Tom Piccirilli (1965–2015)

First in series, but unfortunately there are only two books in this series due to the untimely demise of the author. This is a hard-hitting noir novel, with unrelenting violence mixed with enough human kindness to make it palatable. I love Terrier Rand, and his family, even though the family was known to be accomplished cat burglars. As an interesting anecdote, all the boys in the family for four generations were named after dog breeds. We meet Shep(herd), the grandfather who is suffering show more from Alzheimers, and his three sons, Malamute, Grey(hound), (Doberman) Pinscher as well as Pinscher's two sons, Collie and Terrier. That was enough to hook me, and then I met the family, Such a conglomeration of scoundrels like you've never seen before Terri has been gone for five years pursuing his dream of escape from the family legacy while working as a cowboy on a western ranch. Collie, his older brother, has asked him to come back. Collie admits to killing seven people in one night on a nonsensical killing spree, but he says to Terri that he did not kill the young teenager. Fighting demons of his own, Terrier tries to get to the root of the problem and finds himself caught in a crime web that he can't fight through. It all hits close to home, and the family legacy is at the root, so Terri must try to unravel the strands with much danger to himself. I couldn't put it down, and the unique storyline held me enthralled throughout. Loved the book and it was like nothing I'd ever read before I want to read the second and last book about Terri Rand ASAP. Perfect crime fiction at it's noir best-you don't know who to root for and who to hate and as you read it doesn't matter. show less

One of the things that I love about Piccirilli's books is the mood that he creates. The atmosphere and pacing comes across so quickly; you are practically breathing it in. All thanks to Piccirilli's poetic words. It's pulp noir poetry.

In this book, he channels that poetry through an ex-con who heads home to the Appalachian mountains. Shad Jenkins is finishing his two-year sentence in prison when he's visited by the ghost of his sister. After the confirming phone call from his father, Shad show more heads home with the very-clear intention of finding the killer and bringing him to justice. During his stumbling investigation, Shad discovers a new Moon Run Hollow. Not really a new town but one filtered through different eyes and a new perspective.

In my mind, that was the other half of NOVEMBER MOURNS. There is the primary story of Shad coming back to find a killer and avenge his sister. And then there is the "coming home as an adult" portion. After being gone for two years, Shad is seeing Moon Run Hollow differently. His visit stirs up the past, awakening old feelings, discovering things that weren't important previously. All while also realizing that his old life isn't right for him anymore. Unsure of what his new life would be, Shad must still get through the parts of his old life that are haunting him. He must get past the ghost of his sister. For us readers, it's that exploration of the story, the geography of the town and the past, that makes the book so enjoyable. The book was off-center at times but in a good way. Kind of Twilight Zone including a twist ending. I could attempt to summarize it as a loving, violent, tender, painful, haunting book; it wouldn't do the book justice though. Just go read it already and see what I am inadequately explaining. show less

Gritty, deep, dark noir. The main character is reeling from the loss of his marriage, home, parents, and career as he drives cross country with his faithful bulldog, Churchill. Once he gets to his brother's home, he finds no solace there either. The themes of loss, failure, bad decisions, mediocity are manifest, and the frustration and rage, which follow. Excellent writing, but ending too abrupt. No idea which of his books to read next.

I have to say right off the top, I have no real idea what genre this novella fits into - fantasy, horror, whatever - but I can say for sure it's one weird and wild ride and just about impossible to put down.

Tommy Pic is a screenwriter who, despite having written some good films, is remembered only for a low budget monster movie which has attained cult status and has spawned two sequels and a porn flick. Then Tommy's career hit the skids, he's plunged into alcoholism, has experienced several show more psychotic breaks, and has been forced to move into his long-suffering mom's basement with his nightmares and a Komodo Dragon named Gideon who lives in Tommy's belly and leaves him post-it notes all around the apartment.

Tommy also has a sleazy agent who gets tied up a lot by women he's pisses off; his girlfriend is a witch; and his best friend is an angry clown named Bango who has a tendency to take his oversized shoe off and hit people over the head with it. Also, Tommy is writing a brilliant new script which could kickstart his career except...he can't remember writing it and has no idea what it's about. And, if all that isn't bad enough, Tommy is haunted by the memory of Kathy Lark, his first love, who disappeared when he was ten.

So I know this all sounds crazy and it is but it is so, so entertaining. So who would I recommend this book to? Well, I think author Tom Piccirilli says that best in his dedication:

'For everyone with an irrepressible rage or shame, a sickly hue to your face or another's, a half-forgotten heart-ache, a mistake that an never be mended, a wound that can't be found, a parent you can no longer cry to, an unending lament, a dark angel with outstretched hand,

What Makes You Die is for you-' show less