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theremightbecupcakes's review
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Torture, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Racism, Addiction, Violence, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Vomit and Grief
lincolncreadsbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Bob Ford's prose and voice are deceptively simple, but he always makes sure to slip in a reminder or two that there’s a real smart feller in there. It’s a rare gift in a genre often filled with sculpted, poetic phrasings and raw, brutal depictions; not that there’s anything wrong with either, but Bob’s smooth style definitely sets him apart from the crowd, and that can only be a good thing. This slim, brief taste of a novella is absolutely worth any horror fan’s time, and is a rarity in that it’s a complete, satisfying story in such a short amount of space. Bob’s tale of magic, murder and missing-persons mystery sure would go down a lot smoother, however, if I knew there was a full-length Bob Ford novel coming down the pipes in the near future
rock_n_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Here we are again...I've read more of Bob Ford's work, and I'm here to sing his praises some more. 2019 has been quite a year for my bookshelves, which are near collapse under the weight of my favorite authors' work. This year has been exceptional with regards to discovering new-to-me writers, many of which do not get the recognition they deserve. Bob Ford is included in this fine group of talented people.
I feel like I'm backpedaling a bit as I make my way through his books, as I started out by reading some of his collaborative work, and then picked up his solo writing. That brings us to SAMSON AND DENIAL, my latest read, in which I was thrilled to recognize some characters from his other stories. This is a novella, so it was easy to fly through it, but like the rest of Bob's stories, I didn't want it to end. I'm not sure how else to describe it, but reading his work is like sitting down with an old friend-- one you haven't seen for years, but somehow it feels like no time has passed. There's a comfort and familiarity in the writing. This novella contains all of the things I hold dear about Bob's work, so forgive me if I sound like a broken record, but I need to mention these aspects again. It's a short tale, yet packed with solid character development, witty dialogue, humor, just enough horror, and heart. This is a winning combination to me.
If you're looking to start your journey with his work, this would be a great place to start. (Plus, you'll be fully prepared to spot the "Easter eggs" along the way as you read his other solo work and collaborations). The last thing I'll say here is important. There are a handful of authors whose writing grips me from page one, and keeps me engaged until the very end, and Bob Ford is one of these talented people.
I feel like I'm backpedaling a bit as I make my way through his books, as I started out by reading some of his collaborative work, and then picked up his solo writing. That brings us to SAMSON AND DENIAL, my latest read, in which I was thrilled to recognize some characters from his other stories. This is a novella, so it was easy to fly through it, but like the rest of Bob's stories, I didn't want it to end. I'm not sure how else to describe it, but reading his work is like sitting down with an old friend-- one you haven't seen for years, but somehow it feels like no time has passed. There's a comfort and familiarity in the writing. This novella contains all of the things I hold dear about Bob's work, so forgive me if I sound like a broken record, but I need to mention these aspects again. It's a short tale, yet packed with solid character development, witty dialogue, humor, just enough horror, and heart. This is a winning combination to me.
If you're looking to start your journey with his work, this would be a great place to start. (Plus, you'll be fully prepared to spot the "Easter eggs" along the way as you read his other solo work and collaborations). The last thing I'll say here is important. There are a handful of authors whose writing grips me from page one, and keeps me engaged until the very end, and Bob Ford is one of these talented people.
sjgomzi's review against another edition
4.0
Wow! So much story packed into this crazy bloody firecracker of a novella. I loved this and can’t wait to get my hands on more of his books. This was a hell of a lotta fun!
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