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Thaddeus
'Death is as popular now as it's always been...'
Hector Crane is a funeral director with no-one to bury. Business is at a standstill, he's on the verge of bankruptcy and his delinquent apprentices are stealing both from him and his dear departed clients.
Just when he thinks things can't get any worse he receives a letter from a man whom he thought long dead, who owns half of his business, and who will be knocking on his door very soon looking for answers.
Enter Thaddeus Moribund, arriving from God knows where, and who by Hector's reckoning should be at least ninety years old but appears half that. As the weeks progress, Hector can only watch powerless as Thaddeus overturns every aspect of his life in a bid to pull the business through.
But there's more to Thaddeus than this, immeasurably more. Thaddeus' story unfolds in a series of revelations that span two millennia, beginning in biblical Jerusalem and ending in modern day England.
Thaddeus Moribund is on a mission of his own that has nothing to do with Hector Crane but which will nonetheless challenge Hector's patience, his strength, his concept of good and evil and finally his sanity as the connection between them is ultimately revealed.
'Am I right in thinking that... you actually intend to eat him?'
Hector Crane is a funeral director with no-one to bury. Business is at a standstill, he's on the verge of bankruptcy and his delinquent apprentices are stealing both from him and his dear departed clients.
Just when he thinks things can't get any worse he receives a letter from a man whom he thought long dead, who owns half of his business, and who will be knocking on his door very soon looking for answers.
Enter Thaddeus Moribund, arriving from God knows where, and who by Hector's reckoning should be at least ninety years old but appears half that. As the weeks progress, Hector can only watch powerless as Thaddeus overturns every aspect of his life in a bid to pull the business through.
But there's more to Thaddeus than this, immeasurably more. Thaddeus' story unfolds in a series of revelations that span two millennia, beginning in biblical Jerusalem and ending in modern day England.
Thaddeus Moribund is on a mission of his own that has nothing to do with Hector Crane but which will nonetheless challenge Hector's patience, his strength, his concept of good and evil and finally his sanity as the connection between them is ultimately revealed.
'Am I right in thinking that... you actually intend to eat him?'
424 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 10, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 31, 2024
Unpredictable, Bizarre, Different
THADDEUS by John Vault
No spoilers. 5 stars. Moribund and Crane Funeral Services, an English Establishment, is the home of third-generation funeral director Hector Crane and his wife Fleur...
They and their two teenage apprentices operate the business...
That is until...
Hector's silent partner, old Uncle Thaddeus Moribund, shows up to lend a hand...
Great Uncle Thaddeus has been abroad for many years, learning diverse ways of directing very special funerals...
But...
He has returned because the business is sinking financially...
The Cranes have prepared a room for Uncle Thaddeus...
They have no choice. He intends to stay until the business becomes profitable again...
Uncle Thaddeus is a bit creepy as the teen apprentices, Phillip (Ginger) and his cousin Gordon (Gordy), soon discover...
One rainy night...
Phillip, the brains of the two cousins, sees Thaddeus engaged in a very disgusting act through the basement embalming studio windows...
... and immediately begins plotting a way to use what he has seen to blackmail Thaddeus...
But...
Thaddeus already knows about their scheme. Mysterious Uncle Thaddeus knows many secret and hidden things...
The rest of the story you must read or it will be spoiled. This is a most interesting plot. Pay special attention to chapter VIII (at approximately 40 %) where the story takes a mind-blowing, unexpected turn. I had to read that chapter twice so that I wouldn't miss anything.
This story is unpredictable, bizarre, and definitely different. Don't ever think you've figured out where it is going. This was an exceptional novel, and I gave it 5 stars.
Highly recommended!
THADDEUS by John Vault
No spoilers. 5 stars. Moribund and Crane Funeral Services, an English Establishment, is the home of third-generation funeral director Hector Crane and his wife Fleur...
They and their two teenage apprentices operate the business...
That is until...
Hector's silent partner, old Uncle Thaddeus Moribund, shows up to lend a hand...
Great Uncle Thaddeus has been abroad for many years, learning diverse ways of directing very special funerals...
But...
He has returned because the business is sinking financially...
The Cranes have prepared a room for Uncle Thaddeus...
They have no choice. He intends to stay until the business becomes profitable again...
Uncle Thaddeus is a bit creepy as the teen apprentices, Phillip (Ginger) and his cousin Gordon (Gordy), soon discover...
One rainy night...
Phillip, the brains of the two cousins, sees Thaddeus engaged in a very disgusting act through the basement embalming studio windows...
... and immediately begins plotting a way to use what he has seen to blackmail Thaddeus...
But...
Thaddeus already knows about their scheme. Mysterious Uncle Thaddeus knows many secret and hidden things...
The rest of the story you must read or it will be spoiled. This is a most interesting plot. Pay special attention to chapter VIII (at approximately 40 %) where the story takes a mind-blowing, unexpected turn. I had to read that chapter twice so that I wouldn't miss anything.
This story is unpredictable, bizarre, and definitely different. Don't ever think you've figured out where it is going. This was an exceptional novel, and I gave it 5 stars.
Highly recommended!
September 27, 2023
'Life ever after...but with caveats (quite literally a fusion of cadavers and eats!)'
I'm delighted to report that I found Thaddeus to be a fantastic rip-roaring tale that managed to mix gory horror, farcical humour and supernatural strangeness into a wonderful blend of the finest quality that worked a treat.
The style of the story reminded me at times of Tom Sharpe's witty and absurd writing (Wilt and Porterhouse Blue etc) which then changes instantly into one of a more dark, sinister and gruesomely good wholesome nature that managed to successfully fuse together a religious element with pure supernatural chicanery.
Anyway, definitely an exciting ride for anyone interested in weirdly unique English funeral director stories that manage to surprise and entertain from beginning to end.
A big thank you to my friend Vicki H who highly recommended this truly amazing adventure to me.
Final thoughts: Thaddeus Moribund (Black Matter) - who the hell is this guy and where on earth(?) did he come from? Answers on a post card, please.
Enjoy people - you will not be disappointed!
Rating: 4.8 stars.
I'm delighted to report that I found Thaddeus to be a fantastic rip-roaring tale that managed to mix gory horror, farcical humour and supernatural strangeness into a wonderful blend of the finest quality that worked a treat.
The style of the story reminded me at times of Tom Sharpe's witty and absurd writing (Wilt and Porterhouse Blue etc) which then changes instantly into one of a more dark, sinister and gruesomely good wholesome nature that managed to successfully fuse together a religious element with pure supernatural chicanery.
Anyway, definitely an exciting ride for anyone interested in weirdly unique English funeral director stories that manage to surprise and entertain from beginning to end.
A big thank you to my friend Vicki H who highly recommended this truly amazing adventure to me.
Final thoughts: Thaddeus Moribund (Black Matter) - who the hell is this guy and where on earth(?) did he come from? Answers on a post card, please.
Enjoy people - you will not be disappointed!
Rating: 4.8 stars.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews