This was very interesting. An air of the slightly strange or weird pervades this novel from start to finish. It's about a man who's girlfriend, Holly, has left him, and so he takes to going on long walks at night whence he encounters various weird and wonderful characters and ends up getting himself into all kinds of trouble after his current squeeze, Eileen, gets herself kidnapped by her former boyfriend.

Some very well written characters here too. Casey was a particular favourite. She's a strange one, with an unusual night life and a personality that draws you in and just makes you want to pull her close and keep her safe. I've tried Laymon's novels before and found them a little superficial, the kind of novel you'd read between finishing one serious, engrossing novel and beginning another. Kind of like a little snack in between the main courses.

Anyhow, I enjoyed it very much. It was just strange enough to really keep you interested but not too way out there to annoy. The characters were well defined and interesting and the story was engrossing enough. It does tend to tip along at a relatively slow pace though, although this does feel very much like it was designed in rather than just the way it turned out, and I do think this pacing worked quite well for the type of story that was being told.

Was it horror? Yes, but more on the strange, subtle end of the spectrum. And I liked it.
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Chicks all over him
throwing their bods and their bikes
trolls are less picky. ( )

great book not the best as it tends to be the usual Laymon circling thoughts again with repetitive thoughts. But i enjoyed this one. will recommend it ( )

Laymon can do no wrong. I've loved every book of his that I've read, and this one is no exception. The story follows Ed Logan as he tries to get over his break up with his girlfriend. Ed takes a late night stroll through town to clear his mind and runs into things both pleasurable and very weird. It's these pleasurable things that make him come back the next night and wander some more but of course he again runs into the weird, even weirder than the previous night. We continue with Ed on his nightly journeys which escalate more and more until the grand finale which fits in with the theme of the rest of the book.

While it might not seem like much of a description and like it would not be a very good story, it really is. The characters are a joy to experience as they run around town doing things that seem both fun and dangerous. I just could not help but devour the book until all hours of the night, thinking the whole time "God, there are some major fucking weirdos in this town." Once again, I can not recommend this Laymon book enough. Definitely pick it up and enjoy. ( )

The second best book Laymon ever wrote. Nothing what you expect. Utterly terrifying.

***** 5 Stars

E. ( )