Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Book Review - Firefly Rain by Richard Dansky


From Amazon.com:

When Jacob left home for a new life, he pretty much forgot all about Maryfield, North Carolina. But Maryfield never forgot him. Or forgave him.

After a failed business venture in Boston, Jacob Logan comes back to the small Southern town of his childhood and takes up residence in the isolated house he grew up in. Here, the air is still. The nights are black. And his parents are buried close by. It should feel like home—but something is terribly wrong.

Jacob loses all his belongings in a highway accident. His car is stolen from his driveway, yet he never hears a sound. The townspeople seem guarded and suspicious. And Carl, the property caretaker with so many secrets, is unnervingly accommodating. Then there are the fireflies that light the night skies . . . and die as they come near Jacob’s home. If it weren’t for the creaking sounds after dark, or the feeling that he is being watched, Jacob would feel so alone. He shouldn’t worry. He’s not.

And whatever’s with him isn’t going to let him leave home ever again.


My Thoughts:

This book moved very fast! I enjoyed following Jacob as he tries to figure out why strange things are happening in and around his childhood home. The fact that no fireflies would come onto his property was creepy and then to find out that when they were forced by Jacob to come into his yard, they immediately died. What did it mean? Was there a connection to his dead parents, whose graves are in a field behind the house? And what about Carl....a cranky old codger that never wants to be bothered, yet he is always showing up at Jacob's door?

I liked Mr. Danksy's writing style. I am also a sucker for Southern Fiction, especially North Carolina, since this is where I live. This is the first novel of his that I have read, and it won't be the last. My attention was held throughout the book, and the ending was something not to be believed. I highly recommend it!

If you enjoy scary books, then this is a must- read for you. Southern Gothic Horror at it's best!

To learn more about Richard Dansky, please click here.


Photobucket Very Good!
  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Gallery; Reprint edition (April 6, 2010)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1439148635
  • ISBN-13: 978-1439148631




7 comments:

Darlyn said...

i dont think i will read a horror story but nice review =)

Wall-to-wall books said...

OOOHHH this sounds gooood!
I have never heard of this Author. I will look him up, thanks for the review!

Stephanie said...

Are you sure the protagonist wasn't putting too much insecticide on his lawn? ;-) Seriously, this sounds like an intriguing premise, and I like the fact that it was a fast paced read.

http://laughingstars.net/

serendipity_viv said...

Oh how I want this book. I do love being scared witless. I shall add it to my list.

Julie P said...

I read another review on this that wasn't that good. Still adding to my TBR though--thanks for sharing!

Priya Parmar said...

sounds wonderful. i like the premise--that something spooky is signified by something that does not happen rather than something that does. sounds good! i also love southern fiction and am thinking i am going to reread conroy's beach music soon as i am starting to forget it!

Unknown said...

Just wanted to say thank you for the very kind review. I'm glad you enjoyed the book!

Actually, I'm doing a signing in Pittsboro at McIntyre's Fine Books this weekend, so if you're in the area and so inclined, feel free to stop on by.

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