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Juggling Kittens
Ellis Mazer is a soon-to-be father, a first year English teacher, and a directionless twenty-something entering the directionless 2000-somethings. Local and national tragedies feed Mr. Mazer's seventh graders the essay fodder that almost makes his job bearable. But when Spencer--trailer trash with more ring worms than friends--stops coming to school, Ellis discovers that he may be the only person who even notices, much less cares. What begins as a good-natured attempt to deliver some make-up work tumbles headlong into a quest deep into hillbilly noir in an attempt to verify that there is still some good in what appears to be a crumbling world.
Ellis is partnered with The Drew--full-time assistant principal, part-time private detective. He and The Drew explore the shadows and calluses of backwoods Arkansas to find that Spencer's disappearance is directly linked to the disappearance of a little girl. And it doesn't much feel like anyone wants the truth of what happened to either kid to emerge. Even Ellis is unsure of how much he cares. He only knows that in order to believe in his ability to be a husband or father, for some reason, he must find Spencer.
Among the swirling depravity of society, the crippling panic of impending parenthood, and the mounting scrap heap of seventh grade essays, one Arkansas town sees two kids go missing. Ellis Mazer only wants to find one of them. And if he can pull that off, he might not ever become a good teacher, but he might at least become a good person.
Ellis is partnered with The Drew--full-time assistant principal, part-time private detective. He and The Drew explore the shadows and calluses of backwoods Arkansas to find that Spencer's disappearance is directly linked to the disappearance of a little girl. And it doesn't much feel like anyone wants the truth of what happened to either kid to emerge. Even Ellis is unsure of how much he cares. He only knows that in order to believe in his ability to be a husband or father, for some reason, he must find Spencer.
Among the swirling depravity of society, the crippling panic of impending parenthood, and the mounting scrap heap of seventh grade essays, one Arkansas town sees two kids go missing. Ellis Mazer only wants to find one of them. And if he can pull that off, he might not ever become a good teacher, but he might at least become a good person.
- GenresMystery
217 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2016
5 people are currently reading
61 people want to read
About the author
Matt Coleman
3 books27 followersMatt Coleman works in the fields of writing and education. His short fiction has appeared in various journals and web publications. He also spent three years writing for The City Life Supplement, a comedy podcast. Juggling Kittens is his debut novel. He has spent fifteen years in public education and is currently a school improvement specialist in Texarkana, Arkansas, where he lives with his two daughters, four rescued dogs, two rescued cats, and a fish who refuses to die.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 13, 2016
Gritty and daring. Coleman takes you all the way to the edge and then some. A fine example of contemporary country noir.
February 17, 2017
Matt Coleman’s debut novel has an impressive command of place. The world is one of the backwoods, those meandering pathways that are only travelled with purpose or by the lost. People inhabit but the place is the predominant character here. Under the free eye of the woods trailer trash take their cues from the remoteness their placement offers them. Coleman deftly presents a vivid depiction of waste, both human and of the land. The universe built is very immersive, immediate and sucked me in instantly. I liked this a lot.
We follow a young teacher, amiable, a bit stressed, searching somewhat. One day a pupil goes missing and he takes it upon himself to care, because if he doesn’t no-one else will. His pupils are old enough to interact with him on a mutually knowing level, full of the secret and iron centre of growing into themselves. He sets about trying to extract the information he needs to find the missing pupil, frequently meeting dead end conversations that ripple with elusive motivations. The characters are very real.
A compelling mystery is the superficial draw, and that aspect is executed very well, but the lasting impression I will take from this book is the haunting quality of the world, and the characters that almost come and go as if in a dream. There is a melancholy attached to the lives described, a lightly unsettling tone that presents the inherent strangeness of those who keep to the margins, which is only amplified by the even more bizarre nature of those who cling to the parade of small-town normalcy. How these lives intersect and the intricacies of their relation is always interesting, and I was left wanting more time to soak in the world on leaving it.
Very promising, and this writer is now permanently on my radar.
We follow a young teacher, amiable, a bit stressed, searching somewhat. One day a pupil goes missing and he takes it upon himself to care, because if he doesn’t no-one else will. His pupils are old enough to interact with him on a mutually knowing level, full of the secret and iron centre of growing into themselves. He sets about trying to extract the information he needs to find the missing pupil, frequently meeting dead end conversations that ripple with elusive motivations. The characters are very real.
A compelling mystery is the superficial draw, and that aspect is executed very well, but the lasting impression I will take from this book is the haunting quality of the world, and the characters that almost come and go as if in a dream. There is a melancholy attached to the lives described, a lightly unsettling tone that presents the inherent strangeness of those who keep to the margins, which is only amplified by the even more bizarre nature of those who cling to the parade of small-town normalcy. How these lives intersect and the intricacies of their relation is always interesting, and I was left wanting more time to soak in the world on leaving it.
Very promising, and this writer is now permanently on my radar.
October 20, 2016
This is probably the most enjoyable crime novel that I think I've read this year. It is Matt Coleman's debut novel and I must admit I'd never previously heard of him but was really attracted to the novel by the title, more than anything else !
Ellis Mazer is a first year English teacher, trying to teach writing to seventh grade pupils at Dan Blocker High School in Muddy Creek, Texarkana. His wife is expecting their first child and the couple are struggling financially, while Ellis struggles to get to grips with teaching a curriculum that he doesn't find very inspiring. He is young enough to remember what its like to be a thirteen year old kid struggling to come to terms with teenage life but his efforts to relate to his pupils don't often succeed. When one of his pupils apparently goes missing no one seems to care, not even his estranged parents, of whom the father is already the main suspect in the disappearance of another young girl. Ellis recruits the help of Andrew Andrews, aka The Drew, his High School Principal and part time Private Investigator. Their investigations lead them to the trailer trash of backwoods Arkansas and to the conclusion that both missing persons could be linked. They are also pitched against the local preacher's son who seems to rule the roost over both kids and adults alike in this small knit community.
This is southern Gothic Noir at its best and the book is not a 'one trick pony', as it explores various multi layered themes. Coleman explores what it's like to be a teenager growing up with all the pressures and more, that life throws at them. His main protagonist Ellis, is also struggling to come to terms with being an adult, teacher and prospective father and to deal with all the issues that these roles entail. The novel is set in the fall/winter of 2001 against the backdrop of the 9/11 attacks and all the characters are intrinsically effected by this. Coleman was a teacher himself and I wonder how much of the novel is semi autobiographical, as he also explores the failings of the high school education system.
Lastly I've got to mention 'The Drew' who is possibly my favourite fictional character that I've come across this year. He is the school principal and also a part time P.I. He is separated from his wife and is basically living in his high school office. He seems to have an outfit for each role he adopts i.e. sports attire when he is coaching and suit, shirt, tie and fedora (optional) when adopting his P.I. role. He likes his charges to adopt nicknames and refers to Ellis as Mazer, Maze Dog and Mazer Man to name but a few ! However he is not always a comedic figure and does also have a serious and reflective side when events dictate.
A brilliant debut and can't wait to read more of Coleman's work and possibly more of Ellis and The Drew, as I could imagine these characters could be developed into a series of novels ?
Ellis Mazer is a first year English teacher, trying to teach writing to seventh grade pupils at Dan Blocker High School in Muddy Creek, Texarkana. His wife is expecting their first child and the couple are struggling financially, while Ellis struggles to get to grips with teaching a curriculum that he doesn't find very inspiring. He is young enough to remember what its like to be a thirteen year old kid struggling to come to terms with teenage life but his efforts to relate to his pupils don't often succeed. When one of his pupils apparently goes missing no one seems to care, not even his estranged parents, of whom the father is already the main suspect in the disappearance of another young girl. Ellis recruits the help of Andrew Andrews, aka The Drew, his High School Principal and part time Private Investigator. Their investigations lead them to the trailer trash of backwoods Arkansas and to the conclusion that both missing persons could be linked. They are also pitched against the local preacher's son who seems to rule the roost over both kids and adults alike in this small knit community.
This is southern Gothic Noir at its best and the book is not a 'one trick pony', as it explores various multi layered themes. Coleman explores what it's like to be a teenager growing up with all the pressures and more, that life throws at them. His main protagonist Ellis, is also struggling to come to terms with being an adult, teacher and prospective father and to deal with all the issues that these roles entail. The novel is set in the fall/winter of 2001 against the backdrop of the 9/11 attacks and all the characters are intrinsically effected by this. Coleman was a teacher himself and I wonder how much of the novel is semi autobiographical, as he also explores the failings of the high school education system.
Lastly I've got to mention 'The Drew' who is possibly my favourite fictional character that I've come across this year. He is the school principal and also a part time P.I. He is separated from his wife and is basically living in his high school office. He seems to have an outfit for each role he adopts i.e. sports attire when he is coaching and suit, shirt, tie and fedora (optional) when adopting his P.I. role. He likes his charges to adopt nicknames and refers to Ellis as Mazer, Maze Dog and Mazer Man to name but a few ! However he is not always a comedic figure and does also have a serious and reflective side when events dictate.
A brilliant debut and can't wait to read more of Coleman's work and possibly more of Ellis and The Drew, as I could imagine these characters could be developed into a series of novels ?
September 24, 2016
Juggling Kittens is a Southern Crime Masterpiece, truly unlike any other book I've read before. Ellis Mazer's story is set in the economically depressed rural backwoods of Texarkana. I've never been there, but after reading the book, I feel like I spent a week there and have to scrub the gritty grime of pudunk trash off of my skin. Coleman's world-building is that good. The setting of the book had such a visceral effect on me, it was as if I could actually taste Ellis's leftover cigarettes on my lips and feel the dirt from the floors of the Love shack on my shoes.
The plot twists and turns as Ellis, a middle school English teacher, tries to solve the mystery behind one of his student's disappearances. What he uncovers is both shocking and horrific when he realizes that the boy's disappearance is linked not only to an unsolved murder case involving a young child but also a string of youth crimes that involve drugs, threats, abuse and other treacheries. Ellis attempts to maintain a balance between his professional life as a teacher, his personal life as a husband with a baby on the way and his obsession with finding out what happened to Spencer.
The ending is satisfying and moving and leaves the readers with questions that inspire hope for Ellis. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries, especially fans of the South.
The plot twists and turns as Ellis, a middle school English teacher, tries to solve the mystery behind one of his student's disappearances. What he uncovers is both shocking and horrific when he realizes that the boy's disappearance is linked not only to an unsolved murder case involving a young child but also a string of youth crimes that involve drugs, threats, abuse and other treacheries. Ellis attempts to maintain a balance between his professional life as a teacher, his personal life as a husband with a baby on the way and his obsession with finding out what happened to Spencer.
The ending is satisfying and moving and leaves the readers with questions that inspire hope for Ellis. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries, especially fans of the South.
September 18, 2016
I’m not sure JUGGLING KITTENS fits comfortably into any genre. It stands out as unique in so many ways that saying it’s like this or that other author’s work would be doing a disservice to what Matt Coleman has achieved with his debut novel. It’s gritty country noir with a measure of social commentary but it’s far from judgmental. Coleman points out things that aren’t quite right in the human condition, even in the rural surrounds of Texarkana. Coleman peels back the superficial layer of organized chaos that is the mythical town of Ruddy Creek, a suburb of a small city that straddles the line between two states and exists halfway between two major cities, Dallas and Memphis. In doing so he exposes that the crime and drugs – and a lot of other social ills – are not just big city issues.
Ellis Mazer is a first year 7th grade English (writing) teacher. The book’s odd title is a fair metaphor for what it’s like managing pre-teens while trying to hold their attentions long enough to educate them. After giving students a writing assignment designed to help them pass a silly, state-required examination - writing about the worst day of their lives - Mazer is attacked and a bag containing his papers and laptop is stolen. The latter is found broken into smithereens and so, obviously, the computer was not the reason for the robbery. Around that same time, one of Mazer's students, Spencer, stops coming to class. In the effort to find out why, Mazer get pulled into the complicated web of deception that underlies the small community. He discovers that Spencer’s trailer-trash mother is a meth head. The estranged father is the prime suspect in the disappearance and suspected murder of a little girl. Still, no one other than Mazer seems to pay any attention to the kid's absence. Then again, maybe there is just so much else that is wrong in Ruddy Creek that one unpopular kid missing a few days of school may seem minor or par for the course.
During his informal investigation Ellis meets Shelly, the mother of C.C., one of his best students. As the story's femme fatale, divorcee and Ruddy Creek's most successful real estate agent, Shelly is at the center of most things in the small town. She directs him to a part time private investigator she has used in the past, most recently in her divorce, who happens to be someone Ellis already knows as the full time junior high school's principal, Andrew Andrews, a.k.a. "The Drew". By the way, Drew is one of the more colorful characters in Ruddy Creek. He provides historical continuity and connections to the other major players in this sordid tale along with periodic, if not regular, comic relief in this series of otherwise depressing circumstances.
You get the feeling from reading JUGGLING KITTENS that Coleman’s characters were drawn from real life. Maybe they are exaggerated for effect, but perhaps not. Descriptions of the people and the settings are realistic. So too are the insights offered into teaching and the problems many educators face. Yet, despite how unsavory some members of cast, the lives of the ensemble are particularly interesting for many of the same compelling reasons that it’s so hard to peel your eyes away from a disaster in progress. The author’s choice of imagery and nuance interspersed with dry, sometimes caustic wit elevates the work to a fine piece of well-crafted literature, a mystery that I wholeheartedly recommend.
Ellis Mazer is a first year 7th grade English (writing) teacher. The book’s odd title is a fair metaphor for what it’s like managing pre-teens while trying to hold their attentions long enough to educate them. After giving students a writing assignment designed to help them pass a silly, state-required examination - writing about the worst day of their lives - Mazer is attacked and a bag containing his papers and laptop is stolen. The latter is found broken into smithereens and so, obviously, the computer was not the reason for the robbery. Around that same time, one of Mazer's students, Spencer, stops coming to class. In the effort to find out why, Mazer get pulled into the complicated web of deception that underlies the small community. He discovers that Spencer’s trailer-trash mother is a meth head. The estranged father is the prime suspect in the disappearance and suspected murder of a little girl. Still, no one other than Mazer seems to pay any attention to the kid's absence. Then again, maybe there is just so much else that is wrong in Ruddy Creek that one unpopular kid missing a few days of school may seem minor or par for the course.
During his informal investigation Ellis meets Shelly, the mother of C.C., one of his best students. As the story's femme fatale, divorcee and Ruddy Creek's most successful real estate agent, Shelly is at the center of most things in the small town. She directs him to a part time private investigator she has used in the past, most recently in her divorce, who happens to be someone Ellis already knows as the full time junior high school's principal, Andrew Andrews, a.k.a. "The Drew". By the way, Drew is one of the more colorful characters in Ruddy Creek. He provides historical continuity and connections to the other major players in this sordid tale along with periodic, if not regular, comic relief in this series of otherwise depressing circumstances.
You get the feeling from reading JUGGLING KITTENS that Coleman’s characters were drawn from real life. Maybe they are exaggerated for effect, but perhaps not. Descriptions of the people and the settings are realistic. So too are the insights offered into teaching and the problems many educators face. Yet, despite how unsavory some members of cast, the lives of the ensemble are particularly interesting for many of the same compelling reasons that it’s so hard to peel your eyes away from a disaster in progress. The author’s choice of imagery and nuance interspersed with dry, sometimes caustic wit elevates the work to a fine piece of well-crafted literature, a mystery that I wholeheartedly recommend.
October 31, 2016
~4.5 stars~
I'm really surprised that this is a debut novel. The writing style was brilliant. The story execution was fast paced and all of the character development was solid. This book was just over 200 pages so it never had any dull and drawn out phases. The world created was very unique. I'm not even sure what genre this read would fall into. I also appreciate this being offered as a kindleunlimited. This is definitely a writer I will be adding to my list to watch out for in the future because with this book it is obvious he has a ton of potential.
I'm really surprised that this is a debut novel. The writing style was brilliant. The story execution was fast paced and all of the character development was solid. This book was just over 200 pages so it never had any dull and drawn out phases. The world created was very unique. I'm not even sure what genre this read would fall into. I also appreciate this being offered as a kindleunlimited. This is definitely a writer I will be adding to my list to watch out for in the future because with this book it is obvious he has a ton of potential.
October 11, 2016
Matt Coleman grabbed me from the first paragraph with his main character Ellis Maze’s reflection on what his occupation might have been in a turn of the last century circus. Of course, Juggling Kittens. From there we are taken along for a ride through Coleman’s gritty Arkansas small town as seen through the eyes of an unlikely sleuth -- 7th-grade writing teacher Ellis Maze. Set in fall 2001 before, during and after 9/11, Coleman's book could be used by future anthropolgists to understand what it was like to live in a small town in Arkansas in the early 2000's. He tackles dark crimes but there are plenty of laughs to be had as well as Coleman's great sense of humor is displayed again and again with Ellis Maze and his friend/PI/Principal The Drew. A great noir read with laughs mixed in to take the edge off the brutal crimes Ellis seeks to unravel.
August 3, 2018
flippant and sententious,
also i cannot comprehend the culinary value of a soup that
"tasted like god himself had cum in your mouth"
also i cannot comprehend the culinary value of a soup that
"tasted like god himself had cum in your mouth"
August 2, 2018
Where have you been all my reading life, Matt Coleman? Juggling Kittens is a crime fiction noir tour-de-force. It portrays an otherwise safe rural/exurban Arkansas community with everyday evil that percolates beneath the surface like a pot of coffee brewed in a rundown trailer. The plot centers around middle-school teacher Ellis Mazer’s search for a missing student and is genuinely riveting. The school’s principal and amateur P.I., “The Drew,” provides comic relief and serves as Mazer’s sleuthing partner.
Juggling Kittens is genuinely hard to put down and the prose is well-written. But what I loved most was the author’s slightly dark, emotionally insightful, and, always witty, voice. Coleman could publish his shopping list and I would enjoy reading it. Can’t wait for his next book!
Juggling Kittens is genuinely hard to put down and the prose is well-written. But what I loved most was the author’s slightly dark, emotionally insightful, and, always witty, voice. Coleman could publish his shopping list and I would enjoy reading it. Can’t wait for his next book!
September 11, 2018
Page Turner
I choose 5 stars because the book is love story,a horror story and crime all in one book ! I couldnt put it down i bought it at 6pm read it thru without stopping ! All the characters came alive i wept and cussed and went thru all the emotions with them ! Thanks Matt Coleman !! Cant wait to see more from you !! Yes i recommend this book ! A good read !!!
I choose 5 stars because the book is love story,a horror story and crime all in one book ! I couldnt put it down i bought it at 6pm read it thru without stopping ! All the characters came alive i wept and cussed and went thru all the emotions with them ! Thanks Matt Coleman !! Cant wait to see more from you !! Yes i recommend this book ! A good read !!!
July 24, 2018
I really enjoyed Coleman's writing, tho it could have been a bit "tighter". It was a good mystery and had humorous characters (if all a bit similar) that were relatable. As an Jr./Senior High teacher, I felt I knew these kids! The ending was well done!
February 6, 2017
See my full review (and more!) at Mystereity Reviews
Set in small town Ruddy Creek, Arkansas just after 9/11 Ellis Mazer is newly hired to teach English to bored 7th graders at a small public school in Arkansas. After one of his students, a poor and friendless boy named Spencer, stops coming to school, Ellis tries to contact him at his home and discovers that no one knows where he is. Coming on the heels of the disappearance of a young girl, a disappearance Spencer's father is implicated in, Ellis becomes concerned and worried and begins to search for Spencer, determined not to let him slip through the cracks.
When I saw the title Juggling Kittens, I was intrigued. When I read the first chapter, I was hooked! I loved the easy writing style, the suspenseful plot and the quick pace, all blended together to create an starkly realistic tale from a great new voice in the crime fiction genre.
This was one of those plots that will stick with me for awhile, revolving around the disappearance of two children in rural Arkansas and one teacher's quest for the truth. It touches on that primal fear that everyone has, the horror of children in danger. Fueled by that primal fear and that sinking feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when faced with all the possibilities, you can't help but race through the book to find out what happens next. The colorful characters really brought the story alive, creating a true to life world that could be anywhere in America. Along with the excellent plot, the story blends social commentary about America right after 9/11, from the atmosphere of worry and fear to the educational system to the often bleak existence of life in rural Arkansas. As the story unwinds, you see Ellis change from idealistic to disillusioned as he confronts several new realities.
I have to say, at first, I wasn't satisfied with the ending, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was the point. Just like in the real world, life ain't fair in Ruddy Creek. You have to take it as it comes.
Intense, darkly funny and unforgettable, Juggling Kittens is an exceptional debut mystery and Matt Coleman is an author to watch. Recommended!
Thank you to the author for a copy of the book, in exchange for my honest review.
Set in small town Ruddy Creek, Arkansas just after 9/11 Ellis Mazer is newly hired to teach English to bored 7th graders at a small public school in Arkansas. After one of his students, a poor and friendless boy named Spencer, stops coming to school, Ellis tries to contact him at his home and discovers that no one knows where he is. Coming on the heels of the disappearance of a young girl, a disappearance Spencer's father is implicated in, Ellis becomes concerned and worried and begins to search for Spencer, determined not to let him slip through the cracks.
When I saw the title Juggling Kittens, I was intrigued. When I read the first chapter, I was hooked! I loved the easy writing style, the suspenseful plot and the quick pace, all blended together to create an starkly realistic tale from a great new voice in the crime fiction genre.
This was one of those plots that will stick with me for awhile, revolving around the disappearance of two children in rural Arkansas and one teacher's quest for the truth. It touches on that primal fear that everyone has, the horror of children in danger. Fueled by that primal fear and that sinking feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when faced with all the possibilities, you can't help but race through the book to find out what happens next. The colorful characters really brought the story alive, creating a true to life world that could be anywhere in America. Along with the excellent plot, the story blends social commentary about America right after 9/11, from the atmosphere of worry and fear to the educational system to the often bleak existence of life in rural Arkansas. As the story unwinds, you see Ellis change from idealistic to disillusioned as he confronts several new realities.
I have to say, at first, I wasn't satisfied with the ending, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was the point. Just like in the real world, life ain't fair in Ruddy Creek. You have to take it as it comes.
Intense, darkly funny and unforgettable, Juggling Kittens is an exceptional debut mystery and Matt Coleman is an author to watch. Recommended!
Thank you to the author for a copy of the book, in exchange for my honest review.
January 9, 2017
All reviews original posted on the blog: http://www.knockinbooks.com/reviews
I’m going to start this review with a simple statement: Matt Coleman is an exceptional writer. I’m not sure he’s an exceptional novelist quite yet, but his ability to paint a stunningly vivid picture of the boredom, hopelessness, brutality, honor, desperation, loyalty and beauty all wrapped up in a small rural town in Arkansas is gorgeous and heartbreaking at the same time. His characters are both honest and flawed with just the right amount of quirkiness to add a bit of depth and reality.
Now that I’ve heaped him with lavish praise, I also have to douse him with a splash of criticism:
I thought the title was odd at best and maybe even a little silly. It definitely seems misplaced given the gritty reality of the content.
The story definitely dragged a bit in places. While I appreciated the brilliant scene building, I would have liked to see a slightly accelerated pace.
Some of the scenarios tended to stretch the bounds of believability somewhat, although not enough to distract from the quality of writing.
The ending was appropriate and completely believable, but I was hoping for something a little more satisfying in terms of karmic justice, even if it wasn’t administered by the inept local law enforcement.
All of these issues are nitpicky at best. In the end, Matt Coleman is the kind of self-published author book bloggers love to come across: a genuine writing talent with outlandish potential clearly evident even in his debut novel. I highly recommend Juggling Kittens and encourage everyone to keep eyes on Mr. Coleman. I know I’ll be watching for his follow up novel with eager anticipation.
I’m going to start this review with a simple statement: Matt Coleman is an exceptional writer. I’m not sure he’s an exceptional novelist quite yet, but his ability to paint a stunningly vivid picture of the boredom, hopelessness, brutality, honor, desperation, loyalty and beauty all wrapped up in a small rural town in Arkansas is gorgeous and heartbreaking at the same time. His characters are both honest and flawed with just the right amount of quirkiness to add a bit of depth and reality.
Now that I’ve heaped him with lavish praise, I also have to douse him with a splash of criticism:
I thought the title was odd at best and maybe even a little silly. It definitely seems misplaced given the gritty reality of the content.
The story definitely dragged a bit in places. While I appreciated the brilliant scene building, I would have liked to see a slightly accelerated pace.
Some of the scenarios tended to stretch the bounds of believability somewhat, although not enough to distract from the quality of writing.
The ending was appropriate and completely believable, but I was hoping for something a little more satisfying in terms of karmic justice, even if it wasn’t administered by the inept local law enforcement.
All of these issues are nitpicky at best. In the end, Matt Coleman is the kind of self-published author book bloggers love to come across: a genuine writing talent with outlandish potential clearly evident even in his debut novel. I highly recommend Juggling Kittens and encourage everyone to keep eyes on Mr. Coleman. I know I’ll be watching for his follow up novel with eager anticipation.
February 1, 2017
A bitter-sweet darkly humorous trek into trailer-trash hell
Spencer disappeared. That may not seem too important to the world as a whole, but to Ellis Mazer, a first year seventh grade English teacher, having one of his students go missing was a natural disaster.
What follows is a bitter-sweet, even darkly humorous, trek into trailer-trash hell along the Texas/Arkansas border. Juggling Kittens has a cast of characters who are products of an impoverished culture with few expectations, other than those driven by drug or alcohol addiction; except a driving desire to live their lives, right or wrong, in their own way without interference. Mess with it at your own risk, Mr. Mazer! These characters recognize common social bonds such as growing up in the same geographic area, going to school and, sometimes, to church together and tend to protect each other despite the law or any value represented by an outsider such as Mazer.
Enter Shane Charbeau and Daniel Mallory. Mallory is a manipulator who is likely to do anything just to avoid boredom. Charbeau, unlike Mallory, has a conscience. Brad, the deputy sheriff, needs a bad guy to blame for a suspected murder and an excuse to rid the county of a drug dealer. Reverend Mallory will protect his son, Danny, at the expense of everyone in Ruddy Creek. And, oh, incidentally…what do you suppose Spencer wrote about in his English essay that caused him to disappear?
Matt Coleman has produced an engaging piece of rural Americana spiced with humor, well written in a style all his own and ‘drop dead’ entertaining. I was afraid for Spencer’s life throughout the book; you will be too! Many teachers are likely to identify with this story and mystery, detective and crime/action readers should like it as well.
Spencer disappeared. That may not seem too important to the world as a whole, but to Ellis Mazer, a first year seventh grade English teacher, having one of his students go missing was a natural disaster.
What follows is a bitter-sweet, even darkly humorous, trek into trailer-trash hell along the Texas/Arkansas border. Juggling Kittens has a cast of characters who are products of an impoverished culture with few expectations, other than those driven by drug or alcohol addiction; except a driving desire to live their lives, right or wrong, in their own way without interference. Mess with it at your own risk, Mr. Mazer! These characters recognize common social bonds such as growing up in the same geographic area, going to school and, sometimes, to church together and tend to protect each other despite the law or any value represented by an outsider such as Mazer.
Enter Shane Charbeau and Daniel Mallory. Mallory is a manipulator who is likely to do anything just to avoid boredom. Charbeau, unlike Mallory, has a conscience. Brad, the deputy sheriff, needs a bad guy to blame for a suspected murder and an excuse to rid the county of a drug dealer. Reverend Mallory will protect his son, Danny, at the expense of everyone in Ruddy Creek. And, oh, incidentally…what do you suppose Spencer wrote about in his English essay that caused him to disappear?
Matt Coleman has produced an engaging piece of rural Americana spiced with humor, well written in a style all his own and ‘drop dead’ entertaining. I was afraid for Spencer’s life throughout the book; you will be too! Many teachers are likely to identify with this story and mystery, detective and crime/action readers should like it as well.
October 4, 2016
Matt Coleman’s debut novel is a refreshing addition to the mystery/thriller genre. It’s page-turner that balances humor with edge-of-your-seat mystery.
Ellis Mazer is a middle-school teacher who tasks himself with finding a missing student. His sidekick is the assistant principal who calls himself “The Drew”. The comedic approach reminds me of the old straight man/goofball duos I grew up watching on TV.
Mazer’s search becomes an obsession that leads him to unsavory places in the backwoods of Texarkana. And for reasons he can’t quite pinpoint, the search is deeply personal.
I’d like to add that I usually don’t read books that have plots involving missing children. But the way the subject is approached in this book made me want to jump in to the mystery instead of avoid it.
Ellis Mazer is a middle-school teacher who tasks himself with finding a missing student. His sidekick is the assistant principal who calls himself “The Drew”. The comedic approach reminds me of the old straight man/goofball duos I grew up watching on TV.
Mazer’s search becomes an obsession that leads him to unsavory places in the backwoods of Texarkana. And for reasons he can’t quite pinpoint, the search is deeply personal.
I’d like to add that I usually don’t read books that have plots involving missing children. But the way the subject is approached in this book made me want to jump in to the mystery instead of avoid it.
October 11, 2016
When a Texarkana school teacher is the only one to notice that a barely remarkable student has gone missing, he sets out to find the kid and in the process uncovers a mess of lowlife intrigue that reminds me of Joe. R. Lansdale's classic Hap and Leonard novels. As harrowing as it is hilarious, Juggling Kittens is an intricately built mystery told by the very entertaining Ellis Mazer, a rambling but wise man-child struggling for impulse control as he tries like hell to "adult" in Ruddy Creek's backwater. I truly enjoyed this wicked little book.
October 11, 2016
Juggling Kittens by Matt Coleman was a difficult book to put down. The plot is gripping; it kept me eagerly reading until the end. The characters are well developed, interesting, and so unique that one would think that Coleman knew them personally. Also, The Drew is a seriously awesome character.
Matt Coleman has a fascinating way with words. From the very first paragraph I knew that this was going to be a book that I'd love, and I most certainly did.
I highly recommend this book! Kudos to you, Matt!
Matt Coleman has a fascinating way with words. From the very first paragraph I knew that this was going to be a book that I'd love, and I most certainly did.
I highly recommend this book! Kudos to you, Matt!
November 24, 2016
Enjoyed the writing
Thought the book was well written. I enjoyed the sense of humor, wished the ending was a bit more hea.
Thought the book was well written. I enjoyed the sense of humor, wished the ending was a bit more hea.
December 31, 2016
Great Read
I highly recommend this book to everyone. I couldn't put it down. You'll laugh, get angry and ultimately sigh as the end comes upon you.
I highly recommend this book to everyone. I couldn't put it down. You'll laugh, get angry and ultimately sigh as the end comes upon you.
February 18, 2018
This is a very intriguing story. The type of story that grabs you, and you must finish it, just to see where the story goes. Excellent character development, gives the story the gritty feel needed.
August 13, 2018
Funny! Funny! Funny! Coleman has a keen eye for detail and idiosyncratic characters that left me hoping for a sequel! Well done!
June 22, 2021
I was thrilled to be selected as a reviewer for "Juggling Kittens" by Pandamoon Publishing. I probably would not have discovered this book (and author) otherwise, and that would have been a shame. The author has a true gift for combining his life experiences with fictional situations in a highly compelling storytelling style. Drawing on his own history as a teacher, Mr. Coleman creates protagonist Ellis Mazer, a first-time teacher in Ruddy Creek, Arkansas. Everything about the teaching experience rings true, and Ellis's musings about his career and life would have made for fascinating reading even without the mystery element.
Ellis quickly encounters a missing student, local thugs, drug dealers, and various other situations that I sincerely hope are entirely fictional. Everything feels authentic for the time and place in which it occurs, and makes for a great story as Ellis tries to find his student while maintaining his career and preparing for a new baby.
The major characters are all well drawn and intricate, and felt very much like real people. Settings were described with enough detail that I could envision them without bogging down the narrative. There's plenty of action and investigating for the mystery fans, adeptly interspersed with character moments and daily events.
All in all, an excellent (and slightly haunting) novel, and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to read it.
Five out of five chunks of my favorite cheddar!
Ellis quickly encounters a missing student, local thugs, drug dealers, and various other situations that I sincerely hope are entirely fictional. Everything feels authentic for the time and place in which it occurs, and makes for a great story as Ellis tries to find his student while maintaining his career and preparing for a new baby.
The major characters are all well drawn and intricate, and felt very much like real people. Settings were described with enough detail that I could envision them without bogging down the narrative. There's plenty of action and investigating for the mystery fans, adeptly interspersed with character moments and daily events.
All in all, an excellent (and slightly haunting) novel, and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to read it.
Five out of five chunks of my favorite cheddar!
March 4, 2017
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! You can read more of my reviews at https://spinesinaline.wordpress.com
I was first drawn to this book because of the comedic aspects, but it’s dark comedy so this won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. I really enjoyed the jokes throughout, especially those of The Drew, who has an unnatural ability to whip up comebacks one after the other! I loved the nicknames he had for Ellis, which were constantly changing from one moment to the next. I could never be that quick with jokes and it always impresses me (even if he’s fictional!) when someone is that good at it!
I’d say some of the humour reached absurd levels but it suited the story. Ellis is somewhat of an outsider in Ruddy Creek and much of his time here is spent trying to navigate this wacky town and its confusing mesh of characters. The set-up of the writing allows the reader to share in Ellis’ confusion as several times he speaks directly to us, letting us in on the joke or just commenting on what has happened. It’s not a traditionally narrated piece but the occasional broken fourth wall works to let us see more of this character and really understand his side.
What I enjoyed most though were the themes driving the plot. The main one was set up with the dedication, “To all the students I allowed to be invisible…and to all the teachers who never let it happen to me.” Quite a powerful statement to start off with.
This struggle to ensure no student falls through the cracks is what motivates much of Ellis' attempt to track down Spencer. The work of a teacher is much more than teaching the curriculum, though possibly more by choice than job requirements. The author’s comments throughout on helping these students, and oftentimes failing them, provided much more depth than I was expecting out of a humorous thriller. It’s one of those books that will likely leave you thinking long after you’ve read it.
I did enjoy this book but there were some things that prevented me from giving it a higher rating. The main reason was its consideration of POC characters. There is only one POC in this novel, specifically mentioned by the characters, and he is stereotyped and degraded by the others in the book. He’s written and described as the base of humanity, more so even than the main villain of the book, and only ever referred to in relation to his race. While Ellis does comment on this unfair portrayal of the character, perhaps as a way of commenting on small town life, it doesn’t make up for only having one POC and using derogatory language as this book does.
I also had some issues with other characters, though not to the same extent. As Ellis is a middle-school teacher, there are several middle schoolers as characters and in real life kids this age are quite awkward. However, some of the ones in this book felt like they were written older than their years and their dialogue was too mature to fit with what I know of this age.
Overall, I liked the story and it’s a great book if you’re looking for a darker spin on the mystery genre, with some comedy thrown in. But the characterization, especially of the POC character, did not sit well with me so that’s where it lost some stars for me.
I was first drawn to this book because of the comedic aspects, but it’s dark comedy so this won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. I really enjoyed the jokes throughout, especially those of The Drew, who has an unnatural ability to whip up comebacks one after the other! I loved the nicknames he had for Ellis, which were constantly changing from one moment to the next. I could never be that quick with jokes and it always impresses me (even if he’s fictional!) when someone is that good at it!
I’d say some of the humour reached absurd levels but it suited the story. Ellis is somewhat of an outsider in Ruddy Creek and much of his time here is spent trying to navigate this wacky town and its confusing mesh of characters. The set-up of the writing allows the reader to share in Ellis’ confusion as several times he speaks directly to us, letting us in on the joke or just commenting on what has happened. It’s not a traditionally narrated piece but the occasional broken fourth wall works to let us see more of this character and really understand his side.
What I enjoyed most though were the themes driving the plot. The main one was set up with the dedication, “To all the students I allowed to be invisible…and to all the teachers who never let it happen to me.” Quite a powerful statement to start off with.
This struggle to ensure no student falls through the cracks is what motivates much of Ellis' attempt to track down Spencer. The work of a teacher is much more than teaching the curriculum, though possibly more by choice than job requirements. The author’s comments throughout on helping these students, and oftentimes failing them, provided much more depth than I was expecting out of a humorous thriller. It’s one of those books that will likely leave you thinking long after you’ve read it.
I did enjoy this book but there were some things that prevented me from giving it a higher rating. The main reason was its consideration of POC characters. There is only one POC in this novel, specifically mentioned by the characters, and he is stereotyped and degraded by the others in the book. He’s written and described as the base of humanity, more so even than the main villain of the book, and only ever referred to in relation to his race. While Ellis does comment on this unfair portrayal of the character, perhaps as a way of commenting on small town life, it doesn’t make up for only having one POC and using derogatory language as this book does.
I also had some issues with other characters, though not to the same extent. As Ellis is a middle-school teacher, there are several middle schoolers as characters and in real life kids this age are quite awkward. However, some of the ones in this book felt like they were written older than their years and their dialogue was too mature to fit with what I know of this age.
Overall, I liked the story and it’s a great book if you’re looking for a darker spin on the mystery genre, with some comedy thrown in. But the characterization, especially of the POC character, did not sit well with me so that’s where it lost some stars for me.
August 27, 2018
Like in so few books, the words just leap off these pages. It's really funny and poignant, and it happens to be a taut mystery, to boot. I cannot recommend this highly enough.
July 19, 2018
Awesome book...I couldn't put it down. Great believable characters. An emotional roller coaster ride. I can\t wait to read more by author.
December 6, 2016
Drew was a school teacher of young students. His wife Dorie was pregnant. One day after school some guys beat up and robbed the teacher . They got his laptop but not her bag. They insisted he give it to them and he said nothing in it just school papers but they wanted it - bad. One day Spencer one of his student was missing and it turned in to almost a month he was missing . No one seemed to notice or care. So Drew the teacher went to his mom house- she dont know or care where he is maybe at his dads, a man thought to have murdered a little girl. Spencer wasnt there either. So the teacher decided to continue hunting for him. In the end he found out why he went missing and what he wrote in a school project given them. Papers the teacher hadnt read yet.It was all in that written paper of the student Spencer wrote.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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