K. Edwin Fritz, author

Another gem

Revisado: 09-28-21

Another gem from Smitherd. I can’t get enough of this guy’s books. As always, his creativity (in this case it’s the monsters themselves) is top notch. As always, the characters are relatable and likable (except when we’re supposed to hate them). As always, I had to pause the audiobook several times to think things through for myself… “How would I react if I saw a monster?” / “How would that scene with the YouTube video play out in real life?” / “What is the bigger societal message here?” I just love it when a story can entertain me and get me thinking too.
Well done, sir. Looking forward to the next one.

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I Wish I Could Spoil The Ending

Revisado: 10-03-16

Would you listen to How to Be a Vigilante: A Diary again? Why?

Totally.
If I ever want to feel better about myself as a would-be vigilante (aren't we all?), Nigel will remind me how difficult it is... and why I probably shouldn't do that.

What was one of the most memorable moments of How to Be a Vigilante: A Diary?

The ending... no spoilers... but, the ending. Damn. So powerful.

Which scene was your favorite?

Aside from the ending, pretty much any time Nigel was interacting with other, normal, people. Smitherd does such a great job of showing us their awkward feelings & Nigel's complete ignorance. Truly hysterical stuff.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Extreme... no. But that's only b/c I've come to know what to expect from Mr. Smitherd. He is creative & wholly entertaining. On this one, he delivered once again.

Any additional comments?

This guy, Nigel, is such a... well... a loser!... we can't help but love him dearly. He is so obviously not the vigilante he believes himself to be.
And yet...
And yet, Nigel IS working out. And he IS studying hard. And he IS putting great amounts of energy into every conceivable aspect of actually becoming a real-life vigilante.... from his Name to his Costume to his Vehicle to his Weaponry... even his Origin Story is part of the makeup of this diary. I couldn't help but thinking, even from the early chapters, that maybe... just MAYBE Nigel would pull it off. Maybe he really *would* become a vigilante.
As with all of Smitherd's stories, he entertains with genuine creativity & genuine characters. I *like* Nigel, despite how lame he is. I *see* the frustration of his work acquaintances as they try to understand his peculiarities. I *feel* the buildup of passion and fear and hope and despair as we get closer & closer to that ending.
And GOD that ending. No, I won't spoil it. I'm not that kind of reader. But what I *can* tell you is that it's powerful. Emotional. Memorable.
You will not regret experiencing this story. It's fantastic.

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My Favorite Smitherd Story Yet

Revisado: 01-18-16

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Hell yes.
B/c it's a damned great entertaining story, through and through.
Complex, very hard to predict, and an ending that was neither what I suspected or wanted, but wholeheartedly satisfying nonetheless. It has all the hallmarks of the perfect story.

What other book might you compare In The Darkness, That's Where I'll Know You: The Complete Black Room Story to and why?

Well, not book, but movie... Inception. Not the same kind of layering, but there were layers upon layers nevertheless.

Which scene was your favorite?

Spoiler!








When Chuck up and punched Minnie in the face. Did NOT see it coming. Literally had to listen to it 2 more times to make sure I heard it right. Up until then, it was a fascinating but feel-good story. Then in a matter of seconds it turned really, really dark.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Pretty much, but at 12.5 hours, that's next to impossible.
But, yes, I hated it every time I reached my destination & had to stop listening & go back to the real world.

Any additional comments?

Smitherd does a great job of narrating his own book. The raw passion & emotion of Charles & Minnie's plights really shine thanks to his reading & understanding of their lives.

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Best Smitherd Works To Date

Revisado: 01-06-16

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I absolutely *loved* this collection. Smitherd's best work to date. My favorite was "My Name is Mister Grief." It was complex in its construction with several layers of story & characterizations all happening at once, and Smitherd does a great job at keeping us guessing and entertained. This is one of those where I genuinely cared about the characters & was happy/sad right along with them. And that ending! Wow. Just great. "Hold On Until Your Fingers Break" was a proper mind-warp. It was a little slow to get going, but once it did it was truly a fantastic & fun concept to think about. Also, another great ending. "The Man On Table Ten" took me somewhere I didn't see coming, and once again I was fully entertained by both story and characters. Finally, the short piece, "The Crash" was a quick, fun read which felt like a true bonus to this great collection.
To my mind, Smitherd is coming into his own as a writer & I can't wait to see where he'll go next.

What was one of the most memorable moments of WEIRD. DARK.?

The ending of "My Name is Mister Grief".

What does Luke Smitherd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Any time an author reads his/her own work you know you're getting all the right emotions, cadences, & emphasis. It's great hearing a story the way it was meant to be read, and Smitherd does a great job. You'd never know he wasn't a professional narrator (though maybe he is).

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Strange Science. Strange Worlds.
Weird & Dark.
Be Prepared For Anything.

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Excellent

Revisado: 06-23-15

Even better than Mr. Mercedes. Love the ending & looking forward to the final installment. Methinks Mr. King is about to release yonder monster once more.

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Hope For the World of Self-Publishing

Revisado: 06-09-15

If you could sum up The Stone Man in three words, what would they be?

unique, relentless, humanity

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Stone Man?

SPOILER!










When Andy realized the 3rd arrival of stone men was coming for him & Paul. This tragic moment humanizes Andy in a way that hadn't been there before, and it punctuates the entire situation. It's always easier to see it happening to someone else. But when horror hits close to home... that's when you *really* understand it.

What does Matt Addis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

As an American, I'd have had a hard time picturing the characters as anything other than American-like people with (cheesy) British accents. Addis' real accent made the characters come to life & really established the setting for me.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I probably would have if I'd have had that kind of time. Sadly, my daily commute is only 20 minutes, so it took me several weeks.

Any additional comments?

I was surprised & excited to know this was a self-published book. It bodes well for the rest of us (I'm an indie author too) when writers like Smitherd show us all that there is plenty of "undiscovered" talent out there. He has clearly worked hard at shaping his craft & has produced a truly professional-grade story.

While I did one or two scenes to move at a slower pace than I'd prefer, this was not nearly enough to influence my overall opinion of the story. Andy & Paul are believable & realistic reluctant heroes (though Andy is clearly less reluctant with his initial desire to use the situation for his own financial gain). But the best part of the story is that Smitherd kept me guessing, gave me just enough to satisfy my readerly needs, and ended his tale with a strong twist that entertained me while leaving me thinking.

All in all, an excellent book. I'm immediately adding all of Smitherd's other books to my TO READ list.

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Should Not Have Read This in Winter!

Revisado: 01-21-15

Would you listen to Gray Shadows again? Why?

Yes. All those descriptions of the northern Russian climate chilled me to the bone! Fortunately, I had a great story to keep me warm.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Nikolai is a believable character in his role as bodyguard in each of: his actions, his dialogue, and his thought processes. I learned a lot about the mindset of such a person/ career & I believe I'll see these types of character with more clarity from now on. The storyline, meanwhile, is quick and poignant with just the right touch of twisting of our expectations when the ending comes (not too contrived as I’ve seen done before), and not so predictable as will make an ending boring. A very healthy balance, and an overall enjoyable read. Very much worth my few bucks. Will definitely continue this series.

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