted some truly deranged villains. It would have been easier to put all the focus on Frank and give us generic, run-of-the-mill baddies for Thompson to mow down like Rambo with a machine gun in the back of a jeep, but Russo allows the reader to really get into the heads of the three butchers.
Things get pretty wild near the novel’s conclusion. Lots of blood, explosions and violence. Steven Russo’s The Dead Don’t Sleep is like a popcorn movie on the page. These are some old dudes, but that doesn’t mean you should take their abilities lightly. It just goes to show you age is just a number when you have enough of a desire to survive....more
Having trained his whole life to tackle Mount Everest, on April 15th, 2015 veteran climber Jim Davidson found himself on the mountain when a 7.8 magniHaving trained his whole life to tackle Mount Everest, on April 15th, 2015 veteran climber Jim Davidson found himself on the mountain when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake would strike resulting in the deadliest day in its history. Escaping intact, Jim would spend the next two years wondering if his dream was over. Could he make another attempt? Was his age catching up with him? To even consider attempting the mountain a second time is a monumental task - especially having luckily escaped its deadliest day. Davidson struggled with the decision of whether or not to return to Everest. It wasn’t easy. But when you were on the cusp of a dream, it’s sometimes harder to let it slip through your fingers than to try again.
I love a good adventure story. It’s no secret that I enjoy reading about folks traveling to remote and uninhabitable locations – I mean, I think I’ve read half a dozen books about Arctic exploration alone. When I saw this one up for review on Netgalley, it immediately grabbed my attention. Having read what many consider the definitive Everest book in Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air a few years ago, I wondered if Davidson’s account would provide me with something new or would it simply be a re-tread of familiar territory?
Davidson’s story is a different one. While both books deal with disasters taking place on Everest (Krakauer’s being a storm), Davidson’s is also tied to his personal history and his seemingly endless tank of resilience when faced with challenges. Being on Everest while an earthquake struck isn’t the only setback he experienced while mountaineering over the years. I won’t spoil it, but Davidson has a wealth of experience of finding the courage to get back up when life knocks you down.
I came away from this book feeling inspired, to say the least. Considering Davidson is a keynote motivational speaker, this perfectly fits the bill. Normally, I enjoy reading before I go to bed and it’s not often that a book will keep me up late when I’m actually hoping that it will tire out my eyes. The Next Everest did indeed keep me up past my bedtime as I just had to know what happened next. The mark of a true page turner....more
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