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Firefly Rain
When Jacob left home for a new life, he pretty much forgot all about Maryfield, North Carolina. But Maryfield never forgot him. Or forgave him.
After a failed business venture in Boston, Jacob Logan comes back to the small Southern town of his childhood and takes up residence in the isolated house he grew up in. Here, the air is still. The nights are black. And his parents are buried close by. It should feel like home—but something is terribly wrong.
Jacob loses all his belongings in a highway accident. His car is stolen from his driveway, yet he never hears a sound. The townspeople seem guarded and suspicious. And Carl, the property caretaker with so many secrets, is unnervingly accommodating. Then there are the fireflies that light the night skies . . . and die as they come near Jacob’s home. If it weren’t for the creaking sounds after dark, or the feeling that he is being watched, Jacob would feel so alone. He shouldn’t worry. He’s not.
And whatever’s with him isn’t going to let him leave home ever again.
After a failed business venture in Boston, Jacob Logan comes back to the small Southern town of his childhood and takes up residence in the isolated house he grew up in. Here, the air is still. The nights are black. And his parents are buried close by. It should feel like home—but something is terribly wrong.
Jacob loses all his belongings in a highway accident. His car is stolen from his driveway, yet he never hears a sound. The townspeople seem guarded and suspicious. And Carl, the property caretaker with so many secrets, is unnervingly accommodating. Then there are the fireflies that light the night skies . . . and die as they come near Jacob’s home. If it weren’t for the creaking sounds after dark, or the feeling that he is being watched, Jacob would feel so alone. He shouldn’t worry. He’s not.
And whatever’s with him isn’t going to let him leave home ever again.
Audible Audio
First published January 1, 2008
56 people are currently reading
445 people want to read
About the author
Richard Dansky
110 books83 followersBy day, Richard Dansky works as a professional video game designer and writer for Red Storm/Ubisoft, with credits on games like Splinter Cell: Blacklist. By night, he writes fiction, with his most recent book being the short fiction collection SNOWBIRD GOTHIC. Richard lives in North Carolina with his wife and their inevitable cats, books, and collection of single malt whiskys.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
June 4, 2025
Not your average haunted house!
Jacob Logan is drawing a deep mental breath and trying to use a change of pace to gather his thoughts and restore some peace, calm and order to his life. Five years after his mother died and with a business venture in Boston having just failed, Logan returns to small town Mayfield, North Carolina to take up residence in his childhood home. But a series of inexplicable events overtake him and it's clear that nobody is happy about Logan's return to a town and a lifestyle that he had summarily abandoned many years earlier. Ultimately Logan comes to the conclusion that his departed parents have not fully departed and, from within the house, are trying to communicate with him. He just isn't understanding the message but he knows that he'd better figure it out before someone is hurt!
Haunted houses and paranormal communication with the dearly (or even not so dearly) departed are old hat for horror novels. So when an author goes down the road of choosing this particular sub-genre for a horror novel, the writing, the atmosphere, the characters, the dialogue and the resulting shiver factor had better be up to the task of building a readable story from such prosaic foundations.
Although I'm not generally an avid reader of this type of novel, I have to admit that FIREFLY RAIN succeeded in making me turn the pages of a brief but quite enjoyable gothic style novel in which the house and nature itself are major players. Author Richard Dansky creates a creepy setting in which the very fireflies in the fields choose to abhor the presence of death. The air in Mayfield is thick with the flickering lights of the summer firefly population but they steadfastly refuse to cross the border onto the Logan property. And, even when Logan experiments by carrying them onto the property in the confines of a jar, the fireflies die! I mean ... really ... how surprising, unique and truly innovative is that?
I'm still not a salivating convert to the horror genre but I certainly wouldn't pass up the opportunity to read another novel by Richard Dansky. I think it's also safe to say that afficionados of this style of novel would be more than pleased with Dansky's efforts.
Recommended.
Paul Weiss
Jacob Logan is drawing a deep mental breath and trying to use a change of pace to gather his thoughts and restore some peace, calm and order to his life. Five years after his mother died and with a business venture in Boston having just failed, Logan returns to small town Mayfield, North Carolina to take up residence in his childhood home. But a series of inexplicable events overtake him and it's clear that nobody is happy about Logan's return to a town and a lifestyle that he had summarily abandoned many years earlier. Ultimately Logan comes to the conclusion that his departed parents have not fully departed and, from within the house, are trying to communicate with him. He just isn't understanding the message but he knows that he'd better figure it out before someone is hurt!
Haunted houses and paranormal communication with the dearly (or even not so dearly) departed are old hat for horror novels. So when an author goes down the road of choosing this particular sub-genre for a horror novel, the writing, the atmosphere, the characters, the dialogue and the resulting shiver factor had better be up to the task of building a readable story from such prosaic foundations.
Although I'm not generally an avid reader of this type of novel, I have to admit that FIREFLY RAIN succeeded in making me turn the pages of a brief but quite enjoyable gothic style novel in which the house and nature itself are major players. Author Richard Dansky creates a creepy setting in which the very fireflies in the fields choose to abhor the presence of death. The air in Mayfield is thick with the flickering lights of the summer firefly population but they steadfastly refuse to cross the border onto the Logan property. And, even when Logan experiments by carrying them onto the property in the confines of a jar, the fireflies die! I mean ... really ... how surprising, unique and truly innovative is that?
I'm still not a salivating convert to the horror genre but I certainly wouldn't pass up the opportunity to read another novel by Richard Dansky. I think it's also safe to say that afficionados of this style of novel would be more than pleased with Dansky's efforts.
Recommended.
Paul Weiss
April 18, 2023
There was a certain comfort in reading Firefly Rain by Richard Dansky that is hard to put my finger on. I feel he is one of those writers, that no matter which direction he takes, you will always feel completely at ease. Could just be my headspace at the moment right enough, but it was such a lovely experience. Even the action scenes have a certain calmness about them. It feels kind of odd saying that, but I promise you it's compelling. In a way, I would compare it as a similar experience to Haruki Murakami's work, but not quite as deep. And I mean that as a compliment. I will definitely read more of Richard's work in the future.
No spoilers, but the final third of the book takes an unexpected turn. It's worth holding out for.
A solid four stars for a solid piece of work.
A good poolside read.
No spoilers, but the final third of the book takes an unexpected turn. It's worth holding out for.
A solid four stars for a solid piece of work.
A good poolside read.
January 3, 2015
Maybe it's me... but this book did nothing for me. It seemed like it was trying to be a lot like Stephen King, but never quite got up to speed; I ended up as confused as the hero, who never quite got what was going on until the very, very end (and even then I'm not sure either of us understood). This seems more like "homage to" derivative writing than anyone with a really new, creative idea.
June 5, 2010
Firefly Rain by Richard Dansky
I was a bit annoyed to discover that I was second guessed on the cover of the book. I thought that Dansky had a style reminiscent of Pat Conroy and sure enough there was a note on the cover comparing him to Conroy and Stephen King. I think that is an accurate comparison.
The story is of a homecoming that has a decidedly twisted turn. Jacob returns home after some business reverses. He finds that he doesn’t quite fit in the small town lifestyle as well as he once did. The mystery surrounding his strange encounters provides a few chills down the spine. How Jacob reconciles his current person with the past and his future provide the impetus for the story.
Character definition is the highlight of the book. Growing up in a small town, there is accuracy in the portrayal of both the community and the people. Thomas Tryon comes to mind when you read the book. It wasn’t scary as much as sad. How a boy, now a man, reconciles his younger behavior with who he has become. You are left with hope at the end of the book.
I recommend the book.
I was a bit annoyed to discover that I was second guessed on the cover of the book. I thought that Dansky had a style reminiscent of Pat Conroy and sure enough there was a note on the cover comparing him to Conroy and Stephen King. I think that is an accurate comparison.
The story is of a homecoming that has a decidedly twisted turn. Jacob returns home after some business reverses. He finds that he doesn’t quite fit in the small town lifestyle as well as he once did. The mystery surrounding his strange encounters provides a few chills down the spine. How Jacob reconciles his current person with the past and his future provide the impetus for the story.
Character definition is the highlight of the book. Growing up in a small town, there is accuracy in the portrayal of both the community and the people. Thomas Tryon comes to mind when you read the book. It wasn’t scary as much as sad. How a boy, now a man, reconciles his younger behavior with who he has become. You are left with hope at the end of the book.
I recommend the book.
January 11, 2023
Spooky and beautifully atmospheric.
May 1, 2010
Wow, this was terrible.
I'm a huge fan of ghost stories, especially haunted house stories. But in this novel, nothing ever actually scared me at all. The author completely failed at creating a spooky or even eerie atmosphere. The house itself was mundane and poorly described - a list of the house's physical attributes, without anything to build interest in it or tension around it. The characters were cardboard cut-outs with weird or contradictory motivations (they're supposed to be trying to get him to stay in town so... they all act like total assholes to him? Um, what?). The book creates a parallel between the experiences of the main character and the experiences of his father, without ever giving a reason for the experiences. The mystery of why the main character needs to stay in town is never revealed - it seems to be because his mother missed him? WHAT? So she made one guy promise to make sure her son came home and stayed, and as a result he and ... um, a bunch of other people who had NOT made that promise? also ended up having to keep the promise? and couldn't die until they did? WHAT? And it's not like everything has to make sense in a horror novel, but novels do need to have some kind of internal consistency, some driving force that at least makes sense to itself -- maybe we're horrified at the logic, but there does need to be internal logic. This book lacks even an attempt at that.
Beyond the utter lack of coherent plot, atmosphere, or believable (or even likable) characters with dimension, the reveal of the book's underlying message left me at a loss. The main character is a bad son because he grew up and moved away and started his own life? That's what kids are supposed to do. And as a result of doing what kids are supposed to do, this guy is now stuck in a town where apparently everybody is nuts, for reasons we are never told, and there's some wild swing at a firefly metaphor that seems to mean he can never go to heaven, or maybe he has to stay and do the same things that were done to him, to the next poor sucker? I don't even know. It's all incredibly stupid.
The reviewers who compared this writer to Stephen King have done Stephen King a grave disservice. Seriously, he should litigate.
I'm a huge fan of ghost stories, especially haunted house stories. But in this novel, nothing ever actually scared me at all. The author completely failed at creating a spooky or even eerie atmosphere. The house itself was mundane and poorly described - a list of the house's physical attributes, without anything to build interest in it or tension around it. The characters were cardboard cut-outs with weird or contradictory motivations (they're supposed to be trying to get him to stay in town so... they all act like total assholes to him? Um, what?). The book creates a parallel between the experiences of the main character and the experiences of his father, without ever giving a reason for the experiences. The mystery of why the main character needs to stay in town is never revealed - it seems to be because his mother missed him? WHAT? So she made one guy promise to make sure her son came home and stayed, and as a result he and ... um, a bunch of other people who had NOT made that promise? also ended up having to keep the promise? and couldn't die until they did? WHAT? And it's not like everything has to make sense in a horror novel, but novels do need to have some kind of internal consistency, some driving force that at least makes sense to itself -- maybe we're horrified at the logic, but there does need to be internal logic. This book lacks even an attempt at that.
Beyond the utter lack of coherent plot, atmosphere, or believable (or even likable) characters with dimension, the reveal of the book's underlying message left me at a loss. The main character is a bad son because he grew up and moved away and started his own life? That's what kids are supposed to do. And as a result of doing what kids are supposed to do, this guy is now stuck in a town where apparently everybody is nuts, for reasons we are never told, and there's some wild swing at a firefly metaphor that seems to mean he can never go to heaven, or maybe he has to stay and do the same things that were done to him, to the next poor sucker? I don't even know. It's all incredibly stupid.
The reviewers who compared this writer to Stephen King have done Stephen King a grave disservice. Seriously, he should litigate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2010
Firefly Rain was the creepiest book I've read in a while, and I mean that in a good way!
A quote on the back cover refers to this book as horror, but this isn't what I think of when I see that label.
The novel has a very gothic feel, with mysterious happenings, a spooky house, a young protagonist at a crossroads in his life (although I tend to think of gothic novels as featuring women), and even a little romance (key to the plot, although not to the storytelling).
The book examines what it mean to be from someplace and what it means to belong somewhere. The small town seems like a character at times, and you wonder if the residents are driving the towns atmosphere, or if the town is influencing the actions of the people.
I found Jacob to be flawed but sympathetic, and even more importantly, I found him interesting. He's worked hard on his business all of his adult life, and has retreated to his childhood home to decide what comes next.
The secondary characters were flat, but deliberately so, I think. They were catalysts in a story that really was about Jacob, his parent's house and the town he was raised it.
I'm looking forward to reading more by Richard Dansky.
A quote on the back cover refers to this book as horror, but this isn't what I think of when I see that label.
The novel has a very gothic feel, with mysterious happenings, a spooky house, a young protagonist at a crossroads in his life (although I tend to think of gothic novels as featuring women), and even a little romance (key to the plot, although not to the storytelling).
The book examines what it mean to be from someplace and what it means to belong somewhere. The small town seems like a character at times, and you wonder if the residents are driving the towns atmosphere, or if the town is influencing the actions of the people.
I found Jacob to be flawed but sympathetic, and even more importantly, I found him interesting. He's worked hard on his business all of his adult life, and has retreated to his childhood home to decide what comes next.
The secondary characters were flat, but deliberately so, I think. They were catalysts in a story that really was about Jacob, his parent's house and the town he was raised it.
I'm looking forward to reading more by Richard Dansky.
March 6, 2017
Although Dansky's first non-tie-in novel is ostensibly the tale of a young man who returns from the big city of Boston to find his rural, isolated childhood home haunted, the real stars of FIREFLY RAIN are the setting and the voice. Maryfield, North Carolina comes alive in these pages. I could feel the humidity, see the storm-laden sky, smell the must of the old town library, and practically hear the fresh mud squelch under Jacob Logan's boots. The sense of place in this novel is effortlessly and superbly evoked. Also excellent is the voice Dansky employs to tell the tale. Related in first person by Jacob, the prose evolves with his changing mindset so that at the start he's utilizing a sophisticated Boston vocabulary, but as the story progresses and Maryfield sinks its hooks in him, his manner of speaking and even thinking are slowly transformed into local jargon. It's a subtle trick employed by a confident writer, and it works very well. FIREFLY RAIN is a strangely gentle haunted house story, not full of the conventional chills and creep-outs one might expect from the genre, but it's an effective, accomplished, original and, I suspect, deeply personal one.
June 2, 2020
The book has been shelved as ya because I thought it was written at an accessible level. It's hard to like a book when you don't really like the main character much, but the author doesn't want you to like Joshua Logan much. And the family home he returns to seems to be a well rendered symphony of discordance. Unfortunately the marital situation seeped into the relationship or lack thereof with the boy who grew up to a man not much connected to anything. There is also the occult notion that our geographic origins not only form us, but devour us in some cases. The small town near by is what all horror stories of a small town can be, an utter and total lack of privacy, your business known before you have even had a chance to examine it yourself. At one point in the book the house coughs up a private record which is read by a visitor, which angers Logan to no end. It's like his visitor isn't part of the small town network or perhaps she's the recipient of his frustration. It's a pretty complex novel in some ways.
The character I liked the best was the preacher, who said some wonderfully funny and precise things. His speach on exorcism and his reaction to Joshua's house guest were absolutely fabulous. I hope the author writes more because he's got great insight in to people.
The character I liked the best was the preacher, who said some wonderfully funny and precise things. His speach on exorcism and his reaction to Joshua's house guest were absolutely fabulous. I hope the author writes more because he's got great insight in to people.
August 15, 2022
I'm not entirely sure why I stuck this one out. I kept hoping beyond hope that it would get better but that never actually happened. The cover art and the blurb about it reading like King made me snatch this up in a local bookstore. I was let down, but I still feel the need to give this book two stars because it held so much potential that I felt was there, but the author never actually grasped onto. So, enjoy the added star but only because I enjoyed side characters more than I actually enjoyed Logan himself. I would normally spend part of my review going over what the story was about, however this was written long enough ago that that information is all over this page and not needed from me. I'm tired of picking up book after book that doesn't live up to what it really could have been. Onto the next one.
February 25, 2023
A cozy southern gothic, with hints of Appalachian wickerpunk.
Our main character vowed to get out of the small town he was born in and get to the big city. Unfortunately, he got to the big city and failed to establish himself. When his parents die, he returns to the home town, a little late to fulfill his promises to his mother. As he flounders about the house, at odds and ends and undecided about what his next steps are, strange events start adding questions that want answers. Things get creepy and more and more dangerous. The townfolk in general shun him because he still has Big City Cooties, leaving him isolated to deal with the escalating phenomena. Can he find out what these powers want from him, and if he does, does he want to give them what they seek? And what's up with those fireflies? He'd better get smart quickly.
Our main character vowed to get out of the small town he was born in and get to the big city. Unfortunately, he got to the big city and failed to establish himself. When his parents die, he returns to the home town, a little late to fulfill his promises to his mother. As he flounders about the house, at odds and ends and undecided about what his next steps are, strange events start adding questions that want answers. Things get creepy and more and more dangerous. The townfolk in general shun him because he still has Big City Cooties, leaving him isolated to deal with the escalating phenomena. Can he find out what these powers want from him, and if he does, does he want to give them what they seek? And what's up with those fireflies? He'd better get smart quickly.
September 5, 2024
This was a reread for me. I read and loved this book many years ago when it was first published. When Jacob returns to his hometown in very rural NC, he expects to just be there long enough to catch his breath, settle his parent's affairs and move on. Maryfield, the town, the people and the home, have other ideas.
There is a ton of southern charm in this one, some humor and some very dark moments as Jacob learns more about his own life, his parents, and is drawn further and further in to a dark mystery that might just swallow him whole. If these reviews allowed for breaking up reviews between story and production, I would give the story five stars.
I listened to the audiobook version. The narrator, Jason Crum, has an odd pace, as if coming from a broadcast background, and is clearly not southern, causing some odd pronunciations. All in all, an entertaining listen.
There is a ton of southern charm in this one, some humor and some very dark moments as Jacob learns more about his own life, his parents, and is drawn further and further in to a dark mystery that might just swallow him whole. If these reviews allowed for breaking up reviews between story and production, I would give the story five stars.
I listened to the audiobook version. The narrator, Jason Crum, has an odd pace, as if coming from a broadcast background, and is clearly not southern, causing some odd pronunciations. All in all, an entertaining listen.
October 12, 2024
Definitely confused!!! Why did Logan have to stay? What was the purpose?
I’m with some other readers on this not being a fulfilling book.
The writing has some humor which is enjoyable. But I listened to several chapters over again, several times trying to catch what I missed. It was not reveled. That to me is just insane to write a mystery but not write why the character needs to be bound to the land. Why did the ghost of his mother feel he needed to stay there, why did he either need to kill or fall in love? I just don’t get it! I’m frustrated that I spent 9 1/2 hours listening to an audiobook that just doesn’t explain the whole premise of the story.
I’m with some other readers on this not being a fulfilling book.
The writing has some humor which is enjoyable. But I listened to several chapters over again, several times trying to catch what I missed. It was not reveled. That to me is just insane to write a mystery but not write why the character needs to be bound to the land. Why did the ghost of his mother feel he needed to stay there, why did he either need to kill or fall in love? I just don’t get it! I’m frustrated that I spent 9 1/2 hours listening to an audiobook that just doesn’t explain the whole premise of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2023
This book was a doozy. It is long, and a teensy bit wordy. In fact, halfway through I realized it read a bit like a Stephen King story. The beginning was great, the middle would not let me put it down, and the ending was satisfying, although I have a few questions for Mr. Dansky. All in all, I really enjoyed this book. You can read it in a long weekend. It's creepy without being too creepy, and in the end, there's a satisfying feeling to it. I liked it very much and I'm going to go find more Dansky fiction to see what else is out there. All in all a nice, satisfying spook-tastic story.
March 1, 2024
This book left me confused. There was an anger between two of the main characters I couldn’t ever figure out where came from. The overall premise of the book was ‘a Logan must live on the land.’ But it was never really said WHY.
The writing was decent. The characters weren’t developed quite enough to my liking. There were breaks in the story where it jumped forward, but that wasn’t made obvious quickly enough.
☠️☠️.5. The story had promise but just didn’t feel complete.
The writing was decent. The characters weren’t developed quite enough to my liking. There were breaks in the story where it jumped forward, but that wasn’t made obvious quickly enough.
☠️☠️.5. The story had promise but just didn’t feel complete.
March 25, 2022
Almost made it halfway through this book. I really thought this was going to get spooky but it never did. It’s sooooooo boring. The small spooky bits are not just not enough, they’re so small and they’re so spread out, it’s not worth struggling through 60 pages for two pages of something with potential. DNFing this one.
August 22, 2024
I read (listened) to this and so should you 100%. It was so good. It sucked me in and didn't let go. As someone who is also from a podunk town that left, vowed to never come back, then ended up moving back it was super personal. A town with secrets and if you've ever grown up in a small town where everyone knows everyone and their business it perfectly captured the feeling of being an "outsider"
April 8, 2019
Fantastic book, a new voice in horror. I found this book a bit late, published in 2008 but this is what horror needs, the originality. The imagery was haunting and reminded me of The Twilight Zone and the tension of The Omen and The Exorcist. Well done Mr. Dansky. Can't wait for another one.
April 7, 2023
The eerily nostalgic FIREFLY RAIN by Richard Dansky debunks the old saying that “you can’t go home again.” It’s up to the reader, however, to decide whether or not heading back to the old stomping grounds is really such a good idea…
August 15, 2024
I've never been so scared about keeping family land in the family. And thank you to Richard Dansky, the first person in a minute who's reminded me I'd better not disappoint my mother, living or dead, because there WILL be consequences.
September 14, 2024
I loved the setting. I really felt that weird little town. The whole basis of the plot was kindness weirs and there were times it went a little long for me, but overall it was a good ride. I enjoyed it.
November 29, 2024
DNF @ 50%
April 15, 2019
Check out my blog Latif Reviews
After a business bust in Boston, the protagonist Jacob Logan reluctantly returns home to North Carolina. He stays at the house he grew up and his parents’ grave is at the back. Although it should feel like home, it’s far from that. It’s spooky and doesn’t make a lot of sense.
First, upon Jacob’s arrival, his belongings go missing in a highway accident. Then his car is stolen from his driveway, without making a sound. The townspeople seem suspicious and the caretaker Carl has many secrets and is not so warming to Jacob. Apart from the old house creaking, and the feeling of being watched, the fireflies that lit the night sky end up dead near his house.
Something isn’t right and someone won’t let him leave town.
Yes the blurb got me hooked. As the reader want to know what and why whatever it is, is after Jacob. And after reading it, figuring it all out I was just staring at the page, thinking ‘what did I just read.’ I had over the top predications about what it could it be, and in the end, it was eerie.
I can’t say that this book reads like a Stephan King novel, because I’ve only read one of his novels Carrie and none of Pat Conroy’s work so I’m at a disadvantage to judge the praises for Firefly Rain.
But let me talk about what I actually like about Firefly Rain. Despite the fact it’s in first person (I usually don’t like this narrative) from Jacob’s point of view, it is a well written book. I prefer the style of writing, because there’s a good balance of description and dialogue. I hate over the top description in some novels because it drags on and I forget the point the author is trying to make.
As a writer, Dansky has taken the advice about writing your location. He lives in North Carolina and so the novel is in the same setting. I think he’s done a great job at capturing the hot weather, the ambience and nature, much like how I like the way Darragh McManus captured Irish scenery in Shiver the Whole Night Through. The overall mood I got from this novel - it’s eerie and gritty. Some chapters felt as if nothing much happens and in others it gets a bit intense. Probably halfway through the story, Jacob chases his stolen car up and down a dirt road because he’s convinced someone is driving it. Then exhaustion hits him. He collapses in the ditch, with only a robe on and his slippers, in the rain.
Dansky created some good character step up, with regards to the main and side characters. Sometimes in novels, the minor characters outshine the main ones. The secondary characters, Jacob’s friend Jenna, and supposedly love interest, the librarian Adrienne seemed flat to me, and in a good way. The story is about Jacob, his parent’s house, the town and the cold shouldered Carl, who harbours a dislike to Jacob.
One of my favourite characters has to be Officer Hanratty. She’s sassy and I like sassy, but I don’t understand what her role was in the secrecy? There’s this build up to her mysterious character, and Jacob does his own investigation, (hence he meet Adrienne) on Hanratty, but then it fizzles out. I don’t know, maybe I missed something.
I think what slightly annoyed me, but could look over, is the title. I’m not sure about it because I feel like it wasn’t chosen wisely and not really catchy. I get the firefly part, but the rain? Is it pointing out the literal rain, or how the fireflies just die on his land, coming down like rain? I just think the title could have been better.
When it came to the climax, the secrecy as to why the town (actually it’s just three to four people) didn’t want Jacob to leave, I felt a bit deflated. Ok, not what I was expecting but I wasn’t exactly wowed about it (apart from the deranged dog Asa because that a ‘oh shit’ moment). I was more like ‘oh.... OK... I get it... but really?’
Would I recommend this book? I guess I wouldn’t go about calling it a King or a Conroy novel, but I think as far as style goes; yes I enjoyed it because I like the balance of description and dialogue. The rating wavers between 3 and 4. It’s not a bad book, but it’s not a book I’ll read again. It’s just my opinion. I’m sure others would appreciate it more.
After a business bust in Boston, the protagonist Jacob Logan reluctantly returns home to North Carolina. He stays at the house he grew up and his parents’ grave is at the back. Although it should feel like home, it’s far from that. It’s spooky and doesn’t make a lot of sense.
First, upon Jacob’s arrival, his belongings go missing in a highway accident. Then his car is stolen from his driveway, without making a sound. The townspeople seem suspicious and the caretaker Carl has many secrets and is not so warming to Jacob. Apart from the old house creaking, and the feeling of being watched, the fireflies that lit the night sky end up dead near his house.
Something isn’t right and someone won’t let him leave town.
Yes the blurb got me hooked. As the reader want to know what and why whatever it is, is after Jacob. And after reading it, figuring it all out I was just staring at the page, thinking ‘what did I just read.’ I had over the top predications about what it could it be, and in the end, it was eerie.
I can’t say that this book reads like a Stephan King novel, because I’ve only read one of his novels Carrie and none of Pat Conroy’s work so I’m at a disadvantage to judge the praises for Firefly Rain.
But let me talk about what I actually like about Firefly Rain. Despite the fact it’s in first person (I usually don’t like this narrative) from Jacob’s point of view, it is a well written book. I prefer the style of writing, because there’s a good balance of description and dialogue. I hate over the top description in some novels because it drags on and I forget the point the author is trying to make.
As a writer, Dansky has taken the advice about writing your location. He lives in North Carolina and so the novel is in the same setting. I think he’s done a great job at capturing the hot weather, the ambience and nature, much like how I like the way Darragh McManus captured Irish scenery in Shiver the Whole Night Through. The overall mood I got from this novel - it’s eerie and gritty. Some chapters felt as if nothing much happens and in others it gets a bit intense. Probably halfway through the story, Jacob chases his stolen car up and down a dirt road because he’s convinced someone is driving it. Then exhaustion hits him. He collapses in the ditch, with only a robe on and his slippers, in the rain.
Dansky created some good character step up, with regards to the main and side characters. Sometimes in novels, the minor characters outshine the main ones. The secondary characters, Jacob’s friend Jenna, and supposedly love interest, the librarian Adrienne seemed flat to me, and in a good way. The story is about Jacob, his parent’s house, the town and the cold shouldered Carl, who harbours a dislike to Jacob.
One of my favourite characters has to be Officer Hanratty. She’s sassy and I like sassy, but I don’t understand what her role was in the secrecy? There’s this build up to her mysterious character, and Jacob does his own investigation, (hence he meet Adrienne) on Hanratty, but then it fizzles out. I don’t know, maybe I missed something.
I think what slightly annoyed me, but could look over, is the title. I’m not sure about it because I feel like it wasn’t chosen wisely and not really catchy. I get the firefly part, but the rain? Is it pointing out the literal rain, or how the fireflies just die on his land, coming down like rain? I just think the title could have been better.
When it came to the climax, the secrecy as to why the town (actually it’s just three to four people) didn’t want Jacob to leave, I felt a bit deflated. Ok, not what I was expecting but I wasn’t exactly wowed about it (apart from the deranged dog Asa because that a ‘oh shit’ moment). I was more like ‘oh.... OK... I get it... but really?’
Would I recommend this book? I guess I wouldn’t go about calling it a King or a Conroy novel, but I think as far as style goes; yes I enjoyed it because I like the balance of description and dialogue. The rating wavers between 3 and 4. It’s not a bad book, but it’s not a book I’ll read again. It’s just my opinion. I’m sure others would appreciate it more.
April 22, 2010
Right off the bat I will tell you that I read FIREFLY RAIN by Richard Dansky in one sitting. I never meant to, but once I turned the first page, the rest followed rather quickly. Not only was the writing style easy to follow and pleasant, the story was compelling; always developing new twists and turns to keep the reader hooked.
Jacob Logan is a failed businessman, having lost heart in the business that kept him away from home. Having first left for college, Jacob felt drawn away from home and stayed on in Boston moving up in the business world. As we learn in the beginning of the story, his decision to separate himself from his family was not one that his parents agreed with. Try as they might to convince him to come home, Jacob rarely did. Returning for his father’s funeral and then a few select times before his mother’s funeral, Jacob neglected his promise to spend more time with his parents. Now, returning to his empty family home and the town he left, Jacob will discover that promises are meant to be kept.
We all know I get creeped out by scary stories. For me, however, a creepy story is rarely one that involves vampires, werewolves, zombies or other monsters. Scary stories are ghost stories, stories where things go bump in the night where the reader can fully expect something terrifying to be lurking in every dark corner and hover right behind them. That’s a scary story to me.
FIREFLY RAIN somehow managed to hover between the line of scary story and not so scary story. I would call this an intriguing horror that I would definitely read again. The real part of this story that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up is the suspense. Mr. Dansky develops the story in such a way that the reader never knows what’s going to happen next, and right when you start to form a guess as to what is going on, he throws a wrench into the mix that keeps you guessing. It was really easy to become involved with this story, losing myself within the pages. The character development and progression of the plot never slowed down or got stuck in the mud. It’s easy to see that the author put a lot of energy into moving the story forward, hooking us and keeping us hooked.
Would I normally read a bump in the night story that’s pretty much guaranteed to give me nightmares? Probably not (although now I am seriously reevaluating that). Would I read FIREFLY RAIN again? Oh yes! Not only did I get a decent adrenaline rush from the suspense and action in the book, but different parts, especially the end, left me with fodder for my brain to munch on for a while. From the time I woke up this morning to now as I write this review, I have probably thought back to the ending of the story six or seven times, revisiting different aspects and pondering what it means for the future.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good read and doesn’t mind a bit of fright. More than a simple scary story, there is a deeper plot in FIREFLY RAIN as Jacob has to come to terms with his life, his views of the town he group up with, and his treatment of his family. Creating a well rounded story that gave enough terror to keep the lights on in my house while providing enough drama to keep me in a chair reading for 4.5 hours, this is a book that is sure to grab the attention of readers everywhere.
Jacob Logan is a failed businessman, having lost heart in the business that kept him away from home. Having first left for college, Jacob felt drawn away from home and stayed on in Boston moving up in the business world. As we learn in the beginning of the story, his decision to separate himself from his family was not one that his parents agreed with. Try as they might to convince him to come home, Jacob rarely did. Returning for his father’s funeral and then a few select times before his mother’s funeral, Jacob neglected his promise to spend more time with his parents. Now, returning to his empty family home and the town he left, Jacob will discover that promises are meant to be kept.
We all know I get creeped out by scary stories. For me, however, a creepy story is rarely one that involves vampires, werewolves, zombies or other monsters. Scary stories are ghost stories, stories where things go bump in the night where the reader can fully expect something terrifying to be lurking in every dark corner and hover right behind them. That’s a scary story to me.
FIREFLY RAIN somehow managed to hover between the line of scary story and not so scary story. I would call this an intriguing horror that I would definitely read again. The real part of this story that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up is the suspense. Mr. Dansky develops the story in such a way that the reader never knows what’s going to happen next, and right when you start to form a guess as to what is going on, he throws a wrench into the mix that keeps you guessing. It was really easy to become involved with this story, losing myself within the pages. The character development and progression of the plot never slowed down or got stuck in the mud. It’s easy to see that the author put a lot of energy into moving the story forward, hooking us and keeping us hooked.
Would I normally read a bump in the night story that’s pretty much guaranteed to give me nightmares? Probably not (although now I am seriously reevaluating that). Would I read FIREFLY RAIN again? Oh yes! Not only did I get a decent adrenaline rush from the suspense and action in the book, but different parts, especially the end, left me with fodder for my brain to munch on for a while. From the time I woke up this morning to now as I write this review, I have probably thought back to the ending of the story six or seven times, revisiting different aspects and pondering what it means for the future.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good read and doesn’t mind a bit of fright. More than a simple scary story, there is a deeper plot in FIREFLY RAIN as Jacob has to come to terms with his life, his views of the town he group up with, and his treatment of his family. Creating a well rounded story that gave enough terror to keep the lights on in my house while providing enough drama to keep me in a chair reading for 4.5 hours, this is a book that is sure to grab the attention of readers everywhere.
October 11, 2011
I'm not usually a reader of this sort of book, sci-fi being my main genre of reading, but I picked this up while browsing one of my local shops. I couldn't tell you what drew me to it - maybe the title, maybe the cover, maybe even the synopsis - but I just wanted to read it once I saw it. It's nice to have a change every now and then, and Firefly Rain hit that craving I needed for something a little different, and made Richard Dansky an author I'll be reading again.
Jacob Logan returns to Maryland, his home town, after a failed business attempt in Boston. He's not been back since his mother's funeral, and the out-of-town family house is just as it was left. With all his belongings disappearing en route from Boston he's left with nothing but his car, and that isn't around for too long before it's stolen from the drive outside the house. Carl, the man left to look after the house since Jacob's mother passed on, brings supplies to him and swiftly departs, acting strange and appearing to hide something. With his car gone Jacob is stuck in the house with only occasional visits to town, but the people he meets and talks to seem strange, but that is nothing to what is going on in the house...
The first thing that struck me when I started reading Firefly Rain was the relative constrained feeling of the novel. After Jacob arrives at the old family home the story is very much set in that one house and surrounding land, with only a few excursions out of this place. What this does is give you a sense of the place where Jacob grew up and Dansky manages to convey a real feeling of isolation and something not quite right. There are strange going-ons, from items appearing after Jacob put them away to the way that he can't always get into his parents old room. It's the little things that build the atmosphere, but it's the characterisation that brings the story to life.
With the story following Jacob and his return to his home town it's his story, and through his actions in returning to Maryland we learn more and more about him. He's an interesting character and one that I can certainly relate to with regards to his situation. Carl is the silent type, but through Jacob's observations and rare talks with him it's obvious there is more to him than meets the eye. With the lack of understanding on Jacob's part and relative stubbornness of Carl it's a strange dynamic, but one that I was eager to know more about. I wanted to find out about these characters and what the underlying problem was. There are, of course, other characters, and while they have some impact it's these two that I thought the main focus was on, more for the progression and explanation of story.
While this book is described as a horror, it didn't contain many shock elements to it. There were one or two, but it's the atmosphere that really gives the chills. The little things that go on really make this book, not the big stuff. It's hard to say too much without giving away too many details about the plot and what is actually going on, but suffice to say that Dansky writes a solid story and manages to tie everything up without reverting to shock tactics. It works well throughout and kept me turning the pages late into the night. I haven't enjoyed anything like this for a long time, but Dansky has given me reason to search out more in this genre. Great stuff.
Jacob Logan returns to Maryland, his home town, after a failed business attempt in Boston. He's not been back since his mother's funeral, and the out-of-town family house is just as it was left. With all his belongings disappearing en route from Boston he's left with nothing but his car, and that isn't around for too long before it's stolen from the drive outside the house. Carl, the man left to look after the house since Jacob's mother passed on, brings supplies to him and swiftly departs, acting strange and appearing to hide something. With his car gone Jacob is stuck in the house with only occasional visits to town, but the people he meets and talks to seem strange, but that is nothing to what is going on in the house...
The first thing that struck me when I started reading Firefly Rain was the relative constrained feeling of the novel. After Jacob arrives at the old family home the story is very much set in that one house and surrounding land, with only a few excursions out of this place. What this does is give you a sense of the place where Jacob grew up and Dansky manages to convey a real feeling of isolation and something not quite right. There are strange going-ons, from items appearing after Jacob put them away to the way that he can't always get into his parents old room. It's the little things that build the atmosphere, but it's the characterisation that brings the story to life.
With the story following Jacob and his return to his home town it's his story, and through his actions in returning to Maryland we learn more and more about him. He's an interesting character and one that I can certainly relate to with regards to his situation. Carl is the silent type, but through Jacob's observations and rare talks with him it's obvious there is more to him than meets the eye. With the lack of understanding on Jacob's part and relative stubbornness of Carl it's a strange dynamic, but one that I was eager to know more about. I wanted to find out about these characters and what the underlying problem was. There are, of course, other characters, and while they have some impact it's these two that I thought the main focus was on, more for the progression and explanation of story.
While this book is described as a horror, it didn't contain many shock elements to it. There were one or two, but it's the atmosphere that really gives the chills. The little things that go on really make this book, not the big stuff. It's hard to say too much without giving away too many details about the plot and what is actually going on, but suffice to say that Dansky writes a solid story and manages to tie everything up without reverting to shock tactics. It works well throughout and kept me turning the pages late into the night. I haven't enjoyed anything like this for a long time, but Dansky has given me reason to search out more in this genre. Great stuff.
January 23, 2012
Goodreads:
When Jacob left home for a new life, he pretty much forgot all about Maryfield, North Carolina. But Maryfield never forgot him. Or forgave him.
After a failed business venture in Boston, Jacob Logan comes back to the small Southern town of his childhood and takes up residence in the isolated house he grew up in. Here, the air is still. The nights are black. And his parents are buried close by. It should feel like home—but something is terribly wrong.
Jacob loses all his belongings in a highway accident. His car is stolen from his driveway, yet he never hears a sound. The townspeople seem guarded and suspicious. And Carl, the property caretaker with so many secrets, is unnervingly accommodating. Then there are the fireflies that light the night skies . . . and die as they come near Jacob’s home. If it weren’t for the creaking sounds after dark, or the feeling that he is being watched, Jacob would feel so alone. He shouldn’t worry. He’s not.
And whatever’s with him isn’t going to let him leave home ever again.
Started this book last night and finished it around 2pm this afternoon. Yes, I stayed up after I got off work to finish the book though I kept telling myself I'd stop after one more chapter all the way to the end.
There is so much about the book that I really liked. His talk about chasing fireflies, his descriptions of a small town bent on not being yanked into the 21st century, the fields, the woods, the farm and even the house made me homesick for a home I never had. It was so idyllic that I wanted it to be my home - minus the parents that is. To sit out on a large porch watching the sunset with only the sound of the bullfrogs breaking the silence - to look up not only at zillions of stars but also thousands of fireflies - to feel that sense of peace of mind...wow, it really spoke to me.
It wasn't hard to figure out what was going on though I found myself getting angry with Jacob a time or two for his bullheadedness. He was so blind but then, that is what the book is about, him realizing his mistakes and claiming his home. The moral of the story is keep your promises - don't promise stuff lightly with no intention of fulfilling it. Promises made and broken affect more than just yourself and can hurt a person so much that they can't forget it, even after death.
The book is not scary - the ghosts are very friendly and nothing scary happens through the whole thing. It goes to show that not every ghost story has to involve ghosts bent on revenge or death. I found the ghosts endearing and wouldn't mind being haunted if it were by good ghosts.
Before I went to bed I was thinking I would give the book a C because I was so disgusted with Jacob for being so stubborn. However, now that I'm refreshed and rested, I easily give the book an A because it made me think, it entertained me and it was well written.
When Jacob left home for a new life, he pretty much forgot all about Maryfield, North Carolina. But Maryfield never forgot him. Or forgave him.
After a failed business venture in Boston, Jacob Logan comes back to the small Southern town of his childhood and takes up residence in the isolated house he grew up in. Here, the air is still. The nights are black. And his parents are buried close by. It should feel like home—but something is terribly wrong.
Jacob loses all his belongings in a highway accident. His car is stolen from his driveway, yet he never hears a sound. The townspeople seem guarded and suspicious. And Carl, the property caretaker with so many secrets, is unnervingly accommodating. Then there are the fireflies that light the night skies . . . and die as they come near Jacob’s home. If it weren’t for the creaking sounds after dark, or the feeling that he is being watched, Jacob would feel so alone. He shouldn’t worry. He’s not.
And whatever’s with him isn’t going to let him leave home ever again.
Started this book last night and finished it around 2pm this afternoon. Yes, I stayed up after I got off work to finish the book though I kept telling myself I'd stop after one more chapter all the way to the end.
There is so much about the book that I really liked. His talk about chasing fireflies, his descriptions of a small town bent on not being yanked into the 21st century, the fields, the woods, the farm and even the house made me homesick for a home I never had. It was so idyllic that I wanted it to be my home - minus the parents that is. To sit out on a large porch watching the sunset with only the sound of the bullfrogs breaking the silence - to look up not only at zillions of stars but also thousands of fireflies - to feel that sense of peace of mind...wow, it really spoke to me.
It wasn't hard to figure out what was going on though I found myself getting angry with Jacob a time or two for his bullheadedness. He was so blind but then, that is what the book is about, him realizing his mistakes and claiming his home. The moral of the story is keep your promises - don't promise stuff lightly with no intention of fulfilling it. Promises made and broken affect more than just yourself and can hurt a person so much that they can't forget it, even after death.
The book is not scary - the ghosts are very friendly and nothing scary happens through the whole thing. It goes to show that not every ghost story has to involve ghosts bent on revenge or death. I found the ghosts endearing and wouldn't mind being haunted if it were by good ghosts.
Before I went to bed I was thinking I would give the book a C because I was so disgusted with Jacob for being so stubborn. However, now that I'm refreshed and rested, I easily give the book an A because it made me think, it entertained me and it was well written.
April 29, 2012
I wanted to get one more spooky book in before the end of October, or at the very least, start one before the end of the month and finish it close to it. This is the one I chose, which was on my list for the RIP Challenge.
This was a great pick as Richard Dansky is also an NC native: Morrisville, which is within the Triangle area that I live in. Do I have to repeat how much I like to support local? Yes, I do :-).
Firefly Rain starts off a little depressing for me. Too close to my own life, the main character leaves home and really, turns his back to his mom and dad with rare visits. I liken it to the little birds that learn to fly on their own and leave the nest (and that includes me). I can't say that this was a good or bad thing, but it certainly wasn't what I expected...to start a ghost story reflecting on my own issues I have with my own family.
Although the depressing parts eventually went away, unfortunately for me, the book did not improve.
Sure, there were ghosts but eventually, it becomes a very Rosemary's Baby kind of story...without Rosemary or the devil baby.
Dansky is a very wordy writer, writing sentences upon sentences of things about washing dishes, or putting them away, or walking into town. There just wasn't any reason to go on and on about the mundane things.
There wasn't anything too scary about this for me. Nothing stopped my heart, even when things happened. The build up was too much build with not enough up. I did not feel any connection to the main character, Logan (other than the beginning) and if anything, he started to get annoying to me.
I wanted to enjoy this. I really did. This book was part of my "support local", as Dansky is from Morrisville, NC. But there are some local folks that I just can't get into: Margaret Maron and Celia Rivenbark.
It's been awhile since I've had two good books in a row, on top of being able to read a book that really spooked me. Some parts of Duma Key gave me a scare and The Harrowing gave me a good scare. I am beginning to think I need to pick up some of my old haunts by Stephen King to see if I have the ability to get scared by books anymore! Salem's Lot perhaps...unless anyone out there has a good recommendation for a good scare...
For now, I am going to read a book recommended by my 10 year old, who said it's definitely my type with mystery and lots of twists and turns. :-)
This was a great pick as Richard Dansky is also an NC native: Morrisville, which is within the Triangle area that I live in. Do I have to repeat how much I like to support local? Yes, I do :-).
Firefly Rain starts off a little depressing for me. Too close to my own life, the main character leaves home and really, turns his back to his mom and dad with rare visits. I liken it to the little birds that learn to fly on their own and leave the nest (and that includes me). I can't say that this was a good or bad thing, but it certainly wasn't what I expected...to start a ghost story reflecting on my own issues I have with my own family.
Although the depressing parts eventually went away, unfortunately for me, the book did not improve.
Sure, there were ghosts but eventually, it becomes a very Rosemary's Baby kind of story...without Rosemary or the devil baby.
Dansky is a very wordy writer, writing sentences upon sentences of things about washing dishes, or putting them away, or walking into town. There just wasn't any reason to go on and on about the mundane things.
There wasn't anything too scary about this for me. Nothing stopped my heart, even when things happened. The build up was too much build with not enough up. I did not feel any connection to the main character, Logan (other than the beginning) and if anything, he started to get annoying to me.
I wanted to enjoy this. I really did. This book was part of my "support local", as Dansky is from Morrisville, NC. But there are some local folks that I just can't get into: Margaret Maron and Celia Rivenbark.
It's been awhile since I've had two good books in a row, on top of being able to read a book that really spooked me. Some parts of Duma Key gave me a scare and The Harrowing gave me a good scare. I am beginning to think I need to pick up some of my old haunts by Stephen King to see if I have the ability to get scared by books anymore! Salem's Lot perhaps...unless anyone out there has a good recommendation for a good scare...
For now, I am going to read a book recommended by my 10 year old, who said it's definitely my type with mystery and lots of twists and turns. :-)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 14, 2011
Wow, this was terrible.
I'm a huge fan of ghost stories, especially haunted house stories. But in this novel, nothing ever actually scared me at all. The author completely failed at creating a spooky or even eerie atmosphere. The house itself was mundane and poorly described - a list of the house's physical attributes, without anything to build interest in it or tension around it. The characters were cardboard cut-outs with weird or contradictory motivations (they're supposed to be trying to get him to stay in town so... they all act like total assholes to him? Um, what?). The book creates a parallel between the experiences of the main character and the experiences of his father, without ever giving a reason for the experiences. The mystery of why the main character needs to stay in town is never revealed - it seems to be because his mother missed him? WHAT? So she made one guy promise to make sure her son came home and stayed, and as a result he and ... um, a bunch of other people who had NOT made that promise? also ended up having to keep the promise? and couldn't die until they did? WHAT? And it's not like everything has to make sense in a horror novel, but novels do need to have some kind of internal consistency, some driving force that at least makes sense to itself -- maybe we're horrified at the logic, but there does need to be internal logic. This book lacks even an attempt at that.
Beyond the utter lack of coherent plot, atmosphere, or believable (or even likable) characters with dimension, the reveal of the book's underlying message left me at a loss. The main character is a bad son because he grew up and moved away and started his own life? That's what kids are supposed to do. And as a result of doing what kids are supposed to do, this guy is now stuck in a town where apparently everybody is nuts, for reasons we are never told, and there's some wild swing at a firefly metaphor that seems to mean he can never go to heaven, or maybe he has to stay and do the same things that were done to him, to the next poor sucker? I don't even know. It's all incredibly stupid.
The reviewers who compared this writer to Stephen King have done Stephen King a grave disservice. Seriously, he should litigate.
I'm a huge fan of ghost stories, especially haunted house stories. But in this novel, nothing ever actually scared me at all. The author completely failed at creating a spooky or even eerie atmosphere. The house itself was mundane and poorly described - a list of the house's physical attributes, without anything to build interest in it or tension around it. The characters were cardboard cut-outs with weird or contradictory motivations (they're supposed to be trying to get him to stay in town so... they all act like total assholes to him? Um, what?). The book creates a parallel between the experiences of the main character and the experiences of his father, without ever giving a reason for the experiences. The mystery of why the main character needs to stay in town is never revealed - it seems to be because his mother missed him? WHAT? So she made one guy promise to make sure her son came home and stayed, and as a result he and ... um, a bunch of other people who had NOT made that promise? also ended up having to keep the promise? and couldn't die until they did? WHAT? And it's not like everything has to make sense in a horror novel, but novels do need to have some kind of internal consistency, some driving force that at least makes sense to itself -- maybe we're horrified at the logic, but there does need to be internal logic. This book lacks even an attempt at that.
Beyond the utter lack of coherent plot, atmosphere, or believable (or even likable) characters with dimension, the reveal of the book's underlying message left me at a loss. The main character is a bad son because he grew up and moved away and started his own life? That's what kids are supposed to do. And as a result of doing what kids are supposed to do, this guy is now stuck in a town where apparently everybody is nuts, for reasons we are never told, and there's some wild swing at a firefly metaphor that seems to mean he can never go to heaven, or maybe he has to stay and do the same things that were done to him, to the next poor sucker? I don't even know. It's all incredibly stupid.
The reviewers who compared this writer to Stephen King have done Stephen King a grave disservice. Seriously, he should litigate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2010
acob Logan is at a crossroads with his life in Boston. Hoping to find a sense of direction, he returns to his small, rural hometown in North Carolina to take up residence in his childhood home years after his parents deaths. He is alone in an isolated house but this is exactly what he needs...
You know this cannot turn out well. There is the odd discovery that fireflies avoid the property - landing on the Logan land is equal to death. Jacob's car is stolen and the strange Officer Hanratty is one minute concerned and the next minute angry at Jacob. Carl, the hired caretaker, is creepy, sneaky, and plain mean and others in the town are acting very strange. And of course, there are the bumps and crashes in the night. Carl knew his parents, especially his mother, was hurt by his infrequent visits but he cannot imagine they are behind these chilling events.
Richard Dansky has created an entertaining, old-fashioned haunted house/ghost story in Firefly Rain . The story is suspenseful and I was intrigued after just a few pages. There are moments of overt scares but the book is at it's best when there is the slow build to what seems like a small outcome. Jacob's character evolves from trying to find earthbound explanations for all of his odd experiences to accepting there may be supernatural forces at work. The other characters are also interesting - are they really that accommodating and pleasant? The house and the land have a large role in the story and Mr. Dansky's descriptions of the rooms, yard and family grave add to the eerie feeling.
For more information on Richard Dansky, including his work as a video game designer, check out his website and follow him on twitter. You can also find some other great thoughts from others on the blog tour.
You know this cannot turn out well. There is the odd discovery that fireflies avoid the property - landing on the Logan land is equal to death. Jacob's car is stolen and the strange Officer Hanratty is one minute concerned and the next minute angry at Jacob. Carl, the hired caretaker, is creepy, sneaky, and plain mean and others in the town are acting very strange. And of course, there are the bumps and crashes in the night. Carl knew his parents, especially his mother, was hurt by his infrequent visits but he cannot imagine they are behind these chilling events.
Richard Dansky has created an entertaining, old-fashioned haunted house/ghost story in Firefly Rain . The story is suspenseful and I was intrigued after just a few pages. There are moments of overt scares but the book is at it's best when there is the slow build to what seems like a small outcome. Jacob's character evolves from trying to find earthbound explanations for all of his odd experiences to accepting there may be supernatural forces at work. The other characters are also interesting - are they really that accommodating and pleasant? The house and the land have a large role in the story and Mr. Dansky's descriptions of the rooms, yard and family grave add to the eerie feeling.
For more information on Richard Dansky, including his work as a video game designer, check out his website and follow him on twitter. You can also find some other great thoughts from others on the blog tour.
November 26, 2010
Like another reviewer stated, it is easy to see that the author wrote for games. From the beginning of the book I couldn't help but think of other video games out there that this reminded me a little bit of. This isn't a bad thing, but I will caution readers to not expect perfection out of this book. If you do, you'll be disappointed.
The book's plot follows the character of Jacob Logan, a failed businessman who travels back home after years of being away. With all of his family now dead & buried, he's planning on making this only a temporary stop until he finds a new opportunity. However, old promises return to haunt him as he begins to realize that something is not willing to let him leave.
This was a nice read & this will make for a fantastic beach or vacation read for many people. It's just that at times I really felt like the pacing could have been better. The book's pacing would have worked for a video game, but it didn't really work all that well for a book. In a video game you are interacting with the game, while in a book you are more passive- all you can do is read. (I know, I know... imagination & all that, but in the end the video game will keep you busy enough between the gaps in pacing.)
I also wished that certain plot points would have been better fleshed out. When they have the big reveal at the end, I really did wish that Dansky had spent more time earlier in the book building up the mystery & supernatural-ness of the ending. I felt like it was just under-used & under-developed. There was potential for more to be done with it, but it never came to fruition. The characters also felt like they could have been fleshed out a little more as well- they sort of fall under the "didn't live up to potential" thing. I don't want the plot spelled out for me, but I just felt like more could have been done with it.
When all is said & done, this book is a very good first novel & it did manage to keep me entertained throughout the book. Dansky has the marks of someone who has the potential to develop into a true master of horror, so I'll be looking out for his next book.
(ARC provided by amazon vine)
The book's plot follows the character of Jacob Logan, a failed businessman who travels back home after years of being away. With all of his family now dead & buried, he's planning on making this only a temporary stop until he finds a new opportunity. However, old promises return to haunt him as he begins to realize that something is not willing to let him leave.
This was a nice read & this will make for a fantastic beach or vacation read for many people. It's just that at times I really felt like the pacing could have been better. The book's pacing would have worked for a video game, but it didn't really work all that well for a book. In a video game you are interacting with the game, while in a book you are more passive- all you can do is read. (I know, I know... imagination & all that, but in the end the video game will keep you busy enough between the gaps in pacing.)
I also wished that certain plot points would have been better fleshed out. When they have the big reveal at the end, I really did wish that Dansky had spent more time earlier in the book building up the mystery & supernatural-ness of the ending. I felt like it was just under-used & under-developed. There was potential for more to be done with it, but it never came to fruition. The characters also felt like they could have been fleshed out a little more as well- they sort of fall under the "didn't live up to potential" thing. I don't want the plot spelled out for me, but I just felt like more could have been done with it.
When all is said & done, this book is a very good first novel & it did manage to keep me entertained throughout the book. Dansky has the marks of someone who has the potential to develop into a true master of horror, so I'll be looking out for his next book.
(ARC provided by amazon vine)
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