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Devil's Breath
In der sterbenden Küstenstadt Cape Cod lebt Stanley Falk ein ruhiges Leben. Er ist nur noch eine Hülle dessen, was er einst war, ein Mann mit einer dunklen Vergangenheit, die er im Alkohol zu ertränken versucht. Eines Morgens ist sein mageres Bankkonto geleert und die Erinnerung an das Trinkgelage des vergangenen Abends wie weggewischt. Schreckliche Albträume von bösartigen Göttern, fernen Planeten und einem grauenhaften Raum, in dem Folterpraktiken ausgeübt werden und das Blut in Strömen fießt, verfolgen ihn in jedem wachen Moment. Etwas Verkommenes ist darauf versessen, ihn in den dunklen Höllenschlund zurückzuziehen, aus dem er bereits sein Leben lang herauszukriechen versucht. Es ist etwas, das jede seiner Bewegungen aus den Schatten heraus beobachtet und ihn näher an eine Wahrheit jenseits seines Fassungsvermögens lockt … jenseits des Bösen … jenseits von allem, was er jemals für möglich gehalten hatte.
Du verehrst es, obwohl du es nicht kennst!190 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2015
5 people are currently reading
128 people want to read
About the author
Greg F. Gifune
79 books352 followersCalled "One of the best writers of his generation" by both the Roswell Literary Review and author Brian Keene, Greg F. Gifune is the author of numerous short stories, several novels and two short story collections. His work has been published in a wide range of magazines and anthologies all over the world, and has recently garnered interest from Hollywood. His novels include The Bleeding Season, Deep Night, Saying Uncle, A View From The Lake, Night Work, Drago Descending, Blood In Electric Blue and Dominion.
Along with his short story collections, Down To Sleep and Heretics, his work has been nominated for numerous awards and is consistently praised by readers and critics alike across the globe. For seven years he was Editor-in-Chief of Thievin' Kitty Publications, publishers of the acclaimed fiction magazines The Edge: Tales of Suspense (1998-2004) and Burning Sky: Adventures in Science Fiction Terror (1998-2003), and currently serves as Associate Editor at Delirium Books.
The son of teachers, Greg F. Gifune was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru. A trained actor and broadcaster, he has appeared in various stage productions and has worked in radio and television as both an on-air talent and a producer. Earlier in life he held a wide range of jobs, encompassing everything from journalism to promotions.
The author of numerous novels, screenplays and two short story collections, his work has been consistently praised by critics and readers alike, and has been translated into several languages and published all over the world. Greg and his wife Carol live in Massachusetts with a bevy of cats.
Discover more about his writing at GregFGifune.com and UninvitedBooks.com.
Along with his short story collections, Down To Sleep and Heretics, his work has been nominated for numerous awards and is consistently praised by readers and critics alike across the globe. For seven years he was Editor-in-Chief of Thievin' Kitty Publications, publishers of the acclaimed fiction magazines The Edge: Tales of Suspense (1998-2004) and Burning Sky: Adventures in Science Fiction Terror (1998-2003), and currently serves as Associate Editor at Delirium Books.
The son of teachers, Greg F. Gifune was educated in Boston and has lived in various places, including New York City and Peru. A trained actor and broadcaster, he has appeared in various stage productions and has worked in radio and television as both an on-air talent and a producer. Earlier in life he held a wide range of jobs, encompassing everything from journalism to promotions.
The author of numerous novels, screenplays and two short story collections, his work has been consistently praised by critics and readers alike, and has been translated into several languages and published all over the world. Greg and his wife Carol live in Massachusetts with a bevy of cats.
Discover more about his writing at GregFGifune.com and UninvitedBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 4, 2015
2 kinda "meh" stars.
Stanley Falk's story begins with him going to "off" himself. He gets a call right then from his dad demanding that he come to see him. He has something to tell him. So Stan's suicide gets put off.
At his dad's house we find out that Stan's dad is an abusive arsehole and just wants to torture Stan a bit more before moving away to an assisted living place.
So Stan goes back to his boring little dishwasher job. He then realizes his ATM card has been used and all his money wiped out of his account. He makes the trip to the bank to straighten things out and on the video it shows he himself is the culprit. The thing is he has no memories of that night.
Other than nightmares, really bad nightmares. But he has been having them for awhile.
(If this review seems choppy it's because the dang book was too)
He finds out that their is a "cult" like group working and they blow a drug called "Devil's Breathe" on their intended "helpers"...
"It only grows in Columbia," Chic explained. "Has a plant on it called brugmansia. They call it The Devil's breathe 'cause it makes something called Scopolamine. It's a drug. It's legit all over the world, they use it to treat Parkinson's disease and shit like that. Thing is, see, in a raw form it turns people into fucking zombies. You blow that shit in somebody's face, it's instant personal zombie time."
So Stan starts digging deeper to try and figure out why they have been drugging him and why he is having nightmares from it.
This story for me, was just one that I had to make myself read. It never did get to a point where I actually enjoyed it. Blah.
I admit to skimming the last part of this book because I was bored.
Book source: Netgalley in exchange for review.
Stanley Falk's story begins with him going to "off" himself. He gets a call right then from his dad demanding that he come to see him. He has something to tell him. So Stan's suicide gets put off.
At his dad's house we find out that Stan's dad is an abusive arsehole and just wants to torture Stan a bit more before moving away to an assisted living place.
So Stan goes back to his boring little dishwasher job. He then realizes his ATM card has been used and all his money wiped out of his account. He makes the trip to the bank to straighten things out and on the video it shows he himself is the culprit. The thing is he has no memories of that night.
Other than nightmares, really bad nightmares. But he has been having them for awhile.
(If this review seems choppy it's because the dang book was too)
He finds out that their is a "cult" like group working and they blow a drug called "Devil's Breathe" on their intended "helpers"...
"It only grows in Columbia," Chic explained. "Has a plant on it called brugmansia. They call it The Devil's breathe 'cause it makes something called Scopolamine. It's a drug. It's legit all over the world, they use it to treat Parkinson's disease and shit like that. Thing is, see, in a raw form it turns people into fucking zombies. You blow that shit in somebody's face, it's instant personal zombie time."
So Stan starts digging deeper to try and figure out why they have been drugging him and why he is having nightmares from it.
This story for me, was just one that I had to make myself read. It never did get to a point where I actually enjoyed it. Blah.
I admit to skimming the last part of this book because I was bored.
Book source: Netgalley in exchange for review.
June 11, 2015
Devil's Breath by Greg Gifune **On July 7, (the official release date of Devil's Breath), I hope you'll head over to Horror After Dark for my interview with Greg and your chance to win a signed copy or 1 of 3 Kindle copies of this book!**
Have you ever heard of Devil's Breath? It's a drug that is odorless and tasteless and if you blow it into someone's face? They will turn into a zombie, ready to do your bidding. Put this drug into the hands of the wrong people and who knows what could happen. Of course, that is exactly what occurs in this book and the outcome is not pretty.
Stan Falk is trying to put his life back together after some difficult years. He's working as a dishwasher, renting himself a cottage in Sunset, a village near Cape Cod. He's tired of his life, tired of everything and is ready to end it all when he hears a knock at the door. From there, his life is forever changed.
I enjoyed the hell out of this book. It was fast paced, the characters were interesting and complex; Stan's past is slowly revealed as the story unfolds and he's not the greatest of guys as the reader first thinks. I loved learning more about him and I cared for him, even with all of his faults.
Combine these excellent characters with some cult-type action, throw in some devil's breath on top of that and you have this book-part mystery, part suspense, part horror-it's hard to categorize. I'll just say it was excellent and leave it at that.
This is another sublime novel from Mr. Gifune and I feel comfortable giving it my highest recommendation!
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
Have you ever heard of Devil's Breath? It's a drug that is odorless and tasteless and if you blow it into someone's face? They will turn into a zombie, ready to do your bidding. Put this drug into the hands of the wrong people and who knows what could happen. Of course, that is exactly what occurs in this book and the outcome is not pretty.
Stan Falk is trying to put his life back together after some difficult years. He's working as a dishwasher, renting himself a cottage in Sunset, a village near Cape Cod. He's tired of his life, tired of everything and is ready to end it all when he hears a knock at the door. From there, his life is forever changed.
I enjoyed the hell out of this book. It was fast paced, the characters were interesting and complex; Stan's past is slowly revealed as the story unfolds and he's not the greatest of guys as the reader first thinks. I loved learning more about him and I cared for him, even with all of his faults.
Combine these excellent characters with some cult-type action, throw in some devil's breath on top of that and you have this book-part mystery, part suspense, part horror-it's hard to categorize. I'll just say it was excellent and leave it at that.
This is another sublime novel from Mr. Gifune and I feel comfortable giving it my highest recommendation!
*I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*
June 15, 2015
'It’s a terrible thing to know terrible things.'
Devils Breath is the literary equivalent of a man lost in a nightmare, drifting toward insanity, unable to escape, whilst at the same time amassing the precarious attention of shady figures that revel in the darkness.
The first line of this review is the first line of Devils Breath and sets the scene perfectly for our protagonist’s trip into a dark world that exists in the periphery of thought. Stan Faulk's morning itinerary is decided, resolute and fatalistic, the concept of death about to become reality with the aid of a straight razor. Scenes of a failed life drift past his mind’s eye as he prepares for the final moment but the end is interrupted before it even begins with a knock at the door. He opens the door and as if the line that determines the outside from the inside also acts as an arbitrator between sane and crazed, he's sees himself.
Then his hangover hits and the realization that his previous night comes with no memory, his money is gone and his only clue a plain black business card and the words of a homeless man. Stan Faulk has felt the devils breath, he's been chosen for something beyond his comprehension in a world that doesn't exist.
'Somewhere, at the very edge of my memory… something… but before I could grab hold of it, the memory— or whatever it was— slipped free, drifting away like smoke spiraling from a snuffed candle. In its wake, only fear.'
A powerful cult, secret yet exposed if you know where to look, a drug that surrenders control and a perfect conspiracy theory, if that's your kind of thing. Coupled with an intriguing character harbouring a destructive past tinged with sadness, and the bare slither of reclamation in a new relationship.
'We are the nightmares behind your dreams.'
The Devils Breath slips effortlessly between the world of nightmare and the nightmare that haunts reality, between lucidity and insanity, all through a seemingly impenetrable blackness. If dark fiction is your thing then you won't go far wrong with this one.
I received Devils Breath from Darkfuse & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and that’s what you’ve got.
Also posted at http://www.screamhorrormag.com/devils...
And http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
Devils Breath is the literary equivalent of a man lost in a nightmare, drifting toward insanity, unable to escape, whilst at the same time amassing the precarious attention of shady figures that revel in the darkness.
The first line of this review is the first line of Devils Breath and sets the scene perfectly for our protagonist’s trip into a dark world that exists in the periphery of thought. Stan Faulk's morning itinerary is decided, resolute and fatalistic, the concept of death about to become reality with the aid of a straight razor. Scenes of a failed life drift past his mind’s eye as he prepares for the final moment but the end is interrupted before it even begins with a knock at the door. He opens the door and as if the line that determines the outside from the inside also acts as an arbitrator between sane and crazed, he's sees himself.
Then his hangover hits and the realization that his previous night comes with no memory, his money is gone and his only clue a plain black business card and the words of a homeless man. Stan Faulk has felt the devils breath, he's been chosen for something beyond his comprehension in a world that doesn't exist.
'Somewhere, at the very edge of my memory… something… but before I could grab hold of it, the memory— or whatever it was— slipped free, drifting away like smoke spiraling from a snuffed candle. In its wake, only fear.'
A powerful cult, secret yet exposed if you know where to look, a drug that surrenders control and a perfect conspiracy theory, if that's your kind of thing. Coupled with an intriguing character harbouring a destructive past tinged with sadness, and the bare slither of reclamation in a new relationship.
'We are the nightmares behind your dreams.'
The Devils Breath slips effortlessly between the world of nightmare and the nightmare that haunts reality, between lucidity and insanity, all through a seemingly impenetrable blackness. If dark fiction is your thing then you won't go far wrong with this one.
I received Devils Breath from Darkfuse & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and that’s what you’ve got.
Also posted at http://www.screamhorrormag.com/devils...
And http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
June 18, 2015
3.5 stars, rounded up.
I found this story particularly difficult to review. While Gifune's writing style has a beautiful flow, and many poignant--almost poetic--passages, I found the storyline to be all too similar to two or three of his other recent works.
The writing itself, as mentioned, is in top form. Gifune has a gift with phrasing ideas so that they practically paint a picture in your mind. Some of my favorite examples:
"...death was anything but conceptual. There was nothing more literal." And,
"Violence was like that. It was like an addiction, always there, just waiting for that moment of weakness, that opening that might allow it back."
His main character, Stan Falk, is a lowly dishwasher, hiding from his own abusive, and later--shady--past. From the insights we are given, we grow to like this character despite the atrocities in his past. The past molded him, and used him, until he finally turned to an uneventful dish cleaner, renting a modest cottage in Sunset. Just when he has decided to succumb to his failures, an unexplainable twist of fate gives him a new issue to tackle. As Stan, himself, stated: "This was not the time for hearts and flowers. It was all blood and barbed wire now."
Stan stands on the line between sanity and insanity--a line that blurs quite often in his quest for the truth. In a part of his past life, Stan was a very sharp predator, but: "The predator never expects to become the prey."
The novel was a fun read--although the central premise remained a bit too "unbelievable" an had not gone into greater detail as it could have. Besides that, as I mentioned previously, this plot reminded me simply too much of some of his previous titles. As soon as I began, I felt I knew where the novel was going to end. The only differences were the characters and reasons behind it.
Still, a solid read. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
*I received an advance copy of this book through DarkFuse and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I found this story particularly difficult to review. While Gifune's writing style has a beautiful flow, and many poignant--almost poetic--passages, I found the storyline to be all too similar to two or three of his other recent works.
The writing itself, as mentioned, is in top form. Gifune has a gift with phrasing ideas so that they practically paint a picture in your mind. Some of my favorite examples:
"...death was anything but conceptual. There was nothing more literal." And,
"Violence was like that. It was like an addiction, always there, just waiting for that moment of weakness, that opening that might allow it back."
His main character, Stan Falk, is a lowly dishwasher, hiding from his own abusive, and later--shady--past. From the insights we are given, we grow to like this character despite the atrocities in his past. The past molded him, and used him, until he finally turned to an uneventful dish cleaner, renting a modest cottage in Sunset. Just when he has decided to succumb to his failures, an unexplainable twist of fate gives him a new issue to tackle. As Stan, himself, stated: "This was not the time for hearts and flowers. It was all blood and barbed wire now."
Stan stands on the line between sanity and insanity--a line that blurs quite often in his quest for the truth. In a part of his past life, Stan was a very sharp predator, but: "The predator never expects to become the prey."
The novel was a fun read--although the central premise remained a bit too "unbelievable" an had not gone into greater detail as it could have. Besides that, as I mentioned previously, this plot reminded me simply too much of some of his previous titles. As soon as I began, I felt I knew where the novel was going to end. The only differences were the characters and reasons behind it.
Still, a solid read. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
*I received an advance copy of this book through DarkFuse and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
August 3, 2015
This was number thirteen, books I have read by Greg. The story is centered around a man named Stan. A forty six year old who has worked as a dishwasher at American Diner and Grill for about a year. Only family he has left is his father who used to beat him and his mother all the time when he was young. His life is so bad he is thinking of ways to end his life. On the way home from work he stops at a convenience store for a frozen dinner and a Coke. Tries to pay with his debit card but it's declined. He calls about his card and finds out his money was withdrawn last night at 12:36am all but forty seven cents. Then he runs into his friend Duane who said he seen him last night around 1:00am. He doesn't remember this. When he goes to the bank and sees the video of him taking the money out which he doesn't remember. On top of the dreams about the spiders and the old man in a throne. This is when the story gets going. Like most of Greg's books he creates this eerie atmosphere, a good flow to the story and interesting characters. I enjoyed reading this book but it wasn't one of his best. I gave Devil's Breath 3 1/2 stars.
I received an e-arc of this book from DarkFuse/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I received an e-arc of this book from DarkFuse/NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
June 12, 2015
This was an eARC from Netgalley.
When Stan Falk, a man on the verge of suicide, puts down the straight razor to answer a knock at his door, he finds himself facing the impossible, and so begins his descent into the darkness that will test his grip on his sanity and his reality....a grip that may dissolve into ashes at any moment.
Gifune blends urban legend, conspiracy theory and a healthy dose of "truth is stranger than fiction" into a perfect storm of noir sensibilities and pure, cold sweat paranoia, twisting both the outer and the inner landscapes, the temporal and the emotional, keeping the tension piano wire taut as Stan struggles to find his equilibrium in a world where nothing is what it seems to be, and what lurks among the gears beyond the thin veil of Reality makes it's presence known, pulling strings that stretch like a web through everything we know.
Highly recommended.
When Stan Falk, a man on the verge of suicide, puts down the straight razor to answer a knock at his door, he finds himself facing the impossible, and so begins his descent into the darkness that will test his grip on his sanity and his reality....a grip that may dissolve into ashes at any moment.
Gifune blends urban legend, conspiracy theory and a healthy dose of "truth is stranger than fiction" into a perfect storm of noir sensibilities and pure, cold sweat paranoia, twisting both the outer and the inner landscapes, the temporal and the emotional, keeping the tension piano wire taut as Stan struggles to find his equilibrium in a world where nothing is what it seems to be, and what lurks among the gears beyond the thin veil of Reality makes it's presence known, pulling strings that stretch like a web through everything we know.
Highly recommended.
January 12, 2016
Fascinating, gripping tale from Gifune involving secret societies, the god Saturn and haunting nightmares plaguing one desperate man searching for the truth of what happened to him one night when returning from work. Solid writing filled with descriptive, elegant prose renders the plight of our protagonist, Stan, all the more harrowing. The ending is apropos, bringing the story full-circle and leaving the reader with a satisfying jolt. A must for all Gifune fans and a good starting point if you've never read him before. Highly recommended.
August 23, 2016
A powder blown dishwasher with a dangerous a past, opens the door on himself and sets in motion wheels of circumstance that quickly spiral out of control.
Gifune knows dark fiction and has firmly established himself as one of the best in the business. I thought this one could have used a bit of a haircut around the Saturn conspiracy, but nonetheless a brooding and engaging tale about bending time and reality.
*As a member of the DarkFuse NetGalley Readers Group, I received an advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
Gifune knows dark fiction and has firmly established himself as one of the best in the business. I thought this one could have used a bit of a haircut around the Saturn conspiracy, but nonetheless a brooding and engaging tale about bending time and reality.
*As a member of the DarkFuse NetGalley Readers Group, I received an advanced copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2015
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Stan Falk is tired of his life and plans to end it all until he hears a knock at his door. A succession of strange incidents lead Stan back to a darker time in his past as he tries to figure out who is interfering in his life and how his nightmares may be connected to them.
Devil's breath is the name of a drug that actually exists, scary stuff as it's use in the book is to make people zombie like drones who can be manipulated to do anything. The fact that this drug is real made this read a lot more unsettling. Gifune has done a lot of research for the book and the mythology around the story is complex, perhaps too complex as it became difficult at times to keep everything straight.
The stand out aspect of the story for me was the character of Stan, someone you felt sympathy for with his violent childhood and his turbulent adult years. I was completely drawn in with the complexity of his character, his facade of harmlessness slipping as he reverts effortlessly back to his violent alter ego to deal with the mysterious cult. I felt fully invested in his outcome as well as that of Sophie, his waitress friend who also becomes entangled in his increasingly dangerous life.
Another great read from Gifune that leaves you thinking of the ending and trying to remember how all the threads of it come together. Great atmosphere and great characters make this recommended read for those that enjoy very dark fiction
Stan Falk is tired of his life and plans to end it all until he hears a knock at his door. A succession of strange incidents lead Stan back to a darker time in his past as he tries to figure out who is interfering in his life and how his nightmares may be connected to them.
Devil's breath is the name of a drug that actually exists, scary stuff as it's use in the book is to make people zombie like drones who can be manipulated to do anything. The fact that this drug is real made this read a lot more unsettling. Gifune has done a lot of research for the book and the mythology around the story is complex, perhaps too complex as it became difficult at times to keep everything straight.
The stand out aspect of the story for me was the character of Stan, someone you felt sympathy for with his violent childhood and his turbulent adult years. I was completely drawn in with the complexity of his character, his facade of harmlessness slipping as he reverts effortlessly back to his violent alter ego to deal with the mysterious cult. I felt fully invested in his outcome as well as that of Sophie, his waitress friend who also becomes entangled in his increasingly dangerous life.
Another great read from Gifune that leaves you thinking of the ending and trying to remember how all the threads of it come together. Great atmosphere and great characters make this recommended read for those that enjoy very dark fiction
June 20, 2015
"You worship what you do not know."
I think this may be my new favorite book by Greg Gifune. I believe that it is even better than Oasis of the Damned, which is pretty "damned" good. Devil's Breath is a brilliant story with beautiful prose. Stanley Falk is a broken man with an even worse past. Washing dishes for barely enough money to live on and planning to put himself out of his misery, Stanley finds himself face to face with himself and a future that he wasn't planning on when his past comes knocking at his door.
I was glued to this book from the moment I started it until I finished the last page. Gifune has a very distinctive (addictive) style of writing and a very keen grasp of humanity-- of the tortured soul.
I received this e-arc from NetGalley and DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review.
I think this may be my new favorite book by Greg Gifune. I believe that it is even better than Oasis of the Damned, which is pretty "damned" good. Devil's Breath is a brilliant story with beautiful prose. Stanley Falk is a broken man with an even worse past. Washing dishes for barely enough money to live on and planning to put himself out of his misery, Stanley finds himself face to face with himself and a future that he wasn't planning on when his past comes knocking at his door.
I was glued to this book from the moment I started it until I finished the last page. Gifune has a very distinctive (addictive) style of writing and a very keen grasp of humanity-- of the tortured soul.
I received this e-arc from NetGalley and DarkFuse in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2015
Greg F. Gifune is clearly a writer who knows he's onto a good thing. Shadowy conspiracies (often involving some element of the government), visions of demonic things, a broken and world-weary protagonist with more than a few questions about his sanity. These are the narrative elements that have comprised almost every book from him that I've read.
And The Devil's Breath is, by and large, cut from the same cloth.
The devil is in the details (ha!), so there are a few things about Gifune's latest release that slightly vary the formula. However basically, the reader follows the POV of Stan, a man with a shady past, who is ready to end his life when he himself comes knocking at the door and interrupts his plans. From there, Stan is drawn into an increasingly dark world where he begins to doubt his sanity, even as he uncovers information about a secret society that has nefarious plans aplenty.
In the hands of a lesser writer, The Devil's Breath could have been a mess. But with Gifune at the helm, the reader is guaranteed a quality story told with the effortless ease by a master wordsmith capable of stringing sentences together that create a whole truly greater than the sum of its parts.
It's just that I've read it all before - and no less than three times this year. Gifune's most recent release, Orphans of Wonderland, being perhaps the most similar; though Kingdom of Shadows comes very close. As a result, not even the excellent writing in The Devil's Breath could maintain my interest, as it began to feel overly familiar and somewhat bloated in length.
Here's hoping Gifune opts to stretch his scope and try something different in the near future. And even if he does not, I've already decided to space out working my way through his back catalogue to reduce the chances of getting the same kind of fatigue with any further of his books. They're too good to squander in such a way.
3 Metaphorical Dogs With a Bone for The Devil's Breath.
The above review is based on an eARC distributed by DarkFuse via Netgalley.
And The Devil's Breath is, by and large, cut from the same cloth.
The devil is in the details (ha!), so there are a few things about Gifune's latest release that slightly vary the formula. However basically, the reader follows the POV of Stan, a man with a shady past, who is ready to end his life when he himself comes knocking at the door and interrupts his plans. From there, Stan is drawn into an increasingly dark world where he begins to doubt his sanity, even as he uncovers information about a secret society that has nefarious plans aplenty.
In the hands of a lesser writer, The Devil's Breath could have been a mess. But with Gifune at the helm, the reader is guaranteed a quality story told with the effortless ease by a master wordsmith capable of stringing sentences together that create a whole truly greater than the sum of its parts.
It's just that I've read it all before - and no less than three times this year. Gifune's most recent release, Orphans of Wonderland, being perhaps the most similar; though Kingdom of Shadows comes very close. As a result, not even the excellent writing in The Devil's Breath could maintain my interest, as it began to feel overly familiar and somewhat bloated in length.
Here's hoping Gifune opts to stretch his scope and try something different in the near future. And even if he does not, I've already decided to space out working my way through his back catalogue to reduce the chances of getting the same kind of fatigue with any further of his books. They're too good to squander in such a way.
3 Metaphorical Dogs With a Bone for The Devil's Breath.
The above review is based on an eARC distributed by DarkFuse via Netgalley.
September 25, 2015
4.5 stars.
"It's a terrible thing to know terrible things."
And so begins Devil's Breath, Greg Gifune's story of one man's decent into his own personal hell. Stanley Falk lives a quiet and solitary lifestyle, doing menial labor at a fast food restaurant and choosing to live a life of meager means. But Stanley is a man with a past, and within the memory of that past exist demons that haunt his every moment. Eventually Stan Falk decides he's had enough and, somewhat unusually, the story begins as Stan is about to end it all. Stan's cut-throat-razor assisted suicide is given a last minute reprieve by a knock at the door, which he opens to find himself face to face with his doppelganger.
His suicide is placed on hold as he tries to work out the reality of the strange visitation, the realization that he has suffered episodes of missing time, and just what it all may mean? Later that day he discovers that someone has cleaned out his bank account. A visit to his bank reveals footage of Stan seemingly emptying his own account... but could it have been the mysterious doppelganger?
"On this night the Devil lives and breaths.
"And he's getting closer."
Aided by Sophie, a lonely woman with a good soul, and Duane, a homeless man who resides on the beach behind Stan's cottage, the search is on to try and find whoever is responsible for stealing Stan's memories, and his money. Very quickly, Stan's life descends into even greater turmoil as he uncovers the existence of a secret cabal who, for reasons he cannot yet fathom, seem to have taken an interest in his sad and pitiful life. Stanley Falk has entered a world of magic ritual and ancient gods.
"We are the nightmares behind your dreams."
It's fair to say that Greg Gifune writes from the deepest wounds. Now, I'm not suggesting that Mr. Gifune himself has ever experienced the sort of trauma his protagonists suffer - I would hope he hasn't. But he certainly has the capacity to empathize with such characters and situations, and to then set down into words a world of hurt, populated by broken and world-weary figures. He is a master storyteller of character driven plots, and I found the opening one-hundred-sixty pages to be enthralling. Not just with regards the growing mystery, but rather the strength of character development.
I also enjoyed the premise of the secret society, and I liked the way the author pulled together a number of commonly held beliefs (common among conspiracy circles), but maybe, particularly after such a strong opening, it was always going to be difficult to maintain the tension and pace running up until the finale.
Overall, for creating razors edge tension, and characters with real depth and soul, I'd score Devil's Breath 5.5. With a lesser score of 3.5 for the plot. My maths isn't great, but I'd say that breaks down to an overall score of 4.5 stars.
A very good book.
"It's a terrible thing to know terrible things."
And so begins Devil's Breath, Greg Gifune's story of one man's decent into his own personal hell. Stanley Falk lives a quiet and solitary lifestyle, doing menial labor at a fast food restaurant and choosing to live a life of meager means. But Stanley is a man with a past, and within the memory of that past exist demons that haunt his every moment. Eventually Stan Falk decides he's had enough and, somewhat unusually, the story begins as Stan is about to end it all. Stan's cut-throat-razor assisted suicide is given a last minute reprieve by a knock at the door, which he opens to find himself face to face with his doppelganger.
His suicide is placed on hold as he tries to work out the reality of the strange visitation, the realization that he has suffered episodes of missing time, and just what it all may mean? Later that day he discovers that someone has cleaned out his bank account. A visit to his bank reveals footage of Stan seemingly emptying his own account... but could it have been the mysterious doppelganger?
"On this night the Devil lives and breaths.
"And he's getting closer."
Aided by Sophie, a lonely woman with a good soul, and Duane, a homeless man who resides on the beach behind Stan's cottage, the search is on to try and find whoever is responsible for stealing Stan's memories, and his money. Very quickly, Stan's life descends into even greater turmoil as he uncovers the existence of a secret cabal who, for reasons he cannot yet fathom, seem to have taken an interest in his sad and pitiful life. Stanley Falk has entered a world of magic ritual and ancient gods.
"We are the nightmares behind your dreams."
It's fair to say that Greg Gifune writes from the deepest wounds. Now, I'm not suggesting that Mr. Gifune himself has ever experienced the sort of trauma his protagonists suffer - I would hope he hasn't. But he certainly has the capacity to empathize with such characters and situations, and to then set down into words a world of hurt, populated by broken and world-weary figures. He is a master storyteller of character driven plots, and I found the opening one-hundred-sixty pages to be enthralling. Not just with regards the growing mystery, but rather the strength of character development.
I also enjoyed the premise of the secret society, and I liked the way the author pulled together a number of commonly held beliefs (common among conspiracy circles), but maybe, particularly after such a strong opening, it was always going to be difficult to maintain the tension and pace running up until the finale.
Overall, for creating razors edge tension, and characters with real depth and soul, I'd score Devil's Breath 5.5. With a lesser score of 3.5 for the plot. My maths isn't great, but I'd say that breaks down to an overall score of 4.5 stars.
A very good book.
August 18, 2015
I Happily received this book from Netgalley and DarkFuse For an honest review.
I had a feeling about this book from the moment I saw the cover. I've seen other book's That Greg F.Gifune has written but this was my second ever book I've had the pleasure to read of his. I was just MINDBLOWN with this plot. even after reading "The Rain Dancer's" I'm sitting here trying to find the words to tell you guys how fantastic this book is! For me personally it hit all the marks of a Suspense horror for the duration of this book. I was on the edge of my seat! I kid you not! I love a Plot that makes you think while reading the book.. And best of all after reading the book. Greg totally has done this to me I even researched some of the key factors in this book! that's how much it got me thinking. also the way the characters had depth to there personality's too. I liked that!
So a bit about the plot without giving it away.
We meet Stan Falk. Now Stan is a man getting by how he can.. Stan has secrets like we all do, But his secrets and world is about to be thrown apart... He was on the verge of suicide before the knock on the door came.
The tension in this book was as thin as a violin string I felt it was going break at any point!
All in all a Excellent read and highly Highly recommended read. Greg F.Gifune i salute you.
July 7, 2015
Review copy
Greg. F. Gifune is a best-selling author, called "One of the best writers of his generation" by both the Roswell Literary Review and author Brian Keene.
Devil's Breath is his newest novel published by Darkfuse. Devil's Breath is a real thing, go ahead and google it. It's pretty scary stuff and was the direct inspiration for this wonderful work of fiction.
I was drawn in immediately by the darkly beautiful prose, beginning with this opening line, "It's a terrible thing to know terrible things."
Sometimes surreal and other times gritty and real, Devil's Breath will leave you questioning what you have known to be true your entire life.
There are some very well-drawn characters in this book. I particularly liked the lead character's father and the acidic relationship shared with his son. Others include Duane and the Professor, a couple of homeless men who have pivotal roles in the story.
This book is far from politically correct and I like that, too. At times distressingly disturbing, with just enough truth to make you crazy, Devil's Breath might just cause you to lose some sleep.
Devil's Breath will be available on the Kindle on July 7th, 2015, from Darkfuse. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this one at no additional charge and if you're an Amazon Prime member you can borrow it for FREE as a part of the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Definitely recommended.
Greg. F. Gifune is a best-selling author, called "One of the best writers of his generation" by both the Roswell Literary Review and author Brian Keene.
Devil's Breath is his newest novel published by Darkfuse. Devil's Breath is a real thing, go ahead and google it. It's pretty scary stuff and was the direct inspiration for this wonderful work of fiction.
I was drawn in immediately by the darkly beautiful prose, beginning with this opening line, "It's a terrible thing to know terrible things."
Sometimes surreal and other times gritty and real, Devil's Breath will leave you questioning what you have known to be true your entire life.
There are some very well-drawn characters in this book. I particularly liked the lead character's father and the acidic relationship shared with his son. Others include Duane and the Professor, a couple of homeless men who have pivotal roles in the story.
This book is far from politically correct and I like that, too. At times distressingly disturbing, with just enough truth to make you crazy, Devil's Breath might just cause you to lose some sleep.
Devil's Breath will be available on the Kindle on July 7th, 2015, from Darkfuse. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read this one at no additional charge and if you're an Amazon Prime member you can borrow it for FREE as a part of the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Definitely recommended.
January 16, 2016
4 Stars
Devil's Breath by Gregory Gifune is another short piece of awesome horror by a master. I am a huge fan of Gifune and feel he is a must read for anyone with interest in the horror genre. He has tons of awesome novels and novellas that are worth your time.
In this book we are treated to a very fast paced horror story about a man named Stan that believes that there is some more going on around him. Is he seeing things? Has he been drugged? Is he being targeted or duped? So much appears to be strange to him. I loved the way Gifune kept us in the dark along with him.
The story moves along quickly and has a very satisfying ending. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
A snippet :
"The nature of all beasts changes at any given moment, but the beast itself remains. After all, it is not we who react to this world, but this world that reacts to us. Our world is haunted because we are haunted. By deed and thought, memory and cognition, we are damned or saved.
We move in light but dream in darkness. Spiders all, we are unafraid of the fly, fearful instead of our own kind, our other, not that which we kill but that which we give life to, as that is what will devour us just as surely as we devour the fly. It’s a terrible thing to know terrible things. Come and see…"
Highly recommend. Go get a Gifune book...He is awesome!
Devil's Breath by Gregory Gifune is another short piece of awesome horror by a master. I am a huge fan of Gifune and feel he is a must read for anyone with interest in the horror genre. He has tons of awesome novels and novellas that are worth your time.
In this book we are treated to a very fast paced horror story about a man named Stan that believes that there is some more going on around him. Is he seeing things? Has he been drugged? Is he being targeted or duped? So much appears to be strange to him. I loved the way Gifune kept us in the dark along with him.
The story moves along quickly and has a very satisfying ending. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
A snippet :
"The nature of all beasts changes at any given moment, but the beast itself remains. After all, it is not we who react to this world, but this world that reacts to us. Our world is haunted because we are haunted. By deed and thought, memory and cognition, we are damned or saved.
We move in light but dream in darkness. Spiders all, we are unafraid of the fly, fearful instead of our own kind, our other, not that which we kill but that which we give life to, as that is what will devour us just as surely as we devour the fly. It’s a terrible thing to know terrible things. Come and see…"
Highly recommend. Go get a Gifune book...He is awesome!
September 27, 2024
Stan doesn’t have much to live for. He works a dead-end job as a dishwasher. His girlfriend dumped him. He drinks himself into oblivion on a nightly basis. With no mother and a sadistic asshole for a father, Stan doesn’t have much going right for him. Sitting in a bathtub with a straight razor in his hand, he’s determined to get this one thing right…and then there was a knock at the door.
Gifune is a master at weaving together a story filled with characters where you question their sanity and the truth is always one or two steps out of reach. His releases, The Rain Dancers, Children of Chaos and Rogue, are all excellent examples. With Devil’s Breath, it feels like he went back to the well one too many times. Thing started off well, but as the story was slowly revealed, I couldn’t quite buy into the premise, nor did I care about the characters as time went on.
3 handfuls of Serpent and the Rainbow powder out of 5
Gifune is a master at weaving together a story filled with characters where you question their sanity and the truth is always one or two steps out of reach. His releases, The Rain Dancers, Children of Chaos and Rogue, are all excellent examples. With Devil’s Breath, it feels like he went back to the well one too many times. Thing started off well, but as the story was slowly revealed, I couldn’t quite buy into the premise, nor did I care about the characters as time went on.
3 handfuls of Serpent and the Rainbow powder out of 5
October 5, 2015
"Greg Gifune is a man that has a lot of books out there. Each one is different in so many ways. The one thing that is consistent throughout is the fact that his style of writing is superb. Each and every one of these books is overflowing with a masterfully dark atmosphere that completely immerses you in the particular story you are reading. If you were handed a section of pages to read, not knowing who wrote them, you would immediately know his style if you have read him before. Not many authors can do that these days. This is what makes him an absolute master of this genre."
For the full review see here:
Devil's Breath
For the full review see here:
Devil's Breath
August 16, 2015
Devil's Breath
Wow this was a creepy story !!! I thoroughly enjoyed it. The suspense didn't stop. I was drawn in the mystery from the start and I held on for dear life. I highly recommend this piece of dark fiction by Greg, this is my favorite so far!!
Wow this was a creepy story !!! I thoroughly enjoyed it. The suspense didn't stop. I was drawn in the mystery from the start and I held on for dear life. I highly recommend this piece of dark fiction by Greg, this is my favorite so far!!
June 2, 2021
3,5*
July 11, 2015
Greg Gifune's latest grabbed me right off the bat and kept me glued to the pages for the whole ride through. For my tastes, DEVIL'S BREATH is a truly excellent read that hit a number of sweet spots: cultists, conspiracy theory, and a dash of cosmic horror and predeterminism that, combined, led to a heck of a WTF?! read. The climax of the book was perhaps a touch too hallucinogenic and crazy, but I can't fault the author for it as he crafts a fitting and necessary finale that worked well enough given the story's thematic elements.
Gifune is an absolutely terrific writer, and his brand of horror/dark fiction is superb. I haven't made much of a dent in his back-list yet, but I am bound and determined to play catch-up. Of the handful of titles I have read by him, DEVIL'S BREATH stands at the top of the heap so far and had me feeling as if I were tumbling down the rabbit hole right alongside our dishwasher protagonist, Stan, into some truly terrifying dark corners of the world and the psyche.
Gifune is an absolutely terrific writer, and his brand of horror/dark fiction is superb. I haven't made much of a dent in his back-list yet, but I am bound and determined to play catch-up. Of the handful of titles I have read by him, DEVIL'S BREATH stands at the top of the heap so far and had me feeling as if I were tumbling down the rabbit hole right alongside our dishwasher protagonist, Stan, into some truly terrifying dark corners of the world and the psyche.
July 18, 2015
Greg, you won me back. After a brief stumble, in my honest opinion, with Oasis of the Damned, Gifune hits it out of the park with The Devil's Breath. Creepy, unsettling, the reader is constantly kept off balance as to what is real and what is imagined and what is dreamed by the main character Stan. Another strong entry in the annals of DarkFuse publishing.
December 1, 2016
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
In a dying coastal town near Cape Cod, Stanley Falk lives a quiet and unassuming life as a dishwasher. A shell of what and who he once was, Stanley is a man with a dark and violent past who does his best to forget by drinking it all away. But one morning he awakens to find his meagre bank account emptied and his memory of the drunken evening prior wiped clean.
Vague memories and terrible nightmares of evil gods, distant planets and a hideous room where torture has been practiced and blood flows like water haunt his every waking moment. Something depraved is intent on dragging him back into the same pit of darkness he’s fought his entire life to crawl out of, and now there are others, in the shadows, watching his every move and luring him closer to a truth beyond comprehension...beyond evil...beyond anything he’s ever imagined possible.
The one thing I love about Greg F. Gifune's writing is that you know you are always going to get quality writing. He knows how to string words together to make complete sentences and understands the meaning of "plot" and "pacing" - I have never been disappointed with one of his books...
...Until now...
The usual staples were there - great idea, good story pacing, dialogue and story arc. Sadly, I just found that I couldn't like any of the characters. So much so that I had to talk myself out of quitting and giving up on this book. I just really didn't connect at all. And, like I said earlier, that is unusual for his work.
Paul
ARH
In a dying coastal town near Cape Cod, Stanley Falk lives a quiet and unassuming life as a dishwasher. A shell of what and who he once was, Stanley is a man with a dark and violent past who does his best to forget by drinking it all away. But one morning he awakens to find his meagre bank account emptied and his memory of the drunken evening prior wiped clean.
Vague memories and terrible nightmares of evil gods, distant planets and a hideous room where torture has been practiced and blood flows like water haunt his every waking moment. Something depraved is intent on dragging him back into the same pit of darkness he’s fought his entire life to crawl out of, and now there are others, in the shadows, watching his every move and luring him closer to a truth beyond comprehension...beyond evil...beyond anything he’s ever imagined possible.
The one thing I love about Greg F. Gifune's writing is that you know you are always going to get quality writing. He knows how to string words together to make complete sentences and understands the meaning of "plot" and "pacing" - I have never been disappointed with one of his books...
...Until now...
The usual staples were there - great idea, good story pacing, dialogue and story arc. Sadly, I just found that I couldn't like any of the characters. So much so that I had to talk myself out of quitting and giving up on this book. I just really didn't connect at all. And, like I said earlier, that is unusual for his work.
Paul
ARH
March 19, 2020
Wow, Man!!
Jesus!!
What the hell was that, breathtaking experience. As always Gifune again does the magic with his work. I just couldn't get out from the book I just have finished, still into it feeling dizzy by brain. Absolutely fabulous to read...
Stan Falk trying live his good normal life working as dish washer. He been renting a cottage for live, he had his dark past not only dark but very dark past to forget. But when the day he heard a knock in his door the day everything became change for him and there's nothing he could do. But didn't he tried? Didn't he fight back? Found the answer by reading it...
Fast paced and with cult thing involved this book just worth my time as I repeat I enjoyed it thoroughly. There's no frustration but the real feel of horror I find while reading Gifune books. You just can't stop his reading but keep going to his work. Obviously I will explore more of his work. Meanwhile giving this one my full rating with total satisfaction of my mind. Love to Greg F. Gifune...
Jesus!!
What the hell was that, breathtaking experience. As always Gifune again does the magic with his work. I just couldn't get out from the book I just have finished, still into it feeling dizzy by brain. Absolutely fabulous to read...
Stan Falk trying live his good normal life working as dish washer. He been renting a cottage for live, he had his dark past not only dark but very dark past to forget. But when the day he heard a knock in his door the day everything became change for him and there's nothing he could do. But didn't he tried? Didn't he fight back? Found the answer by reading it...
Fast paced and with cult thing involved this book just worth my time as I repeat I enjoyed it thoroughly. There's no frustration but the real feel of horror I find while reading Gifune books. You just can't stop his reading but keep going to his work. Obviously I will explore more of his work. Meanwhile giving this one my full rating with total satisfaction of my mind. Love to Greg F. Gifune...
September 25, 2017
When the body of film star Margot Browne is found by some locals, Max is called in to help his friend DCI Cotton. Margot was a star whose light had dimmed considerably, but they find out that she was the guest on a luxury yacht owned by a famous director. As the yacht was at sea when Margot was killed and then thrown overboard, it is the perfect "locked room" mystery for Max to solve.
February 23, 2021
A wonderful incipit leads to a confusional and disconnected story where pieces are thrown in randomly but never fit together properly.
Recurring characters can be forgiven, especially if cradled and nurtured all the way through a book, but their interaction should be enhanced by enthralling and delicious narrative tricks to create a hell of a story.
Too quick to believe, too light to feel.
Recurring characters can be forgiven, especially if cradled and nurtured all the way through a book, but their interaction should be enhanced by enthralling and delicious narrative tricks to create a hell of a story.
Too quick to believe, too light to feel.
May 5, 2025
Gritty and dark
As with most of the author's books, realistic and filled with flawed but well developed characters. Set in the Rhode island area, we follow a man battling against inner demons, bad luck and a cult that can't be beat. Good story till the end where it got a little out there. Enjoy it .
As with most of the author's books, realistic and filled with flawed but well developed characters. Set in the Rhode island area, we follow a man battling against inner demons, bad luck and a cult that can't be beat. Good story till the end where it got a little out there. Enjoy it .
July 24, 2015
“This was not the time for hearts and flowers.It was all blood and barbed wire now.”
The fantastic Devil’s Breath is the latest dark-thriller/ horror novel from Greg Gifune. It is a brooding and atmospheric story that combines the best of mystery, noir, horror and supernatural genres, creating a unique and compelling tale. When strong characters are added to the mix the result is a compulsively readable work.
The story is told from the first-person perspective of Stan Falk, a dishwasher with a mysterious and combustible past. Things begin when Stan learns that his bank account has been drained without his knowledge and, somehow, by himself. Aided by insights into the drug scopolamine, street named Devil’s Breath, and the worship of the god Saturn, he finds that answers to his questions are stranger than he could have ever imagined. The story shifts from a gritty noir to a supernatural horror with a seamless ease that belies the complexities of the plot.
Along with his coworker and friend Sophie, Stan is sucked into a conspiracy that is beyond his ability to understand. Other characters pass through the story and help Stan along his journey to the heart of a vast conspiracy. His homeless friend Duane is a deep, sympatric and enigmatic character who provides insights and intelligence that transcend his station in life. The remaining characters are also good, but play very small parts, serving to help Stan along in his journey.
The novel contains scenes that are possibly flashbacks, maybe dreams or hallucinations. When the relevance and true nature of these scenes is revealed it takes the quality of the structure of the narrative to an even higher level. The novel ends with a climax of sex, violence and the supernatural that could only be pulled off by a talented writer at the absolute top of his game.
The fantastic Devil’s Breath is the latest dark-thriller/ horror novel from Greg Gifune. It is a brooding and atmospheric story that combines the best of mystery, noir, horror and supernatural genres, creating a unique and compelling tale. When strong characters are added to the mix the result is a compulsively readable work.
The story is told from the first-person perspective of Stan Falk, a dishwasher with a mysterious and combustible past. Things begin when Stan learns that his bank account has been drained without his knowledge and, somehow, by himself. Aided by insights into the drug scopolamine, street named Devil’s Breath, and the worship of the god Saturn, he finds that answers to his questions are stranger than he could have ever imagined. The story shifts from a gritty noir to a supernatural horror with a seamless ease that belies the complexities of the plot.
Along with his coworker and friend Sophie, Stan is sucked into a conspiracy that is beyond his ability to understand. Other characters pass through the story and help Stan along his journey to the heart of a vast conspiracy. His homeless friend Duane is a deep, sympatric and enigmatic character who provides insights and intelligence that transcend his station in life. The remaining characters are also good, but play very small parts, serving to help Stan along in his journey.
The novel contains scenes that are possibly flashbacks, maybe dreams or hallucinations. When the relevance and true nature of these scenes is revealed it takes the quality of the structure of the narrative to an even higher level. The novel ends with a climax of sex, violence and the supernatural that could only be pulled off by a talented writer at the absolute top of his game.
July 13, 2015
Devil's Breath is another surreal ride from Greg Gifune, one where you don't always know what's really happening and what is a dream/nightmare. This one mixes in a liberal dose of conspiracy theory, as it follows the life of Stan, a dishwasher at a diner whose past we get more and more glimpses into as the story evolves. He's still a likable enough guy, despite having done many bad things, because it is at least clear what lead him to that life, and when he had the chance to get out, he took it. His relationship with a waitress co-worker is very well-written and really rings true. Greg always writes amazing, 3-dimensional characters, so that's no surprise.
This book started really strong for me, as I felt the premise was fascinating once we find out what's really going on, and until that point I had no clue, but had a lot of fun trying to figure it out. As it heads down the stretch, things start to get a little less believable, at least to me, and some of Stan's actions seem a little out of character for him. But I still did ultimately like the ending when it was all finished.
And I was bothered by the number of little editorial issues that could so easily have been fixed. I'm a little glad that Darkfuse is slowing down their publishing schedule, because I hope it'll lead to a more careful eye on polishing the final product, as it is a shame for great fiction to be a little tarnished by tiny mistakes that would be so easy to fix.
I still recommend this book highly, though I'm not sure I'd suggest it as a starting point if you've never read Greg Gifune before. For that, I'd suggest The Bleeding Season, or maybe Long After Dark. But this one is still well worth the read, and a solid book.
This book started really strong for me, as I felt the premise was fascinating once we find out what's really going on, and until that point I had no clue, but had a lot of fun trying to figure it out. As it heads down the stretch, things start to get a little less believable, at least to me, and some of Stan's actions seem a little out of character for him. But I still did ultimately like the ending when it was all finished.
And I was bothered by the number of little editorial issues that could so easily have been fixed. I'm a little glad that Darkfuse is slowing down their publishing schedule, because I hope it'll lead to a more careful eye on polishing the final product, as it is a shame for great fiction to be a little tarnished by tiny mistakes that would be so easy to fix.
I still recommend this book highly, though I'm not sure I'd suggest it as a starting point if you've never read Greg Gifune before. For that, I'd suggest The Bleeding Season, or maybe Long After Dark. But this one is still well worth the read, and a solid book.
May 30, 2019
Realität oder Alptraum oder beides?
In einer kleinen Stadt führt ein Mann ein bisher langweiliges Leben. Stanley Falk arbeitet in einem Lokal, in Cape Cod. Manchmal kann man sich die Frage stellen, wer schneller gestorben ist. Stanley oder die Stadt. Stanley hat eine Vergangenheit. Eine Vergangenheit, die düster ist und die er mit Alkohol zu verdrängen versucht. Doch damit nicht genug. Stanley hat ein Black Out. Das eh schon wenig befüllte Konto bei der Bank ist bis auf einen kleinen Betrag leergeräumt. Doch Stanley kann sich an nichts erinnern. Aber der Mann auf dem Überwachungsvideo sieht aus wie Stanley! Wie kann das sein? Ist wirklich der Teufel hinter Stanley her oder dreht er so langsam dank seinem Alkoholproblem komplett durch? Zum Glück gibt es auch noch Leute, die Stanley versuchen zu helfen. Aber kann er noch gerettet werden?
Also für schwache Nerven ist dieses Buch definitiv nicht geschrieben. Aber das sollte dem Leser im Genre Horror auch bewusst sein. Die Spannungsspirale der Geschichte ist perfekt. Alles beginnt langsam, friedlich und so nach und nach steigern sich die Ereignisse. Als Leser hat man das Gefühl dabei zu sein. Wie ein Einwohner in Cape Cod. Oder vielleicht sogar der Nachbar von Stanley. Stanley hinterlässt keinen bleibenden Eindruck bei mir. Dies ist aber positiv gemeint. Es könnte einfach jeder sein. Seine Geschichte ist tragisch, aber auch nicht zu abgefahren. Was seine Erlebnisse angeht? Tja, ich denke, da kommt die Phantasie des Lesers in Spiel! Alles ist möglich und nichts unmöglich. Auch die weiteren Personen in diesem Buch sind interessant und tragen zur Spannung der Geschichte bei. Ich kann hier ohne Bedenken 4 Sterne vergeben!
In einer kleinen Stadt führt ein Mann ein bisher langweiliges Leben. Stanley Falk arbeitet in einem Lokal, in Cape Cod. Manchmal kann man sich die Frage stellen, wer schneller gestorben ist. Stanley oder die Stadt. Stanley hat eine Vergangenheit. Eine Vergangenheit, die düster ist und die er mit Alkohol zu verdrängen versucht. Doch damit nicht genug. Stanley hat ein Black Out. Das eh schon wenig befüllte Konto bei der Bank ist bis auf einen kleinen Betrag leergeräumt. Doch Stanley kann sich an nichts erinnern. Aber der Mann auf dem Überwachungsvideo sieht aus wie Stanley! Wie kann das sein? Ist wirklich der Teufel hinter Stanley her oder dreht er so langsam dank seinem Alkoholproblem komplett durch? Zum Glück gibt es auch noch Leute, die Stanley versuchen zu helfen. Aber kann er noch gerettet werden?
Also für schwache Nerven ist dieses Buch definitiv nicht geschrieben. Aber das sollte dem Leser im Genre Horror auch bewusst sein. Die Spannungsspirale der Geschichte ist perfekt. Alles beginnt langsam, friedlich und so nach und nach steigern sich die Ereignisse. Als Leser hat man das Gefühl dabei zu sein. Wie ein Einwohner in Cape Cod. Oder vielleicht sogar der Nachbar von Stanley. Stanley hinterlässt keinen bleibenden Eindruck bei mir. Dies ist aber positiv gemeint. Es könnte einfach jeder sein. Seine Geschichte ist tragisch, aber auch nicht zu abgefahren. Was seine Erlebnisse angeht? Tja, ich denke, da kommt die Phantasie des Lesers in Spiel! Alles ist möglich und nichts unmöglich. Auch die weiteren Personen in diesem Buch sind interessant und tragen zur Spannung der Geschichte bei. Ich kann hier ohne Bedenken 4 Sterne vergeben!
June 25, 2015
Stan, the protagonist of Devil's Breath, lives an unassuming and meager existence in an effort to distance himself from his dark and violent past. After a blackout one night he is drawn in to a world of darkness that far exceeds the depths with which he is familiar. As Stan starts to get some answers he becomes less convinced that he knows anything at all. Doomed from the start, he draws on his own inner darkness to pursue his enemies in to Hell itself.
Greg Gifune crafts an exquisite novel of mystery, paranoia, and conspiracy that draws the reader forever downward in to a living nightmare. There is little respite from the unrelenting darkness of Devil's Breath. This is dark, tough-guy noir mixed with horror that is actually scary. Recommended only for those who think they can take it, but if you can this will be one of your new favorites. 5 stars.
Greg Gifune crafts an exquisite novel of mystery, paranoia, and conspiracy that draws the reader forever downward in to a living nightmare. There is little respite from the unrelenting darkness of Devil's Breath. This is dark, tough-guy noir mixed with horror that is actually scary. Recommended only for those who think they can take it, but if you can this will be one of your new favorites. 5 stars.
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