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Low Life by Ryan David Jahn
Oct. 12th, 2010 11:39 pmThe Blurb On The Back:
Simon Johnson is attacked in his LA apartment.
When he turns on the lights after the fight he realises two things: one, he has killed his attacker; two, the man has the same face as himself.
Over the coming days, Simon’s life will spiral out of control. He embarks on a gripping existential investigation, into his own murky past, and that of his would be killer, Jeremy Shackleford, who is now lying in Simon’s bathtub under forty gallons of ice.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
As a character study, this is a well written piece charting the main character’s loss of control and spiralling paranoia as his life is turned upside down. The problem though is that the plot hinges on a twist that is too predictable, which spoils the second half of the book (notwithstanding the excellent writing, which includes some toe curlingly gruesome scenes). I will read Jahn’s next book, but this book is unlikely to be the breakout he deserves.
Thanks to the Amazone Vine Programme for the ARC.
Simon Johnson is attacked in his LA apartment.
When he turns on the lights after the fight he realises two things: one, he has killed his attacker; two, the man has the same face as himself.
Over the coming days, Simon’s life will spiral out of control. He embarks on a gripping existential investigation, into his own murky past, and that of his would be killer, Jeremy Shackleford, who is now lying in Simon’s bathtub under forty gallons of ice.
( The Review (Cut For Spoilers): )
The Verdict:
As a character study, this is a well written piece charting the main character’s loss of control and spiralling paranoia as his life is turned upside down. The problem though is that the plot hinges on a twist that is too predictable, which spoils the second half of the book (notwithstanding the excellent writing, which includes some toe curlingly gruesome scenes). I will read Jahn’s next book, but this book is unlikely to be the breakout he deserves.
Thanks to the Amazone Vine Programme for the ARC.
