Dark Fuse Publishers knows how to present a book. What a great cover for this first novel from Michael Boatman, yeah, that Michael Boatman. The same man who played Carter Heywood for the entire run of the Spin City TV series. No, he hasn't given up acting, he's still busy as an actor, but he's been writing Dark Fiction for a number of years and is now a published novelist.
Revenant Road is a strong debut, the story of a reluctant monster hunter and his introduction into life on the road. In the protagonist's own words, "My name is Obadiah Grudge...This is a chronicle no one will ever believe...I'm rich, black, thirty-eight years old...Let me tell you about a demon I once met."
At the outset the story bounces around a bit, but once the various pieces of the overall tale have been established, Boatman does a good job of weaving the pieces together into a cohesive work filled with likable characters who play their parts well. Obadiah's mother, Lenore, for one, "she can decapitate a man at twenty paces with one slash of her tongue" and Neville Kowalski, for another.
Obadiah learns of Neville and his father's partnership after his father's funeral. What he learns changes the direction of his life and as much as he protests draws him into the family business.
There are plenty of creatures, blood and some snarky dialog, "'Shouldn't we call the police?' I whispered. 'And tell 'em what?' Kowalski said. 'That an ancient Chinese forest spirit that walks like a man and devours human beings only to vanish mysteriously, leaving behind a skunklike stench and a haunting scream is stalking an abandoned Lutheran church in Northwest Seattle?'"
Although bumpy at times, Revenant Road is worth the trip, particularly if you love a good monster story.
For more on titles from Dark Fuse you can visit them online at DarkFuse.com. Revenant Road is available now, in various formats, from Amazon.com. BTW, if you are a member of Amazon Prime, this is one you can borrow for FREE through the Kindle Lending Library.
Another read I can definitely recommend.
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