Mr. Composure

by Shaun Allan

"Once upon a time..."

All the best stories begin that way. Once upon a time, Jack climbed a beanstalk. Cinderella did go to the ball.

Once upon a time, his parents died.

When your parents are killed in front of you on the one day of the year when all crime is legal, what do you do?

You prepare for next year. You prepare for payback...

-

Specially commissioned by NBC Universal for the release of the film The Purge: Anarchy, Mr. Composure is "simply superb" and ranked #1!

46 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2014

About the author

Shaun Allan is a bestselling, award winning author who writes multiple genres, including psychological horror, introspective and emotive poetry, young adult and children’s. He has appeared on Sky TV to debate publishing, is a Wattpad Creator (previously Wattpad Stars), and been commissioned to write companion stories for such movies as The Purge: Anarchy, Sinister II, The Boy, A Quiet Place, IT and Amazon Prime’s Panic series. He also holds writing workshops at local schools. Many of his personal experiences are woven into the points of view and senses of humour of his characters, along with the places in and around his home town. His novel Sin has been adapted into a Chapters mobile game titled Straitjacket Lover and was optioned for television.

Shaun lives with his manic dog, Ripley (believe it or not). He works full time and, though his life feels as hyper as his dog, it probably isn't.

Reviews

[Anthony Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

someone would want to read this book if they have or wanted to see the movies. i have not seen the new purge but if the movie is like the book then i would like to see it. the plot of the movie is the boy finding the man that killed both of his parents on the night of the purge. this book is very action pack, it has a lot of time where the boy is waiting and looking four people and clues that have to do with the man but when he is not doing that then he is probably getting into mischief or trouble even though he is already into some. the most important conflict in the story was when the man invaded the boys house and they had to duel for their life. i would recommend this book to a classmate because when the boy is not getting into mischief or trouble he would be giving clothes to someone that needs them so they could learn from the boy.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started reading this story, not because of the movie the book is based off of, but because I've enjoyed other works by this author. It's because of this story I watched the movie(s).

This story takes place in the UK, after their first "Purge". It's told in first person most of the way through. The vivid details and descriptions... let's just say I had to pause to wonder if Mr. Allan had more than a passing interest in the subject matter.

The part that finally cinched it for me was the hook at the end. Read the story. It's worth the time.

[Mkittysamom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this gem, on watt pad while looking for "the book behind the movie" which in a sense there isn't one but this story is a movie tie in. A story of how the Purge began and from a perspective of a boy who lost his parents on Purge day, I enjoyed it!

[Wulfwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! That was a moment! This is a fast read. If you have seen any of The Purge movies you know the set up. This story though. Wow. It went beyond the movie. Prepare yourself. Or try to. The end will still punch you in the gut.

[Wayne Sharpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's what I thought of Mr. Composure by Shaun Allan:

I gave it 5/5 stars.


All fairytales, and most nightmares begin 'Once upon a time'.
The really good one's don't end 'and they lived happily ever after'. This one I'm pleased to say doesn't.
It would have been easy to set events during the purge itself. Destroy some stuff, kill some people, plot twist, and lo and behold our hero survives.

It shouldn't be a suprise that Shaun Allan take's you on a journey beyond the single day of violence to find out what became of justice and retribution in a world that would so easily abandon them. The first person view point he does so well really puts you there on the spot, and forces you to consider what would you have done? To purge or not to...hmm.

This is one of those story's that pulls me in opposite directions. on one hand I find comfort in knowing that I have had a good and exciting read. But on the other I find that no matter how much I try to use my TV taught CSI skills to figure out the end Shaun Allan delights in showing me that I'm not as clever as I sometimes think I am. Something my wife usually likes to do. Shaun Allan beats you to the twist once again.

Mr Composure does not end with that happily ever after stuff, but it ends all the same. Why? What does purge 'Jerry' (for want of a better name) get for his next birthday Mr Allan?

If you haven't read this yet please go to your bathroom, close the medicine cabinet door and look at yourself and ask 'Why the hell not?'

[Connie Jasperson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one time when the spin-off story is so far beyond the movie there is no comparison. Indie author Shaun Allan was commissioned to write this original novella as a serial for WattPad, and he really knocked it out of the park. It is short, only 46 pages, but it is a gripping read.

But First--THE BLURB:
"Once upon a time..."

All the best stories begin that way. Once upon a time, Jack climbed a beanstalk. Cinderella did go to the ball.

Once upon a time, his parents died.

When your parents are killed in front of you on the one day of the year when all crime is legal, what do you do?

You prepare for next year. You prepare for payback...

-

Specially commissioned by NBC Universal for the release of the film The Purge: Anarchy, Mr. Composure is "simply superb" and ranked #1!

MY REVIEW:
From the first paragraph, this tale is gripping. The protagonist is never named, and in many ways we actually know more about the killer, whom our protagonist dubs Mr. Composure, and who has a first name: Tom, than we do our protagonist, despite the fact our protagonist is speaking to us all along.

His desire to get the man who killed his family becomes his reason for existence, and he spends the next year laying plans just for that opportunity. Society has completely collapsed, and starving, facing a life of thievery, he is taken in by a stranger and his wife.

The ending is--wow.

I give this tale 5 stars.

[Michael R. Jarrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Purge

Fast somewhat unsettling in that the voice is that child determined to avenge the death of his parents during the Purge enjoy I did.