Scan barcode
A review by cspoe
The Devil of Pinesville by Hank Edwards
5.0
Hank Edwards is back with another hilarious, exhilarating, and terrifying adventure, and the Critter Catchers are not… happy about being on the case. Really. Okay, Cody isn’t happy. Because Cody would rather never run into another monster for as long as he lives. But Demmy, ever the thinker, wants to unravel these mysteries and help people. So when his ex-boyfriend Oliver sends a message after months of radio silence, asking if the two were still in the business of hunting unusual animals… it’s time for a road trip to New Jersey.
The whole situation is weird and uncomfortable. Sure, they’ve got Jugs to depend on to run the business for them now, but helping Demmy’s ex isn’t really high on Cody’s list of things to do, especially since the two are in the beginnings of a very intense relationship that is romantic but maybe—are they exclusive? Is it forever? Just for fun? Would one of them sound ridiculously needy to ask that they both be in it for the long haul? Being friends and now lovers is complicating for both of them, Cody isn’t out about his bisexuality, Demmy can’t go back into the closet no matter how much he loves Cody, and oh now they have to hide their feelings from Oliver and his pistol of a grandmother while hunting some enormous bat-creature in the woods?
Life is never boring for these two.
Edwards once again gives the reader some fantastic side characters to sink their teeth into. He creates complex and multi-layered people, which is refreshing and appreciative. Some lovable, some that makes the hackles raise, and everything in between. He’s especially good at writing older women, and I adored how those ladies had unique interactions with Cody and Demmy each across the series. The monster in this book was also an interesting change from previous titles. I’d go so far as to say no one much shed a tear for Book One’s monster, and while Two’s was a real zinger, I wouldn’t entirely venture into calling it a monster. Book Three—terrifying. No remorse felt by me after that whirlwind. But Book Four? He really shook it up by making the reader ache for the monster, not just the danger he’s constantly putting our boys into.
I’m a sucker for exes turning into friends in fiction as well. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not always possible. And when it is, should be handled carefully to make both individuals redeemable. So I really appreciated what Edwards did with Oliver in this book, and how he interacts with not only Demmy, but Cody—the source of so many arguments. Another hell of a read in the Critter Catchers series!
The whole situation is weird and uncomfortable. Sure, they’ve got Jugs to depend on to run the business for them now, but helping Demmy’s ex isn’t really high on Cody’s list of things to do, especially since the two are in the beginnings of a very intense relationship that is romantic but maybe—are they exclusive? Is it forever? Just for fun? Would one of them sound ridiculously needy to ask that they both be in it for the long haul? Being friends and now lovers is complicating for both of them, Cody isn’t out about his bisexuality, Demmy can’t go back into the closet no matter how much he loves Cody, and oh now they have to hide their feelings from Oliver and his pistol of a grandmother while hunting some enormous bat-creature in the woods?
Life is never boring for these two.
Edwards once again gives the reader some fantastic side characters to sink their teeth into. He creates complex and multi-layered people, which is refreshing and appreciative. Some lovable, some that makes the hackles raise, and everything in between. He’s especially good at writing older women, and I adored how those ladies had unique interactions with Cody and Demmy each across the series. The monster in this book was also an interesting change from previous titles. I’d go so far as to say no one much shed a tear for Book One’s monster, and while Two’s was a real zinger, I wouldn’t entirely venture into calling it a monster. Book Three—terrifying. No remorse felt by me after that whirlwind. But Book Four? He really shook it up by making the reader ache for the monster, not just the danger he’s constantly putting our boys into.
I’m a sucker for exes turning into friends in fiction as well. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not always possible. And when it is, should be handled carefully to make both individuals redeemable. So I really appreciated what Edwards did with Oliver in this book, and how he interacts with not only Demmy, but Cody—the source of so many arguments. Another hell of a read in the Critter Catchers series!