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Last Things
A chilling novel of the supernatural takes readers to the small dying East Texas town of Gilmer, where Luther Hazlitt is building traps to capture the Holy Spirit. By the author of Ordinary Horror. Reprint.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 30, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 11, 2023
Reading David Searcy is a lot like deciphering a David Lynch film. The pieces are all there, but it's up to you to put them together to form the larger picture, because no tidy, straightforward explanation will be provided. People who enjoy this will probably love his novels, while others who don't want to put in that kind of work will understandably hate them. I suspect this is why ratings for his books are so polarized. I also suspect Searcy might be a genius, but I will have to reread this and Ordinary Horror one more time in the future to decide for sure.
August 1, 2024
LAST THINGS is set in a part of East Texas near the little town of Sulphur Springs, a part of the state I knew well when I was growing up. Call it the frayed end of the Bible Belt.
One day when I was around 10, my grandfather took us all for a ride in his pick-up, we kids piled into the bed while the grownups rode in the cab. Red wolves were still a problem then in that part of Texas and they were trapped for bounty. We drove a few miles on dirt roads to the barbwire-fenced acreage where the bounty hunters took their kills. For over a mile, every fence post had a decaying wolf carcass hung on it, the first ones still fresh, but the line growing more decayed as we drove until the last few posts held only skeletal feet still tied like a bow around the weathered wood. Made quite an impression on me. LAST THINGS carries that kind of feeling on every page.
Southern Gothic turned into real horror, though it’s hard to put your finger on exactly what the horror is. You probably wouldn’t want to touch it even if you knew. It’s the story of a localized apocalypse heralded by giant catfish, scarecrows made of offal, madness, and blood. Searcy has a perfect feel for the language and the humor of that corner of Texas. He’s only written two novels but this one is a masterpiece.
One day when I was around 10, my grandfather took us all for a ride in his pick-up, we kids piled into the bed while the grownups rode in the cab. Red wolves were still a problem then in that part of Texas and they were trapped for bounty. We drove a few miles on dirt roads to the barbwire-fenced acreage where the bounty hunters took their kills. For over a mile, every fence post had a decaying wolf carcass hung on it, the first ones still fresh, but the line growing more decayed as we drove until the last few posts held only skeletal feet still tied like a bow around the weathered wood. Made quite an impression on me. LAST THINGS carries that kind of feeling on every page.
Southern Gothic turned into real horror, though it’s hard to put your finger on exactly what the horror is. You probably wouldn’t want to touch it even if you knew. It’s the story of a localized apocalypse heralded by giant catfish, scarecrows made of offal, madness, and blood. Searcy has a perfect feel for the language and the humor of that corner of Texas. He’s only written two novels but this one is a masterpiece.
January 17, 2017
I give this book a slightly higher rating than the average based on the way the story gets told. Searcy is clearly not bending to the modern injunctions that writers should follow Hemingway in the trimming away of all unnecessary decoration in writing. His prose is not difficult to follow, but it has a density through which only a neutrino might pass quickly, and he does an excellent job of presenting negative spaces which define matters rather than offering blunt exposition.
There is a small disappointment with the way the book ends, as it seems to more truncate than conclude, and I suspect this is why others rate it lower. If you're more concerned with the path than the destination, you're more likely to enjoy reading this book.
There is a small disappointment with the way the book ends, as it seems to more truncate than conclude, and I suspect this is why others rate it lower. If you're more concerned with the path than the destination, you're more likely to enjoy reading this book.
May 10, 2014
It is so rare to find a new, strong voice in horror that does not lean on gore and shock to make a point.
David Searcy is sublime in his treatment of a mystery, building with small clues and attention to detail, and a powerful, almost overwhelming sense of suspense. The characters are real and quite alive; not one is a stock character or a filler. All develop and maintain their integrity as individuals, as quirky and flawed as the people we encounter every day. It is set firmly in Texas, but people from anywhere will relate to the wry and specific setting.
Perhaps one in ten thousand people can write with any success in the present tense. Mr. Searcy does this with such grace that the reader hardly even realizes the book is written in the present tense. There are no awkward piles of verbs and shuffling of perspective...it's seamless, and to great effect.
He's been compared to a number of greats, including Flannery O'Connor...and with good reason. However, his own voice is so distinct, so compelling and addictive, that in time, I expect he will become a point of reference for quality literature himself.
I don't say that about just anyone...you can read my reviews.
This book moves at its own pace, won't be rushed, gives you only what you need and no more. It remains excellent the second time around, as well. (I first read this in 2007 or so)
So far, Mr. Searcy has given us two works. I continue to hope there may be more, but they are so sublime, I am also sure that they do not happen over night. Even if he never writes another word, his contribution to horror and literature in these two novels is extraordinary and considerable.
Try them.
David Searcy is sublime in his treatment of a mystery, building with small clues and attention to detail, and a powerful, almost overwhelming sense of suspense. The characters are real and quite alive; not one is a stock character or a filler. All develop and maintain their integrity as individuals, as quirky and flawed as the people we encounter every day. It is set firmly in Texas, but people from anywhere will relate to the wry and specific setting.
Perhaps one in ten thousand people can write with any success in the present tense. Mr. Searcy does this with such grace that the reader hardly even realizes the book is written in the present tense. There are no awkward piles of verbs and shuffling of perspective...it's seamless, and to great effect.
He's been compared to a number of greats, including Flannery O'Connor...and with good reason. However, his own voice is so distinct, so compelling and addictive, that in time, I expect he will become a point of reference for quality literature himself.
I don't say that about just anyone...you can read my reviews.
This book moves at its own pace, won't be rushed, gives you only what you need and no more. It remains excellent the second time around, as well. (I first read this in 2007 or so)
So far, Mr. Searcy has given us two works. I continue to hope there may be more, but they are so sublime, I am also sure that they do not happen over night. Even if he never writes another word, his contribution to horror and literature in these two novels is extraordinary and considerable.
Try them.
April 11, 2020
Last Things was long-winded and verbose but still compelling and enjoyable. The first chapter was outstanding and explains what you are in for in a unique and interesting way. Unfortunately, the rest of the book doesn't completely deliver. It's frustrating to read long passages about waiting for a fish to bite in excruciating detail and then have major plot points purposefully obscured or just never explained.
If Michael McDowell's Cold Moon Over Babylon was written by William Gay this would be roughly the result. If that sounds good to you then this is highly recommended.
If Michael McDowell's Cold Moon Over Babylon was written by William Gay this would be roughly the result. If that sounds good to you then this is highly recommended.
January 28, 2009
This feeds my fascination with religious fanaticism, and creepy, live scarecrows! For all Searcy missed with "Ordinary Horror", he hit spot on with "Last Things" - he finishes what he started! And while some may find the prose itself difficult, it is rather fluid and poetic, something which you don't ever seem to see anymore.
January 4, 2013
Deep, dark, interesting, and suspenseful enough to finish in two sittings--but I have no idea what actually happened. And I have no idea whether it was over my head or the author missed the mark.
Read
October 5, 2021Dnf.
July 26, 2017
I wanted to like this book; I really, really did. The concept is interesting and the writing is beautiful (the first paragraph alone may be one of the finest ever written in the horror genre). So what went wrong? Ultimately this felt like a short story that went on too long, and still doesn't give enough explanation to be satisfying.
**here come the spoilers**
What's up with the ending? What WAS the thing after all? A man? A creature? It seems to wear a coat that has things sewn in it, including a pocketknife, so my best guess is some kind of humanoid monster akin to that in the Jeepers Creepers films. But why? What is it's motive? Where did it come from? How does the town react to its discovery? Despite the author's elaboration on nearly everything else, this is left almost completely unexplained. Yes, the best horror leaves something to the imagination, but not EVERYTHING. Leaving something this major unexplained feels like a cop out, and as other reviewers have mentioned, the novel doesn't seem to conclude so much as it just stops. If anyone can help me understand what I missed here, I'd be appreciative.
**here come the spoilers**
What's up with the ending? What WAS the thing after all? A man? A creature? It seems to wear a coat that has things sewn in it, including a pocketknife, so my best guess is some kind of humanoid monster akin to that in the Jeepers Creepers films. But why? What is it's motive? Where did it come from? How does the town react to its discovery? Despite the author's elaboration on nearly everything else, this is left almost completely unexplained. Yes, the best horror leaves something to the imagination, but not EVERYTHING. Leaving something this major unexplained feels like a cop out, and as other reviewers have mentioned, the novel doesn't seem to conclude so much as it just stops. If anyone can help me understand what I missed here, I'd be appreciative.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2008
Very weird... hard to follow and you really have to concentrate on it to get what everyone is talking about... in fact, it reminded me of one of those dreams that you have... where everyone is talking to you about something, and you kind of go along with the flow hoping to catch a hint about what they are talking about.... I give it a three star because right up to the end, you have NO CLUE as to who or what is causing all the grief... good suspense.
June 22, 2007
Bizarre horror story by my friend's dad. Quite intellectual with an excessive use of big words & fancy sentence structure, but that's just what he's like. Successfully eerie, though.
August 23, 2007
Unsettling. There's no other word for this book. I wouldn't even no where to begin.
October 12, 2025
Bruh.
The prologue seemed promising and it was all downhill from there. "Shit" is the most used word in the book, and that isn't even an exaggeration. It will switch between pages of single sentences of dialogue between characters about different topics (so not even a conversation) and half of it is just them saying "shit" back and forth, and sentences that last an entire paragraph, and paragraphs that last entire pages. It's so overly descriptive on irrelevant things and just glances over the most important stuff (spending pages describing the way a dead body looks at a distance vs the reaction to seeing said body). So confusing the entire time.
The build up to the climax took so long, building the trap. Only for the climax to last... two pages? Again, it lacked so much detail that I don't even really know what happened or what the Thing even was. I didn't know what kind of horror I was reading (serial killer? monster? some messed up deer?) until the last quarter of the book (okay, it has to be a monster), and after finishing the book, I still have zero clue what it was. Human...oid? It goes "There was a lot of banging. When it was over, we went outside and it was dead." Hardly an exaggeration.
I read this book to put me to sleep when I was struggling with insomnia. It's the only reason I finished it.
The prologue seemed promising and it was all downhill from there. "Shit" is the most used word in the book, and that isn't even an exaggeration. It will switch between pages of single sentences of dialogue between characters about different topics (so not even a conversation) and half of it is just them saying "shit" back and forth, and sentences that last an entire paragraph, and paragraphs that last entire pages. It's so overly descriptive on irrelevant things and just glances over the most important stuff (spending pages describing the way a dead body looks at a distance vs the reaction to seeing said body). So confusing the entire time.
The build up to the climax took so long, building the trap. Only for the climax to last... two pages? Again, it lacked so much detail that I don't even really know what happened or what the Thing even was. I didn't know what kind of horror I was reading (serial killer? monster? some messed up deer?) until the last quarter of the book (okay, it has to be a monster), and after finishing the book, I still have zero clue what it was. Human...oid? It goes "There was a lot of banging. When it was over, we went outside and it was dead." Hardly an exaggeration.
I read this book to put me to sleep when I was struggling with insomnia. It's the only reason I finished it.
July 1, 2017
Totally enjoyed the dialogues - even better when read aloud; that is if you have familiarity with accents. (Three years stationed in Europe with roommates from Corpus Christie, Orlando, Spartanburg, Wheeling, Charlotte and Roanoke just about obliterated my Yankee talk.) Luther, Agnes, Willis et al come across so naturally. I didn't find the suspense as gripping as others had - it was just there.
Some readers found the writing to wordy - I did notice, one paragraph for example Chapter 23 - was two and one half pages long. Just sayin'.
Some readers found the writing to wordy - I did notice, one paragraph for example Chapter 23 - was two and one half pages long. Just sayin'.
May 22, 2019
Man, I was so pissed off after reading the 277 pages of this book. He needed to write at least 100 more to tell the reader about all kinds of threads that crossed over each other but we not resolved in the end. I gave it three stars because the writing is excellent and because I loved the book-great characters, a strong sense of place, murders, and all kinds of really weird and wonderful small town stuff. I didn't even add any tags. He missed a great opportunity for an excellent book.
January 4, 2020
Another reviewer said this should have been a short story, and I think that's a pretty good evaluation. The first third was interesting, the middle third dragged on way too long, and the last third did a great job of building suspense...
And then it ended.
A short story can get away with that, I think. But a novel must offer more to reward the time invested.
And then it ended.
A short story can get away with that, I think. But a novel must offer more to reward the time invested.
September 9, 2017
Didn't finish
July 24, 2018
Well written. But I couldn’t make heads nor tails out of it.
February 28, 2016
Overly wordy, sentances which run on to the size of paragraphs, big complicated words where they really don't need to be, and complete disconnection between the "narrative" voice and the characters' thinkins. This book was so hard to get into. More than half the time I had no idea what was going on. Way too many metaphors and similies.
March 2, 2014
Eh. It was predictably weird, but for whatever reason, I just couldn't get "into" it....
abandoned
May 29, 2016I could give two stars to abandoned books, but I guess I'm acknowledging it could have gotten better. I give Searcy credit for trying to create his own mixture of literary fiction and horror.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews