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Ventriloquist: a.k.a Puppeteer
Master and Puppet; a devastating friendship... with no strings attached.
By night, Lester Cleverley enthrals Chrome Valley’s theater audiences with Butterfly, his amazing puppetry act—it’s just a shame that he can’t remember what he does during the day…
Abandoned by his wife and failing to connect with his daughter, he values his relationship with his wooden partner-in-crime. But the threat of redundancy has ignited a volcanic conflict between master and puppet. Lester has turned to drug use to cope. Butterfly, on the other hand, has turned to violence... and is preparing a final farewell show the valley will never forget.
By night, Lester Cleverley enthrals Chrome Valley’s theater audiences with Butterfly, his amazing puppetry act—it’s just a shame that he can’t remember what he does during the day…
Abandoned by his wife and failing to connect with his daughter, he values his relationship with his wooden partner-in-crime. But the threat of redundancy has ignited a volcanic conflict between master and puppet. Lester has turned to drug use to cope. Butterfly, on the other hand, has turned to violence... and is preparing a final farewell show the valley will never forget.
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2020
About the author
Andrew Mackay
103 books158 followersA novelist, screenwriter and former teacher, Andrew Mackay is the creator of groundbreaking sci-fi series STAR CAT.
His influences include John Cleese, Tom Sharpe, Kurt Vonnegut, James Patterson, Hunter S Thompson, Douglas Adams, Imogen Edwards-Jones, Michael Frayn, Chris Morris, Christopher Hitchins, Bill Maher, George Carlin, and Larry Cohen.
Get in touch! Andrew@chromevalleybooks.com
His influences include John Cleese, Tom Sharpe, Kurt Vonnegut, James Patterson, Hunter S Thompson, Douglas Adams, Imogen Edwards-Jones, Michael Frayn, Chris Morris, Christopher Hitchins, Bill Maher, George Carlin, and Larry Cohen.
Get in touch! Andrew@chromevalleybooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 3, 2020
Wow! From the twisted mind came a fantastic storyline. As real to life as can be and as science fiction to horror , this was outstanding. I could hardly put the book down. The different turn of events throughout the book was genius and kept you wanting more. Yes it was full of surprises and gut wrenching scenes, but as a whole it was awesome in a sick way.
I love this authors work and as I read each book I think this is the best, well this one tops those at this point. If you don’t mind some sex, language, possible triggers, horror and a laugh in between, then this is for you, enjoy!
I love this authors work and as I read each book I think this is the best, well this one tops those at this point. If you don’t mind some sex, language, possible triggers, horror and a laugh in between, then this is for you, enjoy!
March 22, 2020
Lester Cleverly’s miserable life has come unhinged and his longtime partner, Butterfly, has seized the reins. She’s perched on his knee for the past fifteen years as half of the support act at the Chrome Valley Theater and believes Lester has settled for far less than their just desserts. She’s on a mission to avenge the decades of grievances heaped upon them.
Lester lost his mind quite a while ago.
He’s a junkie, hooked on a street drug that renders him a shambling gray-faced marionette. He stirs the soup pot at the Waddling Gate Food Bank, surprised when the snide comments in his head fly out of his mouth, and finds himself both repelled and fascinated by the decapitated heirloom on his therapist’s desk.
Not only has he been driven from his daughter’s life by his ex-wife and her Bugatti-driving partner, but he just learned Butterfly will be replaced by a space-traveling cat puppet, while he’ll play second banana to a new support act, Judy Presto and Jolly the Space Dog.
Butterfly will not tolerate this.
As she embarks on her revenge spree, Lester unsuccessfully tries to hold his shattered psyche together. Butterfly squawks exceptionally creative obscenities while brutally executing their enemies, including the theater owner, the primary act, the new support act, and Lester himself.
Or does she?
Ventriloquist is not only the title, but the essence, of this story. As the action grows more frantic and bizarre, readers wonder: what’s real and what’s not? Whose voice are spewing those threats and curses? What constitutes the actual, smoldering world of Chrome Valley?
Sometimes it’s better not to know.
Lester lost his mind quite a while ago.
He’s a junkie, hooked on a street drug that renders him a shambling gray-faced marionette. He stirs the soup pot at the Waddling Gate Food Bank, surprised when the snide comments in his head fly out of his mouth, and finds himself both repelled and fascinated by the decapitated heirloom on his therapist’s desk.
Not only has he been driven from his daughter’s life by his ex-wife and her Bugatti-driving partner, but he just learned Butterfly will be replaced by a space-traveling cat puppet, while he’ll play second banana to a new support act, Judy Presto and Jolly the Space Dog.
Butterfly will not tolerate this.
As she embarks on her revenge spree, Lester unsuccessfully tries to hold his shattered psyche together. Butterfly squawks exceptionally creative obscenities while brutally executing their enemies, including the theater owner, the primary act, the new support act, and Lester himself.
Or does she?
Ventriloquist is not only the title, but the essence, of this story. As the action grows more frantic and bizarre, readers wonder: what’s real and what’s not? Whose voice are spewing those threats and curses? What constitutes the actual, smoldering world of Chrome Valley?
Sometimes it’s better not to know.
February 28, 2020
I am never disappointed by Mr. MacKay's ability to tell a powerful and often shocking story. His latest book Ventriloquist is a great example of what happens to a man or woman who has lost most everything and is trying to cope with life. After an attempt at therapy one often turned to drugs trying to just cope, get by, numb the pain. Lester is such a person a down and out person barely getting by serving in a soup kitchen at the local food bank and acting as Ventriloquist at the local Chrome Valley Theater at night. His puppet Butterfly is his main character in his show. But Lester isn't coping well and things get out of hand. I won't go into the story because I don't want to spoil it for you. But Mr. MacKay has a knack of showing the underbelly of our human nature, the darker desperate side of mankind when we just can't keep it together anymore. Be forewarned there is a lot of foul language and a very intense ending. I love that the author is tying in characters from his Chrome Valley universe. You will meet some old friends from his first book "Somnambulist" people from the neighborhood like Big Six and Toe Tag to name a few. This book will get under your skin, It's well worth reading. Intriguing, Psychologically disturbing, like a punch to the gut, a real thriller.
February 27, 2020
Master and Puppet; a devastating friendship... with no strings attached.
By night, Lester Cleverley enthrals Chrome Valley’s theater audiences with Butterfly, his amazing puppetry act—it’s just a shame that he can’t remember what he does during the day…
Abandoned by his wife and failing to connect with his daughter, he values his relationship with his plastic partner-in-crime. But the threat of redundancy has ignited a volcanic conflict between master and puppet. Lester has turned to drug use to cope. Butterfly, on the other hand, has turned to violence... and is preparing a final farewell show the valley will never forget.
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
By night, Lester Cleverley enthrals Chrome Valley’s theater audiences with Butterfly, his amazing puppetry act—it’s just a shame that he can’t remember what he does during the day…
Abandoned by his wife and failing to connect with his daughter, he values his relationship with his plastic partner-in-crime. But the threat of redundancy has ignited a volcanic conflict between master and puppet. Lester has turned to drug use to cope. Butterfly, on the other hand, has turned to violence... and is preparing a final farewell show the valley will never forget.
This is a wonderful addition to this thrilling series!
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and action with that adds so much to the story.
Such a thrilling read that I couldn't put it down.
Can't wait to read more of these.
Recommend reading.
I read a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.
March 4, 2020
Ventriloquist is the latest in Andrew Mackay’s Chrome Valley Thrillers series, a well written, realistic and twisted story. Lester, the ventriloquist is the main character who is slowly falling apart, his family left and he’s using drugs to cope with his boring, unbearable life, the only thing he has left is the puppet that he made, Butterfly. This story is as good if not better than the other books in the series, it’s entertaining, creepy, sad and occasionally funny and gets more twisted and weird until the surprising ending. I voluntarily reviewed this book and I recommend it to adults who enjoy thrillers.
March 18, 2020
This book is a bitchin read i thoroughly enjoyed it...the main character Lester and his "sidekick" are an insane duo...no spoilers from me...but wow an intense ride that is well worth your time...Andrew Mackay has written another great book...read Somnambulist and then devour this...trust me you're going to love it
April 30, 2020
I enjoyed this psychological thriller that continues from Sonambulist with some characters interlaced.In Ventriloquist, we are taken on a wild ride with Lester as he plunges into madness and Butterfly. Andrew Mackay has crafted a story with a little horror, a few laughs and some unbelievable scenes.
February 27, 2020
Brilliant, dark and disturbing with plenty of violence. It also made me laugh despite myself. Ventriloquist freaked me out. Andrew's books leave my head spinning and are always amazing. A fabulous story.
February 28, 2020
A inspired look into the mind of a schizophrenic who used both prescription and illicit drugs in an attempt to have a clear mind. A rollercoaster ride through bizarre events that will leave you scratching your head
March 1, 2020
A psychological thriller with lots of twists and turns. I am never disappointed with anything from this author. I also love how he weaves scenes and characters from his other books into his stories. Patiently waiting for more from Andrew!
March 4, 2020
Ventriloquist
This story is not for the easily disturbed or easily upset, the story has action and thought-provoking times throughout it
This story is not for the easily disturbed or easily upset, the story has action and thought-provoking times throughout it
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews