The Garbage Men

by Travis Smith

In a secluded subdivision in the small Alabama town of Thriftson County stands an inconspicuous house surrounded by forces of evil as compelling as they are mysterious. David Slate, an unremarkable high-school student, has just settled in to the new home when he finds his already unstable life swiftly turned upside down. While struggling to make friends and survive in the hostile public education system, his familial life begins to come completely unhinged as he confronts the impossible history of his new house and the neighborhood’s homicidal garbage men. With school bullies, the garbage men, and even his own parents pitted violently against him at every turn, David is forced to independently fight an internal battle as he strives to discover the truth behind the folkloric curse of his house and simultaneously maintain his own sanity.

Genres: Amazon

182 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published January 4, 2012

About the author

I am currently a neurology resident in Albany, NY. In my scant free time, I enjoy writing dark thriller fiction, short stories, and poems. I have self-published three novels and one collection of short stories. My newest novel is the second of a four-book fantasy/adventure series.

Reviews

[Art Griswold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, fast paced tale of horror elements mixed with sad suspense. It's not sad due to the content, it's sad due to the wonderfully written journey from bullied and misunderstood to standing up for yourself to total destruction.

Travis Smith should be a name on the up and coming lists.

Add into that, that the book is 182 pages long and I didn't see the ending coming until the 170 pages, and that shows that this writer is well versed in foreshadowing without the reader knowing it. Because on reflection after finishing, I could see spots that were there to help the ending along, but only realized after the book has been read.

Very skilled indeed.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kinda, sorta reminded me of a Stephen King kinda sorta story

We have a bullied, abused, neglected kid that didn't have any friends; recently moved to a new town right into a cursed house. And we have some creepy garbage men. Our hero starts to stand up for himself, gains a friend and even a girl. But everything spins out if control. The reader is left to figure out what is truly going on, then gets surprised with a plot twist.

Ending was a little weird, but I really enjoyed this book.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once you open it up, you won't put it down.

I thought it was crazy when we found out Mr Stewart was behind it all.
David is at the right place.

[Nerdy Girls Book Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

The plot twist at the end of this book was completely unexpected! The main character suffers abuse from his parents, bullying from the other kids, and horribly creepy garbage men. David questions his own sanity while trying to figure out the curse that is swallowing up his neighborhood. Very quick, easy and exciting read!

[Sissy Bumpus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick Read

Read this book in one sitting. The story takes you along; feeling empathy for the protagonist. Then the story takes an unexpected twist towards the end. The mind is a powerful thing.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twisted and creepy. I didn't get the ending, reminded me of Donnie Darko and American Psycho. A good book, to me, is when I read and I'm still thinking about the story and characters after I read it. So I have questions, like, was all the bad things just in David's head, does Mr. Slate really have powerful manipulation techniques, is Jess going to end up like David? What's with the garbage men?
You sympathize with David and his home life, you get angry at the adults at Davids school and you definitely start hating his parents.
It's nice break from a feel good story.

[Trina Houston-dotson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not your average horror story. I enjoyed the story but the ending felt...unfinished to me. But overall, a good tale.