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4.26 AVERAGE
4.26 AVERAGE
My review of A PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS can be found at High Fever Books.
Fresh out of prison, Joe Openshaw is hiking the Lowback Trail when he discovers a glass jar filled with pennies taped to scraps of folded paper. Curious, he opens one scrap and finds a young girl’s handwriting and a wish for a bike. It’s not just mere coincidence when his friend Kenny gives him a stolen bike to fence a short time later, and Joe sees a few other wishes come true. As a recovering addict, though, Joe knows nothing comes free, that there’s always a hook. Nothing is as simple as a wish granted, no string attached. There’s a cost, and the debt is starting to pile up…soon enough, it’s got to be collected.
Robert Ford and Matt Hayward have crafted a compulsively readable work of horror crime fiction. A Penny For Your Thoughts has a killer premise, and it’s populated with a ton of rich characters. Joe is a highly sympathetic and deeply flawed protagonist, with his background as an addict and unwitting getaway driver for a store robbery that landed him and his girlfriend in prison. His relationship with his father is rich and relateable, and the authors do a wonderful job of exploring the burgeoning friendship that arises between Joe, Kenny, and newcomer Ava.
Ford and Hayward also do a wonderful job of introducing their concept, exploring the curiosity and initial light-hardheartedness of it before plunging the story and its characters into darkness. There’s a great sequence early on when one character reads a young girl’s wish to hilarious results, but as Joe, Kenny, and Ava dig deeper into the nature of these wishes and their penny payments things get progressively darker. The innocuous wishes written by a young girl decades earlier take some horrific turns, and soon enough Joe is forced into the position of keeping this jar safe from others who would deliberately seek to use these magical pennies for devious ends.
My only criticism of A Penny For Your Thoughts is actually less a criticism and more of a desire for more. The Crimson Sisters are a mysterious group, one that sticks to the shadows, but what we get to know of them is pretty tantalizing stuff. I had really hoped for more involvement on their end, and the authors promised greater depths to their purpose with minor dashes of cosmic horror. With nods toward Elder Gods, and even Brian Keene’s Ob from The Rising, I had hoped for some deeper involvement of ancient beings. Unfortunately, the potential for the Crimson Sisters are not fully realized, and are, at a crucial moment, reduced to little more than a deus ex machina. The nature of the Crimson Sisters, though, is highly intriguing and I really wanted to spend more time with them, for Joe to learn more about their practices and peel back some of their mysteries. I wanted to know way more about them than the story or the authors could commit to. I wanted them to become a more prominent and overt force in the story, but Ford and Hayward keep things teasingly subtle.
Despite wanting more out of the Crimson Sisters, everything else about A Penny For Your Thoughts worked really, really well, and Ford and Hayward work with the synchrony of a well-oiled machine. Their collaboration here is awfully smooth, and it’s clear these two spent a good amount of time ensuring their prose styles mesh and seamlessly disappear into one another. A Penny For Your Thoughts is a smooth, easy, engaging read, and if I had but one wish it’d be for more Ford and Hayward collaborations. Maybe on something exploring the Crimson Sisters further, if I might be so bold.
[Note: I received an advance readers copy of this title from the authors.]
Fresh out of prison, Joe Openshaw is hiking the Lowback Trail when he discovers a glass jar filled with pennies taped to scraps of folded paper. Curious, he opens one scrap and finds a young girl’s handwriting and a wish for a bike. It’s not just mere coincidence when his friend Kenny gives him a stolen bike to fence a short time later, and Joe sees a few other wishes come true. As a recovering addict, though, Joe knows nothing comes free, that there’s always a hook. Nothing is as simple as a wish granted, no string attached. There’s a cost, and the debt is starting to pile up…soon enough, it’s got to be collected.
Robert Ford and Matt Hayward have crafted a compulsively readable work of horror crime fiction. A Penny For Your Thoughts has a killer premise, and it’s populated with a ton of rich characters. Joe is a highly sympathetic and deeply flawed protagonist, with his background as an addict and unwitting getaway driver for a store robbery that landed him and his girlfriend in prison. His relationship with his father is rich and relateable, and the authors do a wonderful job of exploring the burgeoning friendship that arises between Joe, Kenny, and newcomer Ava.
Ford and Hayward also do a wonderful job of introducing their concept, exploring the curiosity and initial light-hardheartedness of it before plunging the story and its characters into darkness. There’s a great sequence early on when one character reads a young girl’s wish to hilarious results, but as Joe, Kenny, and Ava dig deeper into the nature of these wishes and their penny payments things get progressively darker. The innocuous wishes written by a young girl decades earlier take some horrific turns, and soon enough Joe is forced into the position of keeping this jar safe from others who would deliberately seek to use these magical pennies for devious ends.
My only criticism of A Penny For Your Thoughts is actually less a criticism and more of a desire for more. The Crimson Sisters are a mysterious group, one that sticks to the shadows, but what we get to know of them is pretty tantalizing stuff. I had really hoped for more involvement on their end, and the authors promised greater depths to their purpose with minor dashes of cosmic horror. With nods toward Elder Gods, and even Brian Keene’s Ob from The Rising, I had hoped for some deeper involvement of ancient beings. Unfortunately, the potential for the Crimson Sisters are not fully realized, and are, at a crucial moment, reduced to little more than a deus ex machina. The nature of the Crimson Sisters, though, is highly intriguing and I really wanted to spend more time with them, for Joe to learn more about their practices and peel back some of their mysteries. I wanted to know way more about them than the story or the authors could commit to. I wanted them to become a more prominent and overt force in the story, but Ford and Hayward keep things teasingly subtle.
Despite wanting more out of the Crimson Sisters, everything else about A Penny For Your Thoughts worked really, really well, and Ford and Hayward work with the synchrony of a well-oiled machine. Their collaboration here is awfully smooth, and it’s clear these two spent a good amount of time ensuring their prose styles mesh and seamlessly disappear into one another. A Penny For Your Thoughts is a smooth, easy, engaging read, and if I had but one wish it’d be for more Ford and Hayward collaborations. Maybe on something exploring the Crimson Sisters further, if I might be so bold.
[Note: I received an advance readers copy of this title from the authors.]
What a great story! Aside from the impressive way these two authors seamlessly flow together in style, the authenticity and depth they maintained with each and every character is nothing short of remarkable. Joe was a perfect main character to follow--we know he's flawed, and he knows he's flawed, but his relationships with the others and his big heart are what made this story so affecting. With each scene, the folklore of the capricious penny develops further and is never stagnant. And while I personally would have liked a bit more action here and there, A Penny for Your Thoughts is a bewitching and diverting read from beginning to end. Looking forward to the sequel!
This book will have you laughing your ass off and then crying your eyes out on multiple occasions. Bob Ford and Matt Hayward pull no punches in this tale of a man looking to start over after a stretch in prison, fighting to leave his own personal demons behind him. Unfortunately, there are worse things out there.
I'm quite familiar with Bob Ford's work, but Matt Hayward is still a relatively new voice to me. However, their styles mesh so well, I'd be hard pressed to correctly guess who wrote what.
Both a hilarious and heartbreaking read, I hope this isn't the last collaboration between these two fine authors.
I'm quite familiar with Bob Ford's work, but Matt Hayward is still a relatively new voice to me. However, their styles mesh so well, I'd be hard pressed to correctly guess who wrote what.
Both a hilarious and heartbreaking read, I hope this isn't the last collaboration between these two fine authors.
I’m pretty new to reading in this area and just beginning to realize what I like and don’t like. And I didn’t much like this. The writing was good, but I like my strangeness nesting in a predictable normality. That is what grabs me. Once the tree that locks earth to sky is gone and everything becomes unpredictable, then that unpredictability has less effect on me. I am also not much taken by a sort of boyish humor that accompanies the story. Strange how so many reviewers I respect and even follow here loved it.
emotional
medium-paced
A Penny For Your Thoughts was my first read from both authors, and it certainly won't be my last. If there is another collaboration between Hayward and Ford, I'll gladly read it. This was a fun read! The premise of the story was great. I thought the characters were entertaining, and I loved the dialogue. Not only were there horrific moments, but there was humor scattered throughout the entire story, which I loved! I can't count how many times I laughed out loud while reading this. The authors did a great job writing a suspenseful tale with humor and heart. Overall, a unique tale that left me interested in more from both authors!
Note: I received an advance copy of this book from the authors and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Note: I received an advance copy of this book from the authors and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
What a great spin on a classic tale. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story from Bob Ford and Matt Hayward. As I was reading, I forgot that I was reading something blended from the minds of two separate authors because it came together so well at every turn.
I thought Ford and Hayward did an excellent job bringing our characters to life. Kenny was easily my favorite character in this story. He kept our friend Joe on his toes and in the real world when Joe may rather keep his head higher than one ought to.
Though the jar offered a mixed emotion, I was looking forward to seeing what the next thought would be every time!
To keep it short and sweet, this is a must read that I have and will continue to recommend to everyone!
I thought Ford and Hayward did an excellent job bringing our characters to life. Kenny was easily my favorite character in this story. He kept our friend Joe on his toes and in the real world when Joe may rather keep his head higher than one ought to.
Though the jar offered a mixed emotion, I was looking forward to seeing what the next thought would be every time!
To keep it short and sweet, this is a must read that I have and will continue to recommend to everyone!
Sometimes we are handed events, and other times we choose them. Both come with a price, whether immediate or served cold, and the final bill is usually stuffed with interest, hidden fees, and flat-out robbery of the highway kind. A wheat penny for any wish you want? Who could resist? However, the old adage "be careful what you wish for" is taken to the extreme in this book-in the best possible ways. Remember: there is always a price.
Nestled between the main story of a jar of wishes wrapped around pennies, ready to be granted as soon as the papers are opened, is the story of addiction in its many forms, as well as secrets. Family secrets, neighborhood secrets, cosmic secrets. This novel weaves a thread of addiction to recovery, with the temptations, backsliding, and revelations that comes with it. Some secrets aren't revealed, just as they aren't in life. Some aren't meant to be.
We come away with the knowledge that shortcuts are not a replacement for hard work. Things we thought we wanted, things which would make our lives better, tend to be more of a hindrance or an outright nightmare.
Robert Ford and Matt Hayward managed to put together a tight, focused, and often hilarious piece of work (the double d boobs through line had me cackling each time), especially considering they live an ocean apart. The dialogue is real: staggered, broken sentences--in order words, it reads as if eavesdropping on a conversation.
The authors' voices meld into one, unlike other collaborations where it's easy to distinguish who wrote what. This comes as no surprise to me. Anything Robert Ford writes is brilliant, and I've been a die-hard Hayward fan since his short story collection "Brain Dead Blues".
Be prepared for long nights of little sleep, laughter, tears, chills, and warmth. And remember: Donuts are love.
Nestled between the main story of a jar of wishes wrapped around pennies, ready to be granted as soon as the papers are opened, is the story of addiction in its many forms, as well as secrets. Family secrets, neighborhood secrets, cosmic secrets. This novel weaves a thread of addiction to recovery, with the temptations, backsliding, and revelations that comes with it. Some secrets aren't revealed, just as they aren't in life. Some aren't meant to be.
We come away with the knowledge that shortcuts are not a replacement for hard work. Things we thought we wanted, things which would make our lives better, tend to be more of a hindrance or an outright nightmare.
Robert Ford and Matt Hayward managed to put together a tight, focused, and often hilarious piece of work (the double d boobs through line had me cackling each time), especially considering they live an ocean apart. The dialogue is real: staggered, broken sentences--in order words, it reads as if eavesdropping on a conversation.
The authors' voices meld into one, unlike other collaborations where it's easy to distinguish who wrote what. This comes as no surprise to me. Anything Robert Ford writes is brilliant, and I've been a die-hard Hayward fan since his short story collection "Brain Dead Blues".
Be prepared for long nights of little sleep, laughter, tears, chills, and warmth. And remember: Donuts are love.
Robert Ford and Matt Hayward knock it out of the park with this witty, funny and creative horror novel.
Joe is fresh out of prison, living with his dad and trying to avoid getting incarcerated again. One day, he takes a hike along the trails, and finds a jar filled with notes. All these notes have a penny stuck to them, and seem to be someone's long forgotten wishes. He doesn't seem too alarmed when the first few wishes come true. Yet, soon he wonders what the real price for these trifle wishes is going to be.
This book is awesome. The authors sure have a knack for developing characters and making them come to life. While Joe seems like a bad guy at first, you will soon come to love him and root for him. His ex girlfriend is another story all together. I don't find myself having this kind of contempt for a fictional character often.
Within 292 pages, the authors managed to tell a fleshed out story with a wide array of characters and settings. It's quite funny, but it's also the type of horror I enjoy. I'm definitely looking forward to more material from these two amazing writers! I just saw there's another book coming out in this series, and I can't wait!
4 out of 5 stars!
Joe is fresh out of prison, living with his dad and trying to avoid getting incarcerated again. One day, he takes a hike along the trails, and finds a jar filled with notes. All these notes have a penny stuck to them, and seem to be someone's long forgotten wishes. He doesn't seem too alarmed when the first few wishes come true. Yet, soon he wonders what the real price for these trifle wishes is going to be.
This book is awesome. The authors sure have a knack for developing characters and making them come to life. While Joe seems like a bad guy at first, you will soon come to love him and root for him. His ex girlfriend is another story all together. I don't find myself having this kind of contempt for a fictional character often.
Within 292 pages, the authors managed to tell a fleshed out story with a wide array of characters and settings. It's quite funny, but it's also the type of horror I enjoy. I'm definitely looking forward to more material from these two amazing writers! I just saw there's another book coming out in this series, and I can't wait!
4 out of 5 stars!
This book seriously had so much packed into the almost 300 pages. I didn't know what to expect going into this, but it had been recommended to me by some friends in the #bookstagram community, so I knew I had to give it a go. Matthew Hayward and Robert Ford are well-established names in the horror community, so the only thing I expected with this book was an enjoyable, wild ride, and it certainly delivered!
I don't want to get too much into the plot, but I did really enjoy the realistic and relateable characters. Joe was just a real as they come. As an ex-con trying to do right after his release from prison, Joe was both a likable character and one that everyone can root for, despite his unsavory past. I absolutely adored the relationship between Joe and his father. The character development in this book was incredible.
When Joe finds a jar full of pennies with handwritten wishes taped to each one, he decides to take the jar home with him. What he finds is that wishes can come true, but at what extent? What if there is something sinister lurking behind the wishes? What if each wish is more than a wish, but an exchange that comes a debt that must be paid?
Reading this book brought to mind the familiar cliche, "Be careful what you wish for." The authors' take on this familiar adage was dark, unique, and gripping. The way these two authors worked together to weave this somewhat cautionary tale was just phenomenal and seamless.
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars for me! I really loved this book, I just thought there were some portions that slowed down a little for me, and I had to push myself to continue. This book runs the gamut of emotions from gut-wrenching horror, edge-of-your-seat anxiety, laugh our loud hilarity, and such deep and heartbreaking sadness. I think it's difficult for a "horror" book to play on so many emotions and explore human nature at such a depth as this one did.
**Thank you to Poltergeist Press for providing me with a copy of this book to read/review.**
I don't want to get too much into the plot, but I did really enjoy the realistic and relateable characters. Joe was just a real as they come. As an ex-con trying to do right after his release from prison, Joe was both a likable character and one that everyone can root for, despite his unsavory past. I absolutely adored the relationship between Joe and his father. The character development in this book was incredible.
When Joe finds a jar full of pennies with handwritten wishes taped to each one, he decides to take the jar home with him. What he finds is that wishes can come true, but at what extent? What if there is something sinister lurking behind the wishes? What if each wish is more than a wish, but an exchange that comes a debt that must be paid?
Reading this book brought to mind the familiar cliche, "Be careful what you wish for." The authors' take on this familiar adage was dark, unique, and gripping. The way these two authors worked together to weave this somewhat cautionary tale was just phenomenal and seamless.
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars for me! I really loved this book, I just thought there were some portions that slowed down a little for me, and I had to push myself to continue. This book runs the gamut of emotions from gut-wrenching horror, edge-of-your-seat anxiety, laugh our loud hilarity, and such deep and heartbreaking sadness. I think it's difficult for a "horror" book to play on so many emotions and explore human nature at such a depth as this one did.
**Thank you to Poltergeist Press for providing me with a copy of this book to read/review.**