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thav's review
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Incest, Rape, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Violence, Child abuse, and Drug abuse
cpwithcp's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
hitechredneck's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
hugbandit7's review
4.0
This story comes full circle and is filled with poetic language and details that had me pondering many questions in my head.
This story is told in two different time periods and points of view, Michael in 1965 and Harlan in 1985. My heart bled for Michael and the home life that he endured, but it wasn't anything new from what we might know from our ancestors. He might have lived in poverty and had a killer for a father, but he was determined not to let his upbringing hold him back. There are things we learn later in the book that continues to haunt him and follows him into the future. The only saving grace for Michael is Remus, a man that takes him under his wing and cares for him after Michael runs away from his situation. We learn that Remus has health issues, but I think Michael's presence seems to extend his life, even if by a few months. They take care of one another the best that they can before time runs out for Remus.
Harlan is a quiet man that does his job at the local high school and stays out of trouble. He has his routine, but when a young woman is found dead on school grounds, he is determined to uncover the true killer. We never know what we are capable of until we are put into stressful conditions such as these. There is a lot to admire about Harlan, but at the same time, there is much to fear, not knowing what he could potentially do to harm another.
I enjoyed the story as it continued to grow and expand, and with the descriptive language, I felt like I was there in the swamps of Louisiana and this small Texas town. I have to say this author does a beautiful job describing everything, from the people to the scenery. There were some connections I made pretty quickly (or at least the assumption, which was later proven correct), but this story left me with many questions! I won't share those questions because it would give away part of the ending. It did leave me thinking about how many can overcome situations that might leave others wanting. We all have it in us to rise above a bad situation.
I felt a wave of emotions reading this book, from sadness to horror, to a little bit of joy. While we know that the underbelly of people can be harsh, this book pulls out every last dreg of humanity.
This is a book well worth reading, and we give it 4 paws up.
This story is told in two different time periods and points of view, Michael in 1965 and Harlan in 1985. My heart bled for Michael and the home life that he endured, but it wasn't anything new from what we might know from our ancestors. He might have lived in poverty and had a killer for a father, but he was determined not to let his upbringing hold him back. There are things we learn later in the book that continues to haunt him and follows him into the future. The only saving grace for Michael is Remus, a man that takes him under his wing and cares for him after Michael runs away from his situation. We learn that Remus has health issues, but I think Michael's presence seems to extend his life, even if by a few months. They take care of one another the best that they can before time runs out for Remus.
Harlan is a quiet man that does his job at the local high school and stays out of trouble. He has his routine, but when a young woman is found dead on school grounds, he is determined to uncover the true killer. We never know what we are capable of until we are put into stressful conditions such as these. There is a lot to admire about Harlan, but at the same time, there is much to fear, not knowing what he could potentially do to harm another.
I enjoyed the story as it continued to grow and expand, and with the descriptive language, I felt like I was there in the swamps of Louisiana and this small Texas town. I have to say this author does a beautiful job describing everything, from the people to the scenery. There were some connections I made pretty quickly (or at least the assumption, which was later proven correct), but this story left me with many questions! I won't share those questions because it would give away part of the ending. It did leave me thinking about how many can overcome situations that might leave others wanting. We all have it in us to rise above a bad situation.
I felt a wave of emotions reading this book, from sadness to horror, to a little bit of joy. While we know that the underbelly of people can be harsh, this book pulls out every last dreg of humanity.
This is a book well worth reading, and we give it 4 paws up.
booksandbourbon's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
admacg's review
4.0
Getting into the winter evenings I love crime fiction. There’s just something about losing yourself in a crime mystery novel that that has as many layers as I’m wearing in this cold weather. I also like it dark, and thankfully this this novel is darker than a miners hankie.
This is a book told from two alternating points of view. Harland Leblanc is a groundsman at a local school in Texas who keeps to himself. The locals aren’t sure what to make of him, as he seems a bit odd and secretive. He’s also trying to keep his head down but finds himself getting involved when a young co-worker is accused of a terrible crime.
Meanwhile Micheal Fisher is doing his best to look after his mom and sister at their ramshackle home in the swamps of Louisiana.. He is dreading the return of his father, recently released from prison, a man who committed a horrible crime and shows no sign of changing his ways.
This is a tough story, make no mistake. It has a number of foul, wretched characters and they inhabit a bleak world. The atmosphere reminded me of that conjured by ‘The last detective’ tv series. There are occasional shafts of light, a little hope so that it’s not completely overwhelming, but they are few and far between.
It felt like a completely believable world, from the fetid swamps of backwoods Louisiana to the small Texan town that was slowly dying as the local industry upped and left. Grim places where life is tough and the people tougher because they have to be.
The alternating chapters are perfectly interwoven, the stories complementing one another. Both are gritty and engrossing, and you get fully drawn into the murder investigation, ensuring you keep turning the pages.
I found Harlen LeBlanc a troubled and complicated character. He is wounded and has secrets, and you know that something traumatic has happened in his past. Michael Fisher’s story is haunting and I felt myself desperately wanting for him to escape his home life.
Although it’s a dark book, there is humanity here too. There is kindness, of good people reaching out and trying to help, to nurture. It’s also about guilt, about being haunted by the past and trying to escape from it, and seeking some sort of justice.
The language is biblical at times, conjuring up a strong slice of southern gothic. It’s also lyrical, and it’s a strong work of literary fiction, not that crime and mystery books can’t also be beautifully written. But this is exceptional.
A word about the the narrator, Roger Clark, who absolutely nailed it in this book. His voice has such a strong cadence and and had the right amount of emotion, and threat, when it was needed. The language is poetic and gritty and I couldn’t place where I’d heard him before - apparently he also voiced Arthur Morgan in red dead redemption 2.
It’s still early December so there’ll be a few more dark nights for me to investigate James Wades first two books, as this is crime fiction of the highest quality.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for my advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review from here
This is a book told from two alternating points of view. Harland Leblanc is a groundsman at a local school in Texas who keeps to himself. The locals aren’t sure what to make of him, as he seems a bit odd and secretive. He’s also trying to keep his head down but finds himself getting involved when a young co-worker is accused of a terrible crime.
Meanwhile Micheal Fisher is doing his best to look after his mom and sister at their ramshackle home in the swamps of Louisiana.. He is dreading the return of his father, recently released from prison, a man who committed a horrible crime and shows no sign of changing his ways.
This is a tough story, make no mistake. It has a number of foul, wretched characters and they inhabit a bleak world. The atmosphere reminded me of that conjured by ‘The last detective’ tv series. There are occasional shafts of light, a little hope so that it’s not completely overwhelming, but they are few and far between.
It felt like a completely believable world, from the fetid swamps of backwoods Louisiana to the small Texan town that was slowly dying as the local industry upped and left. Grim places where life is tough and the people tougher because they have to be.
The alternating chapters are perfectly interwoven, the stories complementing one another. Both are gritty and engrossing, and you get fully drawn into the murder investigation, ensuring you keep turning the pages.
I found Harlen LeBlanc a troubled and complicated character. He is wounded and has secrets, and you know that something traumatic has happened in his past. Michael Fisher’s story is haunting and I felt myself desperately wanting for him to escape his home life.
Although it’s a dark book, there is humanity here too. There is kindness, of good people reaching out and trying to help, to nurture. It’s also about guilt, about being haunted by the past and trying to escape from it, and seeking some sort of justice.
The language is biblical at times, conjuring up a strong slice of southern gothic. It’s also lyrical, and it’s a strong work of literary fiction, not that crime and mystery books can’t also be beautifully written. But this is exceptional.
A word about the the narrator, Roger Clark, who absolutely nailed it in this book. His voice has such a strong cadence and and had the right amount of emotion, and threat, when it was needed. The language is poetic and gritty and I couldn’t place where I’d heard him before - apparently he also voiced Arthur Morgan in red dead redemption 2.
It’s still early December so there’ll be a few more dark nights for me to investigate James Wades first two books, as this is crime fiction of the highest quality.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for my advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review from here
addison_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Thrillers set in the South are some of my favorites and this book by James Wade was a perfect Southern thriller.
I am ashamed to admit that before I was lucky enough to get this from #NetGalley I had never heard of James Wade before. Now that I have read this propulsive, heart-pounding thriller, I will be reading Wade's backlog of books.
Beasts of the Earth deals with some difficult themes, and it is dark and gritty with lots of unspeakable crimes taking place. However, Wade writes in a way that the reader becomes absorbed into the story and it is impossible to stop reading because you just have to know what is going to happen next.
Great characters, a great setting, a great mystery, and overall just an excellent read.
I am ashamed to admit that before I was lucky enough to get this from #NetGalley I had never heard of James Wade before. Now that I have read this propulsive, heart-pounding thriller, I will be reading Wade's backlog of books.
Beasts of the Earth deals with some difficult themes, and it is dark and gritty with lots of unspeakable crimes taking place. However, Wade writes in a way that the reader becomes absorbed into the story and it is impossible to stop reading because you just have to know what is going to happen next.
Great characters, a great setting, a great mystery, and overall just an excellent read.
montyalmoro's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Rape, Incest, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, and Murder
pagespoursandpups's review
4.0
Haunting. Gritty. Somber. Poetic. Engrossing.
These are a few of the words that came to mind as I finished reading this book. It is a heavy and somber story- but one that is written so poetically that it’s a hard one to put down. Wade leads the reader through two timeframes - each one slowly unwinding until the two intertwine.
“Man and anti-man, and each edging through a darkness both real and imagined, a mirror image of the other and neither betraying the whereabouts of the soul, stolen away, hidden, and all things black before it.”
In the 1965 story, young Michael is growing up without a childhood as he acts as guardian of his younger sister and provider for the family, When his father returns from prison, evil descends on the house. He finds his way out of the town, full of regrets and anger. He forges a friendship with Remus, who takes him in and teaches him the survival and life skills his father never did.
In the 1985 story, Harlan LeBlanc lives a simple, solitary life. He thrives on routine. He is a quite man who eats the same lunch everyday, works as the groundskeeper at the school but seems to be harboring a secret. When one of my his co-workers is accused of murder, Harlan is determined to discover who the real culprit is. While he puts himself in dangerous situations, the focus of the investigation shifts to him.
In this haunting, beautifully descriptive story, the reader is swept into the small town in Texas. There is always a question regarding the reliability of the narrator. Like a constant whisper in the background, the presence of mental illness, penance and justice can be heard throughout. It amazed me how Wade could suffuse such gritty subjects with eloquent and lyrical descriptions of the landscape and tapestry of the desolate town.
“The rain left the colors of the country deeper, more pronounced, as if the droplets themselves had been painted to match the world. The dirt lots turned overnight to mud and the dead lawns sprouted thistle weed and clover and all that blossomed would soon perish beneath the September sun or the winter to follow—fire or ice.“
This is a heavy story and may not be right for everyone, but those that read the synopsis and choose to pick it up are in for a treat. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone books for the ARC to read and review. Pub date: 10.11.22
These are a few of the words that came to mind as I finished reading this book. It is a heavy and somber story- but one that is written so poetically that it’s a hard one to put down. Wade leads the reader through two timeframes - each one slowly unwinding until the two intertwine.
“Man and anti-man, and each edging through a darkness both real and imagined, a mirror image of the other and neither betraying the whereabouts of the soul, stolen away, hidden, and all things black before it.”
In the 1965 story, young Michael is growing up without a childhood as he acts as guardian of his younger sister and provider for the family, When his father returns from prison, evil descends on the house. He finds his way out of the town, full of regrets and anger. He forges a friendship with Remus, who takes him in and teaches him the survival and life skills his father never did.
In the 1985 story, Harlan LeBlanc lives a simple, solitary life. He thrives on routine. He is a quite man who eats the same lunch everyday, works as the groundskeeper at the school but seems to be harboring a secret. When one of my his co-workers is accused of murder, Harlan is determined to discover who the real culprit is. While he puts himself in dangerous situations, the focus of the investigation shifts to him.
In this haunting, beautifully descriptive story, the reader is swept into the small town in Texas. There is always a question regarding the reliability of the narrator. Like a constant whisper in the background, the presence of mental illness, penance and justice can be heard throughout. It amazed me how Wade could suffuse such gritty subjects with eloquent and lyrical descriptions of the landscape and tapestry of the desolate town.
“The rain left the colors of the country deeper, more pronounced, as if the droplets themselves had been painted to match the world. The dirt lots turned overnight to mud and the dead lawns sprouted thistle weed and clover and all that blossomed would soon perish beneath the September sun or the winter to follow—fire or ice.“
This is a heavy story and may not be right for everyone, but those that read the synopsis and choose to pick it up are in for a treat. Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone books for the ARC to read and review. Pub date: 10.11.22