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Squall
Bush pilot and family man Tom Stokes is about to face the worst day of his life. On a clear winter morning he sets out in his Cessna 180 to do some repairs on a remote hunt camp, leaving his five year old son and very pregnant wife snug in their beds.
On the return trip, a squall forces him into an emergency landing and he winds up—quite literally—in the lap of petty criminal Dale Knight. Dale, now a fugitive from the law—and worse, from a merciless drug lord who just happens to be his brother—draws Tom into a web of mayhem and treachery that puts not only his life at risk, but the lives of his wife, son…and unborn child.
Squall is a fast-paced, darkly-comic tale of murder and gang-style retribution that grabs the reader on page one and simply does not let go.
On the return trip, a squall forces him into an emergency landing and he winds up—quite literally—in the lap of petty criminal Dale Knight. Dale, now a fugitive from the law—and worse, from a merciless drug lord who just happens to be his brother—draws Tom into a web of mayhem and treachery that puts not only his life at risk, but the lives of his wife, son…and unborn child.
Squall is a fast-paced, darkly-comic tale of murder and gang-style retribution that grabs the reader on page one and simply does not let go.
178 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2014
7460 people are currently reading
5103 people want to read
About the author
Sean Costello
18 books295 followersSean Costello is the author of nine novels and numerous screenplays. His novel Here After has been optioned to film by David Hackl, director of Saw V. Depending on the whims of his muse, Costello's novels alternate between two distinct genres: Horror and Thriller. His horror novels have drawn comparisons to the works of Stephen King, and his thrillers to those of Elmore Leonard. In the real world he's an anesthesiologist, but, if asked, he'd tell you he'd much rather be writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 962 reviews
July 1, 2017
Fast-paced action with little substance or humour is not my bag, but Squall also proved once again that swearing is not substitute for said substance or humour. And its not like I don't appreciate a good swear-fest.
I know that this may not need to be a funny book, but there are some scenes that are trying to be a Fargo-esque comedy, it's just that it doesn't balance right with the action elements and it makes the book feel like it is lacking direction.
On the bright side, this was a very quick read and I can finally take it off the TBR.
I know that this may not need to be a funny book, but there are some scenes that are trying to be a Fargo-esque comedy, it's just that it doesn't balance right with the action elements and it makes the book feel like it is lacking direction.
On the bright side, this was a very quick read and I can finally take it off the TBR.
December 4, 2025
Northern Ontario … so where are the butter tarts?
On page 1, Costello revs the engines and the tach is in the red banging against the stop. On page 2, he pops the clutch and SQUALL is off and screaming down the track in a billowing cloud of R-rated dust filled with drugs, violence, sex and off-colour gutter talk. If you like your thrillers a little more cerebral and a little less graphic, then you should be warned that SQUALL will not be your cup of tea. But it worked for me and, if you set it aside even one time for a breather and a bathroom break, then that’s one more time than I did. At only 178 pages, it’s an easy one sitting read through.
The story, though far-fetched, is simple enough. Tom Stokes, a northern bush pilot is out on a routine winter flight doing some maintenance on a cottage property that he and his very pregnant wife own. A winter storm forces him down and he crash lands on a cabin that (are you ready for this?) Dale Knight, a heroin addict and small time drug mule, and Ronnie Saxon, his erstwhile very bad girl fiancée, are holed up in. They’re on the run from Dale’s brother after they ripped him off for $250K in cash plus the heroin that the cash was supposed to pay for. Drug kingpin Randall Copeland wants his merchandise and the money back and he’s not in the mood to accept any excuses. Two ruthless enforcers are hot on their tail and Tom is about to encounter a little difficulty as he gets caught in the cross-fire.
The narrative is well-written and the plot unfolds at breakneck speed. There’s even a couple of absolutely hilarious laugh out loud moments that Costello achieves without breaking the mood or the pace. And that had to be a pretty neat writing trick all on its own. But I just couldn’t see my way clear to giving SQUALL any more than three stars. My problem was the ending. It was just a little bit too pat, too comfortable and, frankly, if not actually predictable, then far too neat and tidy for the gritty nature of the story and the characters. It just didn’t fit and I might describe it best by saying that the ending took me out of the mood and out of the story. It didn’t work.
I enjoyed SQUALL and I’m pleased that I took the time to read it but I have to admit I don’t have any stars in my eyes.
Paul Weiss
On page 1, Costello revs the engines and the tach is in the red banging against the stop. On page 2, he pops the clutch and SQUALL is off and screaming down the track in a billowing cloud of R-rated dust filled with drugs, violence, sex and off-colour gutter talk. If you like your thrillers a little more cerebral and a little less graphic, then you should be warned that SQUALL will not be your cup of tea. But it worked for me and, if you set it aside even one time for a breather and a bathroom break, then that’s one more time than I did. At only 178 pages, it’s an easy one sitting read through.
The story, though far-fetched, is simple enough. Tom Stokes, a northern bush pilot is out on a routine winter flight doing some maintenance on a cottage property that he and his very pregnant wife own. A winter storm forces him down and he crash lands on a cabin that (are you ready for this?) Dale Knight, a heroin addict and small time drug mule, and Ronnie Saxon, his erstwhile very bad girl fiancée, are holed up in. They’re on the run from Dale’s brother after they ripped him off for $250K in cash plus the heroin that the cash was supposed to pay for. Drug kingpin Randall Copeland wants his merchandise and the money back and he’s not in the mood to accept any excuses. Two ruthless enforcers are hot on their tail and Tom is about to encounter a little difficulty as he gets caught in the cross-fire.
The narrative is well-written and the plot unfolds at breakneck speed. There’s even a couple of absolutely hilarious laugh out loud moments that Costello achieves without breaking the mood or the pace. And that had to be a pretty neat writing trick all on its own. But I just couldn’t see my way clear to giving SQUALL any more than three stars. My problem was the ending. It was just a little bit too pat, too comfortable and, frankly, if not actually predictable, then far too neat and tidy for the gritty nature of the story and the characters. It just didn’t fit and I might describe it best by saying that the ending took me out of the mood and out of the story. It didn’t work.
I enjoyed SQUALL and I’m pleased that I took the time to read it but I have to admit I don’t have any stars in my eyes.
Paul Weiss
December 1, 2022
This is a short, taut, action thriller. I received a free copy of this from Sean Costello for an honest review. (This is one of the first times a writer sent me a book for free and asked me to write a review.) Most of the characters are well-rounded. The plot plays with you, setting up a predictable situation, but alters your expectations due to unpredictable plot twists. This is the finest type of narrative, when the author has you looking in one direction and takes you in a different one. Not a perfect story, but certainly interesting, entertaining, engaging, and made me question my morality where the story climaxes. This is an essential and unique aspect to the story. If you are a high-moral-minded person, you may begin to question your beliefs by the end of this story. Because of this aspect, IMHO the story stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page. For me this is a high recommend and anytime I see a new Costello offering, I will definitely count my pennies to try to purchase.
February 10, 2015
Don’t read any of Sean Costello’s books if you’re looking for one of those novels that sends the egghead crowd Ooo-ing and Aahh-ing. You know the type of book I’m talking about, the ones reviewers refer to as ‘multi-layered’ and ‘luminous’ or then tell you to ‘linger and savour’ the ‘quiet passages’. Damn, if it’s lingering and savouring you’re after then grab a slice of cheesecake and a nice cup of tea … but forget about Costello's novels because each one begins by laying down a long strip of rubber and then screams toward the far horizon. When you’re strapped into the passenger seat of one of these babies, you better hang on to the By-the-Jesus handle because you’re in for the ride of your life. And while the vector may seem like 180, you'll find the plot takes a sharp 90 before you can say boo.
If you’re looking for an old-school good read, turn to Costello. Like Raymond Chandler, Elmore Leonard, Georges Simenon or John D. MacDonald, his prose is tough, his dialogue is tight and his action is swift. But hold on, just because I’m saying you can easily read his work doesn’t mean you can turn off the old brain box. I’m not accusing Costello of creating a cowboy world of white hats and black hats. Just like Stephen King, Costello creates believable protagonists with some likeable traits … and some very dark stuff happening inside their heads (dare I say, ‘souls’). Take Peter Gardner (Captain Quad), the high school wunderkind who after being paralysed descends into a hellish world of rage and blood-soaked revenge. Or how about Scott Bowman (The Cartoonist), the psychiatrist who kills a child and then falls victim to the worm of guilt that chews through his sanity? Or Peter Croft (Here After), whose obsession with finding his child’s kidnapper leads him into an alternate reality? All these guys (and they are all guys) started out ordinary but then something happened to them. But what? That’s the silent question Costello poses, just as he asks if you can draw the line between normalcy and insanity, between the brightly-lit everyday world and the nightmare. How much does it take to push us across that line? I don’t know, do you? Costello suggests all it takes is a porcupine crossing the road (Captain Quad), a sudden winter storm (Squall), a moment of inattention (The Cartoonist), or a call in the night (Eden’s Eyes). Like the anaesthetist in Eden’s Eyes, will you find yourself looking down at an inert body you’re keeping alive only long enough for the scavengers to swoop in and take the eyes, the kidneys, the….? As with Edward Albee, Costello asks if we live our lives in a delicate balance and, if so, how little might it take to tip us to the dark side?
If you’re looking for an old-school good read, turn to Costello. Like Raymond Chandler, Elmore Leonard, Georges Simenon or John D. MacDonald, his prose is tough, his dialogue is tight and his action is swift. But hold on, just because I’m saying you can easily read his work doesn’t mean you can turn off the old brain box. I’m not accusing Costello of creating a cowboy world of white hats and black hats. Just like Stephen King, Costello creates believable protagonists with some likeable traits … and some very dark stuff happening inside their heads (dare I say, ‘souls’). Take Peter Gardner (Captain Quad), the high school wunderkind who after being paralysed descends into a hellish world of rage and blood-soaked revenge. Or how about Scott Bowman (The Cartoonist), the psychiatrist who kills a child and then falls victim to the worm of guilt that chews through his sanity? Or Peter Croft (Here After), whose obsession with finding his child’s kidnapper leads him into an alternate reality? All these guys (and they are all guys) started out ordinary but then something happened to them. But what? That’s the silent question Costello poses, just as he asks if you can draw the line between normalcy and insanity, between the brightly-lit everyday world and the nightmare. How much does it take to push us across that line? I don’t know, do you? Costello suggests all it takes is a porcupine crossing the road (Captain Quad), a sudden winter storm (Squall), a moment of inattention (The Cartoonist), or a call in the night (Eden’s Eyes). Like the anaesthetist in Eden’s Eyes, will you find yourself looking down at an inert body you’re keeping alive only long enough for the scavengers to swoop in and take the eyes, the kidneys, the….? As with Edward Albee, Costello asks if we live our lives in a delicate balance and, if so, how little might it take to tip us to the dark side?
February 2, 2016
A Quick and Engrossing Read
After trying to read, then abandoning a couple of other tedious books recently I was happy to find this book. It immediately captured my attention without going into drawn out and extraneous character development, plot settings and scenery descriptions. It was masterfully written with enough information to allow the reader to feel as though they were there watching, then got out of the way and let the characters develop through good dialogue and action descriptions. I look forward to reading more by this author...good work!
After trying to read, then abandoning a couple of other tedious books recently I was happy to find this book. It immediately captured my attention without going into drawn out and extraneous character development, plot settings and scenery descriptions. It was masterfully written with enough information to allow the reader to feel as though they were there watching, then got out of the way and let the characters develop through good dialogue and action descriptions. I look forward to reading more by this author...good work!
January 15, 2018
Confession time: I rarely read The synopsis of a book. I'll read just about anything. That being said, I had no idea what I was in for when I started reading this. Heroin, murder, planes. I liked it, but the entire time I was reading I had a feeling of dread when it came to possibilities of what could happen next. This book was a non stop roller coaster of events that seemed to drop once things started looking up.
April 8, 2020
Very short and very, very sharp. It’s one of those books with non-stop improbable action. On one level it’s popcorn for the brain but on another, it was fun, fast and furious with a satisfying ending. Read it in an afternoon without taxing your brain. I enjoyed it like a sugar rush...actually no, I don’t eat sugar. But if I did - you get the idea. I did enjoy it.
April 17, 2020
Short, quick read about people who are not in control of their circumstances. One thing leads to another, and lives are turned around. Nice happy ending.
June 15, 2020
This is a short story that contains violence, strong language, drug abuse and dealing. It is also a stand-alone and is wrapped up neatly at the end.
It reminded me a little of "Breaking Bad" the TV series. There was even a bit-part character called Guss Cranston!
I enjoyed this, though it isn't for you if you're easily offended or upset.
Thanks for reading.
It reminded me a little of "Breaking Bad" the TV series. There was even a bit-part character called Guss Cranston!
I enjoyed this, though it isn't for you if you're easily offended or upset.
Thanks for reading.
May 30, 2017
A quick, action-packed read that is far-fetched but engaging.
September 14, 2021
Great short story! I enjoyed all the action and the fun twists! The ending was a tad predictable but overall a great read.
August 10, 2018
After seeing so many reviews (7K+) here on Goodreads for this book, I decided to give it a try. First thing I noticed was how short a read it was, and that was the only relieving-cum-motivating factor for me to not DNF it but finish it ASAP instead.
Don't get me wrong, I am not calling off the book completely. I just don't understand why someone would want to read it. There is a story for the sake of it. Unrealistic choices made by the characters with dark comedy laced with swear words is a combination that doesn't work well IMO.
Haven't read any other book by Sean, so will try to give him one more chance before making up my mind about staying away from his works.
Verdict: Read only if you want to increase the count of read books in the annual challenge.
Don't get me wrong, I am not calling off the book completely. I just don't understand why someone would want to read it. There is a story for the sake of it. Unrealistic choices made by the characters with dark comedy laced with swear words is a combination that doesn't work well IMO.
Haven't read any other book by Sean, so will try to give him one more chance before making up my mind about staying away from his works.
Verdict: Read only if you want to increase the count of read books in the annual challenge.
September 1, 2021
I did not write a review right away, but it was very good, and here is what I remember. It's a short story, but with a lot of punch. First, it is cold and snowy. For the pilot things are great, great family lives by the lake and loves to fly. There are lots of bad guys and a few converge on the good guy. There is a plane crash, murders, drugs, some real characters, and an exciting ending.
You will like it. Try it!
Have a great day,
Mike
www.mikeslavinauthor.com for my award-winning crime/thriller, Kill Crime (KU too)
You will like it. Try it!
Have a great day,
Mike
www.mikeslavinauthor.com for my award-winning crime/thriller, Kill Crime (KU too)
October 31, 2016
Well this little thriller was just as cute as it could be. It kept me wondering what would happen next. It took a little longer than usual for me to come to like the characters, but once I got past that hurdle, it was a fun read. It really does pack a punch, there is a lot going on and more than one evil person to hate. In the beginning, I hated all of them, even the good guys 'cause they were just too good. But it all balanced out later. I'm glad I read it.
March 27, 2016
A waste of time. I really tried getting into this but the story just couldn't get my attention. Spent the whole book yawning and yearning for another book.
December 30, 2017
Really enjoyed it. Overall it was a very engaging read and the ending was incredibly funny. Would read more from this author in the future :)
June 15, 2020
A good, quick read, but more like a screenplay than a book.
November 14, 2016
This fast moving thriller has lots of action, tension and suspense. Parts of the story remind me of some of the "pulp-fiction" movies of the 80s.
There are "good guys" and "bad guys". I like Tom, Mandy and their young son Steve, who are the "good guys" accidentally caught in the middle of a drug deal gone wrong.
Some scenes are very graphic and I rate the language R for Restricted.
This book was a free download for me, probably from BookBub.
If you are looking for a quick thrilling read with lots of action and twists and turns in the storyline, and don't mind foul language and graphic scenes, Squall by Sean Costello is the book for you. 2.5⭐️.
I read this story to meet the requirements of 2 challenges on my Goodreads Book Club:
1. It has the picture of a house on the cover.
2. It takes place in the month of January.
There are "good guys" and "bad guys". I like Tom, Mandy and their young son Steve, who are the "good guys" accidentally caught in the middle of a drug deal gone wrong.
Some scenes are very graphic and I rate the language R for Restricted.
This book was a free download for me, probably from BookBub.
If you are looking for a quick thrilling read with lots of action and twists and turns in the storyline, and don't mind foul language and graphic scenes, Squall by Sean Costello is the book for you. 2.5⭐️.
I read this story to meet the requirements of 2 challenges on my Goodreads Book Club:
1. It has the picture of a house on the cover.
2. It takes place in the month of January.
February 4, 2016
Briskly paced, and darkly comic, this book is a very quick read. (Took me about an hour and a half) It's also highly implausible at times, but that just added to the fun.
I will have to look into more of this author's work.
I will have to look into more of this author's work.
January 16, 2018
Squall started off strong with some interesting characters caught up in a bad situation but started fizzling out in the middle. By the end it was a kind of predictable preposterousness.
February 28, 2019
Intriguing
Found myself reading this story in snatches! It was my "at work" book. Can tell you now, I won't be doing that again with a"gotcha"book. The story, once it "got" me it was difficult to put down.
I can envision a movie made for TV with this story-so I got over the language - it would be the same if on TV or @the movies.
I wonder-could a follow up book 2 be done built around the characters of the short-term including Sanj?--perhaps Sean could think on that ---P/
Found myself reading this story in snatches! It was my "at work" book. Can tell you now, I won't be doing that again with a"gotcha"book. The story, once it "got" me it was difficult to put down.
I can envision a movie made for TV with this story-so I got over the language - it would be the same if on TV or @the movies.
I wonder-could a follow up book 2 be done built around the characters of the short-term including Sanj?--perhaps Sean could think on that ---P/
March 7, 2020
How many times have we been duped into reading a book where the author has promised us a thriller, only to be disappointed and made to feel foolish and cheated when the book was anything but?
In Squall, Canadian author Sean Costello has delivered a thriller that’s actually thrilling. If this story and the skill with which it’s told don’t make your heart race then you may have not had a pulse to begin with.
Dale and his fiancée Ronnie have stolen drugs and money belonging to a dangerous mobster. Dale’s brother works for the mobster and dispatches two trained and deranged killers to find them.
Meanwhile a bush pilot with a very pregnant wife at home crash lands into the remote cabin where Dale and Ronnie are holed up in a blinding snow squall. Will the killers find them there, and what of the pregnant wife?
How this simple story develops into an intricate tale involving the five major characters who come together in a violent heart-pounding finish you will want to do yourself a favor and discover on your own.
While Squall has some harsh language and a climax that is more anti-climactic, it’s exactly the right length with no extraneous or unnecessary descriptions, dialogue or verbiage. It’s just a thriller that delivers on its promise.
In Squall, Canadian author Sean Costello has delivered a thriller that’s actually thrilling. If this story and the skill with which it’s told don’t make your heart race then you may have not had a pulse to begin with.
Dale and his fiancée Ronnie have stolen drugs and money belonging to a dangerous mobster. Dale’s brother works for the mobster and dispatches two trained and deranged killers to find them.
Meanwhile a bush pilot with a very pregnant wife at home crash lands into the remote cabin where Dale and Ronnie are holed up in a blinding snow squall. Will the killers find them there, and what of the pregnant wife?
How this simple story develops into an intricate tale involving the five major characters who come together in a violent heart-pounding finish you will want to do yourself a favor and discover on your own.
While Squall has some harsh language and a climax that is more anti-climactic, it’s exactly the right length with no extraneous or unnecessary descriptions, dialogue or verbiage. It’s just a thriller that delivers on its promise.
January 3, 2016
Tom Stokes and his wife have a small business in Ontario, Canada. In addition to being a bush pilot Tom and his wife own several remote hunting cottages. On a wintry day he sets out to make repairs to one of the cottages leaving his pregnant wife and five year old son safe at home. On the way home he encounters a winter storm and crash lands into another lake front cabin. The sole occupant, Dale Knight, is a petty criminal who is on the run after stealing heroin and drug money from his drug lord brother, Ed. Family man Tom Stokes and petty criminal Dale Knight are bound together. Ed has sent two killers to take care of his brother and return the money and heroin. As a result Tom's wife and son are in danger too. Together Tom and Dale race to try and save them. This is the first work I have read by Sean Costello. In reading it I was reminded of Breaking Bad meets the Coen Brothers. I doubt whether it will win the Nobel prize for literature but it was a quick read and I found myself liking some of the characters ... Tom Stokes and family and even Dale.
so-boring-i-stopped
February 1, 2019I stopped reading this book midway but I am pretty sure I didn't miss anything.
It was just so terribly predictable.
It started out with a gang-drug thing which isn't my kinda story setting but ok.
However there was nothing new. I have read/seen this a hundred times.
Only one thin was funny but then it was so absurd that it was just not right either...
I don't know.
Go get another book its a waste of time.
It was just so terribly predictable.
It started out with a gang-drug thing which isn't my kinda story setting but ok.
However there was nothing new. I have read/seen this a hundred times.
Only one thin was funny but then it was so absurd that it was just not right either...
I don't know.
Go get another book its a waste of time.
February 15, 2016
A cheap book; just a waste of time.
October 6, 2018
I adored this book so much that I almost managed to read it in one setting. Yes, there was swearing but it depicted the drug dealers and gangsters manners of speech and the setting was not an afternoon tea party. Brilliant eye-catching cover containing a thoroughly absorbing read, thank you Sean Costello.
February 4, 2021
This book was Great!! I laughed out loud and found myself enjoying Tom's story so much. I will very much look for another Sean Costello novel again! Thank you for the Good Read!!
August 8, 2017
GAB I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Sean Costello and Red Tower Publications in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for sharing your hard work with me!
This is a no holds barred thriller, without rest stops along the way. Rated R for language, folks, but a fast read set in deep winter in northern Canada. There are way more bad guys in hot cars and trucks than you can imagine on your own and when you add in the weather things don't look so good for the clean cut three and a half members of the Mom and pop flying service Stokes family. Well, four members before it's all over. This is a prolific author I am pleased to have discovered - he has enough back stories to keep my summer happy.
This is a no holds barred thriller, without rest stops along the way. Rated R for language, folks, but a fast read set in deep winter in northern Canada. There are way more bad guys in hot cars and trucks than you can imagine on your own and when you add in the weather things don't look so good for the clean cut three and a half members of the Mom and pop flying service Stokes family. Well, four members before it's all over. This is a prolific author I am pleased to have discovered - he has enough back stories to keep my summer happy.
June 14, 2017
Copeland smiled. “Ed, as always, it’s a pleasure doing business with you. You anticipate my every need. I can’t believe you came out of the same nutsack as that piece of shit brother of yours.” Then the smile was gone…I picked up this e-book for free on my Kobo, so I didn’t expect too much going into it. I have to say that it took me several days to finish reading it, despite the fact that it’s actually quite short. To be fair, it would be difficult for any book to capture my attention right after reading A Court of Mist and Fury, so I tried not to judge too harshly.
This is a quick-paced story about a drug deal gone wrong. None of the characters are particularly likeable, although one might argue that they are laughable (in a good way, of course). For example, this description of when we meet the notorious Copeland:
“The guy frisked him thoroughly, then led him downstairs to a thirty-seat home theatre where Copeland sat alone, sipping a cocktail and watching a Jackie Chan movie.”Am I the only one that’s amused by this? The characters are so real. They watch Jackie Chan movies and go to Tim Hortons for Iced Capps. That’s right, it takes place in my homeland. Land of the Timmy’s.
Anyways, I don’t really remember much else because things were happening, and then it ended, and that was it.
3 stars because this was just an okay read. It wasn’t terrible but it wasn’t fantastic either.
May 11, 2020
Funny, rowdy, complex story-
A lot of cussin' and killin', complicated twists and some hilarity as bad guys and gals perish and a baby gets born. Prompted me to look up the author's other books.
A lot of cussin' and killin', complicated twists and some hilarity as bad guys and gals perish and a baby gets born. Prompted me to look up the author's other books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 962 reviews