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Ring of Fire
MURPH WILDASIN IS HAVING A VERY BAD DAY. It started with the realization his girlfriend, Elise, is having an affair with a local good ol’ boy named Haddon. What follows is a hellish run through the godforsaken town of Bakersfield, Kentucky. Murph comes face to face with a lot of the local residents, including something he’s only heard of in childhood legend. It’s a nightmare of a day Murph will never forget... if he can make it out in one piece.
- GenresHorror
82 pages, Paperback
Published July 7, 2017
20 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 19, 2020
Let's make this sweet and short:
Picture this:
You see a guy riding a Harley, buck naked except for a scarf and goggles, smelling like a septic tank.
You can either go:
I don't EVEN want to know!
or
I gotta know what the hell happened with this guy!
The latter should read this book.
It was a blast.
Picture this:
You see a guy riding a Harley, buck naked except for a scarf and goggles, smelling like a septic tank.
You can either go:
I don't EVEN want to know!
or
I gotta know what the hell happened with this guy!
The latter should read this book.
It was a blast.
August 4, 2017
Review copy
There are some writers I wish were getting more attention. Writers who have paid their dues and put out quality work, again and again, but still seem to remain in the background, underappreciated. Robert Ford is one such writer.
Last year he published a novella called The Last Firefly of Summer, a bittersweet "story of first love, true love, the love where you would do absolutely anything for the other person. Anything." One of my favorite novellas of 2016.
This year he offers up something completely different, as he returns to the world of Samson Gallows featured in his 2012 novella, Samson and Denial. In Ring of Fire, Robert starts with an eloquent, if profanity laced, rant against infomercials, the medical industry, the media, and Gatlin, KY. Not for the easily offended.
Here's a snippet describing the effects of the local meth trade in Gatlin, KY...
"One guy smoked up and dragged his wife down to the train tracks, behind his farmhouse. Tied her up right to the rails, Dudley Do Right style. 'Course the train through Calverton stopped running years ago. She spent the night getting bit by skeeters and when morning came she had some awful rope burns and looked like she had a bad case of the measles but was otherwise all right."
If you're looking for a rip-snortin' good time, pick up this quick read and follow the misadventures of one man just trying to get through a very bad day.
One more example of what you're in for...
"I hustled into the drive and passed the first brown trailer on my left. That's where the landlord, Betsy Aus, presided–and believe you me, she was some piece of work. Late sixties and gardening braless in a tank top every afternoon when it was warm out. Shorts cut to high heaven and her body the shape and condition of an overcooked apple dumpling. Gravity had certainly had a battle with Betsy's body and won. It appeared as if two ferrets were sleeping inside her tank top."
Ring of Fire is difficult to pigeonhole into a specific genre but funny as hell and a damn good time. My only complaint is the story was way too short. I would have loved to have read more.
At the end of Ring of Fire there's an excerpt from The Last Firefly of Summer, I recommend you skip the excerpt and go buy that novella as well. Although decidedly different I believe you'll enjoy both of these works from Robert Ford, a name worth remembering.
Ring of Fire is available in both paperback and for the Kindle. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Robert Ford writes stories that are always focused on the characters, first and foremost. Anything else just happens to be happening. "If I can write a story that makes the reader feel—laugh, or cry, or get angry or upset—if I can write an engaging story that involves the reader and hits them emotionally, then, and only then, have I done my job."
Previous works include The Last Firefly of Summer, The Compound, and Samson and Denial. Robert currently lives in central Pennsylvania.
There are some writers I wish were getting more attention. Writers who have paid their dues and put out quality work, again and again, but still seem to remain in the background, underappreciated. Robert Ford is one such writer.
Last year he published a novella called The Last Firefly of Summer, a bittersweet "story of first love, true love, the love where you would do absolutely anything for the other person. Anything." One of my favorite novellas of 2016.
This year he offers up something completely different, as he returns to the world of Samson Gallows featured in his 2012 novella, Samson and Denial. In Ring of Fire, Robert starts with an eloquent, if profanity laced, rant against infomercials, the medical industry, the media, and Gatlin, KY. Not for the easily offended.
Here's a snippet describing the effects of the local meth trade in Gatlin, KY...
"One guy smoked up and dragged his wife down to the train tracks, behind his farmhouse. Tied her up right to the rails, Dudley Do Right style. 'Course the train through Calverton stopped running years ago. She spent the night getting bit by skeeters and when morning came she had some awful rope burns and looked like she had a bad case of the measles but was otherwise all right."
If you're looking for a rip-snortin' good time, pick up this quick read and follow the misadventures of one man just trying to get through a very bad day.
One more example of what you're in for...
"I hustled into the drive and passed the first brown trailer on my left. That's where the landlord, Betsy Aus, presided–and believe you me, she was some piece of work. Late sixties and gardening braless in a tank top every afternoon when it was warm out. Shorts cut to high heaven and her body the shape and condition of an overcooked apple dumpling. Gravity had certainly had a battle with Betsy's body and won. It appeared as if two ferrets were sleeping inside her tank top."
Ring of Fire is difficult to pigeonhole into a specific genre but funny as hell and a damn good time. My only complaint is the story was way too short. I would have loved to have read more.
At the end of Ring of Fire there's an excerpt from The Last Firefly of Summer, I recommend you skip the excerpt and go buy that novella as well. Although decidedly different I believe you'll enjoy both of these works from Robert Ford, a name worth remembering.
Ring of Fire is available in both paperback and for the Kindle. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited you can read it at no additional charge. Also, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can read it for FREE using the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
From the author's bio - Robert Ford writes stories that are always focused on the characters, first and foremost. Anything else just happens to be happening. "If I can write a story that makes the reader feel—laugh, or cry, or get angry or upset—if I can write an engaging story that involves the reader and hits them emotionally, then, and only then, have I done my job."
Previous works include The Last Firefly of Summer, The Compound, and Samson and Denial. Robert currently lives in central Pennsylvania.
August 8, 2020
"...And it burns, burns, burns / The ring of fire" (Johnny Cash, 𝓡𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓸𝓯 𝓕𝓲𝓻𝓮)
The addiction to get burned is 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙇
In this novella, Ford brings us on a stumbling ride along Murph Wildasin on his crazy adventure, not down the rabbit hole but the 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗘.
Bizarre and unlikely accidents happen real fast and there's no time to make sense of them.
All I can say is 𝙇𝙀𝙏 𝙂𝙊, 𝙇𝙊𝙎𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙏𝙍𝙊𝙇: 𝙇𝙀𝙏 𝙁𝙊𝙍𝘿 𝙏𝘼𝙆𝙀 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙒𝙃𝙀𝙀𝙇.
WIH ⊥S∩ᴚ⊥
The addiction to get burned is 𝙍𝙀𝘼𝙇
In this novella, Ford brings us on a stumbling ride along Murph Wildasin on his crazy adventure, not down the rabbit hole but the 𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗘.
Bizarre and unlikely accidents happen real fast and there's no time to make sense of them.
All I can say is 𝙇𝙀𝙏 𝙂𝙊, 𝙇𝙊𝙎𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙉𝙏𝙍𝙊𝙇: 𝙇𝙀𝙏 𝙁𝙊𝙍𝘿 𝙏𝘼𝙆𝙀 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙒𝙃𝙀𝙀𝙇.
WIH ⊥S∩ᴚ⊥
July 26, 2017
This book is a white-knuckle, drug-induced, Hell-ride through backwoods Kentucky. Ford crafts a non-stop thrill ride that never lets up from the get-go. It is rant filled and acts as a hilarious look at meth in small towns. I can't get into much detail, it's better to take Ford's hand and let him lead you to a new Wonderland. After reading it, I also needed a 'Get Well' balloon tied to my body.
July 29, 2017
Most writers are happy to take your hand, lead you through their creation, and drop you off with a peck on the cheek in hopes of seeing you again... Bob Ford throws you in his Ferrari, guns the accelerator and drives like a madman before tossing you out when it's all over. And I guarantee, all you can think is... "shit, that was fun... I wanna do that again." 5/5
January 22, 2018
How am I the first review? This novella is well worth your time. It's full of humor, a bit of history, and relatable situations. Perhaps not the robe situation.... In all seriousness, Bob is incredibly talented at making your heart jump one second then leaving you in stitches of laughter the next. I'd say more, but I'd hate to spoil anyone.
July 29, 2017
One hysterical shitty day that goes from bad to fucked. Non stop laughs and insanity.
July 27, 2017
A roaring, hellacious ride through the worst day in a Kentucky man's life, this short read contains more lunacy and laughter than a bottle of trailer-made shroom juice. You'll find yourself rooting for Murph all the way, even as you delight in the misfortune Ford heaps on him.
5 stars, folks, can't recommend this one enough.
5 stars, folks, can't recommend this one enough.
July 6, 2021
4.5 stars! A roller coaster ride fuelled with the weirdest scenes and characters. A trip like no other. This was my first taste of Robert Ford and I can’t wait to indulge further..
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews