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Black Cat Mojo
In these three novellas of blackly comic crime and creature horror, you’ll go slumming with well-endowed dwarf porn stars, killer badgers, redneck mama’s boys, morbidly obese nymphomaniacs, dumbass dog-nappers, trailer trash Jesus freaks, diarrheic Jack Russell Terriers, not-so-wiseguys, mob-movie memorabilia collectors, junkie blackmailers, and giant man-eating Burmese pythons.
Of Badgers & Porn Dwarfs: To pay back a gambling debt and avoid being castrated, washed-up dwarf porn star Rummy Rumsfeld (of Snow White spoof Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It’s Up Your Ass We Go) must overcome a geriatric pederast, redneck pornographers, a morbidly obese nymphomaniac with serious personal hygiene issues, the ghost of his religious zealot mother, a dwarf-eating badger, and George Lucas.
Jesus in a Dog's Ass: Dumbass desperadoes Hootie and Poke incur the wrath of a trailer trash church group, not to mention God, when they kidnap a Jack Russell Terrier with the figure of Jesus Christ in its butt.
Frank, the Snake, and the Snake: After testifying against notorious mob boss “Snake” Cobretti, embittered ex-wiseguy Frankie “The Tin Man” Piscopo emerges from Witness Protection to embark on a disastrous drug deal that leaves him fighting for his life against a giant Burmese python with a taste for Italian-American.
Bonus short story - The Mad Butcher of Plainfield's Chariot of Death: Washed up carny buys Ed Gein's car hoping to reverse his bad luck. . .But the real horror was just getting revved up...
Of Badgers & Porn Dwarfs: To pay back a gambling debt and avoid being castrated, washed-up dwarf porn star Rummy Rumsfeld (of Snow White spoof Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It’s Up Your Ass We Go) must overcome a geriatric pederast, redneck pornographers, a morbidly obese nymphomaniac with serious personal hygiene issues, the ghost of his religious zealot mother, a dwarf-eating badger, and George Lucas.
Jesus in a Dog's Ass: Dumbass desperadoes Hootie and Poke incur the wrath of a trailer trash church group, not to mention God, when they kidnap a Jack Russell Terrier with the figure of Jesus Christ in its butt.
Frank, the Snake, and the Snake: After testifying against notorious mob boss “Snake” Cobretti, embittered ex-wiseguy Frankie “The Tin Man” Piscopo emerges from Witness Protection to embark on a disastrous drug deal that leaves him fighting for his life against a giant Burmese python with a taste for Italian-American.
Bonus short story - The Mad Butcher of Plainfield's Chariot of Death: Washed up carny buys Ed Gein's car hoping to reverse his bad luck. . .But the real horror was just getting revved up...
209 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 16, 2015
2 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Adam Howe
26 books185 followersAdam Howe writes the twisted fiction your mother warned you about. A British writer of fiction and screenplays, he lives in London with his partner, their daughter, and a hellhound named Gino. Writing as Garrett Addams, his short story Jumper was chosen by Stephen King as the winner of the international On Writing contest, and published in the paperback/Kindle editions of King’s memoir. His fiction has appeared in Nightmare Magazine, Thuglit, Mythic Delirium, Year’s Best Hardcore Horror, and other places. He is the author of One Tough Bastard, Scapegoat (with James Newman), Tijuana Donkey Showdown, Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet, and Black Cat Mojo, and the editor of the Wrestle Maniacs anthology. In the pipeline: The Polack, a gritty 1930s noir co-written with Joseph Hirsch. Stalk him at Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter @Adam_G_Howe.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 30, 2016
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
I’m struggling with how to approach this “review” (a/k/a picturebook) so I’m going to start with a little summin’ summin’ ‘splaining what the stories were about and then maybe write some words and stuff about how I felt at the end. Here goes nothin’ . . .
OF BADGERS AND PORN DWARVES
Our first charming little tale is about a fella named Rummy . . .
A few years ago he was the toast of Tinseltown – okay, maybe more like the toast of the back alleyways of Tinseltown, but nonetheless he was cashing in on the gift the good Lord gave him and making hand overvarious orifices fist as an adult film star. Nowadays, ol’ Rummy ain’t so lucky . . .
“Wet noodle.”
Even a little blue pill can’t charm his trouser snake back to life and he’s in debt up to his eyeballs. Faced with the choice of being blowtorched to death or doing a favor for his bookie, Rummy takes door number two. And that’s where his bad day begins. An ill-timed car wreck along with a run-in with a territorial badger leads Rummy to come face to face with his worst nightmare . . .
Once again, Rummy is forced to nut up or shut up – this time the shutting up will be courtesy of a shotgun blast to the face. Although his anaconda most assuredly does not want none, like all good actors Rummy knows the show must go on . . .
“You got any rubbers or something?”
“Don’t worry, she’s clean. Me n’ Fuller can vouch for that. You’re good to raw dog her.”
We’re talking ‘bout . . .
Here’s a reaction shot of the way the rest of the story went for Mitchell and myself . . .
Obviously he is of the stronger constitution in our relationship.
JESUS IN A DOG’S ASS
You can probably guess what this one is about just from the title. Hank had big plans for the video camera he picked up at the local pawn shop. He was getting his cinematography skills all primed and ready by taking short films of Scooter the dog’s daily deuces when his wife discovered something miraculous – an image of Jesu Christi surrounding the dog’s dirty balloon knot . . . .
“The Lord sure does work in mysterious ways.”
With the recent arson of the local church, Scooter (or more specifically, his butt) has become a place of worship and also something Hootie and Poke figure can make them quite the mint if they dognap him for ransom . . . .
Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuut, everyone knows you should never work with dogs or children . . . .
FRANK, THE SNAKE, & THE SNAKE
Frankie “The Tin Man” Piscopo used to run a chop-shop for the local mob boss. When things hit the fan, Frank became Phil and hightailed his butt down to Florida . . .
Via the Witness Protection Program. Things haven’t been great for Frank . . . errrrr Phil, but he’s avoided getting whacked. Everything could change, though, once he meets local wannabe Mafioso Stevie . . .
“Don’t you get what this is yet, Mr. P? I’m making you an offer you can’t refuse.”
Frank has an important decision to make – run one “errand” with Stevie or have his identity and whereabouts snitched to the mob boss’ kid. Little does Frank know what he’s getting into when he says yes to Frankie’s deal . . .
THE MAD BUTCHER OF PLAINFIELD'S CHARIOT OF DEATH
The final selection is a real super shorty about a carnie who looks a lil’ something like this . . .
(Creepy enough already, right?)
Who buys The Mad Butcher of Plainfield - Eddie Gein’s old car at auction hoping to snag some dollars from the easy marks who will stop by his tent for a little taboo thrill. And what a thrill it will be . . . .
Okay, so there’s the stories contained in this collection, kids. Now let’s talk about how they made me feel. Once the nausea passed I had to admit this was one hell of a good time. I discovered Adam Howe back with Gator Bait and for some reason he was unlike a good chunk of Goodreads users and didn’t want to bitch about all my giffifying under the guise of a “review,” but instead offered me a chance to read more of his stuff for free. I wolfed down the remainder of Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet and knew Mr. Howe had earned himself a fan. However, since I’m kind of the worst fan any author should want to have I promptly forget about also owning this book. I should kick my own ass for it too. Adam Howe, you can write, son! While both collections featured a high supply of gore and ewwww, I found Mojo to be on the lighter side of things and had an absolute ball. Of course, I buddy-read this with a dead pig head so take that into consideration when you’re looking for something “light” to read. Oh, and if you don’t know why a snake named Plissken is maybe the best thing in the history of ever you might wanna go ahead and unfriend me. A solid 4+ Stars for every story except the last – and hey that was a “bonus” story anyway so I’m not even going to waste any time complaining about it. I can’t wait to see what your twisted self comes up with next.
Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. If you think I wouldn’t be honest just because I scored a freebie, we obviously haven’t met. I’m pretty much an unapologetic dickhead when it comes to talking about what I like and don’t like.
I’m struggling with how to approach this “review” (a/k/a picturebook) so I’m going to start with a little summin’ summin’ ‘splaining what the stories were about and then maybe write some words and stuff about how I felt at the end. Here goes nothin’ . . .
OF BADGERS AND PORN DWARVES
Our first charming little tale is about a fella named Rummy . . .
A few years ago he was the toast of Tinseltown – okay, maybe more like the toast of the back alleyways of Tinseltown, but nonetheless he was cashing in on the gift the good Lord gave him and making hand over
“Wet noodle.”
Even a little blue pill can’t charm his trouser snake back to life and he’s in debt up to his eyeballs. Faced with the choice of being blowtorched to death or doing a favor for his bookie, Rummy takes door number two. And that’s where his bad day begins. An ill-timed car wreck along with a run-in with a territorial badger leads Rummy to come face to face with his worst nightmare . . .
Once again, Rummy is forced to nut up or shut up – this time the shutting up will be courtesy of a shotgun blast to the face. Although his anaconda most assuredly does not want none, like all good actors Rummy knows the show must go on . . .
“You got any rubbers or something?”
“Don’t worry, she’s clean. Me n’ Fuller can vouch for that. You’re good to raw dog her.”
We’re talking ‘bout . . .
Here’s a reaction shot of the way the rest of the story went for Mitchell and myself . . .
Obviously he is of the stronger constitution in our relationship.
JESUS IN A DOG’S ASS
You can probably guess what this one is about just from the title. Hank had big plans for the video camera he picked up at the local pawn shop. He was getting his cinematography skills all primed and ready by taking short films of Scooter the dog’s daily deuces when his wife discovered something miraculous – an image of Jesu Christi surrounding the dog’s dirty balloon knot . . . .
“The Lord sure does work in mysterious ways.”
With the recent arson of the local church, Scooter (or more specifically, his butt) has become a place of worship and also something Hootie and Poke figure can make them quite the mint if they dognap him for ransom . . . .
Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuut, everyone knows you should never work with dogs or children . . . .
FRANK, THE SNAKE, & THE SNAKE
Frankie “The Tin Man” Piscopo used to run a chop-shop for the local mob boss. When things hit the fan, Frank became Phil and hightailed his butt down to Florida . . .
Via the Witness Protection Program. Things haven’t been great for Frank . . . errrrr Phil, but he’s avoided getting whacked. Everything could change, though, once he meets local wannabe Mafioso Stevie . . .
“Don’t you get what this is yet, Mr. P? I’m making you an offer you can’t refuse.”
Frank has an important decision to make – run one “errand” with Stevie or have his identity and whereabouts snitched to the mob boss’ kid. Little does Frank know what he’s getting into when he says yes to Frankie’s deal . . .
THE MAD BUTCHER OF PLAINFIELD'S CHARIOT OF DEATH
The final selection is a real super shorty about a carnie who looks a lil’ something like this . . .
(Creepy enough already, right?)
Who buys The Mad Butcher of Plainfield - Eddie Gein’s old car at auction hoping to snag some dollars from the easy marks who will stop by his tent for a little taboo thrill. And what a thrill it will be . . . .
Okay, so there’s the stories contained in this collection, kids. Now let’s talk about how they made me feel. Once the nausea passed I had to admit this was one hell of a good time. I discovered Adam Howe back with Gator Bait and for some reason he was unlike a good chunk of Goodreads users and didn’t want to bitch about all my giffifying under the guise of a “review,” but instead offered me a chance to read more of his stuff for free. I wolfed down the remainder of Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet and knew Mr. Howe had earned himself a fan. However, since I’m kind of the worst fan any author should want to have I promptly forget about also owning this book. I should kick my own ass for it too. Adam Howe, you can write, son! While both collections featured a high supply of gore and ewwww, I found Mojo to be on the lighter side of things and had an absolute ball. Of course, I buddy-read this with a dead pig head so take that into consideration when you’re looking for something “light” to read. Oh, and if you don’t know why a snake named Plissken is maybe the best thing in the history of ever you might wanna go ahead and unfriend me. A solid 4+ Stars for every story except the last – and hey that was a “bonus” story anyway so I’m not even going to waste any time complaining about it. I can’t wait to see what your twisted self comes up with next.
Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. If you think I wouldn’t be honest just because I scored a freebie, we obviously haven’t met. I’m pretty much an unapologetic dickhead when it comes to talking about what I like and don’t like.
August 12, 2015
Black Cat Mojo, how best to describe this collection of 4 short stories, well I had more fun than a tornado in a trailer park, its just graceful as a pig on ice, lower then a mole's belly button on digging day and hotter than two hampsters farting in a wool sock.
If your mind regularly trips or even gets pushed down to gutter level and don't we all occasionally, then you'll be in heaven with these tales off debauchery and immoral wickedness.
First up is Of 'Badgers & Porn Dwarfs' staring Rummy the famous porn star dwarf with the foot long schlong. A thoroughly twisted, funny as fuck journey into redneck land where Rummy the tripod is kidnapped by a couple of hillbillies after killing their prize badger. Recompense is required and they're going to film him doing the nasty with their Momma.
I could go quote mad here.
'Momma made a gurgling noise, deep in her throat. She started teasing up the tarp, flashing Rummy some leg. Literally: one leg. She’d lost the other leg above the knee, probably to diabetes. All that remained was a gnarly stump, baby’s ass-pink at the sawed-off end. The leftover limb—and the other leg, for that matter—was rashed with bedsores and bristling with coarse black hair. She was naked below the waist. Her leg and stump led to a bush like a verminous haystack. The old hag’s labia grinned at Rummy through a rat’s nest of wiry hair, the withered brown lips glistening like something gone spoiled in a fishmonger’s window. Yolky yellow mucus oozed down her inner thighs, pooling on the bed.'
Nasty.
"Just to warn you,”Troy said. “Momma’s a squirter, so hold on tight."
Seriously I'm so tickled I can't get my leg down.
There's more of course, comparisons to a fisherman's bait box, you get the idea it's all deep down dirty humour and refreshing in a way it really shouldn't be.
The second story is 'Jesus In a dog's Ass', Hank and Marsha live in a trailor, Hanks just bought a video camera with the intention of filming their sexual shenanigans and selling it. Big bucks, he thinks, while Marsha is completely unaware of his plan. So he sets about getting some practice in by filming the dog taking a dump.
'Hank started filming the dog doing his business . Hank was sure other folks would find it just as funny as he did. He figured he’d film a few weeks worth of shitting, then edit the footage together with a music track playing— Duelin’ Banjos, say— put it up on YouTube with a catchy title— SCOOTER TAKING A SHIT.’
Then something amazing happens, watching the footage they see Jesus in the you know where. This starts an avalanche that can't be stopped, there's queues at the door and people are paying 5 bucks to spend time looking at Scooters ass.
Now this story goes in tandem with two of the finest crooks you'll ever come across, if stupid could fly then these guys would be the fastest jets on the planet. I mean these guys rob the piss wagon so a sample doesn't make it back to the lab to be tested, there's more to it but this really is fucking priceless. And then another genius plan.
Now the other two stories were ok but I was just blown away with the first two as you can probably tell. Well worth giving this a try it's near to the knuckle and very well written.
This was provided by the author in return for a completely unbiased review and I'm pretty fucking glad he did.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
If your mind regularly trips or even gets pushed down to gutter level and don't we all occasionally, then you'll be in heaven with these tales off debauchery and immoral wickedness.
First up is Of 'Badgers & Porn Dwarfs' staring Rummy the famous porn star dwarf with the foot long schlong. A thoroughly twisted, funny as fuck journey into redneck land where Rummy the tripod is kidnapped by a couple of hillbillies after killing their prize badger. Recompense is required and they're going to film him doing the nasty with their Momma.
I could go quote mad here.
'Momma made a gurgling noise, deep in her throat. She started teasing up the tarp, flashing Rummy some leg. Literally: one leg. She’d lost the other leg above the knee, probably to diabetes. All that remained was a gnarly stump, baby’s ass-pink at the sawed-off end. The leftover limb—and the other leg, for that matter—was rashed with bedsores and bristling with coarse black hair. She was naked below the waist. Her leg and stump led to a bush like a verminous haystack. The old hag’s labia grinned at Rummy through a rat’s nest of wiry hair, the withered brown lips glistening like something gone spoiled in a fishmonger’s window. Yolky yellow mucus oozed down her inner thighs, pooling on the bed.'
Nasty.
"Just to warn you,”Troy said. “Momma’s a squirter, so hold on tight."
Seriously I'm so tickled I can't get my leg down.
There's more of course, comparisons to a fisherman's bait box, you get the idea it's all deep down dirty humour and refreshing in a way it really shouldn't be.
The second story is 'Jesus In a dog's Ass', Hank and Marsha live in a trailor, Hanks just bought a video camera with the intention of filming their sexual shenanigans and selling it. Big bucks, he thinks, while Marsha is completely unaware of his plan. So he sets about getting some practice in by filming the dog taking a dump.
'Hank started filming the dog doing his business . Hank was sure other folks would find it just as funny as he did. He figured he’d film a few weeks worth of shitting, then edit the footage together with a music track playing— Duelin’ Banjos, say— put it up on YouTube with a catchy title— SCOOTER TAKING A SHIT.’
Then something amazing happens, watching the footage they see Jesus in the you know where. This starts an avalanche that can't be stopped, there's queues at the door and people are paying 5 bucks to spend time looking at Scooters ass.
Now this story goes in tandem with two of the finest crooks you'll ever come across, if stupid could fly then these guys would be the fastest jets on the planet. I mean these guys rob the piss wagon so a sample doesn't make it back to the lab to be tested, there's more to it but this really is fucking priceless. And then another genius plan.
Now the other two stories were ok but I was just blown away with the first two as you can probably tell. Well worth giving this a try it's near to the knuckle and very well written.
This was provided by the author in return for a completely unbiased review and I'm pretty fucking glad he did.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
March 8, 2016
Do we need another INSANE collection of stories by Adam? This is an election year . . . you bet your ass we do!
-- First, we have Of Badgers & Porn Dwarfs. If you find the title off-putting, stay FAR AWAY from the story. Meet Rummy. Though he's a minor Peter Dinklage, he's packin' a major John Holmes. Lately, he's been having some trouble with his wedding tackle. This is NOT A GOOD THING, especially for one who works in the adult film industry. So, he gets involved in a robbery scheme, only to wind up with a problem WAY BIGGER than impotence.
"You can have Momma or the twelve-gauge," Fuller said. "Now what's it to be?"
Rummy glanced across the trailer at Momma.
She batted her piggy eyes, leering at him.
"I'm thinking," Rummy said.
I warn you, folks - don't read this one while eating.
___________________________________
-- Next up is Jesus in a Dog's Ass. Here, again - don't like the title? Back away. This tale begs the question "If you can see our Lord and Savior on a chicken
why not a dog's butt?
This pup's heinie may deliver salvation or even a stint in the pokey. Either way, the word of God can be explosive.
___________________________________
-- Frank, the Snake, and the Snake is a fairly standard mob tale dosed with one of Howe's "HOLY CRAP!" twists near the end.
__________________________________
-- And The Mad Butcher of Plainfield's Chariot of Death is a right-nifty little tale of terror about Ed Gein's Ghoul Car.
Oh, yeah. See ya at the convention, folks.
-- First, we have Of Badgers & Porn Dwarfs. If you find the title off-putting, stay FAR AWAY from the story. Meet Rummy. Though he's a minor Peter Dinklage, he's packin' a major John Holmes. Lately, he's been having some trouble with his wedding tackle. This is NOT A GOOD THING, especially for one who works in the adult film industry. So, he gets involved in a robbery scheme, only to wind up with a problem WAY BIGGER than impotence.
"You can have Momma or the twelve-gauge," Fuller said. "Now what's it to be?"
Rummy glanced across the trailer at Momma.
She batted her piggy eyes, leering at him.
"I'm thinking," Rummy said.
I warn you, folks - don't read this one while eating.
___________________________________
-- Next up is Jesus in a Dog's Ass. Here, again - don't like the title? Back away. This tale begs the question "If you can see our Lord and Savior on a chicken
why not a dog's butt?
This pup's heinie may deliver salvation or even a stint in the pokey. Either way, the word of God can be explosive.
___________________________________
-- Frank, the Snake, and the Snake is a fairly standard mob tale dosed with one of Howe's "HOLY CRAP!" twists near the end.
__________________________________
-- And The Mad Butcher of Plainfield's Chariot of Death is a right-nifty little tale of terror about Ed Gein's Ghoul Car.
Oh, yeah. See ya at the convention, folks.
October 10, 2015
What do a man eating 15ft python named "Plissken",a Jack Russell terrier with the image of Jesus on his bum ,a "made" guy in the witness protection program and a little person porn star with a rather large appendage have in common ?
Why this book of course!
This book is irreverent,cheeky,absurd,comical and most of all,a pleasurable, well written wild ride.
If you haven't read any of Mr.Howe's work,give it a try.
Why this book of course!
This book is irreverent,cheeky,absurd,comical and most of all,a pleasurable, well written wild ride.
If you haven't read any of Mr.Howe's work,give it a try.
January 22, 2017
I spaced these three novellas by Adam Howe out quite a bit. I did this purposely so that I could dive into one when I was feeling kinda down. This guy writes some of the funniest shit I have ever encountered, and it never fails to make me feel better.
It's so incredibly cinematic, too. Fans of Adam Cesare, David James Keaton, and Joe R. Lansdale should feel right at home. Oh, and there is a bonus story about Ed Gein's unfortunate legacy that caps off the collection! I had no idea it was even in the thing until I got to the end. Guess I should have read the table of contents. Oh well, the last brief tale packs just as much punch as the first three novellas, and it feels like it would make a perfect episode of Tales from the Crypt. You need to check Adam's stuff out! You will not regret it.
It's so incredibly cinematic, too. Fans of Adam Cesare, David James Keaton, and Joe R. Lansdale should feel right at home. Oh, and there is a bonus story about Ed Gein's unfortunate legacy that caps off the collection! I had no idea it was even in the thing until I got to the end. Guess I should have read the table of contents. Oh well, the last brief tale packs just as much punch as the first three novellas, and it feels like it would make a perfect episode of Tales from the Crypt. You need to check Adam's stuff out! You will not regret it.
October 30, 2016
A book of three novellas and one short story.
'Of Badgers & Porn Dwarves'
Rummy is a once famous dwarf porn actor, he has now hit almost rock bottom and is in big to the local bookie. To get his slate wiped clean he must use his 'sizeable' assets to help said bookie and hired muscle, con an ageing pederast. Further complications are a car crash, killer badger, rednecks and their morbidly obese mother.
'Jesus in a dogs ass'
Hank is laid off and buys a video camera with his redundancy money, he thinks he will manage to entice his uptight wife into making home made porn and earn a fortune. To try out the camera he videos his wife's dog pooping, his wife sees the video and claims that the dog has the image of Jesus in the fur round his anus. Now everyone wants to see the dog and Hank's savvy wife is making sure they are paying for the privilege. Add into the mix two incredibly inept criminals, dog napping and super strength laxatives.
'Frank, The Snake & The Snake'
Frank used to work for 'The Snake' a vicious mob boss who was responsible for his criminal gangs demise. Frank gave evidence putting 'The Snake' away but has been looking over his shoulder ever since. He thinks he's been found out by a young man, Stevie, who takes an interest in him and ends up being blackmailed into going with him on a job. Stevie hasn't been honest with Frank about why he wants him to go with along but all becomes clear when they arrive at their destination.
'The Mad Butcher of Plainfields Chariot of Death'
A short story about Ed Geins car, bought by Bunny Gibbons and used as a carnival attraction. No one is coming to his ghoulish attraction, Bunny believes it's because he went against his mother's wishes on spending his inheritance and that the car in cursed. Depressed about the failure of his attraction, Bunny is relieved when it looks like his fortunes have turned but all is not what it seems.
Overall I enjoyed all the stories but the first two were definitely my favourites. The first story had me cackling with laughter, this story was all kinds of wrong but oh so right. The characters were all well done and the dialogue was witty and sharp.
The third story was probably my least favourite, I think the pacing was different from the first two stories, there was something sad about the life that Frank had lived.
The last story was just straight up horror and reminded me of 'Tales from the crypt'.
Highly recommended collection, especially for those that like their humour pitch black.
'Of Badgers & Porn Dwarves'
Rummy is a once famous dwarf porn actor, he has now hit almost rock bottom and is in big to the local bookie. To get his slate wiped clean he must use his 'sizeable' assets to help said bookie and hired muscle, con an ageing pederast. Further complications are a car crash, killer badger, rednecks and their morbidly obese mother.
'Jesus in a dogs ass'
Hank is laid off and buys a video camera with his redundancy money, he thinks he will manage to entice his uptight wife into making home made porn and earn a fortune. To try out the camera he videos his wife's dog pooping, his wife sees the video and claims that the dog has the image of Jesus in the fur round his anus. Now everyone wants to see the dog and Hank's savvy wife is making sure they are paying for the privilege. Add into the mix two incredibly inept criminals, dog napping and super strength laxatives.
'Frank, The Snake & The Snake'
Frank used to work for 'The Snake' a vicious mob boss who was responsible for his criminal gangs demise. Frank gave evidence putting 'The Snake' away but has been looking over his shoulder ever since. He thinks he's been found out by a young man, Stevie, who takes an interest in him and ends up being blackmailed into going with him on a job. Stevie hasn't been honest with Frank about why he wants him to go with along but all becomes clear when they arrive at their destination.
'The Mad Butcher of Plainfields Chariot of Death'
A short story about Ed Geins car, bought by Bunny Gibbons and used as a carnival attraction. No one is coming to his ghoulish attraction, Bunny believes it's because he went against his mother's wishes on spending his inheritance and that the car in cursed. Depressed about the failure of his attraction, Bunny is relieved when it looks like his fortunes have turned but all is not what it seems.
Overall I enjoyed all the stories but the first two were definitely my favourites. The first story had me cackling with laughter, this story was all kinds of wrong but oh so right. The characters were all well done and the dialogue was witty and sharp.
The third story was probably my least favourite, I think the pacing was different from the first two stories, there was something sad about the life that Frank had lived.
The last story was just straight up horror and reminded me of 'Tales from the crypt'.
Highly recommended collection, especially for those that like their humour pitch black.
January 28, 2016
Best book I've read in a long time. Started Howe's latest, DIE DOG OR EAT THE HATCHET, last night, but I don't want to read it because then I'll have nothing new to read from him. And that sucks.
Great stuff. Haven't laughed out loud this hard since I first started falling in love with Lansdale's work.
Great stuff. Haven't laughed out loud this hard since I first started falling in love with Lansdale's work.
March 14, 2016
I had a fantastic, in depth conversation with Adam Howe the other day in which we talked about his most recent book, DIE DOG OR EAT THE HATCHET and
discussed some exciting projects he's working on. Adam is a very honest and candid person and I was able to learn quite a bit about him and something of what makes him tick. So I come to his first book, BLACK CAT MOJO with a different set of eyes than the ones I read DIE DOG with.
Adam is an exciting discovery for me. I'm a great fan of what I think of as white trash or redneck-noir, in the style of a lot of Lansdale's work, but I had--I thought--exhausted pretty much all of the available material in that vein, particularly of the dark, comedic variety that is Lansdale's stock in trade.
But I was wrong. There's another guy that writes that kind of stuff, and writes it exceedingly well. Replete with black, southern-fried redneck antics and action galore, the three novellas (plus a bonus short) in BLACK CAT MOJO will blow your mind with their horrific scenarios and wanton hilarity, not to mention their remarkable authenticity. Why remarkable? Because Adam's British. As far as I know, the closest he's ever been to the American south is New York City, where he got to meet the King--Stephen, that is--after winning a writing contest and getting his winning entry published in the newest revision of On Writing.
So where did he develop such a convincing down home chicken-fried voice as he demonstrates so masterfully in his novellas? Well, if you go to the conversation we had recently on Shotgun Logic and read the section where he talks about his creative influences, you'll get a pretty good idea. Also the part where he talks about his comedic inspirations. But there's more to it than that. Adam is a brutally honest guy and he's not afraid to commit his peculiar and unique ideas to paper. And, as is evidenced by novellas such as Of Badgers and Porn Dwarfs, he does so with tongue in cheek and shotgun in hand. Because Howe, in addition to being hilarious, isn't afraid of a little violence and splatter. Or a whole fuckload of it.
Because BLACK CAT MOJO is an earlier work than DIE DOG... I expected it to be less accomplished, and that preconception was partly correct. But don't take that to mean it's a bad collection because it isn't. It's less accomplished in the way that three million dollars is less than four million. Who's complaining? Like DIE DOG.., the thing that really makes these novellas work is the balls to the wall hilarity, unrelenting action, and ultra quirky characters. And, while Howe demonstrated an improvement in his storytelling abilities with his second collection, it's still well represented here and I was not disappointed, nor will you be.
If you haven't read Adam Howe, you're missing out on a rock star author with mojo in spades, ideas that compare to nothing you've ever read before, and some of the most delightfully twisted characters you'll ever encounter. Howe is an author I will return to every time he writes something new, and will also return to some of the novellas represented here and in DIE DOG OR EAT THE HATCHET.
discussed some exciting projects he's working on. Adam is a very honest and candid person and I was able to learn quite a bit about him and something of what makes him tick. So I come to his first book, BLACK CAT MOJO with a different set of eyes than the ones I read DIE DOG with.
Adam is an exciting discovery for me. I'm a great fan of what I think of as white trash or redneck-noir, in the style of a lot of Lansdale's work, but I had--I thought--exhausted pretty much all of the available material in that vein, particularly of the dark, comedic variety that is Lansdale's stock in trade.
But I was wrong. There's another guy that writes that kind of stuff, and writes it exceedingly well. Replete with black, southern-fried redneck antics and action galore, the three novellas (plus a bonus short) in BLACK CAT MOJO will blow your mind with their horrific scenarios and wanton hilarity, not to mention their remarkable authenticity. Why remarkable? Because Adam's British. As far as I know, the closest he's ever been to the American south is New York City, where he got to meet the King--Stephen, that is--after winning a writing contest and getting his winning entry published in the newest revision of On Writing.
So where did he develop such a convincing down home chicken-fried voice as he demonstrates so masterfully in his novellas? Well, if you go to the conversation we had recently on Shotgun Logic and read the section where he talks about his creative influences, you'll get a pretty good idea. Also the part where he talks about his comedic inspirations. But there's more to it than that. Adam is a brutally honest guy and he's not afraid to commit his peculiar and unique ideas to paper. And, as is evidenced by novellas such as Of Badgers and Porn Dwarfs, he does so with tongue in cheek and shotgun in hand. Because Howe, in addition to being hilarious, isn't afraid of a little violence and splatter. Or a whole fuckload of it.
Because BLACK CAT MOJO is an earlier work than DIE DOG... I expected it to be less accomplished, and that preconception was partly correct. But don't take that to mean it's a bad collection because it isn't. It's less accomplished in the way that three million dollars is less than four million. Who's complaining? Like DIE DOG.., the thing that really makes these novellas work is the balls to the wall hilarity, unrelenting action, and ultra quirky characters. And, while Howe demonstrated an improvement in his storytelling abilities with his second collection, it's still well represented here and I was not disappointed, nor will you be.
If you haven't read Adam Howe, you're missing out on a rock star author with mojo in spades, ideas that compare to nothing you've ever read before, and some of the most delightfully twisted characters you'll ever encounter. Howe is an author I will return to every time he writes something new, and will also return to some of the novellas represented here and in DIE DOG OR EAT THE HATCHET.
April 9, 2016
Contents:
013 - "Of Badgers & Porn Dwarfs"
089 - "Jesus In A Dogs Ass"
123 - "Frank, The Snake, & The Snake"
185 - "The Mad Butcher of Plainfields Chariot Of Death"
199 - Afterword & Story Notes
"Black Cat Mojo" is a solid collection of highly enjoyable stories and the first collection from Mr. Howe. The stories range from the bizarre to insanely absurd to a noirish crime thriller with a liberal dose of sex, violence, scatology, and side splitting humor, what a great combination.
As I was reading "Of Badgers & Porn Dwarfs" a sound track began cruising through my head that just would not shake away. That song was Soft Cell's "Sex Dwarf" about "luring disco dollies to a life of vice" that song mixed with Ennio Morricone's "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly". About the only aspect of the story not covered in this soundscape is the Badger confrontation/association as this is quite unique. One must give author Howe a massive amount of credit for making a Porno Sex dwarf his leading character and having the reader empathize with him and root for his success.
Next up is "Jesus In A Dogs Ass" which contains a cute little dog, some highgrade trailer trash occupants and crimes gone wrong in a highly unique and creative manor. To give some perspective of the writing, If you blended Edward Lee, Joe R. Lansdale and Jeff Strand into a rough blend add a six hundred pound woman (with an amputated leg) and other characters dumb as rocks... You begins to get the idea. Then we also have the dog with a religious icon of an ass which becomes a site of worship, due to the local church having been burned down. What is created here is one of the funniest stories i've read in a long time. Laugh out loud funny. No shit.
Up next for offer is a pretty much straight forward crime story of life gone wrong for one Frank (Requiem For A Rat) Pasquale living a lowlife life in witness protection after his wrong moves and decisions. Has he hit bottom yet ? No, circumstances conspire to screw things up even more. When things seem to be able to get no worse, we meet the fifteen foot python.
The last story is inspired by the old EC Comics the author explains in his story notes. A story which is fully worthy of that comparison and on par with a good Twilight Zone episode.
If your not squeamish or offended easily and want to laugh out loud then this book is for you. I surly will seek the authors new book.
013 - "Of Badgers & Porn Dwarfs"
089 - "Jesus In A Dogs Ass"
123 - "Frank, The Snake, & The Snake"
185 - "The Mad Butcher of Plainfields Chariot Of Death"
199 - Afterword & Story Notes
"Black Cat Mojo" is a solid collection of highly enjoyable stories and the first collection from Mr. Howe. The stories range from the bizarre to insanely absurd to a noirish crime thriller with a liberal dose of sex, violence, scatology, and side splitting humor, what a great combination.
As I was reading "Of Badgers & Porn Dwarfs" a sound track began cruising through my head that just would not shake away. That song was Soft Cell's "Sex Dwarf" about "luring disco dollies to a life of vice" that song mixed with Ennio Morricone's "The Good, The Bad and the Ugly". About the only aspect of the story not covered in this soundscape is the Badger confrontation/association as this is quite unique. One must give author Howe a massive amount of credit for making a Porno Sex dwarf his leading character and having the reader empathize with him and root for his success.
Next up is "Jesus In A Dogs Ass" which contains a cute little dog, some highgrade trailer trash occupants and crimes gone wrong in a highly unique and creative manor. To give some perspective of the writing, If you blended Edward Lee, Joe R. Lansdale and Jeff Strand into a rough blend add a six hundred pound woman (with an amputated leg) and other characters dumb as rocks... You begins to get the idea. Then we also have the dog with a religious icon of an ass which becomes a site of worship, due to the local church having been burned down. What is created here is one of the funniest stories i've read in a long time. Laugh out loud funny. No shit.
Up next for offer is a pretty much straight forward crime story of life gone wrong for one Frank (Requiem For A Rat) Pasquale living a lowlife life in witness protection after his wrong moves and decisions. Has he hit bottom yet ? No, circumstances conspire to screw things up even more. When things seem to be able to get no worse, we meet the fifteen foot python.
The last story is inspired by the old EC Comics the author explains in his story notes. A story which is fully worthy of that comparison and on par with a good Twilight Zone episode.
If your not squeamish or offended easily and want to laugh out loud then this book is for you. I surly will seek the authors new book.
May 16, 2018
A collection of three novellas and a short story. Howe’s writing is amusing and disgusting at the same time. The plots were not the most original with the exception of the dwarf porn star, which was my favorite.
June 28, 2015
I was given this book by the author in exchange for an honest review. Little did I know what I had agreed to.....
First and foremost I have to say that this book is definitely NOT for the faint-hearted or for those who are easily offended! In between the laugh-out-loud moments I found myself shouting "WTF!?!" and wondering if I stumbled across a seriously creative author or just the rantings of a perverted lunatic!
The titles of each of the short stories themselves raised my eyebrows but also my curiosity! I mean what the hell? Of Badgers & Porn Dwarfs? Jesus in a Dog's Ass? then we have Frank, The Snake & The Snake (I worried that Snake was a euphemism for something else...ha ha) and the bonus story The Mad Butcher of Plainfield's Chariot of Death.
The synopsis of each story gives you a "feel" for what you have in store so I won't repeat and bore you to death. However I have to say that I cringed A LOT, laughed just as much and I actually enjoyed all the stories despite nearly bringing up my dinner on a few occasions.
Each of the characters (and there are quite a few so I am only naming those who really stuck out for me)....from Rummy-the dwarf "with a long shlong", the rednecks who enjoy filming their mother doing unspeakable things, Hank, his freakishly religious wife and their dog with Jesus on his butt, the opportunistic offenders Hootie and Poke, Frank an ex-mobster in the Witness Protection Programme, Stevie a drugged up wanna be gangster and the carny Gibbons who is haunted by his mother and Ed Gein's car! There are so many more but really, you have to read the book to get the real feel.
Well Adam Howe you definitely took away my innocence (ahem) and gave me a book which I probably never would have picked up myself! Just goes to show, sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone and explore what other author's have to offer. Although I am seriously wondering if I will ever be the same again and probably need recuperate from the experience of reading this book...I will say that I have no regrets! I enjoyed this compilation of strange and disturbingly funny short stories and recommend it to anyone who has thick-skin and a strong stomach...as you will need it!
First and foremost I have to say that this book is definitely NOT for the faint-hearted or for those who are easily offended! In between the laugh-out-loud moments I found myself shouting "WTF!?!" and wondering if I stumbled across a seriously creative author or just the rantings of a perverted lunatic!
The titles of each of the short stories themselves raised my eyebrows but also my curiosity! I mean what the hell? Of Badgers & Porn Dwarfs? Jesus in a Dog's Ass? then we have Frank, The Snake & The Snake (I worried that Snake was a euphemism for something else...ha ha) and the bonus story The Mad Butcher of Plainfield's Chariot of Death.
The synopsis of each story gives you a "feel" for what you have in store so I won't repeat and bore you to death. However I have to say that I cringed A LOT, laughed just as much and I actually enjoyed all the stories despite nearly bringing up my dinner on a few occasions.
Each of the characters (and there are quite a few so I am only naming those who really stuck out for me)....from Rummy-the dwarf "with a long shlong", the rednecks who enjoy filming their mother doing unspeakable things, Hank, his freakishly religious wife and their dog with Jesus on his butt, the opportunistic offenders Hootie and Poke, Frank an ex-mobster in the Witness Protection Programme, Stevie a drugged up wanna be gangster and the carny Gibbons who is haunted by his mother and Ed Gein's car! There are so many more but really, you have to read the book to get the real feel.
Well Adam Howe you definitely took away my innocence (ahem) and gave me a book which I probably never would have picked up myself! Just goes to show, sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone and explore what other author's have to offer. Although I am seriously wondering if I will ever be the same again and probably need recuperate from the experience of reading this book...I will say that I have no regrets! I enjoyed this compilation of strange and disturbingly funny short stories and recommend it to anyone who has thick-skin and a strong stomach...as you will need it!
July 21, 2015
See the whole review here
Black Cat Mojo is a twisted ride down a vicious road. And that was part of the reason I enjoyed it. This is a collection of novelettes. They all have similar themes. Animals. Trailer trash. And bad luck. Let's not forget bad decisions. Our 'heroes' (I use that term very loosely here) are put in impossible situations but handle themselves as best as they know how. Not good. They are not the brightest bunch, but a lot of them have heart. There's redemption here. You root for these folks even when you know you probably shouldn't. The prose is direct and to the point. The plot is swift and unapologetic. And the characters are colorful. You can't really ask for more. But it does leave you wanting more.
Because these shorts are individual pieces,and I don't want to lump them into one long, general review, I'll go at them one by one:
OF BADGERS & PORN DWARFS:
First of all, that title alone tells you a lot of what you need to know. Rummy is a dwarfs with a huge penis. A porn actor with a drug and gambling problem. He wasn't always a fuck up. At one time, Rummy was just a a little guy with big ambition who wanted to make serious films, and not as the lead of Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It's Up Your Ass We Go. He gets into some financial trouble with a bookmaker, Scanlon, and his muscle, Beef, who personally wanted to make him a eunuch, or as the dwarf puts it:
Rummy suspected the promise of a blowtorch weenie roast was the only reason he'd (Beef) rolled out of bed this morning.
In order to pay for his debt, poor Rummy has to do the unthinkable--or unthinkable only because he wasn't into that stuff. This leads to a series of events that leave the dwarf fighting for his life, his sanity, and another chance to do it all over again. There are some hilarious moments in this short--probably my second favorite--and I laughed out loud at lines like the one below where the bookmaker discusses Rummy's appearance:
"I didn't know you already, you told me you had progeria, I'd believe you."
"Jesus, man, I know I look tired but--"
Of Badgers and Porn Dwarfs stays mostly in Rummy's pov. Flashbacks to his former life add a whole set of layers to this has-been's story. Its entertainingly wicked, but it also has a lot of heart.
JESUS IN A DOG’S ASS
Gotta love these titles. This little story weaves more characters and story lines with distinct goals and levels of aptitude. Again, not the cleverest bunch, but hilarious nonetheless. We have Hank and his wife Marsha. He's an unemployed, moviemaking wannabe, and she's a religious woman who's idea of a good day is coming come to watch American Idol with a large tube of Ben & Jerry's. They have dog name Scooter, and Scooter's ass happens to look like Jesus.
In this same town we have Poke and Hootie. Two lowlifes whose schemes only get them into trouble. Mostly Poke who is more a follower than a leader. After being released from jail again, Poke teams up with Hootie to Steal the dog a lot of the townsfolk have been worshiping. The rest is fanatic mayhem.
The characters in this one were some of my favorites. They were conniving. They all had their own agendas to get what they wanted. Marsha arguably the best at it. The rest just didn't know how to go about it, and when they tried, it all fell apart. Watching this group stumble from A to B, trying to outsmart one another with their poorly thought-out schemes was too funny. The only character worth feeling sorry for here was the dog.
FRANK, THE SNAKE, & THE SNAKE
The tale of Frankie “The Tin Man” Piscopo was my favorite. A three part story about a man with bad luck who was once an average mechanic until his shop was destroyed. He asks the wrong man for help. The Snake, a mob leader, who proves to be as slithering as the creature his nickname comes from.
Frank wrote a book about his former life. The book was named: Requiem for a Rat. That's not what Frank had in mind, but that's the shitty luck he has. Witness protection isn't all that great either. He works at a shitty garage and ends the night at a shitty bar. The wife left him. And he's old. There's nothing much to live for. It wasn't always like that for Frankie. For about six months of his life, he was a "Goodfella" or so he'd liked to believe.
I loved the many references to the mobster movies. Maybe because I'm personally a fan. I found this story the most entertaining, mostly because of Frank. He was just a poor sucker with bad luck. He was not greedy or conniving like some of the other characters in the book. He was just an unlucky smuck who never seemed to catch a break for long. When he meets Stevie, the story really starts to get fun but sad. The obsessive boy demands the impossible from Frank and because Frank has no choice, or assumes he doesn't, he goes a long with everything, hoping things will work out. But things never work out for Frank, and that large (actual) snake in that reeking trailer proves it.
THE MAD BUTCHER OF PLAINFIELD'S CHARIOT OF DEATH
Last but not least. The shortest. The bonus. I don't know what I liked more about this one. The crime or the horror. Maybe both. The real details about Ed Gein, the killer and body snatcher, were a nice sprinkle, and this story was actually based on some truth. Bunny Gibbons was an actual person. He was a funfair owner who bought Ed's car. A Ford. He called it "Ed Gein Ghoul Car". History doesn't tell us much about the man, but Adam Howe does. Like Rummy, Bunny had some serious mommy issues, and not only that, but he was a serious alcoholic. His shows didn't go the way he wanted. And he wanted to scare the reason out of people. Bunny went the extra mile to ensure this. Of course, to a large population, he was seen as a con taking advantage of a terrible situation for financial gain. Depress, he starts to drink more and sleep more until one rainy night he has a breakthrough--or so he thinks.
I love the horror and the backstory to the last one--or really all the stories. The characters were not just mindless people going about their lives reacting to their environment. These were well-fleshed out folks who tried to survive and make a living in even the most dire of circumstances. Anyone can relate to that if nothing else.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes. Do I recommend it? Yes. In short: Buy it. Read it. Share it. Because why the hell not?
Black Cat Mojo is a twisted ride down a vicious road. And that was part of the reason I enjoyed it. This is a collection of novelettes. They all have similar themes. Animals. Trailer trash. And bad luck. Let's not forget bad decisions. Our 'heroes' (I use that term very loosely here) are put in impossible situations but handle themselves as best as they know how. Not good. They are not the brightest bunch, but a lot of them have heart. There's redemption here. You root for these folks even when you know you probably shouldn't. The prose is direct and to the point. The plot is swift and unapologetic. And the characters are colorful. You can't really ask for more. But it does leave you wanting more.
Because these shorts are individual pieces,and I don't want to lump them into one long, general review, I'll go at them one by one:
OF BADGERS & PORN DWARFS:
First of all, that title alone tells you a lot of what you need to know. Rummy is a dwarfs with a huge penis. A porn actor with a drug and gambling problem. He wasn't always a fuck up. At one time, Rummy was just a a little guy with big ambition who wanted to make serious films, and not as the lead of Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It's Up Your Ass We Go. He gets into some financial trouble with a bookmaker, Scanlon, and his muscle, Beef, who personally wanted to make him a eunuch, or as the dwarf puts it:
Rummy suspected the promise of a blowtorch weenie roast was the only reason he'd (Beef) rolled out of bed this morning.
In order to pay for his debt, poor Rummy has to do the unthinkable--or unthinkable only because he wasn't into that stuff. This leads to a series of events that leave the dwarf fighting for his life, his sanity, and another chance to do it all over again. There are some hilarious moments in this short--probably my second favorite--and I laughed out loud at lines like the one below where the bookmaker discusses Rummy's appearance:
"I didn't know you already, you told me you had progeria, I'd believe you."
"Jesus, man, I know I look tired but--"
Of Badgers and Porn Dwarfs stays mostly in Rummy's pov. Flashbacks to his former life add a whole set of layers to this has-been's story. Its entertainingly wicked, but it also has a lot of heart.
JESUS IN A DOG’S ASS
Gotta love these titles. This little story weaves more characters and story lines with distinct goals and levels of aptitude. Again, not the cleverest bunch, but hilarious nonetheless. We have Hank and his wife Marsha. He's an unemployed, moviemaking wannabe, and she's a religious woman who's idea of a good day is coming come to watch American Idol with a large tube of Ben & Jerry's. They have dog name Scooter, and Scooter's ass happens to look like Jesus.
In this same town we have Poke and Hootie. Two lowlifes whose schemes only get them into trouble. Mostly Poke who is more a follower than a leader. After being released from jail again, Poke teams up with Hootie to Steal the dog a lot of the townsfolk have been worshiping. The rest is fanatic mayhem.
The characters in this one were some of my favorites. They were conniving. They all had their own agendas to get what they wanted. Marsha arguably the best at it. The rest just didn't know how to go about it, and when they tried, it all fell apart. Watching this group stumble from A to B, trying to outsmart one another with their poorly thought-out schemes was too funny. The only character worth feeling sorry for here was the dog.
FRANK, THE SNAKE, & THE SNAKE
The tale of Frankie “The Tin Man” Piscopo was my favorite. A three part story about a man with bad luck who was once an average mechanic until his shop was destroyed. He asks the wrong man for help. The Snake, a mob leader, who proves to be as slithering as the creature his nickname comes from.
Frank wrote a book about his former life. The book was named: Requiem for a Rat. That's not what Frank had in mind, but that's the shitty luck he has. Witness protection isn't all that great either. He works at a shitty garage and ends the night at a shitty bar. The wife left him. And he's old. There's nothing much to live for. It wasn't always like that for Frankie. For about six months of his life, he was a "Goodfella" or so he'd liked to believe.
I loved the many references to the mobster movies. Maybe because I'm personally a fan. I found this story the most entertaining, mostly because of Frank. He was just a poor sucker with bad luck. He was not greedy or conniving like some of the other characters in the book. He was just an unlucky smuck who never seemed to catch a break for long. When he meets Stevie, the story really starts to get fun but sad. The obsessive boy demands the impossible from Frank and because Frank has no choice, or assumes he doesn't, he goes a long with everything, hoping things will work out. But things never work out for Frank, and that large (actual) snake in that reeking trailer proves it.
THE MAD BUTCHER OF PLAINFIELD'S CHARIOT OF DEATH
Last but not least. The shortest. The bonus. I don't know what I liked more about this one. The crime or the horror. Maybe both. The real details about Ed Gein, the killer and body snatcher, were a nice sprinkle, and this story was actually based on some truth. Bunny Gibbons was an actual person. He was a funfair owner who bought Ed's car. A Ford. He called it "Ed Gein Ghoul Car". History doesn't tell us much about the man, but Adam Howe does. Like Rummy, Bunny had some serious mommy issues, and not only that, but he was a serious alcoholic. His shows didn't go the way he wanted. And he wanted to scare the reason out of people. Bunny went the extra mile to ensure this. Of course, to a large population, he was seen as a con taking advantage of a terrible situation for financial gain. Depress, he starts to drink more and sleep more until one rainy night he has a breakthrough--or so he thinks.
I love the horror and the backstory to the last one--or really all the stories. The characters were not just mindless people going about their lives reacting to their environment. These were well-fleshed out folks who tried to survive and make a living in even the most dire of circumstances. Anyone can relate to that if nothing else.
Did I enjoy this book? Yes. Do I recommend it? Yes. In short: Buy it. Read it. Share it. Because why the hell not?
May 15, 2020
Adam Howe is a revelation.
His style is a mixture of two of my favorite authors, unfortunately no longer living, Donald Westlake and Richard Stark (I know that are the same writer ;) ).
The 4 stories are quite tough but mitigated by a tongue-in-cheek writing that goes on the same page from a thrill to a laugh.
OF BADGERS PORN DWARFS is one of the best things read lately; based on a true story, later revealed to be false, dwarf porn star Rummy Rumsfeld (of Snow White spoof Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It's Up Your Ass We Go) is a character that you won't easily forget.
His style is a mixture of two of my favorite authors, unfortunately no longer living, Donald Westlake and Richard Stark (I know that are the same writer ;) ).
The 4 stories are quite tough but mitigated by a tongue-in-cheek writing that goes on the same page from a thrill to a laugh.
OF BADGERS PORN DWARFS is one of the best things read lately; based on a true story, later revealed to be false, dwarf porn star Rummy Rumsfeld (of Snow White spoof Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho, It's Up Your Ass We Go) is a character that you won't easily forget.
September 1, 2015
When I first read the short summaries of Adam Howe's latest novelette collection, I had to do a double take at my screen and then do some extensive background research to ensure I wasn't being trolled.
Because until then I was convinced that I was.
And even then, I had to put the book aside for a couple of days to decide whether it was a good read for me, because really, it wouldn't usually be something that I would pick up at a book store on my own volition. Eventually, curiosity got the best of me, but frankly, I took it on as a challenge, all because of the summaries.
I don't think I could do justice to Black Cat Mojo by writing up my own blurb, so please make sure if you're interested, you check out the book's official blurbs from Goodreads or Amazon. Keep in mind these were the summary blurbs that 1) made me doubt its legitimacy, then 2) made me doubt whether I was unfazeable enough to read it, and eventually 3) was the ultimate reason in my deciding to read the book.
A few disclaimers before you proceed any further. Stay away if you are:
a) of the faint-hearted species
b) of the easily offended species
No, no, seriously... It gets pretty gross, so do not proceed if you think you might get offended!
Did you pass the test?
One last disclaimer:
Upon finishing the book, you'll find yourself thinking that either
a) the author is a complete f*cking bonkers
b) you are a complete f*cking bonkers for enjoying this twisted gore
And now that you've been sufficiently warned, please proceed and enjoy (and stay unfazed!)
It absorbed me like a sponge soaking up spilled wine
- the craftsmanship, the writing is . . . disgustingly amazing! It would either have me hold tightly to my seat, cringe until my teeth hurt, or throw my head back and laugh out loud (and on several occasions, try hard to hold down the bile)
- JESUS IN A DOG'S ASS might be offensive to some religious folks, but if you take it with the same ironic and humorous grain of salt it was intended, you'd find it to be a hoot. At least I did! It was my favorite of the three. The car chase scene left me literally rolling on the floor. I still continue to burst into random fits of laughter when remembering certain parts, often in most inappropriate environments . . .
No amount of wine could redeem this
- some parts are UNBELIEVABLY graphic, especially certain scenes from the first novelette . . . oof, shakes her head and cringes . . . feels her dinner begin to move back upward . . . takes a swig of the whiskey to hold it together
- did I mention the nasty?
Bottom Line
Black Cat Mojo is a collection of three disturbing tales filled with explicit details of vile and foul, and gnarly and subversive humor that will leave you either absolutely hating it or loving it to almost an inappropriate extent.
Read full review here: http://unfazeable.com/2015/09/01/blac...
Because until then I was convinced that I was.
And even then, I had to put the book aside for a couple of days to decide whether it was a good read for me, because really, it wouldn't usually be something that I would pick up at a book store on my own volition. Eventually, curiosity got the best of me, but frankly, I took it on as a challenge, all because of the summaries.
I don't think I could do justice to Black Cat Mojo by writing up my own blurb, so please make sure if you're interested, you check out the book's official blurbs from Goodreads or Amazon. Keep in mind these were the summary blurbs that 1) made me doubt its legitimacy, then 2) made me doubt whether I was unfazeable enough to read it, and eventually 3) was the ultimate reason in my deciding to read the book.
A few disclaimers before you proceed any further. Stay away if you are:
a) of the faint-hearted species
b) of the easily offended species
No, no, seriously... It gets pretty gross, so do not proceed if you think you might get offended!
Did you pass the test?
One last disclaimer:
Upon finishing the book, you'll find yourself thinking that either
a) the author is a complete f*cking bonkers
b) you are a complete f*cking bonkers for enjoying this twisted gore
And now that you've been sufficiently warned, please proceed and enjoy (and stay unfazed!)
It absorbed me like a sponge soaking up spilled wine
- the craftsmanship, the writing is . . . disgustingly amazing! It would either have me hold tightly to my seat, cringe until my teeth hurt, or throw my head back and laugh out loud (and on several occasions, try hard to hold down the bile)
- JESUS IN A DOG'S ASS might be offensive to some religious folks, but if you take it with the same ironic and humorous grain of salt it was intended, you'd find it to be a hoot. At least I did! It was my favorite of the three. The car chase scene left me literally rolling on the floor. I still continue to burst into random fits of laughter when remembering certain parts, often in most inappropriate environments . . .
No amount of wine could redeem this
- some parts are UNBELIEVABLY graphic, especially certain scenes from the first novelette . . . oof, shakes her head and cringes . . . feels her dinner begin to move back upward . . . takes a swig of the whiskey to hold it together
- did I mention the nasty?
Bottom Line
Black Cat Mojo is a collection of three disturbing tales filled with explicit details of vile and foul, and gnarly and subversive humor that will leave you either absolutely hating it or loving it to almost an inappropriate extent.
Read full review here: http://unfazeable.com/2015/09/01/blac...
May 8, 2015
Adam Howe’s Black Cat Mojo has something in it for everyone, as long as what you want includes dog shit, blinding cum shots, and extremely graphic violence. It’s very funny, very gross, and very hostile to anyone living below America’s Mason-Dixon line. The antagonists tend to be rednecks, which gets somewhat repetitive throughout, but Howe’s descriptive prose elevates the narrative, lifting it above the sordid subject matter. Just above.
Howe or his publisher did the right thing by leading off with Of Badgers and Porn Dwarfs, the funniest and most complete of the four stories. In it, former porn star Rummy the dwarf finds himself in desperate financial straits, and on his way to doing something particularly disgusting to pay off a debt, is sidetracked into a situation that was so appalling that I almost had to look away from the text near the end. A less-skilled writer might have glossed over some of the details, but Howe shows us everything in Technicolor 3-D, and you’re not quite the same after having read it. That probably isn’t a good thing.
Jesus in a Dog’s Ass was the weakest offering, relying on a not terribly funny joke to carry the story, and ending with a shit explosion you could see coming a mile away. Literally. Nevertheless, it had some amusing moments here and there, and if you’re into scatological humor (I am, don’t get me wrong), you’ll find it very satisfying.
Fans of mob movies will love Frank, the Snake, and the Snake. Despite an ugly climax and a somewhat unnecessary coda, it holds mobster glamour up to a mirror of brutal reality very effectively, doing for the Mafia what movies like Unforgiven did for westerns. Frank, its hapless protagonist, is bizarrely sympathetic despite his lack of self-regard, and his polar opposite Stevie is hysterical in his cluelessness. It’s a long, rough trip to get to the end, but worth it.
The Mad Butcher of Plainfield’s Chariot of Death was a fun little period story, notable for its use of the notorious Ed Gein as the basis for its horror. A slow build-up and a satisfying climax make this story the perfect cheese course for Howe’s meal of horrors.
Black Cat Mojo gets under your skin and stays there, which is what good books do. The protagonists are awful, the situations disturbing, and the settings distasteful. So pick up a copy and dig right in. You have nothing to lose but your cookies.
(Review originally posted at Ginger Nuts of Horror: http://gingernutsofhorror.com/4/post/...)
Howe or his publisher did the right thing by leading off with Of Badgers and Porn Dwarfs, the funniest and most complete of the four stories. In it, former porn star Rummy the dwarf finds himself in desperate financial straits, and on his way to doing something particularly disgusting to pay off a debt, is sidetracked into a situation that was so appalling that I almost had to look away from the text near the end. A less-skilled writer might have glossed over some of the details, but Howe shows us everything in Technicolor 3-D, and you’re not quite the same after having read it. That probably isn’t a good thing.
Jesus in a Dog’s Ass was the weakest offering, relying on a not terribly funny joke to carry the story, and ending with a shit explosion you could see coming a mile away. Literally. Nevertheless, it had some amusing moments here and there, and if you’re into scatological humor (I am, don’t get me wrong), you’ll find it very satisfying.
Fans of mob movies will love Frank, the Snake, and the Snake. Despite an ugly climax and a somewhat unnecessary coda, it holds mobster glamour up to a mirror of brutal reality very effectively, doing for the Mafia what movies like Unforgiven did for westerns. Frank, its hapless protagonist, is bizarrely sympathetic despite his lack of self-regard, and his polar opposite Stevie is hysterical in his cluelessness. It’s a long, rough trip to get to the end, but worth it.
The Mad Butcher of Plainfield’s Chariot of Death was a fun little period story, notable for its use of the notorious Ed Gein as the basis for its horror. A slow build-up and a satisfying climax make this story the perfect cheese course for Howe’s meal of horrors.
Black Cat Mojo gets under your skin and stays there, which is what good books do. The protagonists are awful, the situations disturbing, and the settings distasteful. So pick up a copy and dig right in. You have nothing to lose but your cookies.
(Review originally posted at Ginger Nuts of Horror: http://gingernutsofhorror.com/4/post/...)
April 20, 2016
Review:
Upon turning the last page of this anthology of remarkable novellas I was overwhelmed by a keen sense of loss … a kind of depression – a sense of non-sexual related post-coital tristesse or dysphoria.
Maybe you’ve read the reviews of this anthology where everyone seems to rave about OF BADGERS & PORN DWARFS and thought to yourself:
“What? - another story about a dwarf porn actor?”
The lead character is an adorable little guy who is gifted with a firehose for a cock.
That is, when it’s flaccid; when erect it’s as huge as the Washington Monument.
He’s also fifteen thousand dollars in debt to a bookie whose enforcer is a throwback with a fixation on the use of a blowtorch to the balls of recalcitrant debtors.
Sure.
But it takes a near-genius to execute such an idea and take it from its pulp-crime set-up, an outrageous over-the-top main character, turn it into a nightmarish horror tale and finally tuck the reader to bed with a nice wrap up that leaves the reader with a smile and a chuckle.
JESUS IN A DOG’S ASS is a shaggy dog joke with a messy punchline.
It’s the final novella in this collection, FRANK, THE SNAKE, & THE SNAKE that really ripped the top of my head off.
It’s a crime story that suddenly turns horrific.
It goes from a character study of a grease monkey loser sitting in a run-down bar drinking the remnants of his life away to a place only a special kind of tale of terror can take a reader.
In flashback we learn how he came to be where he is in this, the last third of his life heading for a small but certain fade out.
Speaking of heads …the final sixteen pages are absolutely riveting.
There’s a final satisfying short story contained in this anthology:
THE MAD BUTCHER OF PLAINFIELD’S CHARIOT OF DEATH
A send-up of the best E. C. Comics ever had to offer.
Imagine a classic E. C. Comics jam-session with individual panels drawn by Jack Davis, Bill Elder, John Severin and right at the end …the last 3 panels? Drawn by Ghastly Graham Ingles his own crypt kicking self.
I think the author is some kind of rare animal.
Someone who is able to take various genres of pulp fiction, remix them and then pour the molten results out for his appreciative audience.
Highest Recommendation!
Upon turning the last page of this anthology of remarkable novellas I was overwhelmed by a keen sense of loss … a kind of depression – a sense of non-sexual related post-coital tristesse or dysphoria.
Maybe you’ve read the reviews of this anthology where everyone seems to rave about OF BADGERS & PORN DWARFS and thought to yourself:
“What? - another story about a dwarf porn actor?”
The lead character is an adorable little guy who is gifted with a firehose for a cock.
That is, when it’s flaccid; when erect it’s as huge as the Washington Monument.
He’s also fifteen thousand dollars in debt to a bookie whose enforcer is a throwback with a fixation on the use of a blowtorch to the balls of recalcitrant debtors.
Sure.
But it takes a near-genius to execute such an idea and take it from its pulp-crime set-up, an outrageous over-the-top main character, turn it into a nightmarish horror tale and finally tuck the reader to bed with a nice wrap up that leaves the reader with a smile and a chuckle.
JESUS IN A DOG’S ASS is a shaggy dog joke with a messy punchline.
It’s the final novella in this collection, FRANK, THE SNAKE, & THE SNAKE that really ripped the top of my head off.
It’s a crime story that suddenly turns horrific.
It goes from a character study of a grease monkey loser sitting in a run-down bar drinking the remnants of his life away to a place only a special kind of tale of terror can take a reader.
In flashback we learn how he came to be where he is in this, the last third of his life heading for a small but certain fade out.
Speaking of heads …the final sixteen pages are absolutely riveting.
There’s a final satisfying short story contained in this anthology:
THE MAD BUTCHER OF PLAINFIELD’S CHARIOT OF DEATH
A send-up of the best E. C. Comics ever had to offer.
Imagine a classic E. C. Comics jam-session with individual panels drawn by Jack Davis, Bill Elder, John Severin and right at the end …the last 3 panels? Drawn by Ghastly Graham Ingles his own crypt kicking self.
I think the author is some kind of rare animal.
Someone who is able to take various genres of pulp fiction, remix them and then pour the molten results out for his appreciative audience.
Highest Recommendation!
April 23, 2016
After reading and enjoying every bit of Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet, I devoured Black Cat Mojo like Belladonna devours Rummy in Of Badgers and Porn Dwarfs. Adam has set the bar pretty damn high with Die Dog, but as Adam's first anthology, Black Cat Mojo is also pretty freaking awesome.
The first two stories were my favorite in this collection. Of Badgers and Porn Stars immediately hits it out of the park. Rummy Rumsfeld is a porn star midget with a long schlong and erectile dysfunction. Add in some gambling debt, a badger and a very traumatizing scene with "Momma" and you may wish you stuck to regular dwarf porn. Just kidding. You want to read this. Jesus In a Dog's Ass was unsurprisingly blasphemous and entirely enjoyable. This one doesn't need much more explanation, the title says (almost) it all.
The third story, Frank, The Snake & The Snake is the only story that I was less than in love with. It was not bad by any means, I just found it longer and maybe less amusing than the others. I did very much enjoy the ending. If you ever wanted to be a gangster, are scared of snakes, or have a fascination with drugs, this story is for you. The Mad Butcher of Plainfields Chariot Of Death is a perfectly short and adequately disturbing ending to this little package of vileness and debauchery. And immense amounts of fun.
Adam Howe is an author I recently discovered and one who needs to write more stories (for me), ASAP, because I'm out of them. I highly recommend reading anything by Adam that you can get your hands on and bugging him via e-mail (stalking hasn't been cute since he sent me the restraining order) to demand (encourage) that he produce more.
I received this book directly from the author himself in exchange for an honest review.
The first two stories were my favorite in this collection. Of Badgers and Porn Stars immediately hits it out of the park. Rummy Rumsfeld is a porn star midget with a long schlong and erectile dysfunction. Add in some gambling debt, a badger and a very traumatizing scene with "Momma" and you may wish you stuck to regular dwarf porn. Just kidding. You want to read this. Jesus In a Dog's Ass was unsurprisingly blasphemous and entirely enjoyable. This one doesn't need much more explanation, the title says (almost) it all.
The third story, Frank, The Snake & The Snake is the only story that I was less than in love with. It was not bad by any means, I just found it longer and maybe less amusing than the others. I did very much enjoy the ending. If you ever wanted to be a gangster, are scared of snakes, or have a fascination with drugs, this story is for you. The Mad Butcher of Plainfields Chariot Of Death is a perfectly short and adequately disturbing ending to this little package of vileness and debauchery. And immense amounts of fun.
Adam Howe is an author I recently discovered and one who needs to write more stories (for me), ASAP, because I'm out of them. I highly recommend reading anything by Adam that you can get your hands on and bugging him via e-mail (stalking hasn't been cute since he sent me the restraining order) to demand (encourage) that he produce more.
I received this book directly from the author himself in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2015
Black Cat Mojo is a book made up of short/novella stories.
You can't help but be really intrigued as, as book descriptions goes this one sounds bonkers!
My favourite story had to be OF BADGERS & PORN DWARFS which is the one that I was most worried about reading. I really didn't know whether I was going to like this book or not. It certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea but I was actually surprised how much overall I enjoyed it.
OF BADGERS & PORN DWARFS the main character Rummy Rumsfeld I found I actually quite liked, or maybe it was more that I felt quite sorry for him. Having made it to the height of porn stardom, he suddenly finds himself broke and in debt and here on in he finds himself in one disaster after another. Some parts of the story were quite disturbing but strangely enough I found them quite humorous. I think anyone who has quite a dark and twisted sense of humour is going to love this book.
FRANK, THE SNAKE, & THE SNAKE is another story which was enjoyable and totally reminds me of why I hate snakes.
Expect to find some very weird scenarios and even stranger characters throughout this book. It isn't going to be a book for everyone and certainly not advisable for any young readers but for anyone who likes to be more daring and try something totally out there I can highly recommend Black Cat Mojo.
Many thanks to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
You can't help but be really intrigued as, as book descriptions goes this one sounds bonkers!
My favourite story had to be OF BADGERS & PORN DWARFS which is the one that I was most worried about reading. I really didn't know whether I was going to like this book or not. It certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea but I was actually surprised how much overall I enjoyed it.
OF BADGERS & PORN DWARFS the main character Rummy Rumsfeld I found I actually quite liked, or maybe it was more that I felt quite sorry for him. Having made it to the height of porn stardom, he suddenly finds himself broke and in debt and here on in he finds himself in one disaster after another. Some parts of the story were quite disturbing but strangely enough I found them quite humorous. I think anyone who has quite a dark and twisted sense of humour is going to love this book.
FRANK, THE SNAKE, & THE SNAKE is another story which was enjoyable and totally reminds me of why I hate snakes.
Expect to find some very weird scenarios and even stranger characters throughout this book. It isn't going to be a book for everyone and certainly not advisable for any young readers but for anyone who likes to be more daring and try something totally out there I can highly recommend Black Cat Mojo.
Many thanks to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 10, 2016
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this collection.
After reading Die Dog Or Eat The Hatchet by Adam Howe I couldn't wait to read Black Cat Mojo. I was a little worried that it wouldn't be as good but my fears were for nothing. Black Cat Mojo was just as side-splittingly funny and twisted. These novella's are definitely not safe for those who prefer their comedy/horror to be meek and mild but if your funny bone is as warped as mine you're in for a treat with this book. Of Badgers and Porn Dwarfs had me cackling with laughter. This is one seriously demented tale that is reminiscent of books by Edward Lee. The dog-nappers in Jesus In A Dog's Ass are straight out of dumb crook news. I don't know if I felt sorrier for Poke or Scooter in this hilarious caper. Frank, The Snake, & The Snake has hands down the best name for a snake ever. I'm totally stealing it if we get a pet snake in the future! This collection ends with a bonus short story, The Mad Butcher Of Plainsfield's Chariot Of Death. This is a fantastically creepy little ghost story! If you haven't read anything by Adam Howe yet you're missing out, run to your nearest bookseller and get some!! I highly recommend this darkly twisted and deviant 5 star read.
After reading Die Dog Or Eat The Hatchet by Adam Howe I couldn't wait to read Black Cat Mojo. I was a little worried that it wouldn't be as good but my fears were for nothing. Black Cat Mojo was just as side-splittingly funny and twisted. These novella's are definitely not safe for those who prefer their comedy/horror to be meek and mild but if your funny bone is as warped as mine you're in for a treat with this book. Of Badgers and Porn Dwarfs had me cackling with laughter. This is one seriously demented tale that is reminiscent of books by Edward Lee. The dog-nappers in Jesus In A Dog's Ass are straight out of dumb crook news. I don't know if I felt sorrier for Poke or Scooter in this hilarious caper. Frank, The Snake, & The Snake has hands down the best name for a snake ever. I'm totally stealing it if we get a pet snake in the future! This collection ends with a bonus short story, The Mad Butcher Of Plainsfield's Chariot Of Death. This is a fantastically creepy little ghost story! If you haven't read anything by Adam Howe yet you're missing out, run to your nearest bookseller and get some!! I highly recommend this darkly twisted and deviant 5 star read.
April 23, 2016
Once you see it, you can't un-see it…
I’ve said it before and I am going to say it again, Adam Howe’s work is dripping with all the right amounts of blood and grizzly humor. Not to mention he has a knack for penning some of the most original and twisted characters in recent memory. Unique. Demented. Violent. Funny as hell.
A Solid 4.5+ Star collection bumped up to 5 for Momma the squirter. “Fetch me my hair.”
I’ve said it before and I am going to say it again, Adam Howe’s work is dripping with all the right amounts of blood and grizzly humor. Not to mention he has a knack for penning some of the most original and twisted characters in recent memory. Unique. Demented. Violent. Funny as hell.
A Solid 4.5+ Star collection bumped up to 5 for Momma the squirter. “Fetch me my hair.”
November 16, 2016
Pulp crucifiction
A solid debut from Howe, which I had to check out after the superior Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet. Three novellas and a short story that are all funny, disturbing and cinematic in fairly equal measure. Howe's the real deal and I look forward to his full length novel, whenever that may come.
A solid debut from Howe, which I had to check out after the superior Die Dog or Eat the Hatchet. Three novellas and a short story that are all funny, disturbing and cinematic in fairly equal measure. Howe's the real deal and I look forward to his full length novel, whenever that may come.
October 10, 2015
Hilarious and ridiculous short stories, like a trashier Palahniuk scripting a new Pulp Fiction. Sordid and witty.
February 19, 2018
This collection of down-'n'-dirty novellas sports a sense of humor that is blacker than the devil's bunghole and those with warped funny-bones will probably find themselves snorting cheap beer out of their nostrils at the laugh-aloud, animal-centric shenanigans of this pack of sleazeballs and ne'er-do-wells. A mule-hung dwarf battling an angry badger? Incompetent thieves mixing it up with a divinely diarrheatic terrier? A mob rat pitted against a giant python? The interior of Adam Howe's mind must be the weirdest place to visit since Alice tumbled down the rabbit hole, but it's way more awesome.
You haven't read this much violence and debauchery since God wrote the Old Testament, but there's no such thing as "Thou shalt not..." in Howe's ferociously FUBAR fiction. If you're looking for redneck crime/noir that slams you in the teeth like a sledgehammer wielded by Goliath reincarnated and burns with the gut-punch fire of rotgut whiskey laced with molten lava, then this right here is your literary mojo.
You haven't read this much violence and debauchery since God wrote the Old Testament, but there's no such thing as "Thou shalt not..." in Howe's ferociously FUBAR fiction. If you're looking for redneck crime/noir that slams you in the teeth like a sledgehammer wielded by Goliath reincarnated and burns with the gut-punch fire of rotgut whiskey laced with molten lava, then this right here is your literary mojo.
February 9, 2024
This was an interesting collection of short stories. Each in its own way more disturbing than the last. If you're into twisted writing, this is a book for you!
*I received a copy of this book for free. The review is my own, honest and unsolicited.
*I received a copy of this book for free. The review is my own, honest and unsolicited.
June 18, 2016
I met Adam online, it's usually how the best stories start, am I right? He'd been checking out my finished-reads list and dropped me a message, suggesting that I may enjoy his work. I wasn't familiar with his work and I was (still am) new to the review game, I gave him the "yeah sure, I'll check it out but I'm hella busy right now". He sent the book over anyway. The end.
Not really. Adam stayed in touch, asked around the book a bit and offered a chance to read his upcoming novella. I jumped on that, owing him a read. And I was blown away by a wonderful read. I was lost to his pages for a couple of hours, realizing that I needed to get on Black Cat Mojo immediately. I glanced through the book a t bit and... BOOM. I realized that I had read an Adam Howe joint years before. The Mad Butcher of Plainsfield's Chariot of Death, in Nightmare Magazine, December 2013 maybe. I don't know, but I was stoked! I was also embarrassed. For not remembering Adam and for dropping the ball on the hellacious read. Again, I'm not going to really get into the book, you're going to dig it more knowing as little as possible about it.
Just know that Black Cat Mojo is hilarious, repulsive, caustic and downright rad! These yarns run the gauntlet of a true reading experience.
The only common thread amongst these tales is the overwhelming air of menace and the genuine threat that anything can happen. And it does. No one is safe least of all you, the reader. Know this, Adam Howe is not for prudes or the faint of heart, he is for readers who want to enjoy hole heartedly the book they are reading.
Read this, read this now.
Overall score: 5/ 5
Zakk is a big dumb animal!
https://www.facebook.com/ExLibrisTheE...
**Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author/ publisher/ publicist on the promise of an honest review. These are my unbiased feelings.
Not really. Adam stayed in touch, asked around the book a bit and offered a chance to read his upcoming novella. I jumped on that, owing him a read. And I was blown away by a wonderful read. I was lost to his pages for a couple of hours, realizing that I needed to get on Black Cat Mojo immediately. I glanced through the book a t bit and... BOOM. I realized that I had read an Adam Howe joint years before. The Mad Butcher of Plainsfield's Chariot of Death, in Nightmare Magazine, December 2013 maybe. I don't know, but I was stoked! I was also embarrassed. For not remembering Adam and for dropping the ball on the hellacious read. Again, I'm not going to really get into the book, you're going to dig it more knowing as little as possible about it.
Just know that Black Cat Mojo is hilarious, repulsive, caustic and downright rad! These yarns run the gauntlet of a true reading experience.
The only common thread amongst these tales is the overwhelming air of menace and the genuine threat that anything can happen. And it does. No one is safe least of all you, the reader. Know this, Adam Howe is not for prudes or the faint of heart, he is for readers who want to enjoy hole heartedly the book they are reading.
Read this, read this now.
Overall score: 5/ 5
Zakk is a big dumb animal!
https://www.facebook.com/ExLibrisTheE...
**Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the author/ publisher/ publicist on the promise of an honest review. These are my unbiased feelings.
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