What do you think?
Rate this book
Amontillado
"Call me Fortunato. You won't be the first."
So begins Amontillado, a unique tale of lust, infidelity, and murder. From rainy street corners to candlelit bookstores to hidden tunnels deep below a nameless city, you'll be transported to a surreal world in which motives are mysterious, intentions are unclear, emotions wreak havoc, and one person's desire for adventure will lead everyone down a dangerous path.
Jacob Lyons is a writer, a drunk, and a bad husband, but he is no murderer. After an unfortunate encounter on a thunderous street corner, he finds himself surrounded by hostile detectives accusing him of being exactly that.
Daniel Jefferson is Jacob's only friend. Despite problems of his own, he is determined to help Jacob overcome the downward spiral of a crumbling life, but he can't foresee the trouble that awaits.
Breeana is a book lover who escapes her tired marriage by attending literary discussions and book club gatherings. One stormy night, when the electricity fails and her group discusses The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe, she meets an intriguing newcomer who ignites her passions and offers the adventure she desires.
That intriguing newcomer is the witty and mysterious Marcus McComber, a man with a dark past and darker intentions. He will tell the tale of his romantic conquests to the fellow who sits beside him every night at the local tavern: the writer, the drunk, the accused murderer named Jacob Lyons.
Amontillado is a circular experiment in repressed desire, unrequited love, uncontrollable passion, and the need for control, all mixed with the inexplicable evils of human nature that each can inspire. In the macabre tradition of Edgar Allan Poe himself, the story propels itself to a stunning conclusion, begging you to answer one simple question:
Who kills who?
So begins Amontillado, a unique tale of lust, infidelity, and murder. From rainy street corners to candlelit bookstores to hidden tunnels deep below a nameless city, you'll be transported to a surreal world in which motives are mysterious, intentions are unclear, emotions wreak havoc, and one person's desire for adventure will lead everyone down a dangerous path.
Jacob Lyons is a writer, a drunk, and a bad husband, but he is no murderer. After an unfortunate encounter on a thunderous street corner, he finds himself surrounded by hostile detectives accusing him of being exactly that.
Daniel Jefferson is Jacob's only friend. Despite problems of his own, he is determined to help Jacob overcome the downward spiral of a crumbling life, but he can't foresee the trouble that awaits.
Breeana is a book lover who escapes her tired marriage by attending literary discussions and book club gatherings. One stormy night, when the electricity fails and her group discusses The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe, she meets an intriguing newcomer who ignites her passions and offers the adventure she desires.
That intriguing newcomer is the witty and mysterious Marcus McComber, a man with a dark past and darker intentions. He will tell the tale of his romantic conquests to the fellow who sits beside him every night at the local tavern: the writer, the drunk, the accused murderer named Jacob Lyons.
Amontillado is a circular experiment in repressed desire, unrequited love, uncontrollable passion, and the need for control, all mixed with the inexplicable evils of human nature that each can inspire. In the macabre tradition of Edgar Allan Poe himself, the story propels itself to a stunning conclusion, begging you to answer one simple question:
Who kills who?
328 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2012
1 person is currently reading
267 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Koperski
5 books12 followersKevin Koperski is the author of
Amontillado
, a mystery novel that revolves around three lives as they take sudden turns when a dark, debonair stranger sits down at a book club to discuss The Cask of Amontillado by Edgar Allan Poe. Find it on Facebook and at www.amontillado-novel.com. Order it in hardcover now from Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Kevin spends half his time living and working in Chicago, half of his time in the Chicagoland suburbs with his two daughters, and the third half of his time commuting between the two places. That really doesn't leave any halves for writing, but somehow it gets done.
Learn more at kevinkoperski.com
Kevin spends half his time living and working in Chicago, half of his time in the Chicagoland suburbs with his two daughters, and the third half of his time commuting between the two places. That really doesn't leave any halves for writing, but somehow it gets done.
Learn more at kevinkoperski.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 25, 2012
For a few years, I was a musician who attained some success, depending on your definition of the word. For those years, music was my entire life and everyone I knew was very aware of exactly what I was up to. After I left that life and pursued a more standard path, my musical history was often just a bit of trivia to my acquaintances, and on the occasions that my new friends would finally hear the music I'd created, or be told of my travels and scattered notoriety, they would express surprise that one of their friends had achieved such things. This reaction would always amuse and flatter me, because I know how skeptical I have often been of other "musician" friends as well, whose creations so often disappointed.
And so I should have known better than to be equally skeptical of a co-worker and friend who revealed to me, many years ago, that he was working on a novel. Maybe it's because for all my own writing, I could never imagine coming up with an original story idea, let alone actually putting the effort into such a large work. Maybe it's just because I'd never been friends with someone who wrote a book before. Whatever the reason, I never expected to see the novel finished, and when it was published, I thought I would read the first couple chapters in secret just to see if I could even make it that far; I certainly did not expect to devour the entire thing in two days.
Amontillado is a murder mystery, a romance, and a tragedy, in equal parts. It is the story of Jacob and Bree, whose marriage has withered to nothing under the pressures of life and art; of Marcus, who sets his calculating and malevolent sights on Bree, and of Daniel, whose devotion to his friends gets him tangled up in more danger than he believes possible. The suspense is carefully cultivated as the story is told, with the characters themselves discussing literature in such a way that it caused me to guess at different possibilities, not only within the realm of what might naturally happen, but what tricks an author might employ in diverting the reader from guessing the truth. And most satisfying, the final resolution does not depend on a clever and contrived twist, but on a natural unfolding of events that nonetheless are not easily figured out.
The biggest compliment I can pay, however, is that this story got me thinking about my own marriage, about choices I've made and what effect they might have had that I was never aware of. There is some great insight tucked away in this story, the kind not concocted on behalf of the characters, but wisdom that the author has learned himself and deftly worked into the story for his readers' benefit.
I have but one complaint about the book, and that is the careful use of language which is quite welcome in the narration, but leaves some of the dialog feeling too scripted. Even with characters who are highly educated lovers of literature, their perfect turns of phrase do not always accurately represent the way most people speak. I wondered for some time whether the setting was modern or historic, but certain references did confirm it to be current. This may simply be the author's style, and it did not bother me much as I got further along, but it was a little off-putting at first, and I'm glad I forgave long enough to give the story itself a chance. I will admit that however unrealistic the voices can be at times, they are awfully fun to listen to.
I cannot remember the last book I read so fervently, and I am proud of my friend for creating such an engaging tale. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or drama.
And so I should have known better than to be equally skeptical of a co-worker and friend who revealed to me, many years ago, that he was working on a novel. Maybe it's because for all my own writing, I could never imagine coming up with an original story idea, let alone actually putting the effort into such a large work. Maybe it's just because I'd never been friends with someone who wrote a book before. Whatever the reason, I never expected to see the novel finished, and when it was published, I thought I would read the first couple chapters in secret just to see if I could even make it that far; I certainly did not expect to devour the entire thing in two days.
Amontillado is a murder mystery, a romance, and a tragedy, in equal parts. It is the story of Jacob and Bree, whose marriage has withered to nothing under the pressures of life and art; of Marcus, who sets his calculating and malevolent sights on Bree, and of Daniel, whose devotion to his friends gets him tangled up in more danger than he believes possible. The suspense is carefully cultivated as the story is told, with the characters themselves discussing literature in such a way that it caused me to guess at different possibilities, not only within the realm of what might naturally happen, but what tricks an author might employ in diverting the reader from guessing the truth. And most satisfying, the final resolution does not depend on a clever and contrived twist, but on a natural unfolding of events that nonetheless are not easily figured out.
The biggest compliment I can pay, however, is that this story got me thinking about my own marriage, about choices I've made and what effect they might have had that I was never aware of. There is some great insight tucked away in this story, the kind not concocted on behalf of the characters, but wisdom that the author has learned himself and deftly worked into the story for his readers' benefit.
I have but one complaint about the book, and that is the careful use of language which is quite welcome in the narration, but leaves some of the dialog feeling too scripted. Even with characters who are highly educated lovers of literature, their perfect turns of phrase do not always accurately represent the way most people speak. I wondered for some time whether the setting was modern or historic, but certain references did confirm it to be current. This may simply be the author's style, and it did not bother me much as I got further along, but it was a little off-putting at first, and I'm glad I forgave long enough to give the story itself a chance. I will admit that however unrealistic the voices can be at times, they are awfully fun to listen to.
I cannot remember the last book I read so fervently, and I am proud of my friend for creating such an engaging tale. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery or drama.
July 17, 2013
As a friend of the author and a fan of Edgar Allen Poe I was expecting great things from this novel. I was not disappointed. The characters are flawed but as you learn of their struggles, they become more engaging. The prose is beautiful and you can tell the author chose his words very carefully so as to enhance each moment and character. The book is a suspenseful page turner with a fantastic conclusion.
The author opens with Jacob Lyons in a police interrogation room. He's exhausted and can't even tell exactly what has happened to put him at the mercy of two relentless police detectives bent on obtaining his confession. And so the tale unfolds as we learn about the ties between his marriage, writer's block and drinking and how the other characters are effected by this. We meet Jacob's wife, Breanna Lyons. Bree misses her romantic, charming husband and can no longer stand that he spends more time at the bar than with her. She knows her marriage is dying, but she doesn't know what to do about it. We also meet Jacob's best friend, Dr. Daniel Jefferson. Recently divorced himself, and sympathetic to Jacob, he tries to help in the best way he can. Out of the shadows and into this ordinary situation steps the extraordinary Marcus McComber. He is danger and intrigue and mystery. Upon first meeting him, he is exactly what each of the characters need in their lives. As the catalyst that sets the tone for this mystery he is also the character that I enjoyed the most.
Since I dislike spoilers, I will stop right here. I will mention there was only one problem with this wonderful piece and it's mostly my own, not the author's. The story's timeline does a fair amount of jumping around, which I loved, but this did not work for me while reading it on the kindle. I suppose I could have bookmarked certain chapters and made notes on various revelations. However, I was so wrapped up in page turning that I realized I couldn't exactly remember when certain information dawned on certain characters and it took a little way from the climax. Perhaps a future purchase of a hardback copy for re-reading will take care of things while I patiently wait for this author's next work. Congratulations, Kevin!
The author opens with Jacob Lyons in a police interrogation room. He's exhausted and can't even tell exactly what has happened to put him at the mercy of two relentless police detectives bent on obtaining his confession. And so the tale unfolds as we learn about the ties between his marriage, writer's block and drinking and how the other characters are effected by this. We meet Jacob's wife, Breanna Lyons. Bree misses her romantic, charming husband and can no longer stand that he spends more time at the bar than with her. She knows her marriage is dying, but she doesn't know what to do about it. We also meet Jacob's best friend, Dr. Daniel Jefferson. Recently divorced himself, and sympathetic to Jacob, he tries to help in the best way he can. Out of the shadows and into this ordinary situation steps the extraordinary Marcus McComber. He is danger and intrigue and mystery. Upon first meeting him, he is exactly what each of the characters need in their lives. As the catalyst that sets the tone for this mystery he is also the character that I enjoyed the most.
Since I dislike spoilers, I will stop right here. I will mention there was only one problem with this wonderful piece and it's mostly my own, not the author's. The story's timeline does a fair amount of jumping around, which I loved, but this did not work for me while reading it on the kindle. I suppose I could have bookmarked certain chapters and made notes on various revelations. However, I was so wrapped up in page turning that I realized I couldn't exactly remember when certain information dawned on certain characters and it took a little way from the climax. Perhaps a future purchase of a hardback copy for re-reading will take care of things while I patiently wait for this author's next work. Congratulations, Kevin!
June 17, 2013
This book has it all from suspense to murder deceit love and lust. Its quite the attention getter and keeps you reading never knowing where it is going next. I'm not a big reader of dark tales and honestly quite often lose interest before I finish a book but this book was intriguing and made me want to read more. It was wonderfully written and I hope to see more from this author.
October 21, 2013
If you enjoy Edgar Allan Poe, you should really enjoy this novel. It is dark. The language is lush. And Poe's stories are embedded both as themes and as objects in the story. I will not describe the plot, because Koperski's development of that is part of the mystery of the story. But it includes love lost, love won, lust, friendship, despair, loneliness, and hate (not necessarily in that direction). Koperski is a first time novelist. In his author's notes, he indicates that this novel has been years in the making. I suspect there will never be another, or if there is, it will be nowhere as good as this one. It is tightly plotted. The use of language drips Poe. I loved it. I loved the characters except for the ones I hated.
Note: I noticed about four or five jarring grammatical mistakes. Considering the care with which the language was drafted throughout the book, I suspect this came from the type-setting. Of course, I read it on the Kindle app on my iPad, and I have seen some problems in that regard in other Kindle versions. Don't let that fear keep you away from the book.
Note: I noticed about four or five jarring grammatical mistakes. Considering the care with which the language was drafted throughout the book, I suspect this came from the type-setting. Of course, I read it on the Kindle app on my iPad, and I have seen some problems in that regard in other Kindle versions. Don't let that fear keep you away from the book.
February 26, 2013
‘Amontillado’ is the perfect read for a rainy weekend, a bowl of chicken-noodle soup and perhaps a glass or two of this book’s namesake. It is set in a sort of twilight world that David Lynch (of ‘Blue Velvet’ and ‘Mulholland Drive’ fame) would appreciate – one that deftly intermingles the sordid, the symbolic and the everyday yearnings familiar to us all. In this way, Koperski pulls us in to the baroque clockwork of his intricate noir plotline.
Jacob Lyons life is falling apart all around him. His ambitions are dying of neglect and so is his marriage. No one’s on his side and worse, neither is he. When his wife Breeanna leaves him, his world contracts to his best friend Daniel’s den, where he sleeps, and the bar where he spends his days drowning his sadness in booze. And it is the bar where Lyons is increasingly beset by his reluctant new acquaintance with Marcus McComber. McComber is having an affair with a married woman and seems determined to keep everyone in the bar regaled with the all the sordid details. Soon Lyons realizes he’s fallen from the frying pan squarely in to the fire. But from whence do the flames originate? The answers come as they must for all of us when we find ourselves at the mercy of another’s good will. When we find out how much love is left for us at the bottom of an ex-lover’s heart. How much loyalty a good friend holds for us after we’ve hit rock bottom. And how much sadism our enemies are prepared to inflict upon us at our weakest. What ‘Amontillado’ does best is make us ponder the answers to these questions by raising the stakes to life and death.
It raises these stakes in an entertaining and very readable way. Koperski’s use of imagery sets a pervasive and intimate tone. And his literary tie-in to the Poe classic ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ works as both an homage and plot device. Koperski’s prose is generous but well-paced.
If you’re like me, you’ll want to know what becomes of Jacob Lyons.
Jacob Lyons life is falling apart all around him. His ambitions are dying of neglect and so is his marriage. No one’s on his side and worse, neither is he. When his wife Breeanna leaves him, his world contracts to his best friend Daniel’s den, where he sleeps, and the bar where he spends his days drowning his sadness in booze. And it is the bar where Lyons is increasingly beset by his reluctant new acquaintance with Marcus McComber. McComber is having an affair with a married woman and seems determined to keep everyone in the bar regaled with the all the sordid details. Soon Lyons realizes he’s fallen from the frying pan squarely in to the fire. But from whence do the flames originate? The answers come as they must for all of us when we find ourselves at the mercy of another’s good will. When we find out how much love is left for us at the bottom of an ex-lover’s heart. How much loyalty a good friend holds for us after we’ve hit rock bottom. And how much sadism our enemies are prepared to inflict upon us at our weakest. What ‘Amontillado’ does best is make us ponder the answers to these questions by raising the stakes to life and death.
It raises these stakes in an entertaining and very readable way. Koperski’s use of imagery sets a pervasive and intimate tone. And his literary tie-in to the Poe classic ‘The Cask of Amontillado’ works as both an homage and plot device. Koperski’s prose is generous but well-paced.
If you’re like me, you’ll want to know what becomes of Jacob Lyons.
May 22, 2013
I love a book that keeps you in suspense and this book does a great job at that! You think you have it all figured out and....Bang....something twists or turns. I loved the characters in the book; u want to know what happens to them even after the book is finished. Love, suspense, humor, revenge...this book has it all. A not so classic take on it all. There's a bit of yourself in every character that makes them relatable, if not lovable. Definately worth the read.... Great job Kevin Koperski but a hard act to follow.
April 13, 2015
The writing here is spectacular and the underpinnings of Poe give this piece tremendous atmosphere and foreboding. Every once in a while I like a book that has no clear hero and this one fits the bill. What would have taken it to a 4 for me would have been a deeper, darker motive for McComber's manipulation and cruelty rather than just doing so because he could.
June 24, 2014
A completely (but well done) depressing tale. No real protagonist (Daniel is the closest thing to that) and deceptions are so perfectly plotted I was frustrated throughout. You practically want to yell at a couple of the characters to "look behind the curtain" and "watch out"! Enjoyable? No! Engrossing? Absolutely.
November 15, 2012
I don't know about anyone else, but I happen to think it was okay. I might be biased, of course.
May 22, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. There was a lot of foreshadowing, but never enough to completely predict what's going on. The characters were complex and human and the prose lovely.
July 9, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. The story seems very believable and the plot twists are both plausible and interesting enough to make you want to keep reading. My only (very anal) complaint seemed to be my desire to pinpoint a location. I feel like I'm bouncing somewhere between the UK and the US (not that this really matters to the story). Overall, I would recommend this to anyone that likes a good page turner and doesn't want to wait weeks to get through 1500 page novels only to find out there is no ending until 6 other books come out.
March 8, 2015
Slow start to the book, gets a little better during Part 2. I would not recommend to someone who is not a fan of Poe as this book is littered with Poe references. It is also full of foreshadowing, and within the first few chapters one can see the direction the book will take. The ending is not too big of a suspense or surprise, and rather just ends. At some points I got rather bored reading this, I feel the author tried too hard at times to relate his writings to Poe.
June 5, 2013
Disappointed! That's the word for this book. It had all the makings of a wonderful, creepy story, but it didn't deliver. The characters, especially Bree, were not believable.
May 6, 2013
Amontillada was a very good mystery with a classic feel. There were many twists and turns . . . and surprises. I highly recommend this book.
May 6, 2013
Loved this book.. Took me a bit to adjust to the setting, but the storyline and characters were captivating. Kept me guessing the entire time, enjoyed all of the twists and turns.
March 12, 2018
This was a great book, with a lot of mystery from the first page to the last. When I set it down at the end, I realized I missed the characters and being immersed in their world.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews