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Stray
Alternate cover for ASIN B004EYUC10
Therapist Tomas Cleaves is many years sober from his addiction but is now losing his mind. There are voices in his head and the occasional seizure, and then his wife has a miscarriage on the same day his client dies of a heroin overdose. Tom becomes certain that the addicts he treats must have infected the womb of his wife.
Lost and bitter after the miscarriage, Tom is in desperate need of a client who can give him some hope.
James White is one such client -- a newly orphaned alcoholic dead bent on drinking again until he gets discharged and starts working at the Argos animal shelter. Rescuing the throw away pets of the city becomes his mission, and it is his alcoholic past that will guide him. Saving the Strays from euthanasia may be the only way he can save himself.
A gritty novel with an edge yet surprisingly gentle and sweet, Stray will take you through the dog fighting dens and crack houses of Detroit where Stray souls can find connections in the most unusual of places.
Therapist Tomas Cleaves is many years sober from his addiction but is now losing his mind. There are voices in his head and the occasional seizure, and then his wife has a miscarriage on the same day his client dies of a heroin overdose. Tom becomes certain that the addicts he treats must have infected the womb of his wife.
Lost and bitter after the miscarriage, Tom is in desperate need of a client who can give him some hope.
James White is one such client -- a newly orphaned alcoholic dead bent on drinking again until he gets discharged and starts working at the Argos animal shelter. Rescuing the throw away pets of the city becomes his mission, and it is his alcoholic past that will guide him. Saving the Strays from euthanasia may be the only way he can save himself.
A gritty novel with an edge yet surprisingly gentle and sweet, Stray will take you through the dog fighting dens and crack houses of Detroit where Stray souls can find connections in the most unusual of places.
Unknown Binding
First published November 29, 2010
18 people are currently reading
312 people want to read
About the author
Mark Matthews
25 books416 followersMark Matthews is a graduate of the University of Michigan and a licensed professional counselor who has worked in behavioral health for over 20 years. He is the author of On the Lips of Children, All Smoke Rises, Milk-Blood, and The Hobgoblin of Little Minds. He is also the editor of a trio of 'addiction horror' anthologies including Orphans of Bliss, Lullabies for Suffering and Garden of Fiends. In 2021, he was nominated for a Shirley Jackson Award. His next novel, To Those Willing to Drown, is expected in May, 2025, followed by the novella, Kali's Web, in August, 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 3, 2013
I picked up this book when it was free at Amazon. (It still may be free).
I really wasn't expecting that much...I certainly did not expect such a well written story.
This story rang true for me in many different ways... the stories regarding addiction, the information on what really happens at local pet shelters, even the family dynamics of some of the characters.
I think this book was interesting and (again) very well written. I'm going now to go see if he has written any others.
Noted: Since I wrote this review the author has released a second edition, so I removed my comments regarding editorial issues.
I really wasn't expecting that much...I certainly did not expect such a well written story.
This story rang true for me in many different ways... the stories regarding addiction, the information on what really happens at local pet shelters, even the family dynamics of some of the characters.
I think this book was interesting and (again) very well written. I'm going now to go see if he has written any others.
Noted: Since I wrote this review the author has released a second edition, so I removed my comments regarding editorial issues.
July 6, 2013
This my review I put on Amazon.
This is an amazing book. If you ever had a problem with any addiction or wondered about someone in your life who has, this will send chills through you. Brutally written and sparing no feelings this will make you understand what life is really about for those in trouble. I had to put it down a couple of times to give myself a break. Great story, draws you in and won't let up until you are done. If you want to read something totally different, something just not redone over and over try this book. I've never read anything like it.
This is an amazing book. If you ever had a problem with any addiction or wondered about someone in your life who has, this will send chills through you. Brutally written and sparing no feelings this will make you understand what life is really about for those in trouble. I had to put it down a couple of times to give myself a break. Great story, draws you in and won't let up until you are done. If you want to read something totally different, something just not redone over and over try this book. I've never read anything like it.
March 12, 2013
Stray is about addiction, yes. But mostly it is about relationships and the bonds that keep us all from going astray. Whether it's your wife or a hardscrabble mutt on the side of the highway, it's the connections to other creatures in the world that give us our forever homes. The writing here is clean, vivid, and wildly empathetic to all the beasties who take shelter in communal spaces. Stray sings.
A note about the form: Self-publishing and e-books have opened the floodgates for writers everywhere to express themselves to a wider audience and even to compete alongside traditional publishers and books made of trees. That's good news for undiscovered talent and hungry readers. The bad news is that far too few people will find Stray. In a world without gatekeepers, well, there are no gatekeepers. And sometimes those self-published e-books still deserve the imprimatur of a good house of letters, a good review, a good ad, a good shiny spot on the virtual shelf--that is, the imprimatur of a gatekeeper. Stray is an apt title for a book that once upon a time might have found a home in traditional publishing. Luckily, as so many of Stray's characters find out themselves, a home can come in many unexpected and nontraditional places.
A note about the form: Self-publishing and e-books have opened the floodgates for writers everywhere to express themselves to a wider audience and even to compete alongside traditional publishers and books made of trees. That's good news for undiscovered talent and hungry readers. The bad news is that far too few people will find Stray. In a world without gatekeepers, well, there are no gatekeepers. And sometimes those self-published e-books still deserve the imprimatur of a good house of letters, a good review, a good ad, a good shiny spot on the virtual shelf--that is, the imprimatur of a gatekeeper. Stray is an apt title for a book that once upon a time might have found a home in traditional publishing. Luckily, as so many of Stray's characters find out themselves, a home can come in many unexpected and nontraditional places.
October 18, 2011
This book was outstanding. When I first started to read the book it took me a moment to see which direction this book was going to take. It touched my life in a way no book as! If you have someone in your life who was or is now an addict, this will touch home in so many ways. This book is well written and easy to follow. It takes someone who is down on their luck and starts to adopt stray animals, these animals start to give the character a new lease on the out look of life. On page 194 there is a quote we have all heard before "You are not suppose to out live your children". I have heard this through out my life in many situations but when I read it in this book it meant so much more. I watched my grandmother bury two of her son's from addiction.
Stray the book, makes you feel what it is like to be on that edge for most people and what they must do to make it through life.
Thanks Mark this was a wonderful book and opened my eyes in so many ways...
Stray the book, makes you feel what it is like to be on that edge for most people and what they must do to make it through life.
Thanks Mark this was a wonderful book and opened my eyes in so many ways...
October 20, 2011
This was one of my favorite books lately. It is a surprisingly gentle and sweet story about a counselor in a drug rehab center and his clients. Their stories intertwine and flow around the stories of the dogs in the shelter across the parking lot. The author treats the addicts with a great deal of respect and compassion.
September 5, 2018
I have taken a day after finishing Stray to let it "sit" whilst I process my feelings and thoughts around it. Firstly, I am a huge fan of Mark Matthews and his writing. I knew this book was going to be different to the two I have read most recently, Milk-Blood and On the Lips of Children, both of these awesome books fall under the urban horror category. Stray was something different again but I went in with a really open mind and no expectations.
We follow the journey of a few characters in this book, Tom Cleaves who is a therapist in a clinic for those detoxing and overcoming addiction, he is many years sober himself, so has been there, done that and got the badge to prove it. A good person to have positioned to know where you were really at if you are an addict. He knows all the tricks.
Tom's wife miscarries their baby they have worked so hard to produce on the same say as one of his recently released clients overdoses on heroin. This opens up a really sad line of thinking in Tom's mind that perhaps the job he does, the addicts he helps and his own generational history of addictions is cursing his desire to have a healthy family with his wife. It's quite emotive hearing Tom give himself a hard time over this feeling of being responsible for the death of his unborn child.
James White is newly released and sober for a few hours, already starting to consider the path to alcohol again when he is drawn to a local animal rescue centre, this in turn leads to a job that changes the way he looks at himself and his life, but also a relationship starts to blossom with Rachel, a nurse who works with him at the animal centre. His life goes from darkness to light in a really special way, not so for all of Tom's clients.
The book tackles and addresses addiction and addicts in depth, Mark Matthews knows his stuff here that's for sure. It gives us insights into the hopelessness of some addicts, the desperation for that next hit versus those that truly want to get clean and sober and stay that way. Whether it is the pull of the heroin needle, the crack pipe or the bottle, each and every addict has a difficult road to walk through detox, therapy and beyond.
With points of view switching between characters, we not only join in what they are doing, but also gain insight into the thought processes and feelings, some of this stuff is pretty raw, these are men who have reached the edge of the abyss and come back again to tell the tale. For some however in the book, the tip into the abyss is inevitable, and tragic and sad. Not light reading this one.
It took me a little while to get into a rhythm with reading this book, then once I was I was really interested to hear Tom's story but especially liked the journey with James, he was a highly likeable character, one to cheer on all the way, his journey is interesting as he finds new friendships but also confronts his past at the same time.
There are some very powerful scenes in this book, it takes time to read it and process, this was not a book that I read quickly, I slowed down deliberately to ensure I was getting all of it. In saying that my one criticism is that at times, especially in the middle of the book I kind of felt like we were going over the same ground, it nearly lost me for a while and I was a touch frustrated, I think I wanted more things to "happen" rather than be in the internal worlds of the characters.
I am struggling also to rate this book as the writing is excellent and worthy of 4 stars, but the plot itself and the execution of it is more a 3 star read for me. So really my rating is 3.5, but darn it! Goodreads won't let me. So I am going to lean to the 3 star rating, as I liked this book but it didn't excite me as much as other works by Mark that I have truly loved.
What is not in question at all is the skill in Mark's writing, he is a gifted author and one to watch. I think his books will just get better and better. I can tell when an author has put their heart and soul into a book, this one I believe was one of those books.
We follow the journey of a few characters in this book, Tom Cleaves who is a therapist in a clinic for those detoxing and overcoming addiction, he is many years sober himself, so has been there, done that and got the badge to prove it. A good person to have positioned to know where you were really at if you are an addict. He knows all the tricks.
Tom's wife miscarries their baby they have worked so hard to produce on the same say as one of his recently released clients overdoses on heroin. This opens up a really sad line of thinking in Tom's mind that perhaps the job he does, the addicts he helps and his own generational history of addictions is cursing his desire to have a healthy family with his wife. It's quite emotive hearing Tom give himself a hard time over this feeling of being responsible for the death of his unborn child.
James White is newly released and sober for a few hours, already starting to consider the path to alcohol again when he is drawn to a local animal rescue centre, this in turn leads to a job that changes the way he looks at himself and his life, but also a relationship starts to blossom with Rachel, a nurse who works with him at the animal centre. His life goes from darkness to light in a really special way, not so for all of Tom's clients.
The book tackles and addresses addiction and addicts in depth, Mark Matthews knows his stuff here that's for sure. It gives us insights into the hopelessness of some addicts, the desperation for that next hit versus those that truly want to get clean and sober and stay that way. Whether it is the pull of the heroin needle, the crack pipe or the bottle, each and every addict has a difficult road to walk through detox, therapy and beyond.
With points of view switching between characters, we not only join in what they are doing, but also gain insight into the thought processes and feelings, some of this stuff is pretty raw, these are men who have reached the edge of the abyss and come back again to tell the tale. For some however in the book, the tip into the abyss is inevitable, and tragic and sad. Not light reading this one.
It took me a little while to get into a rhythm with reading this book, then once I was I was really interested to hear Tom's story but especially liked the journey with James, he was a highly likeable character, one to cheer on all the way, his journey is interesting as he finds new friendships but also confronts his past at the same time.
There are some very powerful scenes in this book, it takes time to read it and process, this was not a book that I read quickly, I slowed down deliberately to ensure I was getting all of it. In saying that my one criticism is that at times, especially in the middle of the book I kind of felt like we were going over the same ground, it nearly lost me for a while and I was a touch frustrated, I think I wanted more things to "happen" rather than be in the internal worlds of the characters.
I am struggling also to rate this book as the writing is excellent and worthy of 4 stars, but the plot itself and the execution of it is more a 3 star read for me. So really my rating is 3.5, but darn it! Goodreads won't let me. So I am going to lean to the 3 star rating, as I liked this book but it didn't excite me as much as other works by Mark that I have truly loved.
What is not in question at all is the skill in Mark's writing, he is a gifted author and one to watch. I think his books will just get better and better. I can tell when an author has put their heart and soul into a book, this one I believe was one of those books.
February 17, 2014
3.5 stars preferably!
In between the fantasy, paranormal and romance reads I always enjoy a book that brings me back down to earth. Even though still a fictional story, Stray is a little more realistic, focusing on the unfortunates that are too easily pulled down into drug and alcohol addiction. However, amid the darkness and despair of some, Stray also offers hope and a brighter side with some very sweet, emotional and touching moments.
The story opens up following the Tom’s life, along with some of his clients. Tom constantly beats himself up. He’s trying his best to counsel his clients and guide them to a life of sobriety, yet he can’t control them. At times it seems that there is no hope for some of them. During the tragic times Tom tends to blame himself and links these moments with his wife’s miscarriage, thinking maybe if he hadn’t let his clients down the miscarriage wouldn’t have happened. The affect that this has on Tom’s state of mind is quite concerning. The voices in his head become more frequent and there are times when the reader may question whether Tom himself will remain sober or not.
Clearly there is a significant psychological element to this drama with Tom’s voices and seizures, the effect that the death of his clients have on him and his wife’s miscarriage. As well as the way in which love affects him – love for his wife, unborn child, clients and even those poor strays from the animal shelter opposite the treatment centre. It is these thoughts and feelings that help the reader to relate to the characters.
I was a little confused to begin with as it appeared that some areas of the story were a part of Tom’s memory as he reminisced, and then the reader would be brought back to the present. As the story continues it all becomes clearer and we follow each character’s life which later leads to a dramatic turn of events.
Although quite a serious read there are some heart-warming moments that provide the reader and some of the characters hope for a better future and faith that they can rise up from the rut they are stuck in by staying sober and rebuilding their life with work and relationships. James is a great example of this and my favourite character.
James leaves therapy and could go down either of two paths. He could return home and return to his addiction or he could explore a new life. After hearing the dogs in the animal shelter near to the Treatment Centre, he decides to take a look. In doing so he meets Rachel (Ra) and learns of a job vacancy that surely he’d be suitable for. During James’ time working for the animal shelter the reader has an incite into similarities between the strays and that of an addict. The stray dogs are occasionally re-homed, but many are given an injected drug to end their struggle.
Ra is another of my favourite characters. She is a saviour without realising. She helps rescue the strays of the city, including James. Is there hope for a little romance here? And in many ways, Tom’s character is similar to Ra, in that they both try to save lost souls by re-homing or therapy but sadly very few seem to move on to a better life. Stray is a perfect example of how a life can save another, whether it be through friends, family, children and/or indeed pets and animals.
One of my favourite aspects of Stray is the way in which each character’s story is connected to another. Some connections are more subtle than others but many are connected to Tom, Treatment Centre and/or the animal shelter and pet dogs that some of the characters have or have had.
Stray opens the mind to the ideas that some addicts may have – if things go wrong it must be their fault. It can appear to some that they have high ego’s in thinking that the world evolves around them by always thinking they are at the fore of all problems, and yet in contrast, they don’t deem themselves worthy. It’s a vicious circle, a dark rut that many find impossible to break free from. Stray shows the ups and downs -addiction at it’s worst and those that have beaten it.
Mark Matthews, a therapist himself, has written with delicacy and care. The dark moments are written in such a way that the reader is completely aware of the scene, however Matthews has written so carefully as to not horrify or appal the reader. I congratulate the author on writing in a very sensitive manner. For what is such a serious subject matter, Stray is quite refreshing at times albeit gritty and realistic.
A copy of Stray was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.
In between the fantasy, paranormal and romance reads I always enjoy a book that brings me back down to earth. Even though still a fictional story, Stray is a little more realistic, focusing on the unfortunates that are too easily pulled down into drug and alcohol addiction. However, amid the darkness and despair of some, Stray also offers hope and a brighter side with some very sweet, emotional and touching moments.
The story opens up following the Tom’s life, along with some of his clients. Tom constantly beats himself up. He’s trying his best to counsel his clients and guide them to a life of sobriety, yet he can’t control them. At times it seems that there is no hope for some of them. During the tragic times Tom tends to blame himself and links these moments with his wife’s miscarriage, thinking maybe if he hadn’t let his clients down the miscarriage wouldn’t have happened. The affect that this has on Tom’s state of mind is quite concerning. The voices in his head become more frequent and there are times when the reader may question whether Tom himself will remain sober or not.
Clearly there is a significant psychological element to this drama with Tom’s voices and seizures, the effect that the death of his clients have on him and his wife’s miscarriage. As well as the way in which love affects him – love for his wife, unborn child, clients and even those poor strays from the animal shelter opposite the treatment centre. It is these thoughts and feelings that help the reader to relate to the characters.
I was a little confused to begin with as it appeared that some areas of the story were a part of Tom’s memory as he reminisced, and then the reader would be brought back to the present. As the story continues it all becomes clearer and we follow each character’s life which later leads to a dramatic turn of events.
Although quite a serious read there are some heart-warming moments that provide the reader and some of the characters hope for a better future and faith that they can rise up from the rut they are stuck in by staying sober and rebuilding their life with work and relationships. James is a great example of this and my favourite character.
James leaves therapy and could go down either of two paths. He could return home and return to his addiction or he could explore a new life. After hearing the dogs in the animal shelter near to the Treatment Centre, he decides to take a look. In doing so he meets Rachel (Ra) and learns of a job vacancy that surely he’d be suitable for. During James’ time working for the animal shelter the reader has an incite into similarities between the strays and that of an addict. The stray dogs are occasionally re-homed, but many are given an injected drug to end their struggle.
Ra is another of my favourite characters. She is a saviour without realising. She helps rescue the strays of the city, including James. Is there hope for a little romance here? And in many ways, Tom’s character is similar to Ra, in that they both try to save lost souls by re-homing or therapy but sadly very few seem to move on to a better life. Stray is a perfect example of how a life can save another, whether it be through friends, family, children and/or indeed pets and animals.
One of my favourite aspects of Stray is the way in which each character’s story is connected to another. Some connections are more subtle than others but many are connected to Tom, Treatment Centre and/or the animal shelter and pet dogs that some of the characters have or have had.
Stray opens the mind to the ideas that some addicts may have – if things go wrong it must be their fault. It can appear to some that they have high ego’s in thinking that the world evolves around them by always thinking they are at the fore of all problems, and yet in contrast, they don’t deem themselves worthy. It’s a vicious circle, a dark rut that many find impossible to break free from. Stray shows the ups and downs -addiction at it’s worst and those that have beaten it.
Mark Matthews, a therapist himself, has written with delicacy and care. The dark moments are written in such a way that the reader is completely aware of the scene, however Matthews has written so carefully as to not horrify or appal the reader. I congratulate the author on writing in a very sensitive manner. For what is such a serious subject matter, Stray is quite refreshing at times albeit gritty and realistic.
A copy of Stray was provided by the author in return for an honest and fair review.
July 15, 2013
Most of the books I choose to read are for pure pleasure. That is why most of the time I pick romance or mystery/suspense books. Very rarely do I read something that makes me think a lot while I'm in the process of reading it. Honestly, I would not have read "Stray" had it not been for a social media connection I have with the author, Mark Matthews. When I found out fellow runner, Mark, was an author I wanted to read his books. First, I read "The Jade Rabbit" and just like this book it made me think a lot while I was reading it! After reading it, enjoying it and gaining some personal insight from it I was eager to read "Stray."
"Stray" is a book that revolves around drug and alcohol addiction. This is something I have no personal experience with. I have had one uncle who was an alcoholic, but other than that I have no experience with this type of thing. In all honesty, I have avoided anyone with these types of problems. That is why this book was so thought provoking for me. I will admit that I love to eat and often times I will eat whatever is in front of me (popcorn, candy, chips, etc.) until it is all gone even when I am past the point of being full. This book was kind of humbling for me as I realized that although I don't have a drug and alcohol addiction I do have a problem with food. In reality I am no better than the addicts in this book. Sometimes I do the same things with food that they do with drugs and/or alcohol. The only difference is that my substance abuse is not physically addictive like drugs or alcohol.
I will admit I am a huge Dr. Phil fan and I have watched many episodes in which he deals with drug addicts. I kept thinking of something I have heard him say often, "You don't try to help them until you are tired and have lost all hope, you keep helping them UNTIL." That is what struck me about the counselor in this book, although he would get discouraged with what was going on he kept trying to help them. I'm sure I could never do that kind of work. I would give up. Thank goodness for the substance abuse counselors of this world!!!
I felt a lot of different emotions while reading this book; anger, hope, ambivalence, sadness, and I cheered James on hoping and praying he wouldn't backslide. This book made me realize some of the challenges addicts and the people in their lives deal with. Definitely worth reading.
"Stray" is a book that revolves around drug and alcohol addiction. This is something I have no personal experience with. I have had one uncle who was an alcoholic, but other than that I have no experience with this type of thing. In all honesty, I have avoided anyone with these types of problems. That is why this book was so thought provoking for me. I will admit that I love to eat and often times I will eat whatever is in front of me (popcorn, candy, chips, etc.) until it is all gone even when I am past the point of being full. This book was kind of humbling for me as I realized that although I don't have a drug and alcohol addiction I do have a problem with food. In reality I am no better than the addicts in this book. Sometimes I do the same things with food that they do with drugs and/or alcohol. The only difference is that my substance abuse is not physically addictive like drugs or alcohol.
I will admit I am a huge Dr. Phil fan and I have watched many episodes in which he deals with drug addicts. I kept thinking of something I have heard him say often, "You don't try to help them until you are tired and have lost all hope, you keep helping them UNTIL." That is what struck me about the counselor in this book, although he would get discouraged with what was going on he kept trying to help them. I'm sure I could never do that kind of work. I would give up. Thank goodness for the substance abuse counselors of this world!!!
I felt a lot of different emotions while reading this book; anger, hope, ambivalence, sadness, and I cheered James on hoping and praying he wouldn't backslide. This book made me realize some of the challenges addicts and the people in their lives deal with. Definitely worth reading.
August 29, 2013
This was a great read and once I got through to the middle I binge read the rest of it last night until far too late in the morning. It's a very compelling read, evoking very real feelings. The glimpse in to the lives of the addicts, the counselor, the recovering alcoholic, all of it made a connection to my own life and my own experiences these situations. The counselor's deep rooted feelings of inadequacy and personal struggles are what make the story exceptional. The blossoming relationship that takes place at the animal shelter is beautiful and sweet. My only complaint is that the ending just happened >bam!< way too fast, it felt rushed. And maybe a little to perfect for everyone. (Ok, not quite everyone...)
June 24, 2014
I liked this book, I felt it was very well written. I liked how the author switched to different character's POV, and how everyone seems connected on some level. I was very drawn to the characters and wanted to know the outcome of their lives, as I was pulled into their lives while reading.
I could also relate to several aspects in this book: I am an animal lover and have an adopted dog; I have had an alcohol problem, which has affected my health(for the rest of my life); I have two brothers that are alcoholics, one being a drug addict as well; my dad was an alcoholic and died because of it; and I have had bad relationships with alcoholics. I have witnessed the effects of alcohol, the treatment of alcohol/drug addiction and the relapse(my brother), and death because of alcohol.
I am not a fan of AA/NA, sorry Mark, just not. I do commend those who try to help others, as this story portrays. I realize that there are those few that benefit from AA/NA, and liked seeing that in this book. What bothers me about it are those that do not benefit, do not stay sober, and some that die, as was also portrayed in this book. Which I commend Mark for writing about, as many do not have the guts to tell the horror stories of addiction; the withdrawals, the overdoses, the diseases, the deaths; all of which were touched on in this book, well done, Mark, well done. You did an awesome job at telling the truths, which I feel is most times hidden.
All in all a good book which I was totally pulled into. I had a hard time deciding how to review this book, and thought about it a lot the last couple of days as I was finishing it. I hope I haven't offended anyone with my feelings and thoughts, especially you, Mark. I think you portrayed treatment through counseling/rehab in a very realistic way.
I would highly recommend this book. :)
I could also relate to several aspects in this book: I am an animal lover and have an adopted dog; I have had an alcohol problem, which has affected my health(for the rest of my life); I have two brothers that are alcoholics, one being a drug addict as well; my dad was an alcoholic and died because of it; and I have had bad relationships with alcoholics. I have witnessed the effects of alcohol, the treatment of alcohol/drug addiction and the relapse(my brother), and death because of alcohol.
I am not a fan of AA/NA, sorry Mark, just not. I do commend those who try to help others, as this story portrays. I realize that there are those few that benefit from AA/NA, and liked seeing that in this book. What bothers me about it are those that do not benefit, do not stay sober, and some that die, as was also portrayed in this book. Which I commend Mark for writing about, as many do not have the guts to tell the horror stories of addiction; the withdrawals, the overdoses, the diseases, the deaths; all of which were touched on in this book, well done, Mark, well done. You did an awesome job at telling the truths, which I feel is most times hidden.
All in all a good book which I was totally pulled into. I had a hard time deciding how to review this book, and thought about it a lot the last couple of days as I was finishing it. I hope I haven't offended anyone with my feelings and thoughts, especially you, Mark. I think you portrayed treatment through counseling/rehab in a very realistic way.
I would highly recommend this book. :)
November 22, 2012
This is the first book I have read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I was completely engaged from the moment I picked up the book till the end.
The story is set around the character of Thomas Cleaves, he works as a substance abuse therapist at West Oaks Recovery Centre. Thomas himself is also a recovering alcoholic. The recovery centre is situated next door to Argos Animal Shelter. I wouldn't have thought a story could tie in an Animal Shelter and a recovery centre but the author does a good job of linking them in to the story and the story flows well.
Parts of the story are also told from the point of view of Jason Boston one of Thomas's patients and a young girl who loses her beloved pet dog.
The story is very insightful to the lives of recovering users and alcoholics and I found these parts of the story really interesting. I also loved the romance aspects of the story and the parts set in the Animal Shelter.
I found parts of the story very emotional and the story really puts you in the shoes of the patients of the recovery centre, the group therapy and one to one therapy descriptions are well written and very sad.
The parts about Thomas and his partner are really emotional too and I particularly enjoyed them.
I enjoyed this book and felt I also learned something about how hard it is for a user to recover and it is a long and painful journey. A journey in which you almost feel you are part of whilst reading the book.
This book will definitely reach out and touch you and may even make you shed a few tears along the way.
4 stars from me.
Becky Sherriff
(The Kindle Book Review)
October 20, 2011
The author of this book evidently forgot to have it proof read. The reading experience is badly marred by constant eruptions of illiteracy, as "she had went", "he wanted to lay down", and of course the usual quota of misused apostrophes.
Ordinarily I wouldn't even keep reading encountering this level of poor literacy skill. However, the book itself is well structured, with an original, intricate and clever plot. The central theme of interrelatedness was well made out and reflected by the structure of the book. Apart from all the grammatical solecisms, it was well written and most enjoyable.
Mr Matthews is clearly a talented writer, and it is a great pity he did not take more care with the presentation of his work. Perhaps this will be addressed in future editions.
Ordinarily I wouldn't even keep reading encountering this level of poor literacy skill. However, the book itself is well structured, with an original, intricate and clever plot. The central theme of interrelatedness was well made out and reflected by the structure of the book. Apart from all the grammatical solecisms, it was well written and most enjoyable.
Mr Matthews is clearly a talented writer, and it is a great pity he did not take more care with the presentation of his work. Perhaps this will be addressed in future editions.
November 16, 2011
I found this book to be an interesting mix of story and characters. For the most part it felt like the characters were the main focus of the book. However, with that said the issue of substance abuse and what it can do to you and the ripples it creates in other people's lives was a truly neat second layer.
I liked how the author took these character's addictions and lives and gave you a little scare here and there and also made you think about the heartache and pain addictions can cause.
Well done, a book that was outside my normal genre of books but enjoyable nonetheless.
Thanks!
I liked how the author took these character's addictions and lives and gave you a little scare here and there and also made you think about the heartache and pain addictions can cause.
Well done, a book that was outside my normal genre of books but enjoyable nonetheless.
Thanks!
March 20, 2012
What a great surprise - I really loved this book. Picked it on a whim from the Amazon borrowers library b/c of the title (go figure). A glimpse into the intertwined lives of a therapist, his addicts, and the animal control facility across the parking lot from his rehab center, I thought it was genuine, the characters were realistic, and I connected with the story. And of course, a dog or two always makes a book better! Look forward to reading more from Mark Matthews!
August 13, 2012
This book was very well written and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I thought the story was a really good one, but it was hard to read at times because it was such a raw look inside drug addiction. I don't envy those that struggle with addiction ....so Very difficult. But it gave me a new appreciation for those that struggle with this disease and it was a heartwarming story overall.
August 19, 2012
I've been collecting books from the Amazon Kindle Freebie sites lately - and this was one that I picked up because it looked interesting. I am really glad that I did. The story was compelling and the characters were all people I could relate to in my life. I liked how the storyline tied together lost animals and lost souls - and the comparisons between the two.
I will definitely be looking for more Mark Matthews books!
I will definitely be looking for more Mark Matthews books!
January 2, 2013
Engaging and well written. Anyone who has experience with addicts will recognize the daily struggles and demons that haunt them. The animal shelter euthanasia description got me due to its reality. I worked at a kill shelter many years ago and put many deserving animals to sleep before they found homes.
March 8, 2016
Mark Matthews obviously knows what he is talking about and gives us some insight in substance abuse, social work at a detox center, the struggle to keep one's sanity and influence of the family allways keeping the balance between "quiet desparation" and hope for a better future. Despite some strange coincidences this story is very believable and realistic.
December 12, 2011
Disturbing. Thought-provoking. How much is fiction and how much is reality? As I read it, the pace seemed to move quickly forward then ended suddenly. I wished it had continued a little longer. Is it possible a sequel is intended?
March 25, 2012
A decent story about an addiction counselor, addicts and an animal shelter. Would have been a good book club read because there is a lot to discuss about the main characters, their families and their actions. I would have given it 3 1/2 stars- 3 seems too little and 4 seems too much.
November 1, 2011
I absolutely LOVE this book!
March 9, 2012
I really enjoyed it, could hardly put it down at the end! I have to also say, I went to high school and college with the author. He did a great job, can't wait to read his 2nd book!
March 5, 2018
Every once in a while a book comes along that, when you finish it, you have to stop and process what you just finished reading. STRAY, by my friend Mark Matthews, is just such a book. You may have seen his name come across my review feed once or twice, and they’ve all been for short stories or novellas. This one is for his full length novel.
Some fiction books you read and go, “Oh, that’s a nice story”, and move on to the next one. With STRAY, however, it reads like a semi-autobiographical account. If you are unaware, Mark has a Master’s Degree in Counseling and works as a counselor in the field of mental health and treatment of addiction. Many of his stories contain such elements – with a bit of fantasy/horror thrown in. But in STRAY, you get a feel that everything in the story actually happened, and can’t really figure out which character is Mark (or is he a part of all of them).
STRAY, on the surface, is about addiction, but is so much more than that. It’s about love, commitment, family, and regret. It’s about fighting an uphill battle of dealing with trying to stay clean, when there is so much temptation around. But most of all, it’s an uplifting story about redemption.
Mark’s story grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go. You feel a part of the story, invested in the lives of these people he created. You cry with them, you laugh with them, and you root for them to survive.
Some fiction books you read and go, “Oh, that’s a nice story”, and move on to the next one. With STRAY, however, it reads like a semi-autobiographical account. If you are unaware, Mark has a Master’s Degree in Counseling and works as a counselor in the field of mental health and treatment of addiction. Many of his stories contain such elements – with a bit of fantasy/horror thrown in. But in STRAY, you get a feel that everything in the story actually happened, and can’t really figure out which character is Mark (or is he a part of all of them).
STRAY, on the surface, is about addiction, but is so much more than that. It’s about love, commitment, family, and regret. It’s about fighting an uphill battle of dealing with trying to stay clean, when there is so much temptation around. But most of all, it’s an uplifting story about redemption.
Mark’s story grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go. You feel a part of the story, invested in the lives of these people he created. You cry with them, you laugh with them, and you root for them to survive.
September 20, 2018
This semi-biographical work is evidently half non-fiction as Matthews himself has twenty years of experience working as a licensed professional counselor. I learned a lot about recovery including rehab, detox, and other related terms. The novel is told through multiple points of view—and this is one of its highlights—as you are able to see through the eyes of both a therapist who deals with addicts and vice versa.
Read my full review here: http://literaryretreat.com/stray-2010...
Read my full review here: http://literaryretreat.com/stray-2010...
November 17, 2012
This has taken me a long time to read, I think it is the whole getting used to the kindle and not picking up another book. I don't think that I really got what I should of out of it. I am going to read it again after the holidays and once life in general calms down.
June 30, 2011
It had potential, but the connections he tried to make with characters either fell flat or just seemed stupid and forced.
July 2, 2012
This book moved slowly and then there was a disturbing scene very near the end of the book. I'm sorry I spent the day reading it.
December 8, 2014
Review in progress...
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