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Duncan
"Duncan" is a psychosexual thriller about a young boy, his stuffed-toy gorilla (title character) and a pedophiliac serial killer named Samuel Clause, a.k.a. “Santa,” who happens to be a gifted jazz bass player. The novel has two one, itinerant, that follows Santa from gig to gig on his depraved odyssey, raping and killing his way up the East coast to Canada; the other, homebound, in upstate Syracuse, focusing on the Driscoll family, Mark, Julie and their son Nate, as they struggle to come to terms with mother Julie’s quadriplegia in the wake of a horrific auto accident. The reader’s adrenalin rush comes from the suspense that builds to fever pitch as the two strands approach each other for the inevitable confrontation. All of this is heightened by the mystery of Duncan, who is not only Nate’s beloved toy companion but becomes a kind of family protector totem, and, in the novel’s climax, so much more. Depth of character psychology enhances the reading the college-educated Santa’s self-serving misreading of Nietzsche’s philosophy and aspects of Zen Buddhism to rationalize his atrocities; his perverse relationship to jazz, particularly Miles Davis’s “So What?”; Nate’s ordeal with a school bully, a trial that will stand him in good stead in the book’s horrific denouement; Julie’s feelings of inadequacy and her reliance on Freudian theory and meditation for solace and support in the crisis of her paralysis; the paradox of Mark’s profound guilt over his affair with his beautiful teaching assistant, sexual release merely tightens the moral and psychological bonds; and, above all, Santa himself, whose sharp intelligence only aids and abets his evil compulsion, enabling him to rationalize the unspeakable. "Duncan" is a novel not only for readers addicted to thrill rides and maddening suspense, but also those who are curious about the abnormal psychology of the pedophiliac killer. The book gives food for thought as well as a kind of perverse satisfaction for the imagination and senses. It is a thinking reader’s thriller. About the Author Author Dennis McCort (1941-) was born and raised in Hoboken, New Jersey, the „mile square city“ on the Hudson, in the shadow of Manhattan. He writes of his experiences growing up there in the postwar industrial era before gentrification in his book, "A Kafkaesque Confessions from the Analytic Couch" (PalmArt Press). McCort is now retired from Syracuse University in upstate New York where he taught German language and literature over a long career. He has authored literary studies on German and Swiss writers and on the influence of Zen Buddhism on such Western writers as J.D. Salinger, R.M. Rilke and Thomas Merton. His understanding of Zen, both as scholar and practitioner, i.e., from both outside and inside, helped him to add layers of complexity to the fascinating personality of the pedophiliac protagonist of Duncan. McCort has also written a comic novel, titled "The Man Who Loved Doughnuts," about a young professor who fails to get tenure at his upstate university and spends a lost weekend in lower Manhattan. It is available as an Amazon Kindle eBook. "Duncan" is his novelization of a macabre seed-concept coming from his wife that of a serial pedophiliac murderer on a collision course with a boy whose only defense is a stuffed toy gorilla. They both describe the book as a “thinking man’s thriller.”
432 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 26, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley for this book in return for an honest review. I don’t know what to make of what I just read. There is no doubt that the author has an enviable vocabulary and is vastly knowledgeable in many fields, but I found the story too incomprehensible and chaotic, despite its scholarly intentions.
The main characters are Samuel ‘Santa’ Clause, a deranged serial pedophile, who preys on young boys and then kills them.
Mark, a University professor of literature, who is conflicted about an affair.
Julie, Mark’s wife, is a quadriplegic following a horrifying car accident. Later, following a stroke, she developed ‘locked-in’ syndrome.
Nate, their nine-year-old son, is very intelligent. He has a small stuffed toy ape called Duncan, which was his valued companion. Duncan has become a family totem, resting on Julie’s lap while Nate is in school.
Hattie is a motherly caregiver and companion for Julie. She has retained some beliefs, superstitions and folktales from her native Haiti.
The story contains references to classical composers, Jazz musicians, famous literary writers and philosophers. It touches on meditation, academia, medicine and fantasy. There are streams of consciousness by Samuel. We also follow Julie’s thoughts within her paralyzed state.
The inevitable abduction of Nate doesn’t occur until 88% through the book where we get a startling and fantastic conclusion. So many unnecessary minutiae diminished the suspense and thrills I wanted. Prospective readers should not be influenced by my misgivings as the book provides much food for thought.
The main characters are Samuel ‘Santa’ Clause, a deranged serial pedophile, who preys on young boys and then kills them.
Mark, a University professor of literature, who is conflicted about an affair.
Julie, Mark’s wife, is a quadriplegic following a horrifying car accident. Later, following a stroke, she developed ‘locked-in’ syndrome.
Nate, their nine-year-old son, is very intelligent. He has a small stuffed toy ape called Duncan, which was his valued companion. Duncan has become a family totem, resting on Julie’s lap while Nate is in school.
Hattie is a motherly caregiver and companion for Julie. She has retained some beliefs, superstitions and folktales from her native Haiti.
The story contains references to classical composers, Jazz musicians, famous literary writers and philosophers. It touches on meditation, academia, medicine and fantasy. There are streams of consciousness by Samuel. We also follow Julie’s thoughts within her paralyzed state.
The inevitable abduction of Nate doesn’t occur until 88% through the book where we get a startling and fantastic conclusion. So many unnecessary minutiae diminished the suspense and thrills I wanted. Prospective readers should not be influenced by my misgivings as the book provides much food for thought.
April 5, 2019
Duncan by Dennis is touted as a thriller, but I disagree. This is not a thriller. I’m just not really sure what it was...part horror, part slow-burn suspense? I’m just classifying it as fiction.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher GateKeeper Press, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Julie is having a rough time after the catastrophic accident that left her a paraplegic, but she is coping with the help of her caregiver Hattie, and through meditation. Her husband, Mark, is a rather weak, selfish and insecure man, who is handling Julie’s disabilities by having an affair. Their son, nine-year old Nate, is handling things remarkably well. His way of supporting his mother is by leaving his stuffed monkey, Duncan, with Julie while he is at school. Julie appreciates this link with her son, and it becomes more important as things start to go downhill.
Sammy Clause, known as “Santa” is a jazz bassist who is playing his way up and down the east coast. He is leaving one gig after the next, and a dead boy in almost every town. He’s a murdering pedophile on the move.
When Santa and Nate eventually meet, we know it is not going to end well.
My Opinions:
For those who follow me, you know I am reluctant to give up on a book. Once started, I have to finish. Yes, I know life is short but I really feel that I owe it to the author….and you never know, it could turn around…
That being said, I don’t know how many times I just wanted to throw in the towel. Did I really want to read about a pedophile who kills his victims after abusing them? Did I really want to read his deep thoughts and desires? Apparently I did, or I wouldn't have selected this book.
However, the tale is told between long ramblings about philosophers, jazz artists and classical music. No doubt, the author is knowledgeable on many subjects, and his knowledge of “big words” can’t be denied, but I didn't need to hear about everything in such depth. I admit to skimming at times...many times. The actual story got lost in the excessive verbiage. There is also a lot of self-analysis by a number of the characters, in particular Santa and Julie. And yet, unbelievably, the ending seemed rushed.
On the positive side, the premise was good, and the suspense was enough that I stuck around to see what happened with Nate (who I don’t think even met Santa til around the 85% mark of the book). As well, I really liked Julie, Nate and Hattie. The author’s development of his characters was very good, and the relationship between mother and son really rang true.
Bottom line, this book was just not for me. However, for those who would like a look inside the mind of a pedophile, this book delivers (well, remembering it's fiction). Anyway, I am sure there are many out there that will enjoy this novel, just not me. If nothing else, it will give you food for thought.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
March 31, 2019
This was one of the oddest books I've ever read; it's both philosophical and very dark. It follows "Santa," a pedophile who lures young boys into his van and eventually kills them. The parallel story follows Mark, a university professor, his quadriplegic wife, Julie, and 9-year-old son, Nate whose favorite stuffed gorilla, Duncan serves as a totem/protector for both Nate and Julie. I was intrigued because I really had no idea where this novel was going, but there are also some odd chapters that tend to break up the narrative and don't seem essential to the plot. References to Kafka don't seem to connect either, but maybe I'm just missing something in my analysis. Overall, it's an interesting story but clearly not for the faint of heart as there are graphic scenes of pedophilia that are difficult to read.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
March 23, 2019
The book features a variety of themes including child abuse and disability. McCort provides an uncomfortably plausible insight into the mindset of the deplorable Santa. Thankfully I was never a Miles Davis fan or I think he'd be somewhat ruined for me now. Some sections were confusingly random, serving only to interrupt the narrative flow, and the Kafka passages feel shoe-horned in without contributing anything. The writer is clearly knowledgeable about jazz and classical music and well-read but sadly his apparent need to demonstrate this seemed to interfere with the story rather than enhance it. For me the concept was odd, the story a little too disjointed and the ending utterly ridiculous.
January 22, 2025
“Duncan,” held my rapt attention until the final two chapters, whereupon it became an utter mess of literary schlock. The ending of this book was the most cartoonish ridiculousness I’ve ever had the displeasure to set my eyes on. The entire preceding novel takes itself seriously and is an intelligent investigation into the mind of a serial murderer coupled with an emotional exploration of a disabled woman struggling to cope with her condition. The ending is just wish-fulfillment nonsense meant only to give a sickeningly sweet happy ending to an otherwise grounded story.
“Duncan” takes a close look at the sordid and depraved underbelly of existence as well as the unjust and depressive aspects without being too overbearing. It masterfully presented its antagonist, Samuel Clause, in a way that was utterly unique among other novels featuring similarly murderous individuals. The monstrous side of “Santa” is perfectly demonstrated. So are the last vestiges of the human side of him, still clinging on to the recesses of what remains of his soul. All of this was shown brilliantly and realistically, with nothing over-the-top such as in other serial killer media. It was amazing how the author managed to make such a villainous character the most compelling, only to throw the entire narrative and its enjoyability out the proverbial window with all the speed of a professional baseball player hurling a pitch.
“Duncan” takes a close look at the sordid and depraved underbelly of existence as well as the unjust and depressive aspects without being too overbearing. It masterfully presented its antagonist, Samuel Clause, in a way that was utterly unique among other novels featuring similarly murderous individuals. The monstrous side of “Santa” is perfectly demonstrated. So are the last vestiges of the human side of him, still clinging on to the recesses of what remains of his soul. All of this was shown brilliantly and realistically, with nothing over-the-top such as in other serial killer media. It was amazing how the author managed to make such a villainous character the most compelling, only to throw the entire narrative and its enjoyability out the proverbial window with all the speed of a professional baseball player hurling a pitch.
April 5, 2019
A cunning pederastic serial killer nicknamed “Santa” is making his way up the East Coast from New Orleans to Boston, leaving a trail of young bodies in his wake. Santa covers his tracks along the way by working as an itinerant bass player in a series of jazz combos. At the same time, the Driscoll family – Mark, Julie and their nine-year-old son Nate – who live in an upstate suburb of Syracuse, New York, struggle to come to grips with Mom’s quadriplegia following a horrific auto accident. The suspense builds to a fever pitch as these two plot strands approach each other for the inevitable confrontation. All this tension is heightened by the mystery of Duncan, Nate’s stuffed-toy gorilla, who is not only the boy’s beloved companion but becomes a kind of family totem, and, later on in the story, so much more.
Trigger warning for pedophilia, disability, murder, and so forth
This is a novel not only for readers addicted to thrill rides and maddening suspense, but also those who are curious about the abnormal psychology of the pedophiliac killer. The book gives food for thought as well as a kind of perverse satisfaction for the imagination and senses. It is a thinking reader’s thriller.
There are some graphic scenes that would make any normal human uncomfortable to say the least.
I loved how Mr. McCort portrays the heart-warming relationship dynamics within the Driscoll family. Oh I did love Duncan too!
The book also delivers on its' promise to the insight of the killers mind as well (the diabolical Santa).
Disturbing but excellent read.
Recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Trigger warning for pedophilia, disability, murder, and so forth
This is a novel not only for readers addicted to thrill rides and maddening suspense, but also those who are curious about the abnormal psychology of the pedophiliac killer. The book gives food for thought as well as a kind of perverse satisfaction for the imagination and senses. It is a thinking reader’s thriller.
There are some graphic scenes that would make any normal human uncomfortable to say the least.
I loved how Mr. McCort portrays the heart-warming relationship dynamics within the Driscoll family. Oh I did love Duncan too!
The book also delivers on its' promise to the insight of the killers mind as well (the diabolical Santa).
Disturbing but excellent read.
Recommend reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 1, 2019
Horrible - how can anyone like a story about a pedophile/serial killer? This story told a lot from the point of view of the killer/pedo and it struck me as a little bit on the gross side of talking about how gorgeous he was and wonderful. There were a little bit too much graphic descriptions of the lead into and aftermath of the raping of young boys. But in a story like this, that was probably necessary.
Well-written and very descriptive, the author uses an overabundance of words that are just not in everyday use. I enjoy learning new words and as a scholar myself, I know and like to know a lot of different ways to say things. However, in this book which was unusually long, there were extensive descriptions of jazz, philosophers and so many uncommon words that I tired of looking them up. If I couldn't understand it through the context, it took a lot away from the story and made it a bit uncomfortable to read. As an author, it is important to consider your readers when choosing words to use. I do not believe this story was written only for people with a PhD in Philosophy or whatever else was described in this book. Mine is in Education.
Overall, the book was very good as far as reading ease, storyline/plot, characters and so on. I will read more books by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Well-written and very descriptive, the author uses an overabundance of words that are just not in everyday use. I enjoy learning new words and as a scholar myself, I know and like to know a lot of different ways to say things. However, in this book which was unusually long, there were extensive descriptions of jazz, philosophers and so many uncommon words that I tired of looking them up. If I couldn't understand it through the context, it took a lot away from the story and made it a bit uncomfortable to read. As an author, it is important to consider your readers when choosing words to use. I do not believe this story was written only for people with a PhD in Philosophy or whatever else was described in this book. Mine is in Education.
Overall, the book was very good as far as reading ease, storyline/plot, characters and so on. I will read more books by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 22, 2019
A cunning pederastic serial killer nicknamed “Santa” is making his way up the East Coast from New Orleans to Boston, leaving a trail of young bodies in his wake. Santa covers his tracks along the way by working as an itinerant bass player in a series of jazz combos. At the same time, the Driscoll family – Mark, Julie and their nine-year-old son Nate – who live in an upstate suburb of Syracuse, New York, struggle to come to grips with Mom’s quadriplegia following a horrific auto accident. The suspense builds to a fever pitch as these two plot strands approach each other for the inevitable confrontation. All this tension is heightened by the mystery of Duncan, Nate’s stuffed-toy gorilla, who is not only the boy’s beloved companion but becomes a kind of family totem, and, later on in the story, so much more.
This is a novel not only for readers addicted to thrill rides and maddening suspense, but also those who are curious about the abnormal psychology of the pedophiliac killer. The book gives food for thought as well as a kind of perverse satisfaction for the imagination and senses. It is a thinking reader’s thriller.
For me, there were times when it was a bit slow and seemed to drag on. However, I can tell you I do not like “Santa” I can say it definitely leaves you thinking.
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.
Definitely read “Duncan”!
This is a novel not only for readers addicted to thrill rides and maddening suspense, but also those who are curious about the abnormal psychology of the pedophiliac killer. The book gives food for thought as well as a kind of perverse satisfaction for the imagination and senses. It is a thinking reader’s thriller.
For me, there were times when it was a bit slow and seemed to drag on. However, I can tell you I do not like “Santa” I can say it definitely leaves you thinking.
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.
Definitely read “Duncan”!
April 4, 2019
Dennis McCort is a learned fellow. He’s a retired college German professor, literary translator, language buff, music expert, and author of several books, ranging from A Kafkaesque Memoir tracing his own experience in psychoanalysis to a comedy, The Man Who Loved Doughnuts. The description of one of his books says he examines the theme of the coincidentia oppositorum as it is expressed in German Romanticism, Zen Buddhism, and deconstruction. Got it.
So who could have predicted his next work would be a psychological thriller about a pederastic serial killer?
Before I started, knowing this was the central theme behind McCort’s just-released Duncan (Gatekeeper Press), I dug in fearing the worst. What I got, however, was the best, thanks in part to incisive commentary about the killer like the one above.
Read the rest of our review: https://booktrib.com/2019/04/santas-o...
So who could have predicted his next work would be a psychological thriller about a pederastic serial killer?
Before I started, knowing this was the central theme behind McCort’s just-released Duncan (Gatekeeper Press), I dug in fearing the worst. What I got, however, was the best, thanks in part to incisive commentary about the killer like the one above.
Read the rest of our review: https://booktrib.com/2019/04/santas-o...
April 10, 2019
Uff, definitely not for me despite the interesting insight into the mind of a pedophile. The story is divided in two: the life of Santa, the pedophile and serial killer, and the life of another family with a nine year old boy with an ape toy called Duncan.
So we go on and about the life of this family and their son Nate until finally, at 88% Santa and Nate meet and the obvious is about to take place. Except that something kind of eerie and magical happens.
I would say this had the taste of some Haitian tale... If you like reading about the lives of people that have absolutely nothing to aport to the story, go ahead and read it.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this title.
So we go on and about the life of this family and their son Nate until finally, at 88% Santa and Nate meet and the obvious is about to take place. Except that something kind of eerie and magical happens.
I would say this had the taste of some Haitian tale... If you like reading about the lives of people that have absolutely nothing to aport to the story, go ahead and read it.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this title.
July 15, 2021
I found this book to not only be refreshing in subject and content, the story only became more enchanting as it progressed, culminating in, what I found to be, . I also appreciated how the author brought in dozens of varying subjects of interest including music, psychology, urges, meditation and many more. Need I say more?
Both paperback and ebook versions are available on Amazon.com.
Please ignore any similarity in name between the author's and mine. Sometimes what you see is only a coincidence, and sometimes it is not.
Both paperback and ebook versions are available on Amazon.com.
Please ignore any similarity in name between the author's and mine. Sometimes what you see is only a coincidence, and sometimes it is not.
April 13, 2019
This is the 1st book I have read by this author and I am very happy to say that he has taken what is a very touchy and emotional subject and crafted a wonderfully written story. The tension, suspense and emotion that the author is able to build throughout this story is amazing, it literally pins you to your seat and forces you to continue reading till the very last word. If you love psychological thrillers, then this is the book for you, and I am looking forward to reading a lot more by this author if his writing continues at this caliber. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 28, 2019
What a book!
I would not go so far as to describe this book a "thriller" and I probably would have given up reading halfway through it, if it were not for my need to know about the fate of Nate Driscoll. Although most parts of the book seemed stretchy and kept going on and on about random stuff that had no connection to the main plot, the ending more or less redeemed the book, in my opinion.
This book did give food for thought as it claims and and an insight into the mind of "Santa" a debolical predator!
I loved how Mr. McCort portrays the heart-warming relationship dynamics within the Driscoll family. Oh I did love Duncan too! Special mention also to the cover which was partly responsible for luring me into reading Duncan.
Thank you Netgalley, Dennis McCort & BookBuzz for an arc.
I would not go so far as to describe this book a "thriller" and I probably would have given up reading halfway through it, if it were not for my need to know about the fate of Nate Driscoll. Although most parts of the book seemed stretchy and kept going on and on about random stuff that had no connection to the main plot, the ending more or less redeemed the book, in my opinion.
This book did give food for thought as it claims and and an insight into the mind of "Santa" a debolical predator!
I loved how Mr. McCort portrays the heart-warming relationship dynamics within the Driscoll family. Oh I did love Duncan too! Special mention also to the cover which was partly responsible for luring me into reading Duncan.
Thank you Netgalley, Dennis McCort & BookBuzz for an arc.
April 2, 2019
Thank you to netgalley and the published/author for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
Holy hell
Trigger warning for pedophilia, disability, murder, and so forth
There are some graphic scenes that would make any normal human uncomfortable to say the least. This isn’t an easy book to read due to the topic / story line. As a mom, my heart was in my throat, and I wanted to puke the entire time I read this book.
Holy hell
Trigger warning for pedophilia, disability, murder, and so forth
There are some graphic scenes that would make any normal human uncomfortable to say the least. This isn’t an easy book to read due to the topic / story line. As a mom, my heart was in my throat, and I wanted to puke the entire time I read this book.
April 5, 2019
What goes through your mind during a power outage? For Claire Moore it is terrifying as 10 years previously she was almost killed by a serial killer. He became known as the Blackout Killer as he manages to cut the power to his victims homes.
Now although Claire has the support of her family, she is still very frightened and has made every provision to make her house secure.
She meets Paul and although he understands her fear and tries to give her as much emotional support as he can, Claire holds back still remembering that awful night when her husband was killed and she barely survived.
This thriller will not disappoint. I thought I had the ending all wrapped up, but then came a total surprise!
Now although Claire has the support of her family, she is still very frightened and has made every provision to make her house secure.
She meets Paul and although he understands her fear and tries to give her as much emotional support as he can, Claire holds back still remembering that awful night when her husband was killed and she barely survived.
This thriller will not disappoint. I thought I had the ending all wrapped up, but then came a total surprise!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews