Michael Marshall

One person wades though a seemingly unconnected series of events--a methodical mass killing in Pennsylvania, a missing girl in California, and the possible death of a couple in Montana--on the way to a confrontation with the Straw Men.

The Straw Men

A. D. Knapp

Interesting read. Somewhat reminiscent (in terms of structure and groups of characters converging) of Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons. That novel also had a shadowy group of villains influencing world events.

Peggy Walker

I actually just finished The Upright Man, which is the 2nd in this trilogy, so I thought I should go back and read book #1. This book I really enjoyed, for the most part. The author has a very interesting way of putting the story together with many different threads which start coming together without driving one crazy waiting for that to happen. He also has a dry, quirky sense of humor that livens things up when you least expect it. Many turns and twists that makes it an exciting read. I really looked forward to any possible sequel. Always the kiss of death.

Ariel Himboi

The Straw Men was a book I picked up at the laundromat, sitting on a brown shelf above the counters with all the old mass market paperbacks just waiting to be read by fifty year old women. Not me, though. I picked this one rather than the others not only because it had the most goose-bump worthy cover, but also because Stephen King gave it a raving review and I trust his judgement entirely. I mean, if Stephen King says 'Brilliant, stunning, amazing' on a cover of someone's book... you read it. 

You read the blurb and think, "Wow, I know exactly where this going." No you do NOT. Let me tell you, the beginning is entirely different than how you are expecting this book to end. It is brilliantly done, brilliantly written with some of the most funny, lovable and hate-able characters. I read the first chapter, then decided to read almost a hundred pages in one or two hours waiting for my laundry. Best decision I ever made. 

I, right now in this moment, recommend you to pick this up immediately. Does it sound interesting? Read it. 

The beginning was crafted expertly. The writing style was fluid, and it didn't take long to get used to the narration and tone of the story. You think, a few hundred pages in, that you know exactly what's going on and what's going to happen. No matter how smart you are, it's going to hit you right near the very end. I sat outside to finish the last three hundred pages, out in the dark at 9PM and during the last few hundred I turned to my uncle who sat across from me at the deck table and my mouth dropped.

He said, "What?"
And I replied. "Oh my god. I know what they're doing. Holy shit."

This book is INCREDIBLE. I don't think I'll be reading the second book until I re-read the first again, because you really need to re-read the end again to fully grasp what rocked my brain so hard. 

Also: My favorite quote because I'm a Hamilton dork, made me laugh so hard. There's a scene in which a character relating to the main character's parents is trying to roll a blunt but can't, and he says something about Thomas Jefferson and it had me CRYING. I unfortunately can't find it, but when you do please give a shout out and YOU'RE WELCOME. It was so funny. God, that's when I knew he was a good writer.

Anyway. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. And it also proved that you don't have to watch trends and youtube videos of new debuts to find a good book. Go to a second hand shop and pick up some mass paperbacks.

The Straw Men

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