Scan barcode
david_agranoff's review
4.0
Ratings game is a book I have meant to read for years. The second novel of San Diego based horror author Ryan C. Thomas is a bit of a departure from his first novel The Summer I Died. A decade has passed since those first two books came out and we have had a chance to see the potential RCT showed grow into several books and reputation for character driven horror.
I really like the left turn that RCT took with this second novel, his first release was a masterpiece of extreme horror. It would have been easy go straight back to the blood drenched success of The Summer I Died right away. RCT did eventually do two sequels (on my to read list) but this novel has a very different tone.
Blending social commentary, satire and the occasional gore soaked serial killing. Ratings Game is the story of Roland Stone and Doug Hardwood. Two new York based TV anchors who are on the edge of aging out of the industry for good. After an encounter at a bar they both realize what they need is a big story attached to their names.
It starts when Roland finds the body of a homeless man already dead. He claims the murder with a letter sent to him at the station, he names the killer and the ratings soar. Not to be outdone Hardwood is on to him and stages his own more violent murder with a letter that comes in the mail to his station. On the outside it looks like two killers engaged in a game, but of course it is a boost in the ratings and viewers they want. What follows is a novel that is a smart mix of Anchorman and American Psycho.
On the surface the concept is pretty silly, which is why the novel goes the route of satire. This was a smart move that RCT has crafted a fun novel that captures the "it bleeds it leads" world of news. The two killers "the Chef" (Stone) and Cassnova Carver (Hardwood) bring the gore and style to their murders. This is something Thomas brings to this novel mainstream satires would have strayed away from.
If there is a weakness in the novel it is the sexism of the characters while probably accurate got a bit grating to me. Ratings Game was just as funny as anything I have read from Jeff Strand who is considered the king of horror comedy. I laughed alot reading the book and I really appreciated that it was so different from his first book.
Excellently plotted and structured to deliver a well timed story. If you have not read any Ryan C. Thomas I would start with The Summer I Died, that is just a perfect horror novel. That being said Ratings game is probably a better more dynamic example of what Ryan C. Thomas is capable of.
I really like the left turn that RCT took with this second novel, his first release was a masterpiece of extreme horror. It would have been easy go straight back to the blood drenched success of The Summer I Died right away. RCT did eventually do two sequels (on my to read list) but this novel has a very different tone.
Blending social commentary, satire and the occasional gore soaked serial killing. Ratings Game is the story of Roland Stone and Doug Hardwood. Two new York based TV anchors who are on the edge of aging out of the industry for good. After an encounter at a bar they both realize what they need is a big story attached to their names.
It starts when Roland finds the body of a homeless man already dead. He claims the murder with a letter sent to him at the station, he names the killer and the ratings soar. Not to be outdone Hardwood is on to him and stages his own more violent murder with a letter that comes in the mail to his station. On the outside it looks like two killers engaged in a game, but of course it is a boost in the ratings and viewers they want. What follows is a novel that is a smart mix of Anchorman and American Psycho.
On the surface the concept is pretty silly, which is why the novel goes the route of satire. This was a smart move that RCT has crafted a fun novel that captures the "it bleeds it leads" world of news. The two killers "the Chef" (Stone) and Cassnova Carver (Hardwood) bring the gore and style to their murders. This is something Thomas brings to this novel mainstream satires would have strayed away from.
If there is a weakness in the novel it is the sexism of the characters while probably accurate got a bit grating to me. Ratings Game was just as funny as anything I have read from Jeff Strand who is considered the king of horror comedy. I laughed alot reading the book and I really appreciated that it was so different from his first book.
Excellently plotted and structured to deliver a well timed story. If you have not read any Ryan C. Thomas I would start with The Summer I Died, that is just a perfect horror novel. That being said Ratings game is probably a better more dynamic example of what Ryan C. Thomas is capable of.
dutts_87's review
3.0
As silly as you’d expect
“Serial Killer Comedy” is the tag line for this book, a contradiction in terms! However, the dark humour, catch-phrases and banter between the characters makes this quite an entertaining read.
Considering it’s short length (I consider anything under 300 pages a Novella), I felt like this took me quite a while to read. I don’t feel it was a page turner by any stretch, and it didn’t grip me to the point of wanting to read it every second of the day.
However, Thomas has a very readable, easy style, and I can’t deny that this book was entertaining. As a commentary on the media business and the desperation for attention and power, this book was quite revealing!
The bottom line though, is this story was too far-fetched to be taken seriously (and maybe it wasn’t trying to be), but it lacked a certain punch for me!
“Serial Killer Comedy” is the tag line for this book, a contradiction in terms! However, the dark humour, catch-phrases and banter between the characters makes this quite an entertaining read.
Considering it’s short length (I consider anything under 300 pages a Novella), I felt like this took me quite a while to read. I don’t feel it was a page turner by any stretch, and it didn’t grip me to the point of wanting to read it every second of the day.
However, Thomas has a very readable, easy style, and I can’t deny that this book was entertaining. As a commentary on the media business and the desperation for attention and power, this book was quite revealing!
The bottom line though, is this story was too far-fetched to be taken seriously (and maybe it wasn’t trying to be), but it lacked a certain punch for me!
coffeedogsbooks's review
3.0
**disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book**
I liked this book, good read but slow to start so stick with it. It's an enjoying read about two killers competing for ratings (there's more to it but trying not to spoil) but I didn't get the "can't put it down" feeling, In contrast I loved "The Summer I Died" books and couldn't put them down. Still, all in all a decent read by a great author who I would highly recommend.
I liked this book, good read but slow to start so stick with it. It's an enjoying read about two killers competing for ratings (there's more to it but trying not to spoil) but I didn't get the "can't put it down" feeling, In contrast I loved "The Summer I Died" books and couldn't put them down. Still, all in all a decent read by a great author who I would highly recommend.
More...