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lelandbuck's review
4.0
I rarely write more than a thought or two on my Goodreads reviews, but after finishing this book, I've got lots on my mind. I could easily give this story three or even fewer stars. But I didn't. I gave it four.
I recommend this book if you like hardboiled suspense with a touch of horror. If you like books with an edgy twist of the supernatural all the better.
I personally find most books with that kind of story unreadable.
But that's just the thing. I found Zeltserman's writing to be compelling, tight, and well-fashioned. He's one of those writers who (at least in Bad Thoughts) tries to shock you with his story, and ends up doing it more with the quality his writing.
If someone were to ask me to read this book based on a summary of the plot, I'd thank them politely and go read something else. (No offense to the author -- more than a few Stephen King novels have have had the same impact on me.) And now, having read Bad Thoughts, I'll gladly concede that I'd be missing an opportunity to discover a talented writer. So, not only am I generously giving Bad Thoughts four stars, I am going to read more from Dave Zeltserman. He managed to keep me turning pages on shear storytelling ability. That's pretty rare. (I also grant that in a genre of heavy-handed, unoriginal and often catastrophically boring plots, Bad Thoughts does offer some interesting, original twists, so please don't take my fault-finding as anything more than one bloke's narrow opinion.)
Four stars. Three for the story in Bad Thoughts, an extra one for a fine writer who impressed a generally finicky (and frequently grouchy) crime-fiction-reading critic. I especially look forward to reading [b:The Caretaker of Lorne Field]
I recommend this book if you like hardboiled suspense with a touch of horror. If you like books with an edgy twist of the supernatural all the better.
I personally find most books with that kind of story unreadable.
But that's just the thing. I found Zeltserman's writing to be compelling, tight, and well-fashioned. He's one of those writers who (at least in Bad Thoughts) tries to shock you with his story, and ends up doing it more with the quality his writing.
If someone were to ask me to read this book based on a summary of the plot, I'd thank them politely and go read something else. (No offense to the author -- more than a few Stephen King novels have have had the same impact on me.) And now, having read Bad Thoughts, I'll gladly concede that I'd be missing an opportunity to discover a talented writer. So, not only am I generously giving Bad Thoughts four stars, I am going to read more from Dave Zeltserman. He managed to keep me turning pages on shear storytelling ability. That's pretty rare. (I also grant that in a genre of heavy-handed, unoriginal and often catastrophically boring plots, Bad Thoughts does offer some interesting, original twists, so please don't take my fault-finding as anything more than one bloke's narrow opinion.)
Four stars. Three for the story in Bad Thoughts, an extra one for a fine writer who impressed a generally finicky (and frequently grouchy) crime-fiction-reading critic. I especially look forward to reading [b:The Caretaker of Lorne Field]
lorihenrich2021's review
3.0
Every year around February 10th Bill Shannon has a blackout. He doesn't know why and he can't remember where he goes and what he does. It has been happening for several years now. His marriage is just about over because of it. This year is different his dreams are being invaded but a person who is supposed to be dead. Bill is desperate to find out what is going on before the police arrest him for murder.
It was a attention grabbing story. I was worried that it might be a bit gruesome, but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined.
It was a attention grabbing story. I was worried that it might be a bit gruesome, but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined.
imzadirose's review
1.0
SNORE fest. OMG it was boring and slow and dull and the characters were completely unlikable. If it were any longer, I would have stopped reading it, but since it was shorter and I had read 25% initially, I didn't want to lose that time. So, I read it and it sucked!
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