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Voice
Local rock band Ragman is finally taking off. Stephanie Case's flamboyant performances and scorching guitar work have started attracting crowds, and singer John Tsiboukas--aka Johnny Tango--is delivering the best performances of his life. After months of playing to dead rooms, it looks like success is at hand. The thing is, there's something wrong with Johnny's voice. Until just a few weeks ago, he couldn't hit the right pitch if you painted a target on it and let him stand real close. Now he sounds amazing. . . and strange things happen every time he sings. Lights burn out. Whole rooms become cold and hushed. People get violent. For Johnny and Case, Ragman is a ticket out of a life of meaningless, dead-end jobs and one lousy gig after another, but as the weirdness surrounding Johnny begins to turn into outright nightmare, they find that the price of stardom might be higher than either of them could ever have imagined.
354 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
1 person is currently reading
250 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Garraty
5 books19 followersJoseph Garraty is an author of dark fantasy, horror, and science fiction. He has worked as a construction worker, rocket test engineer, environmental consultant, technical writer, and deadbeat musician. He lives in Dallas, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 12, 2012
John desperately wants to be a rock star but no matter how many lessons he takes his voice will always be the thing holding his band “Ragman” back from fame and fortune. He knows this and it eats at him but he’s determined to make it big. Making promises he can’t afford to keep, he convinces a beautiful, kick-ass guitarist named Stephanie Case to join his band. Soon after a strange man approaches him, a man who smells bad and seems to know far too much about John and who tempts him into making a deal that gives him the voice of his dreams but at a hellish cost.
You pretty much know where “Voice” is going from the eerie opening chapter but watching it all unfold with a relentless sense of dread in the pit of your stomach is what makes it such a page-turner. But it’s also the well-crafted band dramatics and tricky relationships that also kept me turning the pages. The situations felt genuine and I appreciated the fact that the people here aren’t caricatures when they easily could’ve been. Case, the female guitarist is a tough bitch but as the story develops she struggles to rein in some of the darkest edges of her personality and even makes a friend despite herself and develops into a real, albeit, flawed person. No one is vilified here. Even Gina, Danny’s workaholic unsupportive wife, is given the chance to show an understanding side in a heartbreaking scene with Danny.
The point of view switches, especially in the earlier parts of the story were a bit disconcerting but things smoothed out. The descriptions are vivid and get right to the point:
and my favorite squirm-worthy description:
There’s a lot of weirdness in “Voice” as Ragman develops a following of the world’s creepiest super fans. But it was never overly brutal or gratuitous even as the death toll and horror escalated. Creepy stuff, I enjoyed it immensely.
You pretty much know where “Voice” is going from the eerie opening chapter but watching it all unfold with a relentless sense of dread in the pit of your stomach is what makes it such a page-turner. But it’s also the well-crafted band dramatics and tricky relationships that also kept me turning the pages. The situations felt genuine and I appreciated the fact that the people here aren’t caricatures when they easily could’ve been. Case, the female guitarist is a tough bitch but as the story develops she struggles to rein in some of the darkest edges of her personality and even makes a friend despite herself and develops into a real, albeit, flawed person. No one is vilified here. Even Gina, Danny’s workaholic unsupportive wife, is given the chance to show an understanding side in a heartbreaking scene with Danny.
The point of view switches, especially in the earlier parts of the story were a bit disconcerting but things smoothed out. The descriptions are vivid and get right to the point:
“He had a voice to match, too—thin, tiny, and scratchy, warbling like an anorexic basset hound.”
“The band laid into something that sounded like a version of the Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” that had been knocked down, stomped on, and finally kicked in the head for good measure.”
and my favorite squirm-worthy description:
"John could see the flesh of his neck, maggot-white and pulsing."
There’s a lot of weirdness in “Voice” as Ragman develops a following of the world’s creepiest super fans. But it was never overly brutal or gratuitous even as the death toll and horror escalated. Creepy stuff, I enjoyed it immensely.
January 13, 2013
Please note/Disclosure: I originally read and reviewed this book in July 2011 from a copy of the book sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Book info: Genre: Horror
Reading level: Adult
Recommended for: people who enjoy being creeped out
Trigger Warning: It's horror. It's creepy, scary, violent.
My Thoughts: Joseph Garraty has written a horror novel that ranks right up there with the masters - “Voice” is amazingly creepy, full of the sorts of things that will make you keep the lights on for nights to come. His characters are realistic, and you feel like they are people you know. By the end of the book, you’ll be so creeped out, you’ll likely not even want to listen to rock music for a few days.
My Synopsis: John Tsiboukas – aka Johnny Tango – has been obsessed with music since he was a kid. He’s in a band named Ragman with his brother, Danny – who plays drums – and a friend named Quentin on bass. Case, a guitarist, is brought into the group after Johnny hears her playing at a new-band-night gig. Ragman has a great sound, but John himself has no voice – he has no sense of pitch and his voice is too weak to carry the hard rock sound to match the rest of the group. So, one night, he goes with a strange man to a crossroads and makes a deal – fame, fortune and glory. After that, his voice fills in to the potential and Ragman starts gaining a following. But weird things start to happen – there are murders around their venues. Johnny starts substituting odd chants for the lyrics. And an obsessive group of followers begins to trail along with the band – their faces hungry, their eyes … there is something wrong with their eyes. And then the final show in Dallas, where the potential for wrongness comes to fruition …
My Recommendation: If you love horror and love rock and roll, you’ll LOVE this book. You won’t want to miss it – get it TODAY!
Book info: Genre: Horror
Reading level: Adult
Recommended for: people who enjoy being creeped out
Trigger Warning: It's horror. It's creepy, scary, violent.
My Thoughts: Joseph Garraty has written a horror novel that ranks right up there with the masters - “Voice” is amazingly creepy, full of the sorts of things that will make you keep the lights on for nights to come. His characters are realistic, and you feel like they are people you know. By the end of the book, you’ll be so creeped out, you’ll likely not even want to listen to rock music for a few days.
My Synopsis: John Tsiboukas – aka Johnny Tango – has been obsessed with music since he was a kid. He’s in a band named Ragman with his brother, Danny – who plays drums – and a friend named Quentin on bass. Case, a guitarist, is brought into the group after Johnny hears her playing at a new-band-night gig. Ragman has a great sound, but John himself has no voice – he has no sense of pitch and his voice is too weak to carry the hard rock sound to match the rest of the group. So, one night, he goes with a strange man to a crossroads and makes a deal – fame, fortune and glory. After that, his voice fills in to the potential and Ragman starts gaining a following. But weird things start to happen – there are murders around their venues. Johnny starts substituting odd chants for the lyrics. And an obsessive group of followers begins to trail along with the band – their faces hungry, their eyes … there is something wrong with their eyes. And then the final show in Dallas, where the potential for wrongness comes to fruition …
My Recommendation: If you love horror and love rock and roll, you’ll LOVE this book. You won’t want to miss it – get it TODAY!
July 3, 2011
Rock and roll and horror should be a natural combination. Yet I can think of only a few authors who have the ability to blend the two worlds together; Skipp and Spector, David Schow and to a lesser extent, George R.R. Martin, S. P. Somtow, and Joe Hill. Less serious efforts has been made by schlockmaster musicians like Marilyn Manson and Alice Cooper whose shows are more of a kiddie spectacular with little real terror.
Enter new author Joseph Garraty. His debut novel Voice is a realistic blend of both rock and horror. Garraty is a musician and writer and his description of seedy venues and one night stands reveals an intimacy with the musician life. His novel is also a riveting horror tale that combines two overdone sub-genres; ordinary kid becomes rock star with disastrous results and that old war horse, the deal-with-the-devil tale. But the author finds something new in both and gives us a story that puts us on notice that he is biting at the heels of those authors I mentioned above.
But there are a few issues that often accompanies new writers. He slows at the middle and loses the pace. However it quickly picks up when main protagonist Johnny Tango and his band goes on the road. Also I was sometimes disengaged by the change in perspective of the band members and felt it may have been better to stick to the two main characters, Johnny and Case.
However, the strengths far exceed the weaknesses. Both Case and Johnny are strong character who the reader can care for even when they aren't on the best behavior. The rock performance scenes are exquisite and superbly catches the sense of excitement from the performers' perspective. Also, Garraty's ability to evoke dread and horror is quite good. Look for a "crossroads" scene that is loyal to the classic definition but also subtly hints that something else is going on.
The bottom line is that the author wrote a very above average debut novel that manages to blend the realistic travails of the rock music life with a scary and haunting horror story. If you are looking for new horror writers eager to creep you out, try Joseph Garraty. Personally, I am hoping eagerly for another creep-you-out rock and roller novel from this promising writer.
Enter new author Joseph Garraty. His debut novel Voice is a realistic blend of both rock and horror. Garraty is a musician and writer and his description of seedy venues and one night stands reveals an intimacy with the musician life. His novel is also a riveting horror tale that combines two overdone sub-genres; ordinary kid becomes rock star with disastrous results and that old war horse, the deal-with-the-devil tale. But the author finds something new in both and gives us a story that puts us on notice that he is biting at the heels of those authors I mentioned above.
But there are a few issues that often accompanies new writers. He slows at the middle and loses the pace. However it quickly picks up when main protagonist Johnny Tango and his band goes on the road. Also I was sometimes disengaged by the change in perspective of the band members and felt it may have been better to stick to the two main characters, Johnny and Case.
However, the strengths far exceed the weaknesses. Both Case and Johnny are strong character who the reader can care for even when they aren't on the best behavior. The rock performance scenes are exquisite and superbly catches the sense of excitement from the performers' perspective. Also, Garraty's ability to evoke dread and horror is quite good. Look for a "crossroads" scene that is loyal to the classic definition but also subtly hints that something else is going on.
The bottom line is that the author wrote a very above average debut novel that manages to blend the realistic travails of the rock music life with a scary and haunting horror story. If you are looking for new horror writers eager to creep you out, try Joseph Garraty. Personally, I am hoping eagerly for another creep-you-out rock and roller novel from this promising writer.
July 31, 2011
Kick a*s, motherf*ckin rock n roll! Okay, sorry. Just finished reading Voice and am feeling all psyched and rammy now. With a blend of horror, rock and roll, no-holds-barred attitude and black evil, all rolled into one not-so-pretty package (well, okay, the cover is pretty awesome), Voice is a story that will entrap you within it's pages from start to finish. Just to give you an idea, here is a taste from the Prologue:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The voice that comes out is nothing like a human voice, singing nothing like human words. It's vast and deep, oily and ravenous, and it pounds into your brain like a meat hammer. The pressure is crushing, mounting, thunderous, and you forget that this is a recording and you can turn it off at any time, you forget everything except that your brain is being pulped by a godawful, godless sound that shouldn't even exist, a sound like tectonic plates grinding corpses into fields of broken glass, and then, incredibly, the sound gets worse, and you open your mouth to scream, and -
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How's that for an opening?! Voice is the story of a band whose lead singer, John, will do anything to get his name in lights. For over a year, he has been pounding away at small gigs with little to nothing to show for it. It is when he sees lead guitarist Case at work, he knows he must bring her over to his side. Once he does, John feels a bit closer to reaching the high life, but not quite there yet. One night, after a less than stellar gig, John meets Douglas. Douglas knows John's deepest desires, more importantly, Douglas knows how to give John all of his dreams on a blood encrusted platter. No price is to high for John to pay. Once the deal is sealed, lives will change forever, screams will ring eternal and blood will flow. All of this, the day Johnny Tango was born...
Have I mentioned that I absolutely loved Voice?! If you haven't caught that vibe yet, I am screaming it out now. It is not often that I come across a book that combines elements of horror and hard-hitting rock and roll. This story takes the reader on a journey from the band, Ragman's, very beginning until it's very end. It was incredibly intriguing to get a glimpse into the hard work and sweat that goes into getting a band out there and heard. Of course with Voice, there is plenty more than hard work and sweat that goes into the band.
I loved Case. She is a take-no-crap woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid of anything. She can also play a mean guitar. Danny is John's brother and the band's drummer. I loved his character as well - for me he seemed very "human". Quentin, the bass player grew on me and probably left me the most emotional. John? What can I say about John...
I am going to honestly say that Voice by Joseph Garraty is one of my favorite reads thus far this year. Mr. Garraty emits eerie and creepy horror all over the place with his story. He also achieves this without overplaying the "gore" card, which for me is a HUGE plus. Yes, there are a few graphic scenes, but mildly so and not over-the-top like many horror stories can go. Also, just to give you an idea of how much I loved this book, I received a copy of it for free for the Pump Up Your Book! tour, in exchange for my review. However, I found myself purchasing a copy for my Nook Color just so that I could read it in bed. Yes, I was that hooked!!
In any case, I cannot wait to read more by Joseph Garraty. He is an amazing talent with an amazing writing voice. I cannot recommend Voice enough to those who love a good horror or just plain eerie/edge-of-your-seat reading!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The voice that comes out is nothing like a human voice, singing nothing like human words. It's vast and deep, oily and ravenous, and it pounds into your brain like a meat hammer. The pressure is crushing, mounting, thunderous, and you forget that this is a recording and you can turn it off at any time, you forget everything except that your brain is being pulped by a godawful, godless sound that shouldn't even exist, a sound like tectonic plates grinding corpses into fields of broken glass, and then, incredibly, the sound gets worse, and you open your mouth to scream, and -
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How's that for an opening?! Voice is the story of a band whose lead singer, John, will do anything to get his name in lights. For over a year, he has been pounding away at small gigs with little to nothing to show for it. It is when he sees lead guitarist Case at work, he knows he must bring her over to his side. Once he does, John feels a bit closer to reaching the high life, but not quite there yet. One night, after a less than stellar gig, John meets Douglas. Douglas knows John's deepest desires, more importantly, Douglas knows how to give John all of his dreams on a blood encrusted platter. No price is to high for John to pay. Once the deal is sealed, lives will change forever, screams will ring eternal and blood will flow. All of this, the day Johnny Tango was born...
Have I mentioned that I absolutely loved Voice?! If you haven't caught that vibe yet, I am screaming it out now. It is not often that I come across a book that combines elements of horror and hard-hitting rock and roll. This story takes the reader on a journey from the band, Ragman's, very beginning until it's very end. It was incredibly intriguing to get a glimpse into the hard work and sweat that goes into getting a band out there and heard. Of course with Voice, there is plenty more than hard work and sweat that goes into the band.
I loved Case. She is a take-no-crap woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid of anything. She can also play a mean guitar. Danny is John's brother and the band's drummer. I loved his character as well - for me he seemed very "human". Quentin, the bass player grew on me and probably left me the most emotional. John? What can I say about John...
I am going to honestly say that Voice by Joseph Garraty is one of my favorite reads thus far this year. Mr. Garraty emits eerie and creepy horror all over the place with his story. He also achieves this without overplaying the "gore" card, which for me is a HUGE plus. Yes, there are a few graphic scenes, but mildly so and not over-the-top like many horror stories can go. Also, just to give you an idea of how much I loved this book, I received a copy of it for free for the Pump Up Your Book! tour, in exchange for my review. However, I found myself purchasing a copy for my Nook Color just so that I could read it in bed. Yes, I was that hooked!!
In any case, I cannot wait to read more by Joseph Garraty. He is an amazing talent with an amazing writing voice. I cannot recommend Voice enough to those who love a good horror or just plain eerie/edge-of-your-seat reading!
April 29, 2012
Oh boy, don’t read this one when you’re home alone at night. Joseph Garraty has created a world of horror populated by a string of characters who have their own demons to deal with – they don’t need their lead singer to turn into the devil to complicate their lives further but that is exactly what they get.
Say hello to Ragman – John/Johnny, his brother Danny, Stephanie Case/Case and Quentin. The band has dreams of making it big; little did they know they would have to go through hell to get there. John is the lead singer of Ragman, only problem is he doesn’t have a particularly good voice – okay, he has a pretty awful voice. Johnny, however, has a voice with the ability to put crowds into a trance, it is that good! Let me clear this up a little bit. John effectively does a deal with the devil, pardon the cliché, and Johnny Tango is born. Johnny has an awesome voice and he is THE MAN. Now that their lead singer is such a hit success is Ragman’s for the taking but there is a stronger presence at play here who will take more than success – lives are what this evil presence wants.
Garraty has set the music scene perfectly, it is completely believable. The descriptions of playing in not so hot locations, playing at bigger locations, the interactions between members of the band, the lows and highs of a band trying to make it – all these descriptions add to the realness of the book and invite you into the world of Ragman, both collectively as a whole and individually as band members. Frequently the voice in my head was asking how far will they go and what will the cost be? How much will they sacrifice, who will they hurt and will it bring success or failure? More often than not it was asking do I really want to know the answers to these questions? Yes, I most definitely did! I might have to read with one eye closed, sneaking a look at the page but scared of what I might find and okay, I might have to read with the lights on but I knew I wouldn’t be able to turn away and I had to know the answers, no matter what those answers might be. I could not stop reading this book, even when things got gory and spooky and strange I could not put it down. It was like I was now a member of Ragman, I was in for the journey whether I liked it or not.
This was without a doubt a page-turner for me. Before I dove in and started reading I wasn’t sure what to expect, or whether I would even enjoy it, but once I started that was it, I was hooked and I read it with a real hunger. I went through many emotions whilst turning those pages; I felt high, full of adrenalin and then I felt low, in a trancelike state, depressed, and angry. I loved it all, the characters, the actual story, the shocking and the gruesome parts – I loved the rollercoaster ride of it. This book has it all and I have to say Garraty has done a fantastic job fitting it all in without feeling rushed.
If you haven’t read this book yet I would suggest you seek it out and do so as soon as you can. It is well worth the read. Even if you aren’t sure if you will like it just give it a go and you might be pleasantly surprised, as I was, and then you will say a thank you to the writing gods for sending us Joseph Garraty and this horror story called Voice.
Thank you to Joseph Garraty for providing me with a copy of Voice, I very much enjoyed the ride – thanks, Joseph!
Say hello to Ragman – John/Johnny, his brother Danny, Stephanie Case/Case and Quentin. The band has dreams of making it big; little did they know they would have to go through hell to get there. John is the lead singer of Ragman, only problem is he doesn’t have a particularly good voice – okay, he has a pretty awful voice. Johnny, however, has a voice with the ability to put crowds into a trance, it is that good! Let me clear this up a little bit. John effectively does a deal with the devil, pardon the cliché, and Johnny Tango is born. Johnny has an awesome voice and he is THE MAN. Now that their lead singer is such a hit success is Ragman’s for the taking but there is a stronger presence at play here who will take more than success – lives are what this evil presence wants.
Garraty has set the music scene perfectly, it is completely believable. The descriptions of playing in not so hot locations, playing at bigger locations, the interactions between members of the band, the lows and highs of a band trying to make it – all these descriptions add to the realness of the book and invite you into the world of Ragman, both collectively as a whole and individually as band members. Frequently the voice in my head was asking how far will they go and what will the cost be? How much will they sacrifice, who will they hurt and will it bring success or failure? More often than not it was asking do I really want to know the answers to these questions? Yes, I most definitely did! I might have to read with one eye closed, sneaking a look at the page but scared of what I might find and okay, I might have to read with the lights on but I knew I wouldn’t be able to turn away and I had to know the answers, no matter what those answers might be. I could not stop reading this book, even when things got gory and spooky and strange I could not put it down. It was like I was now a member of Ragman, I was in for the journey whether I liked it or not.
This was without a doubt a page-turner for me. Before I dove in and started reading I wasn’t sure what to expect, or whether I would even enjoy it, but once I started that was it, I was hooked and I read it with a real hunger. I went through many emotions whilst turning those pages; I felt high, full of adrenalin and then I felt low, in a trancelike state, depressed, and angry. I loved it all, the characters, the actual story, the shocking and the gruesome parts – I loved the rollercoaster ride of it. This book has it all and I have to say Garraty has done a fantastic job fitting it all in without feeling rushed.
If you haven’t read this book yet I would suggest you seek it out and do so as soon as you can. It is well worth the read. Even if you aren’t sure if you will like it just give it a go and you might be pleasantly surprised, as I was, and then you will say a thank you to the writing gods for sending us Joseph Garraty and this horror story called Voice.
Thank you to Joseph Garraty for providing me with a copy of Voice, I very much enjoyed the ride – thanks, Joseph!
December 31, 2012
Enjoyed this novel very much. From the prologue, that gets the chills going, the story plunges the characters in a downward spiral that is both inevitable and horrifying. The realism in the struggle of the musicians trying to carve out their own niche, getting into deep trouble by their ambition adds verisimilitude in a story that could've been ridiculous if it hadn't been so well-crafted.
I recommend this story to anyone who likes well-crafted horror stories set in the world of art and music.
I recommend this story to anyone who likes well-crafted horror stories set in the world of art and music.
October 5, 2011
Voice is a supernatural thriller.
John Tsiboukas has always dreamed of making the "big time". With a passion he gathers those around him who have the right look and the sound for his band, "Ragman". The only problem is that John really is not that great of a vocalist.
Danny is John's brother and the drummer of the band. He has been practicing his whole life for the moment he would make his dreams come true.
Quentin is the band's bass player and has been friends with John for over a year but he soon comes to feel like there is something else going on with the band, something that feels evil and Quentin is not sure if success is worth it.
Stephanie Case is the lead guitarist, hired after John hears her play at a local bar during open mic night. Case, as she is known, thinks that John really sucks but the pay sounds great and Case becomes a member of "Ragman".
The four of them practice daily and Case brings to the music, elements that had been lacking in their previous four chord songs. After playing at an area college, John is approached by a foul smelling old man, Douglas, who vows to change John's life forever if he would only travel with him to the crossroads.
John, who is jealous of Case's success on stage and her and Danny's apparent on-stage love affair, decides to follow Douglas into the unknown and see what he has to offer. He is given a choice and decides to pay the piper in order to become a person that will be a household name, a voice that people will remember long after John has passed from this world. He will be immortal, a price he would pay anything for.
At first, the rest of the band is bewildered by John's new sound and John brushes it off as his voice lessons finally paying off. However, weird things begin to happen every time John sings, fights break out amongst the patrons, fires start and Douglas always seems to be there, in the crowd, whispering in people's ears.
When Danny comes up with John's on-stage alter ego, in order to combat John's stage fright, Johnny Tango is born with his bad ass attitude and no nonsense appeal. Slowly John is allowing his alter ego to take over and the bad is beginning to feel uneasy with the changes taking place. Evil seems to permeate every show and the freaky "Johnny Fan Club" members are unnerving to those who seem them smiling maniacally and hanging onto Johnny's every word!
When things begin to go really bad, it is time for the members of Ragman to decide if fame and fortune is really worth the price you have to pay to achieve it!
This was a fairly decent novel to have read! The characters are all remarkably written and believable in each of the roles set before them. The plot is a bit tired, the whole cross roads and sell your soul to the devil for your music has been done to death, but author, Joseph Garraty still manages to write decently despite the plot cliche.
Stephanie Case is a great character and you watch her character unfold from a uncaring and rude woman into a caring and kind lady who can really belt out a tune! She is depicted as being gorgeous and talented and yet shies away from the attention that the two things entail. She is always fighting her demons about her self worth!
I wasn't as interested in John as I wished I could have been. I found that his transition from John to Johnny wasn't well placed. It felt rushed to me and some of the descriptive that could have been used to bring him to his horrible choice would have been better if it was paced instead of the rush job I felt happened.
The back story characters were great, Erin as the band's PR agent was a refreshing blend to the encroaching evil that you could feel building within the pages. Danny came across as both weasley and a good-natured, caring guy, which works with the premise of the story. You can see Danny really wants the success while pretending it doesn't matter and his inner self would do anything to achieve it!
This was an easy read with a decent flow in the narrative that you can easily continue to read without realizing how much time has gone by! There a few minor graphic scenes and mild to moderate expletives.
John Tsiboukas has always dreamed of making the "big time". With a passion he gathers those around him who have the right look and the sound for his band, "Ragman". The only problem is that John really is not that great of a vocalist.
Danny is John's brother and the drummer of the band. He has been practicing his whole life for the moment he would make his dreams come true.
Quentin is the band's bass player and has been friends with John for over a year but he soon comes to feel like there is something else going on with the band, something that feels evil and Quentin is not sure if success is worth it.
Stephanie Case is the lead guitarist, hired after John hears her play at a local bar during open mic night. Case, as she is known, thinks that John really sucks but the pay sounds great and Case becomes a member of "Ragman".
The four of them practice daily and Case brings to the music, elements that had been lacking in their previous four chord songs. After playing at an area college, John is approached by a foul smelling old man, Douglas, who vows to change John's life forever if he would only travel with him to the crossroads.
John, who is jealous of Case's success on stage and her and Danny's apparent on-stage love affair, decides to follow Douglas into the unknown and see what he has to offer. He is given a choice and decides to pay the piper in order to become a person that will be a household name, a voice that people will remember long after John has passed from this world. He will be immortal, a price he would pay anything for.
At first, the rest of the band is bewildered by John's new sound and John brushes it off as his voice lessons finally paying off. However, weird things begin to happen every time John sings, fights break out amongst the patrons, fires start and Douglas always seems to be there, in the crowd, whispering in people's ears.
When Danny comes up with John's on-stage alter ego, in order to combat John's stage fright, Johnny Tango is born with his bad ass attitude and no nonsense appeal. Slowly John is allowing his alter ego to take over and the bad is beginning to feel uneasy with the changes taking place. Evil seems to permeate every show and the freaky "Johnny Fan Club" members are unnerving to those who seem them smiling maniacally and hanging onto Johnny's every word!
When things begin to go really bad, it is time for the members of Ragman to decide if fame and fortune is really worth the price you have to pay to achieve it!
This was a fairly decent novel to have read! The characters are all remarkably written and believable in each of the roles set before them. The plot is a bit tired, the whole cross roads and sell your soul to the devil for your music has been done to death, but author, Joseph Garraty still manages to write decently despite the plot cliche.
Stephanie Case is a great character and you watch her character unfold from a uncaring and rude woman into a caring and kind lady who can really belt out a tune! She is depicted as being gorgeous and talented and yet shies away from the attention that the two things entail. She is always fighting her demons about her self worth!
I wasn't as interested in John as I wished I could have been. I found that his transition from John to Johnny wasn't well placed. It felt rushed to me and some of the descriptive that could have been used to bring him to his horrible choice would have been better if it was paced instead of the rush job I felt happened.
The back story characters were great, Erin as the band's PR agent was a refreshing blend to the encroaching evil that you could feel building within the pages. Danny came across as both weasley and a good-natured, caring guy, which works with the premise of the story. You can see Danny really wants the success while pretending it doesn't matter and his inner self would do anything to achieve it!
This was an easy read with a decent flow in the narrative that you can easily continue to read without realizing how much time has gone by! There a few minor graphic scenes and mild to moderate expletives.
August 9, 2011
Sometimes we stand at the crossroads at a point in our life wondering which direction we should take. We all want the very best in our lives and sometimes we often have to ask the question, just how far are you willing to go to get what you want?
John Tsiboukas has been trying to get his rock band, Ragman, to be all that he dreams it can be, even if some of those dreams turn into the most horrifying nightmares possible. The only problem with the band is that John can't sing. He's even managed to replace his lead guitar player with Stephanie Case whose stage presence alone makes the band popular, besides her amazing ability to play and the fact that most of the men who come to see her want to go out with her. Only John believes he can be great if only he could find a way to sing and his voice lessons don't seem to be helping him improve at all except to make his vocal coach a whole lot richer by taking his money.
A dark stranger appears one night at a concert which one more confirms that if John can't find a way to sing, they will soon find someone who can. He meets with John outside the college and offers him a ride. Sensing danger but also an overwhelming curiosity, he goes along. Not sure where they are headed, the stranger lets him out at a dark stretch of road and tells him that he can go no further, John must go alone from here.
When John crests the hill, he sees an old dead tree by a road and it appears to be much darker here than it should be. When a man appears and asks John want he wants most in life, he tells him to be able to use his voice to draw people to him, for fame and riches beyond anyone could imagine.
After that encounter, John changes, a darkness now settles over him but the most astonishing thing happens at their next concert. John can sing, and he can sing really well. After a series of concerts, it appears that the band is headed for success. But when things begin to happen once John begins to sing, the band finds out that the price for stardom might be higher than any of them could have ever imagined. Now people are winding up dead!
In the latest novel Voice by Joseph Garraty, we get a look at what happens when something appears to be too good to be true and a deal with the devil is made. This book is a twisted tale on what happens when a desire is taken too far and evil is unleashed.
I received this book compliments of Joseph Garrarty and Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review. The story line is great and definitely keeps the suspense and thrills going to the end. Definitely on the creepy side. My warning for some of my readers is that it does contain a fair amount of profanity and some sexual content that would likely be found in a rock band scene, so it may not be suited for everyone. Those that enjoy a bit darker suspense thriller will be in for a ride when they pick this book up. I rate it a 3 of out 5 stars due to my rating scale for content.
John Tsiboukas has been trying to get his rock band, Ragman, to be all that he dreams it can be, even if some of those dreams turn into the most horrifying nightmares possible. The only problem with the band is that John can't sing. He's even managed to replace his lead guitar player with Stephanie Case whose stage presence alone makes the band popular, besides her amazing ability to play and the fact that most of the men who come to see her want to go out with her. Only John believes he can be great if only he could find a way to sing and his voice lessons don't seem to be helping him improve at all except to make his vocal coach a whole lot richer by taking his money.
A dark stranger appears one night at a concert which one more confirms that if John can't find a way to sing, they will soon find someone who can. He meets with John outside the college and offers him a ride. Sensing danger but also an overwhelming curiosity, he goes along. Not sure where they are headed, the stranger lets him out at a dark stretch of road and tells him that he can go no further, John must go alone from here.
When John crests the hill, he sees an old dead tree by a road and it appears to be much darker here than it should be. When a man appears and asks John want he wants most in life, he tells him to be able to use his voice to draw people to him, for fame and riches beyond anyone could imagine.
After that encounter, John changes, a darkness now settles over him but the most astonishing thing happens at their next concert. John can sing, and he can sing really well. After a series of concerts, it appears that the band is headed for success. But when things begin to happen once John begins to sing, the band finds out that the price for stardom might be higher than any of them could have ever imagined. Now people are winding up dead!
In the latest novel Voice by Joseph Garraty, we get a look at what happens when something appears to be too good to be true and a deal with the devil is made. This book is a twisted tale on what happens when a desire is taken too far and evil is unleashed.
I received this book compliments of Joseph Garrarty and Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review. The story line is great and definitely keeps the suspense and thrills going to the end. Definitely on the creepy side. My warning for some of my readers is that it does contain a fair amount of profanity and some sexual content that would likely be found in a rock band scene, so it may not be suited for everyone. Those that enjoy a bit darker suspense thriller will be in for a ride when they pick this book up. I rate it a 3 of out 5 stars due to my rating scale for content.
September 12, 2011
If you could, would you strike a deal with the devil to achieve your greatest ambition? Sometimes when you look at a Hollywood A-lister, or a wheelin' dealin' politician, or one of those tycoons on Wall St., you have to wonder if maybe, just maybe, some signed their own names on the dotted line. In Joseph Garraty's debut novel, Voice, is an aspiring rock star named John Tsiboukas who gets his wish ... for a price.
Voice isn't just about John, who after gaining his voice adopts the persona of Johnny Tango, but also looks at what happens through the eyes of his bandmates. In particular, his new lead guitarist, Stephanie Case, whom he lured into the ragtag band after hearing her play her heart out with an even less talented band than John's. Along with their bass player, Quentin, and John's brother Danny on drums, they are Ragman. And with Johnny Tango leading the charge, the derelict band soon gains fans, paying gigs, and a rocketship to stardom. All the while, a sinister, seedy looking man named Douglas watches on, and Johnny's voice starts to do more than just belt out the hits.
Voice is a strong debut that offers an authenticity with its rock-and-roll backdrop, as Garraty is a musician himself. And his characters really jump off the page at times, especially Case with her brassy onstage demeanor and take-no-bullshit attitude offstage. In fact, the book really felt like it was her story more than it did Johnny's while reading it, thanks to her budding friendship with a coworker to whom Case becomes an informal self-defense instructor, plus the simmering sexual tension between her and John's brother--John's married brother. Through some of this subplot though, the pace and direction of the novel loses is lost at times, or at least diverted on tangents from time to time.
The behind the scenes view of a struggling rock band was pulled off quite well by Garraty, but I've never immersed myself in music culture, so a lot of the lingo and scenarios were foreign to me. The jargon can be a bit of a stumbling block, but without it, there'd be a lot less to give this story its tangibility.
It's a good book, and a genuine surprise when I was expecting something more conventional with the timeworn premise of "selling your soul."
Voice isn't just about John, who after gaining his voice adopts the persona of Johnny Tango, but also looks at what happens through the eyes of his bandmates. In particular, his new lead guitarist, Stephanie Case, whom he lured into the ragtag band after hearing her play her heart out with an even less talented band than John's. Along with their bass player, Quentin, and John's brother Danny on drums, they are Ragman. And with Johnny Tango leading the charge, the derelict band soon gains fans, paying gigs, and a rocketship to stardom. All the while, a sinister, seedy looking man named Douglas watches on, and Johnny's voice starts to do more than just belt out the hits.
Voice is a strong debut that offers an authenticity with its rock-and-roll backdrop, as Garraty is a musician himself. And his characters really jump off the page at times, especially Case with her brassy onstage demeanor and take-no-bullshit attitude offstage. In fact, the book really felt like it was her story more than it did Johnny's while reading it, thanks to her budding friendship with a coworker to whom Case becomes an informal self-defense instructor, plus the simmering sexual tension between her and John's brother--John's married brother. Through some of this subplot though, the pace and direction of the novel loses is lost at times, or at least diverted on tangents from time to time.
The behind the scenes view of a struggling rock band was pulled off quite well by Garraty, but I've never immersed myself in music culture, so a lot of the lingo and scenarios were foreign to me. The jargon can be a bit of a stumbling block, but without it, there'd be a lot less to give this story its tangibility.
It's a good book, and a genuine surprise when I was expecting something more conventional with the timeworn premise of "selling your soul."
August 8, 2011
Ever hear the story about Robert Johnson? The legendary blues guitarist and singer in which a story that has become legend sold his soul to the devil to become the best in the world? Not only does this story reference that story but follows the beginnings of the legend. With the prologue we also know what is going to happen in the end, but even with these two known facts, it does not distract from the enjoyment of the book.
Johnny (formerly known as "John") wants fame and fortune and has chosen the medium of singing to gain it even though he does not put the work into his craft. His idea stemmed from his brother who is a drummer and loves music. His brother did put in the work and is a great drummer but his main goal is music. In order to gain the fame, Johnny puts together a great band, but the weak link is his voice. He finds a strange man who says he knows how to gain his fame. He ends up at a Robert Johnson crossroads and is told he can now sing. However, has he gained anything else?
We follow the band and Johnny to the inevitable conclusion, but the horror is what comes along the way and the unexpected parts in the end. What these parts are, I will not divulge... *evil laugh* (which is appropriate in this case) but I will say that if you are looking for a horror rock and roll book, you have found it.
I give this book 4 stars. Only thing missing is the duel at the end, but it isn't exactly the devil Johnny meets. Heh... that will have to suffice as the only tidbit I will reveal. ;)
Johnny (formerly known as "John") wants fame and fortune and has chosen the medium of singing to gain it even though he does not put the work into his craft. His idea stemmed from his brother who is a drummer and loves music. His brother did put in the work and is a great drummer but his main goal is music. In order to gain the fame, Johnny puts together a great band, but the weak link is his voice. He finds a strange man who says he knows how to gain his fame. He ends up at a Robert Johnson crossroads and is told he can now sing. However, has he gained anything else?
We follow the band and Johnny to the inevitable conclusion, but the horror is what comes along the way and the unexpected parts in the end. What these parts are, I will not divulge... *evil laugh* (which is appropriate in this case) but I will say that if you are looking for a horror rock and roll book, you have found it.
I give this book 4 stars. Only thing missing is the duel at the end, but it isn't exactly the devil Johnny meets. Heh... that will have to suffice as the only tidbit I will reveal. ;)
September 13, 2011
I will have to admit that my initial thought on the concept of Voice was "oh great, another crossroads story, they are all the same" I was wrong. Joseph Garraty did a great job in bringing a new life to the old crossroads tale. The settings where just what you would expect to read about for an up and coming band. Ragman played in cramped rehearsal spaces, dive bars, crappy university halls and eventually the bigger and better venues.
The characters, in Voice, and their back stories were pretty well detailed and well written. I loved Case...hell I wanted to be Case. A hot, bad ass babe with a guitar! Who wouldn't want to be her? Although she did do something in the book that I was not thrilled with and honestly didn't feel needed done. John/Johnny was a trip to follow through in his transition from a front man with stage fright to a demonic rock 'n roll superstar. The rest of the Ragman band members were, also, interesting characters that I came to enjoy learning more about. Heck, even some of the throw away characters were interesting.
From the dive bars, to the noise filled auditoriums, Voice takes us through the ups and downs of stardom and into the pits of hell that some will traverse in order to receive that claim to fame.
The characters, in Voice, and their back stories were pretty well detailed and well written. I loved Case...hell I wanted to be Case. A hot, bad ass babe with a guitar! Who wouldn't want to be her? Although she did do something in the book that I was not thrilled with and honestly didn't feel needed done. John/Johnny was a trip to follow through in his transition from a front man with stage fright to a demonic rock 'n roll superstar. The rest of the Ragman band members were, also, interesting characters that I came to enjoy learning more about. Heck, even some of the throw away characters were interesting.
From the dive bars, to the noise filled auditoriums, Voice takes us through the ups and downs of stardom and into the pits of hell that some will traverse in order to receive that claim to fame.
July 3, 2011
Loved it - rock 'n roll horror with a bit of bite.
July 23, 2011
Excellent. My review is on Webbweaver book reviews.
November 28, 2011
(Cross-posted from Adarna SF)
Voice is a supernatural horror novel that follows a rock band from obscurity to fame, with bits of gore trailing the way. It’s terrifying, tragic, and freaking amazing.
It’s an absorbing and intense read from cover to cover. The musician who makes a pact with the devil at the crossroads is a well-known rock and roll myth, and the horror elements themselves aren’t unique, but Garraty’s delivery is pitch-perfect and will make your hair stand on end. The author masterfully executes the classic “less is more” approach to horror, letting your own paranoia fill in the blanks and scare you sh*tless.
What makes it great is that the supernatural horror blends into the setting naturally. The creep with thinning hair at the back of the dive bar could be either a man with unfortunate features or a demon creature out to disembowel you. I was glad that I didn’t read some scenes in public because they made me scream like a crazy person. You know that time when you watched Alien for the first time and didn’t see that chestburster coming? Yeah. That.
The everyday tribulations of being a musician are convincing and immerse you into the character’s lives. I loved details like when Case, the lead guitarist, explains to someone that their band wasn’t hard rock like Nickelback but more like the New York Dolls or Motörhead, she’s promptly met with a blank look. Garraty is as much an expert in music as in horror, and has a way of fleshing out details without overburdening the reader with obscure trivia.
I could go on and on about why I love this book, but I definitely must praise Voice for the characters. Everyone’s fascinating with great internal conflict, adding layers to the plot. There’s illicit relationships, band drama, and the daily struggle to prove their worth to themselves. Heck, even the minor bit characters are intriguing too, and I wished there was more uncovered about them!
The entire line-up is strong, but two characters steal the spotlight. Case is a fantastic heroine, a no-bullsh*t woman in a macho scene. While she walks around in leather pants and knows Krav Maga like nobody’s business, she’s a multidimensional tough dame and not merely a caricature of one. You could call her the spiritual successor to Ellen Ripley.
But Johnny’s internal conflict–that’s main star of the book. Johnny, Johnny, Johnny. What do I do with you? Every time I read a chapter in his POV, my heart soared or twisted itself in sympathy. He’s the lead vocalist whose talents are unremarkable compared to the rest of the band, and it’s his hunger to prove himself which leads to the pact with the devil. No matter what the reader thinks of his choices, deep down, you feel that you would same thing. It makes the story even more chilling, and that is the mark of an outstanding horror novel.
As Johnny would scream to the audience between his Elvis sneers, “Is it hot enough for you, m*therf*ckers?” Yes, it is m*therf*cking hot. Read it.
Note: a free review copy was provided by the author.
Voice is a supernatural horror novel that follows a rock band from obscurity to fame, with bits of gore trailing the way. It’s terrifying, tragic, and freaking amazing.
It’s an absorbing and intense read from cover to cover. The musician who makes a pact with the devil at the crossroads is a well-known rock and roll myth, and the horror elements themselves aren’t unique, but Garraty’s delivery is pitch-perfect and will make your hair stand on end. The author masterfully executes the classic “less is more” approach to horror, letting your own paranoia fill in the blanks and scare you sh*tless.
What makes it great is that the supernatural horror blends into the setting naturally. The creep with thinning hair at the back of the dive bar could be either a man with unfortunate features or a demon creature out to disembowel you. I was glad that I didn’t read some scenes in public because they made me scream like a crazy person. You know that time when you watched Alien for the first time and didn’t see that chestburster coming? Yeah. That.
The everyday tribulations of being a musician are convincing and immerse you into the character’s lives. I loved details like when Case, the lead guitarist, explains to someone that their band wasn’t hard rock like Nickelback but more like the New York Dolls or Motörhead, she’s promptly met with a blank look. Garraty is as much an expert in music as in horror, and has a way of fleshing out details without overburdening the reader with obscure trivia.
I could go on and on about why I love this book, but I definitely must praise Voice for the characters. Everyone’s fascinating with great internal conflict, adding layers to the plot. There’s illicit relationships, band drama, and the daily struggle to prove their worth to themselves. Heck, even the minor bit characters are intriguing too, and I wished there was more uncovered about them!
The entire line-up is strong, but two characters steal the spotlight. Case is a fantastic heroine, a no-bullsh*t woman in a macho scene. While she walks around in leather pants and knows Krav Maga like nobody’s business, she’s a multidimensional tough dame and not merely a caricature of one. You could call her the spiritual successor to Ellen Ripley.
But Johnny’s internal conflict–that’s main star of the book. Johnny, Johnny, Johnny. What do I do with you? Every time I read a chapter in his POV, my heart soared or twisted itself in sympathy. He’s the lead vocalist whose talents are unremarkable compared to the rest of the band, and it’s his hunger to prove himself which leads to the pact with the devil. No matter what the reader thinks of his choices, deep down, you feel that you would same thing. It makes the story even more chilling, and that is the mark of an outstanding horror novel.
As Johnny would scream to the audience between his Elvis sneers, “Is it hot enough for you, m*therf*ckers?” Yes, it is m*therf*cking hot. Read it.
Note: a free review copy was provided by the author.
September 27, 2011
*** A seriously creepy, deliciously dark, sinfully sharp whip-crack of a novel ***
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AND you can enter to win a copy, courtesy of the author, on my blog at http://blog.jill-elizabeth.com/2011/0... - contest runs 9/27 through 10/11. Good luck!!
------------------------------
Voice, by Joseph Garraty, is the story of Johnny Tango (a.k.a. John Tsiboukas), troubled soul and lead singer of the band Ragman. And he owes thanks for both descriptors to the mysterious man he meets at the crossroads. Yes, the proverbial crossroads – as in Robert Johnson went down to the crossroads… (If you don’t know that legend, poor thing, it’s time to l learn something about the blues, so take a gander here.)
After a prologue sure to raise every single hair on the back of your neck, the story opens in a dark bar, new-band night under way. In a moment of perfect synchronicity – or else diabolical master-minding, you be the judge after reading the full story – fiction’s coolest female guitar-slinger, Case (of course she only has one name – she’s fiction’s coolest female guitar-slinger… ), finds herself a new band, and shortly thereafter John finds himself a new voice (and a new persona). And so it begins.
Voice is an incredibly paced, indelibly dark, wickedly entertaining story and a riot-ride from start to finish. Filled with memorable characters caught at their own crossroads – be it the cross between marital commitment and soul-deep attraction, brotherly loyalty and self-preservation, friendship and fear of being hurt – the story is an utterly eerie exemplification of the old Chinese proverb. In Garraty’s world you would do well indeed to be careful what you wished for, for you just might get it. And heaven help you and everyone around you then...
------------------------------
AND you can enter to win a copy, courtesy of the author, on my blog at http://blog.jill-elizabeth.com/2011/0... - contest runs 9/27 through 10/11. Good luck!!
------------------------------
Voice, by Joseph Garraty, is the story of Johnny Tango (a.k.a. John Tsiboukas), troubled soul and lead singer of the band Ragman. And he owes thanks for both descriptors to the mysterious man he meets at the crossroads. Yes, the proverbial crossroads – as in Robert Johnson went down to the crossroads… (If you don’t know that legend, poor thing, it’s time to l learn something about the blues, so take a gander here.)
After a prologue sure to raise every single hair on the back of your neck, the story opens in a dark bar, new-band night under way. In a moment of perfect synchronicity – or else diabolical master-minding, you be the judge after reading the full story – fiction’s coolest female guitar-slinger, Case (of course she only has one name – she’s fiction’s coolest female guitar-slinger… ), finds herself a new band, and shortly thereafter John finds himself a new voice (and a new persona). And so it begins.
Voice is an incredibly paced, indelibly dark, wickedly entertaining story and a riot-ride from start to finish. Filled with memorable characters caught at their own crossroads – be it the cross between marital commitment and soul-deep attraction, brotherly loyalty and self-preservation, friendship and fear of being hurt – the story is an utterly eerie exemplification of the old Chinese proverb. In Garraty’s world you would do well indeed to be careful what you wished for, for you just might get it. And heaven help you and everyone around you then...
December 25, 2011
Originally posted on my blog as part of a review event: http://book-spark.blogspot.com/
Sorry, my review was kind of all over the place today. It's not very well put together, I know:
I was hooked from the very beginning. It’s a gripping, creepy psychological thriller. Absolutely amazing! There is some language so if you are easily offended, I don’t recommend you pick up this book. Honestly, how many times will you drop the f-bomb, Joseph?
Characters: Stephanie Case (called Case) is my favorite character by far. She’s so strong, but you can see the vulnerability in her. Plus, she’s a kick-ass guitarist and hot!
Though I never particularly liked John, I found myself cheering and hoping beyond hope for him to do the right thing towards the end.
Romanciness: Danny and Case have a lot of chemistry. A LOT! It serves as the only “romance” in the book and I loved it. It wasn’t a big part of the book but the more you read of it, the more you love it and you can just see the sparks fly between them on the stage. Garraty is very original narrating it, and it’s fantastic. Really like that the author doesn’t outright describe some stuff. He leaves you hanging and doesn’t let the book go into erotica form or anything. I’d rather not read that stuff, so I appreciate it Joseph!
John’s meeting with the devil is satisfyingly creepy and weird. Perfect for Halloween! Some parts are so surreal, but the author succeeds in making them seem like the most real thing in the world.
I also love the changing POV. It’s a bit confusing at first, but oddly, it’s kind of perfect.
Though there wasn’t a big mystery or anything, I still found myself turning pages well into the night. Grim and bleak at times, but everything comes together perfectly, and despite everything, the end is hopeful.
Sorry, my review was kind of all over the place today. It's not very well put together, I know:
I was hooked from the very beginning. It’s a gripping, creepy psychological thriller. Absolutely amazing! There is some language so if you are easily offended, I don’t recommend you pick up this book. Honestly, how many times will you drop the f-bomb, Joseph?
Characters: Stephanie Case (called Case) is my favorite character by far. She’s so strong, but you can see the vulnerability in her. Plus, she’s a kick-ass guitarist and hot!
Though I never particularly liked John, I found myself cheering and hoping beyond hope for him to do the right thing towards the end.
Romanciness: Danny and Case have a lot of chemistry. A LOT! It serves as the only “romance” in the book and I loved it. It wasn’t a big part of the book but the more you read of it, the more you love it and you can just see the sparks fly between them on the stage. Garraty is very original narrating it, and it’s fantastic. Really like that the author doesn’t outright describe some stuff. He leaves you hanging and doesn’t let the book go into erotica form or anything. I’d rather not read that stuff, so I appreciate it Joseph!
John’s meeting with the devil is satisfyingly creepy and weird. Perfect for Halloween! Some parts are so surreal, but the author succeeds in making them seem like the most real thing in the world.
I also love the changing POV. It’s a bit confusing at first, but oddly, it’s kind of perfect.
Though there wasn’t a big mystery or anything, I still found myself turning pages well into the night. Grim and bleak at times, but everything comes together perfectly, and despite everything, the end is hopeful.
November 24, 2011
Narrative ‘voice’ is something Joseph Garraty has in spades , and his will grip you from page one, paragraph one, sentence one. I think it was the only thing that kept me reading because I? Am a huge scardey cat and Voice is creepy on an epic level.
Actually, that’s not entirely true. I kept reading because I became invested in the characters, another thing that I think Mr. Garraty has a real talent for-getting the reader invested. Get the reader to care, then put your characters through hell. Literally. And I’ll be damned if I didn’t cry for them on multiple occasions, even when “the creepy” wasn’t happening. I never thought I’d be so enthralled reading about a band’s every day activities but Mr. Garraty knows how to draw you in and hook you real good. His intimate knowledge isn’t surprising, he is, after all, a musician himself.
I was thoroughly impressed with his depiction of Case, the female guitarist. I always love it when a male author can pull of such a breath-takingly relate-able female character and make it look effortless. I also really liked Quentin and Danny and even John. Though “Johnny” I didn’t so much like as I was majorly creeped out by and it made him a fantastic antagonist. All of the band go through a transition of sorts and it was riveting to watch their transformation to the people they become at the end of the novel-for better or worse.
HEA crowd? This book is so not for you. Everyone else? HAVE AT!
This is an above average debut novel and I personally can’t wait to read more from this author. Now excuse me while I go contact Mr. Garraty as I see he has a new book out and I’m just dying to get my hands on it.
Actually, that’s not entirely true. I kept reading because I became invested in the characters, another thing that I think Mr. Garraty has a real talent for-getting the reader invested. Get the reader to care, then put your characters through hell. Literally. And I’ll be damned if I didn’t cry for them on multiple occasions, even when “the creepy” wasn’t happening. I never thought I’d be so enthralled reading about a band’s every day activities but Mr. Garraty knows how to draw you in and hook you real good. His intimate knowledge isn’t surprising, he is, after all, a musician himself.
I was thoroughly impressed with his depiction of Case, the female guitarist. I always love it when a male author can pull of such a breath-takingly relate-able female character and make it look effortless. I also really liked Quentin and Danny and even John. Though “Johnny” I didn’t so much like as I was majorly creeped out by and it made him a fantastic antagonist. All of the band go through a transition of sorts and it was riveting to watch their transformation to the people they become at the end of the novel-for better or worse.
HEA crowd? This book is so not for you. Everyone else? HAVE AT!
This is an above average debut novel and I personally can’t wait to read more from this author. Now excuse me while I go contact Mr. Garraty as I see he has a new book out and I’m just dying to get my hands on it.
May 24, 2011
Okay, so I gave this five stars on account of I wrote it, and I think it's a pretty swell book. But it's got a rock band, a deal with the devil, a dirty double-cross, an illicit romance, and a load of freaky supernatural goings-on, so what's not to like?
December 30, 2018
Voice by Joseph Garraty
This one wasn't at all what I expected. Until I read the prologue. Then it was exactly what I expected. Every page, every action, every character, there were no surprises, at all. It is a great plot, well written, very descripted and exciting. I think the prologue was a mistake, like reading the ending first. Everything else about this book screams 5 stars, but it lost it's excitement, for me, by losing the mystery.
This one wasn't at all what I expected. Until I read the prologue. Then it was exactly what I expected. Every page, every action, every character, there were no surprises, at all. It is a great plot, well written, very descripted and exciting. I think the prologue was a mistake, like reading the ending first. Everything else about this book screams 5 stars, but it lost it's excitement, for me, by losing the mystery.
August 20, 2012
We have all heard the urban legend about the blues player/guitarist that goes to the Crossroads and sells his soul for fame, money and success. But what if it wasnt an urban legend? That's what you find out in Voice.
John wants to be a rock singer but he has a voice that should be fronting an alternative band instead. He has a talented band behind him though and nothing can compare to the lead guitarist Case. When Case gets the stellar reviews John doesnt know what to do. When after another disappointing show, he meets the mysterious stranger that knows who he is and seems to have an idea of what can help he goes with him. He ends up at a Crossroads where he meets a man that promises him everything he desires. After than John becomes Johnny Tango and his vocals blow everyone away.
After that it becomes a story of the band getting success and their first shot at opening on a real tour. But while this is happening there is still the price to pay. For this is not talent driven success. Johnny gets surrounding by a mysterious fan club that follows from show to show and seems to grow as they move. They also end up surrounded by fights and violent acts that follow them from city to city. How does the band deal with fame, success and how do they all pay the price for what Johnny did late one night in the Crossroads is the story you can only get by reading the book.
Voice is a well-written novel that takes the classic urban legend and answers the questions of what if? and what is the price that might be paid for such an act.
John wants to be a rock singer but he has a voice that should be fronting an alternative band instead. He has a talented band behind him though and nothing can compare to the lead guitarist Case. When Case gets the stellar reviews John doesnt know what to do. When after another disappointing show, he meets the mysterious stranger that knows who he is and seems to have an idea of what can help he goes with him. He ends up at a Crossroads where he meets a man that promises him everything he desires. After than John becomes Johnny Tango and his vocals blow everyone away.
After that it becomes a story of the band getting success and their first shot at opening on a real tour. But while this is happening there is still the price to pay. For this is not talent driven success. Johnny gets surrounding by a mysterious fan club that follows from show to show and seems to grow as they move. They also end up surrounded by fights and violent acts that follow them from city to city. How does the band deal with fame, success and how do they all pay the price for what Johnny did late one night in the Crossroads is the story you can only get by reading the book.
Voice is a well-written novel that takes the classic urban legend and answers the questions of what if? and what is the price that might be paid for such an act.
September 16, 2013
I had never heard of the author before and downloaded it on a whim as it sounded like my kinda thing, horror and rock n rock. It was a really good read. The characters are pretty stereotypical but for a good solid read with a standard forumula it ticked the boxes for me. That maybe doesnt sound like a very good review but the fact I wanted to know what happened to the characters and and completed the book is a good thing. Life is too short to read really bad book so these days if it doesnt grab me I dont read it. It did wrap up just a little too fast for me but all in all I enjoyed it.
April 11, 2013
I enjoyed this book a lot more than I expected to. I thought it would be a light, quick YA read, but it ended up being super dark. It seemed to be based on the concept of how quickly things can spiral out of control and that is what happened. It was a giant clusterf*ck of dreams, desires, and nightmares. I would recommend it. :)
July 1, 2016
Kept the pages turning!
I don't usually write reviews, and I don't want to give any spoilers, but this has a great twist on the typical "guy sells his soul for fame" story. I couldn't stop reading....highly recommended. The story had a vibe that reminds me of "Horns" by Joe Hill, so if you liked that, you'll like this one!
I don't usually write reviews, and I don't want to give any spoilers, but this has a great twist on the typical "guy sells his soul for fame" story. I couldn't stop reading....highly recommended. The story had a vibe that reminds me of "Horns" by Joe Hill, so if you liked that, you'll like this one!
February 7, 2016
Crazy
Did not think I would get into this book but it kept me wondering what was going to happen next. Loved the characters you felt like you new them forever. I would definitely recommend this book.
Did not think I would get into this book but it kept me wondering what was going to happen next. Loved the characters you felt like you new them forever. I would definitely recommend this book.
January 1, 2013
I was hooked from the prologue. Incredibly well written.
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