eggp's review against another edition
2.0
He's just so Irish
even the locals think so
living and the dead.
even the locals think so
living and the dead.
propamanda's review against another edition
2.0
Stereotypical drivel. And I grew up in the capital of stereotypical Irish drivel * Dublin, OH * so I KNOW.
The cartoonish famine-victim ghosts weren’t creepy and phrases like “they were deep in Celtic thoughts” were thrown about. No thanks.
I’m giving it two stars instead of one though because it was still better than Celtic punk.
The cartoonish famine-victim ghosts weren’t creepy and phrases like “they were deep in Celtic thoughts” were thrown about. No thanks.
I’m giving it two stars instead of one though because it was still better than Celtic punk.
williemeikle's review against another edition
5.0
Probably the best "ghost" novel of recent years, and all the better for it for having a rarely seen setting.
Ryan sets his tale on a remote corner of Ireland, and captures the feeling of desperation in the community perfectly.
It starts with a meeting with a phantom by the roadside, then steadily ratchets up the tension as the protagonist finds out the true cost of living in the community, and what must be done to placate those who don't sleep easily in their graves.
There are many genuinely suspenseful scenes, well developed characters, and sympathetic ghosts who are only doing what has to be done.
Creepy as hell, well constructed, beautifully written. It's a great pity that Ryan didn't write more in the genre.
Ryan sets his tale on a remote corner of Ireland, and captures the feeling of desperation in the community perfectly.
It starts with a meeting with a phantom by the roadside, then steadily ratchets up the tension as the protagonist finds out the true cost of living in the community, and what must be done to placate those who don't sleep easily in their graves.
There are many genuinely suspenseful scenes, well developed characters, and sympathetic ghosts who are only doing what has to be done.
Creepy as hell, well constructed, beautifully written. It's a great pity that Ryan didn't write more in the genre.
williemeikle's review
5.0
CAST A COLD EYE preys on my mind. I first read it from our local library when it came out and it gave me nightmares. Then I found a 1st Edition hardcover of it in a book shop in Inverness, where it was stacked by accident in a shelf of Scottish hardcover crime books. I bought it, read it again, and got more nightmares.
There's something going on in these pages that keys directly into my psyche. I think it's a Celt thing, and small towns where old men mutter secrets to each other in smoky bars while someone in the background sings the old songs. I know a bit about that kind of place. And so did Alan Ryan, a wonderful writer taken from us too soon.
He spoke in interviews of how he dodn't spend uch time on research, but went for feel and gut instinct in writing it, and in doing so, I think he too tapped into something primal about blood, and kin, and community.
It's a book with heart and soul, wearing both on its sleeve. Sure, it gets melodramatic in places, but in others there's a deft handling of creeping dread, and of how the supernatural might creep into a world view otherwise inimical to it.
I've found that not many of my supernatural fiction writing buddies have read this one -- it seems to have gone under the radar back in the day, and been largely ignored. Which is a great shame, as it's a great ghost story, a fine piece of writing, and a lovely examination of a way of life that's disappearing fast. Hopefully the Valacourt edition means more people are finding it.
I love it...even if it still gives me nightmares.
There's something going on in these pages that keys directly into my psyche. I think it's a Celt thing, and small towns where old men mutter secrets to each other in smoky bars while someone in the background sings the old songs. I know a bit about that kind of place. And so did Alan Ryan, a wonderful writer taken from us too soon.
He spoke in interviews of how he dodn't spend uch time on research, but went for feel and gut instinct in writing it, and in doing so, I think he too tapped into something primal about blood, and kin, and community.
It's a book with heart and soul, wearing both on its sleeve. Sure, it gets melodramatic in places, but in others there's a deft handling of creeping dread, and of how the supernatural might creep into a world view otherwise inimical to it.
I've found that not many of my supernatural fiction writing buddies have read this one -- it seems to have gone under the radar back in the day, and been largely ignored. Which is a great shame, as it's a great ghost story, a fine piece of writing, and a lovely examination of a way of life that's disappearing fast. Hopefully the Valacourt edition means more people are finding it.
I love it...even if it still gives me nightmares.
stduke's review against another edition
2.0
If you like books with strong female characters, then I regret to inform you that you may want to dodge this one; literally every woman character with speaking lines is reduced to a simple caretaker or sex object. Sometimes both
I knew going in that this was a slow burn 'horror', but literally nothing happened. Nothing at all. the main character was told he was in danger multiple times, but then nothing ever came of it. Like, nothing. He was scared but did he really have need to be? Don't think so.
Speaking of the main character, I had issue with his super intense, sexually-driven fascination with a girl more than a decade younger than him bc she was pretty and read books or something.
Author was very adept at description tho, I'll give him that. Just wish he'd done a little less describing of the girls breasts. My god, did he like to talk about those HEFTY, WEIGHTY, FULL AND RIPE things.
(Also, part of the plot was that what was happening to Jack in the town of Doolin was that any talk of what was going on had to be held in secret, but WHY it needed to be secret was never explained, and then you find out later that everyone in the town already knew about what was going on, so. What was the deal with that.)
I knew going in that this was a slow burn 'horror', but literally nothing happened. Nothing at all. the main character was told he was in danger multiple times, but then nothing ever came of it. Like, nothing. He was scared but did he really have need to be? Don't think so.
Speaking of the main character, I had issue with his super intense, sexually-driven fascination with a girl more than a decade younger than him bc she was pretty and read books or something.
Author was very adept at description tho, I'll give him that. Just wish he'd done a little less describing of the girls breasts. My god, did he like to talk about those HEFTY, WEIGHTY, FULL AND RIPE things.
(Also, part of the plot was that what was happening to Jack in the town of Doolin was that any talk of what was going on had to be held in secret, but WHY it needed to be secret was never explained, and then you find out later that everyone in the town already knew about what was going on, so. What was the deal with that.)
hectaizani's review against another edition
4.0
Creepy tale set in a small Irish town. Writer Jack Quinlan travels to Ireland to research a book on the Famine but gets more than he bargained for. The story starts off slowly, while the suspense slowly builds. I was pleased that what I thought was going to happen ultimately didn’t.
gingerbookaddict's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
stayshomeandreads's review against another edition
3.25
Would have been great with better pacing and female characters.
readbyashleyd's review against another edition
3.0
If I’m being totally honest I was let down by this one a little. It started off strong but I thought it floundered a bit after that. I wanted to have my socks blown off but all I felt was a strong breeze. It was a passable ghost story but it didn’t really scare me or make me FEEL. I did very much enjoy the setting, I thought it added some extra spookiness to the story where it otherwise lacked. I did also really enjoy our main character and his accomplice as well. This book really was just average, not bad but not great either and still worth a read in my opinion!