Synopsis/blurb….
It was such a minor
thing really, the Louisville Problem. One dead man, two beautiful women, a bag
full of cash, and one pissed off crime boss. It wouldn't be that much trouble
to fix. No more trouble than a murder or two.
The Louisville Problem
is the third flash novel from Bartleby Snopes Press.
"The Louisville
Problem aptly earns the title Flash Novel. In barely 60 pages, CS DeWildt tells
a violent and sex-charged tale of crime and dark passion that is a complete
story of a very bad man's solution to a complex dilemma."
-- Mike Monson,
author of Criminal Love and Other Stories and the upcoming crime novella from
Out of the Gutter, The Scent of New Death
"The Louisville
Problem creeps along through the narrative, forming a large and hideous shadow.
While Jasper Skaggs never comes off as a good guy, he is the guy we all root
for. And when he dons that hideous shadow and solves his problems, it makes you
wonder if maybe we shouldn't have cheered so loud. DeWildt does it again.
Savage, lyrical, unrelenting."
-- Ryan Sayles,
author of Subtle Art Of Brutality
Another new author to me and a short novella which added
another notch to the reading numbers for last month.
We have our protagonist, Jasper Skaggs who rocks up in a small
town and within a short space of time is working for Grover Shutes at his
hardware store. Grover has more to offer Jasper than some human kindness and a
job. He has an accommodating wife, Elizabeth and a 15 year old teenage daughter,
Alice who is just as generous as her mom with her favours. Who says men can’t
multi-task?
Skaggs having left Louisville in rather a hurry has no
desire to return, but does has a monkey on his back in the shape of Gray, who
he ripped off. With a bit of careful planning, Skaggs implements a scheme to
get his life back in order. It requires a bit of DIY and his tool of choice is
a gun.
 |
| Hat on! |
I love reading about characters that are capable, adaptable,
amoral and devious. I think it takes real skill for an author to write about
those characters and not have the reader loathe them.
4 from 5
C. S. DeWildt has
his website here |
| Hat off! |
.
He has a couple of other offerings available. Dead Animals – a short story collection
that sits on my kindle.
Candy and Cigarettes
a novella that also waits for me and his most recent work - Love You to a Pulp, a novel about a
glue-huffing detective on the trail of a missing girl and a southern friend
pill scheme. Another one to go on the list!
I bought copy of this on Amazon recently.
I bought copy of this on Amazon recently.
The story I'm so-so on, but I once visited Louisville and really liked it there, so you have caught my attention!
ReplyDeleteHmm.....halfway there then. I'm not sure where the settings are for his other work. Locale perhaps doesn't play a major part in this one, insofar as he's running from his problem in Louisville..maybe I'll get you next time!
DeleteYou make a good point, Col, that it's hard for an author to write about amoral characters like that and not make us hate them. I'm glad this worked for you. Not sure it's up my street, but like Moira, I think the Louisville setting is appealing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margot - definitely a tale that's probably more me than you (or Moira),
DeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, short and sharp!
DeleteHi Col. My server, optonline.net, is trying to work out why I'm not getting your updates (and those from numerous others sites). They've asked me to post a comment here and then reply to it myself. Please forgive this intrusion!
ReplyDeleteAnd I reply.
DeleteJohn, no problem. I hope you get it sorted out.
DeleteNot sure about this one, Col. I think I'll let it pass for now.
ReplyDeletePrashant no problem - not everyone's cup of tea (or coffee!)
DeleteThis one is too gritty for me, the length is nice though.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely more me than you - agreed!
Delete