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Forever Man
Police Chief Elizabeth “Izzy” Morris enjoys keeping the peace in the small town of Kinsey in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. But when her seventeen-year-old daughter goes missing after a school dance and the mutilated corpse of the girl’s date is discovered in the nearby woods, Izzy’s police skills are stretched to their limits.
Her only suspect is a stranger, a mysterious black man with no known past. When a second stranger appears, the investigation stalls. People she once trusted turn against her. The local banker’s autistic son begins to know things no one else does.
And now something unspeakable prowls the woods.
Joined by three friends and the man she once considered her enemy, Izzy races to find her daughter—and ends up trapped in the middle of a war between an ancient evil and the man who has stood in its way for nearly two thousand years.
Her only suspect is a stranger, a mysterious black man with no known past. When a second stranger appears, the investigation stalls. People she once trusted turn against her. The local banker’s autistic son begins to know things no one else does.
And now something unspeakable prowls the woods.
Joined by three friends and the man she once considered her enemy, Izzy races to find her daughter—and ends up trapped in the middle of a war between an ancient evil and the man who has stood in its way for nearly two thousand years.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 9, 2013
6 people are currently reading
1342 people want to read
About the author
Brian W. Matthews
10 books52 followersBrian W. Matthews came to writing later in life--roughly at the half-century mark, in fact. It was in the Fall of 2010 that he was approached to contribute a story to the cyberpunk multimedia anthology, Foreshadows: The Ghosts of Zero. He enjoyed that experience so much that he decided to try writing a novel. The result was his debut horror novel, Forever Man, which garnered many positive reviews. His other books include Revelation and The Conveyance.
Brian hales from the southeast Michigan, where he still lives with his wife, daughter, and two step-daughters. When he isn't writing, he is developing investment portfolios. During his off time (what little there is of it), he enjoys golfing, reading, and playing guitar.
Brian hales from the southeast Michigan, where he still lives with his wife, daughter, and two step-daughters. When he isn't writing, he is developing investment portfolios. During his off time (what little there is of it), he enjoys golfing, reading, and playing guitar.
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June 9, 2019I'm the author, so my rating may be a little biased. :)
February 14, 2013
Review Copy
It is just hard to believe this is the first published novel from Brian W. Williams. It's just so good. Sometimes it's the simplest things that will grab me and keep me turning page after page, being drawn into a story until I'm totally invested. In Forever Man I knew I was in for a treat at the very begining and the line, "From the front of the bus, the driver barked out, 'Newberry!' and the door swung open with a snaky hiss." I've never heard a bus door opening described in this maner and yet it was a perfect choice. Like I said, it's the simple things.
Here's the book description from Amazon.com, "Police Chief Elizabeth "Izzy" Morris enjoys keeping the peace in the small town of Kinsey in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. But when her seventeen-year-old daughter goes missing after a school dance and the mutilated corpse of the girl's date is discovered in the nearby woods, Izzy's police skills are stretched to their limits.
Her only suspect is a stranger, a mysterious black man with no known past. When a second stranger appears, the investigation stalls. People she once trusted turn against her. The local banker's autistic son begins to know things no one else does. And now something unspeakable prowls the woods.
Joined by three friends and the man she once considered her enemy, Izzy races to find her daughter-and ends up trapped in the middle of a war between an ancient evil and the man who has stood in its way for nearly two thousand years."
The character of Izzy, the police chief whose daughter is missing, is one of the strongest female characters I've read recently. Take charge, no-nonsence, fearless, all the things you would expect from a woman whose teenage daughter is missing and feared dead.
As a horror writer, Brian also won me over with his willingness to kill off his characters. Stephen King was always good that. A lot of writers want to try and save everyone and it isn't always possible. In Forever Man there were characters I loved to love and ones that brought up the taste of bile into my mouth.
Once again, the folks at JouralStone have shown their adeptness at finding new talent and putting out a quality end-product. Forever Man is available now in a format to suit anyone's taste and budget.
Once again I can highly recommend this new work for anyone looking for a fast-paced horror thrill ride, but not recommended for chilren. Enjoy!
It is just hard to believe this is the first published novel from Brian W. Williams. It's just so good. Sometimes it's the simplest things that will grab me and keep me turning page after page, being drawn into a story until I'm totally invested. In Forever Man I knew I was in for a treat at the very begining and the line, "From the front of the bus, the driver barked out, 'Newberry!' and the door swung open with a snaky hiss." I've never heard a bus door opening described in this maner and yet it was a perfect choice. Like I said, it's the simple things.
Here's the book description from Amazon.com, "Police Chief Elizabeth "Izzy" Morris enjoys keeping the peace in the small town of Kinsey in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. But when her seventeen-year-old daughter goes missing after a school dance and the mutilated corpse of the girl's date is discovered in the nearby woods, Izzy's police skills are stretched to their limits.
Her only suspect is a stranger, a mysterious black man with no known past. When a second stranger appears, the investigation stalls. People she once trusted turn against her. The local banker's autistic son begins to know things no one else does. And now something unspeakable prowls the woods.
Joined by three friends and the man she once considered her enemy, Izzy races to find her daughter-and ends up trapped in the middle of a war between an ancient evil and the man who has stood in its way for nearly two thousand years."
The character of Izzy, the police chief whose daughter is missing, is one of the strongest female characters I've read recently. Take charge, no-nonsence, fearless, all the things you would expect from a woman whose teenage daughter is missing and feared dead.
As a horror writer, Brian also won me over with his willingness to kill off his characters. Stephen King was always good that. A lot of writers want to try and save everyone and it isn't always possible. In Forever Man there were characters I loved to love and ones that brought up the taste of bile into my mouth.
Once again, the folks at JouralStone have shown their adeptness at finding new talent and putting out a quality end-product. Forever Man is available now in a format to suit anyone's taste and budget.
Once again I can highly recommend this new work for anyone looking for a fast-paced horror thrill ride, but not recommended for chilren. Enjoy!
February 23, 2015
When I first started reading Forever Man, I thought this was going to be your basic monster story as a creature of unknown origin attacks a high school couple late at night. Not that there is anything wrong with that, since I certainly enjoy a good monster story. However, as I continued to read, I realized that this had a much more complex storyline than I originally figured. It first started with the appearance in town of Bart Owens, ostensibly an unassuming musician who has come to town to play some gigs at a local bar. Bart turns out to be anything but that. He is an ancient being with mystical powers that get slowly revealed. Then there was a second mysterious character, Darryl Webber, who clearly has malevolent intentions as well his own set of mystical skills. The final piece of the puzzle is a young boy with a rare form of autism that seems to be at the center of what is happening.
As I mentioned, this is a novel with a complex storyline that is rich in mythology and world building. The writing is, in one word, professional. As a fellow writer, I appreciate the craftsmanship and attention to detail that Matthews exhibits. It’s remarkable than this is his debut novel since it comes off as the work of a veteran writer who has honed his skills over the years. The pacing, the flow, and the tension are just right. The story starts off with a bang. It delves into the significance of what is occurring. There is escalated tension in the middle, a big buildup, and then an epic confrontation—a textbook recipe for a successful story. If I could add one piece of criticism is that the backstory is glimpsed and by the end of the novel, the reader is still in the dark about most of it. However, Forever Man is just the first book in a series, and I can only assume that more will be revealed in future books in the series, which I very much look forward to reading. Get a copy of Forever Man and you will most definitely agree with me.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity
As I mentioned, this is a novel with a complex storyline that is rich in mythology and world building. The writing is, in one word, professional. As a fellow writer, I appreciate the craftsmanship and attention to detail that Matthews exhibits. It’s remarkable than this is his debut novel since it comes off as the work of a veteran writer who has honed his skills over the years. The pacing, the flow, and the tension are just right. The story starts off with a bang. It delves into the significance of what is occurring. There is escalated tension in the middle, a big buildup, and then an epic confrontation—a textbook recipe for a successful story. If I could add one piece of criticism is that the backstory is glimpsed and by the end of the novel, the reader is still in the dark about most of it. However, Forever Man is just the first book in a series, and I can only assume that more will be revealed in future books in the series, which I very much look forward to reading. Get a copy of Forever Man and you will most definitely agree with me.
Carl Alves - author of Two For Eternity
June 23, 2013
Forever Man is a tantalizing supernatural mystery delivered with beautifully descriptive prose and visceral horror. It's an impressive, genre-crossing debut that blurs the line between a small town police thriller and a dark urban fantasy, and I found it hard to believe that this is Brian Matthews's first novel. The large ensemble of characters is well developed with unique voices, personalities, and emotional drives. Izzy Morris was a complex lead, and Matthews kept me caring about her even as she became increasingly reckless in the grip of an otherworldly scenario spinning out of control. The historical flashbacks are well researched and richly detailed, giving a hint of the larger scope of a series based on Bart Owens, the enigmatic Forever Man of the title. I'm looking forward to the next installment.
November 22, 2012
This was a very good novel. I read one of his earlier stories, published in a magazine i think, it was similar genre and was eager to read his novel. Once I started reading this novel I found that I could not put it down. I read it every night and had to force myself to stop and sleep.
The story keeps you interested and the main character is mysterious and you want to know who he is and why he is there. Definitely worth reading. Can't wait to read his next book ... He is writing another I hope!
FIVE STARS!
The story keeps you interested and the main character is mysterious and you want to know who he is and why he is there. Definitely worth reading. Can't wait to read his next book ... He is writing another I hope!
FIVE STARS!
January 14, 2013
Having won this book through the Goodreads Giveaway, I wasn't quite sure what to excpect.
What I got, however, was a combination of action, suspense, fear, excitement, and sadness packed into one little book. Excellent descriptives and story line with enough twists and turns. Classic Good versus Evil. Some parts so gruesome my stomach curled but I had to keep reading. Owens character, in my mind, became that of Morgan Freeman and I soon was hearing his voice as I read.
I could definately see this as a blockbuster movie and it was well worth the read.
What I got, however, was a combination of action, suspense, fear, excitement, and sadness packed into one little book. Excellent descriptives and story line with enough twists and turns. Classic Good versus Evil. Some parts so gruesome my stomach curled but I had to keep reading. Owens character, in my mind, became that of Morgan Freeman and I soon was hearing his voice as I read.
I could definately see this as a blockbuster movie and it was well worth the read.
July 22, 2013
Brian Matthews’ FOREVER MAN would be a good book by any standards, but when you realize that it’s a first novel, it’s even more impressive. The book is not without flaws – more about those in a bit – but, even so, Matthews manages to create a sweeping epic tone in the style of early King and Straub in what is really a small, localized story. King’s influence, in particular, is apparent. Many local characters in the small town where the story takes place have their brief moments – either adding to the plot or adding to the body count – and, having served their literary purpose, are no more. Fortunately, Matthews has a nice touch with creating character and there is very little reason to flip back to a character’s entrance so the reader remembers who s/he was.
Matthews has created a fascinating mythology of the “forever man” and, while slowly leaking details of the mythos throughout the course of the novel and avoiding an expositive information dump would normally a good thing, this author errs on the side of stinginess. Even at the end of the book, we still have no idea what a “forever man” is, how he came to be, nor any idea of the reasons for the conflict in which he is embroiled. While that may have set Matthews up for a nifty sequel, it’s frustrating as hell to his readers. Yes, this is one of those rare books that requires MORE background story in order to make sense.
Nevertheless, even without knowing the details, the reader can go along and enjoy the ride. Matthews’ prose is tight where it needs to be tight and more relaxed when the narrative calls for a looser ambiance. His monsters are suitably monstrous and his villains (such as we get to know anything about them) are intriguing. He does tend to abandon characters a little cavalierly, as I noted above, but he’s wise enough of an author not to revive them when the reader has already almost forgotten them simply because a plot mechanism calls for it.
My one argument with this novel, and the primary place in which the First Time Author Seams start showing, is toward the end of the book. Matthews works far too hard to build an Exciting Climax and, unfortunately, reveals a film and TV-based cultural background which is inappropriate for a strictly literary work. The final scenes in which the good guys and the baddies finally throw down, and which should flow with emotional impact, instead reads like stage directions for the World Wide Wrestling Foundation. There’s far too much emphasis on the twisted ankles and “furrows” from gunshots and similar injuries. And, while Matthews has obviously painstakingly worked out the physical logistics of these scenes, they still strain credulity insofar as the amount and nature of the injuries his characters suffer.
Moreover, as we have been given almost no background on the characters other than the most cursory, we experience the final battle while having no idea WHY it’s taking place! We know, of course, who the good guys are and who are the evil-doers. But that’s only because we’ve been told. We haven’t a clue as to the characters’ motivations for what they do. In fact, when the Most Evil character who is pulling the strings shows up, the result is some mildly witty banter and a ho-hum yawn on the part of the reader—merely because we have no idea who she really is or what part she plays.
The above being said, these omissions are far from a fatal flaw in the novel. But they are first novel/amateurish errors that, one assumes, will not plague Brian Matthews for very long. This is an author who warrants our attention and one who, I suspect, has an extraordinarily interested literary career ahead of him.
Matthews has created a fascinating mythology of the “forever man” and, while slowly leaking details of the mythos throughout the course of the novel and avoiding an expositive information dump would normally a good thing, this author errs on the side of stinginess. Even at the end of the book, we still have no idea what a “forever man” is, how he came to be, nor any idea of the reasons for the conflict in which he is embroiled. While that may have set Matthews up for a nifty sequel, it’s frustrating as hell to his readers. Yes, this is one of those rare books that requires MORE background story in order to make sense.
Nevertheless, even without knowing the details, the reader can go along and enjoy the ride. Matthews’ prose is tight where it needs to be tight and more relaxed when the narrative calls for a looser ambiance. His monsters are suitably monstrous and his villains (such as we get to know anything about them) are intriguing. He does tend to abandon characters a little cavalierly, as I noted above, but he’s wise enough of an author not to revive them when the reader has already almost forgotten them simply because a plot mechanism calls for it.
My one argument with this novel, and the primary place in which the First Time Author Seams start showing, is toward the end of the book. Matthews works far too hard to build an Exciting Climax and, unfortunately, reveals a film and TV-based cultural background which is inappropriate for a strictly literary work. The final scenes in which the good guys and the baddies finally throw down, and which should flow with emotional impact, instead reads like stage directions for the World Wide Wrestling Foundation. There’s far too much emphasis on the twisted ankles and “furrows” from gunshots and similar injuries. And, while Matthews has obviously painstakingly worked out the physical logistics of these scenes, they still strain credulity insofar as the amount and nature of the injuries his characters suffer.
Moreover, as we have been given almost no background on the characters other than the most cursory, we experience the final battle while having no idea WHY it’s taking place! We know, of course, who the good guys are and who are the evil-doers. But that’s only because we’ve been told. We haven’t a clue as to the characters’ motivations for what they do. In fact, when the Most Evil character who is pulling the strings shows up, the result is some mildly witty banter and a ho-hum yawn on the part of the reader—merely because we have no idea who she really is or what part she plays.
The above being said, these omissions are far from a fatal flaw in the novel. But they are first novel/amateurish errors that, one assumes, will not plague Brian Matthews for very long. This is an author who warrants our attention and one who, I suspect, has an extraordinarily interested literary career ahead of him.
March 29, 2013
Every once in a while, I run across a book that blows me away. These books usually contain vivid characters, high intensity writing, and a bone-crunching story; as expected, these books are also few and far between. But despite it’s enigmatic name, FOREVER MAN is one of these excellent novels. Rife with originality and solid prose, this tale enthralled me from start to finish.
Author Brian W. Matthews is certainly to be commended for this stellar debut. I have never heard of him prior to reading this book, but I am now a huge fan and will continue to read whatever he writes.
Matthews writes with a precise and flowing style that conveys a lot of information in few words. He does not over-emphasize descriptions, as some authors do, but instead lets the action and dialogue describe the scenarios for him. Talent like this is not found very often, but Matthews seems to pull it off with ease.
FOREVER MAN is a taut and gripping story chocked full of suspense and intrigue. It is fast-paced, yet it moves evenly enough to provide a massive dose of pleasant anxiety to the reader as the plot unfolds. I actually lost sleep while reading this book because I kept wanting to read just one more chapter before I went to bed.
I do have a complaint about the book, however it is very minor and should no way dissuade anyone from reading it: I think the back cover art should be on the front. The current cover is very vague and doesn’t jump out like the artwork on the back cover does. I would wager more people would be interested in the book if the cover “popped”.
But this is just a minor observation. FOREVER MAN is a powerhouse of a novel that any fan of horror and/or fantasy must read. I highly recommend this one and suggest you check it out soon.
Author Brian W. Matthews is certainly to be commended for this stellar debut. I have never heard of him prior to reading this book, but I am now a huge fan and will continue to read whatever he writes.
Matthews writes with a precise and flowing style that conveys a lot of information in few words. He does not over-emphasize descriptions, as some authors do, but instead lets the action and dialogue describe the scenarios for him. Talent like this is not found very often, but Matthews seems to pull it off with ease.
FOREVER MAN is a taut and gripping story chocked full of suspense and intrigue. It is fast-paced, yet it moves evenly enough to provide a massive dose of pleasant anxiety to the reader as the plot unfolds. I actually lost sleep while reading this book because I kept wanting to read just one more chapter before I went to bed.
I do have a complaint about the book, however it is very minor and should no way dissuade anyone from reading it: I think the back cover art should be on the front. The current cover is very vague and doesn’t jump out like the artwork on the back cover does. I would wager more people would be interested in the book if the cover “popped”.
But this is just a minor observation. FOREVER MAN is a powerhouse of a novel that any fan of horror and/or fantasy must read. I highly recommend this one and suggest you check it out soon.
June 3, 2013
The town of Kinsey is a quiet place in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Not much happens there until one night a mutilated body is found and a Seventeen year old girl who happens to be the daughter of police chief Izzy Morris goes missing. The only suspect in the murder is a black man who came into town at the same time the murder took place. To make matters worse for Izzy, not everyone in town is cooperating with the investigation and a second strange man has been spotted around town.
Something evil is lurking in the woods around Kinsey and only the local banker's autistic son seems to have an idea of what's happening. The townspeople are trapped in the middle of a war between good and evil that has raged for years and will kill several innocent victims before it's done. This is the storyline behind Journalstone Publishing's Forever Man.
This story can best be described as a supernatural horror mystery with deep characters and a lot of action. This is Brian W. Matthews first book and it is excellent. The second scene where a werewolf type creature attacks two victims is chilling and really set the tone for the book. The monster may be terrifying but some of the characters in the story came across as even worse.
The characters are what really made this book great. For instance the third scene of the book focuses on Izzy Morris and her husband Stanley. I loved it when Izzy looks at her husband in bed and remembers how their relationship use to be, but now she looks at him and realizes she is not sure if she loves him anymore. Then as they both find out that their daughter is missing, you see how differently they handle the situation. They both want to find their daughter but have different ways of doing it and they both have to suffer the consequences. Stanley and Izzy's relationship is very reflective of what most middle-aged married couple's relationships are like and I liked it being in the book.
Another character I liked that could be considered a main villain is Jack Sallinen. Jack is a troublemaker from the beginning, he won't cooperate with the investigation, he talks down to the police chief and treats one of his sons named J.J. like garbage. His other son is Kevin who has a rare form of autism. Make no mistakes Jack is bad in the story, but the reason he acts how he acts is because he believes that it will help his son Kevin. Despite all of Jack's flaws you feel a sympathy for him because what he does is out of love. I also liked how Kevin and Jack's relationship affects J.J. and what he does about it.
The only bad thing about Forever Man was that I wanted to know more about the main villain and hero's background. We know in the story that they have been battling each other for a long time but we don't know much more than that. Also I noticed that the police in the story broke a lot of rules and it made me wonder if this was normal for small town cops. Mainly I enjoyed the book, I loved how the settings are described and the creature was great. One of my favorite parts was when it is revealed that the monster is not a mindless beast and can't be stopped easily. Forever Man is a great horror novel that will stick with you when your done reading it and give you some nightmares to boot.
Something evil is lurking in the woods around Kinsey and only the local banker's autistic son seems to have an idea of what's happening. The townspeople are trapped in the middle of a war between good and evil that has raged for years and will kill several innocent victims before it's done. This is the storyline behind Journalstone Publishing's Forever Man.
This story can best be described as a supernatural horror mystery with deep characters and a lot of action. This is Brian W. Matthews first book and it is excellent. The second scene where a werewolf type creature attacks two victims is chilling and really set the tone for the book. The monster may be terrifying but some of the characters in the story came across as even worse.
The characters are what really made this book great. For instance the third scene of the book focuses on Izzy Morris and her husband Stanley. I loved it when Izzy looks at her husband in bed and remembers how their relationship use to be, but now she looks at him and realizes she is not sure if she loves him anymore. Then as they both find out that their daughter is missing, you see how differently they handle the situation. They both want to find their daughter but have different ways of doing it and they both have to suffer the consequences. Stanley and Izzy's relationship is very reflective of what most middle-aged married couple's relationships are like and I liked it being in the book.
Another character I liked that could be considered a main villain is Jack Sallinen. Jack is a troublemaker from the beginning, he won't cooperate with the investigation, he talks down to the police chief and treats one of his sons named J.J. like garbage. His other son is Kevin who has a rare form of autism. Make no mistakes Jack is bad in the story, but the reason he acts how he acts is because he believes that it will help his son Kevin. Despite all of Jack's flaws you feel a sympathy for him because what he does is out of love. I also liked how Kevin and Jack's relationship affects J.J. and what he does about it.
The only bad thing about Forever Man was that I wanted to know more about the main villain and hero's background. We know in the story that they have been battling each other for a long time but we don't know much more than that. Also I noticed that the police in the story broke a lot of rules and it made me wonder if this was normal for small town cops. Mainly I enjoyed the book, I loved how the settings are described and the creature was great. One of my favorite parts was when it is revealed that the monster is not a mindless beast and can't be stopped easily. Forever Man is a great horror novel that will stick with you when your done reading it and give you some nightmares to boot.
May 21, 2013
Book Info: Genre: Dark Urban Fantasy
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Those who enjoy dark urban fantasy
Trigger Warnings: violent death, mutilation, sexual assault, use of R-word (teen boy to his autistic brother)
My Thoughts: First of all, my apologies to JournalStone for not managing to have this read and reviewed prior to publication. I tried, and failed. Sorry!
This author really needs to read my blog posts on editing tips, including Department of Redundancy Department and We Gotta Get out of This Habit (links where allowed; otherwise can be found on Now is Gone, my blog, with a search). I literally groaned when I saw that old nemesis of mine, the phrase “rose to his feet.” Also, as nearly as I can tell, the type of autism the author uses does not exist. I have to wonder why he did not use a real form of autism and instead made up a new syndrome?
Jack Sallinen is a real piece of work. I repeatedly hoped for him to die horribly. While Darryl Webber is not the nicest of men, he was at least amusing and somewhat charming most of the time. A lot of the characters fell sort of flat for me, but I did appreciate the fact that Izzy was able to function at a decent level and didn't spend the whole book running in circles and flapping her hands like so many women whose children disappear do in these books.
Usually I really enjoy JournalStone books, but this one just didn't work for me. I didn't dislike it, but... I probably won't read it again. I'm not exactly certain why I didn't click with this book, so if you like dark urban fantasy and are interested in this book, don't let me change your mind. But … this was really a “meh” book for me.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this e-book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer's program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Police Chief Elizabeth “Izzy” Morris enjoys keeping the peace in the small town of Kinsey in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. But when her seventeen-year-old daughter goes missing after a school dance and the mutilated corpse of the girl’s date is discovered in the nearby woods, Izzy’s police skills are stretched to their limits.
Her only suspect is a stranger, a mysterious black man with no known past. When a second stranger appears, the investigation stalls. People she once trusted turn against her. The local banker’s autistic son begins to know things no one else does.
And now something unspeakable prowls the woods.
Joined by three friends and the man she once considered her enemy, Izzy races to find her daughter—and ends up trapped in the middle of a war between an ancient evil and the man who has stood in its way for nearly two thousand years.
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Those who enjoy dark urban fantasy
Trigger Warnings: violent death, mutilation, sexual assault, use of R-word (teen boy to his autistic brother)
My Thoughts: First of all, my apologies to JournalStone for not managing to have this read and reviewed prior to publication. I tried, and failed. Sorry!
This author really needs to read my blog posts on editing tips, including Department of Redundancy Department and We Gotta Get out of This Habit (links where allowed; otherwise can be found on Now is Gone, my blog, with a search). I literally groaned when I saw that old nemesis of mine, the phrase “rose to his feet.” Also, as nearly as I can tell, the type of autism the author uses does not exist. I have to wonder why he did not use a real form of autism and instead made up a new syndrome?
Jack Sallinen is a real piece of work. I repeatedly hoped for him to die horribly. While Darryl Webber is not the nicest of men, he was at least amusing and somewhat charming most of the time. A lot of the characters fell sort of flat for me, but I did appreciate the fact that Izzy was able to function at a decent level and didn't spend the whole book running in circles and flapping her hands like so many women whose children disappear do in these books.
Usually I really enjoy JournalStone books, but this one just didn't work for me. I didn't dislike it, but... I probably won't read it again. I'm not exactly certain why I didn't click with this book, so if you like dark urban fantasy and are interested in this book, don't let me change your mind. But … this was really a “meh” book for me.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this e-book through the LibraryThing Early Reviewer's program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis: Police Chief Elizabeth “Izzy” Morris enjoys keeping the peace in the small town of Kinsey in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. But when her seventeen-year-old daughter goes missing after a school dance and the mutilated corpse of the girl’s date is discovered in the nearby woods, Izzy’s police skills are stretched to their limits.
Her only suspect is a stranger, a mysterious black man with no known past. When a second stranger appears, the investigation stalls. People she once trusted turn against her. The local banker’s autistic son begins to know things no one else does.
And now something unspeakable prowls the woods.
Joined by three friends and the man she once considered her enemy, Izzy races to find her daughter—and ends up trapped in the middle of a war between an ancient evil and the man who has stood in its way for nearly two thousand years.
May 29, 2013
I won "Forever Man" though Library Thing Early reviewers. Forever Man is about Izzy
Morris, a small town Police Chief for the town of Kinsey. Her life gets turned upside down when her daughter Natalie is missing and her boyfriend is found dead. The boy was horribly mutilated and nobody knows who, or what could have done such a thing.
More deaths happen and everybody in town wants to blame a stranger who just came to town, Bart Owens. Izzy at first blames Owens for her daughters disappearance.
Once Izzy questions Owens she realizes that he is there to help and that there is an evil man responsible for all the killings, Darryl Weber. Izzy learns that Webber is using the killings to distract the town. Webber wants to kidnap an autistic child named Kevin, because he is special. Izzy and the town of Kinsey is forced into a good vs evil battle for the young boy's safety and soul.
Forever Man has many frightening, gory details. The characters are engaging. You actually feel like you are in the middle of the battle for Kevin. I have children of my own and I felt for Izzy and her struggle to find her daughter. This book had truly chilling moments that I will not forget.
Morris, a small town Police Chief for the town of Kinsey. Her life gets turned upside down when her daughter Natalie is missing and her boyfriend is found dead. The boy was horribly mutilated and nobody knows who, or what could have done such a thing.
More deaths happen and everybody in town wants to blame a stranger who just came to town, Bart Owens. Izzy at first blames Owens for her daughters disappearance.
Once Izzy questions Owens she realizes that he is there to help and that there is an evil man responsible for all the killings, Darryl Weber. Izzy learns that Webber is using the killings to distract the town. Webber wants to kidnap an autistic child named Kevin, because he is special. Izzy and the town of Kinsey is forced into a good vs evil battle for the young boy's safety and soul.
Forever Man has many frightening, gory details. The characters are engaging. You actually feel like you are in the middle of the battle for Kevin. I have children of my own and I felt for Izzy and her struggle to find her daughter. This book had truly chilling moments that I will not forget.
December 12, 2012
Forever man is a book that is quick to take off right from the start. It is filled with action but also has a big cast of characters. The mysterious Bart Owens comes to the little town and right away strange things start to happen. Of course the Chief of Police, Izzy Morris, is right in the middle of things quickly trying to solve the murders and track down her lost daughter before it is too late. Izzy is a wonderful main character: smart, strong and has a lot of depth. She is the backbone to this book and the others all come together to make a wonderful team of players. With this many characters, I found it a bit difficult to keep them all straight at first, but very soon their personalities began to take shape on the pages and seemed to come to life for me. It is hard to put this book in one niche because there are a lot of aspects to this story. The author does a really good job of tying all of these little storylines together to form one well thought out plot and making it flow seamlessly towards a wonderful ending. Of course, there is room for a sequel, and I would love to see more of these characters and their stories.
March 31, 2013
This was a very good read (no pun intended)! Somewhat reminiscent of Stephen King, Matthews weaves a tale of supernatural intrigue, building characters that at once evoke sympathy and yet remain shrouded in uncertainty. Bart Owens is a figure with a mysterious past who is recalcitrant and unwilling to disclose much about himself to the people of Kinsey. But the chief of police wants answers for she has multiple murders on her hand and her own daughter is missing. The disappearance and murders coincide with arrival of Owens and the even stranger Webber. Both men claim to be in the small town to help, but both are mysterious and both are hiding something, so who is telling the truth, if either. Matthews weaves an interesting plot revealing just enough to entice the reader deeper into the tale seeking answers. His characters are real and they draw your sympathy, empathy, and in some cases even a measure of loathing. Who are these two men and what are their real purposes? A compelling tale of good and evil, right and wrong, power and humility spun with skill and creativity.
October 16, 2013
I wouldn't normally pick up a book like this...not predisposed to supernatural thrillers...or horror stories...but I was compelled to take it on after reading some reviews. And after slogging through the likes of Twilight (purely parental duty, honest!). If I could swallow sparkly vampires, surely I cold investigate the mysterious Bart Owens and his dubious past. (Ok, and I met the the author himself! He seemed reasonably normal; surely the book would amuse!)
It did. It's well worth the read. Those who love a good monster book will be drawn in naturally. Others who love a well-crafted sentence, an intriguing story line, and captivating characters will find themselves eager to read on, just to see what comes next. And then there's the epilogue, promising a continuation for someone in the story...and another good read to come. Impeccably researched and containing solid dialogue, Forever Man is a truly quality first novel by a talented writer.
It did. It's well worth the read. Those who love a good monster book will be drawn in naturally. Others who love a well-crafted sentence, an intriguing story line, and captivating characters will find themselves eager to read on, just to see what comes next. And then there's the epilogue, promising a continuation for someone in the story...and another good read to come. Impeccably researched and containing solid dialogue, Forever Man is a truly quality first novel by a talented writer.
October 24, 2013
Note: This book was won on a giveaway featured on goodreads. All thoughts on the book are my own.
Rating: 4 stars
This book follows a woman named Izzy Morris. Izzy is the chief of police of Kinsey, a town located in the U.P. of Michigan. Izzy's world is turned upside down when her daughter goes missing and the mutilated corpse of the boy she was last seen with turns up.
In a desperate attempt to find her missing daughter, she seeks the help of Bart Owens, a mysterious stranger who has showed up in Kinsey and is now in police custody as a primary suspect. When a second stranger appears in town and more murders occur, it becomes clear that Bart may hold the key to finding her missing daughter as well as stopping the murders.
This debut novel by author Brian W. Matthews was a great read. My only problem with the book was the ending, it felt rushed and was not very clear. It was an entertaining book and would be great for ages 15+.
Rating: 4 stars
This book follows a woman named Izzy Morris. Izzy is the chief of police of Kinsey, a town located in the U.P. of Michigan. Izzy's world is turned upside down when her daughter goes missing and the mutilated corpse of the boy she was last seen with turns up.
In a desperate attempt to find her missing daughter, she seeks the help of Bart Owens, a mysterious stranger who has showed up in Kinsey and is now in police custody as a primary suspect. When a second stranger appears in town and more murders occur, it becomes clear that Bart may hold the key to finding her missing daughter as well as stopping the murders.
This debut novel by author Brian W. Matthews was a great read. My only problem with the book was the ending, it felt rushed and was not very clear. It was an entertaining book and would be great for ages 15+.
March 21, 2013
Elizabeth (Izzy) Morris is the police chief of Kinsey a small town in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. When her daughter goes missing after a school dance and the mutilated body of her date is found in the nearby woods. Izzy's police skills are stretched to the limit. The only suspect is a mysterious stranger a Blackman with no apparent past. When a second stranger appear's the investigation stalls for awhile. People she had trusted turn against her. The autistic son of the local banker begins to know things that no oe else does now something unspeakable prowls the woods. Izzy is joined by three friends and a man she once considered her enemy in a race to find her daughter- and she ends up trapped in a war between an ancient evil and the man who has stood in its way for almost two thousand years. A real page turner.I highly recommend for YA/ AND Adults who love a good horror story
March 21, 2013
I have received a free copy of this book through a GoodReads First Reads giveaway.
Besides being a fan of horror, what peaked my interest in the book was that it takes place in the U.P.
I guess to be frank, I hoped at best to be mildly entertained. When it comes to horror, you either have it or you don't. Having read that this is the authors debut novel, I wasn't expecting much.
I was pleasantly surprised by the skill of Brian W. Matthews. He has his finger on the pulse of what makes horror, well.. horrifying.
This is not your typical "Good vs. Evil" horror story, it's far more visceral, with the focus more on the depth of characters rather than blood and guts, although there is just enough of that to keep any horror fan satisfied.
Besides being a fan of horror, what peaked my interest in the book was that it takes place in the U.P.
I guess to be frank, I hoped at best to be mildly entertained. When it comes to horror, you either have it or you don't. Having read that this is the authors debut novel, I wasn't expecting much.
I was pleasantly surprised by the skill of Brian W. Matthews. He has his finger on the pulse of what makes horror, well.. horrifying.
This is not your typical "Good vs. Evil" horror story, it's far more visceral, with the focus more on the depth of characters rather than blood and guts, although there is just enough of that to keep any horror fan satisfied.
July 1, 2013
Forever Man fools you into thinking it’s a monster story—possibly a werewolf story—but it isn’t. Oh, there’s a monster, something not entirely unlike a werewolf, and it’s terrifying, but it isn’t what makes the story. Bart Owens, the namesake character, is fascinating, enigmatic, and engaging—and what little we learn about him is fascinating.
Forever Man is a tale of eternal good versus eternal evil, and it’s both engaging and infuriating (in the right way) that Matthews doesn’t give you enough information to figure everything out. Without spoilers, I can only say that this novel’s shortcoming is that it feels like a prequel to an extended story with a mysterious, writhing underbelly. And oh, boy, do I want to delve deeper.
I can’t wait to read the sequel.
Forever Man is a tale of eternal good versus eternal evil, and it’s both engaging and infuriating (in the right way) that Matthews doesn’t give you enough information to figure everything out. Without spoilers, I can only say that this novel’s shortcoming is that it feels like a prequel to an extended story with a mysterious, writhing underbelly. And oh, boy, do I want to delve deeper.
I can’t wait to read the sequel.
August 12, 2013
FOREVER MAN is a fantastic debut novel that starts off with a small town where people are turning up dead and mangled, or have gone missing. When the daughter of the police chief, "Izzy" Morris doesn't return home after a school dance, Izzy goes into high gear and does whatever it takes to find her teenager, even if it means believing the impossible. The author does an amazing job of keeping the story's tension up from beginning to end in this horrifying thriller about a mother's desperate search for her child, and the town's recent murders. I look forward to reading more from this author and hope for another story or two involving these characters.
March 16, 2013
I am a big fan of horror and also action adventure (Lee Child - Jack Reacher). This book had both and then some! This author is one to keep your eye out for! I read this book in two nights and it was a real page turner! I loved the supernatural twist in the story and I loved the Jack Reacher type drifter main character! I felt like I was in the small town with the characters trying to figure out where the missing people where. I definitely will be reading future books by Brian W. Matthews!
August 14, 2013
This taut horror/suspense/mystery tale (with supernatural aspects) is set in a small town in Michigan, which is the author's home state. Some elements made me think of Stephen King; the pacing's very good, the characters fairly well-rounded and definitely interesting, and Matthews does a good job of showing ordinary folks dealing with supernatural forces they'd never imagined could be real. I look forward to reading the sequel!
November 28, 2013
I really liked this book. I liked that it is a fantasy book with adult main characters. I get so tired of the angst of YA fantasy. I liked that the primary character is a mature black man and the book does not shy away from the way this affects the behavior of other characters. The fantasy elements are not run of the mill and leave enough open questions for this to become a series (which I hope). I picked this up either free or for a dollar and it was an excellent investment. More please.
December 14, 2012
This book by Brian Matthews is a book you should read. It is a mystery because it contains those elements within it, but it also has some other human elements within it such as romance. This is a work that is well forth the reading and enjoyable.
J. Robert Ewbank author "Wesley's Wars" and "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms"
J. Robert Ewbank author "Wesley's Wars" and "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms"
March 16, 2013
I received this as a First Reads book. It's not my typical genre, but it takes place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan so it intrigued me. I found it very easy to read and get into. It's a great sci-fi meets horror meets supernatural story. (Hopefully I don't get nightmares! *snicker*) I felt it was well written and easy to follow.
February 8, 2013
Ahh how do I love Journalstone books! As usual, I won this from Early Reviewers. The premise of this book is a stranger murder that happened in the woods that looked like an animal attack. Two strange men show up at the same time, one good and one evil.
For the rest of the review, visit my book blog at: http://angelofmine1974.livejournal.co...
For the rest of the review, visit my book blog at: http://angelofmine1974.livejournal.co...
February 21, 2013
I really liked this book ! Plenty of action and interesting characters. Too many details in some of the gory scenes for my liking though. The ending was a bit unclear to me. It seems like this book would be a good start to a series, and I would love to read the rest.
February 10, 2013
Wow, I like the first commentor am having a hard time putting the book down. It sucks you in and you want to find out what happens next. This is the first book by this author that I have read and I will read others written by him.
December 20, 2012
I received this book as part of the Librarything Early Reviewers program. I really enjoyed it. It was a fast-paced read with natural and supernatural twists and turns. The book did leave me with unanswered questions, so I am looking forward to a sequel. :-)
December 25, 2012
Intelligently written police procedural with an edge of monsters and good versus evil. It almost felt like the start of a series and I'd definitely read the other books if it were to become so. I'd like to know what happened to the characters, especially Kevin who has a rare form of autism.
December 26, 2012
I was given a preview e-book of this book for review. The author did a very good job of moving the plot and the storyline was interesting. I would have liked a little more character development, but on the whole, would definitely consider reading other books from this author.
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