Scan barcode
mtthwsmth's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-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
3.5
twotoes's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Horrible people do horrible things. Normal people do horrible things. Horrible things happen to horrible people. Horrible things happen to normal people. And a lot of dogs die.
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
When Deputy Sheriff Dale Banks finds $52,000 hidden in a catbox, he does the wrong thing for the right reasons. The missing money touches off a blaze of meth, murder, and mayhem!
I got this from Netgalley.
If there is a golden rule in crime fiction, it's that if you find a hidden pile of money, do not take it or the shit will hit the fan! In this case, the shit is a group of lowlife meth heads and the fan is Deputy Sheriff Dale Banks.
A Swollen Red Sun takes place in Gasconade County, Missouri, one of the Midwest's meth hotbeds. Banks soon finds himself up against meth heads (and dealers) like Jerry Dean Skaggs, Jackson Brandt, and the inbred preacher The Reverend, as well as a dirty cop pulling the strings.
Matthew McBride paints a bleak picture of rural Missouri, reminiscent of books like No Country for Old Men, Knockemstiff, and Winter's Bone. The locations in the book are both hellish and all too realistic. However, the world he create isn't without hope. Bo Hastings is dying to clear the Hastings name. Banks wants to be a family man first and a lawman second. Olen just misses his wife and kids and his only companion is his dog.
The book had quite a few twists, some quite surprising. By the time I hit the 75% mark, I couldn't put it down and had no idea who the survivors would be by the end.
Kids, don't do meth! Four out of five stars.
I got this from Netgalley.
If there is a golden rule in crime fiction, it's that if you find a hidden pile of money, do not take it or the shit will hit the fan! In this case, the shit is a group of lowlife meth heads and the fan is Deputy Sheriff Dale Banks.
A Swollen Red Sun takes place in Gasconade County, Missouri, one of the Midwest's meth hotbeds. Banks soon finds himself up against meth heads (and dealers) like Jerry Dean Skaggs, Jackson Brandt, and the inbred preacher The Reverend, as well as a dirty cop pulling the strings.
Matthew McBride paints a bleak picture of rural Missouri, reminiscent of books like No Country for Old Men, Knockemstiff, and Winter's Bone. The locations in the book are both hellish and all too realistic. However, the world he create isn't without hope. Bo Hastings is dying to clear the Hastings name. Banks wants to be a family man first and a lawman second. Olen just misses his wife and kids and his only companion is his dog.
The book had quite a few twists, some quite surprising. By the time I hit the 75% mark, I couldn't put it down and had no idea who the survivors would be by the end.
Kids, don't do meth! Four out of five stars.
sjj169's review against another edition
5.0
This book definitely is NOT a fairy tale.
Banks and his partner are staking out a tweaker and Banks finds the meth head's stash of cash. (In a turd filled cat litter box) He takes it. Figuring he needs it for his family and no one's ever going to know.
Yeah right.
This book is full of some of the white trashest people I've found in books. Oh and I flipping loved it. Matthew McBride fills the characters out so that you almost smell the stench of that broke down trailer.
Maybe people should be made to read this book before they are stupid enough to try that first hit of meth. I forgot, these folks are lucky to be able to read their name. Sad.
DON'T do drugs!
I will say the whole story had me glued to it. I had to see how it played out...and it was gooooooood.
I received an ARC copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Banks and his partner are staking out a tweaker and Banks finds the meth head's stash of cash. (In a turd filled cat litter box) He takes it. Figuring he needs it for his family and no one's ever going to know.
Yeah right.
This book is full of some of the white trashest people I've found in books. Oh and I flipping loved it. Matthew McBride fills the characters out so that you almost smell the stench of that broke down trailer.
Maybe people should be made to read this book before they are stupid enough to try that first hit of meth. I forgot, these folks are lucky to be able to read their name. Sad.
DON'T do drugs!
I will say the whole story had me glued to it. I had to see how it played out...and it was gooooooood.
I received an ARC copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
trudilibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
This is a high three. High being the operative word here because the meth fumes wafting from its pages are strong enough to transmogrify the reader into a slavering crystal junkie. Buyer beware. If that's not enough, the uncompromising and relentless violence as well as the suffocating pall of dysfunctional rural living are such to jar anyone's safe suburban sensibilities and make you glad you're a city rat.
Matthew McBride is a welcome addition to the Rural Noir / Hick Lit crowd -- (i.e. [a:Daniel Woodrell|65135|Daniel Woodrell|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1276358809p2/65135.jpg], [a:Tom Franklin|125736|Tom Franklin|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1291059044p2/125736.jpg], [a:Donald Ray Pollock|784866|Donald Ray Pollock|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1240540889p2/784866.jpg] and [a:Frank Bill|3983305|Frank Bill|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1366952773p2/3983305.jpg] to name my favorites). McBride situates himself on the spectrum somewhere between the gorgeous prose of Woodrell and Franklin and the harsh chainsaw vernacular of Bill and Pollock. It is to McBride's disadvantage however, to be keeping company on the shelf with such esteemed writers who have proven their mettle. His inexperience and exuberancy to tell rather than show only serve to highlight some of the novel's weaknesses.
For all of that, there are singular awesome scenes in these pages, and the last forty are some messed up, edge-of-your-seat stuff. I will definitely be checking out more from Matthew McBride.
kasiabrenna's review against another edition
2.0
Reviewed here:
http://roguereadersadvisory.wordpress.com/2014/08/07/a-swollen-red-sun-by-matthew-mcbride/
joeh's review against another edition
2.0
I thought this would be a lot more fun than it ended up being, which is unfortunate because the premise was interesting. More than anything, I didn't particularly care for the writing. It reminded me a bit much of more mainstream American mystery/thriller authors but with less of the adrenaline.
ericwelch's review against another edition
4.0
Such a sad book, filled with desperate people leading desperate lives. Some of them are just evil, others totally over their heads with no future and an ugly present.
Reading about them is compelling, however, always wondering what other tragedy lies just over the hill.
You won't like any of the characters -- well, perhaps Olen is an exception, -- but you'll feel sorry for some, pity others, and be very glad you play no part in their lives. Most of them I suspect would be waving Confederate flags at a NASCAR race.
I hope McBride writes from imagination and not experience. I fear the latter. His Goodreads' page notes that “These people are the people I know and see every day, and this is the world I know.”
Reading about them is compelling, however, always wondering what other tragedy lies just over the hill.
You won't like any of the characters -- well, perhaps Olen is an exception, -- but you'll feel sorry for some, pity others, and be very glad you play no part in their lives. Most of them I suspect would be waving Confederate flags at a NASCAR race.
I hope McBride writes from imagination and not experience. I fear the latter. His Goodreads' page notes that “These people are the people I know and see every day, and this is the world I know.”
whatmeworry's review against another edition
2.0
From the nasty people doing nasty things to each other school of crime writing, which sometimes I like but in this case didn't. Indistinguishable characters and a jumpy plot killed it for me, which is a shame as there were some good moments.
tacomaven's review
4.0
I won a copy of this book from goodreads' giveaways. I wanted to start it the day it came in the mail, but I was finishing up a couple others so I waited. Once I started this book, it didn't let me go. Really enjoyed his style of writing, similar to Woodrell et all. Great characters, great dialogue, great plot = great book!