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littlemissgemreads's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
justinkhchen's review
4.0
4 stars
Last Case at a Baggage Auction is a very engrossing mystery/horror novella in the 'haunted object' sub-genre. In this tale the object in question is an antique gramophone accompanied by records of unknown content; the story follows Charlie, an eager vintage collector, and the outlandish effects this object has on the tenants within his hotel-converted apartment building.
Think Japanese horror film Ringu crosses with Indiana Jones—the novels takes its time staging the artifact's disease-like influence with characters' small behavioral peculiarities, until it reaches its sinister climax in the book's last act, which is expertly executed by Eric J. Guignard with his cinematic, out-of-this-world vision. I'm also pleasantly surprised by the revelation of actual historical figure/fact, which grounds the story to reality, and intensifies the horror (also brought me down a rabbit hole Googling more on this subject matter afterward).
At 8 short chapters, I wish we have gotten a little bit more story, particularly between Ch.7 and Ch.8, where the outcome of several characters (and location) remains unresolved. Also due to the condensed novella format, some plot points seem overly convenient: such as the protagonist getting all the useful information through a single resource. Lastly, while the story clearly states it took place in the 60s, during reading it constantly felt like it's set in earlier decades, closer to the 30s-40s. Perhaps this is due to the immediate issue at hand and the prime location (the gramophone and the hotel) being remnants from the earlier time, but I do wonder if there are ways to further solidifies its 1960s time period.
In the end, Last Case at a Baggage Auction was a blast, with an imaginative fact-based hook, and a cast of well-rounded classic mystery characters.
***This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!***
Last Case at a Baggage Auction is a very engrossing mystery/horror novella in the 'haunted object' sub-genre. In this tale the object in question is an antique gramophone accompanied by records of unknown content; the story follows Charlie, an eager vintage collector, and the outlandish effects this object has on the tenants within his hotel-converted apartment building.
Think Japanese horror film Ringu crosses with Indiana Jones—the novels takes its time staging the artifact's disease-like influence with characters' small behavioral peculiarities, until it reaches its sinister climax in the book's last act, which is expertly executed by Eric J. Guignard with his cinematic, out-of-this-world vision. I'm also pleasantly surprised by the revelation of actual historical figure/fact, which grounds the story to reality, and intensifies the horror (also brought me down a rabbit hole Googling more on this subject matter afterward).
At 8 short chapters, I wish we have gotten a little bit more story, particularly between Ch.7 and Ch.8, where the outcome of several characters (and location) remains unresolved. Also due to the condensed novella format, some plot points seem overly convenient: such as the protagonist getting all the useful information through a single resource. Lastly, while the story clearly states it took place in the 60s, during reading it constantly felt like it's set in earlier decades, closer to the 30s-40s. Perhaps this is due to the immediate issue at hand and the prime location (the gramophone and the hotel) being remnants from the earlier time, but I do wonder if there are ways to further solidifies its 1960s time period.
In the end, Last Case at a Baggage Auction was a blast, with an imaginative fact-based hook, and a cast of well-rounded classic mystery characters.
***This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!***
yodamom's review
5.0
This was so enjoyable, creepy, scary, thrilling and intriguing at each step. Written so beautifully with period correct verbage. There is an Asian character, the author stayed true to the time with his words. This was just one of the little details that made it such a fascinating read. The details, the history, the ambiance, all excellent. How have I never heard of this exceptional author before ?
Two gentlemen both attend an unclaimed luggage auction. One buys a case that will forever change their lives. The case contains a gramophone that has a history from Russia. Things aren't as simple as a song, and somethings just don't quit.
Omg read this novella !
Two gentlemen both attend an unclaimed luggage auction. One buys a case that will forever change their lives. The case contains a gramophone that has a history from Russia. Things aren't as simple as a song, and somethings just don't quit.
Omg read this novella !
zraitor's review against another edition
5.0
–>I received a free copy of this in exchange for an honest review.<–
Two men addicted to baggage auctions, yeah I didn't know that was a thing either, come across a suitcase with a gramophone in it that plays strange music...
So right off the bat, I was intrigued by the baggage auction stuff. At the same time, I find it to be so cool and yet so sad. Hoping to find something valuable in these cases people bid on them only to usually find worthless junk. Although in the case of this story we find a cursed music player. Gambling, man.
What comes about from this seems to be a much darker version of the author's other work, Doorways to the Deadeye. The idea that people linger on after death but of course here it is not through memories but black magic and evil. That was quite a moment when that certain someone just pops up randomly and is revealed.
Now, this could all be cartoonish and silly but thanks to the strong characterizations and writing the story pulls through it all and is very enjoyable. Charlie Stewart is a great main character and through him the story is grounded with his thoughts on a wasted gambler's life, wanting better with his girlfriend, etc. He may not be the most likable to some but his inner struggle makes him seem to be a real person and very relatable.
For the rest, we have the great setting brought to life, the creepiness of the music turning people into slaves, and the wonderful drawings found in the book which is always one of those little touches I appreciate.
Two men addicted to baggage auctions, yeah I didn't know that was a thing either, come across a suitcase with a gramophone in it that plays strange music...
So right off the bat, I was intrigued by the baggage auction stuff. At the same time, I find it to be so cool and yet so sad. Hoping to find something valuable in these cases people bid on them only to usually find worthless junk. Although in the case of this story we find a cursed music player. Gambling, man.
What comes about from this seems to be a much darker version of the author's other work, Doorways to the Deadeye. The idea that people linger on after death but of course here it is not through memories but black magic and evil. That was quite a moment when that certain someone just pops up randomly and is revealed.
Now, this could all be cartoonish and silly but thanks to the strong characterizations and writing the story pulls through it all and is very enjoyable. Charlie Stewart is a great main character and through him the story is grounded with his thoughts on a wasted gambler's life, wanting better with his girlfriend, etc. He may not be the most likable to some but his inner struggle makes him seem to be a real person and very relatable.
For the rest, we have the great setting brought to life, the creepiness of the music turning people into slaves, and the wonderful drawings found in the book which is always one of those little touches I appreciate.
sausome's review
5.0
This book was a surprise that really blew me away. The writing is in the style of a 1960s, almost pulp-style, author, and I had to check this wasn't a re-issue of a hidden gem of the 60s. The book builds masterfully slow and steady, planting deep roots of creepy eeriness, making me think of master of creep, Shirley Jackson. Then the door is thrown wide open into a fantastical horror-scape with Mad Monk Rasputin at the helm. The weaving in of the legends surrounding Rasputin's search for immortality through his gathering of souls was really wonderful, and felt like a new corner of horror not often explored. The key to the greatness of this book was the slow, purposeful build, which is not easy to do without continuing to add in the right amount of eeriness or losing the audience. The length for this was also perfect.
Fans of the horror podcast "The Black Tapes" might really fall for this short tale, complete with music that seeps into souls and curses anyone who hears it, not unlike the Unsound of that podcast.
I will look forward to Eric J. Guignard's future works. If this work is any indication, they will be masterful.
Fans of the horror podcast "The Black Tapes" might really fall for this short tale, complete with music that seeps into souls and curses anyone who hears it, not unlike the Unsound of that podcast.
I will look forward to Eric J. Guignard's future works. If this work is any indication, they will be masterful.
pbanditp's review
4.0
A unique, noir, cult(?), historical fiction, horror.
Charlie lives in Detroit and gets by with betting on the horse races and luggage auctions. As Charlie says “a man is successful if he lives every day with the ability to do what he wants.”
At one of these luggage auctions, Charlie’s friend, Joey, buys a case that contains more than he bargained for. Joey can’t escape what he uncovers and he is bringing a lot of his fellow apartment tenets with him into the madness.
This was a very interesting read with a flowing writing style that was picturesque. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Day Books for an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review
Charlie lives in Detroit and gets by with betting on the horse races and luggage auctions. As Charlie says “a man is successful if he lives every day with the ability to do what he wants.”
At one of these luggage auctions, Charlie’s friend, Joey, buys a case that contains more than he bargained for. Joey can’t escape what he uncovers and he is bringing a lot of his fellow apartment tenets with him into the madness.
This was a very interesting read with a flowing writing style that was picturesque. Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Day Books for an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review
johnlynchbooks's review
4.0
Last Case at a baggage auction is the latest work from Eric Guignard. So far, this is my favorite thing I’ve read from the author.
A two friends love to play the auction game, and they know it well. The ins and outs of the auctions. But when one of them wins a mysterious case, and the items inside seem to create an odd addiction and hallucinations, it must be stopped before what lies within reaches its goal.
I really enjoyed the writing in this one. Guignard created an great atmosphere that was enjoyable to read, and left me curious to know what was going on. That being said, when you learn what is behind the evil at hand, you come say genuinely surprised. At least I did. Where Guignard took this, I absolutely loved because it pertains to a person I believe who is absolutely fascinating, and for that person to show up here was just cool, and frightening to me. I don’t want to say more than that other than this book is great, unpredictable, and the spooky atmosphere is wonderful. Pick this up ASAP!
A two friends love to play the auction game, and they know it well. The ins and outs of the auctions. But when one of them wins a mysterious case, and the items inside seem to create an odd addiction and hallucinations, it must be stopped before what lies within reaches its goal.
I really enjoyed the writing in this one. Guignard created an great atmosphere that was enjoyable to read, and left me curious to know what was going on. That being said, when you learn what is behind the evil at hand, you come say genuinely surprised. At least I did. Where Guignard took this, I absolutely loved because it pertains to a person I believe who is absolutely fascinating, and for that person to show up here was just cool, and frightening to me. I don’t want to say more than that other than this book is great, unpredictable, and the spooky atmosphere is wonderful. Pick this up ASAP!
jasecorn's review
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a good little story. Short, fast paced, and I enjoyed the historical link.
Definitely well written, decent characterisation and descriptive imagery.
Despite that, I didn't find myself hugely invested in it for some reason. This was possibly due to its short length, which is ironic because I was specifically looking for a shorter book to read in this instance. So I can hardly blame the author for delivering exactly what I was looking for.
I guess for me this felt like a popcorn book. Thoroughly enjoyed it, but didn't really care much.
This was a good little story. Short, fast paced, and I enjoyed the historical link.
Definitely well written, decent characterisation and descriptive imagery.
Despite that, I didn't find myself hugely invested in it for some reason. This was possibly due to its short length, which is ironic because I was specifically looking for a shorter book to read in this instance. So I can hardly blame the author for delivering exactly what I was looking for.
I guess for me this felt like a popcorn book. Thoroughly enjoyed it, but didn't really care much.
thomaswjoyce's review
4.0
The idea of an unsuspecting character discovering a mysterious object with otherworldly properties in fiction isn’t a new one. What separates the good stories from the not-so-good when using this device is the way in which it is used, and how the author presents the story. Told using flat characters and a stale backstory, it isn’t going to make for an exciting tale and won’t keep the reader’s attention. Thankfully, Guignard’s book begins with an interesting premise and a captivating protagonist that draw the reader in. It is the summer of 1963 in Detroit, and Charlie Stewart is happy with his lot in life. He writes freelance non-fiction for magazines, but his main passion is attending baggage auctions with friend Joey Thurston, looking for a good deal on some hidden treasure, something he can buy for a buck and sell for a hundred. He lives alone—in an apartment filled with “treasure” he hasn’t been able to move on yet—but he is in a long-term relationship with Gail. Life is far from perfect, but it is comfortable, just the way Charlie likes it. Until Joey wins a strange suitcase at the very end of an auction.
The concept of a baggage auction is both unusual and completely reasonable at the same time. Unless you work in an environment that deals with a great volume of lost luggage or abandoned items you may not be familiar with the idea. But, of course, it makes complete sense. A guest at a hotel or a passenger passing through a bus station forget their suitcase and fail to collect it. What are the staff to do with it? Allow strangers to bid on it, of course. They make a couple of bucks, maybe the highest bidder gets lucky, too. Unless, as in Joey’s case, they actually win something most sinister. When Joey opens the suitcase he won, he comes across an antique gramophone and a collection of unlabelled, seemingly homemade records. On them are voices chanting in an unfamiliar language, and the effects are mesmeric and disturbing. Charlie makes plans to discover the nature of the macabre records, but Joey, caught by the compulsive need to keep listening, soon falls under its spell. As Charlie endeavours to solve the mystery, the pull of the never-ending chanting grows, affecting more and more people, until our protagonist is not only fighting to save his best friend from the devilish phantom behind the records, but their neighbours and who-knows who else.
As unassuming as any everyman in fiction, Charlie is immediately likeable and relatable. He is no gung-ho action hero, no tough guy or noirish private eye. He is just trying to make an honest buck—even if it is through trading or betting on horses—and keep his girl happy, while maintaining his own identity. The word “buck” keeps popping up in this review; probably because Guignard has imbued his characters with the parlance of the time, something which only adds to the authentic voice of the story (and seemingly infected our minds while reading). It is quite infectious, and is reminiscent of the gangster movies of the 40s and 50s, creating a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. As we follow Charlie on his investigation, and while the enchanted recordings continue to infect more victims, the story gathers pace and the excitement rises as the shocking truth is steadily revealed. It is not a very long story, but it is well-paced and a great deal of fun.
Clearly, whether he is editing an anthology or creating his own stories, Guignard is a talented writer. The multiple award nominations in such a short timeframe are evidence of this fact. As is this story itself. He takes an interesting premise and gives it an extra twist with the addition of the baggage auction angle. With the story told in first-person from the point of view of the relatable Charlie, we experience the story first-hand, and see the strengths and flaws of his character and how it affects the story. Girlfriend Gail eventually plays a more prominent role than initially thought, proving she is more than capable of playing an active role in Charlie’s race against time. Add brilliant pacing to the intriguing premise and great characters and Guignard has given us an all-around fantastic and fun tale.
The concept of a baggage auction is both unusual and completely reasonable at the same time. Unless you work in an environment that deals with a great volume of lost luggage or abandoned items you may not be familiar with the idea. But, of course, it makes complete sense. A guest at a hotel or a passenger passing through a bus station forget their suitcase and fail to collect it. What are the staff to do with it? Allow strangers to bid on it, of course. They make a couple of bucks, maybe the highest bidder gets lucky, too. Unless, as in Joey’s case, they actually win something most sinister. When Joey opens the suitcase he won, he comes across an antique gramophone and a collection of unlabelled, seemingly homemade records. On them are voices chanting in an unfamiliar language, and the effects are mesmeric and disturbing. Charlie makes plans to discover the nature of the macabre records, but Joey, caught by the compulsive need to keep listening, soon falls under its spell. As Charlie endeavours to solve the mystery, the pull of the never-ending chanting grows, affecting more and more people, until our protagonist is not only fighting to save his best friend from the devilish phantom behind the records, but their neighbours and who-knows who else.
As unassuming as any everyman in fiction, Charlie is immediately likeable and relatable. He is no gung-ho action hero, no tough guy or noirish private eye. He is just trying to make an honest buck—even if it is through trading or betting on horses—and keep his girl happy, while maintaining his own identity. The word “buck” keeps popping up in this review; probably because Guignard has imbued his characters with the parlance of the time, something which only adds to the authentic voice of the story (and seemingly infected our minds while reading). It is quite infectious, and is reminiscent of the gangster movies of the 40s and 50s, creating a vivid picture in the reader’s mind. As we follow Charlie on his investigation, and while the enchanted recordings continue to infect more victims, the story gathers pace and the excitement rises as the shocking truth is steadily revealed. It is not a very long story, but it is well-paced and a great deal of fun.
Clearly, whether he is editing an anthology or creating his own stories, Guignard is a talented writer. The multiple award nominations in such a short timeframe are evidence of this fact. As is this story itself. He takes an interesting premise and gives it an extra twist with the addition of the baggage auction angle. With the story told in first-person from the point of view of the relatable Charlie, we experience the story first-hand, and see the strengths and flaws of his character and how it affects the story. Girlfriend Gail eventually plays a more prominent role than initially thought, proving she is more than capable of playing an active role in Charlie’s race against time. Add brilliant pacing to the intriguing premise and great characters and Guignard has given us an all-around fantastic and fun tale.
kazik's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0