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The Clearing of Travis Coble
Travis Coble didn’t kill and eat his family. At least that’s what a jury decided twenty years ago. But like Lizzie Borden, Travis Coble was branded guilty by an angry public and consigned to a life of suspicious whispers and sidelong stares. Now, Professor Dick Myers wants to clear Travis’s name once and for all. An interview with the reclusive mountain man would not only bring Myers fame—it could save his job.But Myers will find more than a good story in Coble’s isolated shack in the Smoky Mountains. He will find the truth about what happened twenty years ago...and the true meaning of horror.A new work of terror from the author of the worldwide bestseller Old Order.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
33 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 4, 2013
9 people are currently reading
176 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Janz
61 books2,102 followersJonathan Janz is an author and public schoolteacher. His sci-fi horror novel VEIL is now available, and you can find his story "Lenora" in THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: NEW TALES OF STEPHEN KING'S THE STAND. He’s represented for Film & TV by Adam Kolbrenner of Lit Entertainment, and his literary agent is Lane Heymont. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novels Children of the Dark and The Dark Game were chosen by Booklist and Library Journal as Top Ten Horror Books of the Year. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children. You can sign up for his newsletter (http://jonathanjanz.us12.list-manage....), and you can follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
September 20, 2016
THE CLEARING OF TRAVIS COBLE, by Jonathan Janz, might have started off as your typical "backwoods horror story", but turned out to have much more to it than I was expecting. (And when it comes to this author's work, I set the bar pretty high....). Dick Meyers, a professor in desperate need of a story that will get his career back on track, is out to interview Travis Coble--a man acquitted of murdering his family twenty years prior.
Although acquitted, Coble has retained a reclusive life ever since, as the small town talk still brand him as "guilty" despite the lack of evidence. I won't go into many details, since this is a shorter tale, but the atmospheric tension in this story is intense right from the start, and just continues to build throughout the entire length. At one point, I felt myself feeling slightly ill at the same time our protagonist is fighting against the oppressive heat and dehydration. Janz expertly weaves all the clues to the tale of the events leading to the trial, but in such a clever way that you may not even notice them until you finish and then look back upon everything!
This author is NOT to be missed--if you haven't read anything by Jonathan Janz yet, I highly recommend looking up anything under his name.
Although acquitted, Coble has retained a reclusive life ever since, as the small town talk still brand him as "guilty" despite the lack of evidence. I won't go into many details, since this is a shorter tale, but the atmospheric tension in this story is intense right from the start, and just continues to build throughout the entire length. At one point, I felt myself feeling slightly ill at the same time our protagonist is fighting against the oppressive heat and dehydration. Janz expertly weaves all the clues to the tale of the events leading to the trial, but in such a clever way that you may not even notice them until you finish and then look back upon everything!
This author is NOT to be missed--if you haven't read anything by Jonathan Janz yet, I highly recommend looking up anything under his name.
June 12, 2023
Not my favorite Janz work, but it was entertaining enough for the short length of the story... it was definitely disturbing in a “this could actually happen” sort of way. Near the end there was a particular element about the plot which bugged me, but otherwise decent for someone looking for a quick and unsettling horror tale. The vibe reminded me a lot of Joe Hill’s short story “Best New Horror,” or in some ways even the film “House of 1,000 Corpses.” Bonus points for the Shirley Jackson reference.
September 25, 2019
This started out kind of interesting, at least it had potential. I do like the whole mountain man trope and this short story seemed like it make take it in a different and unique direction. WRONG. It became clear about halfway through where this story was going and I couldn't have rolled my eyes harder. What a typical "twist" for this type of story. It goes in the direction of Deliverance and it was honestly stupid.
I do enjoy Janz's writing normally, but this was not his best work.
I do enjoy Janz's writing normally, but this was not his best work.
March 28, 2013
Originally published on Not Now...Mommy's Reading
The only thing that could have made this short read better is if it had been longer!!! Yet to have added anything at all to The Clearing of Travis Coble by Jonathan Janz would have been an injustice! I know! I know! That makes absolutely no sense but there are no words adequate enough to describe the feels I had while reading this tale! I will say that immediately after finishing this story - I went on Amazon to look up every title by this author!
Okay, enough with the exclamation points. The Clearing of Travis Coble starts off by introducing the reader to Dick Myers, a college professor hoping to make a name for himself - and keep his job - by interviewing the infamous Travis Coble. Years ago, Coble was put on trial for the possible murder and cannibalization of his family members. Although he was found innocent of the charges, the community that Coble lives in still views him as a killer.
Myers sets up an interview with Coble under the pretense of wanting to know how the community's treatment of him after the trial has affected him. Of course, we quickly find out that Myers has an ulterior motive for wanting to meet the mountain man many have deemed a monster. Myers isn't a very likeable character - at least not to me. Yet I couldn't help but feel for him because he seemed to have this sense of desperation about him that made his less than straightforward dealings with Travis almost excusable. I found the character of Travis Coble to be so intriguing! I wanted to know more about him - his background, the inner workings of his mind. I wanted to know about the man who stood on trial and what shaped him to become the man who Myers met in the mountains. Intrigued is the word I would use to describe how I felt right up until the end of the story and then - BAM! I promise you - I thought I knew what was coming but the author does such an amazing job of keeping the reader on edge that I was hesitant to say "I told you so". However, when Myers discovers the truth behind the Coble case....maaaaan, it was truly terrifying to me! Like I was mentally saying, "Noooooo!!! I wasn't ready" (Kevin Hart voice). I so wanted the author to do a do-over because what Myers had to face was at the top of my nightmare list. Seriously.
I'm a mom. A reader. A reviewer. I have no professional publishing experience whatsoever. Yet I can almost guarantee that if Jonathan Janz decided to take Travis Coble and feature him in a full-length novel (or two or three...) - he would be making a very sound career move AND would earn himself a spot on this reader's coveted "Must-Read" list! Reminiscent of Texas Chainsaw Massacre done literary-style, The Clearing of Travis Coble is a must-read for horror fans!
The only thing that could have made this short read better is if it had been longer!!! Yet to have added anything at all to The Clearing of Travis Coble by Jonathan Janz would have been an injustice! I know! I know! That makes absolutely no sense but there are no words adequate enough to describe the feels I had while reading this tale! I will say that immediately after finishing this story - I went on Amazon to look up every title by this author!
Okay, enough with the exclamation points. The Clearing of Travis Coble starts off by introducing the reader to Dick Myers, a college professor hoping to make a name for himself - and keep his job - by interviewing the infamous Travis Coble. Years ago, Coble was put on trial for the possible murder and cannibalization of his family members. Although he was found innocent of the charges, the community that Coble lives in still views him as a killer.
Myers sets up an interview with Coble under the pretense of wanting to know how the community's treatment of him after the trial has affected him. Of course, we quickly find out that Myers has an ulterior motive for wanting to meet the mountain man many have deemed a monster. Myers isn't a very likeable character - at least not to me. Yet I couldn't help but feel for him because he seemed to have this sense of desperation about him that made his less than straightforward dealings with Travis almost excusable. I found the character of Travis Coble to be so intriguing! I wanted to know more about him - his background, the inner workings of his mind. I wanted to know about the man who stood on trial and what shaped him to become the man who Myers met in the mountains. Intrigued is the word I would use to describe how I felt right up until the end of the story and then - BAM! I promise you - I thought I knew what was coming but the author does such an amazing job of keeping the reader on edge that I was hesitant to say "I told you so". However, when Myers discovers the truth behind the Coble case....maaaaan, it was truly terrifying to me! Like I was mentally saying, "Noooooo!!! I wasn't ready" (Kevin Hart voice). I so wanted the author to do a do-over because what Myers had to face was at the top of my nightmare list. Seriously.
I'm a mom. A reader. A reviewer. I have no professional publishing experience whatsoever. Yet I can almost guarantee that if Jonathan Janz decided to take Travis Coble and feature him in a full-length novel (or two or three...) - he would be making a very sound career move AND would earn himself a spot on this reader's coveted "Must-Read" list! Reminiscent of Texas Chainsaw Massacre done literary-style, The Clearing of Travis Coble is a must-read for horror fans!
December 31, 2013
I've been meaning to read something by Jonathan Janz. After enjoying his blog post, "The Beast Under the Tree", I got curiouser and curiouser. I've watched lots of horror movies but rarely read horror stories. I thought I'd start today, pick something short and read during the day (for obvious reasons).
The Clearing of Travis Coble did not disappoint. The story was creepy, the characters & plot well formulated and the writing was impeccable! I rather liked being frightened by this chilling tale!
However, it made me glad I'm a city girl and reminded me to stay far away from scary, remote, backwoods towns!
Hope I forget the mental images by bedtime, but it won't stop me from reading more of JJ's books!! ; )
5 heart pounding stars!
The Clearing of Travis Coble did not disappoint. The story was creepy, the characters & plot well formulated and the writing was impeccable! I rather liked being frightened by this chilling tale!
However, it made me glad I'm a city girl and reminded me to stay far away from scary, remote, backwoods towns!
Hope I forget the mental images by bedtime, but it won't stop me from reading more of JJ's books!! ; )
5 heart pounding stars!
October 21, 2015
An excellent early short from one of my new favourite writers, Jonathan Janz, The Clearing of Travis Coble is everything you want a backwoods, redneck, fish-out-of-water, horror story to be. Coble is written especially strongly, and while the direction the narrative takes might be fairly obvious, the details of it are most definitely not
Compelling and easily consumable in one sitting, this is tale that speaks of the promise Janz is already beginning to fulfill.
4 Reasons Academics Aren't Cut Out For the Field for The Clearing of Travis Coble.
Compelling and easily consumable in one sitting, this is tale that speaks of the promise Janz is already beginning to fulfill.
4 Reasons Academics Aren't Cut Out For the Field for The Clearing of Travis Coble.
March 7, 2015
Everything a successful short should be. Zero filler and lots of character, packed into a compact format. Very nicely done.
April 12, 2013
This book should come with a warning on it.
“Read at your own risk!”
It’s truly not for the faint of heart.
Description
Travis Coble didn’t kill and eat his family. At least that’s what a jury decided twenty years ago.
My Review
I love character driven stories and there are some doozies in this one.
The author wrote each character so distinctly, their voices were so individual, I could pick them out without reading which was which, just like hearing their conversations.
Travis Coble is the stereotypical red-neck. He lives in the mountains in a ramshackle house. The yard is filled with rusted out junk and broken toys, and the weeds have taken over.
Professor Myers has his doubts about Coble’s guilt. He’s thinking how great it would be if he could prove the man’s innocence. What a big splash it would make.
The professor has an air of superiority about him, which doesn’t sit well with Travis, and he needs this story so he brings it down a notch. He’s researched Travis and his murder trial and knows the man is crafty, has an evil intelligence. He needs to keep his wits about him.
As the interview progresses, so does Travis’s belligerence. Professor Myers is no match for him.
The suspense is subtle at first. It creeps up on you slowly and you become aware of something nasty coming soon. I swear I would have screamed if someone had spoken while I was reading the ending.
I was so wrapped up in the final scenes. While I was grossed out by what was happening and what I visualized was coming next, it was more suggestion than graphic description. That’s what made it so horrifying.
I swear I heard the whisper of dueling Banjo’s while reading this. If you’ve seen the movie Deliverance, you’ll know what I mean.
5 Stars for making my skin crawl!
Thanks to Brendan at untreed reads for providing me with this book.
And thank you, Jonathan, for making me afraid to go to sleep! That’s what a horror book should do.
“Read at your own risk!”
It’s truly not for the faint of heart.
Description
Travis Coble didn’t kill and eat his family. At least that’s what a jury decided twenty years ago.
My Review
I love character driven stories and there are some doozies in this one.
The author wrote each character so distinctly, their voices were so individual, I could pick them out without reading which was which, just like hearing their conversations.
Travis Coble is the stereotypical red-neck. He lives in the mountains in a ramshackle house. The yard is filled with rusted out junk and broken toys, and the weeds have taken over.
Professor Myers has his doubts about Coble’s guilt. He’s thinking how great it would be if he could prove the man’s innocence. What a big splash it would make.
The professor has an air of superiority about him, which doesn’t sit well with Travis, and he needs this story so he brings it down a notch. He’s researched Travis and his murder trial and knows the man is crafty, has an evil intelligence. He needs to keep his wits about him.
As the interview progresses, so does Travis’s belligerence. Professor Myers is no match for him.
The suspense is subtle at first. It creeps up on you slowly and you become aware of something nasty coming soon. I swear I would have screamed if someone had spoken while I was reading the ending.
I was so wrapped up in the final scenes. While I was grossed out by what was happening and what I visualized was coming next, it was more suggestion than graphic description. That’s what made it so horrifying.
I swear I heard the whisper of dueling Banjo’s while reading this. If you’ve seen the movie Deliverance, you’ll know what I mean.
5 Stars for making my skin crawl!
Thanks to Brendan at untreed reads for providing me with this book.
And thank you, Jonathan, for making me afraid to go to sleep! That’s what a horror book should do.
March 28, 2013
Review of The Clearing of Travis Coble
5 stars
I learned of this book from the publisher’s group on Goodreads (Untreed Reads) and enjoyed the comments so much I determined to buy and read it. I certainly was not a bit disappointed; it was well worth the time reading it and I foresee I’ll be rereading it. For the shorter length, the author does a remarkable job of deepening several characters, kind of like holding a diamond up to the sunlight and turning it around and around looking at the various facets. Also the plotting here has the kick of a boomerang, when the thrower doesn’t think to get out of its way. I must point out that although the outcome (and the process to get there) is gently foreshadowed, never once is it telegraphed and I did not see it coming at all.
I can’t wait to read more from this accomplished author.
5 stars
I learned of this book from the publisher’s group on Goodreads (Untreed Reads) and enjoyed the comments so much I determined to buy and read it. I certainly was not a bit disappointed; it was well worth the time reading it and I foresee I’ll be rereading it. For the shorter length, the author does a remarkable job of deepening several characters, kind of like holding a diamond up to the sunlight and turning it around and around looking at the various facets. Also the plotting here has the kick of a boomerang, when the thrower doesn’t think to get out of its way. I must point out that although the outcome (and the process to get there) is gently foreshadowed, never once is it telegraphed and I did not see it coming at all.
I can’t wait to read more from this accomplished author.
December 29, 2015
Review to come
August 2, 2013
Book source ~ Many thanks to Untreed Reads for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
It’s been 20 years since Travis Coble was acquitted in the murder of his two younger brothers, Ike and B.J. Dick Meyers, a psychology professor at a university in Chicago, wants to write a paper about Coble, how being acquitted by a jury of his peers yet still seen as a murderer by the locals has affected his life. The only important question that needs to be answered however is whether Meyers will come out of the interview unscathed.
Right out of the gate this story caused my skin to crawl with every word, every sentence, every paragraph, until I just wanted to yell at Meyers to get the hell outta there. That this wouldn’t end well. Oh boy, I hate when I’m right.
It’s been 20 years since Travis Coble was acquitted in the murder of his two younger brothers, Ike and B.J. Dick Meyers, a psychology professor at a university in Chicago, wants to write a paper about Coble, how being acquitted by a jury of his peers yet still seen as a murderer by the locals has affected his life. The only important question that needs to be answered however is whether Meyers will come out of the interview unscathed.
Right out of the gate this story caused my skin to crawl with every word, every sentence, every paragraph, until I just wanted to yell at Meyers to get the hell outta there. That this wouldn’t end well. Oh boy, I hate when I’m right.
October 4, 2017
Quick read
Well.... I was not enamoured with this short story. I sort of plodded through it and some of the tells were a bit too obvious. The ending made up the majority of my rating because it compensate for much of the story. If you wanna read awesome Janz, start with the Savage series.
Well.... I was not enamoured with this short story. I sort of plodded through it and some of the tells were a bit too obvious. The ending made up the majority of my rating because it compensate for much of the story. If you wanna read awesome Janz, start with the Savage series.
October 25, 2019
This was fine. Janz is very hit-or-miss for me, and while this wasn’t a total miss, it was pretty cliche.
October 24, 2022
3.5 I missed Jonathan Janz. Can't give it much, it's too short for me.
The story is simple and seen before really, but we have more focus on the characters, which is always interesting. This is very short and you'll fly through it. Janz's style is always great in my opinion; good writing, good characters and manages to be gross and creepy.
The story is simple and seen before really, but we have more focus on the characters, which is always interesting. This is very short and you'll fly through it. Janz's style is always great in my opinion; good writing, good characters and manages to be gross and creepy.
February 22, 2015
Dick Myers is a psychology professor from Chicago that is afraid he's about to lose his job unless he can achieve notoriety by getting a research paper published that'll garner him accolades. And Dick knows exactly what to write about - Travis Coble. You see Travis is a modern day Lizzie Borden. He lives in the remote wilderness of the Smokey Mountains and twenty years ago he was acquitted of murdering and eating his parents. For the past twenty years, Coble has had to live in the eye of public scrutiny and Myers thinks that will make for a fine paper. A paper that will save his job. He'll just travel into the backwoods of Tennessee and interview Coble. There's nothing to be afraid of since he was found innocent, right?
Janz story isn't completely original. It wears it's influences of Deliverance and Texas Chainsaw Massacre proudly on its sleeve. And Janz delivers the goods with authority. His tale is so vividly descriptive, I dare you to read about the interview on the back porch of the remote cabin in a sweltering hundred degree heat and not reach for a glass of water. Just a fun, nasty read that'll stay with you for days. I can't praise it enough.
5 out of 5 stars
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
TWITTER - @KenMcKinley5
Janz story isn't completely original. It wears it's influences of Deliverance and Texas Chainsaw Massacre proudly on its sleeve. And Janz delivers the goods with authority. His tale is so vividly descriptive, I dare you to read about the interview on the back porch of the remote cabin in a sweltering hundred degree heat and not reach for a glass of water. Just a fun, nasty read that'll stay with you for days. I can't praise it enough.
5 out of 5 stars
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
TWITTER - @KenMcKinley5
April 13, 2014
The Clearing of Travis Coble is the second piece of short fiction I have read by Jonathan Janz (the first being the excellent Witching Hour Theatre) and I will say with undeniable gusto that it is a form in which he excels. This story has great characters, perfect pacing, and is propelled by an inexplicable sense of impending doom. The feeling of unease and discomfort, of sweat and feverous anxiety, move forward toward a climax that I could not have predicted during the beginning of the story. Great stuff, right here. Highly recommended!
March 28, 2013
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Sammy
This was a super short story, but an extremely well written old school horror. I really enjoyed this story, while short, the author was still able to make his characters interesting and even added depth to them. Some of the most refreshing usage of vocabulary that I have seen in a long time. Excellent super creepy horror story, with an ending that you might think you see coming, but with a surprising twist.
I highly recommend this for adult horror fans. I have already added more books by this author to my to-read list!
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
This was a super short story, but an extremely well written old school horror. I really enjoyed this story, while short, the author was still able to make his characters interesting and even added depth to them. Some of the most refreshing usage of vocabulary that I have seen in a long time. Excellent super creepy horror story, with an ending that you might think you see coming, but with a surprising twist.
I highly recommend this for adult horror fans. I have already added more books by this author to my to-read list!
http://openbooksociety.com/article/th...
February 5, 2014
Jonathan Janz managed to formulate an awesome story line, with some very interesting characters, for such a short read. This was very well written. The creep and gore factor I've come to expect in JJ's books was as always impeccably thought out. This one will keep you hooked and wanting more. I can't say enough about the plot...sooo good!
This is one worthy of a re-read.
This is one worthy of a re-read.
November 29, 2018
Rating: 7/10
Pages: 33
Fun short story with some twists.
Kindle
Pages: 33
Fun short story with some twists.
Kindle
May 17, 2019
The fuck was that?
May 20, 2019
Predictable but at least it was short.
May 5, 2013
Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...
Are gut instincts always trustworthy? Is it better to listen to them and take a chance at being wrong or ignore them and risk something you won’t realize you’ve surrendered until it’s gone?
Dick honestly believes he’s an objective reporter and all-around nice guy but the truth behind these assumptions is about to be sorely tested. As I read this book I changed my mind about this guy several times. In the beginning I admired his personality and character but as his social prejudices began to emerge I wondered how someone so intelligent and well-educated could know virtually nothing about other cultures in his own country. To be fair to him, though, Dick’s lack of knowledge is due to what I can only assume was a lack of opportunity to befriend people from rural backgrounds rather than a conscious attempt to ignore them.
I was never sure why Dick would travel to such a remote location without bringing along a cell phone. While reception can be spotty in rural locations wouldn’t it be better to bring the phone along and have a chance of contacting the outside world than to leave it at home and hope for the best? Mr. Janz’s stereotypical characterization of certain groups was also disappointing. The tropes he relied up to build tension in the plot are so well-known in the horror genre that I half-expected him to surprise the audience by subverting them. When that didn’t happen it was difficult for me to maintain interest in those characters.
Mr. Janz definitely knows how to tease an audience. While in retrospect there were several well-placed clues in the first few scenes I genuinely expected this story to produce a different ending than the one we were given. It was deliciously easy to misinterpret what was actually happening and while I would have strongly preferred to see less stereotypical treatment of certain characters the author maintained a consistently frightening atmosphere from the beginning to the end of this tale. By the final scene I had to remind myself to keep breathing as I uncovered the final mystery.
The Clearing of Travis Coble is gut-wrenching, politically incorrect horror. It’s a good choice for readers in the mood for a truly frightening story that works best when taken at face value.
Are gut instincts always trustworthy? Is it better to listen to them and take a chance at being wrong or ignore them and risk something you won’t realize you’ve surrendered until it’s gone?
Dick honestly believes he’s an objective reporter and all-around nice guy but the truth behind these assumptions is about to be sorely tested. As I read this book I changed my mind about this guy several times. In the beginning I admired his personality and character but as his social prejudices began to emerge I wondered how someone so intelligent and well-educated could know virtually nothing about other cultures in his own country. To be fair to him, though, Dick’s lack of knowledge is due to what I can only assume was a lack of opportunity to befriend people from rural backgrounds rather than a conscious attempt to ignore them.
I was never sure why Dick would travel to such a remote location without bringing along a cell phone. While reception can be spotty in rural locations wouldn’t it be better to bring the phone along and have a chance of contacting the outside world than to leave it at home and hope for the best? Mr. Janz’s stereotypical characterization of certain groups was also disappointing. The tropes he relied up to build tension in the plot are so well-known in the horror genre that I half-expected him to surprise the audience by subverting them. When that didn’t happen it was difficult for me to maintain interest in those characters.
Mr. Janz definitely knows how to tease an audience. While in retrospect there were several well-placed clues in the first few scenes I genuinely expected this story to produce a different ending than the one we were given. It was deliciously easy to misinterpret what was actually happening and while I would have strongly preferred to see less stereotypical treatment of certain characters the author maintained a consistently frightening atmosphere from the beginning to the end of this tale. By the final scene I had to remind myself to keep breathing as I uncovered the final mystery.
The Clearing of Travis Coble is gut-wrenching, politically incorrect horror. It’s a good choice for readers in the mood for a truly frightening story that works best when taken at face value.
July 10, 2014
The Clearing of Travis Coble is an exercise in excellence when it comes to short story tellling. Jonathan Janz manages yet again, to create believable, yet terrifying, characters, and stunning, yet terrifying locations.
Travis Coble was cleared by a jury of his peers 20 odd years ago, but the general public thought otherwise and ostricized him, much like Lizzie Borden.
A psychology professor decides to investigate further, and clear this man's name once and for all.
Like an great horror story the interaction between the characters, and the tension set up through their actions and words drive this story. You sometimes want Travis Coble to be guilty, you sometimes want him to be innocent, and this back and forth emotional see-saw is what drives this story forward.
In only 33 pages, you'll run the gamut of hope, dissapointment, fear, and excitement. Only a skilled writer who truly has a grasp for his craft can do this in so few words.
Travis Coble was cleared by a jury of his peers 20 odd years ago, but the general public thought otherwise and ostricized him, much like Lizzie Borden.
A psychology professor decides to investigate further, and clear this man's name once and for all.
Like an great horror story the interaction between the characters, and the tension set up through their actions and words drive this story. You sometimes want Travis Coble to be guilty, you sometimes want him to be innocent, and this back and forth emotional see-saw is what drives this story forward.
In only 33 pages, you'll run the gamut of hope, dissapointment, fear, and excitement. Only a skilled writer who truly has a grasp for his craft can do this in so few words.
November 30, 2019
Creepy
Borrowed this from my library with Hoopla.
Professor Myers is heading out to Tennessee to interview Travis Coble. Twenty years ago Travis was acquitted for the alleged killing and eating his two other brothers. Even though he was acquitted the town still judges him as a cannibalistic murderer. Myers is meeting Travis to change all that. But there is always the little sliver of doubt that Myers has that he might actually be interviewing a very sly killer and if this is closer to the truth then maybe Myers may not even live long enough to write his paper.
This is a very short but crazy story and it really creeped me out...thanks to the movies Deliverance and Wrong Turn...
All I can say is enjoy the read and be thankful you aren't living this story...
Borrowed this from my library with Hoopla.
Professor Myers is heading out to Tennessee to interview Travis Coble. Twenty years ago Travis was acquitted for the alleged killing and eating his two other brothers. Even though he was acquitted the town still judges him as a cannibalistic murderer. Myers is meeting Travis to change all that. But there is always the little sliver of doubt that Myers has that he might actually be interviewing a very sly killer and if this is closer to the truth then maybe Myers may not even live long enough to write his paper.
This is a very short but crazy story and it really creeped me out...thanks to the movies Deliverance and Wrong Turn...
All I can say is enjoy the read and be thankful you aren't living this story...
September 29, 2020
I won’t offer any comments as, being a short story at 33 pages, it would give away too much.
It is well written and intense. I will say that what the professor is doing seems immensely stupid, but I suppose that is part of the point.
That’s not spoiling anything. If there is an accused killer who lives out in the woods, who would go see them alone, hours from anywhere?
Still, well written. It gets four stars for having the perfect pace for 33 pages.
It is well written and intense. I will say that what the professor is doing seems immensely stupid, but I suppose that is part of the point.
That’s not spoiling anything. If there is an accused killer who lives out in the woods, who would go see them alone, hours from anywhere?
Still, well written. It gets four stars for having the perfect pace for 33 pages.
January 6, 2015
A Twisted Backwoods Tale
This is a sick and twisted little backwoods tale, which can be easily compared to Edward Lee. Janz does a wonderful job of playing with a murder-mystery theme before throwing the hammer down with a depraved twist that the reader might or might not see coming. Fans of 80s horror a la Zebra and Leisure will surely dig this novella.
This is a sick and twisted little backwoods tale, which can be easily compared to Edward Lee. Janz does a wonderful job of playing with a murder-mystery theme before throwing the hammer down with a depraved twist that the reader might or might not see coming. Fans of 80s horror a la Zebra and Leisure will surely dig this novella.
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March 27, 2016My review of The Clearing of Travis Coble
This was my introduction to the work of Jonathan Janz. I liked the premise and enjoyed the tension the author built into the final scenes. I do think the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more but overall this was a very effective piece and I'm looking forward to reading more of Mr. Janz's work.
This was my introduction to the work of Jonathan Janz. I liked the premise and enjoyed the tension the author built into the final scenes. I do think the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more but overall this was a very effective piece and I'm looking forward to reading more of Mr. Janz's work.
September 4, 2021
I love Janz' writing, but this was just not it. The writing was strange. Too many big words and similes. The main character was annoying, and the story just wasn't written well enough for me to enjoy it.
May 28, 2015
Janz is twisted
I've read quite a few of Janz stories and he has a real knack for writing effective shorts. This is old school horror in a Deliverance style. Loved it.
I've read quite a few of Janz stories and he has a real knack for writing effective shorts. This is old school horror in a Deliverance style. Loved it.
February 1, 2017
I loved the interaction between the two main characters.
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