A review by splatterjunk
The Auctioneer by Joan Samson

4.0

For a first (and unfortunately, only) book, this blew my socks clean off my body. A vision of the possible drawbacks of small town, rural life, The Auctioneer presents the reader with a dilemma: how far would you let someone push you before you push back? When someone gets hurt? When someone dies? The sinister figure of Perly Dunesmore, a perfectly normal human being, strikes more fear than any number of heinous slavering beasts simply because he could, and probably does, in some form, exist. Combine this plausibility with some of the bleakest atmosphere this side of Cormac McCcarthy and you have a stone cold classic on your hands.

Well written and brilliantly paced, this is a classic that is, deservedly, becoming more known and appreciated as time goes by.

4/5 iron grey skies looking down on us poor sinners, read in the sunshine if at all possible