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Mind Terrors
Critique
Finalist for the Australian Shadows Award.
Sandy Devanche considers himself to be a five star gentleman, although he never gives more than three.
As the harshest food critic in the business, he is feared and respected by the top chefs of the city. On a standard assignment, Sandy visits the experimental restaurant The House of Jacob, run by chef extraordinaire, Jacob Enfer.
What Sandy will experience is a journey beyond flavour and texture, a meal that will change his very existence. The worst thing about the food here is the person eating it.
Critique. It's here to make your life better… or much, much worse.
Sandy Devanche considers himself to be a five star gentleman, although he never gives more than three.
As the harshest food critic in the business, he is feared and respected by the top chefs of the city. On a standard assignment, Sandy visits the experimental restaurant The House of Jacob, run by chef extraordinaire, Jacob Enfer.
What Sandy will experience is a journey beyond flavour and texture, a meal that will change his very existence. The worst thing about the food here is the person eating it.
Critique. It's here to make your life better… or much, much worse.
120 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
7 people are currently reading
181 people want to read
About the author
Daniel I. Russell
53 books151 followersAustralian Shadows Award finalist D.l I. Russell has been featured publications such as The Zombie Feed from Apex, Pseudopod and Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #43. Author of Samhane, Come Into Darkness, Critique, Mother's Boys, The Collector and Tricks, Mischief and Mayhem, D. I. Russell is also the former vice-president of the Australian Horror Writers' Association and was a special guest editor of Midnight Echo.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
August 5, 2016
Sweet Bloody Hell!!
Hello…is it safe to come of hiding yet? …..Dare I open my eyes? Is it over?
Thought I was real bloody clever picking up this one, didn't I
I can't even remember where I saw this book, or why it caught my attention. I will not believe it was fate, because that would be too cruel and it would put me over the edge. This is most certainly one of those books that find YOU.
Critique, a creepy little f%cker screaming... read me ...read me.
A force my sadistic curiosity could not resist.
There is nothing in the synopsis ( or the reviews) to suggest this was going to be like stepping into the bowels of hell, so what follows is disturbing, very disturbing and more than enough to leave me quite affected.
Critique reads like The Twilight Zone on crack, with the content reminiscent of Seven on steroids and Saw starring the Lucifer the avenging angel!
This is a story within a story, narrator unknown. The writing is strange and brilliant, weird and indecent, sending my olfactory system and gag reflex into overdrive. There is no denying the coercion of the words; the evocative narrative is quite compelling.
It begins similar to an episode of The Twilight Zone.Carlos is continuing his life on the wrong path when he stops at a desert Diner for a meal and becomes engrossed in the story of Sandy Devanche.
‘Sandy Devanche considers himself to be a five star gentleman, although he never gives more than three.’
What follows is the deconstruction and evisceration of a very nasty man’s soul. Sandy is a loathsome character. Once sane, proud and stuck up, now made weak, useless and grovelling after he visits a new experimental restaurant, run by chef extraordinaire, Jacob Enfer. Here he is presented with a dish made specifically for him, it's called Deception.
This is where it all starts to go so horribly wrong; it all takes a turn toward ghastly, vile and nasty. My revulsion is explosive and my stomach heaves and I can scream with disgust. By now I am so grossed out but so trapped, just like the critic – weird, addicted and craving more.
[image error]
It becomes an addiction and I don’t want to read anymore. So why not do a DNF? I don’t know why, it’s a trick, a spell and a curse. Internally screaming, begging to get off but my sadistic curiosity holds me tight; and then it gets worse.
The words become a poisonous pheromone holding you trapped in this fucked up tale of wicked, twisted, despicable culinary deeds. With rising bile and the urge to be physically sick, I STILL read on like a woman as possessed as the man being judged.
Critique is gruesome, a real horror story and should come with warnings. I feel like I have scarred my brain and my stomach lining reading this book. The extent of the vileness is not necessary; it is abhorrent just for the sake of it.
If it was a paperback I could have beaten it against the wall and burnt every page to rid myself of the imagery seared into my head.
So now I am doomed! This novel is forever burned in my mind, just like Stephen Kings Misery (sledge hammer scene) and I feel sick about it. I do not recommend this to any of my friends, it’s horrid.
Afterthought: It's two days later and I still can't get this book out my head. My conscience is debating the merit of my rating. Is one star fair because the content is disturbing? The writing is very good so should that deem it worthy of more? I think that if I knew what I was getting into and expected what it holds I could justify more stars. So my rating stands. The publisher should really post some kind of alert tag on this one, the fact there isn't actually makes me mad!
Hello…is it safe to come of hiding yet? …..Dare I open my eyes? Is it over?
Thought I was real bloody clever picking up this one, didn't I
I can't even remember where I saw this book, or why it caught my attention. I will not believe it was fate, because that would be too cruel and it would put me over the edge. This is most certainly one of those books that find YOU.
Critique, a creepy little f%cker screaming... read me ...read me.
A force my sadistic curiosity could not resist.
There is nothing in the synopsis ( or the reviews) to suggest this was going to be like stepping into the bowels of hell, so what follows is disturbing, very disturbing and more than enough to leave me quite affected.
Critique reads like The Twilight Zone on crack, with the content reminiscent of Seven on steroids and Saw starring the Lucifer the avenging angel!
This is a story within a story, narrator unknown. The writing is strange and brilliant, weird and indecent, sending my olfactory system and gag reflex into overdrive. There is no denying the coercion of the words; the evocative narrative is quite compelling.
It begins similar to an episode of The Twilight Zone.Carlos is continuing his life on the wrong path when he stops at a desert Diner for a meal and becomes engrossed in the story of Sandy Devanche.
‘Sandy Devanche considers himself to be a five star gentleman, although he never gives more than three.’
What follows is the deconstruction and evisceration of a very nasty man’s soul. Sandy is a loathsome character. Once sane, proud and stuck up, now made weak, useless and grovelling after he visits a new experimental restaurant, run by chef extraordinaire, Jacob Enfer. Here he is presented with a dish made specifically for him, it's called Deception.
This is where it all starts to go so horribly wrong; it all takes a turn toward ghastly, vile and nasty. My revulsion is explosive and my stomach heaves and I can scream with disgust. By now I am so grossed out but so trapped, just like the critic – weird, addicted and craving more.
[image error]
It becomes an addiction and I don’t want to read anymore. So why not do a DNF? I don’t know why, it’s a trick, a spell and a curse. Internally screaming, begging to get off but my sadistic curiosity holds me tight; and then it gets worse.
The words become a poisonous pheromone holding you trapped in this fucked up tale of wicked, twisted, despicable culinary deeds. With rising bile and the urge to be physically sick, I STILL read on like a woman as possessed as the man being judged.
Critique is gruesome, a real horror story and should come with warnings. I feel like I have scarred my brain and my stomach lining reading this book. The extent of the vileness is not necessary; it is abhorrent just for the sake of it.
If it was a paperback I could have beaten it against the wall and burnt every page to rid myself of the imagery seared into my head.
So now I am doomed! This novel is forever burned in my mind, just like Stephen Kings Misery (sledge hammer scene) and I feel sick about it. I do not recommend this to any of my friends, it’s horrid.
Afterthought: It's two days later and I still can't get this book out my head. My conscience is debating the merit of my rating. Is one star fair because the content is disturbing? The writing is very good so should that deem it worthy of more? I think that if I knew what I was getting into and expected what it holds I could justify more stars. So my rating stands. The publisher should really post some kind of alert tag on this one, the fact there isn't actually makes me mad!
January 19, 2012
When I first starting reading this novella I had a bare bones idea of what it was about.
What ensued was so much more than I could have imagined. A story within a story.
Carlos stops at a diner for some water and gets talked into a cup of coffee and a meal. We soon get immersed into the life of Sandy Devanche, a restaurant critic, and a five star man who never gives more than three.
He is foul tempered, seeks out the negative in everything, neglects his child, we learn he abused his wife, is dealing with homosexuality, the death of someone close, and most importantly a hunger than cannot be satiated after a visit to the restaurant of Jacob Enfer, among others things.
The character reminded me of an onion, had to go with a food reference after reading about food. With each layer removed you found out something more about the man to dislike.
I have never read a story like this, absolutely enthralling, disgusting at parts (have to admit there are now certain sauces I will never eat again), but also very intelligent. The quotes used, the recipes mentioned, and the way everything ties together at the end is so well done I found myself thinking about this story days after I read it.
The ending was interesting, as it was really just he beginning of the story for Carlos.
Very well written story. I highly recommend.
What ensued was so much more than I could have imagined. A story within a story.
Carlos stops at a diner for some water and gets talked into a cup of coffee and a meal. We soon get immersed into the life of Sandy Devanche, a restaurant critic, and a five star man who never gives more than three.
He is foul tempered, seeks out the negative in everything, neglects his child, we learn he abused his wife, is dealing with homosexuality, the death of someone close, and most importantly a hunger than cannot be satiated after a visit to the restaurant of Jacob Enfer, among others things.
The character reminded me of an onion, had to go with a food reference after reading about food. With each layer removed you found out something more about the man to dislike.
I have never read a story like this, absolutely enthralling, disgusting at parts (have to admit there are now certain sauces I will never eat again), but also very intelligent. The quotes used, the recipes mentioned, and the way everything ties together at the end is so well done I found myself thinking about this story days after I read it.
The ending was interesting, as it was really just he beginning of the story for Carlos.
Very well written story. I highly recommend.
February 19, 2013
What can I say about this book? I feel like I have a thousand different thoughts about it running through my mind, and yet, I cannot seem to express any of them. I think my mind is still in shock at just what it was forced to read.
Is this book well written? Engaging? Thought provoking? Leaves you at the edge of your seat unable to pull your eyes away from it? Yes, yes, yes, and YES!!
And yet, I do NOT recommend anyone read this book. I had been warned previously by another reviewer, so certain things had less of an impact on my system. But there are things in this book that are mind blowing and would make you never want to dine out again. What this book does is tantalize your senses, drawing you in, page after page, even as it actively attempts to force you to look away. Even when it is finished, your mind can not let go of thoughts of it. At times I felt almost as seduced as Sandy, wanting more, even though knowing what I was being given would do nothing positive for my soul.
Despite all of this, or maybe in spite of it all, I could not give this book a 5 star rating, but unlike Mr. Devanche I can give more than three. The ending just felt a bit…anticlimactic. It did not lack action or suspense, but after such a buildup to the end, I expected to have some satisfaction of a lengthy explanation. Instead, like a perfect soufflé served a minute late, the end product given seemed to deflate without warning, falling flat and leaving me in a state of slight confusion. More than that. It was like I was fed full of savory words and descriptions, only for it to end with me feeling unsatisfied.
Is this book well written? Engaging? Thought provoking? Leaves you at the edge of your seat unable to pull your eyes away from it? Yes, yes, yes, and YES!!
And yet, I do NOT recommend anyone read this book. I had been warned previously by another reviewer, so certain things had less of an impact on my system. But there are things in this book that are mind blowing and would make you never want to dine out again. What this book does is tantalize your senses, drawing you in, page after page, even as it actively attempts to force you to look away. Even when it is finished, your mind can not let go of thoughts of it. At times I felt almost as seduced as Sandy, wanting more, even though knowing what I was being given would do nothing positive for my soul.
Despite all of this, or maybe in spite of it all, I could not give this book a 5 star rating, but unlike Mr. Devanche I can give more than three. The ending just felt a bit…anticlimactic. It did not lack action or suspense, but after such a buildup to the end, I expected to have some satisfaction of a lengthy explanation. Instead, like a perfect soufflé served a minute late, the end product given seemed to deflate without warning, falling flat and leaving me in a state of slight confusion. More than that. It was like I was fed full of savory words and descriptions, only for it to end with me feeling unsatisfied.
February 23, 2013
Oh, this book...I probably would go 3.5 to 4 stars if I felt I was given a better ending. The gross nature of the content did not bother me as much as the ending did. I thought the ending was lacking. After all I went through, I felt a bit duped.
Don't get me wrong, because I still liked this a lot. The content is sick, disgusting, and should not be attempted by anyone with a weak stomach. But, for all that was gross and just plain vile, I could not put the book down. I was obsessed with finishing this today. Something drove my need to see it through. This is so well written, I could not stop. I HAD TO KNOW! The writing draws you in while you're gagging. Literally.
I'd be very careful of who I recommended this to, if I recommend it at all. If you like a sick story, this is for you. It is wrong. So very, very wrong and for all of that, I did enjoy the sick ride. Read at your own risk.
Don't get me wrong, because I still liked this a lot. The content is sick, disgusting, and should not be attempted by anyone with a weak stomach. But, for all that was gross and just plain vile, I could not put the book down. I was obsessed with finishing this today. Something drove my need to see it through. This is so well written, I could not stop. I HAD TO KNOW! The writing draws you in while you're gagging. Literally.
I'd be very careful of who I recommended this to, if I recommend it at all. If you like a sick story, this is for you. It is wrong. So very, very wrong and for all of that, I did enjoy the sick ride. Read at your own risk.
September 4, 2012
Once I started reading this tale I experienced sensations of repulsion and the compulsion to turn the next page.
Russell's story about a snobbish, thoughtless food critic Sandy Devanche who gets his just desserts after years of treating everyone he knows like crap - is a delicious piece of horror fiction. Instead of blood and gore, the horror's strength comes from its ability to make your stomach turn. We cringe as Sandy goes through each course, slowly, but surely starving his soul in the process. I'd like to say more but I don't want to give away the intricacies of the plot.
You'll just have to taste it yourself!
Very Highly recommended.
Russell's story about a snobbish, thoughtless food critic Sandy Devanche who gets his just desserts after years of treating everyone he knows like crap - is a delicious piece of horror fiction. Instead of blood and gore, the horror's strength comes from its ability to make your stomach turn. We cringe as Sandy goes through each course, slowly, but surely starving his soul in the process. I'd like to say more but I don't want to give away the intricacies of the plot.
You'll just have to taste it yourself!
Very Highly recommended.
August 16, 2016
Ok, I like my books to hit me upside the head with what they are about. I really don't like reading books where I dont have a clue whats going on. I finished this and thought, ok, I dont get it. I am sure the author was trying to tell the reader something, just bypassed me.
July 20, 2017
nasty, creepy little story, following the classic trope of an unlikable character getting well-deserved comeuppance. Grisly and icky and fun. But probably not something you should read at the dinner table.
January 19, 2012
Where do I start with this review of Daniel Russell’s ‘Critique’? Let me say this: this story is so much more than what meets the eye. It starts out slow—on purpose—but not boring at all. As the story unfolds so does the pacing until you reach the end at a break neck speed.
The characters are portrayed nicely, especially the main two, Jacob Enfer and Sandy Devanche. Interestingly enough, neither character shows up at the beginning—two others do and it is in a diner where one character tells the story of Sandy Devanche to the other character.
One of the things I appreciate about this book is the author’s eye for detail. I have no clue about the culinary arts or how food critics go about doing their jobs, but Russell paints a picture with just the right amount of detail—not too much and not too little—for me to get the entire scope of both the critic and the chef.
The story unfolds with several twists and turns and more than a couple of disturbing scenes and the ending is held so tight—so many little details are given throughout the piece which makes the ending so much stronger.
Being that I don’t do a lot of book reviews, I don’t want to give too much away. I will say this, ‘Critique’ is a great read that once you get into it there is no putting it down. Just be prepared for a unique story line that delves into something more than just the culinary arts and the critics who deem them worthy or unworthy.
I can’t say much more without giving away more of the story. However, I will add that Daniel Russell wrote a heck of a story and I look forward to picking up his other titles in the near future. If you don’t know who he is, you will… soon.
The characters are portrayed nicely, especially the main two, Jacob Enfer and Sandy Devanche. Interestingly enough, neither character shows up at the beginning—two others do and it is in a diner where one character tells the story of Sandy Devanche to the other character.
One of the things I appreciate about this book is the author’s eye for detail. I have no clue about the culinary arts or how food critics go about doing their jobs, but Russell paints a picture with just the right amount of detail—not too much and not too little—for me to get the entire scope of both the critic and the chef.
The story unfolds with several twists and turns and more than a couple of disturbing scenes and the ending is held so tight—so many little details are given throughout the piece which makes the ending so much stronger.
Being that I don’t do a lot of book reviews, I don’t want to give too much away. I will say this, ‘Critique’ is a great read that once you get into it there is no putting it down. Just be prepared for a unique story line that delves into something more than just the culinary arts and the critics who deem them worthy or unworthy.
I can’t say much more without giving away more of the story. However, I will add that Daniel Russell wrote a heck of a story and I look forward to picking up his other titles in the near future. If you don’t know who he is, you will… soon.
March 4, 2012
Sane, cocky, and meticulous personality traits turn into insane, groveling, and obsessive-compulsive behavior within a few pheromone-laced mouthfuls at the House of Jacob. The novella was very well written with twisted meals that at some points made me shut my eyes to get the visual imagery to stop. The descriptive wording even pushed my olfactory sense into overdrive while reading. Though my senses were on high alert while reading CRITIQUE, I still felt a lacking sense of character connection. As if being inside a bubble and watching a horror film unfold around me, I could not fully connect with any of the characters emotionally...as if there was a continuous shield between us.
Daniel Russell did thoroughly impress me with his play on words throughout the novella, especially with "House of Jacob." In the religious context, it refers to the toil, struggle, and effort in the servitude of God. I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil the main course. Again, CRITIQUE was very well-written, but it left me with a growling, empty stomach.
Daniel Russell did thoroughly impress me with his play on words throughout the novella, especially with "House of Jacob." In the religious context, it refers to the toil, struggle, and effort in the servitude of God. I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil the main course. Again, CRITIQUE was very well-written, but it left me with a growling, empty stomach.
May 18, 2012
My first horror story. A true horror story. So, not being a fan of the genre, I have to say this was awesome! It freaked me the hell out without being gory. Not to say I ever ate while reading, because it does get... intense and disturbing. But not a slasher story. Just genuinely hair-raising. There were times that I did NOT want to turn the page, but just couldn't walk away from the story. It was truly well-written, drawing me in from the first paragraph.
It was a free read, which is why I tried it out. So I can't say I'll search out more. But having been sucked into this story, pushed through the really freaky bits because I had to know more, my horizons have definitely broadened. I may just grab another of this author's works! ...when there are other people in the house, and the sun is out.
It was a free read, which is why I tried it out. So I can't say I'll search out more. But having been sucked into this story, pushed through the really freaky bits because I had to know more, my horizons have definitely broadened. I may just grab another of this author's works! ...when there are other people in the house, and the sun is out.
dnf
September 13, 2012Some notes while I read --
This has an attention grabbing opening:
"Desolation was a strange monster. It operated on different scales, on varying shades. It could be plain or beautiful, imposed, self-inflicted, but always…empty."
Hmmm. It's a little jarring to be reading about a guy driving through an American desert while coming across words like "tyre" and "bonnet"... ;-)
Hmmm again. I didn't expect this to be a framed story. It's got an opening frame very reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode...
Okay, this is turning out to be quite unpleasant. I can deal with unpleasantness that seems to have a good purpose, but this is apparently nastiness for the sake of nastiness. I've got better things to do with my time. DNF.
This has an attention grabbing opening:
"Desolation was a strange monster. It operated on different scales, on varying shades. It could be plain or beautiful, imposed, self-inflicted, but always…empty."
Hmmm. It's a little jarring to be reading about a guy driving through an American desert while coming across words like "tyre" and "bonnet"... ;-)
Hmmm again. I didn't expect this to be a framed story. It's got an opening frame very reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode...
Okay, this is turning out to be quite unpleasant. I can deal with unpleasantness that seems to have a good purpose, but this is apparently nastiness for the sake of nastiness. I've got better things to do with my time. DNF.
October 18, 2015
This book fascinated me. I've never read anything like it and I doubt I'll ever read anything like it again. I couldn't put it down and on the occasions I had to, I couldn't wait to get back to it. When I first finished it I didn't know what to think or how to feel but after letting it sink in a little more, I can't stop thinking about it.
If someone was to briefly describe the plot of this story to me, from start to finish, I would think "Nope, there's no chance that would work" but the way this author writes and puts this story together is just mind blowing.
100% recommend, I'm downloading something else by this author as I write this.
If someone was to briefly describe the plot of this story to me, from start to finish, I would think "Nope, there's no chance that would work" but the way this author writes and puts this story together is just mind blowing.
100% recommend, I'm downloading something else by this author as I write this.
July 26, 2017
This is a very well-written journey through desire and addiction, but not addiction to drugs. It has gross-out moments that work very well within the context of the story. There's no great surprise to how it pans out - you can pretty much see what's coming - but it's handled really well nonetheless. I would probably give this 3.5 stars (how I wish Goodreads would go out of 10 instead of 5) but I'll be generous and lean to 4 instead of 3 because this is something different done very well. The cover is truly awful, however, and does the book no favours at all.
April 19, 2012
This is my first introduction to Daniel Russell's work, and I've been pleasantly surprised by the multi-layered, riveting novella that is "Critique." The story of a selfish, egotistical food critic forced to confront himself through the efforts of an intimidating, otherworldy Chef is reminiscent of a Clive Barker novel, most notably The Hellbound Heart. Fast paced, fun, disturbing. The idea of using food as a medium is a compelling one, and I look forward to reading more from Mr. Russell soon.
October 2, 2012
Loved this story. A fascinating, dark tale of a food critic in a diabolical game of one-upmanship with a genius and temperamental chef. The story is told to a stranger by a roadside cook one dark and lonely night. But could this tall tale be a glimpse into a darker world?
What a fun story, albeit a nauseating one at times. Definitely not a story to be read if you have a weak stomach coupled with a strong imagination. But it is wickedly fun.
What a fun story, albeit a nauseating one at times. Definitely not a story to be read if you have a weak stomach coupled with a strong imagination. But it is wickedly fun.
January 5, 2015
This was delicious! The third book I have read of Dan's and they never fail to spin me out. I find it hard to write a review because there are never enough words for me to describe. Brilliant work, keep them coming!
March 13, 2012
Ummmm...I'm speechless
August 26, 2020
Certainly like how it centered on a food critic. But did become a bit nauseating for me. Though I enjoyed the writing. A near 2.5 until the nauseating parts came, then it lost me
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews