Blog Archives
An Eye for an Eye: The Mallet Murders
An Eye for an Eye: The Mallet Murders masterfully exposes the dysfunction, mediocrity, and deep-seated corruption within law enforcement. Set against the grim backdrop of Nova Scotia, a serial killer lurks while the police department, rife with apathy, treats the escalating murders as mere inconveniences. Chief Kennedy, preoccupied with his book club and personal escapades, displays a staggering lack of leadership, swiftly declaring homicides as suicides and shelving cases as cold. Yet, amidst this chaos, the narrative reassures readers that not all officers have succumbed to this moral decay; a few still hold onto their integrity.
One of the novel’s standout qualities is its suspense. While employing dramatic irony, the author skillfully builds tension by weaving a web of mystery around the characters’ connections. For instance, Chapter 19 introduces Bobby Bobbit, and Chapter 21 shifts focus to the Poskett family. These characters vanish from prominence for much of the story, reappearing only briefly. This subtle threading leaves the reader pondering their significance and questioning how they tie into Saul or the broader case. The author expertly sustains this intrigue until the final pages, making the resolution deeply satisfying.
The portrayal of the police department’s shortcomings is scathing and incisive. More effort is spent scrutinizing Daryl’s clerical error during his application than on investigating the string of murders gripping Nova Scotia. Chief Kennedy’s incompetence reaches absurd levels, as he prioritizes recruiting book enthusiasts over capable officers to bolster his book club. Investigations are laughably perfunctory; if no leads emerge within a mere 22 minutes, cases are abandoned and marked cold. This gross negligence breeds public mistrust, illustrating the chasm between law enforcement and the community they are supposed to protect.
The story evokes a visceral emotional response, ranging from anger and disgust to morbid curiosity. Chief Kennedy’s flippant remarks at Dr. Hussain’s crime scene—where he muses about re-election and lobster sales—cement him as a detestable figure. Scenes such as the brainstorming session about the killer, treated as a light-hearted joke, are equally infuriating. Despite this, the author elicits unexpected empathy for characters like Saul. A poignant example occurs when Saul, seeking justice, approaches the Skank family only to face harsh insults. Moments like these reveal the depth of the narrative, allowing readers to connect with Saul’s plight while simultaneously lamenting the environment he must navigate.
This novel is an excellent recommendation for fans of crime fiction, particularly those who enjoy titles like In a Place of Darkness by Stuart MacBride or The Wrong Hands by Mark Billingham. Readers who appreciate dramatic irony and are captivated by protagonists unraveling mysteries will find much to love here. Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions—anger, pity, and disgust—but be assured the gripping storytelling will keep you hooked until the very end.
Pages: 312 | ASIN : B0DPZT3KMB
Spin Cycle: Notes from a Reluctant Caregiver
Spin Cycle offers a raw and intimate look into the life of Ezra Pavic, a man navigating the complexities of caregiving for his aging mother with dementia. Through Ezra’s reflections, Alfredo Botello unpacks themes of guilt, frustration, and love, crafting a poignant and often darkly humorous tale about familial responsibility and the messy emotions it stirs. The story unfolds with sharp prose and deep introspection, pulling readers into the exhausting and often heartbreaking reality of caregiving.
One of the most striking aspects of the book is Botello’s unflinching honesty. Ezra’s recounting of his struggles is refreshingly candid, whether he’s snapping at his mother in frustration or battling feelings of inadequacy after a failed attempt at patience. The opening chapter lays bare his emotional rawness: “Maybe I’m not struggling with who I became. Maybe I’m struggling with who I always was.” That vulnerability hit me hard. I think it will resonate with anyone who has ever felt the weight of self-doubt or resentment. Botello doesn’t shy away from showing Ezra’s flaws, making him deeply relatable.
The narrative is also peppered with moments of dark humor, which add levity to an otherwise heavy subject. Ezra’s wry observations, like his envy of serene caregivers in online videos or his internal monologues about self-care platitudes, feel genuine and earned. One particularly memorable scene involves a nail salon visit with his mother. Despite his irritation, Ezra finds himself moved by the small joy it brings her, a rare glimmer of light in the otherwise bleak caregiving cycle. These moments of connection, fleeting as they are, illustrate the resilience of love in the face of overwhelming hardship.
Botello’s writing shines when he delves into the nuanced dynamics of Ezra’s relationships, not just with his mother but with his ex-wife, son, and support group. Ezra’s attempts to reconcile his anger with his lingering affection for Irene are some of the book’s most profound passages. His inner conflict, oscillating between resentment and duty, rings true for anyone caught in the so-called “sandwich generation.” These emotional layers are what elevate Spin Cycle from being just another fictional memoir to a profound exploration of humanity.
Spin Cycle captures the exhausting, thankless, and often isolating world of caregiving with heart and precision. This book is a must-read for those navigating similar challenges or anyone seeking an honest and moving story about the imperfect art of loving and caring for others. I think it’s ideal for readers who appreciate introspective, character-driven narratives that aren’t afraid to dive into life’s messiness.
Pages: 316 | ASIN : B0DQXDSTYN
Mistakes, Misstatements, Lies and Other Miscommunication Tactics
Norm Cairns’ Mistakes, Misstatements, Lies, and Other Miscommunication Tactics is a witty exploration of the myriad ways communication goes awry, sprinkled with humor, philosophy, and a touch of absurdity. The book oscillates between fictional tales and reflective commentary, weaving a patchwork of anecdotes and insights that challenge readers to think critically about language and its impacts. It’s a cerebral yet playful work that doesn’t shy away from poking fun at the complexities of human interaction.
One thing I immediately enjoyed about this book is its dry humor. In the introduction, Cairns reflects on the evolution of the English language, describing it as both “a patchwork quilt of other languages” and “a disgusting lingua franca.” This sets the tone for the rest of the book—biting, unapologetic, and insightful. I chuckled at the author’s sardonic observation of American English’s global infiltration, not through admiration, but necessity. It’s a blend of erudition and irreverence that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
The fictional chapters are where Cairns truly shines. “Two Detectives Meet the Mummy” exemplifies his knack for creating chaotic yet relatable dialogues. The interaction between Floyd and the narrator, discussing whether “Why?” or “What the f***?” was the first question humanity ever asked, is both absurd and oddly profound. It captures the bizarre beauty of human communication—messy, flawed, and full of unintended revelations. I found myself simultaneously laughing at Floyd’s crudeness and pondering the existential implications of their debate. “The Black Site” explores the grim underbelly of the internet, delving into themes of anonymity and morality. This chapter was a stark contrast to the humor of others and left me feeling uneasy—but in a way that felt intentional. Cairns doesn’t shy away from showing the consequences of miscommunication or deceit, and this tonal shift highlights his versatility as a writer.
In the final reflection, Cairns reminds us of the power and responsibility tied to language. The chapter “The Big Reveal” is particularly memorable, with its poignant commentary on how lies, even small ones, shape relationships, and the world. This chapter left me with a lingering sense of introspection about the words I choose and the impact they have.
This book’s humor leans towards intellectual, with plenty of philosophical musings that might feel dense to some readers. That said, it’s perfect for anyone who enjoys a mix of satire, sharp dialogue, and thoughtful reflection. Whether you’re a linguistics enthusiast, a fan of dark humor, or someone fascinated by the quirks of human behavior, Norm Cairns’ Mistakes, Misstatements, Lies, and Other Miscommunication Tactics offers plenty to chew on—and laugh about.
Pages: 243 | ISBN : 978-1304081292
Hang Fire
Hang Fire, by Anthony Mora, is a dark, satirical dive into the world of Hollywood’s desperate ambition, centering on the manipulations, lies, and insecurities of Jerry, an aspiring filmmaker. Set in a familiar yet unsettling Los Angeles, Jerry navigates shady dealings, obsessive therapy sessions, and Hollywood politics to achieve his dreams—regardless of who he steps on along the way. The book blends a sharp critique of the entertainment industry with personal psychological drama, all while keeping the reader on edge as they watch how far Jerry will go to fulfill his twisted ambitions.
From the book’s opening, where Jerry tests his therapist with loaded questions about murder, the tone is both darkly comedic and uncomfortable. The therapy scenes are some of the strongest in the book. Readers soon get a clear sense of Jerry’s manipulative nature, especially when he tries to turn a therapy session into a means to seduce his therapist or pitch her a role in his imaginary film. It’s both hilarious and tragic, showing how detached he’s become from reality.
I do feel that Jerry’s obsession with leveraging his relationship with his friend James, and then his creepy fixation on his therapist, can feel repetitive at times. The book thrives in moments where Jerry’s moral decay is laid bare but sometimes leans a little heavily on the same set of tools without evolving them much over time.
One of the highlights for me was Mora’s ability to capture the desperation and delusion that often fuels the Hollywood dream. The scenes where Jerry discusses potential meetings with high-profile actors and producers, all while manipulating those around him, really bring to life the cutthroat nature of the entertainment industry. There’s a palpable sense of ambition turned sour. I loved the way Mora didn’t shy away from the ugliness of Jerry’s character. He’s not a likable protagonist, but he’s certainly compelling in his ruthlessness.
I would recommend Hang Fire to readers who enjoy character-driven, psychological novels with a satirical edge. Fans of Hollywood insider stories and dark humor will find a lot to enjoy here. Just be prepared for a journey into the mind of a character whose ambition knows no bounds, even as he spirals deeper into his own self-made mess.
Relatively Sane
Your Biggest Fan follows a 53-year-old AP Literature professor writing to a pop music idol whose music resonates with his life and he feels she is the only one who really understands him. What inspired the original and fascinating idea at the center of the book?
I think our culture demands far too much of its celebrities. We don’t just rely on them for entertainment; we want them to raise our children, tell us which breakfast cereal to buy, and provide psychological support for all our emotional needs. So while other books have certainly been written about celebrity obsessions, I wanted to add this layer to the discussion–it’s not just that we idolize celebrities too much; we demand that they be responsible for making our lives fulfilling, even though they obviously have no power to do so. In terms of the whole English teacher thing: I’m an English teacher myself, and some of our current pop stars are supremely literary—especially the amazing pop star my novel happens to be based on. So it’s not much of a stretch to imagine a slightly loopy English teacher who is convinced that said pop star is speaking to him on such an elemental level.
What research did you do for this novel to ensure that you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
I listened to an absurd amount of music! It’s funny to think of this as “research,” because the word conjures up images of dusty old libraries or science labs. I did most of my “research” in my car on the way to work—blasting my stereo at top volume! If only research could always be so much fun….
Is there anything about the narrator that came from yourself or your life experiences?
I like to think of myself as a relatively sane human being, and my narrator is clearly not. But other than that, he’s my doppelganger, my double. He’s a different version of me, just one that happens to be a little more bonkers.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
If YOUR BIGGEST FAN becomes a runaway bestseller, I was toying with the idea of writing a novel about an author who becomes such a huge celebrity that people are always stopping him on the street, asking him what breakfast cereal to buy or hitting him up on advice about how to raise their children! But in all seriousness, as anyone who has read my first novel can tell, I’m a huge fan of unreliable narrators. I’ve started working on my second book, which features a narrator who is even loopier than the one in YBF. Still plugging away—stay tuned!
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
Your Biggest Fan is the debut literary work by Jeremy Rosenholtz, a dark and often hilarious metafictional fable about celebrity obsession, growing older, and the search for meaning in a world where the glamor of pop culture can be incompatible with the harshness of everyday life.
Your Biggest Fan
Jeremy Rosenholtz’s debut novel, Your Biggest Fan, is a captivating fusion of metafiction, satire, and horror. The story unfolds through three letters addressed to “TS,” and these letters gradually expose the intricately woven details of the author’s life, his admiration for TS, and the darker undertones that hint at his true motives.
While the letters never explicitly name her, I think it’s strongly implied that TS refers to none other than Taylor Swift, a global cultural icon. This premise becomes even more intriguing when we discover the author is a 53-year-old man claiming to be her “biggest fan.” The unexpected perspective immediately piqued my curiosity, and it will draw readers into the mystery of why he’s writing to her. As a fellow Taylor Swift fan, I found the narrator’s connection to her music both touching and unsettling, creating an emotional rollercoaster that keeps you engaged from start to finish.
One of the novel’s standout moments is the narrator’s use of Taylor Swift’s music in his AP Literature classes. This unique twist delighted me as both a Swiftie and a lover of literature. The book also touches on a deeper theme, the power of music to evoke memories and nostalgia, helping us revisit the past while forging new emotional connections. With layers of mystery, and a story that is packed with subtle references to Swift’s music and personal life, the book keeps readers guessing, and the twists leading up to the climactic reveal are fantastically shocking.
This novel is a great read for a wide audience, but I think Swifties will particularly love this story. Whether you’re a casual listener or a dedicated fan of Taylor Swift, this book will draw you in with its clever plot and leave you pondering its twists. Literature enthusiasts, in particular, will appreciate the intricate storytelling and the skillful way the ending unfolds.
Pages: 228 | ASIN : B0DDH6471B
A Curious Interviewer
Interview With a Sinner follows a professional mourner who meets a demi-goddess who is looking for someone to interview about humanity in their quest to create a new civilization. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Growing up Christian, I have heard so many interesting philosophical debates about the nature of worship and questioning why a benevolent Creator would allow awful circumstances to plague the innocent. So I started thinking how I would do any better while still granting people free will to act as disorderly as they want. It became a headache to ponder. All my random musings and speculations took form in Marigold, who could be a curious interviewer to some degenerates in this story. It wouldn’t have been interesting if she questioned saintly or righteous individuals, after all. They might have all the answers. Scoundrels like us have to be creative with our conjectures.
What are some things that you find interesting about the human condition that you think make for great fiction?
Morality, definitely. It can be boring to follow virtuous people we would like to be, and despise villains who represent everything we detest in society. But great fiction can provoke you to sympathize with the worst or even feel they’re relatable. Nothing was harder for me than to write the scenes of Hollace with her sexual temptations, but it was an exercise in showing the humanity of even the most shameful and perverse, and that her guilt pushed her to otherwise be as helpful and caring as possible for the outcasts. People who are horrible to each other can become friends, and deadly rivalries can sometimes dip into playful banter.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
It was essential for me to introduce as many theological concepts as possible for the debates. From Judgment to reincarnation, to what happens to the morally erratic if the world ends and they have to be sent to either Heaven or Hell. Also the rationale behind atheism or those who are content being agnostic. The book was never meant to pick a side or even truly confirm if Marigold is what she claims to be. Life itself is ambiguous and that was the theme behind every single question arising.
I found this novel to be a cutting piece of satire. What is one thing that you hope readers take away from your novel?
Artistic endeavors are a big part. That some aggrandize the idea of violence, death, or suicide for the sake of art, and I’m hoping this book kind of deflates that notion and makes apparent that such things in real life are gruesome, messy, and never convey an “artistic message.” Like how the snuff filmmakers brag their production company transcends the mere butchering of people, even though that’s the gist of it. We tend to insert superfluous ideas and meanings into our undertakings to pretend they’re something grander than they are, especially if our deeds are reprehensible. To rationalize a killing, there was an understandable motive. To justify discrimination, there’s a ridiculous “moralistic” excuse. There’s an illusion of “destiny.” Sometimes people who spout about their destiny are the scariest to me.
Thank you so much for your time and exploration of my debut novel.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Amazon
Interview with a Sinner
Interview With a Sinner by M.M. White presents a compelling narrative that intertwines the life of Hollace, a professional mourner, with the curious quest of Marigold, a diminutive demi-goddess seeking to build her own civilization. Hollace’s job involves mourning at the graves of the unloved, a task she performs with detached professionalism. Her routine is disrupted when Marigold approaches her with an extraordinary proposition: to be the human subject of her research on creating a new civilization, with the aim of avoiding plagiarism from God’s own work. This encounter marks the beginning of a week filled with bizarre and unpredictable events for Hollace and an educational journey for Marigold.
M.M. White’s novel starts with an intriguing premise that quickly spirals into a whirlwind of chaos by the second chapter, maintaining a tone of unrelenting unpredictability throughout. The rapid introduction of characters from Hollace’s world, including some less savory individuals, sets a frantic pace. The narrative is peppered with absurd and disturbing encounters, contributing to the book’s overall sense of madness. Amidst the chaos, Marigold conducts interviews with Hollace and her acquaintances, delving into profound discussions on topics such as existence, free will, and morality. These conversations are among the highlights of the novel, offering thought-provoking insights into spirituality and the human condition. While Marigold’s role as an observer rather than an active participant in many instances does not detract from her mission, it adds an interesting layer to the narrative. This book is not for the faint-hearted. It is crude and provocative, featuring controversial and disturbing elements such as snuff films, discarded infants, illicit sexual encounters, and a sentient tumor worshiped by a cult. These elements are recurrent and form key parts of the plot, challenging the reader’s comfort zones. Marigold witnesses a broad spectrum of human behavior, where characters often do the right things for the wrong reasons, or vice versa, revealing glimpses of their inherent decency amidst the depravity.
Ultimately, the novel escalates to a bizarre and unexpected conclusion, leaving the characters profoundly changed. Despite its raw and unsettling content, Interview With a Sinner provides a unique exploration of human nature and spirituality, making it a thought-provoking read for those who can handle its more extreme aspects.
Pages: 199 | ASIN : B0D5DKXFBL
LITERARY TITAN 