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eddiegenerous's review
5.0
Unnerving Magazine
Listen to my conversation with the author here: https://www.unnervingmagazine.com/single-post/2019/07/12/EP049---Talking-The-Muse-With-James-Renner
This one was a real surprise. The author was new to me. His prose was accessible, but not pedestrian. The pacing and follow through were excellent. The characters and dialogue were human. Renner crosses the hardboiled detective and cold, demonic horror with a masterful hand. In the running for novella of the year, no doubt there.
Listen to my conversation with the author here: https://www.unnervingmagazine.com/single-post/2019/07/12/EP049---Talking-The-Muse-With-James-Renner
This one was a real surprise. The author was new to me. His prose was accessible, but not pedestrian. The pacing and follow through were excellent. The characters and dialogue were human. Renner crosses the hardboiled detective and cold, demonic horror with a masterful hand. In the running for novella of the year, no doubt there.
mamaamanda1's review
4.0
This book was weird but in a good way. It’s written by way of found audio cassettes and it works out well. For only being around 130 pages, it’s very detailed but it’s not fluff. The details are needed. I did enjoy it but it did take me a little bit longer to get into the story. Once I did, I had to finish it.
horror_haus_books's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
This is such a dark horror novella that deals with some interesting topics. I really liked the tie in between H. P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, and the deep dive into Greek mythology, old gods and monsters. I also enjoyed the detective/crime aspect of this story and how it’s told from these “recovered cassette tapes”. It definitely has a found footage feel to it.
nancyadelman's review
5.0
This is more a novella, a short novel. It is about a private detective who is hired by a young woman to seek out a mysterious treasure chest type of box. The box is said to have been owned by HP Lovecraft and possibly even Edgar Allen Poe, but what is inside it is anyone's guess. The young woman believes that the contents of the treasure chest may help with her writing career and that is why she hires the detective.
This is a very tightly woven story about the power of a good (or bad, as the case may be) story. The starting premise of the story, of a treasure chest once owned by HP Lovecraft that may or may not have been left at Antarctica is at least partly based on actual historical facts. The author then uses that premise as a jumping off point for a supernatural monster. The plot moves along quickly and doesn't get bogged down. There were tons of Stephen King references scattered throughout the book, including a character getting trapped in a Christine-like car, a very famous author attending the University of Maine at Orono, kids playing in the Barrens from "It" and a character living on Flagg street (Randall Flagg being a Stephen King character). There is a good deal of graphically depicted violence throughout the book. There are one or two references to sex and one or two references to beer or other alcoholic beverages; there is no illicit drug use. This is not for readers who have weak stomachs or are easily triggered. If you're like me and like a good scary story, this is an excellent read. Takeli-li!
This is a very tightly woven story about the power of a good (or bad, as the case may be) story. The starting premise of the story, of a treasure chest once owned by HP Lovecraft that may or may not have been left at Antarctica is at least partly based on actual historical facts. The author then uses that premise as a jumping off point for a supernatural monster. The plot moves along quickly and doesn't get bogged down. There were tons of Stephen King references scattered throughout the book, including a character getting trapped in a Christine-like car, a very famous author attending the University of Maine at Orono, kids playing in the Barrens from "It" and a character living on Flagg street (Randall Flagg being a Stephen King character). There is a good deal of graphically depicted violence throughout the book. There are one or two references to sex and one or two references to beer or other alcoholic beverages; there is no illicit drug use. This is not for readers who have weak stomachs or are easily triggered. If you're like me and like a good scary story, this is an excellent read. Takeli-li!
mafaichney's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
angus_mckeogh's review
4.0
This one was good. Lovecraft, Poe, noir detective, and horror wrapped into a juicy nugget. Shows that a novel doesn’t need to be 700 pages to be well-developed and interesting. I’m getting the feeling that Renner is kind of like Anne Billson. A hidden gem.
kkehoe's review
5.0
A perfectly-crafted Lovecraftian, noir epic that is both immensely entertaining and thought-provoking without trying too hard. A meta look into the crafting of a mythology that plays with the boundaries of a genre-bending take on an Odyssey-like literary journey. Read this!!
motherhorror's review
4.0
I was lucky enough to receive a signed, review copy of MUSE by James Renner. This book will be available as a signed, limited edition hardcover this May from Cemetery Dance.
I did a little digging around on James Renner since this is my first time encountering his work. I was impressed when I learned that James is best known as a prolific, true-crime journalist.
After reading MUSE, a sleek horror novella, I believe Mr. Renner's journalism skills and background in true-crime serves to enhance his storytelling ability. This was a captivating read from the very beginning.
The synopsis is deliciously vague--something about some tape recordings and a double missing person's case--the possibility is that we, the readers, will read the transcriptions of said tapes and learn the story behind the disappearances.
Oooo, sounds fun, right?
It was.
I'm taking into consideration that this is one of the earliest reviews of this story and I don't want to give away any exciting reader discoveries (and there are plenty!).
I will recommend that fans of Hardboiled, Crime-Noir should pick this up.
Fans of classic horror fiction should pick this up (see the antique box on the cover with the menacing tentacle? *nodding my head* your suspicions are correct! Shhhh...)
Also, do you just love a sarcastic, witty, foul-mouthed, racist detective that finds himself in the worst possible situations and you absolutely love watching how in the hell he will manage to get himself out of sticky situations? You do? Me too! I would *love* for Renner to do more of these kinds of stories.
He has a keen handle on dialog and language that made me feel like I was watching an old black & white movie where everyone is wearing trench coats and fedoras. I was constantly snickering at the "take no shit" attitude and the wise-assery from our protagonist.
Love, love, that.
Lastly, the story. For being just over 100 pages, this was an expansive storyline--covering many locations and introducing a big cast of memorable characters. I had so much fun reading this story and I honestly think that most horror fans would enjoy this one too--I can't wait to have some discussions about this book so hit me up on social media if you've read it!
I did a little digging around on James Renner since this is my first time encountering his work. I was impressed when I learned that James is best known as a prolific, true-crime journalist.
After reading MUSE, a sleek horror novella, I believe Mr. Renner's journalism skills and background in true-crime serves to enhance his storytelling ability. This was a captivating read from the very beginning.
The synopsis is deliciously vague--something about some tape recordings and a double missing person's case--the possibility is that we, the readers, will read the transcriptions of said tapes and learn the story behind the disappearances.
Oooo, sounds fun, right?
It was.
I'm taking into consideration that this is one of the earliest reviews of this story and I don't want to give away any exciting reader discoveries (and there are plenty!).
I will recommend that fans of Hardboiled, Crime-Noir should pick this up.
Fans of classic horror fiction should pick this up (see the antique box on the cover with the menacing tentacle? *nodding my head* your suspicions are correct! Shhhh...)
Also, do you just love a sarcastic, witty, foul-mouthed, racist detective that finds himself in the worst possible situations and you absolutely love watching how in the hell he will manage to get himself out of sticky situations? You do? Me too! I would *love* for Renner to do more of these kinds of stories.
He has a keen handle on dialog and language that made me feel like I was watching an old black & white movie where everyone is wearing trench coats and fedoras. I was constantly snickering at the "take no shit" attitude and the wise-assery from our protagonist.
Love, love, that.
Lastly, the story. For being just over 100 pages, this was an expansive storyline--covering many locations and introducing a big cast of memorable characters. I had so much fun reading this story and I honestly think that most horror fans would enjoy this one too--I can't wait to have some discussions about this book so hit me up on social media if you've read it!