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Thanatology #1
The Cursed Man
Alister Kunkle believes death is in love with him. A simple smile from friend or stranger is all it takes to encourage death to kill.
With his family deceased and a path of destruction behind him, Alister sits inside a mental institution, sworn to silence and separated from the rest of the world, haunted by his inability to escape death’s preferential treatment.
But when a beautiful psychologist arrives at the institution and starts offering him care, Alister braces himself for more killings. When none follow, he tries to figure out whether he truly is insane or if death has finally come to him in the form of a woman.
With his family deceased and a path of destruction behind him, Alister sits inside a mental institution, sworn to silence and separated from the rest of the world, haunted by his inability to escape death’s preferential treatment.
But when a beautiful psychologist arrives at the institution and starts offering him care, Alister braces himself for more killings. When none follow, he tries to figure out whether he truly is insane or if death has finally come to him in the form of a woman.
222 pages, Paperback
First published March 10, 2011
25 people are currently reading
1656 people want to read
About the author
Keith Rommel
42 books116 followersKeith Rommel is a multi-award-winning author and screenwriter that has penned over a dozen novels and co-written three movies. Three of the four stories from the Shade of the Reaper series have been adapted to film. Rommel’s stories have been called “intelligent fiction”.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
November 30, 2012
Please note: I read and reviewed this book in September 2011. I am updating this to add a disclosure and update the format.
Disclosure: I received an advanced reading copy of this book in .pdf format from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: Alister Kunkle is a cursed man – everyone he has contact with dies mysteriously. It all started with the deaths of first his grandmother and then his parents and he sought out death to worship it and make sure he would not die as well. Unfortunately, death is jealous and will not allow him contact with anyone else. He has himself committed to an institution and refuses all contact with people in order to avoid any more deaths. Then Dr. Anna Lee comes to see him – and survives. What does it all mean?
My Thoughts: This was a seriously twisted and creepy story – and I loved it! The flow of the story between past and present maintains the narrative and keeps us learning along with Dr. Lee about Alister and his life. The writing is well-done and the characters are very nicely written. I was really impressed with the story and read it straight through as quickly as I could; just kept turning pages. Another perfect story for the Halloween season – highly recommended!
Disclosure: I received an advanced reading copy of this book in .pdf format from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: Alister Kunkle is a cursed man – everyone he has contact with dies mysteriously. It all started with the deaths of first his grandmother and then his parents and he sought out death to worship it and make sure he would not die as well. Unfortunately, death is jealous and will not allow him contact with anyone else. He has himself committed to an institution and refuses all contact with people in order to avoid any more deaths. Then Dr. Anna Lee comes to see him – and survives. What does it all mean?
My Thoughts: This was a seriously twisted and creepy story – and I loved it! The flow of the story between past and present maintains the narrative and keeps us learning along with Dr. Lee about Alister and his life. The writing is well-done and the characters are very nicely written. I was really impressed with the story and read it straight through as quickly as I could; just kept turning pages. Another perfect story for the Halloween season – highly recommended!
August 8, 2011
I think it's fair to say that Keith Rommel's The Cursed Man took me by complete surprise. The blurb from Amazon made it sound like this would be a fairly routine story. A man - Alister Kunkle - believes he is haunted by Death itself, so much so that anyone that even talks to him dies within 24 hours. To spare those around him, Alister has himself committed and placed in almost complete isolation. He exists this way for 20 years, when a caring young doctor enters his life, determined to prove that Alister's curse, as he calls it, is the creation of a sick mind, and that she can help him. That's not a particularly novel setup, but while a most writers would make the truth about Alister's condition fairly obvious, Rommel keeps you guessing the whole time.
Alister's past is revealed slowly and in such a manner that the reader strongly empathizes with him. You come to see that as monstrous as Alister's living conditions are, that really is the only option. He has tried everything else, but that only lead to more death. Complete isolation is the only thing that has kept the people around him alive. And then, with just a few short paragraphs, all of that is thrown into question and you're back to square one: is Alister cursed, or is he just crazy? But while this trope is often handled quite poorly, Rommel does it in such a graceful manner that it only adds to the mystery surrounding his character. You're as confused as Alister. Are the events that have defined his life real, or are they the workings of a disturbed mind? It is a subtle insanity, and it is portrayed as convincingly as I've ever seen.
The final act is simply chilling. Rommel takes the creeping sense of horror he's cultivated and turns it loose on the reader in a manner that rivals anything I've read from the masters of the genre. This is an ending that will stay with you.
I believe Keith Rommel is going to be a writer to watch. There were a few small technical problems with the book - dialogue didn't flow as naturally as it could have and the jumps between the past and present could have been structured a bit better are the two that stand out the most - but as a storyteller, Rommel is leaps and bounds beyond many bestselling horror and suspense writers. All he needs is a little exposure, so I encourage everyone to give this book a shot. You won't be disappointed.
This review was based on a review copy.
Alister's past is revealed slowly and in such a manner that the reader strongly empathizes with him. You come to see that as monstrous as Alister's living conditions are, that really is the only option. He has tried everything else, but that only lead to more death. Complete isolation is the only thing that has kept the people around him alive. And then, with just a few short paragraphs, all of that is thrown into question and you're back to square one: is Alister cursed, or is he just crazy? But while this trope is often handled quite poorly, Rommel does it in such a graceful manner that it only adds to the mystery surrounding his character. You're as confused as Alister. Are the events that have defined his life real, or are they the workings of a disturbed mind? It is a subtle insanity, and it is portrayed as convincingly as I've ever seen.
The final act is simply chilling. Rommel takes the creeping sense of horror he's cultivated and turns it loose on the reader in a manner that rivals anything I've read from the masters of the genre. This is an ending that will stay with you.
I believe Keith Rommel is going to be a writer to watch. There were a few small technical problems with the book - dialogue didn't flow as naturally as it could have and the jumps between the past and present could have been structured a bit better are the two that stand out the most - but as a storyteller, Rommel is leaps and bounds beyond many bestselling horror and suspense writers. All he needs is a little exposure, so I encourage everyone to give this book a shot. You won't be disappointed.
This review was based on a review copy.
November 21, 2011
First of a series, this book is about a man who believes that Death has taken an unnatural interest in him, killing everyone with whom he comes in contact. Can he really be cursed, or is he just mentally ill?
Alister Kunkle is a patient at the Sunnyside Capable Care Mental Institution. For the past 25 years, he has been secluded from the staff, and the outside world, at his own request. He is convinced that anyone who communicates with him, in any way, is dead within a day, for Alister is Cursed.
His first exposure to death came when he was a child, and he attended the funeral of a beloved aunt. As a married man, Alister became convinced that Death had cursed him when he came home to find his wife and child dead. He rushed into the street, and laid down in the middle of the road, hoping that someone will put him out of his misery. A driver narrowly misses him, and rushes to Alister's aid, to see if he is alright. The driver suddenly keels over, dead from a heart attack. Taken to Sunnyside in an ambulance, Alister distinctly remembers a number of staff members, including big, muscular orderlies used to mental patients, dropping like flies. Looking out the window of his room, Alister sees a dry, dessicated landscape full of dead plants.
A psychiatrist named Anna Lee comes to the Institution, demanding to see Alister. The Director does his best to dissuade her, telling her about Alister's "situation," and showing her news articles as proof. She is not to be denied, so she enters Alister's room, talks with him for a while, then leaves, saying that she will be back the next day. Lo and behold, she returns the next day; she is not dead. Moving one step at a time, she takes Alister outside. The grounds are green and lush, not brown, dry and lifeless. She tells Alister that he is mentally ill, and not cursed. The beloved aunt, whose funeral Alister distinctly remembers, died several years before he was born. The mass deaths at the Institution on Alister's arrival never happened. Dr. Lee reveals that she is not exactly who she says she is. Then things get weird.
This is a very well-written book, with a little bit of Stephen King-like horror. It will keep the reader interested, and it is a gem of a story.
Alister Kunkle is a patient at the Sunnyside Capable Care Mental Institution. For the past 25 years, he has been secluded from the staff, and the outside world, at his own request. He is convinced that anyone who communicates with him, in any way, is dead within a day, for Alister is Cursed.
His first exposure to death came when he was a child, and he attended the funeral of a beloved aunt. As a married man, Alister became convinced that Death had cursed him when he came home to find his wife and child dead. He rushed into the street, and laid down in the middle of the road, hoping that someone will put him out of his misery. A driver narrowly misses him, and rushes to Alister's aid, to see if he is alright. The driver suddenly keels over, dead from a heart attack. Taken to Sunnyside in an ambulance, Alister distinctly remembers a number of staff members, including big, muscular orderlies used to mental patients, dropping like flies. Looking out the window of his room, Alister sees a dry, dessicated landscape full of dead plants.
A psychiatrist named Anna Lee comes to the Institution, demanding to see Alister. The Director does his best to dissuade her, telling her about Alister's "situation," and showing her news articles as proof. She is not to be denied, so she enters Alister's room, talks with him for a while, then leaves, saying that she will be back the next day. Lo and behold, she returns the next day; she is not dead. Moving one step at a time, she takes Alister outside. The grounds are green and lush, not brown, dry and lifeless. She tells Alister that he is mentally ill, and not cursed. The beloved aunt, whose funeral Alister distinctly remembers, died several years before he was born. The mass deaths at the Institution on Alister's arrival never happened. Dr. Lee reveals that she is not exactly who she says she is. Then things get weird.
This is a very well-written book, with a little bit of Stephen King-like horror. It will keep the reader interested, and it is a gem of a story.
July 22, 2012
Alister Kunkle - believes he is haunted by Death itself, so much so that anyone that even talks to him dies within 24 hours. To spare those around him, Alister has himself committed and placed in almost complete isolation. He exists this way for 20 years, when a caring young doctor enters his life, determined to prove that Alister's curse, as he calls it, is the creation of a sick mind, and that she can help him. That's not a particularly novel setup, but while a most writers would make the truth about Alister's condition fairly obvious, Rommel keeps you guessing the whole time.
Alister's past is revealed slowly and in such a manner that the reader strongly empathizes with him. You come to see that as monstrous as Alister's living conditions are, that really is the only option. He has tried everything else, but that only lead to more death. Complete isolation is the only thing that has kept the people around him alive. And then, with just a few short paragraphs, all of that is thrown into question and you're back to square one: is Alister cursed, or is he just crazy? But while this trope is often handled quite poorly, Rommel does it in such a graceful manner that it only adds to the mystery surrounding his character. You're as confused as Alister. Are the events that have defined his life real, or are they the workings of a disturbed mind? It is a subtle insanity, and it is portrayed as convincingly as I've ever seen.
The final act is simply chilling. Rommel takes the creeping sense of horror he's cultivated and turns it loose on the reader in a manner that rivals anything I've read from the masters of the genre. This is an ending that will stay with you.
I believe Keith Rommel is going to be a writer to watch. There were a few small technical problems with the book - dialogue didn't flow as naturally as it could have and the jumps between the past and present could have been structured a bit better are the two that stand out the most - but as a storyteller, Rommel is leaps and bounds beyond many bestselling horror and suspense writers. All he needs is a little exposure, so I encourage everyone to give this book a shot. You won't be disappointed
Alister's past is revealed slowly and in such a manner that the reader strongly empathizes with him. You come to see that as monstrous as Alister's living conditions are, that really is the only option. He has tried everything else, but that only lead to more death. Complete isolation is the only thing that has kept the people around him alive. And then, with just a few short paragraphs, all of that is thrown into question and you're back to square one: is Alister cursed, or is he just crazy? But while this trope is often handled quite poorly, Rommel does it in such a graceful manner that it only adds to the mystery surrounding his character. You're as confused as Alister. Are the events that have defined his life real, or are they the workings of a disturbed mind? It is a subtle insanity, and it is portrayed as convincingly as I've ever seen.
The final act is simply chilling. Rommel takes the creeping sense of horror he's cultivated and turns it loose on the reader in a manner that rivals anything I've read from the masters of the genre. This is an ending that will stay with you.
I believe Keith Rommel is going to be a writer to watch. There were a few small technical problems with the book - dialogue didn't flow as naturally as it could have and the jumps between the past and present could have been structured a bit better are the two that stand out the most - but as a storyteller, Rommel is leaps and bounds beyond many bestselling horror and suspense writers. All he needs is a little exposure, so I encourage everyone to give this book a shot. You won't be disappointed
May 17, 2011
KEITH ROMMEL'S "THE CURSED MAN" (A REVIEW)
I think this is one of those books that will haunt me for a long time. The story itself is so intricately written and very scary. Not only do you have no choice but to put yourself into the shoes of Alister the man afflicted by Death but you also put yourself into the position of the other characters that are coming into contact with them. The horror they must feel when the curse comes to fruition and how stupid they must feel to know that it was all true. It's as if they are being chased by death from the moment they speak to him to the final and horrific end.
This story is well - written, perfectly paced and a read that will not only make you think, but feel. Keith Rommel is a wonderful writer and I long to see more of his work.
You can't help but be pulled into this story even while trying hard to not accept the fictional truth the author has created.
I think this is one of those books that will haunt me for a long time. The story itself is so intricately written and very scary. Not only do you have no choice but to put yourself into the shoes of Alister the man afflicted by Death but you also put yourself into the position of the other characters that are coming into contact with them. The horror they must feel when the curse comes to fruition and how stupid they must feel to know that it was all true. It's as if they are being chased by death from the moment they speak to him to the final and horrific end.
This story is well - written, perfectly paced and a read that will not only make you think, but feel. Keith Rommel is a wonderful writer and I long to see more of his work.
You can't help but be pulled into this story even while trying hard to not accept the fictional truth the author has created.
September 20, 2011
"Alister Kunkle believes death is in love with him. A simple smile from friend or stranger is all it takes to encourage death to kill.
With his family deceased and a path of destruction behind him, Alister sits inside a mental institution, sworn to silence and separated from the rest of the world, haunted by his inability to escape death’s preferential treatment."
In Alister Kunkle , Keith Rommel has created a character so real, so unique, so complex that he has placed himself at the very top of psychologocal thriller writers. The skill of such fine writing, the pace, plot, other characters make THE CURSED MAN a must read- and Keith Rommel a MUST READ AUTHOR!!
A JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
With his family deceased and a path of destruction behind him, Alister sits inside a mental institution, sworn to silence and separated from the rest of the world, haunted by his inability to escape death’s preferential treatment."
In Alister Kunkle , Keith Rommel has created a character so real, so unique, so complex that he has placed himself at the very top of psychologocal thriller writers. The skill of such fine writing, the pace, plot, other characters make THE CURSED MAN a must read- and Keith Rommel a MUST READ AUTHOR!!
A JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ
RICK FRIEDMAN
FOUNDER
THE JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB
April 15, 2011
The idea for the story is a powerful one, but I don't think the author came close to its potential. The attempts at keeping the reader guessing as to what was 'real' or not didn't work together well enough to make it an intriguing puzzle - and the answer given at the end still leaves the reader with unanswered questions.
February 27, 2013
I don't enjoy giving books bad reviews. Writing novels is very hard work, and in the final analysis, the reader's opinion is entirely subjective. Others have clearly enjoyed this novel. Personally I didn't. I think it is badly written, repetitive, undeveloped as a story, and the characters are unbelievable. I hear it's being made into a movie. Well, there are plenty of bad movies out there too.
February 2, 2013
The Cursed Man left me breathless and I'll admit, a little frightened. This book reaches towards the deep, obscure trenches of the human mind and the indistinguishable haze of perception, and it's one that kept me on my toes throughout.
Alister Kunkle believes that death is in love with him, which explains the gruesome, opportune slaughters of anyone who speaks to him, as well as his present confinement at Sunnyside Capable Care Mental Institution. But when an alluring doctor enters his life and shows him how to open up his mind, even persuading him to doubt his own convictions, he leaves his mental ailment behind and enters reality—our curse-free, babble-less reality. Or so he thinks.
The plot absolutely stunned me. It's a rollercoaster of a story that skillfully blurs the thin line between reality, insanity, and the paranormal in the freakiest of ways. It portrays the frightening side of hallucinations expertly, as well as the mere possibility that the people we call "crazy" may not be so crazy after all.
What's explosive, is that readers know the truth about Alister's fate—we know the truth, whatever TRUTH really is—from the very beginning; it's just that as readers, we choose not to believe it because it's delusional—it's mad. We resist and juxtapose truth just as Alister does, and this hinders our knowledge of it, which is the mind-boggling, devastating reality The Cursed Man alarmingly reveals.
We regard Alister's claims as deranged, but in The Cursed Man, we learn the tragedy and terror inflicted upon society when beliefs turn out to be viciously, startlingly real. We learn reality is something one can have one moment, then lose grasp of, the next. We learn from the perspective of the mentally ill—the unfair, uncommunicable perspective of not being understood and being labeled as insane.
I was deeply affected by the book's highlighting of the brutal, disturbing consequences of malice and child abuse on conscience, self-esteem, and sanity, as well as its infectious rancor that never ends and forever consumes. I was also impressed with how well we get to know Alister through the book's limited third-person perspective. There's a detached elegance to Rommel's storytelling approach, and that's what makes the entire book so suspenseful.
Stylistically, the narrative isn't anything wonderful, but it does have great flow and never gets boring. It combines the past and present, which I found to be an intriguing technique on the story's procession's part, but also confusing at times. While Rommel's writing isn't particularly sharp or lyrical or insightful, it is well-composed; I finished it with great ease and enthusiasm.
Pros: Spine-tingling // Exceptionally gruesome // Fast-paced, smooth narration // Mind-blowing revelations of perception, psychiatric patients, and reality // Original, well-developed plot // Fantastic characterization and analysis on Alister // Marvelous heart-stopping moments
Cons: Some bumpy transition from past to present // Readable, but not particularly masterful in style
Verdict: The Cursed Man hurls readers on a deceptive, single-minded, magnificently instable ride that'll strip readers of their mental security and make them question what reality is. Akin to the metaphysique found in Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, the deeply disturbing, unhinged elements of The Cursed Man make for a brilliantly complex, brilliantly structured story. Chilling, fresh, and horrific in all the right places, this psychological thriller is a psychiatric nightmare that's come to life; it will force you to question existence and perception like you never have before
8 hearts: An engaging read; highly recommended
Alister Kunkle believes that death is in love with him, which explains the gruesome, opportune slaughters of anyone who speaks to him, as well as his present confinement at Sunnyside Capable Care Mental Institution. But when an alluring doctor enters his life and shows him how to open up his mind, even persuading him to doubt his own convictions, he leaves his mental ailment behind and enters reality—our curse-free, babble-less reality. Or so he thinks.
The plot absolutely stunned me. It's a rollercoaster of a story that skillfully blurs the thin line between reality, insanity, and the paranormal in the freakiest of ways. It portrays the frightening side of hallucinations expertly, as well as the mere possibility that the people we call "crazy" may not be so crazy after all.
What's explosive, is that readers know the truth about Alister's fate—we know the truth, whatever TRUTH really is—from the very beginning; it's just that as readers, we choose not to believe it because it's delusional—it's mad. We resist and juxtapose truth just as Alister does, and this hinders our knowledge of it, which is the mind-boggling, devastating reality The Cursed Man alarmingly reveals.
We regard Alister's claims as deranged, but in The Cursed Man, we learn the tragedy and terror inflicted upon society when beliefs turn out to be viciously, startlingly real. We learn reality is something one can have one moment, then lose grasp of, the next. We learn from the perspective of the mentally ill—the unfair, uncommunicable perspective of not being understood and being labeled as insane.
I was deeply affected by the book's highlighting of the brutal, disturbing consequences of malice and child abuse on conscience, self-esteem, and sanity, as well as its infectious rancor that never ends and forever consumes. I was also impressed with how well we get to know Alister through the book's limited third-person perspective. There's a detached elegance to Rommel's storytelling approach, and that's what makes the entire book so suspenseful.
Stylistically, the narrative isn't anything wonderful, but it does have great flow and never gets boring. It combines the past and present, which I found to be an intriguing technique on the story's procession's part, but also confusing at times. While Rommel's writing isn't particularly sharp or lyrical or insightful, it is well-composed; I finished it with great ease and enthusiasm.
Pros: Spine-tingling // Exceptionally gruesome // Fast-paced, smooth narration // Mind-blowing revelations of perception, psychiatric patients, and reality // Original, well-developed plot // Fantastic characterization and analysis on Alister // Marvelous heart-stopping moments
Cons: Some bumpy transition from past to present // Readable, but not particularly masterful in style
Verdict: The Cursed Man hurls readers on a deceptive, single-minded, magnificently instable ride that'll strip readers of their mental security and make them question what reality is. Akin to the metaphysique found in Tim O'Brien's The Things They Carried, the deeply disturbing, unhinged elements of The Cursed Man make for a brilliantly complex, brilliantly structured story. Chilling, fresh, and horrific in all the right places, this psychological thriller is a psychiatric nightmare that's come to life; it will force you to question existence and perception like you never have before
8 hearts: An engaging read; highly recommended
November 10, 2012
Oh my goodness! This was a total mind fuck. Just when I thought I had it figured out, it changed again.
Poor Alister Kunkle, cursed from a young age by Death, believes that everyone who talks to him dies within 24 hours of speaking with him, usually in a horrendous manner. A young psychiatrist takes him on hoping to help him emerge from his isolation in the psychiatric facility. From beginning to end, you don't know whether to believe in Alister Kunkle and his reality or the one that Dr. Anna Lee is trying to help him come to grips with.
Readers will be kept guessing nearly to the end and then still not be sure if Dr. Lee was trying to save him or if she was actually Death in human form. I'm still not sure myself.
Poor Alister Kunkle, cursed from a young age by Death, believes that everyone who talks to him dies within 24 hours of speaking with him, usually in a horrendous manner. A young psychiatrist takes him on hoping to help him emerge from his isolation in the psychiatric facility. From beginning to end, you don't know whether to believe in Alister Kunkle and his reality or the one that Dr. Anna Lee is trying to help him come to grips with.
Readers will be kept guessing nearly to the end and then still not be sure if Dr. Lee was trying to save him or if she was actually Death in human form. I'm still not sure myself.
March 27, 2020
It takes a lot for me to stay interested in fiction. I normally read non fiction or the classics. The cursed man definitely kept my focus. Through the whole story I was trying to figure out this “curse” and what it really was. I would get it figured out, then another curve ball was thrown. And then another. This was a definite page turner. I didn’t care too much for how it ended, but you at least got closure and the answers that you were searching for through the whole story. Very good book.
April 21, 2011
Goodreads giveaway win.
The idea of the book was good. Reminded me somewhat of Shutter Island. It had great potential, but sadly that is all it had.
What made me give this book a 2 star rating? The writing. At times, I felt like I was reading a vintage school reader. You know the ones: "I have a dog. His name is Spot. See Spot run. Spot runs fast."
The idea of the book was good. Reminded me somewhat of Shutter Island. It had great potential, but sadly that is all it had.
What made me give this book a 2 star rating? The writing. At times, I felt like I was reading a vintage school reader. You know the ones: "I have a dog. His name is Spot. See Spot run. Spot runs fast."
August 10, 2025
A psychological horror novel that delves into themes of mental illness, grief, and the supernatural. As the first installment in the Thanatology series, the story centers on Alister Kunkle, a man who believes death is enamored with him, causing anyone who interacts with him to die shortly thereafter. To prevent further tragedies, Alister confines himself to a mental institution, living in isolation until a new psychiatrist, Dr. Anna Lee, challenges his perceptions and the nature of his curse
May 16, 2020
A rather bizarre story about a man who feels that death has chosen him for its own, by killing everyone he comes in contact with. Not the best worded story; I got tired of the description of the protagonist as "snickering", and some of the other phrasing was confusing and disjointed. Still not sure what was really going on in the book.
September 17, 2017
2.5 of 5 stars. Interesting premise, but moved too slowly and got confusing at times.
January 12, 2018
very good
August 11, 2019
Gripping good read
September 6, 2019
Parts of the book were very good and interesting but overall a very difficult book to figure out what exactly is going on... I’m still confused.
August 12, 2021
The story started with promise but as I got further in, I found it hard to keep track of what was happening. Difficult to follow in many places, had to reread areas. Lots of dry spots.
September 29, 2016
Uncaged Book Reviews:
This is a psychological thriller of fantastic proportions. It will twist and turn, and you will believe one thing, only to have it ripped away, and then back again. Just when I thought I had this one figured out, it blew my thinking out of the water.
The book brings you Alister, a man who believes that Death follows him, and anyone he talks to, or converses with, will die – so he is locked up in a mental health hospital, and hasn’t talked to anyone in years. His meals and needs are delivered to him, with strict instructions to never speak to him. So he’s sat alone in his room, and in his mind for years. Since he speaks with no one, the killings have stopped. Along comes a psychologist, who is hell-bent on helping him, and he fears the worst is about to happen.
This book will keep you turning the pages – with enough twists and turns to rival the Chicago Loop. This book deserves to go to the big screen, and I for one, will be happy when I get a chance to see it. Don’t be surprised if you are stuck reading it from start to finish in one swoop.
This is a psychological thriller of fantastic proportions. It will twist and turn, and you will believe one thing, only to have it ripped away, and then back again. Just when I thought I had this one figured out, it blew my thinking out of the water.
The book brings you Alister, a man who believes that Death follows him, and anyone he talks to, or converses with, will die – so he is locked up in a mental health hospital, and hasn’t talked to anyone in years. His meals and needs are delivered to him, with strict instructions to never speak to him. So he’s sat alone in his room, and in his mind for years. Since he speaks with no one, the killings have stopped. Along comes a psychologist, who is hell-bent on helping him, and he fears the worst is about to happen.
This book will keep you turning the pages – with enough twists and turns to rival the Chicago Loop. This book deserves to go to the big screen, and I for one, will be happy when I get a chance to see it. Don’t be surprised if you are stuck reading it from start to finish in one swoop.
May 11, 2011
Review by Randall Radic - Blogcritics.org
Traditionally, the King of Death is often depicted as a skeleton, with scythe, sickle, sword and hourglass. Other symbols of death include the veil, serpent, lion, scorpion, ashes, and the drummer. Most interestingly, in Hinduism, death is symbolized as a dancer, sometimes a beautiful young woman.
Hollywood long ago picked up the figure of death, breathing life into the concept, which resulted in movies like Death Takes a Holiday and its stylized remake, Meet Joe Black. In the former version, Frederic March played Death, while Brad Pitt undertook the role in the latter movie. Whichever version you prefer, the fact that Death is so downright handsome only serves to increase the irony of the story.
Keith Rommel has adopted the Death-personified-idea in his new novel, The Cursed Man. Only Rommel has injected a few new satirical twists into the story, starting with the setting, an insane asylum. The Sunnyside Capable Care Mental Institution is the home away from home of Alister Kunkle, who believes that Death is in love with him. Not only is Death infatuated with Alister, Death is extremely jealous. Anyone perceived as a competitor for Alister’s time or attention or thoughts is instantly removed – permanently.
So when Doctor Anna Lee arrives at the asylum to “perform an evaluation of both Mr. Kunkle and the hospital,” her time here in this world appears to be very limited. She is as good as dead. Or so it would seem. When Dr. Lee doesn’t die, everyone at the asylum wonders what is going on? Alister Kunkle begins to wonder if Death has – literally – taken on human form, becoming Dr. Lee.
That’s when the story rockets past the intersection of interesting and accelerates toward the on-ramp of fascinating. The reader is hooked. Who is Dr. Lee? Why isn’t she dead? When will she die? If she is really Death personified, will Alister be able to resist her charms?
The author jumps back and forth between The Past and The Present as the story unfolds. This is a risky way to write a novel, especially a horror novel, which depends upon mounting tension as its fuel, unless the author knows what he is doing. Even then, the author has to pull it off, which means balancing prose against the demands of pacing. Fortunately, Rommel has the requisite talent and tiptoes over the yawning abyss that awaits lesser mortals.
The reviewer only had one quibble: the protagonist’s name. Alister Kunkle? It’s a heavy, clunky name. Let’s face it, in fiction, whether we like it or not, given names are a key factor. Would the man from Mars, in Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, have made the same impression if his name was Horace Gimple? Would Harry Potter have become a household word if J.K. Rowling had named him Taylor Smith? Characters’ names are not just designations. They are so much more. For a character’s name elucidates just a hint of his tantalizing self, i.e. the name becomes an instrument of expression that adds personality to the person wearing the name.
Alister Kunkle sounds like someone’s pet rock.
Other than that, The Cursed Man is a great read. It has all the elements necessary to the horror genre: suspense, action, psychic alarm, and lots of what-the-hell-is-going-on? Keith Rommel is a talent to keep an eye on. He writes good, old-fashioned horror.
On the Read-O-Meter, which ranges from 1 star (really, really bad) to 5 stars (instant classic), The Cursed Man comes in at 4 solid stars. It’s good stuff. Don’t miss it.
Link to Review: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/...
Traditionally, the King of Death is often depicted as a skeleton, with scythe, sickle, sword and hourglass. Other symbols of death include the veil, serpent, lion, scorpion, ashes, and the drummer. Most interestingly, in Hinduism, death is symbolized as a dancer, sometimes a beautiful young woman.
Hollywood long ago picked up the figure of death, breathing life into the concept, which resulted in movies like Death Takes a Holiday and its stylized remake, Meet Joe Black. In the former version, Frederic March played Death, while Brad Pitt undertook the role in the latter movie. Whichever version you prefer, the fact that Death is so downright handsome only serves to increase the irony of the story.
Keith Rommel has adopted the Death-personified-idea in his new novel, The Cursed Man. Only Rommel has injected a few new satirical twists into the story, starting with the setting, an insane asylum. The Sunnyside Capable Care Mental Institution is the home away from home of Alister Kunkle, who believes that Death is in love with him. Not only is Death infatuated with Alister, Death is extremely jealous. Anyone perceived as a competitor for Alister’s time or attention or thoughts is instantly removed – permanently.
So when Doctor Anna Lee arrives at the asylum to “perform an evaluation of both Mr. Kunkle and the hospital,” her time here in this world appears to be very limited. She is as good as dead. Or so it would seem. When Dr. Lee doesn’t die, everyone at the asylum wonders what is going on? Alister Kunkle begins to wonder if Death has – literally – taken on human form, becoming Dr. Lee.
That’s when the story rockets past the intersection of interesting and accelerates toward the on-ramp of fascinating. The reader is hooked. Who is Dr. Lee? Why isn’t she dead? When will she die? If she is really Death personified, will Alister be able to resist her charms?
The author jumps back and forth between The Past and The Present as the story unfolds. This is a risky way to write a novel, especially a horror novel, which depends upon mounting tension as its fuel, unless the author knows what he is doing. Even then, the author has to pull it off, which means balancing prose against the demands of pacing. Fortunately, Rommel has the requisite talent and tiptoes over the yawning abyss that awaits lesser mortals.
The reviewer only had one quibble: the protagonist’s name. Alister Kunkle? It’s a heavy, clunky name. Let’s face it, in fiction, whether we like it or not, given names are a key factor. Would the man from Mars, in Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, have made the same impression if his name was Horace Gimple? Would Harry Potter have become a household word if J.K. Rowling had named him Taylor Smith? Characters’ names are not just designations. They are so much more. For a character’s name elucidates just a hint of his tantalizing self, i.e. the name becomes an instrument of expression that adds personality to the person wearing the name.
Alister Kunkle sounds like someone’s pet rock.
Other than that, The Cursed Man is a great read. It has all the elements necessary to the horror genre: suspense, action, psychic alarm, and lots of what-the-hell-is-going-on? Keith Rommel is a talent to keep an eye on. He writes good, old-fashioned horror.
On the Read-O-Meter, which ranges from 1 star (really, really bad) to 5 stars (instant classic), The Cursed Man comes in at 4 solid stars. It’s good stuff. Don’t miss it.
Link to Review: http://blogcritics.org/books/article/...
September 16, 2014
Although I give this book a 4 star rating, there are many things that it doesn't have going for it. In fact, these are enough to really pull its rating down. The first problem was the few errors that came up in the book, grammatical and structural. Added to that was Rommel’s quirky way of writing where random dialogues seem like they came from a historical or fantasy book, instead of a psychological thriller – sometimes, the dialogue was crisp, and at others, it was drawn out in a very text-bookish manner. That contradiction made the conversation quite tedious in some spots. A similar contradiction is visible in the narration, where some scenes are really well written and some just manage to tell you what’s happening.
Another point that left me wanting more was the end. Although the book ends satisfactorily enough, I felt like it could have done with a couple of pages more, something that really explains everything. Maybe it’s just a thing with psychological thrillers to be slightly open ended or cryptic, but I think the end needed just a smidgen more than it gave.
And yet, with all its flaws, the book demands a 4 star rating.
The book begins peacefully enough – if blood doesn’t bother you too much, that is. It sets off at the center of the action and doesn’t really let up at any point. It keeps moving at a really good speed, making you turn the pages continuously; and you’ll probably go through it in one evening or a day at the most.
The fright quotient varies in the first half. There are some extremely scary and chilling parts, while the other parts are neutral. But the suspense is held throughout, never once allowing you to stop wondering, what is the enigma that is Alister Kunkle?
As the book progresses though, it starts getting quite creepy. From around two thirds in, you are going to feel the chills up your spine that won't really go away. And then, it just gets better. It gets creepier, more vivid, and shocking, until you can feel yourself wishing you could read faster so you could know what happens next. Even the end, which in my opinion needed a bit more, adds to the sense to which it leads up.
What the book really has going for it is its story. You never really know how it’s going to end right up until the last page. Rommel keeps you gripped effortlessly and the story unfolds really well. In my opinion, a great debut by an author who shows tremendous potential. It does justice to the fear factor, gore factor, and suspense factor that you would expect from such a book. I bought the book because I’d heard of the movie adaptation and was intrigued by the blurb. That being said, I’m not watching the movie! The pictures that the book paints were vivid enough to be intensely creepy, and they left me looking over my shoulder for the rest of the evening which was followed by a disturbed night. There is no way I’m watching someone else’s interpretation that just might be scarier! But the book is definitely worth a read. And I will surely read more of Rommel’s work, especially the Thanatology series. His work flows really well when it is in the depth of the genre and is meant to scare the reader – clearly, he’s found his niche. And I guess the rest will fall into place. If you’ve been wanting to try a thriller, The Cursed Man is as good a place to start, as long as you're willing to overlook some of the obvious problems. And if you’re a fan of the psychological thriller genre, then Keith Rommel is worth one shot at least.
Another point that left me wanting more was the end. Although the book ends satisfactorily enough, I felt like it could have done with a couple of pages more, something that really explains everything. Maybe it’s just a thing with psychological thrillers to be slightly open ended or cryptic, but I think the end needed just a smidgen more than it gave.
And yet, with all its flaws, the book demands a 4 star rating.
The book begins peacefully enough – if blood doesn’t bother you too much, that is. It sets off at the center of the action and doesn’t really let up at any point. It keeps moving at a really good speed, making you turn the pages continuously; and you’ll probably go through it in one evening or a day at the most.
The fright quotient varies in the first half. There are some extremely scary and chilling parts, while the other parts are neutral. But the suspense is held throughout, never once allowing you to stop wondering, what is the enigma that is Alister Kunkle?
As the book progresses though, it starts getting quite creepy. From around two thirds in, you are going to feel the chills up your spine that won't really go away. And then, it just gets better. It gets creepier, more vivid, and shocking, until you can feel yourself wishing you could read faster so you could know what happens next. Even the end, which in my opinion needed a bit more, adds to the sense to which it leads up.
What the book really has going for it is its story. You never really know how it’s going to end right up until the last page. Rommel keeps you gripped effortlessly and the story unfolds really well. In my opinion, a great debut by an author who shows tremendous potential. It does justice to the fear factor, gore factor, and suspense factor that you would expect from such a book. I bought the book because I’d heard of the movie adaptation and was intrigued by the blurb. That being said, I’m not watching the movie! The pictures that the book paints were vivid enough to be intensely creepy, and they left me looking over my shoulder for the rest of the evening which was followed by a disturbed night. There is no way I’m watching someone else’s interpretation that just might be scarier! But the book is definitely worth a read. And I will surely read more of Rommel’s work, especially the Thanatology series. His work flows really well when it is in the depth of the genre and is meant to scare the reader – clearly, he’s found his niche. And I guess the rest will fall into place. If you’ve been wanting to try a thriller, The Cursed Man is as good a place to start, as long as you're willing to overlook some of the obvious problems. And if you’re a fan of the psychological thriller genre, then Keith Rommel is worth one shot at least.
April 27, 2012
This is a riveting novel with redeeming social value and literary themes. The prose is good, especially for an ebook and for this genre (I prefer literary; Joyce Carol Oates, Ann Hite, Rod Usher, not Stephen King). I highlighted line after line on the subject of death and God, thinking "I LOVE THIS" - especially scenes with young Alister in the hospital, disillusioned that his mom's prayers do nothing to keep Grandma alive. I love the cerebral and philosophical passages more than anything.
Rommel does a great job of pulling us in the mind of the mental patient. Maybe he does it too well? At times it's unclear who's saying what in the dialogue, and some scenes seem to be dead ends or red herrings. An early chapter makes it appear the director is motivated to maintain the image of Alister as the harbinger of death to all who dare speak to him, but another chapter suggests the deaths are a figment of Arthur's crazed imagination, and I kept turning pages to find out what was really going on, but by the novel's end, I still wasn't sure. If other readers "get it," I'm in awe of their cognitive skills and reading comprehension.
I'm reminded of cerebral movies like Shutter Island, A Beautiful Mind, Inception, even The Tourist (a fluff piece, so I hate to include it). I like literary surprises, but I hate being misled. I'm told Stephen King pulls these little literary shenanigans, and smarter readers than I must come away feeling really smug about figuring out the novel. Ha. I went so far as contacting the author, who very kindly and patiently emailed me what really happens in the novel. He cited in his defense the famed Brown and King Self Editing Your Fiction "bible" (all those e-novelists guilty of awful prose should be required to read this enduring and oft-quoted writing guide). Brown and King advise novelists not to explain too much, but trust the reader to have enough of an IQ to figure out what's going on. Ha! If I have to re-read a book three times to get it, the author is a sadist, or I'm even more obtuse than I thought. Keith, are you listening? You snared me with a book I couldn't put down, and as if the consequence of aching muscles for 3 days afterward wasn't bad enough, the novel is still on my mind a week later, and wintergreen oil won't help my exhausted brain.
Set a timer if you read while working out on an elliptical or treadmill or bike. Why don't we ever feel the pain while we're sweating it out? No, not until we've gloated over our time exercising do we suddenly suffer the consequences with aches and pains that make us never want to work out again.
This novel is said to be based on a true story. Kitty interviewed Keith at GreatMinds Literary Community, and Alister did indeed spring from a person in real life, but that person didn't carry the mystique of death that Alister does.
The Cursed Man kept me thinking and turning pages, even if it didn't seem to resolve in a way that made sense (to others it may; to me, it didn't). It's rare that I start a book and don't put it down until I've finished reading it. THAT is great writing!
April 28, 2011
This was one of the first-reads that I received off Goodreads. Now, anyone who has everyone won a book off Goodreads (which is probably most of us) knows that they are really hit or miss. When I read this book I was taking a big chance because the premise was one that either it was going to be executed well and be a great book, or it was going to be horrendous. When you're talking about books that deal with the mind, it's always one or the other. Imagine, to my pleasant surprise, when I got the former.
Alister is your main character and the one who believes that death is in love with him. The very beginning is him losing his wife and attempting to end his life. I think Rommel does a very good job of switching between past and present. I don't usually like when books do that, because it's just executed awkwardly, but he seems to have a talent for it. He knows just when to break away from the present and lead us into the explanitory past.
The other thing about this book I loved was how I really didn't know if Alister was crazy or not. There were times that I legitamately believed him, that Anna (the therapist sent to help him) was death out to claim him. The thing that really sold it was that there were scenes that Alister was not present for, that showed us Anna was Death. But you doubt it because logic tells you that it can't be true. There are so many things that can't happen that seem to happen to Alister.
I have two big criticisms of this book. The first, is that, indeed, we find Alister is just crazy. He was the product of a crazy mother and eventually, went insane to cope with the fact that he murdered his wife. I think it might have been more interesting for Alister to be right. However, Rommel handled it in an interesting way. I really like how he managed to tell us about Alister's past.
The other major criticism I have is that there are so many "deaths" in Alister's story and we only really find out about half of them. One of the most major ones was when he went to the hospital and in his mind he killed an officer and half the staff. I'd like to know what really happened to those people, how they played into his delusions.
Overall, it was a great book. It really played with the mind, making you question reality and your senses and just the things you know. You've been TOLD that certain things are true in life and this book really makes you question them.
Alister is your main character and the one who believes that death is in love with him. The very beginning is him losing his wife and attempting to end his life. I think Rommel does a very good job of switching between past and present. I don't usually like when books do that, because it's just executed awkwardly, but he seems to have a talent for it. He knows just when to break away from the present and lead us into the explanitory past.
The other thing about this book I loved was how I really didn't know if Alister was crazy or not. There were times that I legitamately believed him, that Anna (the therapist sent to help him) was death out to claim him. The thing that really sold it was that there were scenes that Alister was not present for, that showed us Anna was Death. But you doubt it because logic tells you that it can't be true. There are so many things that can't happen that seem to happen to Alister.
I have two big criticisms of this book. The first, is that, indeed, we find Alister is just crazy. He was the product of a crazy mother and eventually, went insane to cope with the fact that he murdered his wife. I think it might have been more interesting for Alister to be right. However, Rommel handled it in an interesting way. I really like how he managed to tell us about Alister's past.
The other major criticism I have is that there are so many "deaths" in Alister's story and we only really find out about half of them. One of the most major ones was when he went to the hospital and in his mind he killed an officer and half the staff. I'd like to know what really happened to those people, how they played into his delusions.
Overall, it was a great book. It really played with the mind, making you question reality and your senses and just the things you know. You've been TOLD that certain things are true in life and this book really makes you question them.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 6, 2011
The Cursed Man is a contemporary story of suspense, involving Alister Kunkle who is plagued by death itself. Anyone he encounters dies within moments and this has propelled him into a life of solitude within the walls of an institution. When Alister believes that death has contacted him in the form of a woman, he tries everything he can to prove the theory that the entity death is the cause of his grief and not part of his imagination.
The story starts with past history of the main character, in order to give a backdrop of the story and to give the reader insight into his mind frame. Alister has been through a horrendous ordeal throughout his young life and grew up with the notion that death is after everyone he cares about or anyone he encounters.
Alister is in constant conflict within himself. He believes death has a personal vendetta against him and his new life in the institution has given him some peace. When a female doctor comes into his life for the sole purpose of disproving his theory, his life is sent into turmoil once again, when he has to defend his sanity.
The plot of The Cursed Man is very clear. Alister believes death is after him and then death actually comes knocking on his door personally. The reader is left wondering if Alister is indeed insane or has been misguided through a life of pain and unfortunate events.
Keith Rommel provides a clear setting for the reader. The descriptions of the places, the people and events come alive as you read the story. As you try to figure out what is happening, more turns and twists begin to reveal themselves to you until you are surprised at the end.
You learn to like the character of Alister Kunkle because you feel sorry for him. The other characters compliment the main character as they show the contrast between his struggles with reality and the other characters while they try to reason with him.
The Cursed Man is told in Alister's point of view and the dialogue propels the story forward, revealing to you the events occurring from the past and when the author brings you back into the present.
The book is recommended to anyone who likes a good suspense story about the internal struggles of a desperate man, who is faced with the knowledge that he could be battling death itself.
The story starts with past history of the main character, in order to give a backdrop of the story and to give the reader insight into his mind frame. Alister has been through a horrendous ordeal throughout his young life and grew up with the notion that death is after everyone he cares about or anyone he encounters.
Alister is in constant conflict within himself. He believes death has a personal vendetta against him and his new life in the institution has given him some peace. When a female doctor comes into his life for the sole purpose of disproving his theory, his life is sent into turmoil once again, when he has to defend his sanity.
The plot of The Cursed Man is very clear. Alister believes death is after him and then death actually comes knocking on his door personally. The reader is left wondering if Alister is indeed insane or has been misguided through a life of pain and unfortunate events.
Keith Rommel provides a clear setting for the reader. The descriptions of the places, the people and events come alive as you read the story. As you try to figure out what is happening, more turns and twists begin to reveal themselves to you until you are surprised at the end.
You learn to like the character of Alister Kunkle because you feel sorry for him. The other characters compliment the main character as they show the contrast between his struggles with reality and the other characters while they try to reason with him.
The Cursed Man is told in Alister's point of view and the dialogue propels the story forward, revealing to you the events occurring from the past and when the author brings you back into the present.
The book is recommended to anyone who likes a good suspense story about the internal struggles of a desperate man, who is faced with the knowledge that he could be battling death itself.
September 9, 2011
Alister Kunkle has been in seclusion for 25 years in Sunnyside Capable Care Mental Institution. He won’t look or speak to anyone, for fear it will fatally harm them. You see, Death takes a personal interest in anyone he communicates with and he is tired of watching this curse play out. He hides away in a small cell with no outside contact until Dr. Anna Lee shows up determined that her psychiatric skills can help cure Alister. Is she really what she seems? Is the curse real or a figment of his imagination? When I first agreed to read and review author Keith Rommel’s book The Cursed Man, the first stand alone novel in his Thanatology series, I told him that “a book having a character with the name of Alister (in any spelling) is on my ‘Top Ten Things that Make Me Want to Review a Book.” It was all in jest, but truly, isn’t that a name that just makes you want to read a suspense novel?
I’m glad that “Alister” led me to read the book because Rommel’s novel has left me haunted for a week now. It engaged so many thoughts in me about life and the universe forces surrounding us, that I must highly recommend this book if you are looking for a thrill ride of drama that will keep you guessing until the very end. It was a quick read for me; I read it in one night so as not to put off the ending and it was reminiscent of my favorite short stories of Edgar Allen Poe and Stephen King. King has penned several stories playing around with the notion of Death, and Rommel’s story was just as good as the master of suspense. It was almost leaning toward having a Ted Dekker quality in its novel form, yet had a harder evil tone than Dekker’s final chapter finales. This time Death certainly is the serial killer and good might not win out.
The Cursed Man’s spooky quality and lingering aura could send chills up your spine deep into the night and keep you pondering about your mortality and the state of humanity. The writing quality was excellent and Rommel is certainly an author to watch if you like the horror suspense genre as much as I do. I look forward to reading the second book in this series, called The Lurking Man, sometime in 2012.
To read more of the review, and see an exclusive interview with the author, go to my blog at www.hookofabook.wordpress.com
I’m glad that “Alister” led me to read the book because Rommel’s novel has left me haunted for a week now. It engaged so many thoughts in me about life and the universe forces surrounding us, that I must highly recommend this book if you are looking for a thrill ride of drama that will keep you guessing until the very end. It was a quick read for me; I read it in one night so as not to put off the ending and it was reminiscent of my favorite short stories of Edgar Allen Poe and Stephen King. King has penned several stories playing around with the notion of Death, and Rommel’s story was just as good as the master of suspense. It was almost leaning toward having a Ted Dekker quality in its novel form, yet had a harder evil tone than Dekker’s final chapter finales. This time Death certainly is the serial killer and good might not win out.
The Cursed Man’s spooky quality and lingering aura could send chills up your spine deep into the night and keep you pondering about your mortality and the state of humanity. The writing quality was excellent and Rommel is certainly an author to watch if you like the horror suspense genre as much as I do. I look forward to reading the second book in this series, called The Lurking Man, sometime in 2012.
To read more of the review, and see an exclusive interview with the author, go to my blog at www.hookofabook.wordpress.com
October 1, 2014
The Cursed Man is the story of Alistair Kunkle, a man who has lived in isolation at a mental hospital for many years because of the terrible fate that awaits anybody who has any social contact with him. It is an ingenious portrayal of a man with severe Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of living through severe childhood domestic abuse that ultimately leads to him escaping from his mother, who has just murdered both his brother and his father. From Rommel’s writing, it is obvious that he has a deep understanding of the nature of PTSD and its effects on those who suffer from it. He keeps readers guessing, making it difficult for us to differentiate between Alistair’s delusions and his reality. He even cleverly weaves religious undertones - a theme of everlasting life and sacrificing one’s life so that others may live - into the story.
At first, the pace of Rommel’s story is a bit slow. However, he manages to balance the slow pace with using this part of the book to develop his characters and allow them to fully blossom. While one could argue that too much time was spent elaborating Alistair’s delusions, such a move would have detracted from Alistair’s character development and the reader’s true understanding of what it must be like to live with PTSD.
In the end, The Cursed Man is a great suspense novel, with the tension gradually building momentum until it peaks with the story’s shocking climax. Like a great suspense story should, every time I thought I had this plot figured out, Rommel threw me another curve and left me second-guessing myself. Although this book’s domestic abuse and mental health subject matter is difficult to digest at times, The Cursed Man is an intelligent, well researched, and thought-provoking piece of literature. It shows that Indie author Keith Rommel’s brilliant treatment of domestic abuse and mental health issues is worthy of being published by the best of traditional publishers. I highly recommend reading this brilliant book.
At first, the pace of Rommel’s story is a bit slow. However, he manages to balance the slow pace with using this part of the book to develop his characters and allow them to fully blossom. While one could argue that too much time was spent elaborating Alistair’s delusions, such a move would have detracted from Alistair’s character development and the reader’s true understanding of what it must be like to live with PTSD.
In the end, The Cursed Man is a great suspense novel, with the tension gradually building momentum until it peaks with the story’s shocking climax. Like a great suspense story should, every time I thought I had this plot figured out, Rommel threw me another curve and left me second-guessing myself. Although this book’s domestic abuse and mental health subject matter is difficult to digest at times, The Cursed Man is an intelligent, well researched, and thought-provoking piece of literature. It shows that Indie author Keith Rommel’s brilliant treatment of domestic abuse and mental health issues is worthy of being published by the best of traditional publishers. I highly recommend reading this brilliant book.
May 13, 2012
Ever since Snake Pit, I've loved stories set in mental institutions. This one started off great. A man puts himself in a mental institution because he believes he is cursed by Death itself - doomed to eternal life as everyone he comes in contact with dies within hours of speaking to him. In walks Doctor Anna who is determined to save him from himself despite the Director's warning that scores of people have actually died mysteriously. Cool! Then comes pages and pages of the same story over and over again. I'll paraphrase:
"No don't go near him!"
"Yes, I'm going to cure him and you can't stop me."
"No! Don't talk to me! You'll be killed!"
"Yes, I'll talk to you anyway!"
"No! I'm cursed."
"No you're not."
"No really. He IS cursed."
"I'm not afraid. Look! I didn't die..."
So, it had a great premise, executed rather poorly. The flashbacks didn't confuse me since each section was clearly labeled "past" and "present day" but dialogue went on too long and became redundant, the writing was a little too simple for my taste, and I found myself impatient for the book to end. And then, just as I was about to see an end in sight, there's this (and I'm quoting directly from the text and the parentheses are mine):
"I disrespected the hard work you did for me and Dad." ("for me and dad" is correct)
"You meant to say Dad and I?" (which is incorrect)
"Yes, Dad and I."
I just hate it when an author doesn't know that a preposition takes the objective case.
So three stars for its potential.
"No don't go near him!"
"Yes, I'm going to cure him and you can't stop me."
"No! Don't talk to me! You'll be killed!"
"Yes, I'll talk to you anyway!"
"No! I'm cursed."
"No you're not."
"No really. He IS cursed."
"I'm not afraid. Look! I didn't die..."
So, it had a great premise, executed rather poorly. The flashbacks didn't confuse me since each section was clearly labeled "past" and "present day" but dialogue went on too long and became redundant, the writing was a little too simple for my taste, and I found myself impatient for the book to end. And then, just as I was about to see an end in sight, there's this (and I'm quoting directly from the text and the parentheses are mine):
"I disrespected the hard work you did for me and Dad." ("for me and dad" is correct)
"You meant to say Dad and I?" (which is incorrect)
"Yes, Dad and I."
I just hate it when an author doesn't know that a preposition takes the objective case.
So three stars for its potential.
April 30, 2011
I received The Cursed Man by Keith Rommel through Good Reads (http://www.goodreads.com) as a first reads giveaway. This is one of the first suspense/horror books that I have read. The Cursed Man is book one of the thanatology series ( the study of death and the ways in which people deal with it).
Alister, the main character in the story is cursed. Death is in love with him and death is jealous. So jealous that it kills anyone that so much as talks to Alister within a day, and death won't let Alister die. Alister has been locked away in a mental institution for over two decades with no human interaction, when a young doctor shows up. The doctor doubts the curse and tries to help Alister. When the doctor lives through the day you start to wonder if Alister is really cursed or just mentally ill.
Keith Rommel did an excellent job of weaving Alister's past and present, telling a story that kept me reading and wondering where it was going and how it was going to end. This book has suspense and horror from the first page to the last. For me last few pages are the most terrifying, gut wrenching part of the story and was a bit hard to read but it was also perfect.
This was the first book I've read by Keith Rommel but it won't be my last. I can't wait for book two of the thanatology series. If you like horror and suspense you are going to love this book.
Alister, the main character in the story is cursed. Death is in love with him and death is jealous. So jealous that it kills anyone that so much as talks to Alister within a day, and death won't let Alister die. Alister has been locked away in a mental institution for over two decades with no human interaction, when a young doctor shows up. The doctor doubts the curse and tries to help Alister. When the doctor lives through the day you start to wonder if Alister is really cursed or just mentally ill.
Keith Rommel did an excellent job of weaving Alister's past and present, telling a story that kept me reading and wondering where it was going and how it was going to end. This book has suspense and horror from the first page to the last. For me last few pages are the most terrifying, gut wrenching part of the story and was a bit hard to read but it was also perfect.
This was the first book I've read by Keith Rommel but it won't be my last. I can't wait for book two of the thanatology series. If you like horror and suspense you are going to love this book.
December 30, 2011
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The Cursed Man opens with a shocking death scene that immediately captures the audience and draws the reader slowly through an intriguing maze of twists and turns that continues right to the climax. I was amazed by the deft way that Keith Rommel handled the plot and slowly unraveled the mystery.
The story opens with Alister angrily shouting at a shadowy figure who forced his wife to drown their little girl and afterward commit suicide. The scene is incredibly powerful, although fair warning, it would be disturbing to a younger audience. Through Alister’s eyes, the reader comes to know that the figure is death and that anyone who speaks with Alister dies within twenty-four hours. The question of how Alister managed to get death’s attention in such a way leads the reader down an ever-darkening and complex path.
The twists and turns continue throughout the story. With each new scene, the reader is left wondering. “Where will it all end?” I had no idea where Keith Rommel would take the story even in the last twenty pages, and thought the story was incredibly well done.
Mystery lovers will DEVOUR this book. I highly recommend it. 5/5
**Read and Reveiw: http://read2review.com/our-reviews/k/...
The Cursed Man opens with a shocking death scene that immediately captures the audience and draws the reader slowly through an intriguing maze of twists and turns that continues right to the climax. I was amazed by the deft way that Keith Rommel handled the plot and slowly unraveled the mystery.
The story opens with Alister angrily shouting at a shadowy figure who forced his wife to drown their little girl and afterward commit suicide. The scene is incredibly powerful, although fair warning, it would be disturbing to a younger audience. Through Alister’s eyes, the reader comes to know that the figure is death and that anyone who speaks with Alister dies within twenty-four hours. The question of how Alister managed to get death’s attention in such a way leads the reader down an ever-darkening and complex path.
The twists and turns continue throughout the story. With each new scene, the reader is left wondering. “Where will it all end?” I had no idea where Keith Rommel would take the story even in the last twenty pages, and thought the story was incredibly well done.
Mystery lovers will DEVOUR this book. I highly recommend it. 5/5
**Read and Reveiw: http://read2review.com/our-reviews/k/...
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