What do you think?
Rate this book
Blue Eel
Long suspected of guilt in his daughter Madeline's disappearance, Branson Turaco takes an abrupt turn in his life when a lock of Madeline's hair is found in a child predator's home. Branson buys an unlicensed handgun, enlists the help of a disgraced filmmaker and a desperate intern, and heads out onto the open road.
Clinging to the dim hope that his daughter might still be alive, Branson finds himself pursued by a team of post-human assassins with glowing skin and a symbiotic relationship with a mysterious species of eel. Lost in a psychedelic world of uncontrollable substances and bizarre evolutions, he must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice in order to unravel the mystery of Madeline's disappearance.
What remains of a man once he sheds his humanity in the name of vengeance?
Clinging to the dim hope that his daughter might still be alive, Branson finds himself pursued by a team of post-human assassins with glowing skin and a symbiotic relationship with a mysterious species of eel. Lost in a psychedelic world of uncontrollable substances and bizarre evolutions, he must decide how much he is willing to sacrifice in order to unravel the mystery of Madeline's disappearance.
What remains of a man once he sheds his humanity in the name of vengeance?
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 30, 2015
2 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Lorne Dixon
35 books15 followersLorne Dixon grew up on a diet of yellow-spined paperbacks, black-and-white monster movies, and the thunder-lizard backbeat of Rock-and-Roll.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 6, 2015
REVIEW: BLUE EEL by Lorne Dixon
I started this novel with the thought "Okay, where is this going to take me?" as I had been asked to review, and was not familiar with either the title or author. Oh my, I was in for quite the surprise! I had scarcely finished a couple of pages, when I knew Lorne Dixon is now one of my must-read authors; and even though I can't rapidly flip pages on a Kindle as I could in a print book, still the story seemed to fly at the speed of light, while I thought, "More! More! More! " "Where is the author going with this? What next?" and "What An imagination!!"
BLUE EEL defies genre classification. By turns and yet simultaneously, the novel is mystery, crime fiction, paranormal, contemporary sci-fi, otherworldly [just read the descriptions of the desert and its enclave], thriller, revenge plot, grief study, marital collapse (past and present, different marriages), police procedural, parental love (and grief), literary, poetic imagery... BLUE EEL is an enclosed universe of its own, neither joyful nor beautiful, but in Lorne Dixon's talent, it is a universe vivid, powerfully impacting, emotionally devastating, and beautiful in its conception. I must return to BLUE EEL again and again. I am a changed person for its reading, a better one I hope, and the horizon of my imagination, psychological understanding, and emotional range has been vastly expanded by BLUE EEL.
I started this novel with the thought "Okay, where is this going to take me?" as I had been asked to review, and was not familiar with either the title or author. Oh my, I was in for quite the surprise! I had scarcely finished a couple of pages, when I knew Lorne Dixon is now one of my must-read authors; and even though I can't rapidly flip pages on a Kindle as I could in a print book, still the story seemed to fly at the speed of light, while I thought, "More! More! More! " "Where is the author going with this? What next?" and "What An imagination!!"
BLUE EEL defies genre classification. By turns and yet simultaneously, the novel is mystery, crime fiction, paranormal, contemporary sci-fi, otherworldly [just read the descriptions of the desert and its enclave], thriller, revenge plot, grief study, marital collapse (past and present, different marriages), police procedural, parental love (and grief), literary, poetic imagery... BLUE EEL is an enclosed universe of its own, neither joyful nor beautiful, but in Lorne Dixon's talent, it is a universe vivid, powerfully impacting, emotionally devastating, and beautiful in its conception. I must return to BLUE EEL again and again. I am a changed person for its reading, a better one I hope, and the horizon of my imagination, psychological understanding, and emotional range has been vastly expanded by BLUE EEL.
December 8, 2015
I received this arc from Netgalley.
This was a great read. Lots of action that keeps the pages turning. The only gripe that I had with this was the ending. There is a major twist and then it just ends. Up until that point it was definitely a five-star book.
This was a great read. Lots of action that keeps the pages turning. The only gripe that I had with this was the ending. There is a major twist and then it just ends. Up until that point it was definitely a five-star book.
August 30, 2023
I'll be generous and give this 3 stars for the ambition and interesting concepts but unfortunately for myself this is my least favourite novel by Lorne Dixon, an author whose work I've generally enjoyed particularly Snarl.
The pacing felt like it dragged in a lot of places, the characters I wasn't very attached too (I liked Branson and Spiegler a lot but sadly the latter isn't even in the book that much) and I flat out despised Detective Woost even if her actions are justified by the finale. She just came across as so self righteous despite being a terrible person in her own right.
My biggest flaw though is how it wraps up. The ending seemed confusing and a bit rushed. I know it's probably a case of I have to re-read it in order to fully understand it but considering I wasn't very emotionally invested aside from Branson finding out what happened to his daughter but the end just sort of felt like a cheap shot to me. I expected it wasn't gonna end happily because nihilism is a staple of Dixon's work but I thought it would be more interesting and satisfying.
It's not a bad book just not really my preferred style of conclusion.
The pacing felt like it dragged in a lot of places, the characters I wasn't very attached too (I liked Branson and Spiegler a lot but sadly the latter isn't even in the book that much) and I flat out despised Detective Woost even if her actions are justified by the finale. She just came across as so self righteous despite being a terrible person in her own right.
My biggest flaw though is how it wraps up. The ending seemed confusing and a bit rushed. I know it's probably a case of I have to re-read it in order to fully understand it but considering I wasn't very emotionally invested aside from Branson finding out what happened to his daughter but the end just sort of felt like a cheap shot to me. I expected it wasn't gonna end happily because nihilism is a staple of Dixon's work but I thought it would be more interesting and satisfying.
It's not a bad book just not really my preferred style of conclusion.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2016
https://donnasbookblog.wordpress.com/...
This is a fast paced thriller and I read it in almost one sitting – well a girl has got to sleep!
Long suspected of guilt in his daughter’s disappearance, Branson Turaco’s life takes an abrupt turn when he learns that a lock of her hair has been found in a child predator’s home. He buys an unlicensed handgun, enlists the help of a disgraced filmmaker and a desperate intern, and heads out onto the open road. Clinging to the faint hope that his daughter might still be alive, Branson follows a twisted path into an unknown world of terror within a post-human drug cult.
This book is horror aficionado Lorne Dixon’s new thriller subset in a thrilling, psychedelic world. A notable voice in the horror genre, when asked about this boom, Dixon has said that the time is right for the progressive horror subset to expand and explore new avenues of storytelling. “Horror has never been more popular,” Dixon explains. “Soccer moms watch The Walking Dead, listen to Rob Zombie and buy tickets to see The Conjuring. The time is ripe for new voices, new ideas and new stories.”
I wasn’t sure where this book would take me when I started reading it but I was glad with where I ended up. I had read the blurb and summary of the book and knew that I wanted to know more and how the author would deal with the genre known as ‘progressive horror’. With it being Christmas there are a lot of seasonal romantic fiction books flooding the market and I wanted to pick something away from this and this book for me ticked all the boxes of what I was looking for.
In this nail-biting thriller, Dixon explores some really tough subjects including the impact of media crime coverage, moral relativity and situational ethics when the things that matter most are on the line and the changing relationship between storytellers and their readers, with a narrative that largely refuses to place value statements on the events described, leaving the readers responsible for their own interpretations.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the chapters are kept short and punchy to keep the reader gripped, it cover some really tough subject areas such as child abduction, cults, murder and assaults and beatings really well with enough content that you stay gripped but not put off by the topics. I kept reading way past the time I would normally go to bed as I wanted to see how the book ended and I wasn’t disappointed. The cover is graphic and gives an insight in to the dark content of the book. 4 stars from me and look forward to more from Dixon in the future – if you are looking for something away from the norm with a bit of a twist, this is the book for you!!
This is a fast paced thriller and I read it in almost one sitting – well a girl has got to sleep!
Long suspected of guilt in his daughter’s disappearance, Branson Turaco’s life takes an abrupt turn when he learns that a lock of her hair has been found in a child predator’s home. He buys an unlicensed handgun, enlists the help of a disgraced filmmaker and a desperate intern, and heads out onto the open road. Clinging to the faint hope that his daughter might still be alive, Branson follows a twisted path into an unknown world of terror within a post-human drug cult.
This book is horror aficionado Lorne Dixon’s new thriller subset in a thrilling, psychedelic world. A notable voice in the horror genre, when asked about this boom, Dixon has said that the time is right for the progressive horror subset to expand and explore new avenues of storytelling. “Horror has never been more popular,” Dixon explains. “Soccer moms watch The Walking Dead, listen to Rob Zombie and buy tickets to see The Conjuring. The time is ripe for new voices, new ideas and new stories.”
I wasn’t sure where this book would take me when I started reading it but I was glad with where I ended up. I had read the blurb and summary of the book and knew that I wanted to know more and how the author would deal with the genre known as ‘progressive horror’. With it being Christmas there are a lot of seasonal romantic fiction books flooding the market and I wanted to pick something away from this and this book for me ticked all the boxes of what I was looking for.
In this nail-biting thriller, Dixon explores some really tough subjects including the impact of media crime coverage, moral relativity and situational ethics when the things that matter most are on the line and the changing relationship between storytellers and their readers, with a narrative that largely refuses to place value statements on the events described, leaving the readers responsible for their own interpretations.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the chapters are kept short and punchy to keep the reader gripped, it cover some really tough subject areas such as child abduction, cults, murder and assaults and beatings really well with enough content that you stay gripped but not put off by the topics. I kept reading way past the time I would normally go to bed as I wanted to see how the book ended and I wasn’t disappointed. The cover is graphic and gives an insight in to the dark content of the book. 4 stars from me and look forward to more from Dixon in the future – if you are looking for something away from the norm with a bit of a twist, this is the book for you!!
November 28, 2015
For the most part, 'Blue Eel' starts off nice & 'normal' ( for a horror novel). Then, BAM! It becomes very twisted, very quickly. There are simply no heroes in this book. Not in the sense that regular fiction cultivates them. Every single character has a good side & a dark side. You'll find no filler fluff in this book. Many times, you'll wonder if you know what you really know ( or something like that). If at any time while reading, you believe you have it all figured out, trust me, you don't.
I've been a fan of The Walking Dead since its pilot episode. 'Blue Eel' has more twists & U-turns than it does! Reading the synopsis alone doesn't give readers enough of a glimpse into the plot to even pinpoint the genre. Some may call it Horror while others could honestly tag it as a Psychological Thriller. Both are spot-on.
Lorne Dixon has found his niche. If you're looking for a book that will blow your mind, choose 'Blue Eel'. Not for the faint of heart or anyone looking for those warm fuzzy feelings. If you enjoy being frightened, you'll be pleased by the plot. It's disturbing, but no one can take away from the fact that Lorne Dixon is incredibly talented. I'd be quite shocked if someone doesn't produce this as a screenplay of some kind. Despite the fact that this book will leave you shaking your head & in your boots, it's so well-written that it can't be given anything short of a 4 star rating.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
I've been a fan of The Walking Dead since its pilot episode. 'Blue Eel' has more twists & U-turns than it does! Reading the synopsis alone doesn't give readers enough of a glimpse into the plot to even pinpoint the genre. Some may call it Horror while others could honestly tag it as a Psychological Thriller. Both are spot-on.
Lorne Dixon has found his niche. If you're looking for a book that will blow your mind, choose 'Blue Eel'. Not for the faint of heart or anyone looking for those warm fuzzy feelings. If you enjoy being frightened, you'll be pleased by the plot. It's disturbing, but no one can take away from the fact that Lorne Dixon is incredibly talented. I'd be quite shocked if someone doesn't produce this as a screenplay of some kind. Despite the fact that this book will leave you shaking your head & in your boots, it's so well-written that it can't be given anything short of a 4 star rating.
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine.
January 5, 2016
Lorne Dixon’s Blue Eel is billed as a thriller on Amazon, and the publisher called it horror in the email I received. I might consider it a thriller, but it doesn’t read as horror to me. If anything it felt like there were abortive attempts at horror, where if something had been taken a bit further, or explored more completely, it might have become genuinely horrifying.
I think the bad guys were supposed to read as horrifying. They get drugged up on eel blood from their magic blue eels, sometimes giving them visions into the future. They dress in white robes, and eventually their skin starts to take on a glow. All of this could have been worked into something alien and frightening. Instead, they sneer and threaten exactly like any normal human. They’re all impassive in one scene, and in another they’re shooting a bunch of guns into the air to celebrate something. They read like ordinary idiots bundled up in costumes.
Without including spoilers, I’ll say that the end of the book half-impressed me and half-annoyed me. In some ways it seemed to provide the horror quotient that had been missing. However, that addition was hasty and half-formed, so it didn’t particularly help. While other parts of the book could have used some tightening up, this is one part that needed more rather than less.
NOTE: Book provided free for review by publisher
Original review on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2015/11/r...
I think the bad guys were supposed to read as horrifying. They get drugged up on eel blood from their magic blue eels, sometimes giving them visions into the future. They dress in white robes, and eventually their skin starts to take on a glow. All of this could have been worked into something alien and frightening. Instead, they sneer and threaten exactly like any normal human. They’re all impassive in one scene, and in another they’re shooting a bunch of guns into the air to celebrate something. They read like ordinary idiots bundled up in costumes.
Without including spoilers, I’ll say that the end of the book half-impressed me and half-annoyed me. In some ways it seemed to provide the horror quotient that had been missing. However, that addition was hasty and half-formed, so it didn’t particularly help. While other parts of the book could have used some tightening up, this is one part that needed more rather than less.
NOTE: Book provided free for review by publisher
Original review on my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/2015/11/r...
January 7, 2016
This is one of the weirdest books I have ever read, and I mean that in a good way. It was creepy, yes and definitely falls under the horror genre. Some parts were so weird, but at the same time, it was awesome to see a new concept. Dixon took what could have been just your typical run of the mill thriller and put a fresh spin on it, making it stand out.
The main character in this story, Branson, is a jaded father. His child disappeared many years ago, and when a new incident occurs that may be linked to his child's disappearance, he runs down any lead he can find. But thanks to the twist in Dixon's story, this isn't your average missing child story.
The only thing that got me was the ending. The story was so interesting and moved so fast, and then BAM the ending just happened. I still liked the book nonetheless.
I give this book 4 stars.
The main character in this story, Branson, is a jaded father. His child disappeared many years ago, and when a new incident occurs that may be linked to his child's disappearance, he runs down any lead he can find. But thanks to the twist in Dixon's story, this isn't your average missing child story.
The only thing that got me was the ending. The story was so interesting and moved so fast, and then BAM the ending just happened. I still liked the book nonetheless.
I give this book 4 stars.
January 5, 2016
Not for the faint of heart or those who love those gentle reads. Dixon holds nothing back in this tale. I enjoyed the entire read and loved the twists and shake-downs, or ups as the case may be. The writing is well crafted and delivered in such a way that the reader is pulled into the tale on a deeper level. The plot is clearly well conceived and intelligently engineered. I liked the way the characters were presented and feel they are very well fleshed out and designed. They may surprise the reader a few times, but they always remain true to their design. It's rare I give a book five stars but I feel this one is deserving of them. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion, which may or may not mirror your own.
December 9, 2015
If you like Clive Cussler or Dean Koontz I think you will like Lorne Dixon. This is a bit thriller and a bit horror. Blue eel seems to be a psychedelic drug that makes you glow and go a bit crazy. Branson Turaco was accused of kidnapping his own daughter but the police could never prove it. Years later some of his daughters hair is found in a sexual predators trailer. This makes the police question Branson again and he wants to go after this man. There are a lot of twists and turns in this story. Branson meets up with two other people who try to help him. I received this book from Smith Publicity for a fair and honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews