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Review Date: 5/1/2013
21 TALES is a great introduction to Zeltserman, early short stories presented in themed blocks - quasi-autobiographic bites taken to a fictional extreme that are embarrassingly close to some of this married man's darker fantasies; hard-boiled tales of tough bastards doing hard-ass things; and a section entitled "brutal" that is aptly named. Quick reads, at times funny, often wince-inducing, engaging and compulsive - more than worth the price of admission.
Review Date: 3/28/2013
Helpful Score: 1
Declan Burke's THE BIG O is a fast, funny as hell crime novel with a surprising amount of heart. Relying on a degree of coincidence that on the surface might seem extreme, the coincidences themselves become a character of sorts, as the reader begins guessing (incorrectly, in my case) where the next cross-pollination will take place.
Alternating as needed between the POVs of the main players (each fully formed and well defined, not to mention entertaining as hell!), Burke keeps the plot and pace running smoothly and strongly. The humor is ever-present, and dark.
Recommended!
Alternating as needed between the POVs of the main players (each fully formed and well defined, not to mention entertaining as hell!), Burke keeps the plot and pace running smoothly and strongly. The humor is ever-present, and dark.
Recommended!
Review Date: 4/30/2013
Helpful Score: 2
This book started off very exciting - I was immediately hooked and devouring it.
Somewhere just before the middle section started, this enjoyment waned. This was partly due to a plot point (no spoilers) and a lot due to the storytelling just becoming very stretched out. The whole middle of the book could have been so much tighter - the plot didn't need all that room to breathe and the pace before the slowdown had been excellent and quick. Perhaps Lynskey was trying to make a certain page count?
Things picked back up, eventually, but my enjoyment never hit the same highs as before. The ending was satisfactory, but not a whole lot more than that.
A decent read, and better than a lot of books, but ultimately not as good a book as it promised to be in early chapters, and not as good as it should have been.
Somewhere just before the middle section started, this enjoyment waned. This was partly due to a plot point (no spoilers) and a lot due to the storytelling just becoming very stretched out. The whole middle of the book could have been so much tighter - the plot didn't need all that room to breathe and the pace before the slowdown had been excellent and quick. Perhaps Lynskey was trying to make a certain page count?
Things picked back up, eventually, but my enjoyment never hit the same highs as before. The ending was satisfactory, but not a whole lot more than that.
A decent read, and better than a lot of books, but ultimately not as good a book as it promised to be in early chapters, and not as good as it should have been.
Review Date: 5/1/2013
If you like DARKLY comic, CRINGE-INDUCINGLY brutal little tales of twisted noir, then I think that you're going to enjoy Eric Beetner's BOUQUET OF BULLETS just as much as I did. Some of the stories snuck up on me, bringing terrible twists. Some of them were more linear, telegraphing their punches and keeping me wishing and hoping things weren't going to turn out as awesomely awful as I expected. Every single one was a blast. Beetner's an unqualified master of the short story.
Buy this, Read it like I did (slowly, over time, savoring these little installments of awesome) or tear through it in a sitting or two (as I was tempted to do). Just get it (c'mon, it's 3 bucks!) and read it and then tell Eric Beetner he's awesome. Then go buy more of his stuff, and more Snub Nose Press stuff, because they're awesome as well.
Buy this, Read it like I did (slowly, over time, savoring these little installments of awesome) or tear through it in a sitting or two (as I was tempted to do). Just get it (c'mon, it's 3 bucks!) and read it and then tell Eric Beetner he's awesome. Then go buy more of his stuff, and more Snub Nose Press stuff, because they're awesome as well.
Review Date: 11/29/2011
BURY ME DEEP is a stunning piece of noir. Megan Abbott effortlessly brings the reader into 1930's Phoenix and into the parties and excesses. The questionable morality of the time and place is shown to us through the prim and proper eyes of the focus character as we see her, in her loneliness and despair; react, accept, then bend, bend and ultimately break as she comes into her sexual awareness. All too soon, sex and sin becomes, somehow, darker and then darker still.
A stunning work. Painful and wonderful. Fantastic!
A stunning work. Painful and wonderful. Fantastic!
Review Date: 11/29/2011
BURY ME DEEP is a stunning piece of noir. Megan Abbott effortlessly brings the reader into 1930's Phoenix and into the parties and excesses. The questionable morality of the time and place is shown to us through the prim and proper eyes of the focus character as we see her, in her loneliness and despair; react, accept, then bend, bend and ultimately break as she comes into her sexual awareness. All too soon, sex and sin becomes, somehow, darker and then darker still.
A stunning work. Painful and wonderful. Fantastic!
A stunning work. Painful and wonderful. Fantastic!
Review Date: 11/29/2011
Helpful Score: 1
BURY ME DEEP is a stunning piece of noir. Megan Abbott effortlessly brings the reader into 1930's Phoenix and into the parties and excesses. The questionable morality of the time and place is shown to us through the prim and proper eyes of the focus character as we see her, in her loneliness and despair; react, accept, then bend, bend and ultimately break as she comes into her sexual awareness. All too soon, sex and sin becomes, somehow, darker and then darker still.
A stunning work. Painful and wonderful. Fantastic!
A stunning work. Painful and wonderful. Fantastic!
Review Date: 5/1/2013
Allan Guthrie is a gem. I have not read anything if his that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. BYE BYE BABY is no exception.
A fast, fun read with compelling characters and a decidedly noir twist. Also included in the ebook edition I read was the original short story, which acted as a great "DVD extra", retelling two key scenes from an alternate pov.
A fast, fun read with compelling characters and a decidedly noir twist. Also included in the ebook edition I read was the original short story, which acted as a great "DVD extra", retelling two key scenes from an alternate pov.
Review Date: 5/1/2013
I am so in awe of Megan Abbot's storytelling skill. I am possibly as different from a High School cheerleader as one can be, yet I completely identified with (and was thoroughly engaged by) the story and characters.
DARE ME is a hell of an achievement. Highly recommended!
DARE ME is a hell of an achievement. Highly recommended!
Review Date: 5/1/2013
I am so in awe of Megan Abbot's storytelling skill. I am possibly as different from a High School cheerleader as one can be, yet I completely identified with (and was thoroughly engaged by) the story and characters.
DARE ME is a hell of an achievement. Highly recommended!
DARE ME is a hell of an achievement. Highly recommended!
Review Date: 5/1/2013
Helpful Score: 1
I am so in awe of Megan Abbot's storytelling skill. I am possibly as different from a High School cheerleader as one can be, yet I completely identified with (and was thoroughly engaged by) the story and characters.
DARE ME is a hell of an achievement. Highly recommended!
DARE ME is a hell of an achievement. Highly recommended!
Review Date: 5/1/2013
I am so in awe of Megan Abbot's storytelling skill. I am possibly as different from a High School cheerleader as one can be, yet I completely identified with (and was thoroughly engaged by) the story and characters.
DARE ME is a hell of an achievement. Highly recommended!
DARE ME is a hell of an achievement. Highly recommended!
Review Date: 5/1/2013
All of the good things you have heard about the Dead Man books are true! I like the concept of various authors writing the stories and the pulpy, "men's adventure series" feel comes through very well. The first installment, FACE OF EVIL, was a good "series set-up" book that introduced the protagonist and the ongoing adversary, laid the groundwork, and told a cracking story. Lively and fun, a quick, engaging read. I am eagerly moving into the next one!
Review Date: 5/1/2013
I am enjoying the Dead Man series tremendously. This second book in the series is even better than the first. With the premise firmly established in FACE OF EVIL, the first Dead Man book, we can get on with the good stuff - the Dead Man adventures!
This one involves some wacky, creepy stuff and introduces depth into the world of Dead Man, along with some (possibly-recurring?) supporting characters. Our hero learns some more about himself, and about this weird gift/curse as well... though more questions may have been raised than answered.
An excellent entry in the series. Moving on to the third book, I am excited to see what the new author (every book is written by a different, excellent author) will bring to the table.
This one involves some wacky, creepy stuff and introduces depth into the world of Dead Man, along with some (possibly-recurring?) supporting characters. Our hero learns some more about himself, and about this weird gift/curse as well... though more questions may have been raised than answered.
An excellent entry in the series. Moving on to the third book, I am excited to see what the new author (every book is written by a different, excellent author) will bring to the table.
Review Date: 5/13/2013
Helpful Score: 3
Urban fantasy, when done well, is excellent. However, it's hard as hell to find that mythic beast that is well done urban fantasy. The genre is dominated by weird cross pollinations of Harlequin Romance novels and Penthouse Forum letters - done with vampires.
Even if this weren't the case, I think Stephen Blackmoore's DEATH THINGS would stand out. This is an example of that rare thing, the fantastic Urban Fantasy. It's sharp, clever, tough and unrelentingly noir. It wears its influences proudly on its sleeve (HELLBLAZER, anyone?) while being far from a knock off.
Excellent read! A no-brainer for fans of Richard Kadrey's SANDMAN SLIM books, Mike Carey's Felix Castor novels and Chris Holm's Collector series.
Even if this weren't the case, I think Stephen Blackmoore's DEATH THINGS would stand out. This is an example of that rare thing, the fantastic Urban Fantasy. It's sharp, clever, tough and unrelentingly noir. It wears its influences proudly on its sleeve (HELLBLAZER, anyone?) while being far from a knock off.
Excellent read! A no-brainer for fans of Richard Kadrey's SANDMAN SLIM books, Mike Carey's Felix Castor novels and Chris Holm's Collector series.
Review Date: 5/1/2013
This is a great piece of hard-boiled crime fiction from Eric Beetner, whose work is always compelling and fast-moving. Quirky, violent, darkly funny and a terrific read!
Review Date: 3/28/2013
Helpful Score: 1
I knew I was going to enjoy DONNYBROOK. The cover alone guaranteed that. Of course, Frank Bill has been getting a ton of positive buzz among the various crime fiction sites and blogs that I frequent. So it was a given that I would enjoy DONNYBROOK.
I didn't know how much, though. I mean, I dug this book in ways that I haven't dug a book in a long time. That's saying something, because I have been on a hot-hot-HOT streak. I have been reading some terrific stuff, from crime writers new and old, books new and old. I have been devouring some top notch stuff and still, still! Frank Bill just blew me away.
DONNYBROOK is that awesome, plus some.
Rage and methamphetamine fueled bare knuckle fighters, most of whom are also packing shotguns and forty-fives tucked in next to their bad attitudes. Every one is more badass than the next; mix in a huge bag of meth, buckets of cash from a backwoods illegal fight club, almost more grudges can be counted, some womenfolk as cunning and vicious as they are curvy, a hillbilly shaman and a Hong Kong Triad enforcer...
Don't read my review, I can't do the book justice and I don't want to spoil a thing. Just know that I am jealous of you, because now you get to read DONNYBROOK for the first time. And that's awesome.
A last tip - use Sam Elliot's voice for the narration in your head, exactly as he sounds in THE BIG LEBOWSKI.
I didn't know how much, though. I mean, I dug this book in ways that I haven't dug a book in a long time. That's saying something, because I have been on a hot-hot-HOT streak. I have been reading some terrific stuff, from crime writers new and old, books new and old. I have been devouring some top notch stuff and still, still! Frank Bill just blew me away.
DONNYBROOK is that awesome, plus some.
Rage and methamphetamine fueled bare knuckle fighters, most of whom are also packing shotguns and forty-fives tucked in next to their bad attitudes. Every one is more badass than the next; mix in a huge bag of meth, buckets of cash from a backwoods illegal fight club, almost more grudges can be counted, some womenfolk as cunning and vicious as they are curvy, a hillbilly shaman and a Hong Kong Triad enforcer...
Don't read my review, I can't do the book justice and I don't want to spoil a thing. Just know that I am jealous of you, because now you get to read DONNYBROOK for the first time. And that's awesome.
A last tip - use Sam Elliot's voice for the narration in your head, exactly as he sounds in THE BIG LEBOWSKI.
Review Date: 5/1/2013
Helpful Score: 1
I tried a sample of Ex-Heroes and was immediately hooked! Bought it and devoured it (pun intended). Excellent mix of super-hero action and zombie apocalypse horror. Highly recommended!
Review Date: 5/1/2013
Helpful Score: 1
I tried a sample of Ex-Heroes and was immediately hooked! Bought it and devoured it (pun intended). Excellent mix of super-hero action and zombie apocalypse horror. Highly recommended!
Review Date: 5/1/2013
Just like the first book in the series, this is a really engaging, very enjoyable super-heroes/post-zombie-apocalypse mash up. A very enjoyable read and a well-done sequel that manages to expand on and continue from the first book without losing steam or retreading old ground. Well done - looking forward to a 3rd!
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