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Mammoth
Mammoth View, California is hit with the news of an attack on a summer morning. It s not clear what happened, but it s bad. And it s not over. As residents panic and leave town, the police chief and his deputy set off into the woods to investigate. The campsite attack is the perfect coincidence for Billy Lane. Looking for the biggest score of his career, he s targeted the local bank. The robbery does not go well and the aftermath goes even worse. Over the next twenty-four hours, chaos descends on Mammoth View. What really happened at that campsite outside of town?"
- GenresFiction
266 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2016
3 people are currently reading
272 people want to read
About the author
Douglas Perry
15 books49 followersDoug is the author of "Eliot Ness: The Rise and Fall of an American Hero" and "The Girls of Murder City: Fame, Lust, and the Beautiful Killers Who Inspired Chicago."
An award-winning writer and editor, his work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, The Oregonian, Tennis, and many other publications.
An award-winning writer and editor, his work has appeared in the Chicago Tribune, The Oregonian, Tennis, and many other publications.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 7, 2020
"Like I said, people scared. Doesn't matter what about."
i love the cover of this book. it's not staggeringly original or anything, but that's why i like it - it looks like 80% of the covers on my grit lit shelf, for example, so it makes me think i know what to expect:
and the description is so vague:
The small, isolated town of Mammoth View is hit with terrifying news on a summer morning: a mysterious, large-scale attack is unfolding in the surrounding forest. It’s not clear what happened, but it’s bad. And it’s not over. As residents flee in panic, Police Chief Hicks and his deputy set off into the woods to investigate.
The attack seems like the perfect coincidence for Billy Lane. Looking for the biggest score of his career, he targets the local bank. The robbery does not go well—and the aftermath is even worse, leading the robbers to a nearby running camp for teen girls.
Over the next twenty-four hours, chaos descends on Mammoth View as Billy, the police officers, and a courageous teen athlete at the camp face down murderous strangers and ghosts from their pasts—all leading back to what really happened outside of town.
i wasn't sure if this was going to be grit lit or some sort of supernatural/rampant animal attack/apocalyptic weather disaster storyline.
turns out, it's none of those things. and it's not at all bad, but it's like when you see a mouthwatering picture of steak and french fries in your food network magazine:
and then it turns out to be an ice cream cake shaped like steak, and 'french fries' made out of pound cake, and you like ice cream and pound cake just fine, but your appetite was prepared for steak and french fries and now your tummy feels a little unsettled.
the beginning of this was great; i was getting a very strong Niceville vibe from it, because it is essentially the same exact setup: small town, bank robbery gone wrong, large cast of characters whose storylines contribute to an overarching narrative, atmosphere thick with tension and foreboding as the reader is dropped into something they don't understand but are digging their journey to the slow, spooky reveal.
unfortunately, this book is one long held breath. it's partially my fault for noting the similarities between this and Niceville and expecting the story to develop along a similar path, but reading this was a frustratingly long wait for explanations while the reader is shuttled back and forth between several different characters' backstories and present-day experiences, wondering when they will converge or when the real threat will manifest.
the writing is good; it's essentially a series of character studies that eventually provide satisfying closure to the events of the day, but i kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and become killer bats or earthquake-woken ancient evils, or a portal to doooom.
do not wait for these, estragon.
it's a smalltown crime story in which the most supernatural element is the ripple effects of coincidence and misinformation. the problem is that it wants you to think it might go supernatural at any moment, because it keeps dropping all these very ominous pronouncements that activate your spooky-detectors.
"Something's happened," Lloyd said, looking up as he squeezed Jamison's wrists.
"I can see that."
Lloyd's eyes followed his boss's, landed on Jamison's contorted face. "Right," he said. "But, I mean…out there. In the world."
and by out there, in the world, we really mean the small california mountain town of mammoth view, which a reader who is still thinking her ice cream is a steak cannot be blamed for noting has some characteristics similar to those small towns in the work of stephen king, or wayward pines, perhaps.
With all its quaintness - the brick facades and curlicue store signs - Mammoth View didn't feel like a real place when there wasn't snow on the ground. It felt like a mistake, a town removed from its proper time.
and from another POV:
The town made Billy uncomfortable, too. It had nothing to do with the fact that he'd left a dead man in the bank down the street, though that didn't help. It just felt creepy. The town was what snobs called picturesque, and what he called fake. Even the grocery seemed more like a gingerbread house. He wouldn't be surprised if he peered behind the row of soda bottles in the refrigerated aisle and found elves back there stocking shelves and cackling.
add to that the ambiguity and the oddness of the events as they unspool - and as the reader is exposed to them, where no single character has all the information, so we learn bits and pieces from people who only have part of the story - they see blood on a stone but don't know how it got there, they see smoke in the distance and do not know its source. these bits and pieces, taken singly, are commonplace, or at least explainable, but are rendered uncanny by juxtaposition and insinuation, by the author's sustaining that ominous tone and withholding all the information until the very end.
parts of the whole, in no particular order:
the town is evacuated suddenly after reports of an invasion, there is a small earthquake, gunshots are heard, a bank robbery goes sideways, there are several explosions and a large fire, stores are looted, people are killed, others are abducted, phones are down, radio stations spotty, there are many unconfirmed reports of attacks of unspecified origin, there are mysterious, half-glimpsed animal shapes in the woods, general panic, roadblocks, aggressive drivers, rumors, a missing police officer, miscommunication, smalltown bullies taking advantage of the confusion to go buck wild, etc...
and that's plenty to shape a regular crime story around, but then he'll write scenes like this:
"I know you're all scared about what you're hearing on the radio," she said, her voice a little wobbly at first. "None of us is entirely sure what we heard. But this much we know for sure; you're safe here."
Tori glanced at Eileen, who had let her eyes drop to her shoes. Tori knew what Eileen was thinking. They weren't safe anywhere. They never had been.
that imply SO MUCH DRAMA, potentially of the spookyspooky kind, but there's no payoff, in that particular case. that scene sets up a reader's expectations for some big freaking reveal like, "they had never been safe because of the annual piranha invasions" or "because they live in shirley jackson's lottery town," but no. they are just ordinary girls, leading ordinary lives (although one girl is infinitely cooler than the other). i'm just not sure what that set-up (and others like it) are meant to do, other than red herringly mislead the reader, and there are better ways to do that.
it's not always that clunky - there's nothing spookier than a deserted small town, and this scene of an empty diner, meals abandoned, food congealing, plays both sides well:
He walked around the counter and pushed through the kitchen's swinging door. The grill had been turned off, but the food hadn't been put away. A mound of meat sat at the back of the grill, the bottom layer flattened out and stiff from overcooking. Uncracked eggs still patiently queued on the side table. There was a bowl of diced tomatoes. A block of cheese. Butter. Cooked fries sat in their baskets above the oil vat. The makings of a feast.
wheeeere did they gooooo?
i honestly don't know how i feel about this book. on the one hand, it's a well-told smalltown story with strong characters, an intricate plot, and it holds the reader's interest throughout.
on the other hand, it's this bewildering fermata whose tension is sustained far too long for the modest scale of its conflict, so looking back at the plot after knowing everything kind of diminishes it.
he's absolutely an author i would read again, but not when looking for my spooky fix.
******************************************
huh.
i honestly don't know how to describe what i just read. i'm sure i'll figure it out, but right now i'm struggling with the chasm between what i thought this book was going to be and what it actually was.
review to come.
i assume.
come to my blog!
i love the cover of this book. it's not staggeringly original or anything, but that's why i like it - it looks like 80% of the covers on my grit lit shelf, for example, so it makes me think i know what to expect:
and the description is so vague:
The small, isolated town of Mammoth View is hit with terrifying news on a summer morning: a mysterious, large-scale attack is unfolding in the surrounding forest. It’s not clear what happened, but it’s bad. And it’s not over. As residents flee in panic, Police Chief Hicks and his deputy set off into the woods to investigate.
The attack seems like the perfect coincidence for Billy Lane. Looking for the biggest score of his career, he targets the local bank. The robbery does not go well—and the aftermath is even worse, leading the robbers to a nearby running camp for teen girls.
Over the next twenty-four hours, chaos descends on Mammoth View as Billy, the police officers, and a courageous teen athlete at the camp face down murderous strangers and ghosts from their pasts—all leading back to what really happened outside of town.
i wasn't sure if this was going to be grit lit or some sort of supernatural/rampant animal attack/apocalyptic weather disaster storyline.
turns out, it's none of those things. and it's not at all bad, but it's like when you see a mouthwatering picture of steak and french fries in your food network magazine:
and then it turns out to be an ice cream cake shaped like steak, and 'french fries' made out of pound cake, and you like ice cream and pound cake just fine, but your appetite was prepared for steak and french fries and now your tummy feels a little unsettled.
the beginning of this was great; i was getting a very strong Niceville vibe from it, because it is essentially the same exact setup: small town, bank robbery gone wrong, large cast of characters whose storylines contribute to an overarching narrative, atmosphere thick with tension and foreboding as the reader is dropped into something they don't understand but are digging their journey to the slow, spooky reveal.
unfortunately, this book is one long held breath. it's partially my fault for noting the similarities between this and Niceville and expecting the story to develop along a similar path, but reading this was a frustratingly long wait for explanations while the reader is shuttled back and forth between several different characters' backstories and present-day experiences, wondering when they will converge or when the real threat will manifest.
the writing is good; it's essentially a series of character studies that eventually provide satisfying closure to the events of the day, but i kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and become killer bats or earthquake-woken ancient evils, or a portal to doooom.
do not wait for these, estragon.
it's a smalltown crime story in which the most supernatural element is the ripple effects of coincidence and misinformation. the problem is that it wants you to think it might go supernatural at any moment, because it keeps dropping all these very ominous pronouncements that activate your spooky-detectors.
"Something's happened," Lloyd said, looking up as he squeezed Jamison's wrists.
"I can see that."
Lloyd's eyes followed his boss's, landed on Jamison's contorted face. "Right," he said. "But, I mean…out there. In the world."
and by out there, in the world, we really mean the small california mountain town of mammoth view, which a reader who is still thinking her ice cream is a steak cannot be blamed for noting has some characteristics similar to those small towns in the work of stephen king, or wayward pines, perhaps.
With all its quaintness - the brick facades and curlicue store signs - Mammoth View didn't feel like a real place when there wasn't snow on the ground. It felt like a mistake, a town removed from its proper time.
and from another POV:
The town made Billy uncomfortable, too. It had nothing to do with the fact that he'd left a dead man in the bank down the street, though that didn't help. It just felt creepy. The town was what snobs called picturesque, and what he called fake. Even the grocery seemed more like a gingerbread house. He wouldn't be surprised if he peered behind the row of soda bottles in the refrigerated aisle and found elves back there stocking shelves and cackling.
add to that the ambiguity and the oddness of the events as they unspool - and as the reader is exposed to them, where no single character has all the information, so we learn bits and pieces from people who only have part of the story - they see blood on a stone but don't know how it got there, they see smoke in the distance and do not know its source. these bits and pieces, taken singly, are commonplace, or at least explainable, but are rendered uncanny by juxtaposition and insinuation, by the author's sustaining that ominous tone and withholding all the information until the very end.
parts of the whole, in no particular order:
the town is evacuated suddenly after reports of an invasion, there is a small earthquake, gunshots are heard, a bank robbery goes sideways, there are several explosions and a large fire, stores are looted, people are killed, others are abducted, phones are down, radio stations spotty, there are many unconfirmed reports of attacks of unspecified origin, there are mysterious, half-glimpsed animal shapes in the woods, general panic, roadblocks, aggressive drivers, rumors, a missing police officer, miscommunication, smalltown bullies taking advantage of the confusion to go buck wild, etc...
and that's plenty to shape a regular crime story around, but then he'll write scenes like this:
"I know you're all scared about what you're hearing on the radio," she said, her voice a little wobbly at first. "None of us is entirely sure what we heard. But this much we know for sure; you're safe here."
Tori glanced at Eileen, who had let her eyes drop to her shoes. Tori knew what Eileen was thinking. They weren't safe anywhere. They never had been.
that imply SO MUCH DRAMA, potentially of the spookyspooky kind, but there's no payoff, in that particular case. that scene sets up a reader's expectations for some big freaking reveal like, "they had never been safe because of the annual piranha invasions" or "because they live in shirley jackson's lottery town," but no. they are just ordinary girls, leading ordinary lives (although one girl is infinitely cooler than the other). i'm just not sure what that set-up (and others like it) are meant to do, other than red herringly mislead the reader, and there are better ways to do that.
it's not always that clunky - there's nothing spookier than a deserted small town, and this scene of an empty diner, meals abandoned, food congealing, plays both sides well:
He walked around the counter and pushed through the kitchen's swinging door. The grill had been turned off, but the food hadn't been put away. A mound of meat sat at the back of the grill, the bottom layer flattened out and stiff from overcooking. Uncracked eggs still patiently queued on the side table. There was a bowl of diced tomatoes. A block of cheese. Butter. Cooked fries sat in their baskets above the oil vat. The makings of a feast.
wheeeere did they gooooo?
i honestly don't know how i feel about this book. on the one hand, it's a well-told smalltown story with strong characters, an intricate plot, and it holds the reader's interest throughout.
on the other hand, it's this bewildering fermata whose tension is sustained far too long for the modest scale of its conflict, so looking back at the plot after knowing everything kind of diminishes it.
he's absolutely an author i would read again, but not when looking for my spooky fix.
******************************************
huh.
i honestly don't know how to describe what i just read. i'm sure i'll figure it out, but right now i'm struggling with the chasm between what i thought this book was going to be and what it actually was.
review to come.
i assume.
come to my blog!
August 1, 2016
2 stars: It was okay.
This is a case of "wrong reader": This book reads quickly and is tightly written. It's gritty and unusual, but it just didn't work for me.
Partially the problem is I expected something else (I see many readers felt the same way), and partially I just couldn't connect with the book. I disliked all the characters (since they were mostly criminals, this is probably expected) and their homophobic/racist comments; I didn't enjoy the plot, which meandered in confusion as much as the characters did; and I didn't like the treatment of female characters. Finally, the big reveal at the end left me underwhelmed. To put it mildly!
If you enjoy grit lit and tales of criminals and their crimes, you might like this.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
This is a case of "wrong reader": This book reads quickly and is tightly written. It's gritty and unusual, but it just didn't work for me.
Partially the problem is I expected something else (I see many readers felt the same way), and partially I just couldn't connect with the book. I disliked all the characters (since they were mostly criminals, this is probably expected) and their homophobic/racist comments; I didn't enjoy the plot, which meandered in confusion as much as the characters did; and I didn't like the treatment of female characters. Finally, the big reveal at the end left me underwhelmed. To put it mildly!
If you enjoy grit lit and tales of criminals and their crimes, you might like this.
I received this review copy from the publisher on NetGalley. Thanks for the opportunity to read and review; I appreciate it!
August 10, 2016
Read this one a month ago but forgot to update on here? Mom brain! Review to come.
September 6, 2016
Also find my review here: http://bookbum.weebly.com/book-review...
NOW AVAILABLE IN THE UK!
Thank you to Netgalley and Amberjack Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this in an exchange for a review.
Not quite what I was expecting, which I think is the general feel judging by others reviews. Be warned, this isn’t a creepy paranormal, alien type of thing. I don’t think that’s a spoiler either, I wouldn’t want you to pick this up and be greatly disappointed. If you love character focused novels then this will be your kind of book! This gives you some really in depth information about each of the characters, but it can get confusing because there are so many characters! There are eleven main characters, plus more characters that relate to these characters in little sub plots.
Characters:
Tori
Billy & Becky
Jackson & Sam
Hicks & Lloyd
Oscar - “King”
Melvin & Gordon
Winnie Lloyd
If you find it difficult to keep up with lots of different people in books then this won’t be for you. It can get a little confusing at times and I often forgot what was happening to one character by the time we got back to reading about them after having read about 4 characters in between.
I though this novel was superbly written. Possibly one of the best written books I’ve read in quite a while! There is some really grotesque imagery in this book, not in a violent way though, so I wouldn’t give it any trigger warnings, though rape is implied. My only problem with the writing was that sometimes it was really difficult to understand where the characters were in Mammoth View or Bakersfield or what. That was my one annoyance, I wasn’t able to keep a grip on where each character was.
In terms of the plot that there was, which wasn’t much, it was an interesting storyline. Lots of things going on a once which could definitely add to the confusion. I feel as though Perry had created seven(ish) separate short stories and then tried to mash them into one… which in my opinion worked. I felt let down by the ending in a way but at the same time I thought it was really unique. You do find out why panic ensues in the small town of Mammoth View and I can bet you won’t see it coming… Though now I’ve told you it’s not paranormal or aliens then maybe you might…
If you like to really get to know a character and don’t really care about a well developed plot then this book is a definite read for you, but if you’re expecting something scary or creepy form this then don’t bother as it isn’t that kind of thing. I will definitely look out for more of Perry’s work!
NOW AVAILABLE IN THE UK!
Thank you to Netgalley and Amberjack Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this in an exchange for a review.
Not quite what I was expecting, which I think is the general feel judging by others reviews. Be warned, this isn’t a creepy paranormal, alien type of thing. I don’t think that’s a spoiler either, I wouldn’t want you to pick this up and be greatly disappointed. If you love character focused novels then this will be your kind of book! This gives you some really in depth information about each of the characters, but it can get confusing because there are so many characters! There are eleven main characters, plus more characters that relate to these characters in little sub plots.
Characters:
Tori
Billy & Becky
Jackson & Sam
Hicks & Lloyd
Oscar - “King”
Melvin & Gordon
Winnie Lloyd
If you find it difficult to keep up with lots of different people in books then this won’t be for you. It can get a little confusing at times and I often forgot what was happening to one character by the time we got back to reading about them after having read about 4 characters in between.
I though this novel was superbly written. Possibly one of the best written books I’ve read in quite a while! There is some really grotesque imagery in this book, not in a violent way though, so I wouldn’t give it any trigger warnings, though rape is implied. My only problem with the writing was that sometimes it was really difficult to understand where the characters were in Mammoth View or Bakersfield or what. That was my one annoyance, I wasn’t able to keep a grip on where each character was.
In terms of the plot that there was, which wasn’t much, it was an interesting storyline. Lots of things going on a once which could definitely add to the confusion. I feel as though Perry had created seven(ish) separate short stories and then tried to mash them into one… which in my opinion worked. I felt let down by the ending in a way but at the same time I thought it was really unique. You do find out why panic ensues in the small town of Mammoth View and I can bet you won’t see it coming… Though now I’ve told you it’s not paranormal or aliens then maybe you might…
If you like to really get to know a character and don’t really care about a well developed plot then this book is a definite read for you, but if you’re expecting something scary or creepy form this then don’t bother as it isn’t that kind of thing. I will definitely look out for more of Perry’s work!
February 10, 2017
I went into this book with very little expectations. The syopsis was vague and I avoided reading reviews. I found this book to be a great read that was hard to put down.
The story is told from multiple-POV. These seemingly unconnected stories, which leaves you guessing at what is actually occuring in the town of Mammoth Falls.
Due to the amount of POV's it would be easy to get confused between characters and remember exactly what role they play in the chaos. However I believe that the author has done a brilliant job at giving the characters their own voices and allowing the reader to easily differentiate them.
As all the events throughout the book eventually link back together it reveals the cause of the twenty-four hours of chaos that descended on Mammoth View and the one person who caused it all.
I received a copy of Mammoth by Douglas Perry through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told from multiple-POV. These seemingly unconnected stories, which leaves you guessing at what is actually occuring in the town of Mammoth Falls.
Due to the amount of POV's it would be easy to get confused between characters and remember exactly what role they play in the chaos. However I believe that the author has done a brilliant job at giving the characters their own voices and allowing the reader to easily differentiate them.
As all the events throughout the book eventually link back together it reveals the cause of the twenty-four hours of chaos that descended on Mammoth View and the one person who caused it all.
I received a copy of Mammoth by Douglas Perry through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2016
Disclaimer: I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I think, like a few people, we were expecting a more supernatural themed novel. My assumptions were based on the vague synopsis and the beautiful eerie cover. I also saw a little bit of Stephen King's style in his writing when it comes to the realistic eerie, but I was waiting for the unreal horror to kick in. It's not the novels or author's fault but my own expectations and hopes.
This book is predominantly character driven but still keeps the plot going. I kept wondering where the actual truth was with the novel. Unreliable narrators were abound in this novel.
The delivery of the twist didn't have as much oomph as I would have liked it to be. I actually didn't understand it completely until I put the book away and was doing something else, and then I connected the dots. I think that could have been done differently. Also a few threads of the plot were never solved or reached some resolutions, so it felt unfinished.
Over-all I did enjoy this book though. :D
I think, like a few people, we were expecting a more supernatural themed novel. My assumptions were based on the vague synopsis and the beautiful eerie cover. I also saw a little bit of Stephen King's style in his writing when it comes to the realistic eerie, but I was waiting for the unreal horror to kick in. It's not the novels or author's fault but my own expectations and hopes.
This book is predominantly character driven but still keeps the plot going. I kept wondering where the actual truth was with the novel. Unreliable narrators were abound in this novel.
The delivery of the twist didn't have as much oomph as I would have liked it to be. I actually didn't understand it completely until I put the book away and was doing something else, and then I connected the dots. I think that could have been done differently. Also a few threads of the plot were never solved or reached some resolutions, so it felt unfinished.
Over-all I did enjoy this book though. :D
April 24, 2016
I wrote the novel, so of course I'm biased.
June 12, 2017
I received a copy of this from the publisher through NetGalley to read and review.
MAMMOTH by Douglas Perry is an interesting but at times difficult to follow novel that takes place in Mammoth View, California in the immediate wake of a suspected disaster possibly related to an earthquake causing civil unrest and uncertainty among the residents and visitors of the small community.
Several of the main characters take turns being the focal point of each chapter of the book, but the constant shift of focus creates difficulties in having a cohesive storyline for much of this story, although in fairness everything does come together eventually and the lives of all the characters intersect moving toward the conclusion that has an interesting revelation of the catalyst that created the mass panic.
While well worth the effort of reading, this novel definitely is requiring of patience on the part of the reader to stay with the story as it unfolds.
3 stars.
MAMMOTH by Douglas Perry is an interesting but at times difficult to follow novel that takes place in Mammoth View, California in the immediate wake of a suspected disaster possibly related to an earthquake causing civil unrest and uncertainty among the residents and visitors of the small community.
Several of the main characters take turns being the focal point of each chapter of the book, but the constant shift of focus creates difficulties in having a cohesive storyline for much of this story, although in fairness everything does come together eventually and the lives of all the characters intersect moving toward the conclusion that has an interesting revelation of the catalyst that created the mass panic.
While well worth the effort of reading, this novel definitely is requiring of patience on the part of the reader to stay with the story as it unfolds.
3 stars.
August 8, 2016
I received this free copy for exchange of an honest review
I am afraid I haven't previously read anything from Douglas Perry. Mammoth was engaging at first. The whole atmosphere and the feelings that surround you as you get to meet this small town's people are unique. First third of the book was captivating; you can't tell what's going on, you have no clue what is happening and you constantly feel like something is haunting you. I was delighted that this novel was getting my attention.
And then something happened. It threw me completely off. Maybe it was the amount of subplots of the numerous characters. Or probably, it had to do with the fact that the main theme [the earthquake or attack on Mammoth] somehow got irrelevant. I did not care for many of the characters. I admit that Torri was the only one that managed to hold my attention and I got bored.
Somehow this does not discourage me. I believe the author has proved that he has great potential. I really would like to read future works. If he can create such a captivating atmosphere once, I am sure he can do it again. His characters were complete -although their stories derailed the story from it's main plot and his style is good.
I am afraid I haven't previously read anything from Douglas Perry. Mammoth was engaging at first. The whole atmosphere and the feelings that surround you as you get to meet this small town's people are unique. First third of the book was captivating; you can't tell what's going on, you have no clue what is happening and you constantly feel like something is haunting you. I was delighted that this novel was getting my attention.
And then something happened. It threw me completely off. Maybe it was the amount of subplots of the numerous characters. Or probably, it had to do with the fact that the main theme [the earthquake or attack on Mammoth] somehow got irrelevant. I did not care for many of the characters. I admit that Torri was the only one that managed to hold my attention and I got bored.
Somehow this does not discourage me. I believe the author has proved that he has great potential. I really would like to read future works. If he can create such a captivating atmosphere once, I am sure he can do it again. His characters were complete -although their stories derailed the story from it's main plot and his style is good.
January 8, 2017
How can a book be so bad? It started out okay and was even engaging for the first 30 pages, but it quickly became frustrating and around 2/3 through I started skimming pages. I actually regret just not finishing it.
A small resort town and surrounding woods are hit with a large-scale disaster and the town residents flee in a panic as the town descends into an "every-man-for-himself" mentality. The problem is that no one knows precisely what the disaster is. It's up to the local law enforcement to decipher what happened and try to bring order to the madness.
Why did I dislike it? The book lacks momentum in the story line, or rather what masquerades as a story line, due to long ramblings about the character's pasts. And there are many, many characters. So many mundane and uneducated characters that it was difficult to keep track of them all, and their reflections were so pointless. It was trying to be psychologically clever, but it was distracting and disjointed.
A small resort town and surrounding woods are hit with a large-scale disaster and the town residents flee in a panic as the town descends into an "every-man-for-himself" mentality. The problem is that no one knows precisely what the disaster is. It's up to the local law enforcement to decipher what happened and try to bring order to the madness.
Why did I dislike it? The book lacks momentum in the story line, or rather what masquerades as a story line, due to long ramblings about the character's pasts. And there are many, many characters. So many mundane and uneducated characters that it was difficult to keep track of them all, and their reflections were so pointless. It was trying to be psychologically clever, but it was distracting and disjointed.
August 30, 2016
* Thank you to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review *
Told from the perspective of many varied individuals in or near Mammoth View, California this is a story of their world gone wrong and how they deal with what is happening. That said, I did not really relate to or like any of the characters in the story and wish that I could have. I thought the ending iffy at best and wonder at the naivety of the people in the town even if this took place sometime in the past when it was more difficult to get information easily. Mass hysteria is possible but I am not sure it would unfold as it did in this book. I was at times confused and ultimately believe that I was really expecting something else. I was looking forward to reading this book since I have been hiking and skiing in the area long ago. I guess I should say I was underwhelmed and wished for more but will also say that there are no doubt others who will really enjoy this book.
Told from the perspective of many varied individuals in or near Mammoth View, California this is a story of their world gone wrong and how they deal with what is happening. That said, I did not really relate to or like any of the characters in the story and wish that I could have. I thought the ending iffy at best and wonder at the naivety of the people in the town even if this took place sometime in the past when it was more difficult to get information easily. Mass hysteria is possible but I am not sure it would unfold as it did in this book. I was at times confused and ultimately believe that I was really expecting something else. I was looking forward to reading this book since I have been hiking and skiing in the area long ago. I guess I should say I was underwhelmed and wished for more but will also say that there are no doubt others who will really enjoy this book.
July 27, 2016
I'm more than halfway through but I feel that it's futile to cling on for any longer because I've long lost the plot. Something happens in the town of Mammoth View, causing an exodus. Those who were left behind react differently. There was a couple of bank robbers, two police officers, a teen girl, probably another handful of characters. I don't know. I lost track. There's far too much going on yet not enough to move action along. It felt like there were as many characters and elaborate back stories as Game of Thrones, cept less interesting.
At first I wanted to push through and see how it ended, but I'm starting to recognise how I'm putting it off more and more, while not starting a new book because of 'incomplete book' guilt. Enough of that. Life is too short.
This copy was courtesy of NetGalley.
At first I wanted to push through and see how it ended, but I'm starting to recognise how I'm putting it off more and more, while not starting a new book because of 'incomplete book' guilt. Enough of that. Life is too short.
This copy was courtesy of NetGalley.
November 20, 2016
Reading some of the other reviews I have noticed a lot of comments about the book not being what they expected and about there being too much of each characters past but these were both things I liked about it. I don't want to read a book where you only know the minimum about each character because then how do you know what drives them?
When I first saw the cover of the book my immediate thoughts were that it looked eerie and hauntingly beautiful. It was the cover that drew me to it and then when I read the blurb it was like a double whammy. It definitely intrigued me and I was very excited to read it.
http://www.bookerworm.com/reviews/35-...
When I first saw the cover of the book my immediate thoughts were that it looked eerie and hauntingly beautiful. It was the cover that drew me to it and then when I read the blurb it was like a double whammy. It definitely intrigued me and I was very excited to read it.
http://www.bookerworm.com/reviews/35-...
August 1, 2016
steady, slow, excellent. about lots but at the same time not a story with a defined start, journey or end. I felt like I was following the authors thoughspan. GREAT writing.
I got a bit thrown at the end.. Just because I didn't really get the punch. Didn't matter though, it held up fine.
Ok.. After some soul searching I have to ad that it left with too many loose ends. It was so many characters involved that only later did I realize that I didn't get closure for some of them. Janice and Jackson? Sam? Gordon and Melvin? Winnie and Lloyd? Still 4 stars for the unique writing.
I got a bit thrown at the end.. Just because I didn't really get the punch. Didn't matter though, it held up fine.
Ok.. After some soul searching I have to ad that it left with too many loose ends. It was so many characters involved that only later did I realize that I didn't get closure for some of them. Janice and Jackson? Sam? Gordon and Melvin? Winnie and Lloyd? Still 4 stars for the unique writing.
August 8, 2016
There is a lot going on in this book and there are too many to remember them. There is the background stories to the characters. See in the town of Mammoth View, California where there is news that an attack was happening. It's not clear what happened but it's bad ......
Things just go from bad to awful. A very confusing read.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Amberjack Publishing and the author Douglas Perry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Things just go from bad to awful. A very confusing read.
I would like to thank Net Galley, Amberjack Publishing and the author Douglas Perry for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2023
Listen, the ending saved this book for sure all though it was not was I expected. It was actually a better little twist than I thought but still not what the summary eluded to. This was so meandering, so much character info and back story about too many characters. It wasn't hard to follow but all these characters were not needed to round out and put together what was going.
March 18, 2017
I was drawn to this book from the premise and the interesting cover design. The actual plot and characters turned out to be not very interesting at all. Its a short book, but felt like it kept dragging on and on. Their were quite a few characters that the chapters followed and flipped flopped back and forth between. Normally I like this, but the way it was done here, I found it confusing and couldn't keep the characters straight. I've seen this technique done in other stories where there is a catastrophe in town and its worked very well. This book was too short to develop the characters well enough to make this work.
April 18, 2016
Disclaimer: I procured an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley
I chose to read “Mammoth” because the premise sounded interesting. It seemed like a mix of mystery, suspense and thriller, which was exactly the type of book I wanted to read. After finishing this book, I have determined that it wasn’t for me. While it had elements of mystery, suspense and thrills, I wouldn’t describe it as any of those.
Immediately upon starting the book I was annoyed by an aspect of the writing. The book switches points of view often, this did not bother me, what did bother me was that each character would reflect deeply on their past. Each character has an extensive background and every time their point of view came up, I was subjected to their long internal ramblings about their history. I am of the philosophy that less is more. A good example from the book comes from a typical mean girl in a running camp, who never has a point of view section, but I learned so much about her from her interactions with other characters; I would have liked to have read more characters in this fashion and less time in their heads.
My biggest issue with “Mammoth” is I could not identify any overall conflict. Each character in the book had their individual conflicts and this is what kept me reading; I really enjoyed my time with several of the characters, especially when they weren’t in deep reflection about their past. One thing I would point out for other readers is there not a main character; that isn’t completely honest, for me the main character is the town of Mammoth View. The town is the central figure in the story and how each character connects with the town. It reminds me of the red string of fate mythos, where everyone in the world is connected to each other in some fashion.
The book never comes out and gives a definitive answer to the mystery described in the official summary on Goodreads. The answer comes through bits and pieces from the book and is left at the reader’s discretion to piece it all together. I actually liked this this fashion of storytelling; it made me feel like a mini detective. The book concludes on a rather gimmicky note, which I have no strong feelings one way or the other; though, I could see other readers having issues with it.
The pacing of the novel is decent. There were a few scenes I would probably cut to make it more focused, one of them was one of the best scene in the book, but it really didn’t contribute to the story in a meaningful fashion. I could see some readers struggling with the novel as it can jump around in a confusing fashion, but it kept my attention.
Mammoth is an intriguing book, filled with interesting characters but ultimately left me unsatisfied. Characters spend too much time in ponderous reflection on their pasts for my tastes and the narrative can feel confusing to the many perspective switches. As I mentioned earlier, this novel wasn’t really my thing, but other people might really enjoy reading it.
Verdict: Sixes
I chose to read “Mammoth” because the premise sounded interesting. It seemed like a mix of mystery, suspense and thriller, which was exactly the type of book I wanted to read. After finishing this book, I have determined that it wasn’t for me. While it had elements of mystery, suspense and thrills, I wouldn’t describe it as any of those.
Immediately upon starting the book I was annoyed by an aspect of the writing. The book switches points of view often, this did not bother me, what did bother me was that each character would reflect deeply on their past. Each character has an extensive background and every time their point of view came up, I was subjected to their long internal ramblings about their history. I am of the philosophy that less is more. A good example from the book comes from a typical mean girl in a running camp, who never has a point of view section, but I learned so much about her from her interactions with other characters; I would have liked to have read more characters in this fashion and less time in their heads.
My biggest issue with “Mammoth” is I could not identify any overall conflict. Each character in the book had their individual conflicts and this is what kept me reading; I really enjoyed my time with several of the characters, especially when they weren’t in deep reflection about their past. One thing I would point out for other readers is there not a main character; that isn’t completely honest, for me the main character is the town of Mammoth View. The town is the central figure in the story and how each character connects with the town. It reminds me of the red string of fate mythos, where everyone in the world is connected to each other in some fashion.
The book never comes out and gives a definitive answer to the mystery described in the official summary on Goodreads. The answer comes through bits and pieces from the book and is left at the reader’s discretion to piece it all together. I actually liked this this fashion of storytelling; it made me feel like a mini detective. The book concludes on a rather gimmicky note, which I have no strong feelings one way or the other; though, I could see other readers having issues with it.
The pacing of the novel is decent. There were a few scenes I would probably cut to make it more focused, one of them was one of the best scene in the book, but it really didn’t contribute to the story in a meaningful fashion. I could see some readers struggling with the novel as it can jump around in a confusing fashion, but it kept my attention.
Mammoth is an intriguing book, filled with interesting characters but ultimately left me unsatisfied. Characters spend too much time in ponderous reflection on their pasts for my tastes and the narrative can feel confusing to the many perspective switches. As I mentioned earlier, this novel wasn’t really my thing, but other people might really enjoy reading it.
Verdict: Sixes
September 5, 2016
Mammoth by Douglas Perry is a so-so novel about a town-wide panic and the aftermath.
Something happens in Mammoth View at the beginning, a small earthquake and then some kind of attack that resulted in everyone fleeing the town in a panic. We don't know what the attack was until the end. Now there are just a few people left. Police Chief Hicks and his deputy are trying to figure out what happened, Billy Lane and his 2 cohorts take advantage of the situation and rob the bank. The two ne'er-do-well Johnson brothers also take advantage of the empty town. King, a radio DJ is leaving town with his girlfriend. And, instigated by Billy, the teen girls running camp up in the mountains evacuates in a rush, but leaves one of the campers behind, Billy's daughter, Tori. Over the next 24 hours chaos ensues, bringing out the worst in people, and perhaps the best in those that endure the rampage of the brothers.
Mammoth is technically well written and contains a whole lot of character development and backstory for multiple characters. The novel is told through short chapters that feature the point of view of several different characters. It is a quick read.
I agree with the reviewers who have said that the focus of his novel got away from Perry. It was about the disappearance of people who all suddenly and swiftly left town, that's intriguing on its own and what led me to read it. Add to it the bank robbery, Tori and the teen girls at the running camp, the DJ, the bad-news brothers.... and suddenly the novel morphed into something else. I could roll with that, but it seemed to swiftly and repeatedly change its focus. Okay, I decided, maybe it was just a character study of these people, but, then, no, it's about something else now. Finally, the disappearance is nothing and felt gimmicky and I was extremely disappointed when it was explained at the end.
Next, there is a whole lot of running up and down the mountain, running here, running there, running, running. I understand that Tori is a runner and will be running, but exactly how much blindly running to and fro would people be doing under these circumstances. Yes, run away from bad guys, but, no, do not run down to an empty town after you've been told everyone left it.
Disclosure: My advanced reading copy was courtesy of the publisher for review purposes.
Something happens in Mammoth View at the beginning, a small earthquake and then some kind of attack that resulted in everyone fleeing the town in a panic. We don't know what the attack was until the end. Now there are just a few people left. Police Chief Hicks and his deputy are trying to figure out what happened, Billy Lane and his 2 cohorts take advantage of the situation and rob the bank. The two ne'er-do-well Johnson brothers also take advantage of the empty town. King, a radio DJ is leaving town with his girlfriend. And, instigated by Billy, the teen girls running camp up in the mountains evacuates in a rush, but leaves one of the campers behind, Billy's daughter, Tori. Over the next 24 hours chaos ensues, bringing out the worst in people, and perhaps the best in those that endure the rampage of the brothers.
Mammoth is technically well written and contains a whole lot of character development and backstory for multiple characters. The novel is told through short chapters that feature the point of view of several different characters. It is a quick read.
I agree with the reviewers who have said that the focus of his novel got away from Perry. It was about the disappearance of people who all suddenly and swiftly left town, that's intriguing on its own and what led me to read it. Add to it the bank robbery, Tori and the teen girls at the running camp, the DJ, the bad-news brothers.... and suddenly the novel morphed into something else. I could roll with that, but it seemed to swiftly and repeatedly change its focus. Okay, I decided, maybe it was just a character study of these people, but, then, no, it's about something else now. Finally, the disappearance is nothing and felt gimmicky and I was extremely disappointed when it was explained at the end.
Next, there is a whole lot of running up and down the mountain, running here, running there, running, running. I understand that Tori is a runner and will be running, but exactly how much blindly running to and fro would people be doing under these circumstances. Yes, run away from bad guys, but, no, do not run down to an empty town after you've been told everyone left it.
Disclosure: My advanced reading copy was courtesy of the publisher for review purposes.
August 23, 2016
Mammoth is a refreshing departure from the norm. It's a complex, intricately-woven tapestry of characters and events whose relationships, at the outset, seem too disparate to connect.
The characters, events and places are so well-drawn that it verges on pure genius. The author has an extraordinary talent for describing simple things -- such as the way light filters through a window, down a hall and through slanted blinds to create alternating lines of sunlight and shadow -- that evoke perfect pictures in your mind. He includes some of the inane thoughts we all have, unbidden, even in times of extreme stress; these random, often silly, thoughts bring the characters to life in a way few other authors seem capable of doing.
The story is told from the perspectives of over half a dozen individuals: a talented young 16-yr-old girl sent to a camp in the mountains above Mammoth View designed specifically for up-and-coming runners; her father, living a secret life of petty theft until his involvement in a major and deadly bank heist in the town below; an aging but determined Sheriff and his young Deputy; a has-been DJ with an long-time unfulfilled desire to break into acting; a pair of lifetime criminal brothers with a penchant for violence.
It's difficult to imagine, at first, how all these characters' lives could possibly intersect (except, of course, for the pursuit of the obvious criminals on the run), but miraculously they do... often in the most unexpected of ways. There were a couple of scenes that stretched credibility a bit, thus the one-star demerit; however, the richly-drawn characters and the interactions between them were so perfectly nuanced that you nearly forget the plot as your concentration is drawn inexorably back to those characters. While the ending is not how I wished it to be (sometimes fairytale endings just don't happen), it was completely realistic.
This is definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone looking for something that will inspire deep connections with the people and places depicted. It's well worth the time to read and savor every line.
*** This book was provided to me by the author and/or publisher for free through NetGalley, and in exchange for my honest review. ***
The characters, events and places are so well-drawn that it verges on pure genius. The author has an extraordinary talent for describing simple things -- such as the way light filters through a window, down a hall and through slanted blinds to create alternating lines of sunlight and shadow -- that evoke perfect pictures in your mind. He includes some of the inane thoughts we all have, unbidden, even in times of extreme stress; these random, often silly, thoughts bring the characters to life in a way few other authors seem capable of doing.
The story is told from the perspectives of over half a dozen individuals: a talented young 16-yr-old girl sent to a camp in the mountains above Mammoth View designed specifically for up-and-coming runners; her father, living a secret life of petty theft until his involvement in a major and deadly bank heist in the town below; an aging but determined Sheriff and his young Deputy; a has-been DJ with an long-time unfulfilled desire to break into acting; a pair of lifetime criminal brothers with a penchant for violence.
It's difficult to imagine, at first, how all these characters' lives could possibly intersect (except, of course, for the pursuit of the obvious criminals on the run), but miraculously they do... often in the most unexpected of ways. There were a couple of scenes that stretched credibility a bit, thus the one-star demerit; however, the richly-drawn characters and the interactions between them were so perfectly nuanced that you nearly forget the plot as your concentration is drawn inexorably back to those characters. While the ending is not how I wished it to be (sometimes fairytale endings just don't happen), it was completely realistic.
This is definitely a book I'd recommend to anyone looking for something that will inspire deep connections with the people and places depicted. It's well worth the time to read and savor every line.
*** This book was provided to me by the author and/or publisher for free through NetGalley, and in exchange for my honest review. ***
did-not-finish
September 14, 2016I hate dnf'ing books, especially when they are arcs, but I really had to in this case. I think it was an "it's not you, it's me" type of situation, but I was bored to tears by Mammoth. It took me 3 days to get 70% of the way through this rather slim book, which is unheard of for me. I was actively avoiding reading because I didn't want to have to sit through it. So alas, Mammoth and I have parted ways.
I think I just had expectations for this book that didn't align with reality. I read the premise and thought, "oh, apocalyptic literature with a grit-lit slant? I love that kind of stuff! Maybe it will be like A Desolate Splendor: A Novel!" It's not at all. This is, first and foremost, not an apocalyptic novel. Indeed "something has happened" in the town of Mammoth/outside the town, but it's not a world-ending, catastrophic event. This is not a book of survival. In fact, the "big event" itself doesn't really matter in a way I found infinitely frustrating. It's a book about how people react--which yeah, seems like it might take a survival slant, but it's about... uh, a bunch of crime being committed? People acting horribly? Very very much grit-lit full of unsympathetic characters.
I actually like some grit-lit, but I prefer for it to be plot driven. Mammoth is all about the characters, and the plot frequently takes a backseat to explore their inner thoughts and shared histories. This is fine if you like the characters, but I wasn't fond of any of them. In fact, I was constantly thinking, "but what about the huge unknown disaster?! Think about your love life later!" Again, this is mostly my fault, not the book's. If you love grit-lit and character studies and don't care much about focusing on the disaster plot, I think this could be a great book. For me, it was a frustrating and unsatisfying reading experience.
[arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review]
I think I just had expectations for this book that didn't align with reality. I read the premise and thought, "oh, apocalyptic literature with a grit-lit slant? I love that kind of stuff! Maybe it will be like A Desolate Splendor: A Novel!" It's not at all. This is, first and foremost, not an apocalyptic novel. Indeed "something has happened" in the town of Mammoth/outside the town, but it's not a world-ending, catastrophic event. This is not a book of survival. In fact, the "big event" itself doesn't really matter in a way I found infinitely frustrating. It's a book about how people react--which yeah, seems like it might take a survival slant, but it's about... uh, a bunch of crime being committed? People acting horribly? Very very much grit-lit full of unsympathetic characters.
I actually like some grit-lit, but I prefer for it to be plot driven. Mammoth is all about the characters, and the plot frequently takes a backseat to explore their inner thoughts and shared histories. This is fine if you like the characters, but I wasn't fond of any of them. In fact, I was constantly thinking, "but what about the huge unknown disaster?! Think about your love life later!" Again, this is mostly my fault, not the book's. If you love grit-lit and character studies and don't care much about focusing on the disaster plot, I think this could be a great book. For me, it was a frustrating and unsatisfying reading experience.
[arc provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review]
October 7, 2016
A Town in Turmoil
Mammoth is a sleep little town, but this morning there's an earthquake followed by radio broadcasts that have the residents fleeing. One person, who doesn't think it's so bad, is Billy. He and his friends have targeted the town to rob the local bank. With no people in town this looks like an easy job.
Tori, Billy's daughter, is attending a camp for long distance runners outside of town. The earthquake shakes up the camp, but there seems to be no immediate danger until Billy and his friends show up. They can't get out of town because of all the residents clogging the roads, so they decide to go over the mountain where the camp is located.
The story moves between Billy and his gang, Tori, and the local police trying to figure out what is happening. The chapters are short, but moving back and forth quickly between so many characters can make the book hard to follow.
The novel is character driven and the author does a good job of showing us the character's hopes and dreams and how their perception of the world leads them to act the way they do. However, with so many characters, it's hard to become involved with one and be interested in their development.
I wasn't surprised by the incident driving the plot, it seemed quite obvious from the beginning. The only question was why it happened. The issue isn't resolved until the end and by then it has become almost irrelevant.
I can't recommend this book unless you enjoy character driving novels that involve lots of characters. I found the book difficult to get into. I think I would have enjoyed it more if he had concentrated on only one of two characters.
I received this book from PR by the Book for this review.
Mammoth is a sleep little town, but this morning there's an earthquake followed by radio broadcasts that have the residents fleeing. One person, who doesn't think it's so bad, is Billy. He and his friends have targeted the town to rob the local bank. With no people in town this looks like an easy job.
Tori, Billy's daughter, is attending a camp for long distance runners outside of town. The earthquake shakes up the camp, but there seems to be no immediate danger until Billy and his friends show up. They can't get out of town because of all the residents clogging the roads, so they decide to go over the mountain where the camp is located.
The story moves between Billy and his gang, Tori, and the local police trying to figure out what is happening. The chapters are short, but moving back and forth quickly between so many characters can make the book hard to follow.
The novel is character driven and the author does a good job of showing us the character's hopes and dreams and how their perception of the world leads them to act the way they do. However, with so many characters, it's hard to become involved with one and be interested in their development.
I wasn't surprised by the incident driving the plot, it seemed quite obvious from the beginning. The only question was why it happened. The issue isn't resolved until the end and by then it has become almost irrelevant.
I can't recommend this book unless you enjoy character driving novels that involve lots of characters. I found the book difficult to get into. I think I would have enjoyed it more if he had concentrated on only one of two characters.
I received this book from PR by the Book for this review.
August 29, 2016
This was an interesting little read, packed with a diverse cast of characters. Teenage Tori, a cross country runner away at camp and struggling to find her place on the social ladder, " King", a past his best radio DJ, with delusional dreams of future fame, Police Chief Hicks who wants to protect his town, and of course the town good for nothings, the Johnson brothers, small time low life criminals who are more than happy to take advantage of a mysterious event that causes the evacuation of the small town of Mammoth one morning. The real nature of this event is speculated about through out the book, and several hints are dropped but what really happened is only revealed in the final couple of chapters.
This is a book that will divide readers. Some, who like character driven stories will love it, while those who prefer their books heavy on plot may find the ending a little off putting. Personally I loved the clever little plot device, and looking back I remembered plenty of clues, but I am sure some will feel it was a cop out.
Aside from the ending, the book is well written, with some good character development , particularly for Tori, her Dad, and chief Hicks. At first it was a little hard to keep the myriad characters straight, as we were introduced to many in quick succession, but this became less of an issue as the book went on and the characters became more differentiated. The pacing was fast, and the use of short chapters from different perspectives added to the feelings of apprehension and panic for the reader.
Overall an enjoyable read, and one that I would recommend.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a book that will divide readers. Some, who like character driven stories will love it, while those who prefer their books heavy on plot may find the ending a little off putting. Personally I loved the clever little plot device, and looking back I remembered plenty of clues, but I am sure some will feel it was a cop out.
Aside from the ending, the book is well written, with some good character development , particularly for Tori, her Dad, and chief Hicks. At first it was a little hard to keep the myriad characters straight, as we were introduced to many in quick succession, but this became less of an issue as the book went on and the characters became more differentiated. The pacing was fast, and the use of short chapters from different perspectives added to the feelings of apprehension and panic for the reader.
Overall an enjoyable read, and one that I would recommend.
I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2016
The combination of cover and description really intrigued me. I was initially drawn into the book wondering what was going on in this small California community in the early 80s. Was it an invasion? Something horrible happening? Or... ?
I was pleased to have an opportunity to read this through NetGalley.
The novel was very character driven, and since there were a lot of characters, there were a lot of backstories and internal thoughts/remembrances. After awhile, it became a little distracting because a chapter would leave off with a suspenseful moment, and we wouldn't catch back up with the action until we got through another character's story. Even though there was a large amount of exposition, there were also times where I was a little unsure of why a character was motivated to do the things they were doing. There were a lot of questions and/or threads hanging, and some of them never really did wrap up at the end.
I realized what was going on fairly early in the book, but questioned whether or not I was guessing correctly because of the lack of information or clarity of the situation(s). I won't give away any surprises, but I did feel that things at the end concluded a little too easily based on what was happening throughout the multiple story lines.
I felt like there were a lot of interesting characters and some that were more interesting than others. I would have probably liked it more if there were fewer characters competing for attention and a more developed plot line that wove them together more.
I was pleased to have an opportunity to read this through NetGalley.
The novel was very character driven, and since there were a lot of characters, there were a lot of backstories and internal thoughts/remembrances. After awhile, it became a little distracting because a chapter would leave off with a suspenseful moment, and we wouldn't catch back up with the action until we got through another character's story. Even though there was a large amount of exposition, there were also times where I was a little unsure of why a character was motivated to do the things they were doing. There were a lot of questions and/or threads hanging, and some of them never really did wrap up at the end.
I realized what was going on fairly early in the book, but questioned whether or not I was guessing correctly because of the lack of information or clarity of the situation(s). I won't give away any surprises, but I did feel that things at the end concluded a little too easily based on what was happening throughout the multiple story lines.
I felt like there were a lot of interesting characters and some that were more interesting than others. I would have probably liked it more if there were fewer characters competing for attention and a more developed plot line that wove them together more.
June 30, 2016
Basically, you've got a cast of characters that in some way or another are affected by the sudden emptying of the town of Mammoth View. Something, and you're never sure quite what has happened, has driven most of the population out of town. Cue a bank robber taking advantage of the sudden emptiness, a couple of thugs running around beating people up and raping people, a really inept police chief trying to restore some order, and some poor souls that just kind of get in the way. Chaos ensues.
I think I was expecting a lot more from this novel than what was given. I expected some kind of huge event encompassing the town and driving the plot but really, whatever has driven people out of town is just background noise. Perry focuses, instead, on some rather detailed and unnecessary characterization. Points of view change a lot and a lot of history about each of the character's past is given in excessive detail.
This emphasis on characterization gets in the way in any kind of plot development...not that there really is any kind of overarching plot. Some threads are just abandoned willy-nilly, some take over the narrative completely. Honestly, it was hard to keep interest in this book.
There were some funny events that take place (Like the girl who abandons her ex-boyfriend on the side of the road) and there are some characters I liked and kind of wanted to be the main focus of the narrative (Like Tori). Overall though, this novel was a bit of a let down.
I think I was expecting a lot more from this novel than what was given. I expected some kind of huge event encompassing the town and driving the plot but really, whatever has driven people out of town is just background noise. Perry focuses, instead, on some rather detailed and unnecessary characterization. Points of view change a lot and a lot of history about each of the character's past is given in excessive detail.
This emphasis on characterization gets in the way in any kind of plot development...not that there really is any kind of overarching plot. Some threads are just abandoned willy-nilly, some take over the narrative completely. Honestly, it was hard to keep interest in this book.
There were some funny events that take place (Like the girl who abandons her ex-boyfriend on the side of the road) and there are some characters I liked and kind of wanted to be the main focus of the narrative (Like Tori). Overall though, this novel was a bit of a let down.
August 19, 2016
3 stars
This book was received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Well that didn't end as I had expected. In fact, I actually laughed at how cheesy of a cop out this story had. The premise was actually quite interesting as the story revolves around a sleepy ski resort town of Mammoth View, located in the mountains. It follows around multiple characters that are in the town during a mysterious event that leads to a full evacuation of the town.
However, about 50% of this book revolves around character building via flashbacks. You've got the single father who turns to a life of crime to support his daughter. The daughter herself who struggles with the common challenges of her teenage years. There's the suspects, who are twins that battle their reputations around the town. The sheriff who leads the investigation, battling his own health and relationship issues. And there's the local radio DJ whose also having relationship issues on top of his big dreams of being an acting star.
The story itself was an easy read and I enjoyed the writers style. But the book just felt as though the premise was pretty much forgotten until the last chapter, where things are quickly tied up with an unsatisfying end. It's a shame the book didn't meet my expectations that the premise had set.
This book was received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Well that didn't end as I had expected. In fact, I actually laughed at how cheesy of a cop out this story had. The premise was actually quite interesting as the story revolves around a sleepy ski resort town of Mammoth View, located in the mountains. It follows around multiple characters that are in the town during a mysterious event that leads to a full evacuation of the town.
However, about 50% of this book revolves around character building via flashbacks. You've got the single father who turns to a life of crime to support his daughter. The daughter herself who struggles with the common challenges of her teenage years. There's the suspects, who are twins that battle their reputations around the town. The sheriff who leads the investigation, battling his own health and relationship issues. And there's the local radio DJ whose also having relationship issues on top of his big dreams of being an acting star.
The story itself was an easy read and I enjoyed the writers style. But the book just felt as though the premise was pretty much forgotten until the last chapter, where things are quickly tied up with an unsatisfying end. It's a shame the book didn't meet my expectations that the premise had set.
November 1, 2016
This is a strangely complex yet compelling novel. This feels more like a crime novel than a standard mystery.
There’s a huge cast of characters and a series of terrible events, seemingly unconnected, that meld together to form a dark and furiously stark book. Because of the large cast, it takes the reader a while to really get to know anyone, but when you do, you discover unexpected complexities in each of them.
While there’s some violence in the book, it’s more of an overwhelming sense of menace as you witness a town and its people devolve in the face of an unknown terror.
The author does disclose the truth behind the terror, but it’s almost at the end of the book. It’s ultimately a satisfying reason, but there was a part of me that wished the truth was vastly different.
Note that the characters (again that huge cast) also have a lot of backstories – and many of them felt unimportant. I really didn’t need to know the histories, hopes, dreams, and motivations of every character – but I got to read them!
Four stars. It’s a weighty book and may not be to everyone’s taste, but if you stick with it, you’ll start to find that the various characters and stories meld into a meaty and satisfying read.
*ARC Provided by Net Galley
There’s a huge cast of characters and a series of terrible events, seemingly unconnected, that meld together to form a dark and furiously stark book. Because of the large cast, it takes the reader a while to really get to know anyone, but when you do, you discover unexpected complexities in each of them.
While there’s some violence in the book, it’s more of an overwhelming sense of menace as you witness a town and its people devolve in the face of an unknown terror.
The author does disclose the truth behind the terror, but it’s almost at the end of the book. It’s ultimately a satisfying reason, but there was a part of me that wished the truth was vastly different.
Note that the characters (again that huge cast) also have a lot of backstories – and many of them felt unimportant. I really didn’t need to know the histories, hopes, dreams, and motivations of every character – but I got to read them!
Four stars. It’s a weighty book and may not be to everyone’s taste, but if you stick with it, you’ll start to find that the various characters and stories meld into a meaty and satisfying read.
*ARC Provided by Net Galley
September 19, 2016
We start Mammoth off with several things happening at the same time. An earthquake followed by some kind of attack has most of the residents fleeing Mammoth. The few remaining people go about trying to figure out what is going on, robbing the local bank, and dealing with a girl running camp in the mountains. The story rotated between several different people as we trying to figure out what is happening.
After reading Mammoth, I think that it started out as a great mystery. Unfortunately the more characters we meet, we start learning about their hopes, dreams, past and present. It quickly became a convoluted, mixed up mess as we start studying the characters than really moving along with the story.
As for the story, it is fleshed out with the different characters so it does take a while to get to the end. Unfortunately it gets thrown to the side and partially completed. There are a lot of loose ends and I admit that I was let down by the ending.
Over all I liked where Mammoth started out. I think if Douglas Perry would have kept it simpler the book would have been better.
I received Mammoth for free from PR by the Book in exchange for an honest review.
After reading Mammoth, I think that it started out as a great mystery. Unfortunately the more characters we meet, we start learning about their hopes, dreams, past and present. It quickly became a convoluted, mixed up mess as we start studying the characters than really moving along with the story.
As for the story, it is fleshed out with the different characters so it does take a while to get to the end. Unfortunately it gets thrown to the side and partially completed. There are a lot of loose ends and I admit that I was let down by the ending.
Over all I liked where Mammoth started out. I think if Douglas Perry would have kept it simpler the book would have been better.
I received Mammoth for free from PR by the Book in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2016
I couldn't get into it. The writing style was fine and I liked it; I think it was the excessive background/history of the characters that lost me.
During a bank robbery that went surprisingly easy, the town is emptied. People just left or were evacuated because... what exactly? I don't know. Was it an alien invasion, a coup, a zombie attack? I really don't know and I felt that the "mystery" that the author was creating around it was just dragging. At 50% the story is not really about why people were leaving town or what was going on in town but the lives of some characters (Tori, a runner; Billy, Tori's father and the bank's robber, and two police officers). The story would go back in time to when Billy did this and that, had this or that girlfriend, and so on. I lost interest.
Perhaps the story is really about the lives of these characters and not really what was going on in town. In any case, I became disinterested in finding out the reason the town was suddenly empty.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this title.
During a bank robbery that went surprisingly easy, the town is emptied. People just left or were evacuated because... what exactly? I don't know. Was it an alien invasion, a coup, a zombie attack? I really don't know and I felt that the "mystery" that the author was creating around it was just dragging. At 50% the story is not really about why people were leaving town or what was going on in town but the lives of some characters (Tori, a runner; Billy, Tori's father and the bank's robber, and two police officers). The story would go back in time to when Billy did this and that, had this or that girlfriend, and so on. I lost interest.
Perhaps the story is really about the lives of these characters and not really what was going on in town. In any case, I became disinterested in finding out the reason the town was suddenly empty.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this title.
August 9, 2016
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
I was in the mood for a quick read that kept me turning pages, and this book did the trick. It wasn't until I was a third of the way through that I realized... I had no idea what was going on. The description was vague, but I liked the cover and thought I would give it a try.
Each chapter of the book trades off prospective of the different characters in a small town called Mammoth View, California. One day, there was a sudden attack, and the story progresses through each characters reaction to that attack. The mystery in this book is just what kind of attack actually happened.
Beyond the mysterious attack, I realized half way through this book, that I wasn't aware of WHEN this story was happening. There were mentions of items from previous decades, but nothing definite. However, the stories were interesting and kept me reading.
I was in the mood for a quick read that kept me turning pages, and this book did the trick. It wasn't until I was a third of the way through that I realized... I had no idea what was going on. The description was vague, but I liked the cover and thought I would give it a try.
Each chapter of the book trades off prospective of the different characters in a small town called Mammoth View, California. One day, there was a sudden attack, and the story progresses through each characters reaction to that attack. The mystery in this book is just what kind of attack actually happened.
Beyond the mysterious attack, I realized half way through this book, that I wasn't aware of WHEN this story was happening. There were mentions of items from previous decades, but nothing definite. However, the stories were interesting and kept me reading.
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