thomaswjoyce's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderfully unique and gripping werewolf story with a twist. Awesome!
I have been most impressed with the books that I've read from The Sinister Horror Company, and this winning streak continues with Park's latest book. From the synopsis and the (excellent) cover, it is clear that the story involves a werewolf. But this is not your usual tortured soul, trapped in a vicious cycle fare. The title character is a violent criminal, a monstrous madman who, after a particularly nasty attack, is captured by the police and imprisoned in the overcrowded and falling-to-pieces Darkdale prison. The "main" character, if there is one, is Jimmy Eades, a prisoner with a personal connection to Mad Dog's latest victim. But this is no story of revenge. Some other prisoners don't take kindly to Mad Dog's arrival and events take a turn for the worst.
Park doesn't use a standard style to tell the story. Rather, he opts for using excerpts from interviews given after the inciting incident hinted at throughout. This unique style is a stroke of genius on his part, as it works really well with giving the reader just enough information to keep them intrigued without giving too much away at once. As the tension builds towards the incident, involving prisoners, guards, police and the Mad Dog, it is difficult to put the book down. Indeed, I read it in one sitting.
Without giving anything away, there is a twist that I didn't see coming. And it has clearly been meticulously planned by Park. I found myself scanning back through the previous chapters trying to find clues and there were none. It was executed perfectly.
Overall, it is a well-crafted story told in a unique way, with compelling characters and a brilliant twist. And there are a couple of violent scenes that had me squirming in my seat!
I have been most impressed with the books that I've read from The Sinister Horror Company, and this winning streak continues with Park's latest book. From the synopsis and the (excellent) cover, it is clear that the story involves a werewolf. But this is not your usual tortured soul, trapped in a vicious cycle fare. The title character is a violent criminal, a monstrous madman who, after a particularly nasty attack, is captured by the police and imprisoned in the overcrowded and falling-to-pieces Darkdale prison. The "main" character, if there is one, is Jimmy Eades, a prisoner with a personal connection to Mad Dog's latest victim. But this is no story of revenge. Some other prisoners don't take kindly to Mad Dog's arrival and events take a turn for the worst.
Park doesn't use a standard style to tell the story. Rather, he opts for using excerpts from interviews given after the inciting incident hinted at throughout. This unique style is a stroke of genius on his part, as it works really well with giving the reader just enough information to keep them intrigued without giving too much away at once. As the tension builds towards the incident, involving prisoners, guards, police and the Mad Dog, it is difficult to put the book down. Indeed, I read it in one sitting.
Without giving anything away, there is a twist that I didn't see coming. And it has clearly been meticulously planned by Park. I found myself scanning back through the previous chapters trying to find clues and there were none. It was executed perfectly.
Overall, it is a well-crafted story told in a unique way, with compelling characters and a brilliant twist. And there are a couple of violent scenes that had me squirming in my seat!
kitpower's review against another edition
5.0
Superb novella - a really smart presentation (both visually and conceptually), brilliant pacing, and some very effective twists. Highly recommended.
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