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Charlie Miner #1
Down Solo
Things haven't been going well for Charlie Miner. His work as a private investigator involves him with an endless roster of shady characters. His ex-wife is borderline crazy. And he hasn't been getting to spend anywhere near enough time with his teenage daughter Mindy, the one person in his life who truly matters to him.When he wakes up on a slab in the morgue with a hole in his head, though, things get even worse.Just before the shooting, Charlie was investigating a case involving fraud, gold, religious zealots, and a gorgeous woman who seemed to be at the center of everything. Even with a fatal bullet wound, Charlie can connect the dots from the case to his attack. And when his daughter is abducted by someone involved, the stakes get exponentially higher. Charlie needs to find Mindy before the criminals do the same thing to her that they did to him.After that, maybe he'll try to figure out how he's walking around dead.Irreverent, circuitous, and surprisingly touching, Down Solo introduces a crisp new voice to suspense fiction.
- GenresMystery
202 pages, Paperback
First published December 9, 2014
About the author
Earl Javorsky
11 books15 followersEarl Javorsky grew up in Los Angeles. He has written three novels and numerous short stories, and has worked as a musician, proofreader, and editor.
You can read more about him at www.earljavorsky.com
You can read more about him at www.earljavorsky.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
August 19, 2015
Down Solo, by Earl Javorsky, introduces a rousing new voice to suspense fiction.
Charlie Miner, a wisecracking private investigator hooked on heroin, wakes up on a slab in the morgue with a hole in his head. He is able to leave and re-enter his body and now must solve his own murder.
A quick read with a fast-paced plot, unique twists and turns, and twisted characters that make this novel difficult to put down.
Charlie Miner, a wisecracking private investigator hooked on heroin, wakes up on a slab in the morgue with a hole in his head. He is able to leave and re-enter his body and now must solve his own murder.
A quick read with a fast-paced plot, unique twists and turns, and twisted characters that make this novel difficult to put down.
December 31, 2017
This was a kindle freebie find. And just short enough to squeeze in as my last read of the year. Comedic noir or nourish black comedy with just a tinge of supernatural about a PI who wakes up dead. Well, technically he gets dead and then wakes up, learns to control his body via a sort of mental reanimation and with assistance of newly mastered astral projections sets off to discover how this all came to be. This is all while contending with a challenging case, teenage daughter, unbalanced ex wife and so on. It's that kind of book, you know, quirky. And it's actually quite good for what it is, I think I just may have misjudged how much I was in the mood for it. Still, objectively, a perfectly decent introduction to a new author who seems to have sequelized this one and done a standalone in the same vein too. Good writing, good pacing...for genre fans this has much to offer in a neat relatively brief (just over 200 pages and the last tenth of the book is previews) package. Plenty entertaining either way.
January 20, 2018
This is probably one of the best opening chapters that I have read in a book for a while. Charlie Miner is as naked as the day he was born with only a John Doe ticket on his big toe when he wakens up not remembering how he got on a slab in the morgue. The thing is he can see it all, as he isn’t even in his body! It isn’t long before he finds out that not only can he can leave his body but if he returns to it he can get up and move round. Not bad for a man with a hole in his head! The only thing that he can do is get his dead butt out of there before someone carries out a post-mortem or even worse buries him. A neighbouring corpse with clothes still on comes in handy, even if they are a little small.
Well I sort of sat back and pondered what I had just read and I just loved it. So back to the reading it was. Charlie was a P.I. and as little snippets came back to him through one means or another he began to try and piece together why he was in this no-mans land and no-one else was. Ok he was obviously dead and hadn’t obviously moved on, like everyone else did. But he needed to know why someone just couldn’t ask him to get the hell out instead of putting a substantial hole in his head.
One fellow, that seemed to know as much about the dead spirits as the live ones manages to give him hope and a bit of advice. ‘Don’t abuse what is left of your body.’ It sounded pretty good advice to me. But he hadn’t made a good job of taking care of it the first time round, especially with his liking to drugs, not to mention the bullet! He wasn’t about to change now.
Charlie doesn’t make the smartest of choices especially when his ex-wife dumps their 15-year-old daughter on him. Not the best timing. Now the story really takes off, yep it has been mild up to now lol, only joking! But it does go up a few more gears.
This is a mighty fine book that has that old-fashioned P.I. feel with it, the actual get out and talk to people feel and that was now literal for him, as he could vacate his body anytime he wanted and people couldn’t see him, it came in very handy especially when trying to convince anyone that he was dead. A super story laced with dry humour, tons of action and with a jaw dropping end. So I am now very much looking forward to book two. Well in a couple of days. Just awesome.
Well I sort of sat back and pondered what I had just read and I just loved it. So back to the reading it was. Charlie was a P.I. and as little snippets came back to him through one means or another he began to try and piece together why he was in this no-mans land and no-one else was. Ok he was obviously dead and hadn’t obviously moved on, like everyone else did. But he needed to know why someone just couldn’t ask him to get the hell out instead of putting a substantial hole in his head.
One fellow, that seemed to know as much about the dead spirits as the live ones manages to give him hope and a bit of advice. ‘Don’t abuse what is left of your body.’ It sounded pretty good advice to me. But he hadn’t made a good job of taking care of it the first time round, especially with his liking to drugs, not to mention the bullet! He wasn’t about to change now.
Charlie doesn’t make the smartest of choices especially when his ex-wife dumps their 15-year-old daughter on him. Not the best timing. Now the story really takes off, yep it has been mild up to now lol, only joking! But it does go up a few more gears.
This is a mighty fine book that has that old-fashioned P.I. feel with it, the actual get out and talk to people feel and that was now literal for him, as he could vacate his body anytime he wanted and people couldn’t see him, it came in very handy especially when trying to convince anyone that he was dead. A super story laced with dry humour, tons of action and with a jaw dropping end. So I am now very much looking forward to book two. Well in a couple of days. Just awesome.
September 11, 2020
About a month ago, a man with two names emailed me to say that he'd heard about my book on another author's website, and he suggested we do a book swap. His book is bright green and mine is bright pink, so I said sure.
Down Solo is the weirdest thing I've read this year, and I say that as someone who also wrote a book that someone on Goodreads said was "the weirdest thing I've read this year." The protagonist, an LA private investigator named Charlie Miner, moves through a world populated by characters and crimes that seem to have been pulled and remixed from Dashiell Hammett, The Big Lebowski, Californication, and the kind of pulpy 80's action movies that you can only find on VHS. The dialogue is terse, the prose lurid. Miner is a recovering junkie, an expert marksman, an amateur demolitionist, and has unique descriptors for every pair of breasts he sees. He says tough-ass things like "I'm a laser-guided missile looking for my target. Locate, lock, and launch." But he also takes meetings at the Cheesecake Factory, and plays online poker when he's bored.
And oh yeah! Charlie Miner is also technically dead. The book begins with him waking up inside his own bullet-ventilated corpse. He soon realizes he has the ability to astral project, and he can animate his own body like something out of Being John Malkovich.
Then we turn to page three.
This mix of hardboiled noir, suburban mundanity and some bizarro version of Ghost swims through the first fifty pages or so of Down Solo. Miner is trying to recover the memory of his own death while getting involved in a new case, and these two plotlines are perhaps most remarkable for how little they have to do with each other. Fifty pages in, Miner is arrested and sent to the county jail, and just when it seems like THAT is where the story was headed, he's out of jail again and thrown into a series of increasingly bonkers, scattershot mini-movies of crimes gone wrong in and around LA. Hillbilly methheads, kidnappings, car chases, explosions -- Miner goes through more adventures in a week than an entire season of A-Team episodes, and by the way remember also he is a ghost re-animating his own corpse the entire time.
Oh AND he has to save his daughter from a cave in Mexico AND there's a whole discussion about the current state of the gold trade because ALSO THERE IS BURIED TREASURE.
A lot of times the joy in reading a crazy book you know nothing about is trying to imagine the kind of person that sat down to write it in the first place. All I know is that this book is written by a man with two names who found me on the internet, so I can only hope that I myself am actually a minor character in a Charlie Miner novel, and that there is gold and possibly a ghost detective in the canyon near my house.
Down Solo is the weirdest thing I've read this year, and I say that as someone who also wrote a book that someone on Goodreads said was "the weirdest thing I've read this year." The protagonist, an LA private investigator named Charlie Miner, moves through a world populated by characters and crimes that seem to have been pulled and remixed from Dashiell Hammett, The Big Lebowski, Californication, and the kind of pulpy 80's action movies that you can only find on VHS. The dialogue is terse, the prose lurid. Miner is a recovering junkie, an expert marksman, an amateur demolitionist, and has unique descriptors for every pair of breasts he sees. He says tough-ass things like "I'm a laser-guided missile looking for my target. Locate, lock, and launch." But he also takes meetings at the Cheesecake Factory, and plays online poker when he's bored.
And oh yeah! Charlie Miner is also technically dead. The book begins with him waking up inside his own bullet-ventilated corpse. He soon realizes he has the ability to astral project, and he can animate his own body like something out of Being John Malkovich.
Then we turn to page three.
This mix of hardboiled noir, suburban mundanity and some bizarro version of Ghost swims through the first fifty pages or so of Down Solo. Miner is trying to recover the memory of his own death while getting involved in a new case, and these two plotlines are perhaps most remarkable for how little they have to do with each other. Fifty pages in, Miner is arrested and sent to the county jail, and just when it seems like THAT is where the story was headed, he's out of jail again and thrown into a series of increasingly bonkers, scattershot mini-movies of crimes gone wrong in and around LA. Hillbilly methheads, kidnappings, car chases, explosions -- Miner goes through more adventures in a week than an entire season of A-Team episodes, and by the way remember also he is a ghost re-animating his own corpse the entire time.
Oh AND he has to save his daughter from a cave in Mexico AND there's a whole discussion about the current state of the gold trade because ALSO THERE IS BURIED TREASURE.
A lot of times the joy in reading a crazy book you know nothing about is trying to imagine the kind of person that sat down to write it in the first place. All I know is that this book is written by a man with two names who found me on the internet, so I can only hope that I myself am actually a minor character in a Charlie Miner novel, and that there is gold and possibly a ghost detective in the canyon near my house.
May 27, 2018
Earl Javorsky's DOWN SOLO is a propulsive piece of pulp fiction, full of tropes that are standard fare in the crime genre but delivered here with a fun twist: a dead protagonist. There's a little bit of Denis Johnson, little bit of Christopher Moore, and a little bit of Frank Bill. While the dialogue comes across a little clunky and forced sometimes, the pages fly due to the wild action and vivid descriptions of the bizarre (a favorite scene: the dead narrator shooting heroin for the first time as a corpse). Definitely a fun read that I'd recommend to fans of both crime and bizarro.
January 31, 2015
Ready for a good old-fashioned gum-shoe and grit tale set in Los Angeles? Charlie Miner is a private investigator, who wakes up one day to find his life has taken a decided turn toward, Worst. Day. Ever. You see, instead of a warm and comfy bed, Charlie wakes up on an ice cold slab in the Los Angeles Morgue, so, on that note, one would think his day can only get better from there, right? Or not. Charlie gives new meaning to the phrase, “Dead man walking,” as he begins a journey that spans borders as he attempts to save his daughter from the clutches of death. Why not settle some scores on the way? Seriously, what can they do to him, kill him? Been there, done that, still struggling with hanging on to his soul until his mission is complete.
Down Solo by Earl Javorsky has a fast-paced plot with a few unique flavors to savor, great dialogue and a cast of characters that run from his squirrely ex to those seedy figures that slither out of the shadows at the worst times. Mr. Javorsky has a built an edgy and unique world that will have you grabbing for your own PI kit, just to be able to run with the rather flawed pro as he races against time to save the day.
I received this copy from The Story Plant in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: December 9, 2014
Publisher: The Story Plant
ISBN-13: 9781611881776
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Print Length: 202 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
Down Solo by Earl Javorsky has a fast-paced plot with a few unique flavors to savor, great dialogue and a cast of characters that run from his squirrely ex to those seedy figures that slither out of the shadows at the worst times. Mr. Javorsky has a built an edgy and unique world that will have you grabbing for your own PI kit, just to be able to run with the rather flawed pro as he races against time to save the day.
I received this copy from The Story Plant in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: December 9, 2014
Publisher: The Story Plant
ISBN-13: 9781611881776
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Print Length: 202 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Reviewed for: http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 20, 2021
This is Earl Javorsky debut novel and wow what an enjoyable one it is to. I was hooked from the first chapter. I actually found myself smiling and saying to myself wow this is different!
In the opening chapter we find Charlie Miner waking up in a Los angeles mortuary with a bullet hole in his head,seriously how original is that?! well this left me wanting more I was so intrigued I just kept on reading. Before charlie ended up dead he was investigating a case involving fraud. So he continues with this case and retraces his steps to find out how he ended up dead. We are taken from Santa Monica to south of Ensenada, Mexico, where Charlie has some scores to settle and hunts down the kidnapper of his daughter Mindy.
I love the style of Earls writing and descriptions. We get to know charlie very quickly and for me he is a very likeable character. This is a crime detective mystery with a twist of paranormal. being a fan of paranormal i absolutely loved the whole idea of this story. This is one gripping read full of action, and also family values. This is most definitely a very quirky page turner.
For me I am giving Down Solo 4 stars which i highly recommend it for fans of crime and paranormal. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Thank you to the author Earl Javorsky for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
In the opening chapter we find Charlie Miner waking up in a Los angeles mortuary with a bullet hole in his head,seriously how original is that?! well this left me wanting more I was so intrigued I just kept on reading. Before charlie ended up dead he was investigating a case involving fraud. So he continues with this case and retraces his steps to find out how he ended up dead. We are taken from Santa Monica to south of Ensenada, Mexico, where Charlie has some scores to settle and hunts down the kidnapper of his daughter Mindy.
I love the style of Earls writing and descriptions. We get to know charlie very quickly and for me he is a very likeable character. This is a crime detective mystery with a twist of paranormal. being a fan of paranormal i absolutely loved the whole idea of this story. This is one gripping read full of action, and also family values. This is most definitely a very quirky page turner.
For me I am giving Down Solo 4 stars which i highly recommend it for fans of crime and paranormal. I am looking forward to reading more books by this author.
Thank you to the author Earl Javorsky for a copy of this book in exchange for a honest review
October 3, 2018
Charlie Miner is a private investigator that wakes up in the morgue. It seems someone has put a bullet in his head. He can astral project and if he concentrates really hard he can reanimate his body. He doesn’t remember much but wants to know who killed him along with getting a hit if drugs. He quickly learns that drugs don’t do anything anymore but his dealer gets him started with the first step into what happened in the last 24 hours.
It seems a beautiful lady came into Charlie’s life asking him to investigate fraud and some missing gold. Clearly Charlie was getting close to the answer when his ex-wife dumps his daughter on him, she was then kidnapped, and he finds himself in the morgue.
I really liked this story. Charlie is not one of the best people in the world but he is very protective of his daughter and great at following the clues. I loved how you don’t find out what was really going on until the end. I like to be kept guessing and I didn’t really expect the ending.
This is a great mystery and I have to admit that Charlie did grow on me. Although the book ends like it could be a standalone I know that this is the first in the series. I can’t wait to see what trouble Charlie gets into next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
It seems a beautiful lady came into Charlie’s life asking him to investigate fraud and some missing gold. Clearly Charlie was getting close to the answer when his ex-wife dumps his daughter on him, she was then kidnapped, and he finds himself in the morgue.
I really liked this story. Charlie is not one of the best people in the world but he is very protective of his daughter and great at following the clues. I loved how you don’t find out what was really going on until the end. I like to be kept guessing and I didn’t really expect the ending.
This is a great mystery and I have to admit that Charlie did grow on me. Although the book ends like it could be a standalone I know that this is the first in the series. I can’t wait to see what trouble Charlie gets into next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.
April 29, 2018
Solidly written hard-boiled PI novel with a supernatural twist. It reminds me a lot of Charlie Huston's Joe Pitt novels in tone and writing style. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Recommended.
November 25, 2015
Things haven't been going well for Charlie Miner. His work as a private investigator involves him with an endless roster of shady characters. His ex-wife is borderline crazy. And he hasn't been getting to spend anywhere near enough time with his teenage daughter Mindy, the one person in his life who truly matters to him.
When he wakes up on a slab in the morgue with a hole in his head, though, things get even worse.
Just before the shooting, Charlie was investigating a case involving fraud, gold, religious zealots, and a gorgeous woman who seemed to be at the center of everything. Even with a fatal bullet wound, Charlie can connect the dots from the case to his attack. And when his daughter is abducted by someone involved, the stakes get exponentially higher. Charlie needs to find Mindy before the criminals do the same thing to her that they did to him.
After that, maybe he'll try to figure out how he's walking around dead.
Well this is an intriguing story… first and foremost because at the outset the protagonist, Charlie Miner, wakes up in a mortuary with a bullet hole in his head. He’s clinically dead, yet somehow still alive.
What first drew me to Down Solo was the blurb and a couple of author quotes from favourites such as Paul D. Brazill and Les Edgerton. If those guys are fans, there must be something within, right?
Right.
Surprisingly, it doesn’t take long to get used to the idea that Charlie is dead. For one thing Down Solo is written in first person. So as Charlie accepts it, so does the reader. Smart move on the author’s part. Charlie is just as puzzled by what’s going on and spends the entire novel figuring out his own medical miracle as well as discovering who killed him and why, plus looking out for his daughter, Mindy, who’s caught up in the mess.
Down Solo is an intriguing mix of the supernatural (Charlie is able to escape his own body and investigate his surroundings as a spirit no-one can see, but not for too long) and crime (lots of people get shot). It’s loaded with dark humour and trips along at a very good pace. The characters are strong and the dialogue suitably snappy. I thoroughly enjoyed Down Solo. Go look up Earl Javorsky.
**Originally reviewed for Books & Pals blog.**
When he wakes up on a slab in the morgue with a hole in his head, though, things get even worse.
Just before the shooting, Charlie was investigating a case involving fraud, gold, religious zealots, and a gorgeous woman who seemed to be at the center of everything. Even with a fatal bullet wound, Charlie can connect the dots from the case to his attack. And when his daughter is abducted by someone involved, the stakes get exponentially higher. Charlie needs to find Mindy before the criminals do the same thing to her that they did to him.
After that, maybe he'll try to figure out how he's walking around dead.
Well this is an intriguing story… first and foremost because at the outset the protagonist, Charlie Miner, wakes up in a mortuary with a bullet hole in his head. He’s clinically dead, yet somehow still alive.
What first drew me to Down Solo was the blurb and a couple of author quotes from favourites such as Paul D. Brazill and Les Edgerton. If those guys are fans, there must be something within, right?
Right.
Surprisingly, it doesn’t take long to get used to the idea that Charlie is dead. For one thing Down Solo is written in first person. So as Charlie accepts it, so does the reader. Smart move on the author’s part. Charlie is just as puzzled by what’s going on and spends the entire novel figuring out his own medical miracle as well as discovering who killed him and why, plus looking out for his daughter, Mindy, who’s caught up in the mess.
Down Solo is an intriguing mix of the supernatural (Charlie is able to escape his own body and investigate his surroundings as a spirit no-one can see, but not for too long) and crime (lots of people get shot). It’s loaded with dark humour and trips along at a very good pace. The characters are strong and the dialogue suitably snappy. I thoroughly enjoyed Down Solo. Go look up Earl Javorsky.
**Originally reviewed for Books & Pals blog.**
November 29, 2014
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a honest review
So what really drew me to this book was the cover. Yes I judge a book by its cover almost all the time. It usually does not turn me down. And again I find myself correct. This was a very funny quirky mystery. Definitely a type of book I have not read this year. I am glad I am branching out and reading books I usually would not, because I have been finding a lot of GREAT books this year. Go ME.
Ok so the book….
Imagine you are a detective and a very pretty girl needs your help. You go about working on a case and the next thing you know you are waking up in a morgue NAKED. Don’t remember a damn thing… and the biggest kicker….You have a bullet hole in your head. What the hell?! I would definitely mark that as a bad day. But for some odd reason you are giving a second chance in life. I don’t know if you would count yourself as a zombie…but definitely not living. Now to add to your already shitty day, your daughter has been kidnapped, and your house was just burned down to the ground. Yup a very crappy day. Now for the last kicker. You were a heroin addict before you died and now that you’re dead you are still craving the stuff and need to go find your drug dealer. WOW
See I told you, you would be hooked.
This is such a fast page turner you really won’t want to do anything else but finished the book to see what happens next. You will giggle, snort and roll your eyes throughout the book. This is ok… Rule of advice, if you’re going to bring the book to the john with you, don’t camp out in there, your family will frown upon this!
Enjoy! I know I did
So what really drew me to this book was the cover. Yes I judge a book by its cover almost all the time. It usually does not turn me down. And again I find myself correct. This was a very funny quirky mystery. Definitely a type of book I have not read this year. I am glad I am branching out and reading books I usually would not, because I have been finding a lot of GREAT books this year. Go ME.
Ok so the book….
Imagine you are a detective and a very pretty girl needs your help. You go about working on a case and the next thing you know you are waking up in a morgue NAKED. Don’t remember a damn thing… and the biggest kicker….You have a bullet hole in your head. What the hell?! I would definitely mark that as a bad day. But for some odd reason you are giving a second chance in life. I don’t know if you would count yourself as a zombie…but definitely not living. Now to add to your already shitty day, your daughter has been kidnapped, and your house was just burned down to the ground. Yup a very crappy day. Now for the last kicker. You were a heroin addict before you died and now that you’re dead you are still craving the stuff and need to go find your drug dealer. WOW
See I told you, you would be hooked.
This is such a fast page turner you really won’t want to do anything else but finished the book to see what happens next. You will giggle, snort and roll your eyes throughout the book. This is ok… Rule of advice, if you’re going to bring the book to the john with you, don’t camp out in there, your family will frown upon this!
Enjoy! I know I did
January 5, 2018
At first the protagonist is unbelievable and then the change of perspective in what we see as spiritual and human takes on a definition in the characters’ theme. Not only then does Javorsky substantiate his character, but he provides theme and plot motive. This is a very good suspense story. Humorous and suspenseful. Crisp, clean writing with vivid images which pull the reader in. A good read, and an author to follow. Javorsky is going to have a long career.
Reviewed in: http://www.djadamson.com/le-coeur-de-...
Reviewed in: http://www.djadamson.com/le-coeur-de-...
March 26, 2018
“Down Solo” by Earl Javorsky – When the Dead Start Investigating
Earl Javorsky's Grim Awakening
To keep things as brief and spoiler-free as possible, as the story opens we are presented with the afore-mentioned investigator, Charlie Miner. His day has come to an abrupt beginning as he finds himself awake on a mortuary slab, with what is apparently a bullet hole in his head. Not letting himself be deterred by such an inconvenience, he gets up and starts to put the puzzle pieces back together. With religious extremism, fraud and a whole lot of gold on the line, it's only a matter of time before it all culminates into an explosion leaving few winners in the end.
A Marriage of Noir and Paranormal
While this may only be Javorsky's second published book, it never even for a second feels like it. Each and every sentence has been polished and carefully refined a thousand times over (or so I imagine), with thoughts, descriptions and conversations flowing quickly and being easy to understand. The plot doesn't meander all over the place and feels more simple in its approach, focusing on one aspect of the story at a time, leaving us very little room for getting lost.
In terms of genre the author certainly knows how to walk the tightrope between paranormal and noir mystery. On one hand we have the whole ordeal with the resurrection, with additional notes of the supernatural peppered here and there throughout the story. On the other hand, much of the story is spent within the confines of realistic noir, following Charlie's foray into the conspiracy that got him killed.
The Darkness of Humanity
With this being in large part a noir book, I am certain you can infer what sort of narration you ought to expect from this. Somewhat reminiscent of the old detectives like Spade and Bogart, Charlie carries us with him through ordeals he describes through a jaded and cynical perspective, witnessing a world that has, for the most part, fallen to and merged with the darkness that befell it. There is quite a bit of heavy content revolving around hardcore drug users and criminals on the bottom rungs of the food chain, exploring the sadness of their lives, the many missed opportunities they'll never see again.
With that being said, this story isn't all doom and gloom one hundred percent of the time. There are a few humorous moments of black comedy here and there to lighten the mood, and the more we learn about Charlie Miner the more endearing he becomes to us.
The Final Verdict
With all elements taken into consideration, Down Solo is an excellent paranormal noir mystery written with exceptional proficiency. The story was filled tension and intrigue, the characters more than well-enough developed for us to care about them, the atmosphere consistently engaging, and the ruminations mirroring real life leaving us with strong impressions. If this sounds like the kind of genre you'd enjoy, I highly recommend you give this book a chance for it might mark the beginning of an extraordinary new series.
This was an abridged version of our review. If you'd like to read the full one, you can do so here: https://bookwormex.com/down-solo-earl...
Earl Javorsky's Grim Awakening
To keep things as brief and spoiler-free as possible, as the story opens we are presented with the afore-mentioned investigator, Charlie Miner. His day has come to an abrupt beginning as he finds himself awake on a mortuary slab, with what is apparently a bullet hole in his head. Not letting himself be deterred by such an inconvenience, he gets up and starts to put the puzzle pieces back together. With religious extremism, fraud and a whole lot of gold on the line, it's only a matter of time before it all culminates into an explosion leaving few winners in the end.
A Marriage of Noir and Paranormal
While this may only be Javorsky's second published book, it never even for a second feels like it. Each and every sentence has been polished and carefully refined a thousand times over (or so I imagine), with thoughts, descriptions and conversations flowing quickly and being easy to understand. The plot doesn't meander all over the place and feels more simple in its approach, focusing on one aspect of the story at a time, leaving us very little room for getting lost.
In terms of genre the author certainly knows how to walk the tightrope between paranormal and noir mystery. On one hand we have the whole ordeal with the resurrection, with additional notes of the supernatural peppered here and there throughout the story. On the other hand, much of the story is spent within the confines of realistic noir, following Charlie's foray into the conspiracy that got him killed.
The Darkness of Humanity
With this being in large part a noir book, I am certain you can infer what sort of narration you ought to expect from this. Somewhat reminiscent of the old detectives like Spade and Bogart, Charlie carries us with him through ordeals he describes through a jaded and cynical perspective, witnessing a world that has, for the most part, fallen to and merged with the darkness that befell it. There is quite a bit of heavy content revolving around hardcore drug users and criminals on the bottom rungs of the food chain, exploring the sadness of their lives, the many missed opportunities they'll never see again.
With that being said, this story isn't all doom and gloom one hundred percent of the time. There are a few humorous moments of black comedy here and there to lighten the mood, and the more we learn about Charlie Miner the more endearing he becomes to us.
The Final Verdict
With all elements taken into consideration, Down Solo is an excellent paranormal noir mystery written with exceptional proficiency. The story was filled tension and intrigue, the characters more than well-enough developed for us to care about them, the atmosphere consistently engaging, and the ruminations mirroring real life leaving us with strong impressions. If this sounds like the kind of genre you'd enjoy, I highly recommend you give this book a chance for it might mark the beginning of an extraordinary new series.
This was an abridged version of our review. If you'd like to read the full one, you can do so here: https://bookwormex.com/down-solo-earl...
November 6, 2023
A Grand suspenseful story.
Earl Javorsky writes an interesting, suspenseful tale with Down Solo. I am a fan of Earl Javorsky and whatever this author writes I want to read. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. The reader is introduced to Charlie Miner, a private investigator, whose clients are on the lower end of the scale. He's a divorced father, and he lacks a quality relationship with his daughter, the one person in the world who he loves the most. Mindy is the typical teenager, and Charlie tries to keep his PI life separate, causing issues between them, as he hardly ever sees here. Then, it starts. Charlie is working on a case, and gets shot in the head, and wakes up in the morgue. Yes, Charlie is now dead, but needs to protect his daughter, as soon as he can figure out what happened while he was alive, and how he can do it while he's dead. The story is endearing and heartbreaking. Charlie is formidable, but he's also dead. The reader just embarks on a superb journey, with the line between the afterlife, and the current life. The characters are so real, it's like being with them within the story. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. Charlie's character definitely develops throughout the story. Down Solo is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
Earl Javorsky writes an interesting, suspenseful tale with Down Solo. I am a fan of Earl Javorsky and whatever this author writes I want to read. This author has a grand imagination, and talent for showing the story. The reader is introduced to Charlie Miner, a private investigator, whose clients are on the lower end of the scale. He's a divorced father, and he lacks a quality relationship with his daughter, the one person in the world who he loves the most. Mindy is the typical teenager, and Charlie tries to keep his PI life separate, causing issues between them, as he hardly ever sees here. Then, it starts. Charlie is working on a case, and gets shot in the head, and wakes up in the morgue. Yes, Charlie is now dead, but needs to protect his daughter, as soon as he can figure out what happened while he was alive, and how he can do it while he's dead. The story is endearing and heartbreaking. Charlie is formidable, but he's also dead. The reader just embarks on a superb journey, with the line between the afterlife, and the current life. The characters are so real, it's like being with them within the story. It's a great story to follow and try to figure out what will happen next. Charlie's character definitely develops throughout the story. Down Solo is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
February 16, 2018
'Down Solo' is a fascinating book. Even without the paranormal elements, it'd be a pretty kick-ass mystery, one involving strung-out kids, burning houses, gold mines, shadiness on both sides of the Mexican border, and a truly ruthless femme fatale. Weave it with the supernatural, though, and it becomes a special beast. Unlike so many other novels that attempt this kind of trick, "Down Solo" blends the two genres perfectly, without letting one override the other: even when things get trippy (and they get *very* trippy; an impromptu operation to remove a bullet is a particular highlight, for reasons I won't spoil), they still manage to stay grounded.
In other words, this is probably the most believable novel you'll ever read about an ex-junkie detective who comes back from his own murder. And even as it moves at breakneck pace, there's a melancholy, even a vulnerability here that truly resounds.
If you're looking for a gritty mystery, and you want something unique, this is definitely your book.
In other words, this is probably the most believable novel you'll ever read about an ex-junkie detective who comes back from his own murder. And even as it moves at breakneck pace, there's a melancholy, even a vulnerability here that truly resounds.
If you're looking for a gritty mystery, and you want something unique, this is definitely your book.
October 13, 2017
With Down Solo, Earl Javorsky may just have become your new favorite novelist. The minute I got my hands on this book, it felt "velcroed" onto them, and I couldn't put it down! The writing is so descriptive with three-dimensional characters, that you feel immersed in the scenes as if you not only were there, but actually participating in the drama. The compelling character of Charlie Miner will stay with you and you feel invested in the outcome. Javosrky has the most penetrating depth of observations of human foibles, emotions and motivations. The psychological complexity he brings to this work is riveting.
I'd give it more stars if I could, as the writing is really stellar here! If you hadn't yet read the last chapter, and say, a burgler came to your house, you'd beg them to take anything they want, only please leave you this book! Thankfully, a sequel is available soon to continue the story.
I'd give it more stars if I could, as the writing is really stellar here! If you hadn't yet read the last chapter, and say, a burgler came to your house, you'd beg them to take anything they want, only please leave you this book! Thankfully, a sequel is available soon to continue the story.
December 12, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
This is a story that, to me, is written somewhat in the style of the 1940's gumshoe detective. This is where the comparison ends though because the protagonists awakens in the morgue with a bullet hole in his forehead. It gets really interesting from this point because, he not only has to find out what happened to him, his daughter is kidnapped, his friend and supplier is shot, a mysterious and deadly female enters his life, and an odd Jamaican gentleman keeps entering his life and dropping hints about what happened to him. The characters were well written, action kept at an acceptable level (not too fast, not too slow), surprises spaced out, and the plot twists placed at intervals you'll never expect. A very good read.
This is a story that, to me, is written somewhat in the style of the 1940's gumshoe detective. This is where the comparison ends though because the protagonists awakens in the morgue with a bullet hole in his forehead. It gets really interesting from this point because, he not only has to find out what happened to him, his daughter is kidnapped, his friend and supplier is shot, a mysterious and deadly female enters his life, and an odd Jamaican gentleman keeps entering his life and dropping hints about what happened to him. The characters were well written, action kept at an acceptable level (not too fast, not too slow), surprises spaced out, and the plot twists placed at intervals you'll never expect. A very good read.
March 2, 2018
Right from the outset, the reader is introduced to the main character as a dead person. With this POV, you might assume that anything can happen, as this truly is uncharted territory. However, the author temporarily sets metaphysics aside and guides us through the mission that Charile Miner seeks to accomplish, namely solving his own murder. Principal and secondary characters are well presented and developed, and the storyline progresses quickly to keep the reader engaged to the very end. In the final chapter, the reader is still unsure what the outcome will be regarding Charlie’s state of being. The metaphysical questions return, then the reader must decide. All in all, a very well done suspense, drama, touch of paranormal story and mental exercise for a willing reader.
Reviewed by Doug
4 1/2 Stars
Reviewed by Doug
4 1/2 Stars
July 4, 2020
I started reading this book and just kept reading it.
That's another way of saying it's "unputdownable."
The hook is irresistible: our narrator wakes up after being shot to death and must figure out who killed him and why. This leads to bigger mysteries and greater complications.
The book is in the vein of detective noirs with a touch of wry humor and just enough of a supernatural element without going full phantasmagorical. This mix works beautifully.
This is a quick, engaging read that's perfect poolside on a hot summer day.
That's another way of saying it's "unputdownable."
The hook is irresistible: our narrator wakes up after being shot to death and must figure out who killed him and why. This leads to bigger mysteries and greater complications.
The book is in the vein of detective noirs with a touch of wry humor and just enough of a supernatural element without going full phantasmagorical. This mix works beautifully.
This is a quick, engaging read that's perfect poolside on a hot summer day.
October 11, 2017
Wow. A helluva ride. As with most of these, it goes on too long. Throws in extraneous stuff that doesn't add to the story.
If you like this one, I heartily recommend "Strange Bodies" by Marcel Theroux .
If you'd like something lighter along the same idea, "'til Death" by Jason Anspach.
If you like this one, I heartily recommend "Strange Bodies" by Marcel Theroux .
If you'd like something lighter along the same idea, "'til Death" by Jason Anspach.
September 9, 2018
Ummm this book is weird. More thoughts later.
May 16, 2016
Death is no excuse to give up on a case
I am reviewing this novel as part of Rosie’s Book Review Team. Thanks to Rosie Amber for organising this amazing team and to the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Dead narrators are not unique. In some cases we know from the beginning (like in the film Sunset Boulevard, that I recommend if you haven’t watched it yet), in others we don’t find out until the very end (The Fifth Element. Sorry, it’s a big spoiler, but I imagine everybody has watched it by now). I have just read a book where the main characters were dead, or in an in-between state. But still, Charlie Miner, the protagonist of this novel, is no ghost and he does not live in a separate reality. No, he wakes up at the morgue with a bullet in his head and picks himself up, finds another body still wearing some clothes that he borrows (as luck would have it, a skinhead), and, as a good (well, let’s say professional) PI he sets off finding out what has happened to him.
I really like unreliable narrators. They are good to keep readers on their toes and bring very interesting perspectives to the narrative. The story doesn’t stray from Charlie’s first person point of view, but he has a few problems. He’s dead, and it’s difficult to know if his memory problems stem from being dead or from the damage the bullet has caused to his brain; he also had a serious drug habit (developed due to back pain following an accident that would not respond to run of the mill painkillers) and what effect that has had on his memory is open to question. Charlie realises, when trying to pierce things together, that he has big gaps in his memory and, what’s even worse, some of the memories he recalls seem to be incorrect. On the plus side, he soon discovers that death cures drug addiction. Readers share his puzzlement and his attempts at trying to work out what really happened, having to rely on partial information that might be misleading or incomplete.
Charlie is a great narrator, despite (or because of) all those problems. Notwithstanding his situation, he wastes no time in feeling sorry for himself. He’s off to find out what happened. He’s sharp, witty, has a fabulous (if rather dark) sense of humour, and although he has his own sense of morality and of what’s right and wrong, he does not hesitate in using whatever means necessary to get to the truth, especially when his daughter is at risk. He is a friend of his friends, loves his daughter, has a keen sense of justice and, despite his flaws, he’s one of the good guys.
The case is a complex one, involving gold mines (that might or might not have gold in them), shady investment firms, preachers trying to save the world, experts killed for their troubles, hot wives prepared to do anything to get their hands on the money, trustworthy and friendly drug dealers, Mexican gangs, crazed adoptive sons and other complex family relationships, amphetamine labs… There are a number of deaths, explosions, crashes, arson attacks, kidnappings, road trips, visits to prison, and everything in between. There’s also an interesting taxi-driver, Daniel, who seems to have information about the biggest mystery in the book (how come Charlie is a completely unique model of the walking dead) but he keeps his cards very close to his chest. Despite the supernatural elements, once the readers move past the main premise of the book and accept it as Charlie does, they get swept by the adventures, complications, and dangers that pile up. You’re in for the ride and you enjoy it for all it’s worth. The ending… well, it’s open to interpretation.
The dynamic writing, and the quick pace suit the novel’s theme and characters perfectly, and turn it into a must read for people who love unusual thrillers and witty/quirky characters, with plenty of black humour thrown in. A word of warning, there’s swearing, violence, drug use and a bit of sex, so it’s not for the faint hearted. A fantastic read.
I am reviewing this novel as part of Rosie’s Book Review Team. Thanks to Rosie Amber for organising this amazing team and to the author for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an unbiased review.
Dead narrators are not unique. In some cases we know from the beginning (like in the film Sunset Boulevard, that I recommend if you haven’t watched it yet), in others we don’t find out until the very end (The Fifth Element. Sorry, it’s a big spoiler, but I imagine everybody has watched it by now). I have just read a book where the main characters were dead, or in an in-between state. But still, Charlie Miner, the protagonist of this novel, is no ghost and he does not live in a separate reality. No, he wakes up at the morgue with a bullet in his head and picks himself up, finds another body still wearing some clothes that he borrows (as luck would have it, a skinhead), and, as a good (well, let’s say professional) PI he sets off finding out what has happened to him.
I really like unreliable narrators. They are good to keep readers on their toes and bring very interesting perspectives to the narrative. The story doesn’t stray from Charlie’s first person point of view, but he has a few problems. He’s dead, and it’s difficult to know if his memory problems stem from being dead or from the damage the bullet has caused to his brain; he also had a serious drug habit (developed due to back pain following an accident that would not respond to run of the mill painkillers) and what effect that has had on his memory is open to question. Charlie realises, when trying to pierce things together, that he has big gaps in his memory and, what’s even worse, some of the memories he recalls seem to be incorrect. On the plus side, he soon discovers that death cures drug addiction. Readers share his puzzlement and his attempts at trying to work out what really happened, having to rely on partial information that might be misleading or incomplete.
Charlie is a great narrator, despite (or because of) all those problems. Notwithstanding his situation, he wastes no time in feeling sorry for himself. He’s off to find out what happened. He’s sharp, witty, has a fabulous (if rather dark) sense of humour, and although he has his own sense of morality and of what’s right and wrong, he does not hesitate in using whatever means necessary to get to the truth, especially when his daughter is at risk. He is a friend of his friends, loves his daughter, has a keen sense of justice and, despite his flaws, he’s one of the good guys.
The case is a complex one, involving gold mines (that might or might not have gold in them), shady investment firms, preachers trying to save the world, experts killed for their troubles, hot wives prepared to do anything to get their hands on the money, trustworthy and friendly drug dealers, Mexican gangs, crazed adoptive sons and other complex family relationships, amphetamine labs… There are a number of deaths, explosions, crashes, arson attacks, kidnappings, road trips, visits to prison, and everything in between. There’s also an interesting taxi-driver, Daniel, who seems to have information about the biggest mystery in the book (how come Charlie is a completely unique model of the walking dead) but he keeps his cards very close to his chest. Despite the supernatural elements, once the readers move past the main premise of the book and accept it as Charlie does, they get swept by the adventures, complications, and dangers that pile up. You’re in for the ride and you enjoy it for all it’s worth. The ending… well, it’s open to interpretation.
The dynamic writing, and the quick pace suit the novel’s theme and characters perfectly, and turn it into a must read for people who love unusual thrillers and witty/quirky characters, with plenty of black humour thrown in. A word of warning, there’s swearing, violence, drug use and a bit of sex, so it’s not for the faint hearted. A fantastic read.
December 5, 2014
Charlie Miner initially has a huge problem – he’s been shot in the head and is deader than dead! Initially he does the float out of the body bit but then he discovers he can reenter his body and get up and walk, talk, touch and feel, and more. So what’s the problem with the dead guy who’s still able to act like a living person? He can’t remember who shot him or why? Enter the crime thriller story that’s more than a mystery!
Charlie little by little begins to remember his past wife. A former drug addict, he’s still got the urge for more drugs. In the process of getting high he begins to remember he was a private investigator and goes home to sort through his files, most of which are fairly innocent, even mundane, cases involving infidelity, insurance scams, lightweight issues more or less. But then a name sparks a flicker of a memory – Tanya. Later on he’ll get a call and recognize the name immediately of his ex-wife who’s about to dump his daughter Mindy on his hands. It’s summertime so he figures he can handle the latter, especially as he loves her dearly!
Now begins a whirlwind of traveling, gunfights, explosions, threats, and unfortunately the abduction of his daughter. He had left her alone while he began to explore the scene that he knew led to his own mortal demise. It’s more than a scam involving the presence or absence of gold, its link to investment (something like but not quite like a Ponzi scam), one con man ignorant of being conned by another criminal, a guy who’s like a supervising angel, oodles of slowly revealed memories of a former better life that went awry, and so much more.
If you think this novel is a predictable series of crimes, heroin addicts, violent acts, etc., you’re right – and you’re terribly wrong. It’s got no moral lesson unless you want to analyze it and impose your own theory or theories. It’s quite simply a story that could be so very real in this world of con jobs and crime and death! But it’s also like entering the middle of tornado after tornado, being jettisoned into even more desperation and yet attempts to set it all right – for Mindy if for no one else. You’ll be surprised to see how it all evolves (you did want me to say ends nicely, didn’t you? LOL). Earl Javorsky is a crime novelist who crafts a story with unique twists and turns and a refreshing change for those who love an unpredictable, even erratic mystery! Quite a novel!
Charlie little by little begins to remember his past wife. A former drug addict, he’s still got the urge for more drugs. In the process of getting high he begins to remember he was a private investigator and goes home to sort through his files, most of which are fairly innocent, even mundane, cases involving infidelity, insurance scams, lightweight issues more or less. But then a name sparks a flicker of a memory – Tanya. Later on he’ll get a call and recognize the name immediately of his ex-wife who’s about to dump his daughter Mindy on his hands. It’s summertime so he figures he can handle the latter, especially as he loves her dearly!
Now begins a whirlwind of traveling, gunfights, explosions, threats, and unfortunately the abduction of his daughter. He had left her alone while he began to explore the scene that he knew led to his own mortal demise. It’s more than a scam involving the presence or absence of gold, its link to investment (something like but not quite like a Ponzi scam), one con man ignorant of being conned by another criminal, a guy who’s like a supervising angel, oodles of slowly revealed memories of a former better life that went awry, and so much more.
If you think this novel is a predictable series of crimes, heroin addicts, violent acts, etc., you’re right – and you’re terribly wrong. It’s got no moral lesson unless you want to analyze it and impose your own theory or theories. It’s quite simply a story that could be so very real in this world of con jobs and crime and death! But it’s also like entering the middle of tornado after tornado, being jettisoned into even more desperation and yet attempts to set it all right – for Mindy if for no one else. You’ll be surprised to see how it all evolves (you did want me to say ends nicely, didn’t you? LOL). Earl Javorsky is a crime novelist who crafts a story with unique twists and turns and a refreshing change for those who love an unpredictable, even erratic mystery! Quite a novel!
December 6, 2014
When Earl Javorsky contacted me and asked me to consider reviewing his novel, Down Solo, I knew right away that I had to accept. A quick look at the synopsis had me saying “This is so not what I usually read,” but I figured that would be a good thing. It’s nice to change things up – and that’s just what this book does.
Down Solo is told from the perspective of the wisecracking private investigator, Charlie Miner – who wakes up in the morgue with a bullet hole in his head. Thanks to his line of work and his own personal demons (drug addiction), it’s quite a mystery as to who pulled the trigger. With some clients unhappy over some missing paperwork, the should-be-dead Charlie needs to learn how to maneuver his body and piece together the puzzle of this case and his own murder. When his daughter, Mindy, is thrown into the mix, things take on an even more frightening turn.
Charlie is a great narrator. He is funny and intuitive, and we as readers are also privy to some startling moments of beauty in his narration. Charlie, whose memory is just as “shot” as he is, figures things out with the reader as the story progresses, and that makes for an exciting read.
My one complaint with this book was its use, in a scene, of a joke with a punchline that includes a parrot. Maybe it wouldn’t phase another reader, but it’s one of my favorite jokes and I noticed it right from the first mention of a (not crucial to the story) punk’s Mohawk. I found its inclusion to be pointless, aside from the fact that it was funny joke. It did nothing to drive the plot, and so much of the original material was funny already. No need to work old jokes in there, too.
Javorksy’s writing reminded me of the Carl Hiaasen novels I’d read sprawled out on the deck on one sunny Florida vacation. Perfect entertainment, with the right amount of action to keep me alert (and to keep me from snoozing myself into a sunburned state). But there’s also a deeper layer in Down Solo, which left me thinking past the final page.
Down Solo is told from the perspective of the wisecracking private investigator, Charlie Miner – who wakes up in the morgue with a bullet hole in his head. Thanks to his line of work and his own personal demons (drug addiction), it’s quite a mystery as to who pulled the trigger. With some clients unhappy over some missing paperwork, the should-be-dead Charlie needs to learn how to maneuver his body and piece together the puzzle of this case and his own murder. When his daughter, Mindy, is thrown into the mix, things take on an even more frightening turn.
Charlie is a great narrator. He is funny and intuitive, and we as readers are also privy to some startling moments of beauty in his narration. Charlie, whose memory is just as “shot” as he is, figures things out with the reader as the story progresses, and that makes for an exciting read.
My one complaint with this book was its use, in a scene, of a joke with a punchline that includes a parrot. Maybe it wouldn’t phase another reader, but it’s one of my favorite jokes and I noticed it right from the first mention of a (not crucial to the story) punk’s Mohawk. I found its inclusion to be pointless, aside from the fact that it was funny joke. It did nothing to drive the plot, and so much of the original material was funny already. No need to work old jokes in there, too.
Javorksy’s writing reminded me of the Carl Hiaasen novels I’d read sprawled out on the deck on one sunny Florida vacation. Perfect entertainment, with the right amount of action to keep me alert (and to keep me from snoozing myself into a sunburned state). But there’s also a deeper layer in Down Solo, which left me thinking past the final page.
May 19, 2016
Reviewed by me as a member of Rosie Amber's Review Team
Another gritty, unusual and often darkly amusing thriller from Earl Javorsky, this time with a clever hint of the supernatural. Charlie Miner is a fast talking, various substance snorting PI involved with many shady characters; the fact that he's actually dead adds another dimension to his dealings.
He has a drink-crazed ex-wife and a daughter, Mindy, who he loves dearly and who has to deal with the scattered lives of her parents. Among the cast are drug dealers, gang members, a priest, shady investment entrepreneurs, and a particularly perceptive taxi driver, Daniel.
The dialogue in this book is excellent, sharp and realistic, and zips along, with prison visits, road trips, kidnappings, arson, gunfights, from Santa Monica to Mexico. It's not predictable at all, which I loved, and there's never a dull moment; aside from this, Earl Javorsky is just a very stylish writer, and Charlie is a great narrator.
I didn't like it quite as much as his other book, Trust Me, because I would have preferred it if it was just a straight thriller without the supernatural element, and I felt it could do with a little tidying up in places, but the first reason is only personal taste, and I'd certainly say, yes, read this. It's good!
Another gritty, unusual and often darkly amusing thriller from Earl Javorsky, this time with a clever hint of the supernatural. Charlie Miner is a fast talking, various substance snorting PI involved with many shady characters; the fact that he's actually dead adds another dimension to his dealings.
He has a drink-crazed ex-wife and a daughter, Mindy, who he loves dearly and who has to deal with the scattered lives of her parents. Among the cast are drug dealers, gang members, a priest, shady investment entrepreneurs, and a particularly perceptive taxi driver, Daniel.
The dialogue in this book is excellent, sharp and realistic, and zips along, with prison visits, road trips, kidnappings, arson, gunfights, from Santa Monica to Mexico. It's not predictable at all, which I loved, and there's never a dull moment; aside from this, Earl Javorsky is just a very stylish writer, and Charlie is a great narrator.
I didn't like it quite as much as his other book, Trust Me, because I would have preferred it if it was just a straight thriller without the supernatural element, and I felt it could do with a little tidying up in places, but the first reason is only personal taste, and I'd certainly say, yes, read this. It's good!
November 25, 2015
There's an old saying that the first line of the novel should hook you. Earl Javorsky's first two lines were when I was hooked:
They say once a junkie, always a junkie, but this is ridiculous. I haven't been dead more than a few hours and I already need a fix.
I knew just that quickly this wasn't like every other book I've read this year. Javorsky manages to create a quirky, funny story that is also an outstanding mystery. Charlie is struggling with all the things that life has thrown him plus the challenges of being not quite dead. In a brisk 200 pages, Javorsky brings together murder, out of body experiences, the walking dead, fathers and daughters and more in a story that simply demands your continued reading. The combination of Stephen King and Raymond Chandler creates a really interesting new voice in mystery writing. It's funny, warm, challenging and thought provoking.
For more reviews and media commentary go to my blog at The View From the Phlipside
They say once a junkie, always a junkie, but this is ridiculous. I haven't been dead more than a few hours and I already need a fix.
I knew just that quickly this wasn't like every other book I've read this year. Javorsky manages to create a quirky, funny story that is also an outstanding mystery. Charlie is struggling with all the things that life has thrown him plus the challenges of being not quite dead. In a brisk 200 pages, Javorsky brings together murder, out of body experiences, the walking dead, fathers and daughters and more in a story that simply demands your continued reading. The combination of Stephen King and Raymond Chandler creates a really interesting new voice in mystery writing. It's funny, warm, challenging and thought provoking.
For more reviews and media commentary go to my blog at The View From the Phlipside
April 15, 2015
This was one of the coolest novels I’ve read in a long time. Author Earl Javorsky has created an original idea—a protagonist who has been killed and who is not only returned to life, but is able to leave and re-enter his body… with an expiration date, after which he’ll finally… be dead.
But, he is able to use his time to solve his own murder.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that not only did he come up with a truly original idea, he didn’t beat it to death. By that, I mean he kept the events reasonable and didn’t go crazy by going over the top by introducing too many fantastical elements. Even without the angle of the Lazurus-like ability of the protagonist, this is an expertly-crafted novel that would be a great read even if had just been presented as a straight-ahead crime novel and whodunit. The “dead man walking” touch just made it even better.
This is a writer who has a bright, bright future. Based on this first effort, I’ll grab his next novel the instant it comes off the press.
But, he is able to use his time to solve his own murder.
What I really enjoyed about this book is that not only did he come up with a truly original idea, he didn’t beat it to death. By that, I mean he kept the events reasonable and didn’t go crazy by going over the top by introducing too many fantastical elements. Even without the angle of the Lazurus-like ability of the protagonist, this is an expertly-crafted novel that would be a great read even if had just been presented as a straight-ahead crime novel and whodunit. The “dead man walking” touch just made it even better.
This is a writer who has a bright, bright future. Based on this first effort, I’ll grab his next novel the instant it comes off the press.
September 28, 2014
Imagine you wake up and find yourself in a morgue, a bullet hole in your head. But you’re awake, you’re alive, and you get up, find clothes that kind of fit, and walk out, your memory kind of dim.
But then you remember a friend and you recall you were working on a case for this hot woman – you are a detective with a heroin habit – you begin thinking you should see your drug connection and get back on the case.
His computer helps you figure out what you were onto – but then your daughter’s kidnapped, your house burned to the ground, and you’re following the psycho kid who has your daughter to a Mexican gold mine – the cause of all this craziness.
This is one ultra imaginative page turner that will have you not wanting to stop till you reach the last page – so turn off your phone, hit the john, grab your snacks – and if you have to – call in sick to work – then relish this unique but very cool thriller!
But then you remember a friend and you recall you were working on a case for this hot woman – you are a detective with a heroin habit – you begin thinking you should see your drug connection and get back on the case.
His computer helps you figure out what you were onto – but then your daughter’s kidnapped, your house burned to the ground, and you’re following the psycho kid who has your daughter to a Mexican gold mine – the cause of all this craziness.
This is one ultra imaginative page turner that will have you not wanting to stop till you reach the last page – so turn off your phone, hit the john, grab your snacks – and if you have to – call in sick to work – then relish this unique but very cool thriller!
December 3, 2014
I loved this book! Its a fast paced, adventurous page turner with a likable, albeit flawed main character having an existential crisis. The opening paragraph captures a readers attention immediately and doesn't let go until the very end - an ending that will leave you thinking long after you close the pages. During the ride there is a fair amount of suspenseful dialogue, physical action and character self examination. The author juxtaposes the unfolding of this mystery with a unique and poetic mystical twist that renders the story much deeper then it appears on the surface. Bravo Earl Javorsky, I cant wait to see the movie!
December 31, 2014
Yes, this story was suspenseful. The main character went from one hot scene to another and it can be said, he can blame it all on a woman. He is a dead man walking but he is trying to solve his last case and save his lovely daughter from the fate that has befallen him. There was one scene in particular that was rather corny, but the story did hold my attention and I was anxious to see how it resolved.And I was somewhat mystified with the ending. Truly it is unique and a little unbelievable, yet enjoyable.
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