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Correction Line
ROY BLAKE wonders how he ended up in some woman’s basement staring at jars that glow like they are on fire. More pressing to Roy is the two guys that showed up with Remington 20-Gauges looking for the same woman. He should have seen it coming -- ever since he was a kid he knew when a shift was about to happen.
Lately, he had been questioning a lot of things, like why was his blind eye showing him strange little films, and who was the guy that kept popping up in these visions? More importantly, who is after this woman, and does the liquid in the jars actually possess the ability to heal? When Roy goes on the run with Lucy, he faces into what his life has become and tries to find answers down dark prairie roads populated with bowling hustlers, Cuba-loving hit men, and a man who controls an entirely different sort of salesforce.
*This new edition features an introduction from the author, plus 2 never before published short stories.
“It's clear that Terlson is way ahead of the curve in terms of crafting an engaging premise that reaches for elevated territory and reinvents enduring archetypes of action and suspense.”
J. Schoenfelder, former editor of Mulholland Books
"The very human charm and quirkiness of a Coen brothers movie. Woven together, it all amounts to an ambitious book, brilliantly realised, and about as far from the same-old-same-old as you can get."
Ed Church, author of Brook Deelman Mysteries, UK
Lately, he had been questioning a lot of things, like why was his blind eye showing him strange little films, and who was the guy that kept popping up in these visions? More importantly, who is after this woman, and does the liquid in the jars actually possess the ability to heal? When Roy goes on the run with Lucy, he faces into what his life has become and tries to find answers down dark prairie roads populated with bowling hustlers, Cuba-loving hit men, and a man who controls an entirely different sort of salesforce.
*This new edition features an introduction from the author, plus 2 never before published short stories.
“It's clear that Terlson is way ahead of the curve in terms of crafting an engaging premise that reaches for elevated territory and reinvents enduring archetypes of action and suspense.”
J. Schoenfelder, former editor of Mulholland Books
"The very human charm and quirkiness of a Coen brothers movie. Woven together, it all amounts to an ambitious book, brilliantly realised, and about as far from the same-old-same-old as you can get."
Ed Church, author of Brook Deelman Mysteries, UK
367 pages, Paperback
First published July 10, 2012
21 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 17, 2012
I am always a little wary when I pick up a book by a first-time author; you never really know what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised with this little gem by Craig Terlson.
Correction Line drew me in from the beginning with the eclectic mix of characters and balance of action and suspense. Early on I found myself rooting for Roy, a disillusioned encyclopedia salesman, as he stumbles through a series of misadventures experiencing what he describes as "apathetic bravery." I felt myself caring for Lucy, hating Dave, and wondering what was actually going on in Lawrence's head.
Terlson captures the essence of life on the prairies: the barrenness, the isolated pockets of people, the strangeness that can be found hidden next to the normal. His attention to detail and style of writing drew me into the story and I felt like I was there.
One of the appeals of new authors is that you don't know them yet. You don't know where they are going to take you and Terlson doesn't disappoint. I was never really sure what was going to come next and found myself anxiously flipping the pages, trying to read as much as I could before the inevitable interruption that would take me away from the book.
This is one new author I was happy to have been introduced to and would have no problem recommending Correction Line to others looking for something new and a little different.
Correction Line drew me in from the beginning with the eclectic mix of characters and balance of action and suspense. Early on I found myself rooting for Roy, a disillusioned encyclopedia salesman, as he stumbles through a series of misadventures experiencing what he describes as "apathetic bravery." I felt myself caring for Lucy, hating Dave, and wondering what was actually going on in Lawrence's head.
Terlson captures the essence of life on the prairies: the barrenness, the isolated pockets of people, the strangeness that can be found hidden next to the normal. His attention to detail and style of writing drew me into the story and I felt like I was there.
One of the appeals of new authors is that you don't know them yet. You don't know where they are going to take you and Terlson doesn't disappoint. I was never really sure what was going to come next and found myself anxiously flipping the pages, trying to read as much as I could before the inevitable interruption that would take me away from the book.
This is one new author I was happy to have been introduced to and would have no problem recommending Correction Line to others looking for something new and a little different.
August 11, 2012
Thriller of mind control, drugs and kidnapping centered on a mysterious, ailing figure, Dave, who controls a squad of roving henchmen, searching the vast Canadian prairie for a missing woman. Writing is evocative of the prairie landscape -- reminds me of the writing in James Lee Burke's Montana novels with paranormal elements a la Clive Barker. Recommended for fans of noir-ish thrillers.
October 25, 2012
My daughter told me I had to read this book because she knows the author and it was free! She even downloaded the kindle app on my computer so i would read it. So really expected it to be one of those things you do to please your kid with little expectations. I found myself confused, filled with questions right from the start, wondering where the story was going and how things were connected. The characters and places were familiar, and as the story developed and you learn more you are still not able to predict what is next. I was hooked from the beginning, driven to continue through the middle, wondering when it was all going to come clear in my mind...and cursing the author for keeping that slight bit of confusion going...but needing to find out how it would all end. It was great story telling and kept me hooked all the way. I was pleasantly surprised, and my daughter had to make her own supper as i wasn't about to leave the computer without finishing the story!
May 28, 2013
Correction Line is a difficult book to describe. It's a little like a Clive Barker book with a rural prairie setting. You have the cast of an enigmatic cult-like leader, the devoted hitman, the burned out encyclopedia sales man, and the woman who can make a mysterious healing liquid. It has a totally unique storyline and you won't be able to predict what happens next.
July 31, 2012
Loved it! Instantly drawn in and had me reading when I should have been working. A feast of mystery, action, and magic.
January 7, 2022
Correction Line is a strange and hypnotic thriller. It has a wicked villain, a young woman in distress, a salesman struggling with an existential crisis, and an athletic sidekick with more heart than you give him credit for in the beginning. It also has a dog, a big, relatable mutt. And everybody, including the dog, has some strange, borderline magical, power. The story develops like a dreamy road movie and jumbles timelines. The location, an unspecified rural area where houses are far between and roads are called grids, plays a major role. Dave, the evil genius at the center of the story, could be a charismatic sect leader instead of a ruthless criminal. He seduces and subjugates followers, his disciples rather. They hang onto his words. And so does the reader, taken in by the flowing, evocative prose. This is not an edge-of-your-seat knuckle-biter, but the story insinuates itself into the reader's mind. It is an intriguing journey.
January 31, 2022
The action moves between the characters and locations to the reader to figure what is really happens. Dave, the leader of assassins, is facing fatally disease and looking for Lucy, a past relationship, to bring a magic for curing Dave's problems. Roy is a hapless book salesman who is drawn into Lucy and her dog. Two of Dave's killers are trying to find and bring back Lucy to help the cure for the disease. Long series of drives lead to finding Lucy and brings them back. Dreams and remembering for the characters flesh out the characters to explain their motives. The ending is as confused as the plot.
September 13, 2021
A very strange but compelling story. Although I didn’t especially like it, I couldn’t put it down. Very precise details in descriptions and moods. Don’t know if I’ll read any more of this authors work.
February 9, 2022
More like a 2.5. This was a weird one. I started it because it was recommended by an author I like; I kept going because reviews said it started slow, but got better; I finished it because I needed to know what happened to the characters. And I'm still not sure it was worth it.
January 25, 2022
Somewhat weird but enjoyable. Strange characters and a strange story.
March 14, 2022
I had many feelings about this story. It was strange and unusual. I'm still not sure if I liked it. Interesting characters. Not a bad read at all...just unusual.
April 7, 2022
A thriller with underlying darkness in some and unrelenting light in other characters. Wonderful word pictures of the environment where so much happens.
December 26, 2022
dnf
Just couldn't get into it. Gave up quickly
Just couldn't get into it. Gave up quickly
August 22, 2025
Wow! An awesome road trip story with elements of the supernatural and just the right amount of violence, from someone who fast becoming one of my favourite authors.
May 15, 2024
Correction Line
A story about a magnetic southern backwoods Charlie Manson-like cultish crime lord and the people he attracts.
Craig Terlson is better known for the Luke Fischer series and Samurai Bluegrass but Correction Line, his first work, remains my favorite. This new updated version with a new eyeball-grabbing cover (created by the author) and two never-published short stories of comparable content had me running to preorder. This is the tale of a manipulative backwoods crime lord withdrawing more and more into himself while sending his operatives out to do his bidding. Two of these operatives, Lawrence & Curtis, were a joy to read. At first, I wished these two characters could have an entire book to themselves, but I later realized their story was told and it was complete, I knew them. Craig Terlson creates unique characters that live and breathe. He doesn’t overwrite, he generously and brilliantly leaves a little room for the reader’s imagination to fill in. For me, this allows characters to live on long after the story they are in has finished. Correction Line is a tale of vengeance and redemption. Power and abuse. Relationships, toxic and true. There is a preternatural quality to this story, told in a realistic manner, which makes it all the more chilling. I kept reading well past my bedtime as the intersecting storylines drew closer together.
Correction lines will take you on a journey that will remain in some corner of your mind for a long time.
Read this by the light of your glowing nard jar.
The two short stories relate to Correction Line with themes of impermanence, death, and family
Why Wyoming?
Harry and Sue take a road trip. Along the way, they bicker comfortably, as only a truly happily married couple can. A sense of sadness hanging in the air drives the story. Moments of death add an ominous quality to the writing. As always, Craig Terlson’s writing beautifully illustrates the landscapes Harry and Sue travel across.
Ziggurat
In this story, a son looks back at his strained relationship with his father and how one moment can change your entire perception of someone and yourself. I found much to relate to in this story. Generations of men have been incapable of displaying their emotions, but they did exist. Nicely written, this story struck an emotional note with me.
A story about a magnetic southern backwoods Charlie Manson-like cultish crime lord and the people he attracts.
Craig Terlson is better known for the Luke Fischer series and Samurai Bluegrass but Correction Line, his first work, remains my favorite. This new updated version with a new eyeball-grabbing cover (created by the author) and two never-published short stories of comparable content had me running to preorder. This is the tale of a manipulative backwoods crime lord withdrawing more and more into himself while sending his operatives out to do his bidding. Two of these operatives, Lawrence & Curtis, were a joy to read. At first, I wished these two characters could have an entire book to themselves, but I later realized their story was told and it was complete, I knew them. Craig Terlson creates unique characters that live and breathe. He doesn’t overwrite, he generously and brilliantly leaves a little room for the reader’s imagination to fill in. For me, this allows characters to live on long after the story they are in has finished. Correction Line is a tale of vengeance and redemption. Power and abuse. Relationships, toxic and true. There is a preternatural quality to this story, told in a realistic manner, which makes it all the more chilling. I kept reading well past my bedtime as the intersecting storylines drew closer together.
Correction lines will take you on a journey that will remain in some corner of your mind for a long time.
Read this by the light of your glowing nard jar.
The two short stories relate to Correction Line with themes of impermanence, death, and family
Why Wyoming?
Harry and Sue take a road trip. Along the way, they bicker comfortably, as only a truly happily married couple can. A sense of sadness hanging in the air drives the story. Moments of death add an ominous quality to the writing. As always, Craig Terlson’s writing beautifully illustrates the landscapes Harry and Sue travel across.
Ziggurat
In this story, a son looks back at his strained relationship with his father and how one moment can change your entire perception of someone and yourself. I found much to relate to in this story. Generations of men have been incapable of displaying their emotions, but they did exist. Nicely written, this story struck an emotional note with me.
July 7, 2015
I'm going to start off by saying that this book does not fall within my usual genre preference, but the description looked intriguing, so I gave it a shot. I was immediately pulled in by the setting and the characters and wanted to learn more.
The tone of the book was appropriately dark and mysterious, and held throughout. My favorite part about this book was the incredibly vivid descriptions. I can't state enough how amazed I was with the images the author painted. This book played out in my head like a movie. The descriptions were so intense that I didn't just get a visual idea of what was going on, but my other senses were activated as well. From the first page to the last I felt like I was right there in the story.
When I finished the book, I didn't just pick up the next book on my long list of things to read. This one stuck in my head for a day or so. I feel like whenever an author can accomplish that, that means they've done something right.
I'm going to give the book bonus points for holding my interest despite not being my usual read. I definitely recommend it to others.
The tone of the book was appropriately dark and mysterious, and held throughout. My favorite part about this book was the incredibly vivid descriptions. I can't state enough how amazed I was with the images the author painted. This book played out in my head like a movie. The descriptions were so intense that I didn't just get a visual idea of what was going on, but my other senses were activated as well. From the first page to the last I felt like I was right there in the story.
When I finished the book, I didn't just pick up the next book on my long list of things to read. This one stuck in my head for a day or so. I feel like whenever an author can accomplish that, that means they've done something right.
I'm going to give the book bonus points for holding my interest despite not being my usual read. I definitely recommend it to others.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews