David J. Hamilton’s DimWitts is a biting, wild ride through a world that feels both satirical and uncomfortably real. It jumps between the collapsing life of David Enders, a leftist late-night comedian silenced by a newly authoritarian president, and the twisted family drama of Charlie Witt, a bitter man stuck in his brother’s strange, almost supernatural shadow. The novel paints a grim but oddly playful picture of politics, power, and small-town despair, blending sharp political commentary with intimate stories of resentment, failure, and strange gifts that alter the people around them. From the halls of the White House to a grocery store in rural British Columbia, the narrative builds a chaotic tapestry of media, corruption, and human frailty.

This book was both exhilarating and frustrating, in the best way. The writing has a manic energy to it, full of sharp edges and vivid scenes. Sometimes the prose cracked me up, other times it made me wince, and there were moments where I had to put the book down because it hit too close to home. The dialogue is alive with personality, though it occasionally veers into caricature. That said, the caricature works because the world it describes already feels absurd. I admired Hamilton’s ability to juggle satire and genuine tragedy without losing the thread. Though at times I felt almost overwhelmed by how much was packed into a single chapter, but it mirrors the mess of the world it’s trying to capture.

What really stayed with me was the mix of rage and humor that runs under everything. I found myself genuinely angry at the injustices described, but then laughing a page later at the ridiculousness of a character’s remark. I don’t think the book wants you to feel comfortable. It wants you off balance, amused, unsettled, and maybe even a little guilty about how much you enjoy the spectacle of disaster.

I’d recommend DimWitts to readers who like their fiction bold, political, and unafraid of being abrasive. If you enjoy sharp satire mixed with messy human drama, this is for you. Reading DimWitts felt a bit like if Kurt Vonnegut wrote a season of Succession after binge-watching The Daily Show. It’s darkly funny, biting, and just absurd enough to sting with truth.

Pages: 340 | ASIN : B0FM6D79GS