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The Next
Romantic Suspense. Often summarized as The Gay Rear Window, but that's just the jumping off point. A romance springs to life as two men merge with a common to catch a killer they suspect occupies one of the apartments across the courtyard. But their romance must hurdle the main protagonist's strangling unresolved demons as well as imminent life threatening danger. But if they make it through, they can both bring life back to their lives. The Next romances Love, Alfred Hitchcock, and New York City in large, creamy dollops.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2014
6 people are currently reading
529 people want to read
About the author
Rafe Haze
1 book52 followersRafe Haze was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and lives on the west side of New York City. Having worked for the legal compliance industry, fashion industry, music industry, art industry, and flesh industry (the most interesting people on earth have), his most life-changing employment was teaching Meisner Technique of Acting. He wrote himself out of one whopping funk with his debut novel The Next, and is ecstatically thankful for the entire, messy, beautiful cadence.
Rafe refuses to be handcuffed to one discipline only: he writes classical music for orchestra and small ensemble, country music songs, musical theater, plays, screenplays, and digs two-stepping, line dancing, and West Coast Swinging. Be it words, notes, or movement, the emotional origin, schlep, and endpoints are equally compelling and satisfying.
Rafe is grafeful to his twin brother (the straight one) who continues to make the slicing through this rambling, thorny life worthwhile.
Rafe refuses to be handcuffed to one discipline only: he writes classical music for orchestra and small ensemble, country music songs, musical theater, plays, screenplays, and digs two-stepping, line dancing, and West Coast Swinging. Be it words, notes, or movement, the emotional origin, schlep, and endpoints are equally compelling and satisfying.
Rafe is grafeful to his twin brother (the straight one) who continues to make the slicing through this rambling, thorny life worthwhile.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
May 25, 2014
The Next concerns an MC suffering from PTSD, repressed memories, and agoraphobia. These conditions leave him stranded in his NYC apartment much the way Jimmy Stewart was stranded in the movie Rear Window.
Rafe Haze uses many of the plot points from that film to build his story. The MC becomes suspicious that his neighbor has killed two young men, a handsome detective arrives to investigate - you get the picture.
The main strength of this book is Rafe Haze's talent as a writer; that same talent is also the book's main weakness. How can talent be a strength and a weakness? My point is illustrated by the fact that Haze begins the book with a stunning poem. The rest of the book is filled with prose that is often poetic and really beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that it pulls the reader right out of the story. There were several times while reading this that I had to stop, back up, and remind myself that I was reading a novel with a plot, not a book of collected poems. It all seemed a little too cultured and self-indulgent.
That weakness aside, I'm still giving this book four stars because I really became invested in the characters. I wanted to know what led the MC to the state he was in, I wanted to know what was really motivating the handsome detective. These questions are answered well and there is the cinematic finale that you'd expect from a suspense novel.
This book works very well as what I'll call literary suspense, if there is such a thing. I look forward to reading more by this author. I just hope that the next time around he pares the language down a little and goes by the maxim "Less is more."
Rafe Haze uses many of the plot points from that film to build his story. The MC becomes suspicious that his neighbor has killed two young men, a handsome detective arrives to investigate - you get the picture.
The main strength of this book is Rafe Haze's talent as a writer; that same talent is also the book's main weakness. How can talent be a strength and a weakness? My point is illustrated by the fact that Haze begins the book with a stunning poem. The rest of the book is filled with prose that is often poetic and really beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that it pulls the reader right out of the story. There were several times while reading this that I had to stop, back up, and remind myself that I was reading a novel with a plot, not a book of collected poems. It all seemed a little too cultured and self-indulgent.
That weakness aside, I'm still giving this book four stars because I really became invested in the characters. I wanted to know what led the MC to the state he was in, I wanted to know what was really motivating the handsome detective. These questions are answered well and there is the cinematic finale that you'd expect from a suspense novel.
This book works very well as what I'll call literary suspense, if there is such a thing. I look forward to reading more by this author. I just hope that the next time around he pares the language down a little and goes by the maxim "Less is more."
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July 28, 2014I'm not going to rate this one, and I'll maybe get around to a review.
I'll just say, for now, that first off, the author needs to get a new editor, or at least an additional one to check over his manuscripts, because this current one is doing him no favors. Wrong tenses, incorrect word usage, hyphens and modifiers on crack, etc.
Second, there is a lot of good writing in this -- great even. The neighbor observations -- hell the LIFE observations -- were great and poignant.
Third, I'm not sure I'm reading the same book as everyone else for I didn't take it as this super serious biz book. It came off wayyyyyyy over the top and I felt in on the joke, but then I'd read reviews and scratch my head. Seriously, who refers to cocks as un-hooded Cobras, anacondas, a chubby, etc. Who refers to an asshole as pink and shiny as a raw chicken breast? Why the hammy sex scenes between the characters and neighbors? It was HILARIOUS but I thought that was the point?...maybe not.
Fourth, some of the past recollections were great such as the Sally one, but everything went off the train tracks and derailed until I felt like I was reading a literary version of She Devil. The writing styles didn't mesh well for me at all. The voice of the narrator wasn't consistent and it led to a very confusing reading experience. There were too many loose threads at the end that weren't answered and the narrator kept jumping to these grand assumptions off of nothing really. That speck of red on the wall? OMG there was a vampire here in 1400 and he was killed with a wooden fire poker!!! <--- OK I'm making that one up but seriously, this book was very, very weird.
I'll just say, for now, that first off, the author needs to get a new editor, or at least an additional one to check over his manuscripts, because this current one is doing him no favors. Wrong tenses, incorrect word usage, hyphens and modifiers on crack, etc.
Second, there is a lot of good writing in this -- great even. The neighbor observations -- hell the LIFE observations -- were great and poignant.
Third, I'm not sure I'm reading the same book as everyone else for I didn't take it as this super serious biz book. It came off wayyyyyyy over the top and I felt in on the joke, but then I'd read reviews and scratch my head. Seriously, who refers to cocks as un-hooded Cobras, anacondas, a chubby, etc. Who refers to an asshole as pink and shiny as a raw chicken breast? Why the hammy sex scenes between the characters and neighbors? It was HILARIOUS but I thought that was the point?...maybe not.
Fourth, some of the past recollections were great such as the Sally one, but everything went off the train tracks and derailed until I felt like I was reading a literary version of She Devil. The writing styles didn't mesh well for me at all. The voice of the narrator wasn't consistent and it led to a very confusing reading experience. There were too many loose threads at the end that weren't answered and the narrator kept jumping to these grand assumptions off of nothing really. That speck of red on the wall? OMG there was a vampire here in 1400 and he was killed with a wooden fire poker!!! <--- OK I'm making that one up but seriously, this book was very, very weird.
May 22, 2014
So I was totally into this one for the first 40% or so, but then I realized that the author was trying so hard to come off as literary and intelligent that he messed up. He started to use words that did not mean what he thought they meant which, along with the overall arrogant tone of the second half of the story, started to get pretty annoying. I'm all for people using big words. Shoot, I like to use big words. Here's the thing though: make sure you look them up first.
I did like the depiction of the protagonist's (what's his name again?) depression and its all encompassing miasma. I also was fascinated by the way his across the courtyard neighbors were described. Marzoli was also interesting. I did not like the flashbacks to the main character's childhood nor what happened to Marzoli as a kid. All of it seemed just a bit too pat of a way for a guy like Marzoli to fall in love with a guy like the protagonist (still can't remember his name). The mystery and subsequent solving of the mystery also got on my nerves. All I can say about that is "Yeah right."
People might think that I wrote this review the way I did because I normally read M/M Romance, which is way more hearts and flowers than this book is, but I beg to differ. I liked that this book wasn't all puppies and unicorns, that it wanted to be hard hitting and raw; I just didn't like the way some parts of it were put together, and that's certainly my prerogative.
Final verdict? I'm giving it 4 stars for the first half, 2 try-hard stars to the rest and we'll meet in the middle for 3 stars.
I did like the depiction of the protagonist's (what's his name again?) depression and its all encompassing miasma. I also was fascinated by the way his across the courtyard neighbors were described. Marzoli was also interesting. I did not like the flashbacks to the main character's childhood nor what happened to Marzoli as a kid. All of it seemed just a bit too pat of a way for a guy like Marzoli to fall in love with a guy like the protagonist (still can't remember his name). The mystery and subsequent solving of the mystery also got on my nerves. All I can say about that is "Yeah right."
People might think that I wrote this review the way I did because I normally read M/M Romance, which is way more hearts and flowers than this book is, but I beg to differ. I liked that this book wasn't all puppies and unicorns, that it wanted to be hard hitting and raw; I just didn't like the way some parts of it were put together, and that's certainly my prerogative.
Final verdict? I'm giving it 4 stars for the first half, 2 try-hard stars to the rest and we'll meet in the middle for 3 stars.
April 28, 2015
As always I didn't read a blurb and had no idea what to expect from a debut novel of Rafe Haze. An extremely depressive mood and a depressive voice of the narrator at the beginning was almost the reason for a DNF, but after reading some interesting reviews and founding out that this book was a mystery in the best Hitchcock manner -it is also known under the title The Gay Rear Window- I decided to keep on reading.
And I am glad I did it.
Just some thoughts about the book:
* The MC is suffering from depression. His panic attacks, social isolation, his mental disability to leave his apartment for six months and the reduction of every possible contact with the outside world to a cleft between the curtains - all these are consequences of this serious illness.Perhaps the waiting for the Next is what eroded my desire to exit. Then my ability to exit. The gradual dismissal of all external stimulus, inch by inch, imprisoning me within a six-hundred and fifty square foot cell, enforced by loathing, fear, irritation, inordinate self-focus, and plain old plummeting of energy.
I'm not a psychiatrist to talk about the reasons for his heavy depression- there are normally more than just one reason for it or the whole spectrum of different factors- but probably the most important one relates to his difficult childhood and the most significant trigger for his mental state was a suicide of his brother, the last living family member and the most precious person in his life. Rafe Haze describes the mental condition of his character very authentic.
* It's a surprisingly well done MYSTERY! Believe me, I am very picky in regard to mysteries - it's my favorite genre. If you like Hitchcock, you'll like this book. I can't refer myself to big fans of Hitchcock, but I really like his The Rear Window. Though IMO The Next is even a bit more than this. Rafe Haze uses very skillfully anonymity and loneliness of a single person in a big city to create his story. It's not just a mystery or better to say- he uses mystery as a tool to tell us the story of a introverted songwriter who tries to forget or maybe to find something he lost or maybe simply never had, to find a way back in life, with a little help from...a handsome stranger who appeared at the door of his curtailed New York prison.
* My first Rafe Haze, but for sure not the last. I LOVE his writing -the word formation, vivid images, his style, wording, using of metaphors, the combination of presence and past, slightly sarcastic undertone of the first person POV, dialogues, everything was a real reading pleasure! His writing is utterly totally worked for me.
* My tiny personal issues:** I can understand WHY our MC was attracted to Marzoli, a super detective, but I couldn't buy the Marzoli's attraction to our depressive MC who doesn't leave his apartment for at least a half of the year - and now imagine the odor of this apartment where empty pizza boxes can be stacked to the tower of Babylon. But it's just trifle. The chemistry between them was really good!
**I am not sure that our hero was introduced . Really, I tried to find out what was his name - I finished it three days ago - while writing the review, but I failed! And I don't remember that his name was even mentioned here! Okay, I call him Rafe.
All in all, a very enjoyable, memorable and entertaining read.
April 17, 2014
I love a good cover, and this cover is gorgeous, but do not buy this book off the cover alone. Yes, it is all kinds of freaking sexy, and I think Marzoli when I look at it, but The Next is not a sexy MM read. I'm not saying there isn't sex in it, I'm not saying it isn't sensual, but the sex is more purposeful and/or beautifully deliberate than standard romance fare. The writing is observational, psychological, dry, sad, real, humorous, very touching, with a lot of New York attitude.
When I first arrived in 1993, I was told I'd become a real New Yorker when a body pancakes on the cement at my feet at the base of a high rise.
My agent disagreed. She said you become a New Yorker once you find the engorged, blackened body of some glum neighbour rotting on his toilet after complaining to the super that his apartment smells foul and a pile of yellowing newspapers at his door has expanded into the hallway.
Twenty years later, our narrator is still there and definitely has the snark and cynicism down pat.
There is a very interesting suspense aspect to The Next. I agree with the quote on the cover, that it is rather Rear Window-esque. But what takes centre stage is the narrator's life and how he has come to be a shut-in in his Manhattan apartment. It is very much about the lives of those around him in the building he lives in, and those across a common courtyard. As well as his repressed memories emerging - all sublimely seguing from now to then, back to now - the separation from his girlfriend, Johanna, who has some absolute...ambitions, along with life events for people who mostly have monikers ascribed them by the narrator - who, interestingly, has no name.
It is also about the charming, smart, gorgeous, seemingly cocky...yet not... and definitely enigmatic Marzoli. Why he feels that this case involving twinks, a case that is classified as inconsequential in the eyes of the law, is not inconsequential to him. To someone who seems so starched and perfect. Why does he keep coming back to our narrator's for this case? Is it for the view from his apartment? Tidbits of information Marzoli thinks he has? Or is it for him? If so, why?
The narrative is such that I started out not being terribly enamoured of the narrator, to respecting him, then liking him, to just revelling in him so much I did not give a damn that I am still none the wiser as to his designated nomenclature. Who cares, the writing is superb, the story beautifully told, the lives of the people I was a fly on the wall for during the telling were fascinating, we all know them. I loved the inner monologue and the sharp dialogue equally -
As one drowns, at some point the sack of bricks cuffed to your ankles starts doing you a favour.
December 8th. Forty years old. The sack of bricks decided my birthday was the perfect day to cuff itself to my ankles. I received an email from Mr. Palmer, my brother's trailer park neighbour in a greaser town called Placerville, located at the foothills of the Sierra Mountains.
Paul is dead.
Paul's death does accelerate some issues for the narrator, as do the disappearing twinks in the apartment above him. And definitely the introduction of the sexy Detective, Sergeant Marzoli. The snark between this pair was a delight -
"An Italian policeman. Isn't that incredible?"
"Sicilian and Puerto Rican."
"Sociopathic and alcoholic. Delicious. Come on in."
I opened the door. He remained in place.
His eyes processed the graciousness of the greeting. The fucker had intelligence behind those beautiful lashes, or at the very least, rapid brain synapses that could be confused for intelligence.
He matched my dryness. "A gay man with a 'tude. Isn't that incredible."
Beat. Wait. Who's gay? He didn't wait.
"Your place smells like a shithole."
"Mommy's not here to clean up." I looked directly at his stiff starched shirt. "She's not here to iron my shirts either, Sergeant."
Narrator has not identified as gay before...or bi...or anything really, and I liked how that played out because Marzoli just makes him feel.
If you enjoy very, very good LGBT writing, a mystery/suspense, if you are a people watcher and an observer of behaviour, then The Next is a must.
Review in full at:
When I first arrived in 1993, I was told I'd become a real New Yorker when a body pancakes on the cement at my feet at the base of a high rise.
My agent disagreed. She said you become a New Yorker once you find the engorged, blackened body of some glum neighbour rotting on his toilet after complaining to the super that his apartment smells foul and a pile of yellowing newspapers at his door has expanded into the hallway.
Twenty years later, our narrator is still there and definitely has the snark and cynicism down pat.
There is a very interesting suspense aspect to The Next. I agree with the quote on the cover, that it is rather Rear Window-esque. But what takes centre stage is the narrator's life and how he has come to be a shut-in in his Manhattan apartment. It is very much about the lives of those around him in the building he lives in, and those across a common courtyard. As well as his repressed memories emerging - all sublimely seguing from now to then, back to now - the separation from his girlfriend, Johanna, who has some absolute...ambitions, along with life events for people who mostly have monikers ascribed them by the narrator - who, interestingly, has no name.
It is also about the charming, smart, gorgeous, seemingly cocky...yet not... and definitely enigmatic Marzoli. Why he feels that this case involving twinks, a case that is classified as inconsequential in the eyes of the law, is not inconsequential to him. To someone who seems so starched and perfect. Why does he keep coming back to our narrator's for this case? Is it for the view from his apartment? Tidbits of information Marzoli thinks he has? Or is it for him? If so, why?
The narrative is such that I started out not being terribly enamoured of the narrator, to respecting him, then liking him, to just revelling in him so much I did not give a damn that I am still none the wiser as to his designated nomenclature. Who cares, the writing is superb, the story beautifully told, the lives of the people I was a fly on the wall for during the telling were fascinating, we all know them. I loved the inner monologue and the sharp dialogue equally -
As one drowns, at some point the sack of bricks cuffed to your ankles starts doing you a favour.
December 8th. Forty years old. The sack of bricks decided my birthday was the perfect day to cuff itself to my ankles. I received an email from Mr. Palmer, my brother's trailer park neighbour in a greaser town called Placerville, located at the foothills of the Sierra Mountains.
Paul is dead.
Paul's death does accelerate some issues for the narrator, as do the disappearing twinks in the apartment above him. And definitely the introduction of the sexy Detective, Sergeant Marzoli. The snark between this pair was a delight -
"An Italian policeman. Isn't that incredible?"
"Sicilian and Puerto Rican."
"Sociopathic and alcoholic. Delicious. Come on in."
I opened the door. He remained in place.
His eyes processed the graciousness of the greeting. The fucker had intelligence behind those beautiful lashes, or at the very least, rapid brain synapses that could be confused for intelligence.
He matched my dryness. "A gay man with a 'tude. Isn't that incredible."
Beat. Wait. Who's gay? He didn't wait.
"Your place smells like a shithole."
"Mommy's not here to clean up." I looked directly at his stiff starched shirt. "She's not here to iron my shirts either, Sergeant."
Narrator has not identified as gay before...or bi...or anything really, and I liked how that played out because Marzoli just makes him feel.
If you enjoy very, very good LGBT writing, a mystery/suspense, if you are a people watcher and an observer of behaviour, then The Next is a must.
Review in full at:
May 27, 2015
I know they say not to judge a book by its cover but sometimes it can't be helped. I got sucked in, and hey what's not too like!!
Once I started I thought maybe I'd made a mistake. The main character is suffering a kind of PTSD and has agoraphobia. This doesn't make for a great start cause it seems a bit heavy. Not to be put off though, I continued on and I am so glad I did.
I loved this book. Loosely based on Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, we get vignettes on life in an apartment block in NYC as told by the nameless MC. The building has a central court yard and our MC can see other tenants apartments. From this he shares details of his view of their lives. It's intensely voyeuristic and I couldn't help but get caught up in their day to day goings on.
Whilst this is a murder mystery, it also has romance and has a touch of humor to be found in Mrs Abrahams, one of the busy body neighbors. The love interest is Marzoli a cop who is working the case of a murder in the building.
There are quite a few themes going on in the book with the MC re-living the traumatic experiences that lead to his current PTSD, but also the relationship with the tenants and Marzoli.
If you can get over the melancholic feel in the initial chapters, you won't be disappointed.
4.5 stars
Once I started I thought maybe I'd made a mistake. The main character is suffering a kind of PTSD and has agoraphobia. This doesn't make for a great start cause it seems a bit heavy. Not to be put off though, I continued on and I am so glad I did.
I loved this book. Loosely based on Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window, we get vignettes on life in an apartment block in NYC as told by the nameless MC. The building has a central court yard and our MC can see other tenants apartments. From this he shares details of his view of their lives. It's intensely voyeuristic and I couldn't help but get caught up in their day to day goings on.
Whilst this is a murder mystery, it also has romance and has a touch of humor to be found in Mrs Abrahams, one of the busy body neighbors. The love interest is Marzoli a cop who is working the case of a murder in the building.
There are quite a few themes going on in the book with the MC re-living the traumatic experiences that lead to his current PTSD, but also the relationship with the tenants and Marzoli.
If you can get over the melancholic feel in the initial chapters, you won't be disappointed.
4.5 stars
May 4, 2015
A producer handed me The Next and asked me informally if I thought it would make a good film. I'm known as a go-to lady for book-to-film screenplay adaptations, so I read A LOT of books. I don't write reviews due to the conflict of interest in my rating and the film's success (or lack of success). Due to the very intimate gay physicality that the plot of The Next turns on, I'm certain Hollywood hasn't the huevos to film it. (Yet!). Which is really disappointing because this book dazzled me more than the other books I've been reading. So I decided to write a review, knowing I'll have to delete it if The Next ever does get picked up. I grew up in Colombia reading Jorge Luis Borges - among other authors. Rafe Haze writes more like Borges than any other author I've read of late as far as his rhythmic linguistic cadences, his dark but compassionate commentary on every day common folk, and his complex patchwork of illusion and reality (memory and present). Like Borges, he challenges the reader's need for linear plot with non-linear layers, and the reader is tantalized with the promise of a greater and almost spiritual payout for this integration by the time he reaches the end. I can see how a book like The Next could polarize readers: those who relish the richness of connecting dots on three-dimensional planes, and those who want a crayon and a coloring book and a simplistic, two-dimensional end product. Rafe Haze is for the former. He carved a beautifully unique, deep work of literature out of the raw clay of Hitchcock's Rear Window that challenges your assumption of the genre as well as your expectation of the usual muted use of language in the genre. Don't speed read this book: luxuriate, pause, and think. The Next may not ever be made into a film, but its images still burn in my brain, even as I tackle other writing assignments.
May 19, 2014
This was probably not the book for another person that suffers from depression and agoraphobia to read but I couldn't resist. I'm glad I didn't. It really would have been a five star read but there were a few times that it dragged a bit. I loved the characters, their horrific pasts and the outcome. See, I'm trying not to give anything away.
This is a a slow uncovering of past horrific events intertwined with present horrific events. It's a suspense with a love story slightly thrown in there. So if you're looking for an emotional entanglement for a day and a half read, you've found a good one.
This is a a slow uncovering of past horrific events intertwined with present horrific events. It's a suspense with a love story slightly thrown in there. So if you're looking for an emotional entanglement for a day and a half read, you've found a good one.
March 27, 2015
This is one of those books that grabs you, throws you around like a leaf in a hurricane, then grants you a safe landing.
A song writer living in New York city, finds his life sliding into the abyss that is PTSD. He is assailed with memories that leave him frozen, barely able to function or write his music. His world revolves around the neighbors he watches through his window, till he is confronted by an intelligent, sexy police detective investigating the murder of his upstairs neighbor.
Yes, this story uses the elements of the Hitchcock movie Rear Window. However, the writing in this story is intelligent and resourceful. Mr. Haze is able to get every nuance that the written word can give. I was complete enthralled by the two MCs. This is a powerful, amazing book, that captures the effects of a traumatic childhood.
A song writer living in New York city, finds his life sliding into the abyss that is PTSD. He is assailed with memories that leave him frozen, barely able to function or write his music. His world revolves around the neighbors he watches through his window, till he is confronted by an intelligent, sexy police detective investigating the murder of his upstairs neighbor.
Yes, this story uses the elements of the Hitchcock movie Rear Window. However, the writing in this story is intelligent and resourceful. Mr. Haze is able to get every nuance that the written word can give. I was complete enthralled by the two MCs. This is a powerful, amazing book, that captures the effects of a traumatic childhood.
November 21, 2014
It is a rare thing when a brand new author hits the mark so decisively with his very first story. Rafe Haze has certainly accomplished that with his incredible novel, The Next. With every word, he breathed life into his characters, built an intense and compelling plot and gave us an exquisite love story wrapped in a clever mystery. Written with the same flair as Hitchcock’s film, Rear Window, author Rafe Haze steps beyond that spine tingling model to present characters so believable, so down to earth that you almost swear they are people you have met on your very own street.
The story unfolds inside the mind and life of … you’re waiting for his name, aren’t you? Well unless I am truly inept I am certain that we never discover our MC’s name. The names of all those who impact his life, who rattle around in his tortured and twisted memories, and who become the very air he breathes? Yes, their names leap off the page at us as our MC brings them to life through his interactions with them but never once is his name uttered in this story. The remarkable thing? I never even noticed. I was so completely immersed into his life, his horrific past and his tenuous grip on his present that I never even thought to question the idea that his name was never uttered by anyone.
Instead I watched as he scrambled to hold onto his own humanity as he waited for what he termed, “the next”, that moment when his life would move in a decisive direction. Would it include his power grasping, tyrannical girlfriend Johanna and her need for progeny? Would he finally come to see the people across the way as something other than the caustic, degrading names he had assigned them as he lived in his own prison watching their lives unfold? Or would the appearance of Detective Marzoli, who was investigating the murder of the man who lived above our MC, finally be the one person who could pierce the agoraphobic half-life existence our poor battered MC had built around himself?
This novel was not only a compelling and finger-biting mystery; it was also a slowly developing love story between two wounded and frightened men. Our MC discovers for the first time that he can crack the dark lid of his past and not be consumed by it, but instead that there is someone who will hold him after he falls down the rabbit hold time and again. Detective Marzoli meets his own demons head on and exposes them to a man who, while seemingly consumed by his own fate, manages to reach out and extend a healing touch to this wounded investigator. Our detective and MC are hideously flawed, yet there is within them this pure golden streak of humanity that makes them the most beautiful humans to walk the earth.
I cannot begin to tell you what an incredible novel, The Next, turned out to be. I will warn you, there are on the page memories here that speak of some very dark and painful childhood memories that could be triggers for those readers who have experienced abuse at the hand of another in their own lives. However, those passages are never presented for mere sensationalism, rather they make up the very fabric of our MC’s past and influence who is he in the present. This story does not flinch in the face of corrupt evil, but it allows for healing to begin where before there was only empty lingering pain.
In short, The Next by Rafe Haze was an incredibly beautiful novel of resounding hope. I could not put this book down. Every page, every word carried me along and held me fast in its grip. Author Rafe Haze has set the bar high for his first novel and I cannot wait to see what this talented young author comes up with next.
The story unfolds inside the mind and life of … you’re waiting for his name, aren’t you? Well unless I am truly inept I am certain that we never discover our MC’s name. The names of all those who impact his life, who rattle around in his tortured and twisted memories, and who become the very air he breathes? Yes, their names leap off the page at us as our MC brings them to life through his interactions with them but never once is his name uttered in this story. The remarkable thing? I never even noticed. I was so completely immersed into his life, his horrific past and his tenuous grip on his present that I never even thought to question the idea that his name was never uttered by anyone.
Instead I watched as he scrambled to hold onto his own humanity as he waited for what he termed, “the next”, that moment when his life would move in a decisive direction. Would it include his power grasping, tyrannical girlfriend Johanna and her need for progeny? Would he finally come to see the people across the way as something other than the caustic, degrading names he had assigned them as he lived in his own prison watching their lives unfold? Or would the appearance of Detective Marzoli, who was investigating the murder of the man who lived above our MC, finally be the one person who could pierce the agoraphobic half-life existence our poor battered MC had built around himself?
This novel was not only a compelling and finger-biting mystery; it was also a slowly developing love story between two wounded and frightened men. Our MC discovers for the first time that he can crack the dark lid of his past and not be consumed by it, but instead that there is someone who will hold him after he falls down the rabbit hold time and again. Detective Marzoli meets his own demons head on and exposes them to a man who, while seemingly consumed by his own fate, manages to reach out and extend a healing touch to this wounded investigator. Our detective and MC are hideously flawed, yet there is within them this pure golden streak of humanity that makes them the most beautiful humans to walk the earth.
I cannot begin to tell you what an incredible novel, The Next, turned out to be. I will warn you, there are on the page memories here that speak of some very dark and painful childhood memories that could be triggers for those readers who have experienced abuse at the hand of another in their own lives. However, those passages are never presented for mere sensationalism, rather they make up the very fabric of our MC’s past and influence who is he in the present. This story does not flinch in the face of corrupt evil, but it allows for healing to begin where before there was only empty lingering pain.
In short, The Next by Rafe Haze was an incredibly beautiful novel of resounding hope. I could not put this book down. Every page, every word carried me along and held me fast in its grip. Author Rafe Haze has set the bar high for his first novel and I cannot wait to see what this talented young author comes up with next.
May 20, 2015
The Next.
The Next. I don’t really know where to start. Honestly, I won’t be able to do it justice.
Here is the highest praise I can give: I wish I’d written it. And, I’m jealous I didn’t. And, that’s not figurative. It’s literal. I truly am jealous I didn’t write this book. It kinda pisses me off actually.
The Next is one of my favorite books I’ve read of any genre, MM or not. There isn’t one word or phrase I would alter. One of my other all-time favorite books is Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier, which was published in the 1930’s (and I’m not a big classics fan). While completely, COMPLETELY, different, the entire time I read The Next, I had a similar sensation as when I read Rebecca. I was reading something timeless, something original, something that stands alone. There were layers upon layers in this novel, all woven seamlessly together. (There are some reviews that claim they couldn’t keep up. Don’t let that sway you, give yourself some credit, anyone with half a brain will devour this novel like candy.)
The Next is a dark, sexy, realistic, and artfully woven tale. I know I am risk of singing its praises to such a great extent that it may come off as unreliable. However, I truly can’t praise it enough. It is one of those books that will stay on bookshelf with other masterpieces that I will never part with, no matter how many other books come and go.
Read this book!
The Next. I don’t really know where to start. Honestly, I won’t be able to do it justice.
Here is the highest praise I can give: I wish I’d written it. And, I’m jealous I didn’t. And, that’s not figurative. It’s literal. I truly am jealous I didn’t write this book. It kinda pisses me off actually.
The Next is one of my favorite books I’ve read of any genre, MM or not. There isn’t one word or phrase I would alter. One of my other all-time favorite books is Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier, which was published in the 1930’s (and I’m not a big classics fan). While completely, COMPLETELY, different, the entire time I read The Next, I had a similar sensation as when I read Rebecca. I was reading something timeless, something original, something that stands alone. There were layers upon layers in this novel, all woven seamlessly together. (There are some reviews that claim they couldn’t keep up. Don’t let that sway you, give yourself some credit, anyone with half a brain will devour this novel like candy.)
The Next is a dark, sexy, realistic, and artfully woven tale. I know I am risk of singing its praises to such a great extent that it may come off as unreliable. However, I truly can’t praise it enough. It is one of those books that will stay on bookshelf with other masterpieces that I will never part with, no matter how many other books come and go.
Read this book!
May 20, 2014
A debut novel? This is too good to be true. I'm stunned. I've had such an amazing time reading this book, I can't wait to pick it up again, start over, and absorb anything I may have missed. To be inside the world of the guy who lives in this apartment, witness to so much life, death, every day activities that are mundane yet not. A man whose name we don't learn.
The psychological thriller aspects of this novel are so fun! The flashbacks to a past buried deep are difficult and horrible to read. The first chapter is so depressing I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. But there is such beauty here. One moment in particular had me completely devastated and yet was so beautiful I was crying happy tears. It's a moment of true giving and loving. Something so sweet to witness I almost felt like I was spying on our wonderfully troubled apartment dweller and the ever incredible Detective Marzoli. Almost...
I loved this.
LOVED IT.
Loved the darkness. Loved the walk into the light.
Loved the doubts and self deprecating madness. Loved the tender moments when everything seemed like it would be okay.
Loved the writing so much, I felt like I could drown in the words and stay there forever in the poetry of it all.
More. Oh God, I want more.
The psychological thriller aspects of this novel are so fun! The flashbacks to a past buried deep are difficult and horrible to read. The first chapter is so depressing I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. But there is such beauty here. One moment in particular had me completely devastated and yet was so beautiful I was crying happy tears. It's a moment of true giving and loving. Something so sweet to witness I almost felt like I was spying on our wonderfully troubled apartment dweller and the ever incredible Detective Marzoli. Almost...
I loved this.
LOVED IT.
Loved the darkness. Loved the walk into the light.
Loved the doubts and self deprecating madness. Loved the tender moments when everything seemed like it would be okay.
Loved the writing so much, I felt like I could drown in the words and stay there forever in the poetry of it all.
More. Oh God, I want more.
December 18, 2014
I'm a huge Hitchcock fan so this homage to Rear Window was really fun for me. It also reminded me of another favorite book though, PS Your Cat Is Dead another quintessentially NYC book. The characters were well developed and the mysteries carefully laid out. Haze did a great job of making a MC who might have been unlikeable very likable. Well done.
dnf
June 17, 2015DNF @ 40% — no rating
May 22, 2014
Reviewed on Hearts on Fire
4.5 Stars In this delightful mystery the suspense is all tied to our main character who’s an agoraphobic apartment dweller who spends his time spying on his neighbors and ends up witnessing something that he wasn’t supposed to see. Think Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window with some modern twists. While our hero is not physically handicapped, he’s incapacitated nonetheless from fear as he finds himself petrified to leave his living quarters. The other twist is that though the story starts off with a break up with a woman, the person who ignites a spark in him is the male police officer who knocks on his door as he’s investigating a case of a missing neighbor in the apartment building.
Our nameless narrator finds himself slowly being seduced by the mystery and by the charming Sergeant Marzoli, all while trying to fight off his demons which start to have a life of their own after he receives some bad news from his past. The book becomes an engrossing read as we hang on to learn the mysteries of the past and the more prominent current one.
Initially, the main character is a little off putting and the writing not always accessible. It’s a first person narrative that can feel a little claustrophobic as we only get the point of view of the unnamed voyeur in the story. There’s also a continuous switch from present to past that takes some getting used to. But after a while I found the rhythm of the story and really started enjoying the journey.
I liked the narrator’s often biting and politically incorrect humor, especially in connection with the ridiculous nicknames he assigns each apartment dweller & how he deals with his new and surprising attraction to the very male detective who’s dropped into his life. He & Marzoli have a nice chemistry that builds as the story goes along. He also finds himself slowly letting go of the paralysis that had taken over his life.
Attempting to solve the mystery brings he & Marzoli more & more together. The fact that the two of them spark against each other is an added bonus. .
The main protagonist hides behind a lot of defenses and is more cynical than nice most of the time. He watches his neighbors with a mixture of disdain, and pity at first although his thinking about them evolves as the story progresses. While his issues become obvious fairly quickly, we also eventually learn that Marzoli is not all what he seems as well.
This is the kind of story that holds your interest and leaves you wanting more. There’s an erotically charged noir like quality to the story that I don’t often find in most M/M novels. I like that it’s a little different while still staying true to the romance. I’m partial to mysteries and particularly enjoyed the little psychological drama that played out in this one. This is one suspenseful read that I’m happy to recommend
4.5 Stars In this delightful mystery the suspense is all tied to our main character who’s an agoraphobic apartment dweller who spends his time spying on his neighbors and ends up witnessing something that he wasn’t supposed to see. Think Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window with some modern twists. While our hero is not physically handicapped, he’s incapacitated nonetheless from fear as he finds himself petrified to leave his living quarters. The other twist is that though the story starts off with a break up with a woman, the person who ignites a spark in him is the male police officer who knocks on his door as he’s investigating a case of a missing neighbor in the apartment building.
Our nameless narrator finds himself slowly being seduced by the mystery and by the charming Sergeant Marzoli, all while trying to fight off his demons which start to have a life of their own after he receives some bad news from his past. The book becomes an engrossing read as we hang on to learn the mysteries of the past and the more prominent current one.
Initially, the main character is a little off putting and the writing not always accessible. It’s a first person narrative that can feel a little claustrophobic as we only get the point of view of the unnamed voyeur in the story. There’s also a continuous switch from present to past that takes some getting used to. But after a while I found the rhythm of the story and really started enjoying the journey.
I liked the narrator’s often biting and politically incorrect humor, especially in connection with the ridiculous nicknames he assigns each apartment dweller & how he deals with his new and surprising attraction to the very male detective who’s dropped into his life. He & Marzoli have a nice chemistry that builds as the story goes along. He also finds himself slowly letting go of the paralysis that had taken over his life.
Attempting to solve the mystery brings he & Marzoli more & more together. The fact that the two of them spark against each other is an added bonus. .
The main protagonist hides behind a lot of defenses and is more cynical than nice most of the time. He watches his neighbors with a mixture of disdain, and pity at first although his thinking about them evolves as the story progresses. While his issues become obvious fairly quickly, we also eventually learn that Marzoli is not all what he seems as well.
This is the kind of story that holds your interest and leaves you wanting more. There’s an erotically charged noir like quality to the story that I don’t often find in most M/M novels. I like that it’s a little different while still staying true to the romance. I’m partial to mysteries and particularly enjoyed the little psychological drama that played out in this one. This is one suspenseful read that I’m happy to recommend
dnf
May 4, 2014Ok, got the sample from amazon and will try that first
So, thank you, amazon, for giving me a sample of this book. I started reading today and I made it up to 25% of said sample. Then I decided - this book is not for me. The writing style doesn't work for me. Might be I'm not good enough with my English or I'm just too shallow, but somehow these few pages gave me the impression of a too high aspiration for what is essentially written. Too many words and too complicated sentences for this reader. Yes, I'm simple minded that way.
So, thank you, amazon, for giving me a sample of this book. I started reading today and I made it up to 25% of said sample. Then I decided - this book is not for me. The writing style doesn't work for me. Might be I'm not good enough with my English or I'm just too shallow, but somehow these few pages gave me the impression of a too high aspiration for what is essentially written. Too many words and too complicated sentences for this reader. Yes, I'm simple minded that way.
December 16, 2022
4 1/2 stars. Ignore the cheesy cover.
This was a very engaging thriller. The description as a modern Rear Window are quite apt. Great characters and plot line with a few unbelievable parts.
This was a very engaging thriller. The description as a modern Rear Window are quite apt. Great characters and plot line with a few unbelievable parts.
April 27, 2016
This is the story of a song writer who has been a recluse inside his home for many months, staying inside ever since his girlfriend left him. As a result, he is suffering from depression and agoraphobia, and has issues from here to the moon. He is waiting for The Next, which is what he calls the next event that will make his life meaningful, but day after day the world keeps going without anything happening to him. One day a detective shows up at his doorstep asking about one of his neighbors who is missing. Later we learn the boy is dead. The MC witnesses some weird behavior from another neighbor that makes him think that he is the murderer, so he decides to “help” the detective solve the crime(s).
The first thing that comes to mind when I have to describe the writing is: ADJECTIVES. Why so f*ucking many? It got really tiring. I understand the author wanted to give the MC a distinctive voice, at the same time than letting the reader see how screwed up he was, but it could have been done with a little more subtlety. Half the adjectives could have done the job without the reader needing to re-read sentences to make sure they were reading what they were reading.
Also, internal monologues abound.
The MC is a creep, no other way to put it. He spent several pages describing every one of his neighbors and what each of them did on a daily basis. I kept wondering how good his eye-sight was to be able to see with so much detail from his window to his neighbor’s houses.
I have to say it was a very weird book. The MC, whose name we never learn, is suppressing memories from his childhood, that surface little by little. That part got me intrigued because I wanted to know what had happened to him. Marzoli’s conflicted past on top of that was a bit too much.
The resolution of the murders was very bizarre. And then there’s the whole relationship between the MC’s. I didn’t buy it one bit. I felt no romance between them, didn’t even feel the attraction.
So, to be honest I can’t say I liked this one much.
The first thing that comes to mind when I have to describe the writing is: ADJECTIVES. Why so f*ucking many? It got really tiring. I understand the author wanted to give the MC a distinctive voice, at the same time than letting the reader see how screwed up he was, but it could have been done with a little more subtlety. Half the adjectives could have done the job without the reader needing to re-read sentences to make sure they were reading what they were reading.
Also, internal monologues abound.
The MC is a creep, no other way to put it. He spent several pages describing every one of his neighbors and what each of them did on a daily basis. I kept wondering how good his eye-sight was to be able to see with so much detail from his window to his neighbor’s houses.
I have to say it was a very weird book. The MC, whose name we never learn, is suppressing memories from his childhood, that surface little by little. That part got me intrigued because I wanted to know what had happened to him. Marzoli’s conflicted past on top of that was a bit too much.
The resolution of the murders was very bizarre. And then there’s the whole relationship between the MC’s. I didn’t buy it one bit. I felt no romance between them, didn’t even feel the attraction.
So, to be honest I can’t say I liked this one much.
March 23, 2016
"Surprisingly Good"
I didn't expect this one to grip me and drag me down to its pit. I really thought I was going to give this 2 stars thanks to the very pretentious writing at the beginning. Yes, writing beautifully is very important but don't try too hard. Less is more darling.
However, I was glad Rafe became more natural as the story progressed. A few chapters after the first one, the writing seemed more loose and relax (hmmm) - just the way it should be. It uncovered that Rafe was indeed more than capable.
When not exercising his literary skill, he narrates an incredibly dark and poignant story without making it unbearable, in fact, all seemed extremely convoluted with the plot but Rafe's sheer skill is on point.
It is told in a voice of a cynic, depressed, and damaged music writer named Jack or Philip (HA), looking for The Next, looking for the light. Meanwhile, the Puerto Rican, Sicilian, and Man flirt is trying to solve the death of Twinkie Twat.
But the true crime story here is how the monsters of the past of Philip (why Mrs. Abrahams?) and Marzoli continues to hunt them. Both of them victims, barely living. Only The Next could save them.
It was so relieving to see them find and help each other. In some cases, I do believe only the only you could save yourself but we all do need a helping hand.
Other notes:
1. The two MC's are so perceptive or more accurately, assumptive.
2. The exhibition scenes made me wet. That gave me a lot of idea lol.
3. Mr. Closeted Hot Daddy is to die for, figuratively and literally.
4. Although I'm disappointed Mrs. Abrahams ruined the only chance I'd ever get to know the MC's name which is actually understandable, I think she is absolutely nice and amazing neighbor.
5. Rafe Haze's seamlessly switching from past to the present or vice versa was quite remarkable.
I didn't expect this one to grip me and drag me down to its pit. I really thought I was going to give this 2 stars thanks to the very pretentious writing at the beginning. Yes, writing beautifully is very important but don't try too hard. Less is more darling.
However, I was glad Rafe became more natural as the story progressed. A few chapters after the first one, the writing seemed more loose and relax (hmmm) - just the way it should be. It uncovered that Rafe was indeed more than capable.
When not exercising his literary skill, he narrates an incredibly dark and poignant story without making it unbearable, in fact, all seemed extremely convoluted with the plot but Rafe's sheer skill is on point.
It is told in a voice of a cynic, depressed, and damaged music writer named Jack or Philip (HA), looking for The Next, looking for the light. Meanwhile, the Puerto Rican, Sicilian, and Man flirt is trying to solve the death of Twinkie Twat.
But the true crime story here is how the monsters of the past of Philip (why Mrs. Abrahams?) and Marzoli continues to hunt them. Both of them victims, barely living. Only The Next could save them.
It was so relieving to see them find and help each other. In some cases, I do believe only the only you could save yourself but we all do need a helping hand.
Other notes:
1. The two MC's are so perceptive or more accurately, assumptive.
2. The exhibition scenes made me wet. That gave me a lot of idea lol.
3. Mr. Closeted Hot Daddy is to die for, figuratively and literally.
4. Although I'm disappointed Mrs. Abrahams ruined the only chance I'd ever get to know the MC's name which is actually understandable, I think she is absolutely nice and amazing neighbor.
5. Rafe Haze's seamlessly switching from past to the present or vice versa was quite remarkable.
August 4, 2014
I've thought for 2 days about this and I am still confused. I decided not to wait any longer and just write my review.
I liked the meat of this story. The watching of neighbors, I mean, I was more interested in them than the MC and Detective Marzoli. Why did I call them that? Because we never find out the MC's name. Never once is it said. I felt so detached. We also never find out Marzoli's first name, because I am guessing it's not detective. Anyway, I never found myself caring about these two. I liked the neighbors and the story around the death. I adored MC's nicknames for the neighbors.
The flashbacks without a warning were a bit much and there were too many of them, in my opinion.
I hate the fact that I had to watch neighbors have sex and even one of the MC's have sex, but not with each other. Again, I felt detached. Not saying it has to be a sex filled story, because that's not what I was looking for. However, I don't want to see one of the MC's have sex with someone if it's not the other MC, just my opinion though. Does that make sense? Did I feel the sexual tension? Sure, at times. But, I didn't understand why they wanted each other. Why were they drawn to each other? Oh and the sex was unprotected. A HUGE no-no in my book.
Maybe I am just simple, but there were times when I had to re-read sentences that I didn't understand. It was kind of a 'Wait. What?' type of thing. Again, me having to re-read took away from the story, but that was my fault, I think.
Overall, I don't know. I think I am going to throw a 3 up there and make it stick. Yep, 3 Stars for the neighbor watching :)
I liked the meat of this story. The watching of neighbors, I mean, I was more interested in them than the MC and Detective Marzoli. Why did I call them that? Because we never find out the MC's name. Never once is it said. I felt so detached. We also never find out Marzoli's first name, because I am guessing it's not detective. Anyway, I never found myself caring about these two. I liked the neighbors and the story around the death. I adored MC's nicknames for the neighbors.
The flashbacks without a warning were a bit much and there were too many of them, in my opinion.
I hate the fact that I had to watch neighbors have sex and even one of the MC's have sex, but not with each other. Again, I felt detached. Not saying it has to be a sex filled story, because that's not what I was looking for. However, I don't want to see one of the MC's have sex with someone if it's not the other MC, just my opinion though. Does that make sense? Did I feel the sexual tension? Sure, at times. But, I didn't understand why they wanted each other. Why were they drawn to each other? Oh and the sex was unprotected. A HUGE no-no in my book.
Maybe I am just simple, but there were times when I had to re-read sentences that I didn't understand. It was kind of a 'Wait. What?' type of thing. Again, me having to re-read took away from the story, but that was my fault, I think.
Overall, I don't know. I think I am going to throw a 3 up there and make it stick. Yep, 3 Stars for the neighbor watching :)
May 18, 2014
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
The Next is written in first person POV, which explains why we never learn the main character’s name. Haze bravely stayed true to the narrative POV, which is unusual and in the end, impressive. The fact that the main character’s name is never spoken by any of the other characters without it seeming awkward is a testament to the excellent writing and flow of this emotionally charged story about a man with nothing to lose.
I am going to be honest, once I started The Next, I was not sure what to think of it. Twice I went back to try and locate the main character’s name before figuring out it had been left out intentionally. Fortunately, as I got into the story, I found it harder and harder to put my iPad down. His view of the world is dark and discordant, his lack of motivation is staggering, and he is incredibly critical of himself. He has a death wish, but is not even motivated enough to do anything about it. He shows himself to be clever, with a cutting wit, and he starts off with no sense of self- preservation. At all. Even though he has set himself on this path, he still feels pleasure, sadness, and disgust for those he watches, which demonstrates to us that he is not dead inside, yet.
Read Jason's review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
The Next is written in first person POV, which explains why we never learn the main character’s name. Haze bravely stayed true to the narrative POV, which is unusual and in the end, impressive. The fact that the main character’s name is never spoken by any of the other characters without it seeming awkward is a testament to the excellent writing and flow of this emotionally charged story about a man with nothing to lose.
I am going to be honest, once I started The Next, I was not sure what to think of it. Twice I went back to try and locate the main character’s name before figuring out it had been left out intentionally. Fortunately, as I got into the story, I found it harder and harder to put my iPad down. His view of the world is dark and discordant, his lack of motivation is staggering, and he is incredibly critical of himself. He has a death wish, but is not even motivated enough to do anything about it. He shows himself to be clever, with a cutting wit, and he starts off with no sense of self- preservation. At all. Even though he has set himself on this path, he still feels pleasure, sadness, and disgust for those he watches, which demonstrates to us that he is not dead inside, yet.
Read Jason's review in its entirety here.
July 25, 2014
I read quite a lot of gay fiction, much of it the gently cosy British romantic sort. This book blew a tornado through my brain, supplying all the romance I could ask for but nearly battering me to death before giving up its reward. That's not criticism - it was fantastic - a real tour de force.
The story is told in first person from the viewpoint of a young man who is agoraphobic and housebound. It takes a lot out of him merely to open his curtains, but when he does he's able to watch the activities of his neighbours in the apartment block opposite. He's depressive and fatalistic and the writing style, reminscent of Philip Marlowe seems all the more appropriate when a policeman makes an appearance, giving the reader a hardboiled gumshoe to complete the picture.
There's a mystery, there's action, there's angst in abundance, and yes, there is romance although throughout the story it seems most unlikely that the romance will surface.
I loved this book because it is so different, such a refreshing change from my usual fare. I do hope Rafe Haze writes more, I understand this is his first novel, which makes it all the more amazing it's so good.
The story is told in first person from the viewpoint of a young man who is agoraphobic and housebound. It takes a lot out of him merely to open his curtains, but when he does he's able to watch the activities of his neighbours in the apartment block opposite. He's depressive and fatalistic and the writing style, reminscent of Philip Marlowe seems all the more appropriate when a policeman makes an appearance, giving the reader a hardboiled gumshoe to complete the picture.
There's a mystery, there's action, there's angst in abundance, and yes, there is romance although throughout the story it seems most unlikely that the romance will surface.
I loved this book because it is so different, such a refreshing change from my usual fare. I do hope Rafe Haze writes more, I understand this is his first novel, which makes it all the more amazing it's so good.
May 7, 2014
I have to say that I loved this book. Maybe it was the whole NY aesthetic, maybe it was the echoes from great film noir with its passing resemblance to Rear Window… but probably it was the slow burn between the two MCs drawing them together, each step peeling back another layer of vulnerability, or pain, or of psychological devastation until the surprising conclusion redeems them both, giving them a HEA that seems to sparkle with possibility.
The perfect combination of mystery, noir, suspense and romance.
The perfect combination of mystery, noir, suspense and romance.
March 8, 2015
I loved this book! A refreshing unique MM story. I love that the authour deals with mental health (PTSD) - something that doesn't happen in most MM books (that's why I wrote Infected Thoughts). The writing is witty and engaging. It's one of those books you can't put down until you reach the final word. The "Gay Rearview Window" part was a bonus since I loved the "straight" version of the movie. I hope Rafe Haze writes more novels!
October 24, 2015
Amazing. Definitely a must read. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone who loves a good mystery and some M/M action. The most intriguing book I've had the pleasure of reading this year. It's dialogue is smart. I enjoyed being in the mind of the MC and seeing how he viewed the world and his neighbors. Pick this one up for sure. You won't be disappointed.
October 26, 2014
This is a long review. Normally I don’t go on and on as I do here, but this time I felt it was important. For a negative review I think it’s imperative to show that I am not just some negative internet troll looking to rain on any parade I can find. I am not a troll but an avid reader, excited to find new stories and new authors. When I have something negative to say, I feel the opinion should be argued and explained. I know this review is long, but I encourage you to read it. If the length is off-putting to some, then I request they still read the last paragraph. I do not think this is a good book at all, but you may be surprised when I still recommend buying it.
My major problem to this book is a lack of any connection. Haze refuses to name the main character, which I must assume is on purpose because of the staunch determination not to. The Main Character does not even introduce himself to the love interest, the cop Marzoli. Haze’s plan to overcome this lack of connection is to provide depth and insight to the Main Character via flashbacks. Normally, a reader has to care about a character before depth and insight are effective, and I hate to say it, Haze never got me to the point of caring for him. There are good character developments, just on secondary characters.
The premise of the book is 100% Rear Window. I applaud Haze for not concealing that fact. He is upfront about his ‘inspiration’ every time he references this book. What Haze doesn’t grasp, however, is the difference that exists between an homage and fanfic. An homage takes a premise, a theme, a set of circumstances and lets them loose in their own story. Take the movie "Clueless" for example, this is how an homage works. It takes Jane Austen’s "Emma" and sets it in modern times. The gist of Austen is throughout, but this story has its own legs and goes in its own direction. Fanfic writers, on the other hand, take an existing story and use it as their own. The changes are slight and in the end it’s simply a retelling of someone else’s tale to fit the fanfic writer’s fancy. Haze took Rear Window, changed the main character to gay, changed a broken leg to agoraphobia…and then told us Rear Window. Haze’s writing gives a glimmer of….something, and that is something to consider, but the glimmer is not enough to save this book.
On Haze’s writing: it is clear that this is Haze’s first book. I can say with certainty, having never met the man, that Haze does not have any schooling in writing, nor does he have any experience. That is ok. Great writers come from all walks of life. Unfortunately, this is not great writing. Haze tries very very hard in this book to prove that he is clever, that he is witty and for some reason that he is a man. Maybe the last part is because M/M romances are predominately written by women, but what he sees as ‘gritty’ or ‘dirty’ is actually juvenile and only creates caricatures, not characters.
Haze falls into traps that many first-time writers plod right into. Nothing can be simply what it is, but instead has to be overly described in language that the writer feels is grandiose, yet the reader finds tiresome. For example, I firmly believe Haze is incapable of saying “he carried the old cardboard box.” Instead, were this a scene in Haze’s book, it would read, “he labored as he carried the cardboard box, with corners sagging with the weight of years, coloring that could have resulted from being sun baked and faded or simply from layer upon layer of dust and taped up in silver duct tape mummy strands desperately trying to maintain its shape.” Ugh. Over description to this degree reveals more about the author than it does the item the author is describing. The audience does not need to know how brilliant the author is by his flowery language or how smart he is by his clever comparisons. The audience will find that out about the author simply by reading the story. Telling me you’re clever makes me question if you are. The writing become pompous and the reader’s interest in continuing the story fades.
On that note, another freshman writer’s mistake is that everything is described in threes. This technique was developed through advertising, where advertisement firms learned that the average person tends to remember up to three things before it requires effort. So, they began describing their products with three sparkling adjectives so that it seemed valid and exciting (more adjectives are better than less), but not so many as the customer had trouble remembering. This technique eventually found its way into writing. But constantly describing thing in threes becomes insulting to the reader. We get what you’re trying to say, we really do. Not EVERYTHING needs to be sparkling.
One last note on his writing, “raw chicken breast?” “Un-hooded cobras?” Sometimes we’re treated as third-graders, expected to giggle because “he said wiener.” Respect the audience.
As far as the story itself, one word I give to Haze as advice if he wants to be a writer is – Research. A writer’s job is to take the reader into make believe; I get that. But the story has to be believable to the point that the audience is willing to suspend their disbelief. It is abundantly clear that Haze has a very rudimental understanding of what agoraphobia is and how it works. It is a phobia (which is quite clear even in its name), and a phobia is a paralyzing fear. In this book, the agoraphobia begins and ends as a plot device so that the main character is around enough to do all of the peeping toming he has to do. The main character invites people into his apartment. He goes and visits his neighbors. He is everything NOT agoraphobic except when the story needs him to be. I have no problem with Haze choosing agoraphobia for his character, but then his obligation to the story is to do the necessary research to at least understand what it is. If you lose the reader over sloppiness, you’ve lost the reader from the book.
Agoraphobia is just the most glaring display of Haze’s ignorance (said as a reference to his not understanding a term or condition, not as a personal commentary on Haze himself), but it is also clear Haze knows nothing about cops and police procedurals beyond what he gets off of serialized television. Nor does he think through what a stalker actually sees through a window from another building. The voyeur’s perspective is set, unchanging, and the small amount of the room across the way he would see by the angle he is forced to follow is in sharp contrast to the overwhelming knowledge the Main Character possesses about everyone he spies upon. He describes full rooms, understands what’s going on when those spied upon walk down an unseen hall and is presented as someone who is standing right at a window able to see everything inside as opposed to someone stuck in another building trying to make sense of the portion of a couch he can see or the corner of the room he cannot change his view from.
Continuity is another major problem. Haze has not learned the necessity of mapping out each scene with what characters are present, where they are and what they are doing. I’ll choose three examples (to keep with Haze’s descriptions in threes) from Haze’s book to illustrate what I mean. In one scene we have the Main Character’s girlfriend giving him an ultimatum. It doesn’t make a lot of sense why she’s doing this, but it’s a romance novel so I went with it. As she gives the ultimatum she does so by going to and opening the door and then turning to look at the Main Character before she leaves in a huff. The next thing we know, she is at the piano leaving money. I assume the piano is not right at the doorway because the logistics of that would be difficult. People just don’t store their pianos at the front door. So, how did she get there? This is not a story where teleportation exists, so that’s out. And if the climax of the scene was for her to be in a huff and storm out, then why did she pause the storming out to (walk to? Run to? Dive for?) the piano to leave money?
In another scene, the Main Character is describing to the cop (Marzoli) his last interaction with the victim upstairs. In his description, the Main Character is very clear that the victim answered the door naked. Yet, at the end of description, the Main Character said he put the victim to bed, and undressed him, taking off his shoes.
In that same scene with Marzoli, this agoraphobe does not hesitate to invite Marzoli (stranger) into his apartment. Marzoli immediately goes to the window to open the shades. Let’s remember, this story is completely about looking out the window. If the shades are closed then they must be opened and closed often. But when Marzoli opens the curtains there was so much dust that Haze makes a point of describing how it flew into Marzoli’s face. Even giving the benefit of the doubt to this story by presuming the curtains are always drawn and the Main Character simply brushes them aside to look out without actually opening them. The constant brushing that would have to occur for all the times he has to be spying on all the different people across the way, would make such an accumulation of dust impossible. The problem is we know the Main Character does have the curtains open because too many times in too many scenes he stops what he’s doing (without going over to open curtains) to gaze out the window and watch the goings-on across the way.
My last gripe cannot be left unmentioned, although it is the most popular gripe of reviewers about this book. Haze attempts to add depth to his Main Character by use of flashbacks. This device has been used effectively in many stories, however not in this one. The flashbacks just occur without notice in this story, without scene changes or any signal to the reader. It was jarring and wearisome reading. For example, in the scene where the girlfriend gives the ultimatum, suddenly the reader is in a flashback about “Sally,” a kindly neighbor of the Main Character when he was a child who he witnessed attempt to kill herself. While in that flashback, without warning, the reader is taken on a flashback of the flashback (no joke) where we learn how Sally and Even Younger Main Character met. The flashback flashback led back to the flashback that eventually led back to main story, and left me feeling like I was watching an intense movie when suddenly someone came in and started channel surfing until eventually I was back at my movie again.
The problem with this book is it is an incredibly difficult read. Wading through Haze’s unnecessary ever-flowing descriptors and metaphors while being assaulted with his pompous prose makes finding the actual story on the page challenging. The Main Character is detached from the reader and his actions and assumptions do not resonate with realism. The premise of the story is good, but unfortunately, that premise is the one thing in the book that is not from Haze. Yet, after all of that, there is still promise here. I think I’ve been plenty clear that this book is not good, but Haze has moments in it. Glimmers that show potential. Enough promise hovers that I was inspired to write this review as opposed to just chucking the book and looking for my next…”Next.” The problem is that sparks don’t keep you warm. Flashes don’t light your way. Glimmers don’t save a story. But they do reveal what is possible, and I believe from these glimmers that Haze has the potential to be a writer. He has a long way to go, but he could do it. But, writers are at the mercy of publishers and publishers only react to profits. The only way Haze will get his next chance is if we as readers tell the publisher through our wallets that he deserves it. I encourage you to buy this book. Look for the glimmers I saw. Let’s give Haze another chance. He will have to do better than he did here, but I think he can. Go on and buy “The Next” and let’s prove he can.
My major problem to this book is a lack of any connection. Haze refuses to name the main character, which I must assume is on purpose because of the staunch determination not to. The Main Character does not even introduce himself to the love interest, the cop Marzoli. Haze’s plan to overcome this lack of connection is to provide depth and insight to the Main Character via flashbacks. Normally, a reader has to care about a character before depth and insight are effective, and I hate to say it, Haze never got me to the point of caring for him. There are good character developments, just on secondary characters.
The premise of the book is 100% Rear Window. I applaud Haze for not concealing that fact. He is upfront about his ‘inspiration’ every time he references this book. What Haze doesn’t grasp, however, is the difference that exists between an homage and fanfic. An homage takes a premise, a theme, a set of circumstances and lets them loose in their own story. Take the movie "Clueless" for example, this is how an homage works. It takes Jane Austen’s "Emma" and sets it in modern times. The gist of Austen is throughout, but this story has its own legs and goes in its own direction. Fanfic writers, on the other hand, take an existing story and use it as their own. The changes are slight and in the end it’s simply a retelling of someone else’s tale to fit the fanfic writer’s fancy. Haze took Rear Window, changed the main character to gay, changed a broken leg to agoraphobia…and then told us Rear Window. Haze’s writing gives a glimmer of….something, and that is something to consider, but the glimmer is not enough to save this book.
On Haze’s writing: it is clear that this is Haze’s first book. I can say with certainty, having never met the man, that Haze does not have any schooling in writing, nor does he have any experience. That is ok. Great writers come from all walks of life. Unfortunately, this is not great writing. Haze tries very very hard in this book to prove that he is clever, that he is witty and for some reason that he is a man. Maybe the last part is because M/M romances are predominately written by women, but what he sees as ‘gritty’ or ‘dirty’ is actually juvenile and only creates caricatures, not characters.
Haze falls into traps that many first-time writers plod right into. Nothing can be simply what it is, but instead has to be overly described in language that the writer feels is grandiose, yet the reader finds tiresome. For example, I firmly believe Haze is incapable of saying “he carried the old cardboard box.” Instead, were this a scene in Haze’s book, it would read, “he labored as he carried the cardboard box, with corners sagging with the weight of years, coloring that could have resulted from being sun baked and faded or simply from layer upon layer of dust and taped up in silver duct tape mummy strands desperately trying to maintain its shape.” Ugh. Over description to this degree reveals more about the author than it does the item the author is describing. The audience does not need to know how brilliant the author is by his flowery language or how smart he is by his clever comparisons. The audience will find that out about the author simply by reading the story. Telling me you’re clever makes me question if you are. The writing become pompous and the reader’s interest in continuing the story fades.
On that note, another freshman writer’s mistake is that everything is described in threes. This technique was developed through advertising, where advertisement firms learned that the average person tends to remember up to three things before it requires effort. So, they began describing their products with three sparkling adjectives so that it seemed valid and exciting (more adjectives are better than less), but not so many as the customer had trouble remembering. This technique eventually found its way into writing. But constantly describing thing in threes becomes insulting to the reader. We get what you’re trying to say, we really do. Not EVERYTHING needs to be sparkling.
One last note on his writing, “raw chicken breast?” “Un-hooded cobras?” Sometimes we’re treated as third-graders, expected to giggle because “he said wiener.” Respect the audience.
As far as the story itself, one word I give to Haze as advice if he wants to be a writer is – Research. A writer’s job is to take the reader into make believe; I get that. But the story has to be believable to the point that the audience is willing to suspend their disbelief. It is abundantly clear that Haze has a very rudimental understanding of what agoraphobia is and how it works. It is a phobia (which is quite clear even in its name), and a phobia is a paralyzing fear. In this book, the agoraphobia begins and ends as a plot device so that the main character is around enough to do all of the peeping toming he has to do. The main character invites people into his apartment. He goes and visits his neighbors. He is everything NOT agoraphobic except when the story needs him to be. I have no problem with Haze choosing agoraphobia for his character, but then his obligation to the story is to do the necessary research to at least understand what it is. If you lose the reader over sloppiness, you’ve lost the reader from the book.
Agoraphobia is just the most glaring display of Haze’s ignorance (said as a reference to his not understanding a term or condition, not as a personal commentary on Haze himself), but it is also clear Haze knows nothing about cops and police procedurals beyond what he gets off of serialized television. Nor does he think through what a stalker actually sees through a window from another building. The voyeur’s perspective is set, unchanging, and the small amount of the room across the way he would see by the angle he is forced to follow is in sharp contrast to the overwhelming knowledge the Main Character possesses about everyone he spies upon. He describes full rooms, understands what’s going on when those spied upon walk down an unseen hall and is presented as someone who is standing right at a window able to see everything inside as opposed to someone stuck in another building trying to make sense of the portion of a couch he can see or the corner of the room he cannot change his view from.
Continuity is another major problem. Haze has not learned the necessity of mapping out each scene with what characters are present, where they are and what they are doing. I’ll choose three examples (to keep with Haze’s descriptions in threes) from Haze’s book to illustrate what I mean. In one scene we have the Main Character’s girlfriend giving him an ultimatum. It doesn’t make a lot of sense why she’s doing this, but it’s a romance novel so I went with it. As she gives the ultimatum she does so by going to and opening the door and then turning to look at the Main Character before she leaves in a huff. The next thing we know, she is at the piano leaving money. I assume the piano is not right at the doorway because the logistics of that would be difficult. People just don’t store their pianos at the front door. So, how did she get there? This is not a story where teleportation exists, so that’s out. And if the climax of the scene was for her to be in a huff and storm out, then why did she pause the storming out to (walk to? Run to? Dive for?) the piano to leave money?
In another scene, the Main Character is describing to the cop (Marzoli) his last interaction with the victim upstairs. In his description, the Main Character is very clear that the victim answered the door naked. Yet, at the end of description, the Main Character said he put the victim to bed, and undressed him, taking off his shoes.
In that same scene with Marzoli, this agoraphobe does not hesitate to invite Marzoli (stranger) into his apartment. Marzoli immediately goes to the window to open the shades. Let’s remember, this story is completely about looking out the window. If the shades are closed then they must be opened and closed often. But when Marzoli opens the curtains there was so much dust that Haze makes a point of describing how it flew into Marzoli’s face. Even giving the benefit of the doubt to this story by presuming the curtains are always drawn and the Main Character simply brushes them aside to look out without actually opening them. The constant brushing that would have to occur for all the times he has to be spying on all the different people across the way, would make such an accumulation of dust impossible. The problem is we know the Main Character does have the curtains open because too many times in too many scenes he stops what he’s doing (without going over to open curtains) to gaze out the window and watch the goings-on across the way.
My last gripe cannot be left unmentioned, although it is the most popular gripe of reviewers about this book. Haze attempts to add depth to his Main Character by use of flashbacks. This device has been used effectively in many stories, however not in this one. The flashbacks just occur without notice in this story, without scene changes or any signal to the reader. It was jarring and wearisome reading. For example, in the scene where the girlfriend gives the ultimatum, suddenly the reader is in a flashback about “Sally,” a kindly neighbor of the Main Character when he was a child who he witnessed attempt to kill herself. While in that flashback, without warning, the reader is taken on a flashback of the flashback (no joke) where we learn how Sally and Even Younger Main Character met. The flashback flashback led back to the flashback that eventually led back to main story, and left me feeling like I was watching an intense movie when suddenly someone came in and started channel surfing until eventually I was back at my movie again.
The problem with this book is it is an incredibly difficult read. Wading through Haze’s unnecessary ever-flowing descriptors and metaphors while being assaulted with his pompous prose makes finding the actual story on the page challenging. The Main Character is detached from the reader and his actions and assumptions do not resonate with realism. The premise of the story is good, but unfortunately, that premise is the one thing in the book that is not from Haze. Yet, after all of that, there is still promise here. I think I’ve been plenty clear that this book is not good, but Haze has moments in it. Glimmers that show potential. Enough promise hovers that I was inspired to write this review as opposed to just chucking the book and looking for my next…”Next.” The problem is that sparks don’t keep you warm. Flashes don’t light your way. Glimmers don’t save a story. But they do reveal what is possible, and I believe from these glimmers that Haze has the potential to be a writer. He has a long way to go, but he could do it. But, writers are at the mercy of publishers and publishers only react to profits. The only way Haze will get his next chance is if we as readers tell the publisher through our wallets that he deserves it. I encourage you to buy this book. Look for the glimmers I saw. Let’s give Haze another chance. He will have to do better than he did here, but I think he can. Go on and buy “The Next” and let’s prove he can.
November 18, 2014
I was initially lured into this because of its deceptively wicked cover and who could resist such? Then the story synopsis seems like a good one from a debuting author no less. And then you have that very interesting title – The Next, so this should be really good right? The story revolves around a 40 year old songwriter in New York who seemed to have lost all of his life energy until he found himself in the midst of catching the killer who lives around his courtyard through the help of Marzoli, a sexy police detective who summoned his help to uncover the mysterious murders. Before realizing that there’s something more between them, his dark past creeps like a thief that may derail their case and their budding romance.
I don’t know how to really feel about this book. There are things that I liked about it and there are tons that are just downright No-No for me. First, the writing style isn’t my favorite at all. There’s like 20% dialogues in it and those 20% aren’t exclusive from our MC’s. I feel like that should be fine but then, having no to few lines at all renders us readers unattached with the characters. Second, there’s just too many hifalutin words that I find myself re-reading a whole paragraph to a page because I can’t seemed to grasp what he’s trying to say. Then you have these almost annoying flashbacks popping every now and then from our main protagonist which seriously isn’t helping the story development at all. I know that it’s trying to build up the suspense but it isn’t working for me, not even one bit.
Then I also have the issue of our main character being gay. Of course HE IS gay and all but there was no part in his history where it was mentioned. I also didn’t get how easily the romance ensues between him and Marzoli. That’s some serious bullshit in there. Okay, I guess I’m getting agitated now. Dunno’ it’s just freaking the hell out of me for some reason.
And ya know what I really, really liked about this book? It’s not the main protagonist but his supposed love interest. Marzoli’s an interesting character and that one bit of history he revealed about himself didn’t give his character that much justice. And his supposed smarts contradict their lousy plan to capture the killer.
The whole vibe of the book is dark, depressing and troubling. If you’re looking for a romantic connection between you and the couple, you won’t find it here. Suspense, nope – there isn’t much, though clearly the author was trying hard to get into that. You also need a thesaurus, dictionary or what with you because it was really a bit self-indulgent. This would’ve been a great story but just fell short on the sidelines.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
I don’t know how to really feel about this book. There are things that I liked about it and there are tons that are just downright No-No for me. First, the writing style isn’t my favorite at all. There’s like 20% dialogues in it and those 20% aren’t exclusive from our MC’s. I feel like that should be fine but then, having no to few lines at all renders us readers unattached with the characters. Second, there’s just too many hifalutin words that I find myself re-reading a whole paragraph to a page because I can’t seemed to grasp what he’s trying to say. Then you have these almost annoying flashbacks popping every now and then from our main protagonist which seriously isn’t helping the story development at all. I know that it’s trying to build up the suspense but it isn’t working for me, not even one bit.
Then I also have the issue of our main character being gay. Of course HE IS gay and all but there was no part in his history where it was mentioned. I also didn’t get how easily the romance ensues between him and Marzoli. That’s some serious bullshit in there. Okay, I guess I’m getting agitated now. Dunno’ it’s just freaking the hell out of me for some reason.
And ya know what I really, really liked about this book? It’s not the main protagonist but his supposed love interest. Marzoli’s an interesting character and that one bit of history he revealed about himself didn’t give his character that much justice. And his supposed smarts contradict their lousy plan to capture the killer.
The whole vibe of the book is dark, depressing and troubling. If you’re looking for a romantic connection between you and the couple, you won’t find it here. Suspense, nope – there isn’t much, though clearly the author was trying hard to get into that. You also need a thesaurus, dictionary or what with you because it was really a bit self-indulgent. This would’ve been a great story but just fell short on the sidelines.
Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
April 28, 2015
I don't really know how to rate this one. It was a slog. I did not enjoy it. But I can't in good conscious say it wasn't well written. It just wasn't written in a manner for me to enjoy it.
The description to this story is very apt. This is a gay "Rear Window" but the first half of this book is morosely dragged down, by over indulgent prose too caught up in descriptive adjectives and ambiance to really go anywhere. I honestly have no clue as to what Detective Marzoli saw in our MC that drew him into his initial attraction. Our MC was as down on his luck, almost suicidally depressed as you can manage to be. Completely agoraphobic he can't leave his apartment let alone work on the music he's supposed to be selling to support himself. His apartment is a pit and yet when the detective shows up to his door on a routine stop to ask questions about the murder of his neighbor he's suddenly hopeless enamored. It just doesn't work for me.
The details of the plot drag on for ages dropping tiny pieces here and there to keep your interest. All these seemingly innocuous little things that indicate exactly who the murderer is, caught by our peeping Tom as the oddities they are. He hasn't opened his blinds in a year, but he's so observant after having his little cave disturbed that he's noticing the minutia. I just couldn't wait for this book to get done.
Admittedly the last quarter of the book began to move along better as our MC woke more and more from his daze and the connection with Marzoli deepened. Their reveals to each other would have been extremely touching and emotionally disturbing, except by this point I really didn't care about either character and just wanted to get to the end and see how they were going to go about catching the murder. Yeah, nope don't like it at all!
This story is dark and morose. These characters have been through hell in their past, but I couldn't get past the ineffectiveness to have it touch me. I felt bad for what they'd experienced but cared little for the outcome. I just wanted the story to be over. I think a large part of that is I like my books to be escapism. This isn't that. This isn't even really suspenseful so much as it is dramatic and mood inspired. Not my thing, but again I repeat that doesn't mean it isn't a good book. It's just not my type of book.
The description to this story is very apt. This is a gay "Rear Window" but the first half of this book is morosely dragged down, by over indulgent prose too caught up in descriptive adjectives and ambiance to really go anywhere. I honestly have no clue as to what Detective Marzoli saw in our MC that drew him into his initial attraction. Our MC was as down on his luck, almost suicidally depressed as you can manage to be. Completely agoraphobic he can't leave his apartment let alone work on the music he's supposed to be selling to support himself. His apartment is a pit and yet when the detective shows up to his door on a routine stop to ask questions about the murder of his neighbor he's suddenly hopeless enamored. It just doesn't work for me.
The details of the plot drag on for ages dropping tiny pieces here and there to keep your interest. All these seemingly innocuous little things that indicate exactly who the murderer is, caught by our peeping Tom as the oddities they are. He hasn't opened his blinds in a year, but he's so observant after having his little cave disturbed that he's noticing the minutia. I just couldn't wait for this book to get done.
Admittedly the last quarter of the book began to move along better as our MC woke more and more from his daze and the connection with Marzoli deepened. Their reveals to each other would have been extremely touching and emotionally disturbing, except by this point I really didn't care about either character and just wanted to get to the end and see how they were going to go about catching the murder. Yeah, nope don't like it at all!
This story is dark and morose. These characters have been through hell in their past, but I couldn't get past the ineffectiveness to have it touch me. I felt bad for what they'd experienced but cared little for the outcome. I just wanted the story to be over. I think a large part of that is I like my books to be escapism. This isn't that. This isn't even really suspenseful so much as it is dramatic and mood inspired. Not my thing, but again I repeat that doesn't mean it isn't a good book. It's just not my type of book.
May 18, 2014
Captivating first novel.
This is a first book by Rafe Haze, an author unknown to me until a few days ago. His blogs, packed with insightful, biting humour, catapulted my expectations and enticed me into his web. Fortunately Mr Haze did not disappoint.
The Next, is loosely premised on the Hitchcock movie Rear Window and falls under the m/m romance umbrella. But it is so much more than this. Despite its no-punches-pulled, and often heart-wrenching, portrayal of depression, agoraphobia, loneliness, despair, abuse, paedophilia and murder, the book permeates with ironic yet gentle humour. It is an, ultimately generous, rendering of humanity stripped bare, with damaged heroes facing inner demons and lonely people getting by.
The style of writing is appealing, suffused with a poetic cadence that led me to read and re-read passages in order to fully appreciate their beauty. Mr Haze writes with the rhythm of a musician, each sentence flowing and pulsing like a fast flowing river of words.
It is also, of course, a romance - and I'm sure I will be not alone in falling slightly in love with Marzoli, one of the damaged heroes. He is beautiful, kind, caring, strong and humorous. And damaged. What more could you want?
I eagerly anticipate more from Rafe Haze and he is now secured within the ranks of my most favoured authors l.
This deserves to be a best seller, transcending its genre.
This is a first book by Rafe Haze, an author unknown to me until a few days ago. His blogs, packed with insightful, biting humour, catapulted my expectations and enticed me into his web. Fortunately Mr Haze did not disappoint.
The Next, is loosely premised on the Hitchcock movie Rear Window and falls under the m/m romance umbrella. But it is so much more than this. Despite its no-punches-pulled, and often heart-wrenching, portrayal of depression, agoraphobia, loneliness, despair, abuse, paedophilia and murder, the book permeates with ironic yet gentle humour. It is an, ultimately generous, rendering of humanity stripped bare, with damaged heroes facing inner demons and lonely people getting by.
The style of writing is appealing, suffused with a poetic cadence that led me to read and re-read passages in order to fully appreciate their beauty. Mr Haze writes with the rhythm of a musician, each sentence flowing and pulsing like a fast flowing river of words.
It is also, of course, a romance - and I'm sure I will be not alone in falling slightly in love with Marzoli, one of the damaged heroes. He is beautiful, kind, caring, strong and humorous. And damaged. What more could you want?
I eagerly anticipate more from Rafe Haze and he is now secured within the ranks of my most favoured authors l.
This deserves to be a best seller, transcending its genre.
May 26, 2014
"I cannot begin to tell you what an incredible novel The Next turned out to be. I will warn you, there are on the page reflections here which speak of some very dark and painful childhood memories that could be triggers for those readers who have experienced abuse at the hand of another in their own lives. However, those passages are never presented for mere sensationalism. Rather, they make up the very fabric of our MC’s past and influence who is he in the present. This story does not flinch in the face of corrupt evil, but it allows for healing to begin where before there was only empty, lingering pain."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews