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Old Order
Horace Yoder thinks he's got the perfect scam. All he has to do is pretend to have been kicked out of an Amish order, get a job on a local farm and when the family is asleep steal their valuables and resell them for a tidy profit. Unfortunately for Yoder, the family has other ideas...and their plans are MUCH more sinister.
A horror novella from the author of CHILDREN OF THE DARK, this edition includes a brand-new Afterword by the author.
A horror novella from the author of CHILDREN OF THE DARK, this edition includes a brand-new Afterword by the author.
52 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 11, 2010
23 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Janz
60 books2,095 followersJonathan Janz is an author and public schoolteacher. His sci-fi horror novel VEIL is now available, and you can find his story "Lenora" in THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT: NEW TALES OF STEPHEN KING'S THE STAND. He’s represented for Film & TV by Adam Kolbrenner of Lit Entertainment, and his literary agent is Lane Heymont. His ghost story The Siren and the Specter was selected as a Goodreads Choice nominee for Best Horror. Additionally, his novels Children of the Dark and The Dark Game were chosen by Booklist and Library Journal as Top Ten Horror Books of the Year. Jonathan’s main interests are his wonderful wife and his three amazing children. You can sign up for his newsletter (http://jonathanjanz.us12.list-manage....), and you can follow him on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, Threads, Bluesky, TikTok, and Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
October 24, 2019
You learn something new every day.
Today I learned...
There is a huge following of Amishporn romance readers out there. You should read the afterward by Mr. Janz - I found it quite hilarious!
This story did so many things right, in my uneducated opinion -
Horace Yoder has long fingers and a nearly foolproof scam to make money.
Nearly...
Strange things are bound to happen, ye of little faith!
The ending was superb - exactly the way I like a story like this kind of story.
There is sex, though, but it is NOT - I can't state this strongly enough - Amishporn romance...
Hey, I'm not going to judge, but like I've said before, I know NOTHING about the way the female brain works!
Great little story.
Today I learned...
There is a huge following of Amish
This story did so many things right, in my uneducated opinion -
Horace Yoder has long fingers and a nearly foolproof scam to make money.
Nearly...
Strange things are bound to happen, ye of little faith!
The ending was superb - exactly the way I like a story like this kind of story.
There is sex, though, but it is NOT - I can't state this strongly enough - Amish
Hey, I'm not going to judge, but like I've said before, I know NOTHING about the way the female brain works!
Great little story.
March 19, 2020
A man calling himself Horace Yoder is looking for work at a remote farm. The McCarricks hire him. But Yoder isn't keen on farm work, he's looking for valuables. The women at that farm are a bit strange. He's able to screw the attractive mother and daughter (sex is quite openly depicted here). How will the story end? Will he be able to leave the farm or what is going on here? The story is well written and full (like the breasts of the women described here) of inexpected and bizarre twists. The characters are crafted in a good way. At the end the setting is quite uncanny. The most unusual scene may be the 'Peeping Tom' on the bathing daughter. It's an interesting story. At some parts I had to think about Richard Laymon. You'll definitely want to know the ending. Great mixture between old school and new elements. This is a gifted author. Recommended!
February 29, 2024
3.5 stars. Jonathan Janz is one of the last remaining horror authors that I hadn't gotten a chance to read. His writing is crisp, the atmosphere is perfect, the plot was very unique, and he balanced all of the characters quite well. So all of my expectations were met by the author. Now I did have some confusion on certain plot points. First off, there was an incredible amount of sex, which felt a bit of out place at times, especially with such a limited amount of pages. The ending also felt fairly abrupt and didn't necessarily give me all of the clarity that I was seeking for such a sinister situation. None of the characters are likeable or considered a true protagonist, which set up a fine, unique dynamic.
However, when devising a story with that sort of focus, it requires that you need to have a very developed and extremely interesting plot with a definitive conclusion, which this lacked in certain ways. Reducing the sexual content and using that space to redirect the reader to other, more important, plot points would have made this a much better experience. It is definitely worth a read for horror fans, but I would also taper expectations, as compared to Janz's other offerings.
However, when devising a story with that sort of focus, it requires that you need to have a very developed and extremely interesting plot with a definitive conclusion, which this lacked in certain ways. Reducing the sexual content and using that space to redirect the reader to other, more important, plot points would have made this a much better experience. It is definitely worth a read for horror fans, but I would also taper expectations, as compared to Janz's other offerings.
March 26, 2020
Janz is a good writer (he does suspenseful scenes really well) but this book didn’t work for me. The content was more sexually graphic than I prefer, and the protagonist was highly unlikable; this made it difficult for me to engage on any emotional level.
My advice: Skip this one, and read his excellent novella Witching Hour Theatre instead.
My advice: Skip this one, and read his excellent novella Witching Hour Theatre instead.
February 8, 2018
Written in 2010, Old Order caused quite a sensation among fans of Amish Romance. As some of the Amazon customers have pointed out in their reviews, "it is totally smutty and definately [sic] not a family or christian read." "I guess one doesn't think of horrors like this in
Amish communities." "Without a doubt one of the most disgusting and vile things I have ever read."
Oh. Wait, hold on. Nope, sorry, those early reviews were apparently not meant to be the glowing endorsements they most certainly should be within the finer circles of horror readership, but they're just as effective I'd say. And let's face it, if that last review quote I pulled isn't cover blurb material, I don't fucking know what is!
So, Old Order. It's decidedly not an Amish Romance, although in Jonathan Janz's afterword it's stated that this novella practically flew straight onto a number of ereaders and that, based on the volume of disappointed one-starers, readers partial to plain people didn't know what the heck they were getting themselves into. Apparently none of them read the book's description and just blind bought the book based on the previous cover's depiction of a barn. Seriously.
What Old Order is is a groovy slow-burn work of erotic horror. Con-man Horace, posing as an Amish ne'er-do-well who's been kicked out of the community, trades back-breaking labor for room and board in the hopes that he can relieve a family of their precious valuables. Janz kicks things off with plenty of titillation and then takes a turn toward the paranormal bizarre, and then rapidly shifts gears into a finale I never saw coming.
Old Order has a nice 80s vibe to it, and it would have fit right in with the Hot Blood series of erotic horror anthologies where sex and scares were part and parcel. At around only 50 pages, this is a quick read, and there's a few moments of hair-raising intensity powerful enough to churn butter and a few barn-raising scares along the way. Horror fans just might find themselves living in an Amish paradise with this one.
Amish communities." "Without a doubt one of the most disgusting and vile things I have ever read."
Oh. Wait, hold on. Nope, sorry, those early reviews were apparently not meant to be the glowing endorsements they most certainly should be within the finer circles of horror readership, but they're just as effective I'd say. And let's face it, if that last review quote I pulled isn't cover blurb material, I don't fucking know what is!
So, Old Order. It's decidedly not an Amish Romance, although in Jonathan Janz's afterword it's stated that this novella practically flew straight onto a number of ereaders and that, based on the volume of disappointed one-starers, readers partial to plain people didn't know what the heck they were getting themselves into. Apparently none of them read the book's description and just blind bought the book based on the previous cover's depiction of a barn. Seriously.
What Old Order is is a groovy slow-burn work of erotic horror. Con-man Horace, posing as an Amish ne'er-do-well who's been kicked out of the community, trades back-breaking labor for room and board in the hopes that he can relieve a family of their precious valuables. Janz kicks things off with plenty of titillation and then takes a turn toward the paranormal bizarre, and then rapidly shifts gears into a finale I never saw coming.
Old Order has a nice 80s vibe to it, and it would have fit right in with the Hot Blood series of erotic horror anthologies where sex and scares were part and parcel. At around only 50 pages, this is a quick read, and there's a few moments of hair-raising intensity powerful enough to churn butter and a few barn-raising scares along the way. Horror fans just might find themselves living in an Amish paradise with this one.
February 22, 2015
My first experience reading Jonathan Janz and this short story has a twisted Twilight Zone-kinda feel. Horace Yoder is a scam artist that pretends to be an Amish who has been kicked out of his order. He uses this ruse to get his way into a farm so that he can case the joint and steal their valuables while everyone is sleeping. Unfortunately, Horace picks the wrong farm. This was a fun read with good character development. I enjoy Janz style and look forward to reading more of his work.
4 out of 5 stars
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4 out of 5 stars
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2J1...
TWITTER - @KenMcKinley5
July 6, 2015
A short and straight-forward early work from Jonathan Janz - he who has fast become one of my favourite (new-ish) horror writers. There's nothing overly remarkable about this tale of a man pretending to be someone else in order to rip off a seemingly harmless and innocent family somewhere out in the rural sticks. Of course, he finds more than he bargains for and, well, bad things occur.
But the early signs of Janz's effortless ease with words and his ability to draw you into the world he has created are both apparent, and this tale is worth checking out for those factors alone.
3 Scores That Are Too Good to be True for Old Order.
But the early signs of Janz's effortless ease with words and his ability to draw you into the world he has created are both apparent, and this tale is worth checking out for those factors alone.
3 Scores That Are Too Good to be True for Old Order.
April 3, 2020
3.5 but it's more toward 4 I think.
It was a very creepy tale.
Very good the way the tension was building up, something strange happening and then some other strange thing happening.
I felt, not from the beginning, but at some point that there was something wrong. So maybe a little bit predictable but nonetheless enjoyable.
I really liked how in such a short amount of pages Jonathan Janz was able to make his main character so real and full of depth. This is always something that gets you into the story, I think.
It was a very creepy tale.
Very good the way the tension was building up, something strange happening and then some other strange thing happening.
I felt, not from the beginning, but at some point that there was something wrong. So maybe a little bit predictable but nonetheless enjoyable.
I really liked how in such a short amount of pages Jonathan Janz was able to make his main character so real and full of depth. This is always something that gets you into the story, I think.
April 7, 2015
Packs a punch.
I love horror short stories and this is a great example of the medium done right. The characters were well done, the suspense always lingering just under the surface. This was a fun read.
I love horror short stories and this is a great example of the medium done right. The characters were well done, the suspense always lingering just under the surface. This was a fun read.
December 10, 2023
Two quick comments that I want to make on this book. It turns out that it is actually more a short story than a book. Not a bad surprise or anything. Just something that I guess happens when I buy a book, throw it on my to be read pile and then pick it up way later. It was still a good story. I enjoyed it and would recommend it. The other thing that I wanted to mention was the afterword was awesome! Janz mentioned that he received (still does?) lots of emails and comments because people buy the book thinking it is Amish porn! The book is not. I have no idea why people would think it but his comments about people's thoughts on the alleged subject are great!
March 18, 2020
Janz is a favourite author of mine, one who I’ve never read something I haven’t enjoyed. When ‘Old Order’ was offered up as a freebie in the wake of the COVID-19 news, I snagged this and read it ASAP.
This one is a short but brutal read, one I highly enjoyed.
What I liked: the story follows Horace Yoder, drifter, who arrives at a secluded farmhouse seeking shelter and food in exchange for labour. The family agrees and it isn’t long before some seem nice and some seem off. I loved the character of Yoder and Janz slowly filled in some historical details as the story goes on. It soon becomes evident why Yoder is really there, but by that point, the family has also begun their plans as well.
What I didn’t like: the story is built on dread, on the knowledge that ‘something’ is going to happen. It was almost an immediate shift in tone from when Yoder decides to leave in the middle of the night. While both before and after are fantastic, it was a bit of an adjustment going from slow burn to full throttle.
Why you should buy it: well, it’s still free! But also, Janz is a great guy and a fantastic writer. There is a really indepth/insightful afterword which I found fascinating.
As for the story – the ending is grotesque in the best way possible and one you all should find out for yourselves!
This one is a short but brutal read, one I highly enjoyed.
What I liked: the story follows Horace Yoder, drifter, who arrives at a secluded farmhouse seeking shelter and food in exchange for labour. The family agrees and it isn’t long before some seem nice and some seem off. I loved the character of Yoder and Janz slowly filled in some historical details as the story goes on. It soon becomes evident why Yoder is really there, but by that point, the family has also begun their plans as well.
What I didn’t like: the story is built on dread, on the knowledge that ‘something’ is going to happen. It was almost an immediate shift in tone from when Yoder decides to leave in the middle of the night. While both before and after are fantastic, it was a bit of an adjustment going from slow burn to full throttle.
Why you should buy it: well, it’s still free! But also, Janz is a great guy and a fantastic writer. There is a really indepth/insightful afterword which I found fascinating.
As for the story – the ending is grotesque in the best way possible and one you all should find out for yourselves!
April 13, 2015
Old Order by Jonathan Janz is like an episode of Tales from the Crypt with a little more spice. Farmers are easy marks, or so one would think, sitting on untold riches and just toiling the day away. Our protagonist is a criminal who preys on people who trust and don't suspect. But karma has a way of catching up with people.
Janz writes a convincing story of an antiques store owner who gets a lot more than he bargins for. The ending of this story is a horrid surprise and one that will sit with the reader long after the title is put away. I really look forward to a Janz story because I know that it will be fun and well worth the money spent.
Jonathan Janz is a writer to watch. He has a way with words that really involve the reader into the story. This is the second Janz story I have read and it really is a talented author who can write in such a fashion... every time.
Janz writes a convincing story of an antiques store owner who gets a lot more than he bargins for. The ending of this story is a horrid surprise and one that will sit with the reader long after the title is put away. I really look forward to a Janz story because I know that it will be fun and well worth the money spent.
Jonathan Janz is a writer to watch. He has a way with words that really involve the reader into the story. This is the second Janz story I have read and it really is a talented author who can write in such a fashion... every time.
January 13, 2014
A twistedly good horrific tale!
Superbly written by Jonathan Janz!!
Looking forward to my next JJ read. : D
Sorry Horace, but your intentions were not good. : (
Superbly written by Jonathan Janz!!
Looking forward to my next JJ read. : D
Sorry Horace, but your intentions were not good. : (
March 23, 2020
The novella that infuriated an entire subcategory of readers!
Horace, who was excelled from his Amish family for stealing, walks door to work scouting out a farm to work on. He’s looking for some light work, food for his belly, and a bed to sleep in. He finds the McCarricks’ a nice farm family willing to give him food and a bed for a little farm work. The whole time he is scouting out what would be worth stealing from these people so he can get out of there. The quicker the better so less work Horace has to do around the farm. Horace being a thief basically his whole life was not expecting what treasures and secrets this family had to hide. That ending was sooo unexpected in a good way. You knew something was gonna happen but damn! This is the first thing I’ve ever read my johnathan janz and all I can say is wow! I plan of reading more by him for sure!
And that afterward about the Amish romance readers 🤣 I bet they got more than what they asked for in a romance novel! That note at the end was amazing!!!
Horace, who was excelled from his Amish family for stealing, walks door to work scouting out a farm to work on. He’s looking for some light work, food for his belly, and a bed to sleep in. He finds the McCarricks’ a nice farm family willing to give him food and a bed for a little farm work. The whole time he is scouting out what would be worth stealing from these people so he can get out of there. The quicker the better so less work Horace has to do around the farm. Horace being a thief basically his whole life was not expecting what treasures and secrets this family had to hide. That ending was sooo unexpected in a good way. You knew something was gonna happen but damn! This is the first thing I’ve ever read my johnathan janz and all I can say is wow! I plan of reading more by him for sure!
And that afterward about the Amish romance readers 🤣 I bet they got more than what they asked for in a romance novel! That note at the end was amazing!!!
March 27, 2020
Meet me by the butter churn...
First off, I have to say the afterword was nearly as entertaining as the short story (novella?novellette?). I can only imagine the reviews from genteel, proper older ladies looking for a little Amish romance...if you are one of those ladies reading this review, ma'am, this is not your story!
Jonathan Janz never disappoints, and even though this story is super short it is riveting! Horace just wants a hot meal and a bed for a day's work, or so he tells the welcoming Macarrick family. He's kinda shady, especially when he begins lusting after their gorgeous teen daughter. But, Horace isn't the only person on this farm who isn't what he seems, that's for sure.
Ahhh, I so want to say more but I fear spoilers. Ugh, ok, you're warned!
»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»
*********SPOILERS****************
So, I have always been a fan of paganism, folklore, and the occult. This story hit all of that! Think The Wicker Man, Midsommar, The Reddening, and more where sometimes you go into a seemingly normal place with regular people. Maybe you notice a few odd things, no big deal, then BAM! Crazy Cult Ritual, incoming!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Loved this story! The build-up was great, and the ending was fantastic. Kudos as well for making me sympathize (a smidge) for an unlikable main character. I may have felt more bad for him, but I loved the Macarricks!
And for a laugh, seriously folks, read the afterword. It offers important lessons for us all: first, don't give up on your dreams; second, make sure you read the description before buying any book!😄
First off, I have to say the afterword was nearly as entertaining as the short story (novella?novellette?). I can only imagine the reviews from genteel, proper older ladies looking for a little Amish romance...if you are one of those ladies reading this review, ma'am, this is not your story!
Jonathan Janz never disappoints, and even though this story is super short it is riveting! Horace just wants a hot meal and a bed for a day's work, or so he tells the welcoming Macarrick family. He's kinda shady, especially when he begins lusting after their gorgeous teen daughter. But, Horace isn't the only person on this farm who isn't what he seems, that's for sure.
Ahhh, I so want to say more but I fear spoilers. Ugh, ok, you're warned!
»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»»
*********SPOILERS****************
So, I have always been a fan of paganism, folklore, and the occult. This story hit all of that! Think The Wicker Man, Midsommar, The Reddening, and more where sometimes you go into a seemingly normal place with regular people. Maybe you notice a few odd things, no big deal, then BAM! Crazy Cult Ritual, incoming!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Loved this story! The build-up was great, and the ending was fantastic. Kudos as well for making me sympathize (a smidge) for an unlikable main character. I may have felt more bad for him, but I loved the Macarricks!
And for a laugh, seriously folks, read the afterword. It offers important lessons for us all: first, don't give up on your dreams; second, make sure you read the description before buying any book!😄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2021
I enjoyed 'OLD ORDER' by Jonathan Janz. It is an atmospheric novella with a surprising final plot twist and some sexual content. I really liked the tension between the characters and of course the old school horror elements.
June 7, 2024
[3.5] After reading his other short story, “Witching Hour Theatre” which I really enjoyed, i read the synopsis for this book and said “heck, let’s do one more”!
This one was just as good. It’s quite raunchy and man do things get bonkers towards the end. But as crazy as it got, i was totally on board for it all.
I find Janz’s writing entertaining and I’ll be looking into one of his novels next. Goodstuff!
This one was just as good. It’s quite raunchy and man do things get bonkers towards the end. But as crazy as it got, i was totally on board for it all.
I find Janz’s writing entertaining and I’ll be looking into one of his novels next. Goodstuff!
March 28, 2020
Creepy little novella
This story was different than what I am used to from Janz, but I still liked it! Totally caught me off guard with the twists, so that was an unexpected surprise!
This story was different than what I am used to from Janz, but I still liked it! Totally caught me off guard with the twists, so that was an unexpected surprise!
June 11, 2020
A classic rural horror story that could teach a thing or two to others about building tension without giving away the farm until the last few moments. Perfection.
April 27, 2011
A wonderfully disturbing novella. I will definately be looking at more offerings from Jonathan Janz. Not for the timid! I loved this story!
January 22, 2019
Old Order is another novella from the excellent Jonathan Janz is an interesting tale about a man who is a con man who dresses like an ex-Amish looking for work in order to fleece of them of their valuables. Horace, of course, gets more than he bargains for and with a creepy undertones that soon become an overture of the depraved, we find Horace falling under the banner of be careful what you wish for.
The characters are very strong and there is some imagery written that will embed it self on your corneas and you can not easily shake but that is the beauty of the piece and the talent of the writer. The story reads like an r rated version of the Twilight Zone if it aired on HBO or Showtime. This adds an extra bonus which gives the story it sly mischievous smile.
Reading through the other reviews, I learned that some people are not very bright to think of this as Amish romance and who knew that Amish romance literature was a thing. I guess one learns something new every day. Hmmm…….
Moving on, this is well written novella that is fun and intriguing with full fleshed out characters, a plot that ticks away at a pleasant pace and an overall involving story that turns up the notch with each page. Naughty, scary, perverse and a sting in the tale that lifts this novella above the norm.
The characters are very strong and there is some imagery written that will embed it self on your corneas and you can not easily shake but that is the beauty of the piece and the talent of the writer. The story reads like an r rated version of the Twilight Zone if it aired on HBO or Showtime. This adds an extra bonus which gives the story it sly mischievous smile.
Reading through the other reviews, I learned that some people are not very bright to think of this as Amish romance and who knew that Amish romance literature was a thing. I guess one learns something new every day. Hmmm…….
Moving on, this is well written novella that is fun and intriguing with full fleshed out characters, a plot that ticks away at a pleasant pace and an overall involving story that turns up the notch with each page. Naughty, scary, perverse and a sting in the tale that lifts this novella above the norm.
December 30, 2018
So hello you have seen who the author is haven’t you, no way would I pass up reading one Mr Janz books! Plus being a novella fitted right in with my challenge.
I felt like I was holding my breath for some of this novella because I just did not foresee what was going to happen. Everything seemed just a little bit too light at the beginning, hence me holding my breath wondering where we were going to go. After reading a couple of Mr Janz’ other books I knew it would not be a happy ending but everything was just so surreal.
Horace Yoder who has been disgraced from the Amish community offers to work on a local farm where all he wants to do is steal their valuables, and boy do they have some valuables.
Cue some unsettling “scenes of a sexual nature” a theft and some damn crazy and twisted activities and you have met Mr Janz!
I loved reading the new and updated afterword from the author as he discussed some of the early feedback he got for this novella, this being his first as well. Especially as this book was mistaken for an Amish romance book….not quite sure how?!
Another win in my unsettled creeped out eyes.
I felt like I was holding my breath for some of this novella because I just did not foresee what was going to happen. Everything seemed just a little bit too light at the beginning, hence me holding my breath wondering where we were going to go. After reading a couple of Mr Janz’ other books I knew it would not be a happy ending but everything was just so surreal.
Horace Yoder who has been disgraced from the Amish community offers to work on a local farm where all he wants to do is steal their valuables, and boy do they have some valuables.
Cue some unsettling “scenes of a sexual nature” a theft and some damn crazy and twisted activities and you have met Mr Janz!
I loved reading the new and updated afterword from the author as he discussed some of the early feedback he got for this novella, this being his first as well. Especially as this book was mistaken for an Amish romance book….not quite sure how?!
Another win in my unsettled creeped out eyes.
June 29, 2020
In 'Old Order', Horace selects his next target with a clear modus operandi in mind - fabricate a sob story, ask for a job, eat whenever possible and lastly, steal and leave when everyone is asleep. However, the McCarricks are smarter and more dangerous than he anticipated..
The sense of impending doom was strong throughout, further strengthened by the conversations between Horace and the family members, along with an undercurrent of tension. Horace's eyes kept wandering to all the valuables as well as one of the women (never a good sign).
The build-up to the ending was nicely done, except for the excessive focus on sex scenes which were repetitive. It would've been more interesting to read about him looking through their possessions, exploring the farm and stumbling upon something alarming.
Overall, 'Old Order' was terrifying in parts with a solid ending and would've benefited from trimming down the purposeless sexual content.
The sense of impending doom was strong throughout, further strengthened by the conversations between Horace and the family members, along with an undercurrent of tension. Horace's eyes kept wandering to all the valuables as well as one of the women (never a good sign).
The build-up to the ending was nicely done, except for the excessive focus on sex scenes which were repetitive. It would've been more interesting to read about him looking through their possessions, exploring the farm and stumbling upon something alarming.
Overall, 'Old Order' was terrifying in parts with a solid ending and would've benefited from trimming down the purposeless sexual content.
March 23, 2020
An Amish horror story!?! Sign me up!
A quick and riveting read; my introduction to the author. Mr. Janz has a masterful ability for description and a strong sense of pacing and dread. This is my first, but it won’t be my last!
A quick and riveting read; my introduction to the author. Mr. Janz has a masterful ability for description and a strong sense of pacing and dread. This is my first, but it won’t be my last!
January 4, 2021
This is a nice atmospheric read but the ending left me feeling conflicted. This is the 2nd story I’ve read where the role of women in an agrarian and natural/rural way of life is turned into something sinister, which seems more misogynistic but that may just be me. I was really into it when Richard is trying to make his escape. The scene is written so vividly that I could imagine him making his way through the desolate road with a big country moon providing light (don't remember if moonlight is mentioned). When young Jimmy appears in the window and then following him, the dread of the protagonist was palpable. But the very end was too unbelievable and there were other plot holes too. Also, there’s fat shaming.
October 26, 2020
Awesome little short story! Fast paced and was not the ending I was expecting. Jamz has become one of my must read authors.
October 12, 2020
I do believe this is my first Janz story. It's a name I hear often in my online book groups. The story starts slow. A man looking for work, his only intention to rob his boss. But the end is absolutely EXPLOSIVE!
April 2, 2020
A dark, secluded family secret...
Horace Yoder learned his final lesson at the McCarrick farm. After being shunned for stealing within his Amish community, he goes door to door looking for work in exchange for food and a place to sleep but there’s more to his story. At least that’s the scam he pulls to scout homes for items to to steal his store and he definitely found his ticket when Daniel McCarrick Took him in. Horace takes note of the old home’s fine antiques and the women’s jewelry. Horace is really a man named Richard who is a veteran thief and learns after his heist that the McCarrick farm is more than meets the eye.
The novella of less than 50 pages was a serious page turner and my first experience with Jonathan Janz’s writing. The characters twists and ending were unexpected. It made me want more of the story as well as more about the family and their secluded secret. There’s a saying, “you learn something new every day,” and, well, today learned of a new genre, Amish Romance (“Indecent” Romance). The afterword was hilarious and explains how this “...novella infuriated an entire subcategory of readers.” I can’t imagine what those readers experienced with this novella because there is definitely more than an ankle showing! I definitely plan on reading more of Jonathan Janz’s books.
Horace Yoder learned his final lesson at the McCarrick farm. After being shunned for stealing within his Amish community, he goes door to door looking for work in exchange for food and a place to sleep but there’s more to his story. At least that’s the scam he pulls to scout homes for items to to steal his store and he definitely found his ticket when Daniel McCarrick Took him in. Horace takes note of the old home’s fine antiques and the women’s jewelry. Horace is really a man named Richard who is a veteran thief and learns after his heist that the McCarrick farm is more than meets the eye.
The novella of less than 50 pages was a serious page turner and my first experience with Jonathan Janz’s writing. The characters twists and ending were unexpected. It made me want more of the story as well as more about the family and their secluded secret. There’s a saying, “you learn something new every day,” and, well, today learned of a new genre, Amish Romance (“Indecent” Romance). The afterword was hilarious and explains how this “...novella infuriated an entire subcategory of readers.” I can’t imagine what those readers experienced with this novella because there is definitely more than an ankle showing! I definitely plan on reading more of Jonathan Janz’s books.
March 22, 2020
This was brutal. I thought I had figured out what was going to happen midway thru the story but I was wrong. Dead wrong. I love it when a story takes me to a place completely unexpected. I can feel that pieces of this story have planted themselves deep in my subconscious, forcing their way to the forefront, when I least expect it. I have accepted that parts of this book are going to live with me for quite some time. Amazing.
May 24, 2011
This is a tremendous read! Horror at its finest. This vivid novella tickles all of the senses en route to an ending that is shocking, disturbing and yet oddly satisfying :-) If you are a fan of authors like Stephen King, Jack Ketchum and Joe R. Lansdale, then do yourself a favor and read this offering. I promise, you will not be able to put it down.
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