The Devil All The Time is one of those books where everyone I know who has read it has had nothing but exceptional things to say about it. So, why theThe Devil All The Time is one of those books where everyone I know who has read it has had nothing but exceptional things to say about it. So, why the hell did it take me so long to read it?
If you’re looking for fiction that is as gritty as sandpaper covered in broken glass, then look no further than The Devil All The Time
Donald Ray Pollock’s novel follows the lives of a handful of people with the eventual goal of connecting them all in let’s say, some not so great ways. The story follows Willard and his son Arvin as their prayers for the health of Arvin’s mother have seemingly been falling on deaf ears. There’s Sandy and Carl, two ne’er do wells that run the highways looking for hitchhikers to bait and murder. The story also follows a delusional preacher and his wheelchair-bound friend after a misjudged act forces them to run. And who is this new preacher in town with a taste for young girls? There are other threads as well and Pollock eventually finds a way to weave them all together.
This is an absolutely riveting story that gripped me from start to finish. Trying to figure out just how each plot line would intersect had me turning the pages (or click the page button on my Kindle) late into the night. These stories are uncompromising in their look at life in poorer communities and the effect hopelessness has on decisions that are made out of desperation. The fact of the matter is, you can’t run from your past, no matter how much you try. The consequences of your actions will always catch up with you in the end.
I expect that this one will stick with me long after I’ve finished. Many of these characters felt so real that you wonder if Pollock took inspiration from his years growing up in the American Rust Belt.
Luckily for me, Netflix recently adapted the book into a film, so I can check that out and relive my time in Meade, Ohio – if that’s something one would ever want to do....more
David Sedaris returns with his second collection of diary entries. A Carnival of Snackery spans from 2003 all the way up to 2020.
This is a hard one toDavid Sedaris returns with his second collection of diary entries. A Carnival of Snackery spans from 2003 all the way up to 2020.
This is a hard one to review and it will entirely depend on if you’re already a big fan of David’s work. By no means should anyone begin their Sedaris journey with either collection of diary entries as both are more of an unfiltered look at the inner workings of David’s mind rather than the polished essays he’s most known for. It’s like watching the special features on a DVD without watching the movie.
A lot has happened both in David’s life and the world in the seventeen years that make up this collection. Big cultural moments like the beginning of the war in Iraq, the 2005 terrorist attacks in London (while David was a resident there), the political rise of the far right and the election of Donald Trump and the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic all make appearances. We also unfortunately encounter the loss of David’s sister Tiffany to suicide, David’s fractured relationship with his father and many a health scare.
It’s obviously not all gloom and doom, however. David is first and foremost a humorist, so the book has more than its fair share of laugh out loud moments; the best being jokes and insults he’s told at book signings.
“You’re so lazy, you would shit the bed and push it out with your foot.”
“The lowest of the low. You’re so low you could get under the belly of a snake wearing a top hat.”
There are definitely other highlights here like David’s unusual relationship with a fox who had visited his home every day looking for scraps, much to the chagrin of his partner Hugh. His interactions with readers at book signings often keep the events going long – sometimes over 5 hours – one highlight being how soon women remove their bras following their work day.
Like THEFT BY FINDING, I can’t see me recommending this to someone who hasn’t already read a good chunk of David’s work, but I did have an enjoyable time seeing these snapshots of David’s day-to-day life...more
Still reeling from the departure of his wife and struggling to maintain a connection with his dying father, Marcos continues to push through his days Still reeling from the departure of his wife and struggling to maintain a connection with his dying father, Marcos continues to push through his days working in a butchery. However, this isn’t a normal butchery – at least not to you and me. When a virus made animal meat inedible, a solution had to be found.
Marcos, and many others, are breeding humans and stocking store shelves with “special” meat. But when Marcos is gifted his own adult female to raise for slaughter, he commits an unforgivable sin.
This was a tough read. TENDER IS THE FLESH is one of the darkest and most graphic horror novels I’ve ever read. Author Agustina Bazterrica does not relent in her depiction of a world that turned to legalized cannibalism in order to survive. One of the more interesting aspects of the book involved the hiring practices of the plant Marco works in. Those in charge have a careful selection process in how they weed out those who either do not have the stomach for it as well as those who would take too much enjoyment in their work.
While the horror of it all is what will stick with people long after they finish, the book also digs deeply into the trauma that comes with losing a child as well as the complications that arise with caring for a sick parent. Marcos and the relationships in his life were nearly as absorbing as the horrific aspect of his work.
TENDER IS THE FLESH could have easily veered into anti-meat/pro-vegan territory and Bazterrica could have spent her whole time on a soapbox, but I never felt that came across (even though factory farms are likely even more horrific than what’s described in this book). There is a psychological element that made this one stick with me after I finished. Whether it was what makes a human a “human” or how difficult it is to navigate relationships that are beyond repair....more
Paperbacks from Hell looks back at the horror fiction boom of the 1970s and 80s and the books that took up residence on racks across the world.
This boPaperbacks from Hell looks back at the horror fiction boom of the 1970s and 80s and the books that took up residence on racks across the world.
This book is super fun. Not only do you get an education on each subgenre of horror (satanic, creepy kids, animals and haunted houses to name a fews) but you also get to look at some of the most insane cover art you will ever see.
Both Hendrix and co-author Will Errickson sold me on so many novels that I hope to get to someday. Given that the book is just bursting with interesting sounding stories, it was hard to keep track of them all. Luckily, the pair have a good selection of “recommended reading” at the end that is made up of what they consider the cream of the crop.
One thing I will say is that not only was this informative, but it was also hilarious. Both authors give the subject matter a very much tongue-in-cheek approach when discussing some of the more outlandish material. I mean, how could you approach a story such as Satan Sublets with anything other than humor?
While this book is available as an ebook, this is one you’re going to want to own a physical copy of. The presentation is extremely well done as the art just leaps off the page and is just a treat to look at (I downloaded an electronic copy and it just felt like a mess – maybe it’s best suited for a tablet or a laptop if you really don’t want a hard copy).
I’m giving this one my highest possible recommendation. Even if you’re not a horror fan per se, the subject matter is endlessly interesting if you want to learn how the darkest fiction gripped readers worldwide....more
Kris Pulaski, former guitarist for 90s metal band Dürt Würk, is beside herself upon finding out her former bandmate Terry Hunt, fronting his own band Kris Pulaski, former guitarist for 90s metal band Dürt Würk, is beside herself upon finding out her former bandmate Terry Hunt, fronting his own band Koffin, has announced his farewell tour. With unfinished business still on the table between Kris and Terry, Kris intends to make the trek to Terry’s final show with confrontation on her mind.
I’ve become a big fan of Grady Hendrix over the last year or so. His books, while leaning more toward the gimmicky side, have always been entertaining and tend to stick with me long after I’ve finished. We Sold Our Souls is no exception.
As the title suggests, the plot lies heavily on the supernatural coinciding with a deal with the devil, so to speak. Hendrix does a great job pulling from the vast history of rock music and its lengthy association with satanic culture and the occult. Lots of great Easter eggs to be found for music aficionados as well as a healthy hatred for nu metal and the passing fad of rap-rock.
Given that it’s a horror book, you can expect a good number of bloody and gruesome scenes – one of which had me clenching my jaw as I powered my way through a ridiculously brutal attack via a plethora of limbs reaching into a car, grabbing and tearing without abandon.
We Sold Our Souls further reinforced Hendrix as an author whom I will blindly read whatever he writes and releases. A solid four guitar solos out of five....more
I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Hailing from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Mark knew from an early age what it was he wanted to do with his life – convincing his father, however, was the hard part. In AN EMBARASSMENT OF CRITCH’S, Mark goes through his early days struggling to find stable work in the entertainment industry all the way to the present where he now holds the honor of the longest-serving cast member on CBC’s THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES.
There were some interesting stories in here including Mark’s experiences with ambushing Canadian politicians for off-the-cuff interviews as well as being a veteran of filming remotes (on-location sketches) for the Canadian comedy institution. Even the stories that weren’t exactly memorable still maintained a level of enjoyment given Mark’s natural talent for storytelling.
The more memorable chapters in the book deal with Mark heading overseas to perform for the Canadian troops in Afghanistan in 2006, a journey fraught with rocket attacks, imported contraband and the horrors of “Emerald Lake”. Then there was Mark’s trip to Russia in 2007 where in response to Russian claiming The North Pole by planting a flag on the ocean floor, Mark tried to do the same by claiming Red Square for Canada by planting a flag in the center of the landmark. It goes without saying – that did not go according to plan. Another standout looked at Mark’s confrontation with Pamela Anderson and Sam Simon as they arrived on the shores of Newfoundland in 2013 to half-heartedly stop the annual seal hunt.
AN EMBARASSMENT OF CRITCH’S is both a look at the ins-and-outs of Canadian showbiz as well as the absurdity of dancing on the line of Canadian political humor. ...more
Ethan Reckless is a guy you call when you’re in a jam; a jam where the cops cannot be called. Working out of an old theatre in the heart of Los AngeleEthan Reckless is a guy you call when you’re in a jam; a jam where the cops cannot be called. Working out of an old theatre in the heart of Los Angeles, we join Ethan as he’s struggling to make ends meet with business having dried up. Out of the blue, Ethan receives a call from an old acquaintance who fears for her life. Reckless agrees to help her pro-bono, much to the chagrin of his business partner. But is it as straight-forward as his client suggests or is Ethan walking into a funhouse maze with no easy way out?
I can’t say enough about the work of Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. I can’t say for certain, but I don’t believe I’ve read a single collaboration of theirs I haven’t enjoyed. RECKLESS is no different. For a guy who already loves pulpy, crime fiction from the likes of Hard Case Crime, this one was right up my alley. The duo have packed the pages from cover to cover with dangers around seemingly every corner that entice brawling bloodbaths and explosions galore.
Like always, the artwork is on point and the characters seemed plucked from the era (1980s) with believable dialogue and actions – even if some of their motivations are suspect. I’m almost certain Brubaker could make just about anything he writes relatable in some way. I mean, who doesn’t struggle with the weight of past decisions and how they’ve affected your life either for better, or worse, years down the road? All those involved here are running from something in their former lives.
Brubaker and Phillips have set themselves up well to get a mountain of material out of their new anti-hero. With three books planned, I’m looking forward to getting back into that dusty old theatre alongside Reckless for another ride through the backstreets of LA....more
No One Wins Alone is the memoir of superstar NHL player, Mark Messier.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.No One Wins Alone is the memoir of superstar NHL player, Mark Messier.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A few years ago, I told myself I would stop reading player memoirs and shift solely to books written about hockey by either journalists or sports writers. I made this decision after having read a handful of extremely dull books co-written by superstar players who either an image to maintain or had led an uninteresting career off the ice.
I am not sure why, but when I saw that Mark Messier had a book due out in the fall celebrating his nearly 25 year career, I decided to go back on my word – just this one time. This was a mistake. Not only has Mark led a nearly squeaky-clean life, but this book also doubles as a leadership manifesto on how to inspire others to do their best in life and their career. I should have expected this given the book’s title and Messier having a yearly NHL award given to the player who best exemplifies on-ice leadership.
Look, I’m not faulting Mark for leading a life and career without controversy. I myself am about as dangerous as a warm blanket out of the dryer, but I wouldn’t read a book about my life either. That said, there are a few interesting parts in the book that mostly detail the rise and subsequent dynasty of the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s. One of the moments that will stick with me involved the aftermath of the Oilers’ loss to the New York Islanders, a team that had just won their fourth consecutive Stanley Cup in 1983. Messier walked past their dressing room, expecting to hear celebrating but saw the team of grizzled veterans sitting in relative silence drinking beer and icing their injuries. Messier noted that being as successful as the Islanders were for as long as they had been came with a price.
The book also looks at his trade to the New York Rangers in the early 90s, his ill-fated run with the Canucks a few years later and his return to the Rangers before his retirement at age forty-three. I honestly didn’t get a whole lot out of the latter half of the book.
It goes without saying that Messier is a class act and is beloved by the hockey world (unless you’re a Canucks fan), but this book failed to captivate me and felt more like a chore near the end....more
Gary Hart’s My Life in Wrestling is the white whale of wrestling memoirs. Long since out of print, hardcover copies go easily for over a grand on the Gary Hart’s My Life in Wrestling is the white whale of wrestling memoirs. Long since out of print, hardcover copies go easily for over a grand on the secondary market. Given that I was never, ever going to pay that much for any book let alone this one, I just assumed I would never get a chance to read one of wrestling’s great books. Then, out of the blue, a friend messaged me to let me know he had a copy I could borrow and we were off to the races.
Gary Hart is a man who – albeit for one night – spent his entire career outside of Vince McMahon’s WWF, so that alone immediately attracted me to his story. It’s not often you get to experience the life story of someone involved in the wrestling business who did not work for Vince – especially during the 80s where seemingly every man and woman jumped ship from their respective promotions to be a part of McMahon’s growing empire.
Beginning as a wrestler, Gary made his way around the territorial system in the 1960s before he would eventually settle into an on-screen managerial role. This is where Gary would find his true passion in the wrestling business. Gary would create characters and use those characters to develop talent who could then work all over the United States and beyond. Gary is credited with introducing and developing such legendary characters as Pak Song Nam, The Spoiler, The Great Kabuki, The Great Muta, The One Man Gang, King Kong Bundy, Gino Hernandez, The Ultimate Warrior, Al Perez, and a veritable rogue’s gallery of villains.
While Gary’s work as a manager and talent developer would already be enough to secure a spot in any wrestling Hall of Fame, his legacy as the booker (or match-maker) for Fritz Von Erich’s Dallas territory is arguably his finest work. WCCW (World Class Championship Wrestling) as it came to be known, was one of the hottest promotions outside of the World Wrestling Federation in the mid-80s. It’s credited with introducing entrance music to go along with wrestler introductions as well as off-site recorded vignettes used to further expand on rivalries and character work.
Gary talks about his work in positioning Fritz’s sons (the Von Erich boys) as must-see talents who would draw thousands to shows every week. His landmark storyline involving The Von Erichs against The Fabulous Freebirds would go on to carry the promotion for years after Gary had left to work for Jim Crockett Promotions in the Carolinas.
Gary certainly has no shortage of things to talk about – both triumphant and tragic – but the one thing that puts the book above so many other wrestling memoirs is that you really get a feel for Gary’s voice. Hart isn’t here to pull punches or save face – if he didn’t like you or thought an idea was of little value, he is not shy about letting you know. He doesn’t spend the whole book trashing people but he certainly has an axe to grind regarding a few prominent figures. While Gary is certainly not alone is his disdain for wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer, his hatred for Sting completely threw me for a loop as Sting is generally a guy not many people seem to have a negative thing to say about.
I am so happy that I was able to read Gary Hart’s book. I worried that it could not possibly live up to the hype and that ultimately, I would be disappointed. Like the long-lost match between Bret Hart and Tom MaGee that was unearthed a few years ago. It was almost better left to your imagination. That is not the case here. Gary Hart’s My Life In Wrestling has a permanent spot in my upper-echelon of wrestling memoirs....more
When Ree Dolly’s father goes missing, she is told that he had used the family property as collateral for bail money. With little choice, Ree makes theWhen Ree Dolly’s father goes missing, she is told that he had used the family property as collateral for bail money. With little choice, Ree makes the decision to track him down and bring him to court.
Daniel Woodrell’s WINTER’S BONE has flown under my radar for years now. About a decade ago, the film adaptation garnered a ton of buzz with Jennifer Lawrence earning herself an Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Ree. I kept saying I would get to it eventually and happily let it simmer on the backburner of my brain. When I was looking for something different – and more importantly short – to read, I grabbed this one when it went on sale through the Kindle store.
WINTER’S BONE is the definition of a moody and atmospheric novel with the weather as central a character to the experience as anyone in the story. Woodrell leans heavily on the impoverished culture of the drug-stricken Ozarks, truly giving this novel a feeling of unforgiving cruelty. Setting it during the late days of fall before winter cuts through with its relentless bleakness was also a nice touch; it gives a hard-edge to an already remorseless group of people who stand between Ree and the truth.
Ree was such a captivating character. She seemed to be one of the few with ambitions to get up and get out of her community – kind of like a backwoods George Bailey. With an ailing mother and young siblings on the verge of falling into bad habits, Ree cannot simply unplug herself and hit the road. She has to be their protector. Ree, knowing this life will eventually extinguish all hope deep inside her, makes it all the more tragic to watch her desperately try and swim against the current.
WINTER’S BONE is a quick, uncompromising look at a community on the fringes of modern society – a people fighting hard for their place in the world reduced to trafficking poison just to get by....more
In 2019, Nick and Matt Jackson, alongside several of their friends and peers, as well as American businessman Tony Khan, founded AEW (All Elite WrestlIn 2019, Nick and Matt Jackson, alongside several of their friends and peers, as well as American businessman Tony Khan, founded AEW (All Elite Wrestling), a new and exciting competitor to the monopolistic WWE in the United States. However, the duo weren’t always the trendsetting disrupters they came to be in recent years, they had to start at the very bottom. YOUNG BUCKS: KILLING THE BUSINESS FROM THE BACKYARDS TO THE BIG LEAGUES is the story of how the two Jackson brothers rose through the ranks and went from undesirable to undeniable.
The book spends considerable time on how they both came up in the business as self-taught backyard wrestling performers before receiving legitimate training through a promotion in Southern California. From there, Nick and Matt remained focused on establishing themselves as a tag team first and foremost forgoing any ambition of becoming singles stars. The Jacksons write at length regarding their difficulties in getting attention from Vince McMahon’s WWE due to their size and boyish looks. They also dig into their frustrations working under promoters and writers who were always looking to split them up and move them away from tag team wrestling.
It wasn’t until they were on the verge of quitting wrestling altogether in 2011 that they changed their approach to the business itself and used the criticisms they frequently received as fuel for becoming intentionally obnoxious performers. If people believed they were disrespectful, put too much elaborate choreography in their matches, or overused certain moves and ideas, they decided they would lean harder into what many had considered their faults. This drastic change in attitude led to fans all over the world embracing them as favorites while also paying top dollar for truckloads of merchandise. This allowed Matt and Nick to create a career in wrestling that no longer required them to seek the approval of the biggest wrestling promotion in the world.
Before reading this book, I wouldn’t have considered myself knowledgeable when it came to the careers of Nick and Matt given that I hadn’t watched much wrestling outside of WWE until about maybe five years ago. It was interesting getting to learn the ups and downs of life on the modern-day independent scene as well as the massive success the two enjoyed while a part of New Japan Pro Wrestling throughout the 2010s. I would have liked more about the formation of AEW, but the promotion is still young, so there will be lots of time for that. While I’m more in favor of wrestlers waiting until their careers are either over or mostly winding down, Nick and Matt have been wrestling in some form or fashion for over twenty years and had a wealth of material to pull from allowing them to produce an engaging, yet brief, memoir....more
In GAME CHANGE, legendary player-turned-author Ken Dryden, looks at the life and legacy of former NHL player Steve Montador and the history of head inIn GAME CHANGE, legendary player-turned-author Ken Dryden, looks at the life and legacy of former NHL player Steve Montador and the history of head injuries that lead to the unfolding crisis of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) plaguing the sport of hockey.
A few years back, I picked up both this and Ken’s critically acclaimed memoir THE GAME. While I immediately read and loved THE GAME, this one sat on my shelf for a few years before pulling it off the bookcase this summer looking for something different to read. While I knew it wasn’t going to be the definition of a “beach read”, I didn’t expect to be as shocked and horrified as I was.
Like many hockey fans (and wrestling fans), I’ve been concerned over the tragic consequences of multiple, repeated concussions. As Ken writes, hockey is without a doubt a tough guy’s sport. Whereas head injuries aren’t quite as noticeable as a broken limb, players chalk up a nasty hit to the skull as “having your bell rung”, and are willing to jump back on the ice as soon as possible with little regard to their health.
Steve Montador is as good a subject as any when examining the effects of countless concussions. A player seemingly consistently on the bubble of playing in the NHL, Steve would need to resort to physicality to prove himself useful to a general manager looking for that fifth or sixth defensemen; a player that could add intimidation and grit. Steve longed for making a difference on the score sheet, but knew his role, which unfortunately led to a mountain of injuries before hitting his thirties. To ease the pain and his mental struggles with self-worth, Steve had been a heavy drinker. While he was able to stay clean for many years, as his career wound down and the injuries began to mount, he turned back to the bottle. Drug and alcohol abuse tied to brain trauma is not a great mix, to say the least.
While the NHL has tried over the years to curb the concussion epidemic by instituting strict protocols to keep players off the ice to allow them to fully heal before getting back in play, the athletes still have that “grin and bear it” mentality that needs to be eradicated. I’m not putting all the blame on the players here as the NHL has repeatedly fought lawsuits as well as public opinion that the sport is to be directly blamed for the long-term effects suffered by retired players – too many of whom take their own lives when day-to-day living proves too difficult.
Two of the biggest highlights of the book – outside of the relentlessly tragic life of Steve Montador – involved Dryden’s discussions with retired players Keith Primeau and Marc Savard with Savard’s chapter being the first time he had spoken publicly about his concussion history. After retiring in 2005, Primeau lived with post-concussion symptoms for years with little hope he would see improvement. Seven years later, when the pain and frustration had begun to ease, he would hit his head on a low-hanging pipe leading to a complete return of his worst symptoms.
The tragic part of it all is that many suffer in silence with many taking their own lives to end their daily anguish and by then, it’s too late. There is no known cure for CTE and the treatments vary based on how a person’s brain reacts to therapy. Dryden does his absolute best to answer a very difficult question – “can hockey as we know it exist without the dangers of head trauma?” Right now, the answer is no, but like many others, I can only hope that more effective treatments become available and we can at least lessen the probability of long-term suffering....more
The Glorious Wrestling Alliance has hit a crisis point. Their champion, The Great Carp, is struggling with depression when outside of the squared circThe Glorious Wrestling Alliance has hit a crisis point. Their champion, The Great Carp, is struggling with depression when outside of the squared circle. Gravy Train, a wrestler shaped like a bowl of gravy, is tired of his gimmick and wants a radical change. Death Machine, GWA’s most aggressive grappler, wants time to focus on his deeply personal poetry and Miranda Fury, their underutilized female performer, is tired of being overlooked by management. Speaking of management, company matchmaker Ricky Lovett Jr. has the weight of his father’s success on his shoulders as he struggles to keep GWA afloat.
Josh Hicks’ completely original take on the wrestling industry is filled with all too familiar problems that have plagued performers and promoters alike for generations. With the GWA battling to maintain relevancy, and most importantly cash flow, the roster is constantly clashing with one another – as well as their own insecurities – when fighting for spots on the card as well as character growth. With Glorious Wrestling Alliance, Hicks is able to weave deeply personal issues with over-the-top comedic characters in an effort to create something truly unique.
As with most graphic novels and comic books, a lot hinges on the quality of the artwork. Josh’s style pops off the page with color and flash as well as a quirky style that feels reminiscent of Adventure Time or even Canadian cartoonist Kate Beaton. I appreciated his approach to drawing some of the bigger and bulkier athletes showcasing physiques, not unlike 1980s big-man The Warlord. There were definitely many Scott Putski award winners among the bunch if Post Wrestling had nominations to hand out.
Anxiety, dread, and the impossible are all things that you could easily find in any wrestling promotion or memoir, but Glorious Wrestling Alliance is one that seamlessly blends them all into an effortlessly digestible journey through the absurd....more
When Allen is struck down by a debilitating stroke during a game of golf with his friend and business partner Byron, the relationship between the two When Allen is struck down by a debilitating stroke during a game of golf with his friend and business partner Byron, the relationship between the two begins to deteriorate. Life-long friends from college – each married to one of a pair of sisters – have to now come up with a plan to deconstruct their business empire built atop drugs and money-laundering while Allen is still cognitive enough to do so.
Byron is dealing with his own problems. Dementia, a disease that claimed the life of his mother several years earlier, is threatening to afflict Byron as well. Can Byron keep his wits about him in the face of mounting legal issues and an alleged conspiracy to oust him from the company he, Allen and the Winter Sisters built?
It has been nearly two years since my last run-in with Linden MacIntyre when I picked up his non-fiction book, THE WAKE – the story about a deadly tsunami that ravaged the coast of Newfoundland. I absolutely loved that one, so when I saw he had a new novel on the way, I jumped at the chance to read it.
McIntyre takes us through the current medical and legal upheaval affecting the lives of the four main characters, while also throwing in flashbacks to help to flesh out the story as the narrative moves along. It’s clear when Linden elects to jump around, so I was never lost or confused as to when a certain event was taking place. There were points where I had a hard time putting down the book as there were explosive allegations and moments where the action moved forward without time to take so much as a breath.
With all that said – there is a moment about three quarters of the way through the story that completely took me out of it. For the majority of the book, I really found myself identifying with Byron and his standoffish nature, his reluctance to move away from his homestead in Nova Scotia where he somewhat secluded himself from the real-world consequences and day-to-day operations of the company Allen and the Winter Sisters built. However, he does something so seemingly out of character and so repulsive that once it happens, I had a hard time getting back into the story. I more or less limped over the finish line to find out where everything lay when all the dust settled.
With THE WINTER WIVES, Linden doesn’t exactly make a case for any of the four leads being good people, although we get a pretty strong sense that Byron lives by a particular moral code that’s seemingly absent from the other three. Once that is broken however, I feel like I’m still being asked to perceive Byron the same way as the author continues to load piles of sympathy on him. But it feels wrong at this point. If the complexity of the narrative hadn’t been executed so strongly up to that point, I may have just written the whole thing off.
THE WINTER WIVES is essentially a strong, but ultimately flawed novel....more
When noted junkie Billy-Billy Cantell arrives at the door of career criminal Clay alleging he’s being framed for murder, Clay begrudgingly agrees to tWhen noted junkie Billy-Billy Cantell arrives at the door of career criminal Clay alleging he’s being framed for murder, Clay begrudgingly agrees to take him in. After the police arrive and interview Clay on Billy-Billy’s whereabouts, Clay discovers Billy-Billy is nowhere to be found. Clay reaches out to his employer for direction and is told to do everything within his power to keep Billy-Billy safe. Knowing Billy-Billy couldn’t hurt a fly, can Clay track him down and clear his name?
After having finished Adam Higginbotham’s MIDNIGHT IN CHERNOBYL, I was looking for something a little less traumatizing. So, a standalone Hardcase Crime novel that clocked in just over two hundred pages seemed like a good idea.
I don’t want this to sound like I’m slagging the book because I did like it, but Donald Westlake’s The Cutie is the perfect forgettable read. This is like grabbing a burger and fries at your favorite fast food joint. It’s quick, satisfying and tasty. But unlike the assembly line nature of the fast food industry, Westlake is putting in the work of a chef with red herrings, misdirection and twists galore.
Donald Westlake’s THE CUTIE is as hard-boiled as they come....more