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Carter & Lovecraft #1
Carter & Lovecraft
Daniel Carter used to be a homicide detective, but his last case - the hunt for a serial killer - went wrong in strange ways and soured the job for him. Now he's a private investigator trying to live a quiet life. Strangeness, however, has not finished with him.
First, he inherits a bookstore in Providence from someone he's never heard of, along with an indignant bookseller who doesn't want a new boss. She's Emily Lovecraft, the last known descendant of H. P. Lovecraft, the writer from Providence who told tales of the Great Old Ones and the Elder Gods, creatures and entities beyond the understanding of man. Then people start dying in impossible ways, and while Carter doesn't want to be involved, he's beginning to suspect that someone else wants him to be. As Carter reluctantly investigates, he discovers that H. P. Lovecraft's tales were more than just fiction, and he must accept another unexpected and far more unwanted inheritance.
First, he inherits a bookstore in Providence from someone he's never heard of, along with an indignant bookseller who doesn't want a new boss. She's Emily Lovecraft, the last known descendant of H. P. Lovecraft, the writer from Providence who told tales of the Great Old Ones and the Elder Gods, creatures and entities beyond the understanding of man. Then people start dying in impossible ways, and while Carter doesn't want to be involved, he's beginning to suspect that someone else wants him to be. As Carter reluctantly investigates, he discovers that H. P. Lovecraft's tales were more than just fiction, and he must accept another unexpected and far more unwanted inheritance.
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published October 20, 2015
278 people are currently reading
6542 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan L. Howard
65 books2,096 followersJonathan L Howard is a game designer, scriptwriter, and a veteran of the computer games industry since the early 1990s, with titles such as the 'Broken Sword' series to his credit.
After publishing two short stories featuring Johannes Cabal (Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day and Exeunt Demon King) in H. P. Lovecraft's Magazine of Horror, Johannes Cabal the Necromancer was published in 2009 as his first novel.
Since then there have been three sequels, with a fourth due in 2016. He has also written two novels in the YA SF "Russalka Chronicles" series, and the ongoing "Goon Squad" serial of superhero stories. October 2015 will see the publication of "Carter & Lovecraft," the first in a new series of novels.
He lives with his wife and daughter near Bristol.
http://www.jonathanlhoward.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/JonathanLHoward
http://jonathanlhoward.livejournal.com/
After publishing two short stories featuring Johannes Cabal (Johannes Cabal and the Blustery Day and Exeunt Demon King) in H. P. Lovecraft's Magazine of Horror, Johannes Cabal the Necromancer was published in 2009 as his first novel.
Since then there have been three sequels, with a fourth due in 2016. He has also written two novels in the YA SF "Russalka Chronicles" series, and the ongoing "Goon Squad" serial of superhero stories. October 2015 will see the publication of "Carter & Lovecraft," the first in a new series of novels.
He lives with his wife and daughter near Bristol.
http://www.jonathanlhoward.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/JonathanLHoward
http://jonathanlhoward.livejournal.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 838 reviews
April 28, 2022
“Lovecraft angled her head back until she was looking at Harrelson down her nose. "I trained as a librarian, and I run a bookstore. Fucking right I can use a gun.”
Jonathan Howard's Carter & Lovecraft was an enjoyable read! While I’m not always satisfied with Lovecraft’s writing, I’ve been geeking out on Cthulhu Mythos for some time. This was not the first novel I’ve read which evokes Lovecraft and his tales (Charles Stross’s The Laundry Files immediately comes to mind). The Laundry Files features espionage undertaken by a low-level civil servant (along with a large dose of humor). I was never quite sure how to classify the odd reality which found its way into Howard’s novel. Detective noir? Alternate reality with a little bit of horror thrown in? Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. The story is written in a way which doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Not that I didn’t also enjoy the liberal sprinkling of Cthulhu and other geeky references; however, what I enjoyed most about Jonathan Howard’s Carter & Lovecraft were the characters, especially Emily Lovecraft (touted as the last living descendant of H.P. Lovecraft). The story was also good enough to keep my interest without relying solely on the geekiness. 3.5 stars
Jonathan Howard's Carter & Lovecraft was an enjoyable read! While I’m not always satisfied with Lovecraft’s writing, I’ve been geeking out on Cthulhu Mythos for some time. This was not the first novel I’ve read which evokes Lovecraft and his tales (Charles Stross’s The Laundry Files immediately comes to mind). The Laundry Files features espionage undertaken by a low-level civil servant (along with a large dose of humor). I was never quite sure how to classify the odd reality which found its way into Howard’s novel. Detective noir? Alternate reality with a little bit of horror thrown in? Ultimately, it doesn’t matter. The story is written in a way which doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Not that I didn’t also enjoy the liberal sprinkling of Cthulhu and other geeky references; however, what I enjoyed most about Jonathan Howard’s Carter & Lovecraft were the characters, especially Emily Lovecraft (touted as the last living descendant of H.P. Lovecraft). The story was also good enough to keep my interest without relying solely on the geekiness. 3.5 stars
August 1, 2016
After his partner killed himself at a crime scene, Dan Carter quit the police force and became a private investigator. When a man he never met leaves him a used bookstore in Providence, Rhode Island, Carter meets Emily Lovecraft, his new employee. A string of impossible deaths plunges them into a web of insanity that might destroy the world...
I got this from Netgalley. Fuckin' A!
First off, I've never thought H.P. Lovecraft was a great writer and I enjoy other writers' takes on his concepts more than his. And now, the meat of the review....
I really enjoyed this book. It's part hard-boiled noir, part Cthulhu mythos, and pressed all my buttons. Dan Carter starts questioning things and the whole world unravels. His relationship with Emily Lovecraft was well done and I'm glad they didn't immediately jump into bed. William Colt was a fitting foe and a nice contrast with Dan Carter.
This is one of those books where I really don't want to give too much away and spoil things. I love how Jonathan L. Howard built on HPL's mythos and put his own spin on it. While the influences are clear, this in no way feels like a pastiche. It's true to the bleak Lovecraftian spirit but has an identity all its own.
Four sanity-blasting stars. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I got this from Netgalley. Fuckin' A!
First off, I've never thought H.P. Lovecraft was a great writer and I enjoy other writers' takes on his concepts more than his. And now, the meat of the review....
I really enjoyed this book. It's part hard-boiled noir, part Cthulhu mythos, and pressed all my buttons. Dan Carter starts questioning things and the whole world unravels. His relationship with Emily Lovecraft was well done and I'm glad they didn't immediately jump into bed. William Colt was a fitting foe and a nice contrast with Dan Carter.
This is one of those books where I really don't want to give too much away and spoil things. I love how Jonathan L. Howard built on HPL's mythos and put his own spin on it. While the influences are clear, this in no way feels like a pastiche. It's true to the bleak Lovecraftian spirit but has an identity all its own.
Four sanity-blasting stars. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
June 13, 2021
It's totally me.
No, really; it sounds like a line, but it's true. I'm a huge fan of Howard's Johannes Cabal series (particularly The Long Spoon and the succubus and part-spider, Zarenyia), and when I saw this one had a detective as a lead character, I thought it might be equally engaging. Alas; I glossed over the 'Lovecraft mythos,' one of my least favorite subgenres of supernatural fiction. Or horror, if you prefer to shelve your Lovecraft that direction. Either way, add in lovely fall weather and leaving my job, and it was a battle for my interest. Eventually I committed and finished the story. Carter & Lovecraft is well-written, with what feels like a solid re-invention of the mythos, admittedly to someone who isn't all that familiar with it. It also lays the groundwork for a new series, and I sincerely hope for Howard's sake that it's successful, because he's got talent that deserves to be more widely known.
The book does open with a mildly horrific scene of Detective Carter and his partner Hammond chasing down a child serial killer in Red Hook. Those few pages and the tension reminded me, quite unexpectedly, of John Connolley, and his own peculiar blend of supernatural-tinged horror-thriller, and honestly, I wasn't sure I could continue. Serial killers and child-killers are usually plot lines I avoid like the plague. However, it proved to be largely exposition, setting the tone and reason for why Carter was open to profound changes in his life. It settled down into a more straightforward supernatural mystery, at least from Detective Carter's perspective, but I understand a few readers felt like there was a bit of a bait-and-switch, with a beginning that didn't well match the remainder of the book. I'd agree if one was looking for that kind of horror-thriller, but what Howard is really writing is a more thoughtful police procedural crossed with otherworldly supernatural.
"What do you do, Mr. Carter?'...
'I'm an investigator,' said Carter. Leaving 'private' out covered a multitude of sins, real and imaginary.'"
The writing is solid, a fair blend of dialogue and introspection. It is a departure from the witty, tongue-in-cheek tone used in the Cabal stories. The focus is more on the atmosphere oft the world and the whole story, as is fitting for a book built on oddness and suspense.
"Carter had been to Providence handful of times in his life, and never by choice. It was always something to do with a case, or to help somebody out, but he had never willingly been to the place. He didn't like the city at all, but he couldn't have told you why. He knew the dislike was irrational; that didn't mitigate it in the slightest. The small flurry of optimism he had felt that this unexpected inheritance might be worth something was dampened...the discovery that it was in Providence, of all places, had already killed his buzz magnificently."
Still, there's moments of entertaining oddness, such as when he and the lawyer Weston meet regarding his inheritance. Lovecraft is the current manager of the bookstore that Carter mysteriously inherits, and is an intriguing character. Although African-American, she is the last of the genetic line of Lovecraft. Both characters feel very real, and their responses to the situations they face are built slowly and well enough to feel believable. I love that Howard decided that was one of the ways he would subvert the mythos. He also addresses the racism of Lovecraft's work (the author) directly through her voice.
I liked the book, but the fact that I wasn't wild about it really says more to do with my own tastes and my own level of life-distraction than it does for the quality of the story. It's worth nothing that for friends who enjoy this sort of thing, it had a solid four-star rating.
No, really; it sounds like a line, but it's true. I'm a huge fan of Howard's Johannes Cabal series (particularly The Long Spoon and the succubus and part-spider, Zarenyia), and when I saw this one had a detective as a lead character, I thought it might be equally engaging. Alas; I glossed over the 'Lovecraft mythos,' one of my least favorite subgenres of supernatural fiction. Or horror, if you prefer to shelve your Lovecraft that direction. Either way, add in lovely fall weather and leaving my job, and it was a battle for my interest. Eventually I committed and finished the story. Carter & Lovecraft is well-written, with what feels like a solid re-invention of the mythos, admittedly to someone who isn't all that familiar with it. It also lays the groundwork for a new series, and I sincerely hope for Howard's sake that it's successful, because he's got talent that deserves to be more widely known.
The book does open with a mildly horrific scene of Detective Carter and his partner Hammond chasing down a child serial killer in Red Hook. Those few pages and the tension reminded me, quite unexpectedly, of John Connolley, and his own peculiar blend of supernatural-tinged horror-thriller, and honestly, I wasn't sure I could continue. Serial killers and child-killers are usually plot lines I avoid like the plague. However, it proved to be largely exposition, setting the tone and reason for why Carter was open to profound changes in his life. It settled down into a more straightforward supernatural mystery, at least from Detective Carter's perspective, but I understand a few readers felt like there was a bit of a bait-and-switch, with a beginning that didn't well match the remainder of the book. I'd agree if one was looking for that kind of horror-thriller, but what Howard is really writing is a more thoughtful police procedural crossed with otherworldly supernatural.
"What do you do, Mr. Carter?'...
'I'm an investigator,' said Carter. Leaving 'private' out covered a multitude of sins, real and imaginary.'"
The writing is solid, a fair blend of dialogue and introspection. It is a departure from the witty, tongue-in-cheek tone used in the Cabal stories. The focus is more on the atmosphere oft the world and the whole story, as is fitting for a book built on oddness and suspense.
"Carter had been to Providence handful of times in his life, and never by choice. It was always something to do with a case, or to help somebody out, but he had never willingly been to the place. He didn't like the city at all, but he couldn't have told you why. He knew the dislike was irrational; that didn't mitigate it in the slightest. The small flurry of optimism he had felt that this unexpected inheritance might be worth something was dampened...the discovery that it was in Providence, of all places, had already killed his buzz magnificently."
Still, there's moments of entertaining oddness, such as when he and the lawyer Weston meet regarding his inheritance. Lovecraft is the current manager of the bookstore that Carter mysteriously inherits, and is an intriguing character. Although African-American, she is the last of the genetic line of Lovecraft. Both characters feel very real, and their responses to the situations they face are built slowly and well enough to feel believable. I love that Howard decided that was one of the ways he would subvert the mythos. He also addresses the racism of Lovecraft's work (the author) directly through her voice.
I liked the book, but the fact that I wasn't wild about it really says more to do with my own tastes and my own level of life-distraction than it does for the quality of the story. It's worth nothing that for friends who enjoy this sort of thing, it had a solid four-star rating.
May 6, 2017
What a cool surprise!
Modern sensibilities, Cthulhu Mythos, Urban Fantasy, Cthulhu Mythos, and even enough modern references and even math geekiness and Cthulhu Mythos to satisfy the most jaded INVESTIGATOR. :)
Nom nom nom nom...
Oh, wait, this isn't the RPG game! This is a new and theoretically ongoing series! How awesome is that? AND this duo might be gracing the tube, too? Yeah. This sharp tale pulls all the greatest story developments and classic build-ups of the Cthulhu Mythos with its lobster boil, from "normal" mysteries all the way to weird coincidences to unreal possibilities to modern versions of cultists to universe-hopping... while all the while remaining both true and smart to the originals and the ever-evolving sub-genre of Cthulhu.
As an urban fantasy mystery thriller. :)
I'm thrilled! :)
It doesn't lack much but a lot more can be introduced in later grimoires... um, I mean tomes? Oh, wait... I mean novels. yeah. novels. :)
Now, where does this one get categorized if it refers to itself in its own a self-indexing catalog?
Oh stop it, don't divide by zero!
*wild cackles of glee*
Modern sensibilities, Cthulhu Mythos, Urban Fantasy, Cthulhu Mythos, and even enough modern references and even math geekiness and Cthulhu Mythos to satisfy the most jaded INVESTIGATOR. :)
Nom nom nom nom...
Oh, wait, this isn't the RPG game! This is a new and theoretically ongoing series! How awesome is that? AND this duo might be gracing the tube, too? Yeah. This sharp tale pulls all the greatest story developments and classic build-ups of the Cthulhu Mythos with its lobster boil, from "normal" mysteries all the way to weird coincidences to unreal possibilities to modern versions of cultists to universe-hopping... while all the while remaining both true and smart to the originals and the ever-evolving sub-genre of Cthulhu.
As an urban fantasy mystery thriller. :)
I'm thrilled! :)
It doesn't lack much but a lot more can be introduced in later grimoires... um, I mean tomes? Oh, wait... I mean novels. yeah. novels. :)
Now, where does this one get categorized if it refers to itself in its own a self-indexing catalog?
Oh stop it, don't divide by zero!
*wild cackles of glee*
February 25, 2019
“He couldn’t see how you could share the shit out of somebody with math, but it seemed you could.”
Daniel Carter is an ex-homicide detective, now a private investigator, who inherits a bookstore in Providence from someone he’s never heard of. Then people start dying in mysterious ways, and while Carter doesn’t want to be involved, he’s beginning to suspect that someone else wants him to be.
Holy moly! This was the exact kind of read that I needed after finishing The Alchemist. Going back to my horror roots and my love for Lovecraftian fiction (although I guess I wouldn’t specifically categorise this as horror, more weird fiction with some creepy parts)
But anyway... this was a hell of a lot of fun! I feel like Howard handles a lot of the Lovecraft’s mythology and themes and tropes very well. You can tell he knows his shit! And he gives us a kickass character in the form of Lovecraft’s descendant - his great-great (I don’t know how many greats and frankly don’t care) granddaughter, Emily Lovecraft. The relationship and interactions between her and our main character are really entertaining and full of witty banter!
It’s surprisingly funny at times and there are lots of pop culture references, which I always enjoy. AND there’s a bookstore that features a lot in the story! Although I’m not quite sure how a non-Lovecraft fan would find this one? A lot of the plot relies on references or tie-ins to Lovecraft’s work and although it is explained I can’t really say how confusing it might be for someone who hasn’t read his work. And I do believe a lot of my enjoyment was tied to me nerding out over the Lovecraft connections.
The ending in particular had me SHOOK and I’ll certainly be ordering the second book in the series. Overall, really well-written and a lot of fun! I would highly recommend to all Lovecraft fans! 4 stars.
Daniel Carter is an ex-homicide detective, now a private investigator, who inherits a bookstore in Providence from someone he’s never heard of. Then people start dying in mysterious ways, and while Carter doesn’t want to be involved, he’s beginning to suspect that someone else wants him to be.
Holy moly! This was the exact kind of read that I needed after finishing The Alchemist. Going back to my horror roots and my love for Lovecraftian fiction (although I guess I wouldn’t specifically categorise this as horror, more weird fiction with some creepy parts)
But anyway... this was a hell of a lot of fun! I feel like Howard handles a lot of the Lovecraft’s mythology and themes and tropes very well. You can tell he knows his shit! And he gives us a kickass character in the form of Lovecraft’s descendant - his great-great (I don’t know how many greats and frankly don’t care) granddaughter, Emily Lovecraft. The relationship and interactions between her and our main character are really entertaining and full of witty banter!
It’s surprisingly funny at times and there are lots of pop culture references, which I always enjoy. AND there’s a bookstore that features a lot in the story! Although I’m not quite sure how a non-Lovecraft fan would find this one? A lot of the plot relies on references or tie-ins to Lovecraft’s work and although it is explained I can’t really say how confusing it might be for someone who hasn’t read his work. And I do believe a lot of my enjoyment was tied to me nerding out over the Lovecraft connections.
The ending in particular had me SHOOK and I’ll certainly be ordering the second book in the series. Overall, really well-written and a lot of fun! I would highly recommend to all Lovecraft fans! 4 stars.
May 30, 2017
If you’ve ever seen the movie Stranger Than Fiction, you probably spent the first half of the movie waiting for Will Ferrell to do something funny, and then being confused and thrown off when he doesn’t, save for the occasional bit of being-Will-Ferrellness that he can’t help but exude, which sometimes imbues moments that are not necessarily intended to be comedic with a sense of mischief and lightness.
Then, a funny thing happens—you stop waiting for Ferrell to be funny and realize that, even though it’s not what you expected, you’re in the midst of a pretty good flick.
Reading Carter & Lovecraft is a similar experience if you’ve had the pleasure of reading Howard’s Johannes Cabal series, which is generally entertaining but reaches an absolutely brilliant comedic peak in the fourth book. That is, Howard can’t help but be funny on occasion—his wit’s as dry as a roadrunner’s anus—but, by and large, this is a straightforward detective yarn, albeit one that features magic, reality-twisting chicanery, and horrific and terrifying monsters in the Lovecraftian tradition.
Worth checking out if you’re a Howard or Lovecraft fan, or just generally enjoy the thought of a hard-boiled detective story tricked out with some otherworldly goings-on. We'll call it somewhere north of 3.5 stars.
Then, a funny thing happens—you stop waiting for Ferrell to be funny and realize that, even though it’s not what you expected, you’re in the midst of a pretty good flick.
Reading Carter & Lovecraft is a similar experience if you’ve had the pleasure of reading Howard’s Johannes Cabal series, which is generally entertaining but reaches an absolutely brilliant comedic peak in the fourth book. That is, Howard can’t help but be funny on occasion—his wit’s as dry as a roadrunner’s anus—but, by and large, this is a straightforward detective yarn, albeit one that features magic, reality-twisting chicanery, and horrific and terrifying monsters in the Lovecraftian tradition.
Worth checking out if you’re a Howard or Lovecraft fan, or just generally enjoy the thought of a hard-boiled detective story tricked out with some otherworldly goings-on. We'll call it somewhere north of 3.5 stars.
May 5, 2019
Daniel Carter, ex-homicide detective, but now the private investigator is quite surprised when he learns that he has inherited a bookstore in Providence from someone he has never heard of. Emily Lovecraft is surprised and not so happy about it, she is the manager of the bookstore, and have been that for the last seven years since the owner of the bookstore disappeared. She is also H.P. Lovecraft's last descendant. Lovecraft, the man who wrote stories about the Great Old Oles and the Elder Gods. But, that's only stories, right?
If I would put together a list from last year of the books I most look forward to reading would this one be quite high up on it. So of course, I got declined at NetGalley. But, then I convinced the library in my town to purchase it. And, then I waited, and waited, 2015 become 2016 and still I waited. Then, behold, I got an email from the library that told me that the book had arrived and I skipped down to the library to pick it up. Alright, I walked down, I'm not in a Disney movie or a child.
The book was good, perhaps not as good as I wanted it to be, but I guess my expectation was off the roof by then. But it was the kind of book where I took the time to really read it, no fast reading here, but that is also quite necessary. I felt that Carter & Lovecraft is not a book that you just storm through. Or at least, that's my opinion. Also, I had waited so long to read it so I didn't want to just read it in one sitting. The plot is really interesting with Carter and Lovecraft trying to stop a man that kind bend reality at will. A man that can kill you in a car by drawing, without water.
I think my favorite part of the book was towards the end when Carter and Lovecraft really started to work together to stop the madman from destroying reality. And, what an ending. So brilliant.
Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede
If I would put together a list from last year of the books I most look forward to reading would this one be quite high up on it. So of course, I got declined at NetGalley. But, then I convinced the library in my town to purchase it. And, then I waited, and waited, 2015 become 2016 and still I waited. Then, behold, I got an email from the library that told me that the book had arrived and I skipped down to the library to pick it up. Alright, I walked down, I'm not in a Disney movie or a child.
The book was good, perhaps not as good as I wanted it to be, but I guess my expectation was off the roof by then. But it was the kind of book where I took the time to really read it, no fast reading here, but that is also quite necessary. I felt that Carter & Lovecraft is not a book that you just storm through. Or at least, that's my opinion. Also, I had waited so long to read it so I didn't want to just read it in one sitting. The plot is really interesting with Carter and Lovecraft trying to stop a man that kind bend reality at will. A man that can kill you in a car by drawing, without water.
I think my favorite part of the book was towards the end when Carter and Lovecraft really started to work together to stop the madman from destroying reality. And, what an ending. So brilliant.
Read this review and others on A Bookaholic Swede
December 28, 2021
Carter & Lovecraft
(Carter & Lovecraft #1)
by Jonathan L. Howard
I really liked this book! Carter is a detective that inherits a terrific bookstore from someone who he never heard of. He meets the grand daughter of the previous owner, Lovecraft, and decides to share it with her. He finds out their bizarre history.
Lovecraft may not have been writing fiction after all. Things start happening and Carter may have just a little bit of something to fight of magic. So good! Just enough supernatural to be super creepy!
(Carter & Lovecraft #1)
by Jonathan L. Howard
I really liked this book! Carter is a detective that inherits a terrific bookstore from someone who he never heard of. He meets the grand daughter of the previous owner, Lovecraft, and decides to share it with her. He finds out their bizarre history.
Lovecraft may not have been writing fiction after all. Things start happening and Carter may have just a little bit of something to fight of magic. So good! Just enough supernatural to be super creepy!
January 12, 2022
Carter & Lovecraft is an imaginative novel based on characters that are the descendants of H.P. Lovecraft, (real author), and Randolph Carter, (a fictional character created by Lovecraft.) I liked it!
I read this as a buddy read and this story makes for a lot of fun discussion. There were some intriguing character deaths that kept the reader engaged and there were also quite a few mysteries to puzzle out.
My one complaint is the cliffhanger ending-I hate that! Plus, not only did it leave the plot of this story unresolved, it also opened up all kinds of new questions and now, of course, I need to read the next book!
Overall, this novel was fun and you don't have to be a walking encyclopedia of Lovecraft knowledge to understand or enjoy the story. However, I think a rudimentary knowledge of the man himself might not hurt. Recommended to fans of horror and of Lovecraft!
I read this as a buddy read and this story makes for a lot of fun discussion. There were some intriguing character deaths that kept the reader engaged and there were also quite a few mysteries to puzzle out.
My one complaint is the cliffhanger ending-I hate that! Plus, not only did it leave the plot of this story unresolved, it also opened up all kinds of new questions and now, of course, I need to read the next book!
Overall, this novel was fun and you don't have to be a walking encyclopedia of Lovecraft knowledge to understand or enjoy the story. However, I think a rudimentary knowledge of the man himself might not hurt. Recommended to fans of horror and of Lovecraft!
December 12, 2015
Trepidation was my main feeling going into this book, after reading the description. It sounded intriguing, but it also sounded like an awful lot could go wrong, with the Cthulhu Mythos meeting the modern paranormal-investigation/urban fantasy genre.
I'm pleased to report that not only did Jonathan Howard pull it off, this book far exceeded my expectations.
Dan Carter is a private detective in the classic vein, a bit lonely, a bit damaged from his previous experiences on the police force - especially one particular incident involving a serial killer that ended in the death of his partner.
When Carter mysteriously inherits a house in Providence, from a total stranger who is apparently missing and presumed dead, he goes to check out his new property - and investigate. He's surprised to find that the building isn't empty. As a matter of fact, it houses a working bookstore, run by an intriguing young black woman who's the only living descendant of HP Lovecraft.
But soon, strange incidents - and murders - start happening, and it begins to look like Carter's inheritance may not be just a lucky windfall. Someone may be trying to frame him for something - and it looks like the eldritch tales that Lovecraft wrote might not just've been the products of a fevered imagination.
Definitely recommended for those who enjoyed other recent updated homages to Lovecraft and his ilk, such as Amanda Downum's 'Dreams of Shreds and Tatters' and Daryl Gregory's 'Harrison Squared.'
Many thanks to Thomas Dunne Books & NetGalley for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinion is solely my own.
I'm pleased to report that not only did Jonathan Howard pull it off, this book far exceeded my expectations.
Dan Carter is a private detective in the classic vein, a bit lonely, a bit damaged from his previous experiences on the police force - especially one particular incident involving a serial killer that ended in the death of his partner.
When Carter mysteriously inherits a house in Providence, from a total stranger who is apparently missing and presumed dead, he goes to check out his new property - and investigate. He's surprised to find that the building isn't empty. As a matter of fact, it houses a working bookstore, run by an intriguing young black woman who's the only living descendant of HP Lovecraft.
But soon, strange incidents - and murders - start happening, and it begins to look like Carter's inheritance may not be just a lucky windfall. Someone may be trying to frame him for something - and it looks like the eldritch tales that Lovecraft wrote might not just've been the products of a fevered imagination.
Definitely recommended for those who enjoyed other recent updated homages to Lovecraft and his ilk, such as Amanda Downum's 'Dreams of Shreds and Tatters' and Daryl Gregory's 'Harrison Squared.'
Many thanks to Thomas Dunne Books & NetGalley for the opportunity to read. As always, my opinion is solely my own.
March 4, 2022
I think most horror fans, and fans of Lovecraftiana, more specifically, tend to agree on is that while Mr. H.P. had very good and cool ideas, he wasn’t the best prose stylist, and his plots were not innovative or terribly original. Alas, it’s hard to deny that many other (more talented) writers took his ideas, ran off with them and gave readers really awesome books. Jonathan Howard is one such writer. I have a great affection for him, his Johannes Cabal series being an absolute treat, and I was very excited to crack this one open!
Daniel Carter was a cop; he quit the force after working on a serial killer case that culminated in tragedy, as his partner unexpectedly committed suicide at the crime scene. Since this traumatic incident, he has been working as a private investigator, and has tried not to dwell on the past too much. But one day, his routine is interrupted by a strange lawyer who informs him that he is the sole beneficiary of a Mr. Hill’s estate. Carter has never heard of Mr. Hill, and has little interest in his inheritance, a property in Providence, Rhodes Island, but he decides to go give it a look-see. He is very surprised to find that the property in question is a used book store, topped by an apartment, and run by Mr. Hill’s niece, Emily Lovecraft. Before he can really decide what he wants to do with this situation, Carter finds himself involved in a bizarre murder investigation that leads to what might be thought of as his true inheritance, the result of something his ancestor did a hundred years before, that affected reality in unimaginable ways.
Of course, you have to love the way Howard is constantly winking at the Lovecraft fans with the multiple (overt and subtle) references to the Lovecraftian cannon – I’m sure he gave himself a face cramp with all that winking. But if you enjoy such thing, this is just plain fun. But this book is better than your average homage to the grand priest of weird fiction and cosmic horror. Howard not only genuinely enjoys the work, but he also truly gets it, to the point where he can make the ideas and tropes fully his. It doesn’t read like a pastiche or like a joke: it is a really good and entertaining detective story, it just happens to be dipping it’s toes in H.P.’s pool, and because of the owner of said-pool, the water sucked the whole story in! Howard is a fantastic writer, with a great imagination and a gift for creating fun and unique characters, and he kept me on my toes from chapter to chapter.
I really enjoyed this book, I am definitely going to look for the sequel because I can’t wait to see what happens next to Daniel and Emily!
Daniel Carter was a cop; he quit the force after working on a serial killer case that culminated in tragedy, as his partner unexpectedly committed suicide at the crime scene. Since this traumatic incident, he has been working as a private investigator, and has tried not to dwell on the past too much. But one day, his routine is interrupted by a strange lawyer who informs him that he is the sole beneficiary of a Mr. Hill’s estate. Carter has never heard of Mr. Hill, and has little interest in his inheritance, a property in Providence, Rhodes Island, but he decides to go give it a look-see. He is very surprised to find that the property in question is a used book store, topped by an apartment, and run by Mr. Hill’s niece, Emily Lovecraft. Before he can really decide what he wants to do with this situation, Carter finds himself involved in a bizarre murder investigation that leads to what might be thought of as his true inheritance, the result of something his ancestor did a hundred years before, that affected reality in unimaginable ways.
Of course, you have to love the way Howard is constantly winking at the Lovecraft fans with the multiple (overt and subtle) references to the Lovecraftian cannon – I’m sure he gave himself a face cramp with all that winking. But if you enjoy such thing, this is just plain fun. But this book is better than your average homage to the grand priest of weird fiction and cosmic horror. Howard not only genuinely enjoys the work, but he also truly gets it, to the point where he can make the ideas and tropes fully his. It doesn’t read like a pastiche or like a joke: it is a really good and entertaining detective story, it just happens to be dipping it’s toes in H.P.’s pool, and because of the owner of said-pool, the water sucked the whole story in! Howard is a fantastic writer, with a great imagination and a gift for creating fun and unique characters, and he kept me on my toes from chapter to chapter.
I really enjoyed this book, I am definitely going to look for the sequel because I can’t wait to see what happens next to Daniel and Emily!
July 15, 2018
I read more than few books where potentially good story was lessened or ruined by bad writing, it's not often I see opposite. Story of Carter and Lovecraft would probably be solid, 3 star worthy paranormal detective tale but with Howard's writing I got more fun from this kind of book than I normally would. This isn't parade of wit and dark humour like later books from his Johannes Cabal series but cleaver writing made this more than just another Lovecraft mythos inspired story. I also like that title of the book isn't there just to drop familiar name at targeted audience (at least not entirely), last names of Dan Carter and Emily Lovecraft actually tie into the story.
June 5, 2017
Can I just say how much I loved Emily Lovecraft? Smart, well-read, profane, tough, funny, not easily impressed, and just a wonderful character! Dan was interesting, too, but I suspect Dan was interesting because of his interactions with Emily. Their conversations made the book for me. I want to spend time with Emily, chatting about books. And find out what happens next with them and with their town, and who the heck is the guy pulling their strings.
November 21, 2015
I read a advance copy of this. So much Lovecraftian fiction misses the point. You want to shake the author and shout, 'Weren't you paying attention?' Jonathan L. Howard gets it right and offers a delightfully original (and non-Euclidean) twist on the mythos and H.P. Lovecraft himself.
April 9, 2018
3.25 solid & slightly insane stars!
I have such a soft spot for Lovecraft inspired stories, regardless of whether they take place on screen, on page, or in any other form really. From “The Thing That Should Not Be” by Metallica, to the Cthulhu themed wallpaper that haunts my desktop background, I’ve always been fascinated by H.P. Lovecraft’s godlike creations; the power they have, the madness they instill, and the few heroic (or foolish) enough to stand against them.
So of course I’ve had Carter & Lovecraft on my radar for a while, but so many other books kept ending up ahead of it in the queue. But I had a bit of a respite between bookclub novels recently, and I figured it was time to put this one to rest.
Also, see my reviews of an awesome Lizzie Borden/Lovecraft crossover by Cherie Priest here:
Maplecroft
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And my entirely NSFW and NSFK (not safe for kids!) review of an entirely NSFW and NSFK erotic Lovecraftian tale here:
Tuesday Apocalypse
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
So what's the skinny? Well, I'm glad I made time for this little ditty. Carter & Lovecraft is a very well written excursion into Lovecraftian territory, telling its own unique tale, while feeling familiar enough in the genre to fit well. There’s enough weirdness oozing across the pages that it feels appropriately spooky, an Mr. Howard can certainly capture strange very well on page. You want bizarre supernatural occurrences? You want otherworldly powers causing mayhem in our quasi-ordered and grounded society? You want musings on our place in the cosmos? Carter & Lovecraft has you covered. And the fact that this is an ongoing series makes me rather happy, as I really enjoyed the characters in this book, and would love to spend more time in the odd & dangerous world they live in.
We get two main protagonists in this third-person novel, Private Investigator Daniel Carter and bookseller Emily Lovecraft. Of the two, Daniel Carter gets the lion’s share of page time, as the vast majority of the action is seen through his eyes. Eyes, I might add, that are starting to see some seriously weird and unexplainable shit! What makes Carter such an enjoyable protagonist is his inner workings and though processes. As an ex-cop, he’s seen the depraved and cruel things that humans do to each other, and he’s pretty well grounded as a result. But his reactions to the events going on in the book are generally believable and oftentimes amusing. His world-weariness (a necessity in a Private Investigator) is endearing, his protectiveness of Emily Lovecraft is sweet and believable, and his dogged determination is admirable. He thinks and behaves like an ex-cop would think and behave, and I found myself liking him immediately.
Opposite Carter is Emily Lovecraft, a no kidding descendant of the famous writer himself, and a fully capable character herself. While she may not get nearly the page time that Carter does, she leaves a definite impression. She’s got some serious moxie, and I always wanted to spend more time with her as a POV character. She is both sarcastic AND intelligent, which is a deadly combination. Some writers struggle when writing a character like Emily, but Mr. Howard is more than up to the task. While the events taking place in the book are utterly alien to Carter, Emily is a bit more on the up & up, so while she’s not ever experienced them herself, she is rather aware of what is taking place (and why).
Ultimately, these two characters together are greater than the sum of their parts. Their meeting, interplay, and growing affection for each other is enjoyable, expertly written, and never feels forced or tacked on. The fact that they occasionally trade banter in movie quotes and other pop-culture references made my inner nerd smile. This is how my friends and I talk, so to have characters on page talking in the same vein just made me all sorts of happy.
On the villain side, we have a few (well, one main villain, and a few periphery ne’er-do-wells), and they are generally devious and dangerous enough to give our heroes trouble. Some of the villains that are met later on in the story are sure to be a larger threat as the series progresses. The main villain of the tale is…interesting. I don’t want to go into spoiler territory, so I’ll try to be vague, but his motivations for some of the horrible things he does, when they are revealed, are a little anti-climactic, if not exactly unbelievable. He was effective enough, and dangerous enough, but I felt let down by him in the end.
There are a few supporting characters, including a cop that Carter interacts with for mutual benefit, but they aren’t really super defined, as this is mostly Carter & Lovecraft’s show. They are either there to be helpful to the heroes, or fodder for the villains, much as they should be in a tale such as this.
The gripes I had against the novel are few & far between, as it's largely a solid and well-written tale. There were of couple of editing goofs, but those can be overlooked. The biggest issue I had was that, once Carter & Lovecraft start to really realize what is going down, and decide to do something about it, the book kinda chugs for a bit. I get that their options are limited, as they can't call The Ghostbusters or take it to the Feds, but their eventual course of action seems a little...half-assed. It's like the book was all polished & plotted until that moment, and then maybe Mr. Howard had a hard time figuring out how to move forward. Once the action picks up again, the book finds its footing again, but it did get a little wobbly there for a bit.
And yeah, to say anything more would be to take away some of the surprise of the story, and I’m not down for that. If you enjoy stories in the Lovecraft vein, or are looking for something a little dark, a little spooky, and a little weird, you should check this one out.
I have such a soft spot for Lovecraft inspired stories, regardless of whether they take place on screen, on page, or in any other form really. From “The Thing That Should Not Be” by Metallica, to the Cthulhu themed wallpaper that haunts my desktop background, I’ve always been fascinated by H.P. Lovecraft’s godlike creations; the power they have, the madness they instill, and the few heroic (or foolish) enough to stand against them.
So of course I’ve had Carter & Lovecraft on my radar for a while, but so many other books kept ending up ahead of it in the queue. But I had a bit of a respite between bookclub novels recently, and I figured it was time to put this one to rest.
Also, see my reviews of an awesome Lizzie Borden/Lovecraft crossover by Cherie Priest here:
Maplecroft
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
And my entirely NSFW and NSFK (not safe for kids!) review of an entirely NSFW and NSFK erotic Lovecraftian tale here:
Tuesday Apocalypse
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
So what's the skinny? Well, I'm glad I made time for this little ditty. Carter & Lovecraft is a very well written excursion into Lovecraftian territory, telling its own unique tale, while feeling familiar enough in the genre to fit well. There’s enough weirdness oozing across the pages that it feels appropriately spooky, an Mr. Howard can certainly capture strange very well on page. You want bizarre supernatural occurrences? You want otherworldly powers causing mayhem in our quasi-ordered and grounded society? You want musings on our place in the cosmos? Carter & Lovecraft has you covered. And the fact that this is an ongoing series makes me rather happy, as I really enjoyed the characters in this book, and would love to spend more time in the odd & dangerous world they live in.
We get two main protagonists in this third-person novel, Private Investigator Daniel Carter and bookseller Emily Lovecraft. Of the two, Daniel Carter gets the lion’s share of page time, as the vast majority of the action is seen through his eyes. Eyes, I might add, that are starting to see some seriously weird and unexplainable shit! What makes Carter such an enjoyable protagonist is his inner workings and though processes. As an ex-cop, he’s seen the depraved and cruel things that humans do to each other, and he’s pretty well grounded as a result. But his reactions to the events going on in the book are generally believable and oftentimes amusing. His world-weariness (a necessity in a Private Investigator) is endearing, his protectiveness of Emily Lovecraft is sweet and believable, and his dogged determination is admirable. He thinks and behaves like an ex-cop would think and behave, and I found myself liking him immediately.
Opposite Carter is Emily Lovecraft, a no kidding descendant of the famous writer himself, and a fully capable character herself. While she may not get nearly the page time that Carter does, she leaves a definite impression. She’s got some serious moxie, and I always wanted to spend more time with her as a POV character. She is both sarcastic AND intelligent, which is a deadly combination. Some writers struggle when writing a character like Emily, but Mr. Howard is more than up to the task. While the events taking place in the book are utterly alien to Carter, Emily is a bit more on the up & up, so while she’s not ever experienced them herself, she is rather aware of what is taking place (and why).
Ultimately, these two characters together are greater than the sum of their parts. Their meeting, interplay, and growing affection for each other is enjoyable, expertly written, and never feels forced or tacked on. The fact that they occasionally trade banter in movie quotes and other pop-culture references made my inner nerd smile. This is how my friends and I talk, so to have characters on page talking in the same vein just made me all sorts of happy.
On the villain side, we have a few (well, one main villain, and a few periphery ne’er-do-wells), and they are generally devious and dangerous enough to give our heroes trouble. Some of the villains that are met later on in the story are sure to be a larger threat as the series progresses. The main villain of the tale is…interesting. I don’t want to go into spoiler territory, so I’ll try to be vague, but his motivations for some of the horrible things he does, when they are revealed, are a little anti-climactic, if not exactly unbelievable. He was effective enough, and dangerous enough, but I felt let down by him in the end.
There are a few supporting characters, including a cop that Carter interacts with for mutual benefit, but they aren’t really super defined, as this is mostly Carter & Lovecraft’s show. They are either there to be helpful to the heroes, or fodder for the villains, much as they should be in a tale such as this.
The gripes I had against the novel are few & far between, as it's largely a solid and well-written tale. There were of couple of editing goofs, but those can be overlooked. The biggest issue I had was that, once Carter & Lovecraft start to really realize what is going down, and decide to do something about it, the book kinda chugs for a bit. I get that their options are limited, as they can't call The Ghostbusters or take it to the Feds, but their eventual course of action seems a little...half-assed. It's like the book was all polished & plotted until that moment, and then maybe Mr. Howard had a hard time figuring out how to move forward. Once the action picks up again, the book finds its footing again, but it did get a little wobbly there for a bit.
And yeah, to say anything more would be to take away some of the surprise of the story, and I’m not down for that. If you enjoy stories in the Lovecraft vein, or are looking for something a little dark, a little spooky, and a little weird, you should check this one out.
May 25, 2017
After an horrific serial killer case with more than a touch of the weird, detective Daniel Carter becomes a private investigator. He also inherits a property from someone he's never heard of, and on investigation, discovers it's a rare bookstore run by Emily Lovecraft, a descendant of the Lovecraft the writer. Carter gets dragged into an investigation of an impossible death and discovers links to things in his own past.
The plot hums along with lots of Lovecraft references. The interactions between the two main characters are the star though with some wonderful chemistry that I'm looking forward to seeing more of in later books.
The plot hums along with lots of Lovecraft references. The interactions between the two main characters are the star though with some wonderful chemistry that I'm looking forward to seeing more of in later books.
October 21, 2015
Let me start by saying that I might be a bit biased. H.P. Lovecraft's ideas have that effect on me and it's a joy when someone takes them to a whole new level. It happened here.
That being said, Carter & Lovecraft is an extraordinary addition to this genre. I am trying to articulate what is exactly that Jonathan L. Howard has done here. I loved it.
This wonderful book with such an unassuming title hides an incredible story of an ex-cop who sees something inexplicable in the beginning of the story. The loss of his partner in a way he couldn't understand makes him leave his job and become a PI. An unexpected inheritance and later a weird phone call from a parking lot in Providence involves him in the weirdest case of his life, one that might kill him. But the good side of it all is that he meets Emily Lovecraft.
Both Daniel Carter and Emily Lovecraft are likeable characters, so I really hope this is going to be a series.
It is hard to write about the way this book is written, the things that happen to them or around them without spoilers. All chapters in the book have subtitles that are mostly either Lovecraft's titles or variations of them (e.g. 'The Shadow over Providence', 'The Thing and the Doorstep').
If you've read any of Lovecraft's stories, you'll recognize the titles and the themes. However, don't think for a moment it's same old, same old. It is definitely not!
There are so many twists (pun intended) and turns in this book I lost count. One moment you think you know where something is going, or who the villain is, and the next you are getting something downright unexpected. Plus, there are a couple of truly hair-raising moments that won't leave a horror lover indifferent. And that ending? Perfect. I honestly can't find a better way to introduce a series.
I liked Carter & Lovecraft so much that I won't even bother to list any nitpicks.
ARC provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
That being said, Carter & Lovecraft is an extraordinary addition to this genre. I am trying to articulate what is exactly that Jonathan L. Howard has done here. I loved it.
This wonderful book with such an unassuming title hides an incredible story of an ex-cop who sees something inexplicable in the beginning of the story. The loss of his partner in a way he couldn't understand makes him leave his job and become a PI. An unexpected inheritance and later a weird phone call from a parking lot in Providence involves him in the weirdest case of his life, one that might kill him. But the good side of it all is that he meets Emily Lovecraft.
Both Daniel Carter and Emily Lovecraft are likeable characters, so I really hope this is going to be a series.
It is hard to write about the way this book is written, the things that happen to them or around them without spoilers. All chapters in the book have subtitles that are mostly either Lovecraft's titles or variations of them (e.g. 'The Shadow over Providence', 'The Thing and the Doorstep').
If you've read any of Lovecraft's stories, you'll recognize the titles and the themes. However, don't think for a moment it's same old, same old. It is definitely not!
There are so many twists (pun intended) and turns in this book I lost count. One moment you think you know where something is going, or who the villain is, and the next you are getting something downright unexpected. Plus, there are a couple of truly hair-raising moments that won't leave a horror lover indifferent. And that ending? Perfect. I honestly can't find a better way to introduce a series.
I liked Carter & Lovecraft so much that I won't even bother to list any nitpicks.
ARC provided by St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
November 23, 2019
❓ Jonathan L. Howard Where the Bloody Shrimp of the Stinking Fish Art Thou Buddy Read (JLHWtBSotSFATBR™) with the MacHalo Cabalettes ❓
💀 DNF at 80%.
I slightly DNFed this book a little, ergo it is IMPOSSIBLE that Jonathan L. Howard (aka My Jojo's beloved daddy) wrote it. And that, my Little Barnacles, is a scientifically proven fact.
See? Even Charlie here agrees with me.
Looks like today is your lucky day because I have another scientifically proven fact for you: this subpar mess of a story is a subpar mess. With plot holes galore, inconsistencies aplenty and catastrophic characterization all around.
P.S. My fellow Cabalettes of the Impeccable Book Taste read the book right and therefore quite logically DNFed it en masse, but it seems that some of myso-called Friends of The Despicable Book Taste actually kinda sorta enjoyed it. I think said friends better quit drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking high quality stuff. It obviously clouds their already dramatically impaired usually Super Extra Accurate judgement and stuff.
💀 DNF at 80%.
I slightly DNFed this book a little, ergo it is IMPOSSIBLE that Jonathan L. Howard (aka My Jojo's beloved daddy) wrote it. And that, my Little Barnacles, is a scientifically proven fact.
See? Even Charlie here agrees with me.
Looks like today is your lucky day because I have another scientifically proven fact for you: this subpar mess of a story is a subpar mess. With plot holes galore, inconsistencies aplenty and catastrophic characterization all around.
P.S. My fellow Cabalettes of the Impeccable Book Taste read the book right and therefore quite logically DNFed it en masse, but it seems that some of my
June 2, 2016
4.5 stars
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was very well written, very intense, and a very fun read. I'm not very familiar with HP Lovecraft's writings and mythos, but knew enough to be able to follow the thought processes in this book. I'm sure there was some that was over my head.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Along with the elder-gods mythos, there was almost a noir-like atmosphere to this book. I'm definitely looking forward to the next volume in this planned series, and hopefully Mr. Howard will answer some of the many loose ends he left at the end of this one!
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was very well written, very intense, and a very fun read. I'm not very familiar with HP Lovecraft's writings and mythos, but knew enough to be able to follow the thought processes in this book. I'm sure there was some that was over my head.
That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Along with the elder-gods mythos, there was almost a noir-like atmosphere to this book. I'm definitely looking forward to the next volume in this planned series, and hopefully Mr. Howard will answer some of the many loose ends he left at the end of this one!
Read
May 9, 2019I really liked this modern take on HP Lovecraft's world. Dan Carter and Emily Lovecraft are brought together by a peculiar will and weird happenings, and things take an extremely warped occult turn in the full Lovecraftian mythos. It's a fantastic idea with atmosphere so intense you can chew it and a wide range of horrible fates inflicted on people. Dark, sinister stuff with a proper sense of cosmic your-mind-will collapse-like-wet-paper horror. Highly enjoyable.
February 4, 2017
3.5 stars rounded down. An enjoyable easy read and modern take on the Lovecraftian tradition. I believe this was written for tv or taken up for tv and it read a little like that to me.
October 5, 2019
Принципно не съм човек, който си прави изводи за съдържанието от опаковката, поради което и тук не заподозрях нищо гнило. Обаче след като отметнах двадесетина страници, се взрях по-внимателно в корицата на романа, за да установя че върху нея се мъдри някакво пипало, изпълзяло сякаш от витрината с морските дарове на Kaufland, но в случая накарано с нескопосан фотошоп да се подава от рафт на викторианска библиотека... А обърнах внимание на корицата, след като установих, че от издателство Екслибрис не са посочили нито редактор, нито коректор на изданието си... Сиреч, спестили са хората от хонорарите на всички, за които са се сетили, тц-тц...
Но да започнем отначало. Анонсът на гърба на книгата беше повече от обещаващ - бивш полицай от отдел убийства, префасонирал се в частен детектив... загадъчна книжарница... изкривени реалности... Ктхулу-митология... и повествованието наистина тръгна както си му е ред. Реалност и съновидения бързо се смесиха, досущ като в творбите от Цикъла на Сънищата в наскоро прочетената Други богове, загатвайки, че ще се насладя на качествен трилър със свръхестествени елементи, а и имената на всички глави носеха директни препратки към разкази на Лъвкрафт, супер яко... Смея да твърдя, че и изпълнението на Джонатан Л. Хауърд беше съвсем прилично - и като замисъл, и като реализация - макар да долових някои смущаващи прилики с цикъла Счупеният атлас на Джон Конъли, включен в сборника Нощна музика - загадъчният адвокат-кукловод, който накрая се оказа... (стига! може пък да си въобразявам, а и на този свят всичко вече е измислено, та трябва да се задоволяваме основно с по-добри или по-лоши кавър версии)...
И сега, главното, главното - преводът... Никак не обичам мрънкането и изпитвам ОГРОМЕН РЕСПЕКТ към труда на преводачите, но тук буквално през четири-пет страници се сблъсквах с куци моменти. Упоменатият като преводач Илиян Лолов спокойно може да се прекръсти на Гугъл Транслейтъров, без майтап. Няколко бързи примера:
Обърна вратата на табелата на "Затворено" и заключи двата йейла.
Картър си помисли дали да не ѝ каже, че Ротуел иска да купи книжарницата като подарък, реши, че не политично, после все пак ѝ каза...
Дотук наглед дребни нещица, ала вгорчаващи вкуса от принципно сладкото като замисъл четиво. Обаче продължаваме натам:
Мисис Леверсън изпадна в конвулсии, сякаш беше електрокутирана.
Какво несъвършено плашило е човекът. Изпълнен с толкова парадокси и атрофия.
Картър се чудеше дали Колт страда от бацилофобия или от тежка анална ретенция...
Мога да приложа още примери, но кому е нужно. Потресен съм. Да е само специфичната медицинска терминология, ок, спънала е лаика, бих преглътнал дори гугъл-транслейт-преведените термини, ако все пак бяха обяснени с бележки под линия... Но живеем във време, в което бързата справка в глобалното пространство е ежедневие, а пък жокерът обади се на приятел също не е за подценяване - често давам медицински консултации на приятели преводачи или колеги писатели... Обаче тук имаше десетки термини от всякакви сфери (въпросните йейлове), оставени просто така да висят във въздуха...
Е, напънах се и дочетох романа, инак нямаше да е политично, но едва ли ще посегна към втората част, защото след първата че чувствам като човек едновременно електрокутиран, с анална ретенция и бацилофобия... А това ревю съчиних, докато замислен се взирах в заключения йейл.
Крайна оценка: Джонатан Л. Хауърд (4,5) плюс Илиян Лолов (0,5) делено на 2 = 2,5
Пи Ес: В една книжна група някакъв хубавец ми се накара, че му натяквам такива дребни неща, а те съвсем не го дразнели... Да, но мен ме дразнят, за мен българското издание на "Картър и Лъвкрафт" е обидно в този си вид, честно...
Но да започнем отначало. Анонсът на гърба на книгата беше повече от обещаващ - бивш полицай от отдел убийства, префасонирал се в частен детектив... загадъчна книжарница... изкривени реалности... Ктхулу-митология... и повествованието наистина тръгна както си му е ред. Реалност и съновидения бързо се смесиха, досущ като в творбите от Цикъла на Сънищата в наскоро прочетената Други богове, загатвайки, че ще се насладя на качествен трилър със свръхестествени елементи, а и имената на всички глави носеха директни препратки към разкази на Лъвкрафт, супер яко... Смея да твърдя, че и изпълнението на Джонатан Л. Хауърд беше съвсем прилично - и като замисъл, и като реализация - макар да долових някои смущаващи прилики с цикъла Счупеният атлас на Джон Конъли, включен в сборника Нощна музика - загадъчният адвокат-кукловод, който накрая се оказа... (стига! може пък да си въобразявам, а и на този свят всичко вече е измислено, та трябва да се задоволяваме основно с по-добри или по-лоши кавър версии)...
И сега, главното, главното - преводът... Никак не обичам мрънкането и изпитвам ОГРОМЕН РЕСПЕКТ към труда на преводачите, но тук буквално през четири-пет страници се сблъсквах с куци моменти. Упоменатият като преводач Илиян Лолов спокойно може да се прекръсти на Гугъл Транслейтъров, без майтап. Няколко бързи примера:
Обърна вратата на табелата на "Затворено" и заключи двата йейла.
Картър си помисли дали да не ѝ каже, че Ротуел иска да купи книжарницата като подарък, реши, че не политично, после все пак ѝ каза...
Дотук наглед дребни нещица, ала вгорчаващи вкуса от принципно сладкото като замисъл четиво. Обаче продължаваме натам:
Мисис Леверсън изпадна в конвулсии, сякаш беше електрокутирана.
Какво несъвършено плашило е човекът. Изпълнен с толкова парадокси и атрофия.
Картър се чудеше дали Колт страда от бацилофобия или от тежка анална ретенция...
Мога да приложа още примери, но кому е нужно. Потресен съм. Да е само специфичната медицинска терминология, ок, спънала е лаика, бих преглътнал дори гугъл-транслейт-преведените термини, ако все пак бяха обяснени с бележки под линия... Но живеем във време, в което бързата справка в глобалното пространство е ежедневие, а пък жокерът обади се на приятел също не е за подценяване - често давам медицински консултации на приятели преводачи или колеги писатели... Обаче тук имаше десетки термини от всякакви сфери (въпросните йейлове), оставени просто така да висят във въздуха...
Е, напънах се и дочетох романа, инак нямаше да е политично, но едва ли ще посегна към втората част, защото след първата че чувствам като човек едновременно електрокутиран, с анална ретенция и бацилофобия... А това ревю съчиних, докато замислен се взирах в заключения йейл.
Крайна оценка: Джонатан Л. Хауърд (4,5) плюс Илиян Лолов (0,5) делено на 2 = 2,5
Пи Ес: В една книжна група някакъв хубавец ми се накара, че му натяквам такива дребни неща, а те съвсем не го дразнели... Да, но мен ме дразнят, за мен българското издание на "Картър и Лъвкрафт" е обидно в този си вид, честно...
November 14, 2020
This is a difficult book to review - it was a great and entertaining read through most of it, though there were certainly sections that dragged.
Reread - though that section at the top deserved to stay!
In the time since I first read this, I've managed to nail down some of what I like in my Weird, and it's not the "cold and uncaring universe against which we are tiny" part (though I can really go for a terrifying an ineffable villain) - it's the "we tiny humans just don't stop fighting no matter HOW immense and uncaring you are" part. And that's where Carter & Lovecraft won me over, though it did have some issues.
Mostly the issues come down to some uneven pacing, and perhaps needing a trim here and there - it's not so much that there's parts needing removal, so much as they needed a streamline. It's mostly balanced out by two very likable main characters and some nicely eldritch goings on and a general attitude that not only avoids the racism/other general prejudice of the original works, but acknowledges and belittles it. Definitely looking forward to finally getting around to the sequel!
Original review:I think in the end, a lot of the enjoyment is going to come down to personal taste; I personally have a penchant for the weird and not necessarily reassuring, so I enjoyed it. The character of Lovecraft also didn't hurt, she kicks ass in all sorts of ways. Apparently this has been optioned for TV, so if Jade Eshete doesn't get a call then the world really isn't fair.
I'll definitely be reading the next book, and keeping an eye out for the TV series.
Reread - though that section at the top deserved to stay!
In the time since I first read this, I've managed to nail down some of what I like in my Weird, and it's not the "cold and uncaring universe against which we are tiny" part (though I can really go for a terrifying an ineffable villain) - it's the "we tiny humans just don't stop fighting no matter HOW immense and uncaring you are" part. And that's where Carter & Lovecraft won me over, though it did have some issues.
Mostly the issues come down to some uneven pacing, and perhaps needing a trim here and there - it's not so much that there's parts needing removal, so much as they needed a streamline. It's mostly balanced out by two very likable main characters and some nicely eldritch goings on and a general attitude that not only avoids the racism/other general prejudice of the original works, but acknowledges and belittles it. Definitely looking forward to finally getting around to the sequel!
Original review:I think in the end, a lot of the enjoyment is going to come down to personal taste; I personally have a penchant for the weird and not necessarily reassuring, so I enjoyed it. The character of Lovecraft also didn't hurt, she kicks ass in all sorts of ways. Apparently this has been optioned for TV, so if Jade Eshete doesn't get a call then the world really isn't fair.
I'll definitely be reading the next book, and keeping an eye out for the TV series.
November 9, 2015
Daniel Carter is a homicide detective wrapping up the “Child Catcher” serial killer case. The perp is sitting, gut-shot, in the corner bleeding out but with a big smile on his face while Charlie Hammond; Carter’s partner, puts his service revolver to his own head and pulls the trigger.
Nothing could possibly explain what happened in that room and Daniel resigns from the police force to hang out his shingle as a private investigator. He is quite content for a while handling divorce surveillance until a mysterious gentlemen walks into his office one day and announces, much to Daniel’s surprise, that he has inherited property in Providence, R.I. The benefactor is totally unknown to Daniel and even more unusual, when he arrives in Providence he discovers his strange inheritance is a functioning bookshop run by Emily Lovecraft – yes, she is descended from the famous H.P. Lovecraft. Better yet, Daniel is descended from another Carter, HPL’s best friend. Aha, that’s where the bookshop came from? As Daniel is coming to terms with all this, people start dying under very mysterious circumstances and Daniel is unwillingly drawn into the very “unusual” murders.
Sounds pretty good, right?
I read a blurb about this book and immediately went to my library site and requested it. I am glad I did that rather than run to my nearest bookseller to purchase it because it turned out to be quite a disappointment. Credit where credit is due – the first part of the book kept me very interested then it started to go very strange very quickly, and not necessarily in a good way for this reader. A math professor with a strange artifact, a stretch of land known as Waite’s Bill, the unusual Waite’s themselves, an alternate reality, quasi-Cthulhu being and something called “The Twist”. My head was spinning. When I finally got to the end I turned the last page and thought “huh!” The concept of the story was good but I got bogged down in the author’s descriptions (which really weren’t), explanations (which really didn’t) and ending (which really wasn’t).
I don’t know if I was not in the mood for this book, if I’m just too dim about the pseudo-math/science/mythology to “get it” or if the last third of the book really was the hot mess I think it was?
Some things I found particularly annoying about this book?
… while I liked the cover art it was deceptive.
… endless references to “Harry Potter” (????) and a few to “50 Shades of Grey” (a little more obvious but still ????)
… a very lengthy passage involving Daniel explaining to himself (and the readers) why it was okay for Emily, who happens to be African American, to be dating upper crust (AND white) Kenneth Rothwell. It’s the 21st century – not necessary!
… even the “unusual” murders had a familiar ring to them and I know the “manner of death”, while shocking and suspenseful, has been done before.
… the phenomenon that is the crux of the story was not explained to my satisfaction (*me whining*)
… Mr. Howard’s attempts at writing accents left me annoyed after a while and every once in a while a “British-ism” would slip in and totally throw me off.
Some things I enjoyed?
… the verbal play between Daniel and Emily was fun to read and well done.
… Emily – she rocked
… the book shop setting and the relationship of the characters to the books was interesting and sometimes amusing
… The ending was a surprise
The ending itself, while interesting and unexpected, was wide open so there could well be a sequel in the works. Masochist that I am, if the sequel gets written I would probably pick it up (from the library!) because there was still the potential of a really good horror/time warp story buried in this book and I would like to see where that goes.
Nothing could possibly explain what happened in that room and Daniel resigns from the police force to hang out his shingle as a private investigator. He is quite content for a while handling divorce surveillance until a mysterious gentlemen walks into his office one day and announces, much to Daniel’s surprise, that he has inherited property in Providence, R.I. The benefactor is totally unknown to Daniel and even more unusual, when he arrives in Providence he discovers his strange inheritance is a functioning bookshop run by Emily Lovecraft – yes, she is descended from the famous H.P. Lovecraft. Better yet, Daniel is descended from another Carter, HPL’s best friend. Aha, that’s where the bookshop came from? As Daniel is coming to terms with all this, people start dying under very mysterious circumstances and Daniel is unwillingly drawn into the very “unusual” murders.
Sounds pretty good, right?
I read a blurb about this book and immediately went to my library site and requested it. I am glad I did that rather than run to my nearest bookseller to purchase it because it turned out to be quite a disappointment. Credit where credit is due – the first part of the book kept me very interested then it started to go very strange very quickly, and not necessarily in a good way for this reader. A math professor with a strange artifact, a stretch of land known as Waite’s Bill, the unusual Waite’s themselves, an alternate reality, quasi-Cthulhu being and something called “The Twist”. My head was spinning. When I finally got to the end I turned the last page and thought “huh!” The concept of the story was good but I got bogged down in the author’s descriptions (which really weren’t), explanations (which really didn’t) and ending (which really wasn’t).
I don’t know if I was not in the mood for this book, if I’m just too dim about the pseudo-math/science/mythology to “get it” or if the last third of the book really was the hot mess I think it was?
Some things I found particularly annoying about this book?
… while I liked the cover art it was deceptive.
… endless references to “Harry Potter” (????) and a few to “50 Shades of Grey” (a little more obvious but still ????)
… a very lengthy passage involving Daniel explaining to himself (and the readers) why it was okay for Emily, who happens to be African American, to be dating upper crust (AND white) Kenneth Rothwell. It’s the 21st century – not necessary!
… even the “unusual” murders had a familiar ring to them and I know the “manner of death”, while shocking and suspenseful, has been done before.
… the phenomenon that is the crux of the story was not explained to my satisfaction (*me whining*)
… Mr. Howard’s attempts at writing accents left me annoyed after a while and every once in a while a “British-ism” would slip in and totally throw me off.
Some things I enjoyed?
… the verbal play between Daniel and Emily was fun to read and well done.
… Emily – she rocked
… the book shop setting and the relationship of the characters to the books was interesting and sometimes amusing
… The ending was a surprise
The ending itself, while interesting and unexpected, was wide open so there could well be a sequel in the works. Masochist that I am, if the sequel gets written I would probably pick it up (from the library!) because there was still the potential of a really good horror/time warp story buried in this book and I would like to see where that goes.
November 29, 2016
El detective privado Dan Carter, que dejó de ser policía tras el suicidio de su compañero en el momento en que atraparon a un asesino en serie, recibe un buen día una herencia inesperada. Se trata de una propiedad en la ciudad de Providence, pero cuando Carter acude al lugar, descubre que en realidad es un negocio en vigor, una librería regentada por Emily Lovecraft, una joven afroamericana, última descendiente del famoso escritor. Al mismo tiempo, empiezan a ocurrir una serie de extraños, imposibles asesinatos.
‘Carter & Lovecraft’, de Jonathan L. Howard, es un thriller sobrenatural, con múltiples referencias lovecraftianas. Sin embargo, la novela no gira en torno a monstruos y criaturas, sino que tira más por la intriga y la percepción de otros universos. Lo que más me ha gustado, la primera parte, muy de novela negra.
‘Carter & Lovecraft’, de Jonathan L. Howard, es un thriller sobrenatural, con múltiples referencias lovecraftianas. Sin embargo, la novela no gira en torno a monstruos y criaturas, sino que tira más por la intriga y la percepción de otros universos. Lo que más me ha gustado, la primera parte, muy de novela negra.
October 22, 2015
I was introduced to the works of HP Lovecraft (and his circle) at a very young age, and my abiding love of weird/Lovecraftian fiction has stuck with me through the years. As a result, I've read alot (A LOT) of Lovecraft homages, pastiches, sequels, prequels, and themed anthologies.
But typically the worst of the worst in the Lovecraft genre (whether it be film or books) is the hoary premise of "Lovecraft's Descendents must safeguard the world from the Mythos".
Which is why this book by Jonathan L. Howard is such a revelation! It treads lightly on (and even mildly subverts) that cliched premise with this novel that reads like "Dashiell Hammet by way of HP Lovecraft."
What this book does, it really does superbly. A few of the disparate elements I like that really made this novel come together and "pop" for me?
1) I loved that the chapter titles are all allusions to HPL stories. A really clever (if blatant) "Easter Egg" for HPL fans.
2) I loved that the "Last Descendant of LOvecraft" is an African-American woman. (And that the character is self-aware enough to appreciate and poke fun at that irony and mock Lovecraft's patriarchal and racist ways!)
3) The depiction of Dan Carters slow, continuining descent towards madness. Very rarely has this been been depicted so believably well in Lovercraftian fiction.
If the book has one flaw, it's that the plot, while gripping, meanders a bit in the early going. But I don't count that as a huge flaw since this book is really all about the atmosphere and characters, and that aspect is delivered in spades.
4.5 squamous tentacles up, rounded up (after a small internal debate) to 5 stars. (And, as always, many thanks to NetGalley for granting me the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.)
But typically the worst of the worst in the Lovecraft genre (whether it be film or books) is the hoary premise of "Lovecraft's Descendents must safeguard the world from the Mythos".
Which is why this book by Jonathan L. Howard is such a revelation! It treads lightly on (and even mildly subverts) that cliched premise with this novel that reads like "Dashiell Hammet by way of HP Lovecraft."
What this book does, it really does superbly. A few of the disparate elements I like that really made this novel come together and "pop" for me?
1) I loved that the chapter titles are all allusions to HPL stories. A really clever (if blatant) "Easter Egg" for HPL fans.
2) I loved that the "Last Descendant of LOvecraft" is an African-American woman. (And that the character is self-aware enough to appreciate and poke fun at that irony and mock Lovecraft's patriarchal and racist ways!)
3) The depiction of Dan Carters slow, continuining descent towards madness. Very rarely has this been been depicted so believably well in Lovercraftian fiction.
If the book has one flaw, it's that the plot, while gripping, meanders a bit in the early going. But I don't count that as a huge flaw since this book is really all about the atmosphere and characters, and that aspect is delivered in spades.
4.5 squamous tentacles up, rounded up (after a small internal debate) to 5 stars. (And, as always, many thanks to NetGalley for granting me the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.)
December 26, 2016
Gah, I am so behind on my book reviews! It seems like it's been forever since I read this, but it really hasn't. All rambling aside, I really enjoyed Carter & Lovecraft.
Part hard-boiled noir, part weird fiction, this book is a fitting homage to the Lovecraft mythos. It has all the things that I love about Lovecraft, and none of the things I hate. Howard thumbs his nose at H.P.'s penchant for racism by giving him a fictional African American descendant (Emily Lovecraft), who also happens to be a clever and fearless bookseller. Her newly acquired partner in the book biz is Daniel Carter, an ex homicide detective and PI, who ends up owning the bookstore she runs in a rather curious turn of events. Carter and Lovecraft are drawn into a weird string of homicides together, and once they realize that the are up against something that may not be of this world, things start to get even stranger.
I loved this mixture of detective/weird fiction, and I'm really hoping to see this pair of characters in a number of books to come.
Part hard-boiled noir, part weird fiction, this book is a fitting homage to the Lovecraft mythos. It has all the things that I love about Lovecraft, and none of the things I hate. Howard thumbs his nose at H.P.'s penchant for racism by giving him a fictional African American descendant (Emily Lovecraft), who also happens to be a clever and fearless bookseller. Her newly acquired partner in the book biz is Daniel Carter, an ex homicide detective and PI, who ends up owning the bookstore she runs in a rather curious turn of events. Carter and Lovecraft are drawn into a weird string of homicides together, and once they realize that the are up against something that may not be of this world, things start to get even stranger.
I loved this mixture of detective/weird fiction, and I'm really hoping to see this pair of characters in a number of books to come.
December 11, 2021
3ymedio redondeado a 4/5 por que me ha parecido original, interesante y curioso. Empieza con una investigación con toques sobrenaturales y va cambiando de género poco a poco, bebiendo de la mitología "Lovecraftiana". Y no, no creo que se pueda considerar que de miedo.
Aunque a veces está un poco desordenado o digamos...poco claro lo que cuenta, se entiende bien. Ah, ¡y que pasada el capítulo 16!!
Nota extra: aviso que aunque no sea necesario si es muy muy muy recomendable haber leído algo de la obra Lovecraft o al menos informarse sobre ella.
En definitiva, no es un "increíble, ¡leedlo ya!" pero es original, que no es poco.
Aunque a veces está un poco desordenado o digamos...poco claro lo que cuenta, se entiende bien. Ah, ¡y que pasada el capítulo 16!!
Nota extra: aviso que aunque no sea necesario si es muy muy muy recomendable haber leído algo de la obra Lovecraft o al menos informarse sobre ella.
En definitiva, no es un "increíble, ¡leedlo ya!" pero es original, que no es poco.
December 16, 2017
My thanks to the folks at the Horror Aficionados group for selecting this book as the February audio group selection, this giving me the opportunity to read and discuss it, and many other fine books, with others.
I really enjoyed this book. It provided a good mix of horror and comedy that reminded me of the old TV series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. The interpersonal dynamic between ex-cop turned private eye Dan Carter and antiquarian bookstore manager Emily Lovecraft is perfect, very enjoyable.
Another thing I enjoyed about the book is that it bears out my attitude towards H.P. Lovecraft. It's my belief that he was a thoroughly loathsome individual and a writer of marginal quality, at best. The one thing he has going for him is the Cthulhu mythos that he created. It is a perfect framework that other, more talented authors than H.P., could expand upon with great success. Thank you Jonathan L. Howard for proving me right. I never entirely got a firm grasp on Howard's attitude towards Lovecraft but the fact that he made the racist and misogynistic author's great great grand niece a woman of color gave me an inkling that we were pretty much on the same page.
I don't want to relate too much of what happens for fear of spoiling other readers' enjoyment but I will say it begins with a series of inexplicable events and deaths that defy the rules of physics. From there things just get curiouser and curiouser, all the way to a really great twist at the end.
I very much hope there is a sequel in the works. This would make a great series.
BTW: Ari Fliakos did a tremendous job narrating the audio version of this book.
I really enjoyed this book. It provided a good mix of horror and comedy that reminded me of the old TV series Kolchak: The Night Stalker. The interpersonal dynamic between ex-cop turned private eye Dan Carter and antiquarian bookstore manager Emily Lovecraft is perfect, very enjoyable.
Another thing I enjoyed about the book is that it bears out my attitude towards H.P. Lovecraft. It's my belief that he was a thoroughly loathsome individual and a writer of marginal quality, at best. The one thing he has going for him is the Cthulhu mythos that he created. It is a perfect framework that other, more talented authors than H.P., could expand upon with great success. Thank you Jonathan L. Howard for proving me right. I never entirely got a firm grasp on Howard's attitude towards Lovecraft but the fact that he made the racist and misogynistic author's great great grand niece a woman of color gave me an inkling that we were pretty much on the same page.
I don't want to relate too much of what happens for fear of spoiling other readers' enjoyment but I will say it begins with a series of inexplicable events and deaths that defy the rules of physics. From there things just get curiouser and curiouser, all the way to a really great twist at the end.
I very much hope there is a sequel in the works. This would make a great series.
BTW: Ari Fliakos did a tremendous job narrating the audio version of this book.
November 17, 2015
5 Stars
Carter & Lovecraft by Jonathan L. Howard combines some of my favorite genres as well as one of my favorite heroes and puts them together into one awesome read. This is a hardboiled mystery with a main hero and P.I. named Daniel Carter who tries his best to not be a stereotypical gumshoe.
Carter & Lovecraft is the second novel that I have read by Howard and I was a fan of his after reading The Necromancer. This book is a detective story that centers on everyone's favorite H.P. Lovecraft. I am not going to give much story details as they spoil the fun. This is a story of a former Cop that has his life flipped upside down and inside out when he comes into an unexpected inheritance. Howard plays things smart by building up everything slowly. From character development, to world building, and to secrets being revealed, all things are treated with a light touch in the beginning and rolling along as the story progresses. That being said, this is not a slow read, it is a page turner. The story works because Carter is a fantastic lead. His story and his past adds to the enjoyment as does his relationship with Emily.
I loved the tone to this book which was never too dark, nor was it too light, in fact this book was much more serious than my previous read of Howard. The whole tie in to Lovecraft is awesome. I enjoyed the build up and the ending did not let me down. This is a fun read that left me wanting to read more from Howard and it also made me wonder if that was Cthulhu I saw down by the river today...
Highly recommended!
Carter & Lovecraft by Jonathan L. Howard combines some of my favorite genres as well as one of my favorite heroes and puts them together into one awesome read. This is a hardboiled mystery with a main hero and P.I. named Daniel Carter who tries his best to not be a stereotypical gumshoe.
Carter & Lovecraft is the second novel that I have read by Howard and I was a fan of his after reading The Necromancer. This book is a detective story that centers on everyone's favorite H.P. Lovecraft. I am not going to give much story details as they spoil the fun. This is a story of a former Cop that has his life flipped upside down and inside out when he comes into an unexpected inheritance. Howard plays things smart by building up everything slowly. From character development, to world building, and to secrets being revealed, all things are treated with a light touch in the beginning and rolling along as the story progresses. That being said, this is not a slow read, it is a page turner. The story works because Carter is a fantastic lead. His story and his past adds to the enjoyment as does his relationship with Emily.
I loved the tone to this book which was never too dark, nor was it too light, in fact this book was much more serious than my previous read of Howard. The whole tie in to Lovecraft is awesome. I enjoyed the build up and the ending did not let me down. This is a fun read that left me wanting to read more from Howard and it also made me wonder if that was Cthulhu I saw down by the river today...
Highly recommended!
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