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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

Musings: The Gift of James Herbert and the Rats Trilogy

Today would have been the 43rd birthday for the Dylan Kowalewski, the founder of Monster Librarian.

Dylan grew up in a little bitty town in upstate New York. It didn’t have a lot going for it, but it did have one thing beloved of book lovers everywhere, and very rare indeed these days: a used bookstore. The store, Granny’s Attic, was in walking distance of his house, and whenever he had the means, he would head there. It was in Granny’s Attic that Dylan first fell in love with horror– and especially killer animal horror. I have a considerable collection of it in my possession now, most of which looks like it was well-loved even before he owned it. I’ve written about Guy N. Smith and his Crabs books before, and he just loved those (and pretty much everything else Guy N. Smith ever wrote) but he also discovered, at an early age, The Rats by James Herbert.

As Dylan planned out the beginnings of Monster Librarian, he realized that he would need to start with some reviews already up, and since nobody knew about us or was sending us books to review at that time, he started with his own collection, including reviews of a few books by James Herbert, including The Rats. So at this time, as a birthday gift, I’m sharing with you some of the earliest reviews from Monster Librarian, written by the man himself about books he truly loved.

Reader’s advisory note: If you ever read reviews of Herbert’s killer animal books, you will see that the readers he has are huge fans, and, for many of them, one of his books is the one that got them hooked on reading. If you’re trying to engage a bored reader, you might want to keep it in mind.


The Rats by James Herbert

New English Library, 1974

ISBN:0450053296

Available: New and Used
 

Giant killer rats invade London, and it is up to a small group of government folk to find a way to stop them. Herbert’s style of writing is easy to read, and the story is by far superior to the many killer rat movies made over the years.  Once it starts, the plot moves very quickly and is engrossing.  It is followed by Lair  and Domain.

Editor’s note: The Rats was republished in 2014 with a forward by Neil Gaiman. The 2014 edition is is not the edition reviewed in 2005 by Monster Librarian– he reviewed the original, 1974 paperback edition– but I’m sure Dylan would approve. How can you not like Neil Gaiman?


Lair  by James Herbert

Pan Macmillan, 1999

ISBN: 0330376195

Available: New and Used
 

Second in the killer rats trilogy by James Herbert, Lair continues the story of mutant killer rats invading England. The book doesn’t break any new ground, but if you enjoyed The Rats then you will probably enjoy Lair.  Sometimes, when reading a sequel, it isn’t that you are necessarily looking for something new, but rather you liked the first book and just want more of the same. This isn’t a bad thing at all, just be aware of what you are getting.

Contains: Rat violence.

Editor’s note: The currently available edition of Lair is not the version reviewed here, which was published in 1999, but is a reprint edition published in 2012.


Domain by James Herbert

Pan Macmillan, 2000

ISBN: 0330376233

Available: New and Used
 
Talk about having a bad day– the survivors of nuclear war in England have to face not only a lawless world with roving gangs of thugs, but also a pack of killer giant black rats. This is a plain, old-fashioned, fun read. Herbert does a fine job of keeping his story moving along. It is a fine addition to his other giant rat books, The Rats and Lair. There is a movie tie-in, Rats.

Contains: violence

Editor’s note: The currently available edition of Domain is not the edition reviewed here, but is a reprint edition published in 2012.

Enjoy!


Posted on September 5, 2016 by , Reply

Book Review: Moonlight Serenades by Thom Carnell

Moonlight Serenades by Thom Carnell

Crossroad Press; Macabre Ink, 2016

ASIN: B01FX26OEA

Available: Kindle edition

Moonlight Serenades, Thom Carnell’s collection of seventeen short stories, is pretty incredible. I had to take a step back from the book a few times just to be able to savor some of the tales. In “Wedding Day”, a man in mourning proceeds with what is to be one of the best days of his life, in a very different way. “Another One for the Fire” is a retelling of the opening scene of Night of the Living Dead through the perceptions of the character of Barbara, and is quite beautiful.  “I Stand Alone” is written in screenplay format, from the point of view of, seemingly, the last man on Earth, watching the world from his window, and venturing out only to collect supplies. But things are not as they seem in this black and white world. “Canto Carnascialesco” is the story of Billy and Elena, two teenagers on their first date at the carnival. Unfortunately for them, and all of the other carnival goers, things turn into a bloody mess. “Retribution” is an incredible revenge story told in first person. The question I think the author poses here is, how far would you go to avenge, or revenge, the death of your child? Carnell also includes three stories about Cleese, the hero of his previous book, No Flesh Shall Be Spared.

Two other stories really sat with me. “When I Fall in Love…It Will Be Forever” actually made me cry. Gene and Dottie are trapped in their basement after their home is overrun by zombies. Unfortunately, Dottie did not come away unscathed, and has turned. Gene is doing his best to feed and care for her, while keeping himself safe, but he misses his wife, especially after he flips through one of their photo albums. After contemplating life without her, he makes a life-changing decision.

I wasn’t too sure about “Clown Town” when I started reading, but it turned out to be my favorite in this collection. The story revolves around the “moidah” of a member of the Harlequin family. Carnell uses 1940s jazz and circus slang in this mystery story, which follows Detective Bumpo and Inspector Garbo as they investigate the scene in Marceau’s club and question the suspects. There’s even a little bit of intrigue, and a love story between Bumpo and Josephine, an employee at Marceau’s. I found it interesting how Carnell writes the various types of clowns, by dividing them into cadres or gangs. The story reads very much like the old time radio shows of the 1940’s, and I couldn’t help hearing the voices of Philip Marlowe or Sergeant Joe Friday in my head as I read this story. I hated to reach the end, not because of the conclusion itself, but because I want to read more about this world. I kind of fell in love with the world of these clowns. The other stories in this collection are just as powerful as the ones mentioned above.

Recommended, especially for readers who are drawn to stories that make them sit back for a few moments before starting on another. It’s been a week or so since I read this collection, and there are still tales that I think back on, and have revisited.

Contains: blood, revenge

Reviewed by Lizzy Walker

 


Posted on September 4, 2016 by , 1 comment
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