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The Fiddler in the Night
Christian Fennell's, The Fiddler in the Night, is a return by the author to the raw, abstract, and visceral landscapes set forth in his critically acclaimed collection of short stories, Torrents of Our Time. In his debut novel, Fennell takes the reader on an orphaned teen's journey through the darker recesses of rural America--horrifying, yet compelling--where he tries to stay one step ahead of a ruthless killer. A tragic love story unfolding against a background that is both real and imagined, making this novel as memorable for its language as for its non-stop and blistering storyline.
- GenresFiction
260 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2020
2 people are currently reading
1009 people want to read
About the author
Christian Fennell
4 books55 followersTorrents of Our Time
"Whatever expectations one might have of a book of dark, realist short stories set in rural America, this collection defies them, and instead weaves an elegant song of sadness, dark humour, and strangeness." - Neon Books UK
The Fiddler in the Night
"In essence, the author has created a work of art in word form." - The US Review of Books
LOVE, GUNS & GOD in America
"A raw inspection of the violence and confrontations of both a nation and the individual." - Midwest Book Review
"A violent fucking poet." - Josip Novakovich
"Words used to be art. In their creation. In the act. And thus the words were art in their very being. Forget the reader. Just don't forget the impetus. Christian Fennell never did. One of the rare few."
- Shaan Joshi, Editor-in-chief, The Prague Revue
"Whatever expectations one might have of a book of dark, realist short stories set in rural America, this collection defies them, and instead weaves an elegant song of sadness, dark humour, and strangeness." - Neon Books UK
The Fiddler in the Night
"In essence, the author has created a work of art in word form." - The US Review of Books
LOVE, GUNS & GOD in America
"A raw inspection of the violence and confrontations of both a nation and the individual." - Midwest Book Review
"A violent fucking poet." - Josip Novakovich
"Words used to be art. In their creation. In the act. And thus the words were art in their very being. Forget the reader. Just don't forget the impetus. Christian Fennell never did. One of the rare few."
- Shaan Joshi, Editor-in-chief, The Prague Revue
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 27, 2025
I recently read “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy, and this books has that same style. It’s dramatic in the way it’s told; almost like, as a reader, you are remembering the story as it was told to you. Jonathan’s father dies after a crippling illness, and his mother has disappeared the night of the wake. Shortly after she’s gone, within hours likely, Jonathan realizes someone’s been in their house and the family truck has been stolen. As Jonathan sets out looking for his mom, he finds himself on the path (and in the crosshairs) of a serial killer. Jonathan is determined to find his mother or get this SOB and make him tell him what he did to her. Jonathan meets some very memorable characters in his search; each advising him in different ways … honest, frightening, sorrowful, hopeful, wise, broken. In helping others, Jonathan is torn between finding this maniac who leaves a murderous trail everywhere he goes or returning home to a different kind of future. Unfortunately, the choice is made for him and those he wanted to save. A beautifully written novel. I liked it!!! 😊
- [ ] Disclaimer - I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
- [ ] Disclaimer - I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway.
December 31, 2021
Christian Fennell’s The Fiddler in the Night narrates the story of Jonathan from New Acadia. Shortly after losing his dad (Conor) and mum (Kathleen), Conor’s pickup, and gun mysteriously go missing. As a concerned son, he sets out to search for his mom and the properties of his dad, but this turns into a rough ride, albeit an adventurous one. On this adventure, he meets several people, who form part of his experiences. Being determined to achieve his goal at any cost possible, he appears to be unaware and unconcerned about the looming danger. Will Jonathan succeed in his search against all odds? Will he come out alive and hearty? You can only find out by reading this book.
Bloodshed, lots of bloodsheds, sex, violence, near-death experiences, suspense, fear, love, fun, resilience, and surprise, just to mention a few, are core elements that make up the events in this book.
Fennell employed elements of suspense and surprise effectively and efficiently, such that the tension was heightened at almost every turn of events. I will not even mince words. I was tensed at some points, hoping and wishing that some events did not happen. This made the book interesting and entertaining.
In fiction books, diverse occurrences are bound to happen, but this known fact does not prevent us from reacting to them. Consequently, some events made me sad, sigh, annoyed, and relieved.
My favourite themes are resilience and love. How much am I willing to work for a course I am interested in, and how far can I go out of my way for the people I love? These thoughts flowed in my mind at different points of reading this book and these were lessons as well as points of reflection for me.
In the first few pages of the book, I was unsure about where it was heading to even after rereading. This made me a bit frustrated. However, as I read further, I was pinned to the book and found it difficult to let go of every free time I had with it. Every prospective reader should be sure that errors will not distract them, as it was professionally edited.
Although it was narrated from the perspective of a handful of characters of varying ages, the main characters in this book are young people. However, this is not your archetypal young-adult storyline. Considering the storyline and events that occurred in this book, I was very surprised when I discovered the ages or age brackets of the main characters. Furthermore, almost all the characters were sufficiently well developed. However, I was not satisfied with the character of Kathleen, as I felt a little more details about certain circumstances about her life would have left me more satisfied.
Like I noted earlier, there is a lot of bloodshed in this book, so you should take note if this might trigger you.
From my above comments of this book, I believe it deserves a four out of five stars rating. Finally, I recommend this book to all lovers of fiction because they will enjoy it.
Bloodshed, lots of bloodsheds, sex, violence, near-death experiences, suspense, fear, love, fun, resilience, and surprise, just to mention a few, are core elements that make up the events in this book.
Fennell employed elements of suspense and surprise effectively and efficiently, such that the tension was heightened at almost every turn of events. I will not even mince words. I was tensed at some points, hoping and wishing that some events did not happen. This made the book interesting and entertaining.
In fiction books, diverse occurrences are bound to happen, but this known fact does not prevent us from reacting to them. Consequently, some events made me sad, sigh, annoyed, and relieved.
My favourite themes are resilience and love. How much am I willing to work for a course I am interested in, and how far can I go out of my way for the people I love? These thoughts flowed in my mind at different points of reading this book and these were lessons as well as points of reflection for me.
In the first few pages of the book, I was unsure about where it was heading to even after rereading. This made me a bit frustrated. However, as I read further, I was pinned to the book and found it difficult to let go of every free time I had with it. Every prospective reader should be sure that errors will not distract them, as it was professionally edited.
Although it was narrated from the perspective of a handful of characters of varying ages, the main characters in this book are young people. However, this is not your archetypal young-adult storyline. Considering the storyline and events that occurred in this book, I was very surprised when I discovered the ages or age brackets of the main characters. Furthermore, almost all the characters were sufficiently well developed. However, I was not satisfied with the character of Kathleen, as I felt a little more details about certain circumstances about her life would have left me more satisfied.
Like I noted earlier, there is a lot of bloodshed in this book, so you should take note if this might trigger you.
From my above comments of this book, I believe it deserves a four out of five stars rating. Finally, I recommend this book to all lovers of fiction because they will enjoy it.
March 25, 2021
The Fiddler in the night by Christian Fennell 📚
Check out the review on my blog- /inscribedinklings.wordpress.com/2021/...
The Fiddler in the night is a literary masterpiece. It's an amalgamation of grace, gore and vivid imagery. The writing style is almost lyrical in nature. The tone of the book is foreboding and dark. The narration had multiple POV's in third person. Only thing that was a bit confusing was that it all occurred within the same chapter. It took me a bit of time to get used to all the characters. Once that happens, you are in a for a great ride.
The story revolved around many characters. There was Jonathan who recently lost his father and subsequently his mother went missing. Then he someone stole his car and he went in search of his mother and the car. There was Holly who was kept captive by her guardian and was trying to escape from his clutches. The third POV was from the killer who went around town leaving a blaze of bodies. The fourth POV was about Rachel, a young girl who lost her mother. The timeline was parallel between all the characters and we could see the story enfold.
At one point, all the characters meet. The story had love, tragedy, murder and more. Read to find out who survives the whole journey. I would recommend this book to all literary fiction lovers.
Check out the review on my blog- /inscribedinklings.wordpress.com/2021/...
The Fiddler in the night is a literary masterpiece. It's an amalgamation of grace, gore and vivid imagery. The writing style is almost lyrical in nature. The tone of the book is foreboding and dark. The narration had multiple POV's in third person. Only thing that was a bit confusing was that it all occurred within the same chapter. It took me a bit of time to get used to all the characters. Once that happens, you are in a for a great ride.
The story revolved around many characters. There was Jonathan who recently lost his father and subsequently his mother went missing. Then he someone stole his car and he went in search of his mother and the car. There was Holly who was kept captive by her guardian and was trying to escape from his clutches. The third POV was from the killer who went around town leaving a blaze of bodies. The fourth POV was about Rachel, a young girl who lost her mother. The timeline was parallel between all the characters and we could see the story enfold.
At one point, all the characters meet. The story had love, tragedy, murder and more. Read to find out who survives the whole journey. I would recommend this book to all literary fiction lovers.
January 26, 2021
The year 2020 has been one for the books. The Fiddler in the Night may be an ideal companion for when someone wants to revel in the darker aspects of that year. The gifted writer's first novel is elegiac.
One could think this is the story of Jonathan and it very well could be. I think The Fiddler in the Night is more of a philosophic look at what small-town life could be. What you have is a disparate group of people stuck in purgatory. Around the edges roams the Angel of Death who sends people to their afterlife destination. While struggling through purgatory, people are faced with the basest of human emotions.
The smooth slide between what seems to be reality and what could simply be fantasy lets the reader define what The Fiddler in the Night means to them. Immersive and jarring, The Fiddler in the Night will grip a reader. What the Angel of Death in this book needs is a tall tree and a short piece of rope. The Fiddler in the Night could simply mean that life is in the living of it. No one really controls their destiny. If you want a journey into the sometimes-violent lives of these people, read The Fiddler in the Night.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
One could think this is the story of Jonathan and it very well could be. I think The Fiddler in the Night is more of a philosophic look at what small-town life could be. What you have is a disparate group of people stuck in purgatory. Around the edges roams the Angel of Death who sends people to their afterlife destination. While struggling through purgatory, people are faced with the basest of human emotions.
The smooth slide between what seems to be reality and what could simply be fantasy lets the reader define what The Fiddler in the Night means to them. Immersive and jarring, The Fiddler in the Night will grip a reader. What the Angel of Death in this book needs is a tall tree and a short piece of rope. The Fiddler in the Night could simply mean that life is in the living of it. No one really controls their destiny. If you want a journey into the sometimes-violent lives of these people, read The Fiddler in the Night.
Disclaimer: I received a copy from the publisher in the hopes I'd review it.
My Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by: Mr. N
This review first appeared: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/po...
June 17, 2021
My first impression as I started reading this novel was, I’m not sure I understand exactly HOW to read it. I kept on, and in a few pages I was hooked and ended up reading this in one night, and that’s after working a 9 hour day. I could not put it down as the suspense was palpable!
This book is written in prose, and this was the first time I had the pleasure of reading a book that was written in this manner. There are no quotation marks for dialogue, it just runs as if I was listening to a conversation and not reading. There were times it was difficult to understand which character was talking but as I continued, that became no longer an issue.
While reading this, it came to my attention that this book is almost like an Aesop Fable, with some Grimm Fairy tales and Alice in Wonderland quotes mixed in because of all the dark symbolism. There are so many wolves/coyotes! The basic premise of the story includes a 16 year old boy who is beyond his years in wisdom. His father dies, at his father’s own hand, and on the night of his father’s wake, his mother disappears. In the midst of this there is a serial killer on the loose by the name of Leonard. He is Death. Plain and simple. I don’t believe he was ever born to a family;ever grew up; went to school etc. He just IS.
Jonathan starts his journey of finding his mother on horseback because someone” has stolen the family truck, and he meets along the way the most bizarre of characters. They just appear out of nowhere to strike up a conversation with him, and then suddenly, they are gone, or sometimes gruesomely murdered. Were they ever really there? I questioned the existence of many characters. Jonathan’s quest finds him face to face with “Death” throughout the entire story. Most of those Jonathan meets along his journey end up murdered. Does “Leonard/Death” have a personal vendetta against Jonathan, or is he just extremely unlucky?
I had so many emotions that coursed through my blood when reading this. I went from horror to excitement, to hopelessness and overcoming sadness. From compassion to fear, and then lastly to pride for Jonathan as he fights to find the truth about his mother, while falling in love, and fighting the Grim Reaper incarnate. I highly recommend this if you like to read about the journeys of young men becoming adults through their trials and tribulations. I look forward to reading more works by Christian Fennell.
I leave you with a quote from Jonathan's Grandfather to Jonathan before he dies.
“What matters, boy, is what you do with your life, not what happens after you’re dead”.
This book is written in prose, and this was the first time I had the pleasure of reading a book that was written in this manner. There are no quotation marks for dialogue, it just runs as if I was listening to a conversation and not reading. There were times it was difficult to understand which character was talking but as I continued, that became no longer an issue.
While reading this, it came to my attention that this book is almost like an Aesop Fable, with some Grimm Fairy tales and Alice in Wonderland quotes mixed in because of all the dark symbolism. There are so many wolves/coyotes! The basic premise of the story includes a 16 year old boy who is beyond his years in wisdom. His father dies, at his father’s own hand, and on the night of his father’s wake, his mother disappears. In the midst of this there is a serial killer on the loose by the name of Leonard. He is Death. Plain and simple. I don’t believe he was ever born to a family;ever grew up; went to school etc. He just IS.
Jonathan starts his journey of finding his mother on horseback because someone” has stolen the family truck, and he meets along the way the most bizarre of characters. They just appear out of nowhere to strike up a conversation with him, and then suddenly, they are gone, or sometimes gruesomely murdered. Were they ever really there? I questioned the existence of many characters. Jonathan’s quest finds him face to face with “Death” throughout the entire story. Most of those Jonathan meets along his journey end up murdered. Does “Leonard/Death” have a personal vendetta against Jonathan, or is he just extremely unlucky?
I had so many emotions that coursed through my blood when reading this. I went from horror to excitement, to hopelessness and overcoming sadness. From compassion to fear, and then lastly to pride for Jonathan as he fights to find the truth about his mother, while falling in love, and fighting the Grim Reaper incarnate. I highly recommend this if you like to read about the journeys of young men becoming adults through their trials and tribulations. I look forward to reading more works by Christian Fennell.
I leave you with a quote from Jonathan's Grandfather to Jonathan before he dies.
“What matters, boy, is what you do with your life, not what happens after you’re dead”.
June 18, 2021
Jonathan McLean is a 16-year-old youth searching for his missing mother and deceased father’s truck. He is traveling by horseback through the backroads of America. Unbeknownst to Jonathan, he will soon cross paths with a psychotic serial killer. As the story progresses, readers see more and more into the mind of a murderer who kills innocent people and the reasons behind the belief that his despicable and dreadful behavior is justified. The killer appears to have targeted Jonathan as one of his victims. Will Jonathan be caught up in his web and come to mortal harm or escape his clutches unscathed? Will the people befriended by Jonathan meet a similar fate and become one of the killer’s victims?
Christian Fennell not only accurately portrays the life of individuals living in rural areas of America but also brings to light the horrifying circumstances people can find themselves in due to areas in their lives beyond their control. The Fiddler in the Night is a poignant story teeming with violence but at the same time, it shows the resilience of people who are struggling with what life has thrown at them. The profanity, which is kept at a minimum, fits in with this riveting story that is full of conflict, suspense, tension, anger, cruelty, violent deaths, big threats, great risks, physical and emotional abuse, and high stakes. Fennell takes readers on a roller coaster ride and keeps them on the edge of their seats wondering what happens next. Decisions made by characters bring about both heart-stopping and horrifying incidents. There are some graphic descriptions of vicious behavior in this electrifying story that is not for the faint-hearted.
Christian Fennell not only accurately portrays the life of individuals living in rural areas of America but also brings to light the horrifying circumstances people can find themselves in due to areas in their lives beyond their control. The Fiddler in the Night is a poignant story teeming with violence but at the same time, it shows the resilience of people who are struggling with what life has thrown at them. The profanity, which is kept at a minimum, fits in with this riveting story that is full of conflict, suspense, tension, anger, cruelty, violent deaths, big threats, great risks, physical and emotional abuse, and high stakes. Fennell takes readers on a roller coaster ride and keeps them on the edge of their seats wondering what happens next. Decisions made by characters bring about both heart-stopping and horrifying incidents. There are some graphic descriptions of vicious behavior in this electrifying story that is not for the faint-hearted.
March 20, 2025
(This is a fair review based on an eARC provided by Reedsy.)
The Fiddler in the Night is the kind of book that hooks and holds your attention from the very first handful of sentences. They are stark, immediate, and darkly poetic. The journey is at times unsettling and difficult to look away from, though it’s not without its warming rays of unfiltered light. In short, it’s an experience. If you mashed up parts of McCarthy’s Blood Meridian and Camus’ The Stranger, added side characters too peculiar to make any draft of Through the Looking Glass, minced up a whole lot of southern gothic vibes, topped it off with a handful of pulverized mushrooms, and then drank the concoction, that might put you somewhere in the vicinity of New Arcadia. Which is where this story begins.
Jonathan is a well-meaning and goodhearted young man from the small town of New Arcadia who starts out on horseback (which I found both oddly funny and strangely endearing) in search of his parents’ stolen truck the day after his father’s funeral. Jonathan believes that if he finds the truck he will find his mother, who has also gone missing. What Jonathan doesn’t know is that the path he is on has placed him only steps behind Leonard (who feels like the corporeal embodiment of a dark angel of death but is closer to a literary homunculus for the DSM-V’s definition of psychopathy). The story alternates between Jonathan and Leonard orbiting each other’s paths, while nearing an inevitable collision, their trajectory dimpled with bloody scenes, tender moments, and great tension.
There is a dream-like quality and yet a straight forwardness to Fennell’s storytelling. Things aren’t quite right but are still very familiar. Somewhat fantastical, yet solid as a corpse. To say too much about The Fiddler in the Night only taints the journey. It’s a strange animal. An agile beast. A sinewy monster of a read. This is a story with its own pulse and respirations. Expanding and contracting. Often, you’ll find yourself matching its breath. Other times, holding yours. Fennell has created a story that will keep you pondering darkness and light, deeper meanings, abstract symbology, destiny vs. chaos, and what (if anything) it all means (and we’re not just talking about the story anymore) long after it’s over.
The Fiddler in the Night is the kind of book that hooks and holds your attention from the very first handful of sentences. They are stark, immediate, and darkly poetic. The journey is at times unsettling and difficult to look away from, though it’s not without its warming rays of unfiltered light. In short, it’s an experience. If you mashed up parts of McCarthy’s Blood Meridian and Camus’ The Stranger, added side characters too peculiar to make any draft of Through the Looking Glass, minced up a whole lot of southern gothic vibes, topped it off with a handful of pulverized mushrooms, and then drank the concoction, that might put you somewhere in the vicinity of New Arcadia. Which is where this story begins.
Jonathan is a well-meaning and goodhearted young man from the small town of New Arcadia who starts out on horseback (which I found both oddly funny and strangely endearing) in search of his parents’ stolen truck the day after his father’s funeral. Jonathan believes that if he finds the truck he will find his mother, who has also gone missing. What Jonathan doesn’t know is that the path he is on has placed him only steps behind Leonard (who feels like the corporeal embodiment of a dark angel of death but is closer to a literary homunculus for the DSM-V’s definition of psychopathy). The story alternates between Jonathan and Leonard orbiting each other’s paths, while nearing an inevitable collision, their trajectory dimpled with bloody scenes, tender moments, and great tension.
There is a dream-like quality and yet a straight forwardness to Fennell’s storytelling. Things aren’t quite right but are still very familiar. Somewhat fantastical, yet solid as a corpse. To say too much about The Fiddler in the Night only taints the journey. It’s a strange animal. An agile beast. A sinewy monster of a read. This is a story with its own pulse and respirations. Expanding and contracting. Often, you’ll find yourself matching its breath. Other times, holding yours. Fennell has created a story that will keep you pondering darkness and light, deeper meanings, abstract symbology, destiny vs. chaos, and what (if anything) it all means (and we’re not just talking about the story anymore) long after it’s over.
April 2, 2025
Thanks to Goodreads the publisher and the author for a copy of this ebook.
The book was dark and foreboding and written in a unique writing style, that included adventure, interesting characters, suspense and horror.
The book was dark and foreboding and written in a unique writing style, that included adventure, interesting characters, suspense and horror.
July 29, 2021
Christian Fennel's disturbing coming-of-age novel, The Fiddler in the Night is disturbing reading. The story, told in all prose with no quotation marks offsetting dialogue, is a young man's quest to find the answers to his mother's disappearance following his father's death. The protagonist, Jonathan, meets death in literal and metaphorical forms throughout his journey. Saying more will spoil the plot.
The story is told in a series of jump cuts and interruptions from one scene to another. The story progresses linearly, so the jumping is not through time, but rather rapid switches from one scene to another. There is an unreality to the events which are taking place in realistically depicted settings of rural decay. It is difficult to tell (perhaps purposefully so) whether the gritty and grim events which unfurl are happening, or whether they are allegorical. It will definitely require subsequent readings to unravel the symbolism and themes.
This is a well constructed book, and it's not hard to read, but it requires serious contemplation and consideration. Consider it for a literary book club in which the participants are skilled critical thinkers.
The story is told in a series of jump cuts and interruptions from one scene to another. The story progresses linearly, so the jumping is not through time, but rather rapid switches from one scene to another. There is an unreality to the events which are taking place in realistically depicted settings of rural decay. It is difficult to tell (perhaps purposefully so) whether the gritty and grim events which unfurl are happening, or whether they are allegorical. It will definitely require subsequent readings to unravel the symbolism and themes.
This is a well constructed book, and it's not hard to read, but it requires serious contemplation and consideration. Consider it for a literary book club in which the participants are skilled critical thinkers.
July 28, 2021
I became a fan of this author after reading a collection of his short stories earlier in the year....and wondering what it would be like to read a full-length book. I was thrilled to have that chance with The Fiddler in the Night! It definitely lived up to my short-story expectations, and even exceeded them.
At its most basic, this is the story of a young man searching for a missing mother and stolen truck. However, it's really so much more. There are a lot of elements, both real and (possibly) fantastical that make Jonathan's journey so interesting to read about.
Fennell truly has a gift with words. He can evoke a scene so realistically that I feel like I'm right there, observing things first hand. The narrative storyline was also great. Once I started reading, I had a hard time putting the book down without reading more to see what happened next.
With a unique writing style, a compelling plot, and some intriguing underlying lessons, this is a fabulous novel. I highly recommend it!
At its most basic, this is the story of a young man searching for a missing mother and stolen truck. However, it's really so much more. There are a lot of elements, both real and (possibly) fantastical that make Jonathan's journey so interesting to read about.
Fennell truly has a gift with words. He can evoke a scene so realistically that I feel like I'm right there, observing things first hand. The narrative storyline was also great. Once I started reading, I had a hard time putting the book down without reading more to see what happened next.
With a unique writing style, a compelling plot, and some intriguing underlying lessons, this is a fabulous novel. I highly recommend it!
June 6, 2021
Come follow a boy who lost his father and
is searching for his father’s stolen vehicle
and maybe his missing mother.
The story of the boy is paralleled by the
portrayal of a ruthless, blood thirsty serial killer
who stalks the night.
The author has a flair for descriptive scenes
and a variety of style to shape the story.
I volunteered to read The Fiddler in the Night.
Thanks to the Review Crew for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.
is searching for his father’s stolen vehicle
and maybe his missing mother.
The story of the boy is paralleled by the
portrayal of a ruthless, blood thirsty serial killer
who stalks the night.
The author has a flair for descriptive scenes
and a variety of style to shape the story.
I volunteered to read The Fiddler in the Night.
Thanks to the Review Crew for the opportunity.
My opinion is voluntary and my own.
June 18, 2021
I found this writing extremely difficult to read; when I could decipher the prose, I just found it depressing, but most of the time I was just confused. Maybe it’s just too high-brow for me? I don’t think so, though—I have a bachelors degree and read daily. This just wasn’t for me—sorry. I was provided a copy of this book and appreciate it; these opinions are my own.
February 1, 2021
“A perfect silence. Night coming. The cold damp air, reaching and settling, and this man, he knew, and only by his own awareness did he know. Death coming. Death waiting. He lit a match”.
He is here and never not here. Redemptionless and resting “in the cracks of time.”
From the first page to the last, tension crackles like that lit match.
If you are familiar with Fennell’s, Torrents of Our Time: Twenty-Two Stories, you will be re-admitted into the lives of favorite characters. They pass each other in the night and eventually collide in catastrophes of blood-let. Some are trapped in a state of “distance. The not knowing. The never arriving. This being alone, all the time” as fearless Jonathan rides through our hearts “with the death of yesterday’s darkness” on his back.
Christian Fennell’s words are honest and sharp, coursing like blood in the veins. It urges you on, past familiar voices into a region of not knowing which hastens your fingers through the masterly crafted pages.
He is here and never not here. Redemptionless and resting “in the cracks of time.”
From the first page to the last, tension crackles like that lit match.
If you are familiar with Fennell’s, Torrents of Our Time: Twenty-Two Stories, you will be re-admitted into the lives of favorite characters. They pass each other in the night and eventually collide in catastrophes of blood-let. Some are trapped in a state of “distance. The not knowing. The never arriving. This being alone, all the time” as fearless Jonathan rides through our hearts “with the death of yesterday’s darkness” on his back.
Christian Fennell’s words are honest and sharp, coursing like blood in the veins. It urges you on, past familiar voices into a region of not knowing which hastens your fingers through the masterly crafted pages.
August 10, 2021
A chilling suspense story with many twists and turns. I highly recommend it.
May 29, 2025
The Fiddler in the Night by Christian Fennell is a novel that weaves coming of age with violence, destiny with magical realism.
The main characters we meet in parallel are Jonathan and Leonard, two teenagers whose quests will converge explosively. Jonathan is looking for his mother who disappeared soon after the death of his father. On his path, a psychopath, Leonard, wanting nothing but to leave a bloody legacy behind him. Holly and Rachael, two characters who carry distinct traumas, will pull at the strings of a twisted fate.
Fennell’s writing, known to press on poetic clarity, is alive and well: It is lyrical yet to the point. There is a “readable” Faulkner quality to his writing, also a straight-up McCarthy delivery. And there lies the good news: Fennell seems, to me, to be Cormac McCarthy’s literary child; he represents a neo version of the late author’s style in content and form.
The book’s narrative seamlessly and artfully meshes many subplots. At this Fennell is a master. There is an economy of words, but an abundance of meaning that makes Fennell a perfect storyteller. Moreover, Fennell, we can hear, has a musical ear when writing – it enters your mind so easily you can hear it beating in your head.
This passage struck me, one of many, and it touches upon all earthly creatures’ capabilities to smell death, all types of deaths, physical and metaphorical: “We had a big pasture at the front of the house, and my father, he’d tell me to go fetch such and such a horse out of the pasture, and every single time, and I do mean every single time, with any horse, over all the years I lived and worked there, I’d walk a horse up that beautiful laneway with the big willows hangin over it, the creek runnin under it, well, just soon a I’d start around that dog leg, all hell would break loose. They’d spook, rearin up and shuffling back. Now why would that be? Why would a horse, years and years after my father tore that slaughterhouse down, spook, in that very spot? Every time? Every horse?”
And so, The Fiddler in the Night will delight readers who hold a penchant for quirky romances, violence, and ethereality. Do note: Fennell’s work demands from a reader - openness to a different style, attention as much as pause – intelligence. And for this, he/she will be greatly rewarded.
Deliciously twisted and addictive.
A brilliant author to discover...
The main characters we meet in parallel are Jonathan and Leonard, two teenagers whose quests will converge explosively. Jonathan is looking for his mother who disappeared soon after the death of his father. On his path, a psychopath, Leonard, wanting nothing but to leave a bloody legacy behind him. Holly and Rachael, two characters who carry distinct traumas, will pull at the strings of a twisted fate.
Fennell’s writing, known to press on poetic clarity, is alive and well: It is lyrical yet to the point. There is a “readable” Faulkner quality to his writing, also a straight-up McCarthy delivery. And there lies the good news: Fennell seems, to me, to be Cormac McCarthy’s literary child; he represents a neo version of the late author’s style in content and form.
The book’s narrative seamlessly and artfully meshes many subplots. At this Fennell is a master. There is an economy of words, but an abundance of meaning that makes Fennell a perfect storyteller. Moreover, Fennell, we can hear, has a musical ear when writing – it enters your mind so easily you can hear it beating in your head.
This passage struck me, one of many, and it touches upon all earthly creatures’ capabilities to smell death, all types of deaths, physical and metaphorical: “We had a big pasture at the front of the house, and my father, he’d tell me to go fetch such and such a horse out of the pasture, and every single time, and I do mean every single time, with any horse, over all the years I lived and worked there, I’d walk a horse up that beautiful laneway with the big willows hangin over it, the creek runnin under it, well, just soon a I’d start around that dog leg, all hell would break loose. They’d spook, rearin up and shuffling back. Now why would that be? Why would a horse, years and years after my father tore that slaughterhouse down, spook, in that very spot? Every time? Every horse?”
And so, The Fiddler in the Night will delight readers who hold a penchant for quirky romances, violence, and ethereality. Do note: Fennell’s work demands from a reader - openness to a different style, attention as much as pause – intelligence. And for this, he/she will be greatly rewarded.
Deliciously twisted and addictive.
A brilliant author to discover...
March 30, 2021
The Fiddler in the Night is an exceptionally well penned novel set in Rural America. This is the author's debut that takes the reader on an orphaned teen's journey where he tries to stay one step ahead of a ruthless killer. A tragic love story unfolding against a background was what kept up the spice in the novel.
The cover is minimalist yet intriguing enough to capture the reader's attention. The name of the book is what stole my attention in the first place. It is one of a kind.
The plot was (I hope) fictional yet somehow, it seemed real enough to me. I could imagine myself being a part of the story. The dialogues were candid which made the book ten times better for me. There were no quotation marks and so, in the beginning, I had little trouble comprehending the book but I soon got used to it.
The writing style of the author was lucrative, raw and visceral. The story was pretty violent at times which had me shuddering. The ending kinda broke my heart. I had tears in my eyes.
I would recommend this book for everyone who is looking for a raw & real story which is sure to move you & make you feel every emotion possible.
“𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.”
The cover is minimalist yet intriguing enough to capture the reader's attention. The name of the book is what stole my attention in the first place. It is one of a kind.
The plot was (I hope) fictional yet somehow, it seemed real enough to me. I could imagine myself being a part of the story. The dialogues were candid which made the book ten times better for me. There were no quotation marks and so, in the beginning, I had little trouble comprehending the book but I soon got used to it.
The writing style of the author was lucrative, raw and visceral. The story was pretty violent at times which had me shuddering. The ending kinda broke my heart. I had tears in my eyes.
I would recommend this book for everyone who is looking for a raw & real story which is sure to move you & make you feel every emotion possible.
“𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.”
January 29, 2021
The Review
A haunting and beautiful story of love, loss, and the journey in between, author Christian Fennell has done an amazing job with his debut novel. His almost poetic way of telling the story really strikes at the heart of rural America, and the way the author writes allows enough room for the reader’s own imagination to go to work, bringing this story to life in their mind.
The cat-and-mouse storytelling is the perfect backdrop to the novel’s two core elements: beautiful imagery and depth-filled character growth. The story of a young teen in search of his missing mother after his sick father passes away set against a deadly killer stalking the darkness around him is a chilling scene, to begin with, and the journey these characters take is elevated by the in-depth look into the heart of rural America.
The Verdict
A harmonic, artistic style of storytelling at its finest, author Christian Fennell’s “The Fiddler in the Night” is a must-read book for 2021. A thought-provoking narrative and awe-inspiring poetic storytelling are perfectly encapsulated by the author’s deep character development and emotional story. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy of the author’s debut novel today!
A haunting and beautiful story of love, loss, and the journey in between, author Christian Fennell has done an amazing job with his debut novel. His almost poetic way of telling the story really strikes at the heart of rural America, and the way the author writes allows enough room for the reader’s own imagination to go to work, bringing this story to life in their mind.
The cat-and-mouse storytelling is the perfect backdrop to the novel’s two core elements: beautiful imagery and depth-filled character growth. The story of a young teen in search of his missing mother after his sick father passes away set against a deadly killer stalking the darkness around him is a chilling scene, to begin with, and the journey these characters take is elevated by the in-depth look into the heart of rural America.
The Verdict
A harmonic, artistic style of storytelling at its finest, author Christian Fennell’s “The Fiddler in the Night” is a must-read book for 2021. A thought-provoking narrative and awe-inspiring poetic storytelling are perfectly encapsulated by the author’s deep character development and emotional story. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy of the author’s debut novel today!
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