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Book Review: Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

Crown Publishing, 2016

ISBN-10: 1101904224

ISBN-13: 978-1101904220

Availabile: Hardcover, audio, Kindle edition

 

Blake Crouch has written several fine thrillers in the past decade, but it was the breakout success of his Wayward Pines Trilogy (Thomas & Mercer, 2012-2014), that alerted the world to this talented author (and original drummer of the Killer Thriller Band). M. Night Shyamalan’s television series, “Wayward Pines,” based on the trilogy, gave the writer the spotlight he has long deserved. Now he returns with a new novel, Dark Matter. 

 

“Are you happy with your life?” It’s a question many people would rather not consider: so many torment themselves with “what-ifs” and “might-have-beens”. Dark Matter answers those haunting hindsight questions in a resounding manner. Crouch gives his character a second chance, presenting him with choices that create an intense, mind-bending novel, enough so that readers might just consider themselves lucky and forget all about those roads not taken. To speak much of the plot would give away twists and turns that make Crouch’s story so thrilling. However, a little won’t hurt— much.

 

College professor Jason Dessen lives happily with his wife, Daniela, and their teenage son, Charlie, in Chicago, where life is just…fine. One night, he goes out to help his buddy celebrate winning an esteemed science award, and is reminded that it could have been him receiving the accolade; he who could have changed the world. On his way home, a man in a geisha mask abducts Jason. Jason’s kidnapper seems to know many of the details of Jason’s life. The man asks him a question, and suddenly Jason’s world spins into chaos. Jason wakes up in a world where he never abandoned the quantum physics designs he toiled over prior to having a family, his wife never gave up her dream of becoming an artist, and life is no longer simple.

 

Though this is a well-worn premise, Crouch’s labyrinthine plot twists and gift for suspense make this a heroic treatment of the theory of a “do-over.” Just as readers believe the end is in sight, Crouch sends his readers back into the fray. This is the best kind of thriller: fast-paced and high concept, with unique twists on plot, and characters readers actually care about.  Already optioned for film, Dark Matter is poised to continue this author’s rise to the top. Highly recommended.

 

Reviewed by David Simms

 

Posted on September 13, 2016 by , Reply

Authors: Show Some Respect, PLEASE!

If you are thinking of requesting a review from us, and especially if you are a self-published author, please read this from beginning to end.

As you know if you’ve followed this blog for long enough, I don’t get paid for the time and effort I put into running this blog. My reviewers are also volunteers– that means they don’t get paid for the time and effort they put in to reading and reviewing here. They are an awesome group of people who really, truly, love the horror genre and want to share it and make it available to readers, not just by recommending them to individuals, but by recommending them to libraries.

Committed, knowledgeable, reviewers don’t appear out of thin air. I can’t summon them from a demon dimension. Sometimes I get lucky and they find me. And recently, my mom recruited her next door neighbor (no, that is not a joke). The first book he offered to review was so poorly formatted that there were actual pages missing. The second had so many spelling and grammar errors that it was hard for him to finish reading it. This is the kind of thing that makes reviewers want to quit before they even really get started. Remember, we’re not getting paid to do this.  It is embarrassing to the author to send out work that hasn’t been edited. Spellcheck is not enough. Do you really want to put out less than your best? Here we are honest about what we review, and if you haven’t put the effort in, please don’t waste our time. We are not an editing service.

Let’s take this a step further. Do you know what happens when one of your reviewers lives next door to your parents? He talks to them about it, and tells them how poorly it was edited. Then I get to listen to my dad tell me how poorly written horror fiction is and how it’s all written by hacks, and how unfathomable it is that I would waste my time promoting such crappy writing by someone who can’t even bother to do more than run their book through spellcheck. It gives the genre a black eye, and his impression now is that what I’m doing here is not worth respect.

When I worked in a public library, customer service training was a big thing. One thing I learned at that time is that every person who has a negative experience tells approximately 10 other people, and those people are likely to repeat it as well. That was way before social media existed. Now if someone has a crummy experience, they can put it on Facebook, or write about it on their blog, or share it on Twitter. With a click of a button,  someone can share an opinion with an awful lot of people. Be glad my dad is not on social media or active in the horror community.

Perhaps you’re thinking that my writing isn’t perfect, either. Well, right now, nobody is paying me to do it. And I do mean nobody. The site has made a total of $11 this year– not even enough to cover hosting fees.

When someone asks us to review their book, they are asking for me not just to give them free publicity, but actually to pay to publicize their book (since obviously nobody else is contributing, and I am still paying for postage and hosting fees and WORKING FOR NOTHING).

So, authors, if you plan to request a review, please do everyone a favor and show some respect to yourself, your work, reviewers, review sites, me, and the horror genre. Get your book edited, preferably by a professional. I am personally putting myself on the line to promote the genre to your potential readers, and I would prefer NOT to hear negativity about something I spend a lot of time doing FOR OTHER PEOPLE at family Sunday dinners.

I know there are authors out there who work and work and work on editing, and go back and fix mistakes when those are pointed out. I have the utmost respect for them. If you aren’t one of those people who is willing to spend the time fixing errors and tightening your writing, get an editor. In our Author FAQ we say “an objective third party”.  If you aren’t willing to do either of those things, you’re not ready to publish your book, and you’re not ready to submit it for review.

Read our Author FAQ if you have any additional questions about what you can submit and what information we need for me to send on your request for review. Thank you for taking the time and effort with your writing to show your respect for yourself, horror reviewers, and horror readers.

 

 

Posted on September 13, 2016 by , Reply

Book Review: The Secret of Goldenrod by Jane O’Reilly

The Secret of Goldenrod by Jane O’Reilly

Carolrhoda Books, October 2016

ISBN-13: 978-1512401356

Available: Preorder (hardback, Kindle edition)

Goldenrod is an isolated mansion from the turn of the century, abandoned for many years. 11 year old Trina is temporarily living in the house as her father, an itinerant master carpenter, restores it so that it can be sold. Goldenrod’s original owner was also the founder of New Royal, the tiny town nearby. The residents are certain that Goldenrod is haunted, and has cursed them with bad luck, and Trina is nearly convinced, herself, by the strange sounds and slamming doors.

When Trina discovers a hidden playroom, with a talking doll, she becomes curious about Annie, the little girl who lived, and died, in the house, when it was occupied. Trina decides to explore the mystery of the family that lived in the house, and ends up discovering that there is much more to Goldenrod, and New Royal, than meets the eye.

The Secret of Goldenrod is atmospheric and character-driven. O’Reilly does her best to portray the residents of New Royal as discrete individuals, and for the most part, she succeeds. Despite the talking doll, Trina is not a stereotypical girly girl– she helps her father with the restoration, takes initiative in challenging situations, and is both independent and creative. The story’s slow pace may frustrate readers who are looking for rapid action. While it takes place over a relatively short period of time (surprisingly short, since the story takes place over a period of no more than two months, and the house is almost completely restored by the end) the book is long, and the story feels very drawn out, with one small event following another, and many conversations with the doll, although the pace picks up significantly near the end. While it didn’t bother me, there are an astonishing number of coincidences, as well– items and people found at just the right time to nudge Trina closer to the answers she’s seeking.

The house is certainly a character, although it’s not clear whether it actually is haunted, and a talking doll definitely provides a touch of the supernatural, but this is not really a scary book. While there are some scary moments, it is not O’Reilly’s intent to evoke fear. Rather, she explores what it means to reunite a family and community, and to really find a home. O’Reilly writes beautifully, and it is a pleasure to read the story of Trina, her father, and Goldenrod, as they find a comfortable place in the community, but the kid looking for a fast-paced, thrilling adventure will need to look elsewhere. Recommended for general children’s collections for grades 4-8.

 

Posted on September 9, 2016 by , Reply
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