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Monkey Justice
265 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 25, 2012
This one was a bit difficult to categorize, and I think that's a good thing. I might call it "literary noir." There's plenty of violence and intensity, but many of the stories are open ended in an almost literary style, and character is clearly paramount with the author. I found myself savoring these tales rather than tearing through them. They're different. Each is a little gem, carefully constructed. I highly recommend them.
December 13, 2011
I've known Patti Abbott for a number of years as a fellow fan of classic flim noir and crime fiction. She's a tireless promoter with her weblogs for other authors as well as her own postings. Her short fiction has graced many prestigious ezines and anthologies, 23 stories of which are assembled in MONKEY JUSTICE AND OTHER STORIES. I've been reading them, and there's so much I admire here. Foremost, "Catnap" is a devastating noirish tale about a baby snatcher named Melissa, a young, conniving lady who doesn't have a clue about herself or the world. Young Louellen in "Escapes" does figure a way out of northern Indiana's desolation. The title story brims with biting irony, first suggested by its title. Bernie and Marsha in "Like a Hawk Rising" deal with a knee-breaker named Buzzy coming around for delinquent payments. However, all isn't grim and bleak here. "Re: University Protocol on Incidents of Student Plagiarizing" and "My Hero" both offer their lighter moments. This excellent collection should satisfy all fans of noir and crime fiction.
June 13, 2013
I came to Patti Abbott's work after reading the superb "The Instrument of Their Desires" as a Kindle bonus in the "Speedloader" collection. I had to have "Monkey Justice" immediately. It didn't let me down. Abbott never repeats herself: she has a very broad range of themes and characters. Her command of the short-story form is outstanding. She's very economical, she involves you straight away, and -- best of all for me -- she creates a gnawing sensation in the stomach of "God, what's going to happen?"
August 15, 2012
Noir comes in many forms and nuance. Monkey Justice: Stories is composed of stories that have no easy answers on how to classify them. They live in a shadowy land where things are open to interpretation, not easily summed up at the end of the pieces, and offer a glimpse into lives already stressed by poverty, abuse, and other circumstances. The ways these characters deal with situations are driven not by societal expectations, but by their own personal frame of reference.
The book opens with “Like A Hawk Rising.” Thanks to an injury on the most recent job, Bernie is home and stuck there while Marsha tries to take care of business. It isn’t like they don’t have problems of their own, but what is going on next door is really beginning to upset Bernie.
Art loves babysitting his granddaughter in “The Snake Charmer.” Art is not happy with what is going on around his granddaughter. Things have to be dealt with for Zelda’s sake.
Bob Mason knew something had happened to Lillian Gillespie in “Sleep, Creep, Leap.” The new neighbor is going to be way more interesting than Lillian ever was over the years. Whether she is really worth his interest remains to be seen.
Dreams are just part of the deal in “Bit Players” where not everyone can be a star. When you are a player in someone’s dream there are no retakes. You have to do it right the first time. When something goes wrong the subject wakes up.
Things are really bad when your brother prostitutes your sister to save the house. That is what happened in 1931 in “The Instrument Of Their Desire.” That may have saved the house, but it changed everything.
“Hole in the Wall” features an out of work guy by the name of Martin on vacation in Europe thanks to a fat severance package. He is only 28 and yet can’t seem to make any kind of connection with anyone. Martin deals with the problem in various ways and not all of them are legal.
Daddy has not been around in more than a decade. Prison time will do that. In “Escapes” Rex Knight has returned to the free world in Northern Indiana and things are going to change.
Rufe has not finished breakfast and already Georgie is outside waiting in “Georgie.” Rufe’s mom is doing what she has to do to supplement the family income. At 12 years old it is a good thing Rufe has a friend in Georgie.
Superman dealt with the awful Dave in “My Hero.” She keeps telling them what happened, but the police don’t believe her.
The title story “Monkey Justice” follows next. Cheryl never knew her husband was cheating on her. She never knew he had fathered another child at the same time she was pregnant. Delivering two weeks late meant that now she knows the extent of his betrayal. Nothing will ever be the same.
“On Paladin Road” a couple of the neighbors have sort of bonded over antique guns. One writes about them. The other one collects them. Another thing that brings them together is their age and the future is not looking too bright.
Margaret Olson has returned in “What Happened Next.” Patrick agreed to meet her for lunch and has no idea what she wants. She always had the power over him to get him to do things before she left. Her name may be different now, but she wants to pick up where they left off years ago. It is far too late for that as the years have changed everything.
Korin speaks in “Tongues” late at night and what she says clearly isn’t joyful. The ability to speak in tongues is fairly rare in society at large. It certainly does not happen at Southern New England Bible College. Other things she does would cause even bigger issues if they were known.
Life in a nursing home is the backdrop to “The Tortoise and the Tortoise.” George knows what goes on in the nursing home and isn’t happy that his status has slipped now that Father Ryan has arrived. Something has to be done.
Something also has to be done in “The Squatter.” The squatter next door, Gerry Upson, wants to borrow her phone and maybe something more. He made Annette Mueller uncomfortable at first¸ but now she feels something else.
In “The Trouble With Trolls” Dad wants Patrick and Denny to pick up a woman at the airport. Dad has plans and expect his sons to do what needs doing. Hopefully it won’t be as bad as the last time.
The interstate makes the commute to work much faster though it brings back bad memories. He would rather take the long way in “A Saving Grace.” Taking the long way will have its own consequence.
Like a lot of the stories in this book the narrator of “Girl Of My Dreams” is trapped in a prison of his own making. So he keeps going to work for a man he hates, making a sixty mile commute he hates, and watching his life pass on by because the alternative of starting over somewhere else is just too much. Of course there is a woman involved. A woman who will need Randy’s help.
The photographs freelancer Violet take at first in “Raising the Dead” don’t really work. They are missing something and don’t really reflect the real Detroit. The Detroit one can see just by looking over the window.
I was with Joe Piney way back when and now “I Am Madame X’s Bodyguard.” I used to be somebody that others feared and respected. At 50 plus times change and certain allowances have to be accepted.
Melissa has spotted a target in “Catnap.” First really good one in weeks and she plans to take full advantage.
Plagiarism is the problem in “RE: University Protocol On Incidents Of Student Plagiarizing.” Some students just don’t get it and will go to extraordinary lengths to make their point.
Things are far different for Ben in California than back in Portland with his mom. In “Souris” readers learn a few things about Ben, his dad, and the step mom’s family. “The Frenchies” are back and it is going to be a long summer visit.
The book concludes with a listing of publication data for the stories, a short author bio, and a listing of other titles published by Snubnose Press.
This collection of stories features primarily characters living on the edge of society. On the edge of society in the terms of financial status, moral compass, and occasionally even sanity. What unites them is a search for justice. In each case there is a need for justice--either perceived or in actuality in the world of the story. What they perceive to be justice can have disastrous and often fatal consequences.
If you want to feel uplifted and hopeful for humanity, this book is not for you. If you notice the neighbor looks at you funny or you realize you might be the one looking at somebody else funny, this could be the book for you. These twenty-three stories are not only powerfully good; they will continue to mess with your head long after you finish the book.
Monkey Justice: Stories
Patti Abbott
http://pattinase.blogspot.com/
Snubnose Press
http://snubnosepress.wordpress.com/
October 2011
E-book (estimated print length 255 Pages)
$1.99
PDF supplied by the publisher quite some time ago in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2012
Book Reviews and More... http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
The book opens with “Like A Hawk Rising.” Thanks to an injury on the most recent job, Bernie is home and stuck there while Marsha tries to take care of business. It isn’t like they don’t have problems of their own, but what is going on next door is really beginning to upset Bernie.
Art loves babysitting his granddaughter in “The Snake Charmer.” Art is not happy with what is going on around his granddaughter. Things have to be dealt with for Zelda’s sake.
Bob Mason knew something had happened to Lillian Gillespie in “Sleep, Creep, Leap.” The new neighbor is going to be way more interesting than Lillian ever was over the years. Whether she is really worth his interest remains to be seen.
Dreams are just part of the deal in “Bit Players” where not everyone can be a star. When you are a player in someone’s dream there are no retakes. You have to do it right the first time. When something goes wrong the subject wakes up.
Things are really bad when your brother prostitutes your sister to save the house. That is what happened in 1931 in “The Instrument Of Their Desire.” That may have saved the house, but it changed everything.
“Hole in the Wall” features an out of work guy by the name of Martin on vacation in Europe thanks to a fat severance package. He is only 28 and yet can’t seem to make any kind of connection with anyone. Martin deals with the problem in various ways and not all of them are legal.
Daddy has not been around in more than a decade. Prison time will do that. In “Escapes” Rex Knight has returned to the free world in Northern Indiana and things are going to change.
Rufe has not finished breakfast and already Georgie is outside waiting in “Georgie.” Rufe’s mom is doing what she has to do to supplement the family income. At 12 years old it is a good thing Rufe has a friend in Georgie.
Superman dealt with the awful Dave in “My Hero.” She keeps telling them what happened, but the police don’t believe her.
The title story “Monkey Justice” follows next. Cheryl never knew her husband was cheating on her. She never knew he had fathered another child at the same time she was pregnant. Delivering two weeks late meant that now she knows the extent of his betrayal. Nothing will ever be the same.
“On Paladin Road” a couple of the neighbors have sort of bonded over antique guns. One writes about them. The other one collects them. Another thing that brings them together is their age and the future is not looking too bright.
Margaret Olson has returned in “What Happened Next.” Patrick agreed to meet her for lunch and has no idea what she wants. She always had the power over him to get him to do things before she left. Her name may be different now, but she wants to pick up where they left off years ago. It is far too late for that as the years have changed everything.
Korin speaks in “Tongues” late at night and what she says clearly isn’t joyful. The ability to speak in tongues is fairly rare in society at large. It certainly does not happen at Southern New England Bible College. Other things she does would cause even bigger issues if they were known.
Life in a nursing home is the backdrop to “The Tortoise and the Tortoise.” George knows what goes on in the nursing home and isn’t happy that his status has slipped now that Father Ryan has arrived. Something has to be done.
Something also has to be done in “The Squatter.” The squatter next door, Gerry Upson, wants to borrow her phone and maybe something more. He made Annette Mueller uncomfortable at first¸ but now she feels something else.
In “The Trouble With Trolls” Dad wants Patrick and Denny to pick up a woman at the airport. Dad has plans and expect his sons to do what needs doing. Hopefully it won’t be as bad as the last time.
The interstate makes the commute to work much faster though it brings back bad memories. He would rather take the long way in “A Saving Grace.” Taking the long way will have its own consequence.
Like a lot of the stories in this book the narrator of “Girl Of My Dreams” is trapped in a prison of his own making. So he keeps going to work for a man he hates, making a sixty mile commute he hates, and watching his life pass on by because the alternative of starting over somewhere else is just too much. Of course there is a woman involved. A woman who will need Randy’s help.
The photographs freelancer Violet take at first in “Raising the Dead” don’t really work. They are missing something and don’t really reflect the real Detroit. The Detroit one can see just by looking over the window.
I was with Joe Piney way back when and now “I Am Madame X’s Bodyguard.” I used to be somebody that others feared and respected. At 50 plus times change and certain allowances have to be accepted.
Melissa has spotted a target in “Catnap.” First really good one in weeks and she plans to take full advantage.
Plagiarism is the problem in “RE: University Protocol On Incidents Of Student Plagiarizing.” Some students just don’t get it and will go to extraordinary lengths to make their point.
Things are far different for Ben in California than back in Portland with his mom. In “Souris” readers learn a few things about Ben, his dad, and the step mom’s family. “The Frenchies” are back and it is going to be a long summer visit.
The book concludes with a listing of publication data for the stories, a short author bio, and a listing of other titles published by Snubnose Press.
This collection of stories features primarily characters living on the edge of society. On the edge of society in the terms of financial status, moral compass, and occasionally even sanity. What unites them is a search for justice. In each case there is a need for justice--either perceived or in actuality in the world of the story. What they perceive to be justice can have disastrous and often fatal consequences.
If you want to feel uplifted and hopeful for humanity, this book is not for you. If you notice the neighbor looks at you funny or you realize you might be the one looking at somebody else funny, this could be the book for you. These twenty-three stories are not only powerfully good; they will continue to mess with your head long after you finish the book.
Monkey Justice: Stories
Patti Abbott
http://pattinase.blogspot.com/
Snubnose Press
http://snubnosepress.wordpress.com/
October 2011
E-book (estimated print length 255 Pages)
$1.99
PDF supplied by the publisher quite some time ago in exchange for my objective review.
Kevin R. Tipple © 2012
Book Reviews and More... http://kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/
March 16, 2017
This was an interesting collection of short stories, some intriguing, some odd, all from an author with a unique writing style and vision. I really liked the stories about the bad behavior of people who easily could be neighbors or co-workers, I enjoy scenarios describing the motivation that drives an "ordinary" person to commit a crime. Not that I ever would do such a thing...
May 9, 2012
In crime fiction, we see a lot of variations on staple characters. Grifters, killers, professional thieves, gamblers, corrupt cops, losers. And that’s all well and good, but…
Those aren’t, generally, the characters Patti Abbott gives us. Instead, the central players in Abbott’s stories are: your next door neighbor. The girl you work with at the office. Your mother. The clerk at your supermarket. Patti Abbott’s characters, in other words, are you and me.
The stories in MONKEY JUSTICE are intricate sometimes, multi-layered, and psychologically profound. They are character-driven pieces with central themes in common, most notably the idea of family and the hurt that comes with it.
Secrets. Lies. Melancholy. Betrayal. Those four Cardinal Virtues of Noir slither through each tale in MONKEY JUSTICE just like the fabled Biblical serpent, linking them together with dry scales.
These stories manage to be deeply emotional and devastating without ever resorting to sentimentality or predictable shlock. They are mature and stoic in the face of loss and bitter disappointment.
On a more practical note, Abbott fills this e-book to the brim. She could just as easily, for the price, split the volume into two separate collections and no one would have complained. Instead, she chooses to give the reader MORE than their money’s worth. I’m grateful for that, because after I’d read the last story I found myself in the unusual position of wanting another one. Reading Pati Abbott could very well become an addiction.
MONKEY JUSTICE is a collection of truly original, literary glimpses into the lives of ordinary, messed-up people, and one of the strongest collections of the year.
Those aren’t, generally, the characters Patti Abbott gives us. Instead, the central players in Abbott’s stories are: your next door neighbor. The girl you work with at the office. Your mother. The clerk at your supermarket. Patti Abbott’s characters, in other words, are you and me.
The stories in MONKEY JUSTICE are intricate sometimes, multi-layered, and psychologically profound. They are character-driven pieces with central themes in common, most notably the idea of family and the hurt that comes with it.
Secrets. Lies. Melancholy. Betrayal. Those four Cardinal Virtues of Noir slither through each tale in MONKEY JUSTICE just like the fabled Biblical serpent, linking them together with dry scales.
These stories manage to be deeply emotional and devastating without ever resorting to sentimentality or predictable shlock. They are mature and stoic in the face of loss and bitter disappointment.
On a more practical note, Abbott fills this e-book to the brim. She could just as easily, for the price, split the volume into two separate collections and no one would have complained. Instead, she chooses to give the reader MORE than their money’s worth. I’m grateful for that, because after I’d read the last story I found myself in the unusual position of wanting another one. Reading Pati Abbott could very well become an addiction.
MONKEY JUSTICE is a collection of truly original, literary glimpses into the lives of ordinary, messed-up people, and one of the strongest collections of the year.
December 23, 2011
It's not easy to define Patti Abbott's talent, for indeed that's what she is. I notice that Ken Bruen was hailing her in the intro to Grimm Tales where he suggests that she'll be up for an Edgar this time around for her entry there.
If that's the case, I fear that story has competition - from every one of the entries in here.
They are crime stories in the main, but they go beyond the run-of-the-mill telling of events and flow over into detail in every way a reader might require them. Setting, character and plot merge into perfection.
I read a lot of short stories. It's something I love. Monkey Justice ranks up with the best collections out there and you should check it out. That way, you'll be able to say you were aware of her talent ahead of the masses.
Should she choose to aim for the stars, this lady will go much further than the barn roof.
Class.
If that's the case, I fear that story has competition - from every one of the entries in here.
They are crime stories in the main, but they go beyond the run-of-the-mill telling of events and flow over into detail in every way a reader might require them. Setting, character and plot merge into perfection.
I read a lot of short stories. It's something I love. Monkey Justice ranks up with the best collections out there and you should check it out. That way, you'll be able to say you were aware of her talent ahead of the masses.
Should she choose to aim for the stars, this lady will go much further than the barn roof.
Class.
October 19, 2011
The twenty-three stories in this collection have appeared in various internet publications. Some I was familiar with, others I'd managed to miss. It's nice to have them all in one place.
The people that populate Patti's stories are all regular folks, whether they be housewives, husbands, a hit man in his later years, young folks. They get caught up in situations both ordinary and extraordinary, but never dull.
Patti has her own style and has developed her own reputation as a short story writer. It's easy to see where her daughter, novelist Megan Abbott, got her own prodigious talent.
Patti hasn't published a novel yet, but it's only a matter of time.
Quite enjoyed this collection, reading a couple of stories each morning over coffee. They go together well.
The people that populate Patti's stories are all regular folks, whether they be housewives, husbands, a hit man in his later years, young folks. They get caught up in situations both ordinary and extraordinary, but never dull.
Patti has her own style and has developed her own reputation as a short story writer. It's easy to see where her daughter, novelist Megan Abbott, got her own prodigious talent.
Patti hasn't published a novel yet, but it's only a matter of time.
Quite enjoyed this collection, reading a couple of stories each morning over coffee. They go together well.
February 3, 2013
Patti Abbott's stories are sort of slice-of life noir. She casts a keen eye on the worn and weary folks who could easily be your friends or neighbors.
There are some real gems in "Monkey Justice," but several clunkers as well which isn't surprising in so large a collection of stories. A few of the stories suffer from what appear to be convenient circumstance (or maybe not, it's hard to tell). Others just seem to be Raymond Carver style visits into people's lives that just stop rather than satisfactorily conclude.
But all the stories in "Monkey Justice" are told with the sure voice of an accomplished writer. Over all, Patti Abbott does not disappoint and "Monkey Justice" is well worth your time.
There are some real gems in "Monkey Justice," but several clunkers as well which isn't surprising in so large a collection of stories. A few of the stories suffer from what appear to be convenient circumstance (or maybe not, it's hard to tell). Others just seem to be Raymond Carver style visits into people's lives that just stop rather than satisfactorily conclude.
But all the stories in "Monkey Justice" are told with the sure voice of an accomplished writer. Over all, Patti Abbott does not disappoint and "Monkey Justice" is well worth your time.
January 7, 2012
This one really bowled me over. Twenty plus slices of awesome crime/noir in one lovely package that had me hooked from the very first sentence. The range here is superb, the characters very well drawn & believable & the dialogue pitch perfect. Hard to pick out favourites as the collection is very evenly balanced with the quality high throughout. Dip in & out or read cover to cover you will not be disapponited.
Stands with Keith Rawsons' The Chaos We Know as another exceptional Snubnose collection. Here's to many more
Stands with Keith Rawsons' The Chaos We Know as another exceptional Snubnose collection. Here's to many more
July 20, 2016
Patti Abbott has been a tremendous and tireless supporter of crime fiction for many years through her blog and in encouraging other writers. But Patti is also an amazing wordsmith in her own right, creating a variety of tightly-woven short-story gems that delve into the darkness of the soul in ways that are engrossing, compelling and will leave you thinking about them long after you've finished reading. Kudos to Snubnose Press for making this collection available!
January 9, 2013
Outstanding collection of short stories by an especially talented author. Tough, gritty and often very amusing. An amazingly talented author.
June 24, 2014
Patti Abbott is an absolute master of the short mystery story.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews