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Entry Wounds: A Supernatural Thriller
DEXTER meets DEATH WISH in this pulse-pounding, relentlessly fast-paced thriller from the author of Bad Parts.
ONE GUN. SIX BULLETS. NO CHOICE.
Ken Fujima, a downtrodden substitute teacher from suburban Pennsylvania, is trying to rebuild his life when his home is broken into by a pair of West Coast assassins. As part of a revenge scheme, they attack his wheelchair-bound father, forcing Ken to intervene.
During the scuffle Ken picks up a mysterious revolver to defend himself. What he soon learns is that the revolver is a cursed yakuza weapon that will remain fused to his hand until he either dies or kills six other people.
Tormented by this gruesome ultimatum, Ken teams up with his estranged brother, a recovering heroin addict, in hopes of targeting drug dealers responsible for recent overdoses among his high school students.
As hours tick away and other murderous opportunities arise, Ken strives to remain moral, but the haunted revolver has other ideas—if he won’t decide who dies, the gun will.
ONE GUN. SIX BULLETS. NO CHOICE.
Ken Fujima, a downtrodden substitute teacher from suburban Pennsylvania, is trying to rebuild his life when his home is broken into by a pair of West Coast assassins. As part of a revenge scheme, they attack his wheelchair-bound father, forcing Ken to intervene.
During the scuffle Ken picks up a mysterious revolver to defend himself. What he soon learns is that the revolver is a cursed yakuza weapon that will remain fused to his hand until he either dies or kills six other people.
Tormented by this gruesome ultimatum, Ken teams up with his estranged brother, a recovering heroin addict, in hopes of targeting drug dealers responsible for recent overdoses among his high school students.
As hours tick away and other murderous opportunities arise, Ken strives to remain moral, but the haunted revolver has other ideas—if he won’t decide who dies, the gun will.
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 28, 2021
32 people are currently reading
379 people want to read
About the author
Brandon McNulty
10 books155 followersBrandon McNulty grew up loving monsters, demons, and the thrill of a great scare. Now he writes supernatural thrillers, horror, and other dark fiction. He is a graduate of Taos Toolbox Writers Workshop and a winner of both Pitch Wars and RevPit.
YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/WriterBrand...
WEBSITE: https://brandonmcnulty.com/
YOUTUBE CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/WriterBrand...
WEBSITE: https://brandonmcnulty.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
October 1, 2021
It was a book that was the first of many. The first I had read of Brandon McNulty. The first book I had ever read of a 'supernatural flavour'. And, the first book I have read where I have been drawn between two ratings to the point it has caused me to talk to myself about the pros and cons.
What did I love about the book?
Unlike other books the timeline is consistent, with the plot occurring in 'real time' - in other words, non of this fast forward 3 months, having a brief interlude as to what happened 15 years ago, before popping back to the present day for one chapter.
Another pet peeve of mine is a book with a cast of thousands, or at least a character list so big that you need both hands and feet to count on. Without re-reading, I would say at most this novel had 8 characters, with 4 main ones - making it easy to keep track of who was doing what.
The plot itself is an engaging one with originality, but then why oh why didn’t it get 5 out of 5?
It was a page-turner, and I would certainly read another by this author, but the ending just left me a bit disappointed, I was anticipating more. Due to the feeling of 'meh is that it', I decided, based on the fact I can't give half stars, settled on 4.
However, just as you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, you can tarnish an enjoyable 5 day read based on the final few pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Midnight Point Press for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What did I love about the book?
Unlike other books the timeline is consistent, with the plot occurring in 'real time' - in other words, non of this fast forward 3 months, having a brief interlude as to what happened 15 years ago, before popping back to the present day for one chapter.
Another pet peeve of mine is a book with a cast of thousands, or at least a character list so big that you need both hands and feet to count on. Without re-reading, I would say at most this novel had 8 characters, with 4 main ones - making it easy to keep track of who was doing what.
The plot itself is an engaging one with originality, but then why oh why didn’t it get 5 out of 5?
It was a page-turner, and I would certainly read another by this author, but the ending just left me a bit disappointed, I was anticipating more. Due to the feeling of 'meh is that it', I decided, based on the fact I can't give half stars, settled on 4.
However, just as you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, you can tarnish an enjoyable 5 day read based on the final few pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Midnight Point Press for an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 9, 2022
The kind of book you just can't put down. Entry Wounds is a fast paced and gripping thriller full of complicated characters and teasing suspense. I've never read anything like it before.
April 21, 2022
Back in the ’90s, Saito betrayed yakuza's clan. In an attempt to gain power, he sold out their captain to the LAPD. Such an act was punishable by death. Twenty years later, Saito's daughter wanted a revenge for their parents’ deaths using a snubnose revolver that had been possessed along with a letter that had been given by a friend of their father.
The letter said, DON’T PICK UP THE REVOLVER WITH YOUR BARE HANDS. Use a t-shirt or rag, but never touch it with your bare hands. It was supposedly cursed by the shamans on Mt. Fuji back in the 1930s. Anyone who wields this weapon can’t drop it until they die or murder six people. The weapon has a deep history within the yakuza.
Until the gun, was trusted to Ken Fujima unintendedly. Ken never wanted vengeance—at least not until he’d unwittingly picked up this godforsaken weapon. He knew better. It was the snubnose that wanted the kill; not him. And though the temptations were intensifying, he still had a choice.
The struggle is real. Between honesty, betrayal, friends and family. Ken knew one thing: he had to kill someone. With that in mind, he might as well find a meaningful target or he might die.
My rating 4 ⭐. My very first attempt reading a supernatural thriller.
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for giving an arc inexchange for my honest review.
📚
#donereading #EntryWounds #brandonmcnulty #emabaca #malaysiamembaca #igreads #bookstagram #goodreads
The letter said, DON’T PICK UP THE REVOLVER WITH YOUR BARE HANDS. Use a t-shirt or rag, but never touch it with your bare hands. It was supposedly cursed by the shamans on Mt. Fuji back in the 1930s. Anyone who wields this weapon can’t drop it until they die or murder six people. The weapon has a deep history within the yakuza.
Until the gun, was trusted to Ken Fujima unintendedly. Ken never wanted vengeance—at least not until he’d unwittingly picked up this godforsaken weapon. He knew better. It was the snubnose that wanted the kill; not him. And though the temptations were intensifying, he still had a choice.
The struggle is real. Between honesty, betrayal, friends and family. Ken knew one thing: he had to kill someone. With that in mind, he might as well find a meaningful target or he might die.
My rating 4 ⭐. My very first attempt reading a supernatural thriller.
Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for giving an arc inexchange for my honest review.
📚
#donereading #EntryWounds #brandonmcnulty #emabaca #malaysiamembaca #igreads #bookstagram #goodreads
January 8, 2022
The premise has twists and turns and it’s a well written plot that keeps you guessing until the end. Well worth the read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2021
When the review request for this came across my inbox, not only did I readily agree because I’ve read McNulty before, but the concept is incredibly intriguing. A gun that you cannot let go of until you’ve used all of its bullets? What could go wrong with that?
Entry Wounds starts intense, and you’re thrown right into the action. I can’t imagine what I would do in Ken’s position. He has some tough choices ahead of him, especially after he’s experienced such loss and hardship in his life. If anything, that has made him a stronger person, if not a bit of a pushover at times. This is more than just a supernatural thriller. McNulty includes good commentary on the problems in the pharmaceutical industry and the problems we’re all experiencing with our medical care. Overall, this is an engaging, fast-paced read that hooks you from the start.
Entry Wounds starts intense, and you’re thrown right into the action. I can’t imagine what I would do in Ken’s position. He has some tough choices ahead of him, especially after he’s experienced such loss and hardship in his life. If anything, that has made him a stronger person, if not a bit of a pushover at times. This is more than just a supernatural thriller. McNulty includes good commentary on the problems in the pharmaceutical industry and the problems we’re all experiencing with our medical care. Overall, this is an engaging, fast-paced read that hooks you from the start.
July 23, 2023
I bought this book because I watched a couple of its author's videos on YouTube concerning the dos and don'ts of writing. Well, he breaks quite a number of these rules in this book, especially with the unsatisfying ending.
The plot zips along and it's certainly never dull but the whole thing just doesn't hang together with characters unbelievably forgiving each other for murdering their loved ones.
The central conceit is interesting but never explained beyond one line vaguely referring to Japanese shamans.
Maybe all this will be resolved in a sequel but I won't be reading it.
The plot zips along and it's certainly never dull but the whole thing just doesn't hang together with characters unbelievably forgiving each other for murdering their loved ones.
The central conceit is interesting but never explained beyond one line vaguely referring to Japanese shamans.
Maybe all this will be resolved in a sequel but I won't be reading it.
August 27, 2024
Number one ridiculous book on my list. A revolver that fuses to the shooter's hand until he kills six people or he dies. I thought there would be a semblance of a plot. Not sure why all these 4 star reviews. I was glad when it ended.
1.5 stars
1.5 stars
May 1, 2025
loved the storyline and the premise. need more
April 29, 2023
I first got acquainted with the author via his youtube channel. He has many videos that have helped me surf through an existential crisis in regard to my writing. Then I picked up one of his books and I was so glad to see the author in action. After seeing his videos I thought that his books were going to be super cerebral but I was surprised when I read “supernatural thriller”.
The novel itself is everything it should be. It has pace, tension and twists. But the best parts come from humans being humans. The author made a great effort to craft layered characters; even in the context of a haunted gun. It’s comparable to Tarantino to some extent. While you value the meditation on violence, it’s actually the dialogue that really stands out, and sounds louder than all the bangs.
The novel itself is everything it should be. It has pace, tension and twists. But the best parts come from humans being humans. The author made a great effort to craft layered characters; even in the context of a haunted gun. It’s comparable to Tarantino to some extent. While you value the meditation on violence, it’s actually the dialogue that really stands out, and sounds louder than all the bangs.
April 30, 2022
Love this book, couldn't put it down. Completely drawn in as soon as I started reading. Can't wait to see more from this author.
September 14, 2021
~About
Unassertive substitute teacher Ken Fujima has been waiting for a full time position to open up at his current school. However, after the position is given to someone-else, Ken soon finds his world turned upside-down.
With his father killed by two strangers and a mysterious gun now fused to his hand, he has no choice but to kill six people in order to regain his freedom from the gun’s cruel possession.
Will Ken be the same man after taking so many lives?
Will battling the gun’s homicidal urges prove too much for him?
Most importantly, will he manage to find six people who deserve to die?
~Characters
Ken Fujima is a high school substitute teacher, whose students adore him. Throughout the novel, I watched him grow from an unassuming man who didn’t seem sure of himself, to a man of action, who refused to allow others to treat him like a doormat. Ken’s transformation was well executed, with his unusual circumstances forcing him to make one of the most difficult decisions a person can face, whether to take a human life. In general, I found Ken to be caring and sweet. He didn’t seem like the killing type.
Despite the profound changes Ken went through on his personal journey, there was still that glimmer of sweetness lying beneath the surface of a somewhat darker exterior. I can’t say I liked Ken every moment of the story, however, I did admire his strength of will to keep going even in the darkest of times. Even when faced with an overwhelming lust for blood, his true self was still able to turn away from senseless murder if it wasn’t truly deserved.
Angela was an equally fascinating character in her own right, acting as Ken’s love interest. A fellow teacher at the same high school, Angela initially came across as smart and confident, with a seductive flare that was hard to miss. As the story continued, I noticed a deep sadness to her, one that hid beneath the surface of her beauty and confident façade. However, the more I encountered her in the story, the more something felt off about her in a way I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Later on, I finally understood why that was (no spoilers here, I promise.) While I really wanted to like Angela, the more I got to know her, the more I found her to be unpredictable and dishonest.
Next, we come to Hannah, co-accomplice in the murder of Ken’s father. After the mysterious gun becomes fused to Ken’s hand, Hannah agrees to support him as he works to free himself from the gun’s evil impulses, in exchange for having spared her life despite her previous actions. At first, I disliked her, mostly due to the part she played in Ken’s grief. She had the habit of being sneaky and I found myself unsure if I (or Ken for that matter) could trust her. On the other hand, the more I learned about her past and the tragedy that had befallen her and her sister, the more I sympathised with her and understood the root of her actions and could find myself forgiving her.
Finally, let’s briefly discuss Ken’s brother, Robby. Personally, I didn’t find a single redeeming feature in him, mainly because I’ve known a hardcore drug addict and the ways they interact with others and the world around them. Although part of me wanted to sympathise with Robby and the constant pain he feels he must shoot away with drugs, my personal experience clouded my view of him and had me disliking him from the off. Additionally, the way he often acted like a petulant child, making careless decisions that could cause harm to others (including his brother) made it harder to warm to him in general.
~Likes
There was a lot that I personally liked about Entry Wounds, examples of which I have detailed below.
-The author’s writing style calls to mind vivid images and builds tension in a masterful way, causing your heart to thump as you anticipate what will happen next.
-The plot moves along steadily, with various turning points pushing the story forward. In some cases, unexpected twists sent the story in a completely different direction from the one I initially thought it would take.
-The main characters were well developed, each with their own personal issues that motivated them on their shared journey.
-The idea of the gun and its inner workings was fascinating and made for an interesting story concept.
-The author has a way of persuading you to sympathise with most, if not all the characters involved, even those you may have started the book hating.
-The story was peppered with fun, humorous moments, which gave the book a much-needed lift from its darker points. Often, these humorous moments involved Ken and Angela, who shared a natural chemistry.
-The subtle details the author pays attention to, such as the physical setting and the meaningful items dotted around people’s dwellings, really helped to make the story feel real.
In this book, I found no negative aspects. The story was well written, well edited, and shook me to my core.
~Memorable Quotes
Throughout the novel, two specific quotes stood out to me, which I would like to share with you now.
1) ‘Behind every wheel sat a human being with hopes, dreams, problems, and secrets.’
This quote make me think about how similar we all are, how we each struggle with our own internal wants and issues, battling through the days in the hope that our problems will cease to exist.
2) ‘Ken’s desire to preserve life raged against his need to take it.’
This quote is the perfect example to illustrate how Ken held onto his true self despite being overwhelmed by the mysterious gun’s need for bloodshed. In the end, Ken’s caring nature triumphed over the gun’s dark impulses. He didn’t lose himself to its power as he initially feared.
~Overview
Overall, Entry Wounds was a gripping and thought-provoking supernatural thriller. It was the story of a devoted school-teacher, forced to battle the homicidal urges of a mysterious weapon, as well as battling himself.
My Rating: 5 stars.
Recommend to: Lovers of supernatural thrillers with unusual plots and memorable characters.
As a side note, there is one somewhat detailed, romantic but erotic love scene in the book, so readers under eighteen years old may not find this book suitable.
October 3, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It has been published in September 2021.
"Entry Wounds" by Brandon McNulty is a fast-paced supernatural thriller about a cursed handgun that cannot be dropped until it has taken six lives.
I found the concept reminiscent of the earliest Stephen King novels, with just a touch of Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" trademark guilt-trips over the 'to-kill-or-not-to-kill' dichotomy thrown in for good measure.
I really enjoyed the clear, slick writing style and the well-rounded, three-dimensional characters. There were some good twists and turns along the way, that took the story in quite a few unsuspected directions.
The only thing that left me a bit unsatisfied was the sheer quantity of unexplored or little-explored ideas that such a plot as this could have accommodated: would animal deaths have counted? What about the terminally ill, or the people who for any reason request assisted suicide? What if somebody who was already actively dying and beyond any chance of help were to be shot, would that count? And what if somebody who had been shot in a fatal - albeit not instantly fatal - way were to be killed by something else in the time that it took them to die from the gunshot? Also, in any other context but a supernatural novel, Hannah would have died of infection, despite Ken's best intentions. Would that have counted from the gun's perspective or not?
Another reason why I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is the pacing, which felt too fast at times. Yeah, I get it, there's no such thing as a too fast-paced action novel, except in "Entry Wounds" I felt like some parts were really rushed, like Ken's emotional journey from finding his father murdered to teaming up with one of his father's very murderers, or from hating his brother's guts to declaring that his brother is the only thing he has left to live for. I know people can change their mind, but I think such huge mind shifts would have been more credible if they had happened gradually, over a longer time span.
Overall, this was a great read, entertaining and impossible to put down, full of food for thought, and once again proof, if any was needed after the amazing "Bad Parts", that Brandon McNulty is a master storyteller.
"Entry Wounds" by Brandon McNulty is a fast-paced supernatural thriller about a cursed handgun that cannot be dropped until it has taken six lives.
I found the concept reminiscent of the earliest Stephen King novels, with just a touch of Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" trademark guilt-trips over the 'to-kill-or-not-to-kill' dichotomy thrown in for good measure.
I really enjoyed the clear, slick writing style and the well-rounded, three-dimensional characters. There were some good twists and turns along the way, that took the story in quite a few unsuspected directions.
The only thing that left me a bit unsatisfied was the sheer quantity of unexplored or little-explored ideas that such a plot as this could have accommodated: would animal deaths have counted? What about the terminally ill, or the people who for any reason request assisted suicide? What if somebody who was already actively dying and beyond any chance of help were to be shot, would that count? And what if somebody who had been shot in a fatal - albeit not instantly fatal - way were to be killed by something else in the time that it took them to die from the gunshot? Also, in any other context but a supernatural novel, Hannah would have died of infection, despite Ken's best intentions. Would that have counted from the gun's perspective or not?
Another reason why I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is the pacing, which felt too fast at times. Yeah, I get it, there's no such thing as a too fast-paced action novel, except in "Entry Wounds" I felt like some parts were really rushed, like Ken's emotional journey from finding his father murdered to teaming up with one of his father's very murderers, or from hating his brother's guts to declaring that his brother is the only thing he has left to live for. I know people can change their mind, but I think such huge mind shifts would have been more credible if they had happened gradually, over a longer time span.
Overall, this was a great read, entertaining and impossible to put down, full of food for thought, and once again proof, if any was needed after the amazing "Bad Parts", that Brandon McNulty is a master storyteller.
July 20, 2024
Ken Fujima is a downtrodden substitute teacher who lives with his wheelchair bound father. For months, Ken has been crushing on his married coworker— Angela. When he learns that she changed her title from Mrs. to Ms., he decides to make a move and she ends up inviting him to her house party. At the party, Angela actually comes on to Ken, but he chickens out, leaving her naked and frustrated.
When Ken arrives home, he finds his father in the basement with two clumsy sisters trying to kill him. Ken tries desperately to intervene but the woman with the gun shoots his father. As she kills him, the gun drops from her hand and Ken quickly picks it up. He unloads 6 clips into her. The gun clicks and he empties 5 rounds. Click. 5 more rounds. He continues doing this until her body is annihilated. Then her sister tells him he made a grave mistake by picking up the gun because now it’s stuck to his hand. And Ken has to kill 5 more people to free his hand or he dies.
This is the start of Ken’s adventure into the “dark side.”
You see, Ken is a pushover. A chump. A real loser. There’s no one he wants to kill so he decides to go after sleazy drug dealers like the ones who sell to his drug addicted brother and troubled student. But guess what my fellow readers, they aren’t even the real bad guys in this story. Since you read the book you know who I’m talking about—it’s none other than Angela.
Can you believe little miss goody two shoes was sleeping with the drug addicted student and got pregnant by him? Or that her husband knew about it but didn’t care since he was cheating? And what was up with that wild ass story about the principal forcing said student to shave her lady parts in the office so Ken could kill her? Angela was just batshit crazy.
Honestly this whole story was quite whacky. I still don’t even know what to think of it. I only read this book because I came across this author on YouTube. I’m giving this 3 stars and may try another one of his works.
When Ken arrives home, he finds his father in the basement with two clumsy sisters trying to kill him. Ken tries desperately to intervene but the woman with the gun shoots his father. As she kills him, the gun drops from her hand and Ken quickly picks it up. He unloads 6 clips into her. The gun clicks and he empties 5 rounds. Click. 5 more rounds. He continues doing this until her body is annihilated. Then her sister tells him he made a grave mistake by picking up the gun because now it’s stuck to his hand. And Ken has to kill 5 more people to free his hand or he dies.
This is the start of Ken’s adventure into the “dark side.”
You see, Ken is a pushover. A chump. A real loser. There’s no one he wants to kill so he decides to go after sleazy drug dealers like the ones who sell to his drug addicted brother and troubled student. But guess what my fellow readers, they aren’t even the real bad guys in this story. Since you read the book you know who I’m talking about—it’s none other than Angela.
Can you believe little miss goody two shoes was sleeping with the drug addicted student and got pregnant by him? Or that her husband knew about it but didn’t care since he was cheating? And what was up with that wild ass story about the principal forcing said student to shave her lady parts in the office so Ken could kill her? Angela was just batshit crazy.
Honestly this whole story was quite whacky. I still don’t even know what to think of it. I only read this book because I came across this author on YouTube. I’m giving this 3 stars and may try another one of his works.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 11, 2021
McNulty page turning tour de force is a force to definitely be reckoned with. Originality in bundles, fast pace action and a book that doesn’t let up until its final pages.
Entry Wounds is one of those books that totally catches you by surprise. What appears on the surface is a good premise but could be running through its motions and then bam, you find a book that is so gripping, original and totally structured not by the supernatural presence but totally character lead that make you care and invested.
The plot is tightly woven to never let up. It is tense and carries the reader through and never letting go until the final pages.
The characters are expertly drawn with humanistic flaws that keep them real. The reader is totally invested in them and on the surface what you think maybe plot driven is actually a character driven novel that makes you care about the outcome. Even the secondary characters make you feel something and this is quite a difficult task but McNulty does this winningly.
The only slightly controversial thing I can really say is that the ending has me in two minds as I wanted more and want to continue on the quest with these characters. This ending will keep readers in two minds and may keep things divided though I quite like a different type of ending that doesn’t tie up all the loose ends.
Overall, this is an excellent read that keeps the reader invested in the characters, plot and doesn’t stop until the final pages is turned. It is a book that will come highly recommended and has got my interest piqued with this author to see what will come out next. If you are looking for a real page turner that doesn’t let up until the final pages, this is your book. Excellent roller coaster ride.
Entry Wounds is one of those books that totally catches you by surprise. What appears on the surface is a good premise but could be running through its motions and then bam, you find a book that is so gripping, original and totally structured not by the supernatural presence but totally character lead that make you care and invested.
The plot is tightly woven to never let up. It is tense and carries the reader through and never letting go until the final pages.
The characters are expertly drawn with humanistic flaws that keep them real. The reader is totally invested in them and on the surface what you think maybe plot driven is actually a character driven novel that makes you care about the outcome. Even the secondary characters make you feel something and this is quite a difficult task but McNulty does this winningly.
The only slightly controversial thing I can really say is that the ending has me in two minds as I wanted more and want to continue on the quest with these characters. This ending will keep readers in two minds and may keep things divided though I quite like a different type of ending that doesn’t tie up all the loose ends.
Overall, this is an excellent read that keeps the reader invested in the characters, plot and doesn’t stop until the final pages is turned. It is a book that will come highly recommended and has got my interest piqued with this author to see what will come out next. If you are looking for a real page turner that doesn’t let up until the final pages, this is your book. Excellent roller coaster ride.
July 12, 2024
As strange as it sounds, I feel like I’ve had conversations in the past with friends and family, when talking about moras and human nature, and the question “if you had to shoot someone, could you and would you?” seemed to come up a lot. Sometimes the answer is an easy yes if you pick the most evil person you know about and do that. Even in your own life there’s someone you probably think you hate enough to do that to.
This book really delves into that, and follows a man who wouldn’t dream of hurting someone, forced into killing six, and the complexities that come with choosing his victims, and how the people he considers to be the worst, or evil, or worth shooting have more layers than that and circumstances and different understandings around their actions. This story was a thriller for sure, and I enjoyed every page, but it was those complexities that really got me thinking.
I adored Ken as a main character. Knowing the basic plot of the story, and reading those first few chapters and getting to know him filled me with a genuine dread at what was going to happen to him and how it would worsen his already stressful life. The standout character for me: complex and interesting and relatable. The supporting cast all felt equally as fleshed out which helped keep the constantly shifting dynamics between them all feel genuine.
The ending left me satisfied, which a lot of books in this genre don’t quite manage. Satisfied with where the story ended but also leaving me craving more. If there’s a sequel planned I’d be fully there for it, and if there isn’t, the ending leaves things in a good spot. Would definitely recommend!
This book really delves into that, and follows a man who wouldn’t dream of hurting someone, forced into killing six, and the complexities that come with choosing his victims, and how the people he considers to be the worst, or evil, or worth shooting have more layers than that and circumstances and different understandings around their actions. This story was a thriller for sure, and I enjoyed every page, but it was those complexities that really got me thinking.
I adored Ken as a main character. Knowing the basic plot of the story, and reading those first few chapters and getting to know him filled me with a genuine dread at what was going to happen to him and how it would worsen his already stressful life. The standout character for me: complex and interesting and relatable. The supporting cast all felt equally as fleshed out which helped keep the constantly shifting dynamics between them all feel genuine.
The ending left me satisfied, which a lot of books in this genre don’t quite manage. Satisfied with where the story ended but also leaving me craving more. If there’s a sequel planned I’d be fully there for it, and if there isn’t, the ending leaves things in a good spot. Would definitely recommend!
January 8, 2022
Review through Voracious Readers Only
This was a complete mind trip. It was full on action and thrills. The characters were very interesting. Each character raised different emotional responses in me. Ken grew as a character throughout and his development was very interesting.
Really exciting story.
This was a complete mind trip. It was full on action and thrills. The characters were very interesting. Each character raised different emotional responses in me. Ken grew as a character throughout and his development was very interesting.
Really exciting story.
July 11, 2025
Hold me Closer - Cornelia Jakobs, Sweden 2022
January 6, 2022
This book was hard to put down. Read through it in one sitting. Looking forward to more books by this author. The fast-paced action and characters just kept me turning pages all day.
April 26, 2024
At first, it was an engaging story, but its anti-wish fulfillment made me drop it a quarter-way through the audiobook. But I decided to pick it up again because I'm a completionist. I was, however, very disappointed by the ending. The ending compounded the terrible anti-wish fulfillment of the first quarter of the book by dooming the romance it set up between Ken and Angela at the start of the story. It was so dissatisfying to see Ken and Angela's romance fail because of Angela's contrived and out-of-character behavior.
I initially lost interest in this book when the MC, Ken Fujima, decided to leave his love interest, Angela - a fellow teacher at his school - naked in a pool because he felt he didn't deserve to be with her after his ex-girlfriend, Olivia, left him on their wedding day. This scene would have been way more satisfying if Ken had chickened out on having his first big romance scene with the love of his life if he actually had a character flaw he had to overcome to get back with his potential girlfriend and eventually marry her after she broke up with her husband, who she was no longer in love with.
Ken's decision to sabotage his own love life had nothing to do with any kind of flaw in his character nor had it anything to do with a character arc that Ken would go through. Ken, in fact, never had a character arc, and nor did anyone else in the story. McNulty made the same mistake he made in Bad Parts - he wrote yet another story with a meaningless tragic ending.
I liked the romantic chemistry between Ken and Angela, but I hated how Ken's lack of self-worth was the primary obstacle to their romance. Ken revealed to Angela that his ex-girlfriend, Olivia, left him because he was too much of a "push-over" to confront Olivia about her cheating on him with another teacher. I was completely unconvinced that his past romantic failure with Olivia had anything to do with his reluctance to accept Angela's romantic advances. I felt that Ken resisted Angela's advances for the sake of creating artificial tension and conflict in the story. McNulty tried to convince his readers that having a haunted gun stuck to his arm made him less of a pushover, but feeling like you have nothing to lose and that you better savor the moment before your life crumbles before your eyes is not the same thing as having the courage to face your fears to make a better life for yourself.
The story felt especially dissatisfying at this point because McNulty went out of his way to build a lot of reader empathy for Ken by establishing him as the underdog substitute teacher. He had just lost an opportunity to become a full-time teacher at the same school where Angela works, where he met her, because the school's principal, Sower, decided to give the teaching position he deserved to her daughter's boyfriend.
You can only truly face your fears and gain a real sense of courage when you have something to lose. If your life is completely ruined because a haunted gun forced you to kill a few people, then you don't need any courage to pursue your romantic interest. You'll never have her anyway because you have no other choice but to start a new life in another city. You also won't need any courage to stand up to your corrupt boss (the high school principal, Mrs. Sower) because you were never going to get the job anyway. You couldn't possibly stay in the same town after all the murders and violent assaults you committed. No one would ever say that using liquid courage gained from alcohol to speak to a potential romantic partner is the same thing as mustering up the courage to speak to a crush when you're sober. Likewise, the courage that Ken gains from threatening the adversaries with a haunted gun robs him of any potential character development he could have had if he fought his fears without the gun.
If he had faced all his fears without the haunted gun after having rid himself of it, then Ken would have had some real character development, and I could have bought into the idea that the haunted gun helped him become a more courageous and assertive person. But at the end of the story, he ends up picking up the haunted gun for a second time round and triggering the curse yet again. I felt like the story was incomplete because he had to kill 6 people once again. By restarting the whole plot with the same plot device he began the story with, McNulty robbed me of the satisfaction of a complete story. I would have felt a lot more satisfied if somebody else had picked up the gun at the end of the story because that would have felt like a new story with some new conflict.
I disliked the scene in which she told Ken, after having seen him murder a few drug dealers and police officers he thought were supporting said drug dealers, that she was upset that he hid his "gun-hand" (the hand stuck to the haunted gun) in cask when they had passionate sex in a public park. She asked Ken if he would have threatened to kill her if she didn't have sex with him. Her behavior made no sense at all because he chose not to have sex with her in a swimming pool at the beginning of the story. He knew full well that she was perfectly willing to have consensual sex with him, so why would he ever consider using a gun to force her to have sex with him? And why would he try to rape her after having turned her down while she was naked in a pool? She had no reason whatsoever to think that he would ever want to rape her.
Moreover, as the story progressed, Angela's behavior became increasingly contrived and unbelievable for the sake of creating tension. Angela's behavior started to act more like a plot device than a real human being as soon as Ken came close to breaking the curse of the haunted gun. To rid himself of the curse of the haunted Yakuza gun, Ken had to kill 6 people and, thereby, unload the 6 magical bullets in the gun's barrel. After having killed 5 people, Ken spent a day wooing Angela and rekindling their romance because he thought he would have to leave Pennsylvania and head back to California (his family's hometown) to escape arrest.
Angela's emotionally distant husband, Don, also acts more like a plot device than a real person at the end of the story. He went from being perfectly fine with her cheating on him with an underage student from the high school where she teaches to wanting to murder her when he finally found out that that student impregnated her. I found it very unrealistic that he would at first want to keep Angela happy by allowing her to continue her affair with her student while giving her all the financial support she needs (he bought the house and was the bigger earner), but then want to murder her as soon as he discovered that she got pregnant. McNulty probably wanted to maximize the story's stakes. That might be why Don went from being a loving and fully supportive husband to a cold-hearted vindictive killer within a span of a few minutes when he discovered she was pregnant.
Contrived and unrealistic character choices also plagued Bad Parts - his most well-known story. McNulty deliberately wastes his creative talent on frivolous horror stories that leave readers feeling empty. I suspect that he believes that his stories have satisfying endings because they're surprising and subvert readers' expectations. In actuality, his stories' endings are surprising because they're unrealistic and contrived.
Most readers don't want to read a tragic story in which characters they care about suffer for the sake of suffering. Most people want the suffering they experience in life to mean something or serve some sort of purpose, whether that purpose is to teach them a valuable lesson about life or to teach them that life is inherently unfair. Most people believe in a benevolent god or a religion that promises a wonderfully enjoyable afterlife. And most people double down on the idea that they will revel in paradise after they die when they face poverty or the deaths of their loved ones. I don't understand how any writer can look at a world full of people trying to alleviate their pain and suffering by assigning supernatural, spiritual, or ideological meaning to their suffering and then go ahead and write a book in which characters suffer for the sake of suffering.
McNulty writes with a nihilistic attitude but, he never infuses his novels with a nihilistic philosophy. His works ultimately come off as pointless rather than nihilistic. I would much prefer it if his books promoted nihilism because then they would mean something rather than nothing at all. I also think the vast majority of readers read fiction to have their conscious and unconscious desires fulfilled, not trampled on for the sake of making fictional characters suffer.
I initially lost interest in this book when the MC, Ken Fujima, decided to leave his love interest, Angela - a fellow teacher at his school - naked in a pool because he felt he didn't deserve to be with her after his ex-girlfriend, Olivia, left him on their wedding day. This scene would have been way more satisfying if Ken had chickened out on having his first big romance scene with the love of his life if he actually had a character flaw he had to overcome to get back with his potential girlfriend and eventually marry her after she broke up with her husband, who she was no longer in love with.
Ken's decision to sabotage his own love life had nothing to do with any kind of flaw in his character nor had it anything to do with a character arc that Ken would go through. Ken, in fact, never had a character arc, and nor did anyone else in the story. McNulty made the same mistake he made in Bad Parts - he wrote yet another story with a meaningless tragic ending.
I liked the romantic chemistry between Ken and Angela, but I hated how Ken's lack of self-worth was the primary obstacle to their romance. Ken revealed to Angela that his ex-girlfriend, Olivia, left him because he was too much of a "push-over" to confront Olivia about her cheating on him with another teacher. I was completely unconvinced that his past romantic failure with Olivia had anything to do with his reluctance to accept Angela's romantic advances. I felt that Ken resisted Angela's advances for the sake of creating artificial tension and conflict in the story. McNulty tried to convince his readers that having a haunted gun stuck to his arm made him less of a pushover, but feeling like you have nothing to lose and that you better savor the moment before your life crumbles before your eyes is not the same thing as having the courage to face your fears to make a better life for yourself.
The story felt especially dissatisfying at this point because McNulty went out of his way to build a lot of reader empathy for Ken by establishing him as the underdog substitute teacher. He had just lost an opportunity to become a full-time teacher at the same school where Angela works, where he met her, because the school's principal, Sower, decided to give the teaching position he deserved to her daughter's boyfriend.
You can only truly face your fears and gain a real sense of courage when you have something to lose. If your life is completely ruined because a haunted gun forced you to kill a few people, then you don't need any courage to pursue your romantic interest. You'll never have her anyway because you have no other choice but to start a new life in another city. You also won't need any courage to stand up to your corrupt boss (the high school principal, Mrs. Sower) because you were never going to get the job anyway. You couldn't possibly stay in the same town after all the murders and violent assaults you committed. No one would ever say that using liquid courage gained from alcohol to speak to a potential romantic partner is the same thing as mustering up the courage to speak to a crush when you're sober. Likewise, the courage that Ken gains from threatening the adversaries with a haunted gun robs him of any potential character development he could have had if he fought his fears without the gun.
If he had faced all his fears without the haunted gun after having rid himself of it, then Ken would have had some real character development, and I could have bought into the idea that the haunted gun helped him become a more courageous and assertive person. But at the end of the story, he ends up picking up the haunted gun for a second time round and triggering the curse yet again. I felt like the story was incomplete because he had to kill 6 people once again. By restarting the whole plot with the same plot device he began the story with, McNulty robbed me of the satisfaction of a complete story. I would have felt a lot more satisfied if somebody else had picked up the gun at the end of the story because that would have felt like a new story with some new conflict.
I disliked the scene in which she told Ken, after having seen him murder a few drug dealers and police officers he thought were supporting said drug dealers, that she was upset that he hid his "gun-hand" (the hand stuck to the haunted gun) in cask when they had passionate sex in a public park. She asked Ken if he would have threatened to kill her if she didn't have sex with him. Her behavior made no sense at all because he chose not to have sex with her in a swimming pool at the beginning of the story. He knew full well that she was perfectly willing to have consensual sex with him, so why would he ever consider using a gun to force her to have sex with him? And why would he try to rape her after having turned her down while she was naked in a pool? She had no reason whatsoever to think that he would ever want to rape her.
Moreover, as the story progressed, Angela's behavior became increasingly contrived and unbelievable for the sake of creating tension. Angela's behavior started to act more like a plot device than a real human being as soon as Ken came close to breaking the curse of the haunted gun. To rid himself of the curse of the haunted Yakuza gun, Ken had to kill 6 people and, thereby, unload the 6 magical bullets in the gun's barrel. After having killed 5 people, Ken spent a day wooing Angela and rekindling their romance because he thought he would have to leave Pennsylvania and head back to California (his family's hometown) to escape arrest.
Angela's emotionally distant husband, Don, also acts more like a plot device than a real person at the end of the story. He went from being perfectly fine with her cheating on him with an underage student from the high school where she teaches to wanting to murder her when he finally found out that that student impregnated her. I found it very unrealistic that he would at first want to keep Angela happy by allowing her to continue her affair with her student while giving her all the financial support she needs (he bought the house and was the bigger earner), but then want to murder her as soon as he discovered that she got pregnant. McNulty probably wanted to maximize the story's stakes. That might be why Don went from being a loving and fully supportive husband to a cold-hearted vindictive killer within a span of a few minutes when he discovered she was pregnant.
Contrived and unrealistic character choices also plagued Bad Parts - his most well-known story. McNulty deliberately wastes his creative talent on frivolous horror stories that leave readers feeling empty. I suspect that he believes that his stories have satisfying endings because they're surprising and subvert readers' expectations. In actuality, his stories' endings are surprising because they're unrealistic and contrived.
Most readers don't want to read a tragic story in which characters they care about suffer for the sake of suffering. Most people want the suffering they experience in life to mean something or serve some sort of purpose, whether that purpose is to teach them a valuable lesson about life or to teach them that life is inherently unfair. Most people believe in a benevolent god or a religion that promises a wonderfully enjoyable afterlife. And most people double down on the idea that they will revel in paradise after they die when they face poverty or the deaths of their loved ones. I don't understand how any writer can look at a world full of people trying to alleviate their pain and suffering by assigning supernatural, spiritual, or ideological meaning to their suffering and then go ahead and write a book in which characters suffer for the sake of suffering.
McNulty writes with a nihilistic attitude but, he never infuses his novels with a nihilistic philosophy. His works ultimately come off as pointless rather than nihilistic. I would much prefer it if his books promoted nihilism because then they would mean something rather than nothing at all. I also think the vast majority of readers read fiction to have their conscious and unconscious desires fulfilled, not trampled on for the sake of making fictional characters suffer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 19, 2022
Well paced thriller with a lot of fun twists and turns. Great for a quick read with lots of action and several mysterious goings on. Keeps you turning pages until the end
October 21, 2021
McNulty's second paranormal thriller Entry Wounds hits the mark perfectly: engaging characters, white knuckle thrills, and twists you'll feel in your heart and gut.
Narrator Tim Jackson really nails the audiobook performance too.
Recommended to anyone who will listen but especially for fans of Stephen King's works like The Dark Half and Big Driver, or the (TV show) Dexter series.
Except that unlike serial killer hunter Dexter Morgan, Ken Fujima had no killer instinct before the cursed gun came into his life.
He was the hardworking, gentle guy next door taking care of his aging father and substitute teaching at the local high school. A reliable, likeable man of earnest conviction and quiet desperation always wishing he could do more.
Do more to hold his family together after his mother's untimely death. Do more to help the addicts in his life get clean. Do more to attain the full-time teaching position he knows he's earned. Do more to show an unhappily wed co-worker his affections without compromising his honor.
Do more to escape the pain of his past, including a cheating fiancee and being trailed by the nickname 'Ken the Eraser' for an ugly incident at a former school district. (When the grim story behind that nickname finally comes out in the penultimate chapter, it's fully worth the wait.)
Ken thought he knew what (little) he was capable of, until the night his father's past catches up to them both--- as does the cursed gun with a long bloody history within an infamous criminal brotherhood.
An accomplice to the gun's previous owner outlines the inescapable terms: the gun will force Ken to kill six people before it releases his hand. (Which gives literal and dreadful new meaning to the phrase 'gun hand.')
Unlikely allies join his reluctant vigilante quest to shoot only those targets who make the world a crueler place. In helping Ken, they will risk being caught in the crossfire too---and not just from weapons held by police or potential victims, as the gun tries to twist the resentments of a lifetime, or of mere seconds, into murderous rage.
The gun's pressure on its wielder, both psychological and physical as a rampaging fever, only intensifies the longer they resist taking deadly aim. But Ken won't give in without a fight. Not even when so many of his plans go awry, and the gun's hunger makes it almost impossible to think about anything but killing and the total sense of relaxation that will, temporarily, follow.
It had to be tempting to pen a vigilante thriller like Charles Bronson's film Death Wish, where a good man is pushed too far and a series of wicked predators are easily identified or even caught red-handed and hardly mourned. But the author's approach is so much richer and more nuanced and, I would argue, ultimately far more satisfying and true to life.
Ken is NOT empowered by the gun, and there's nothing sexy in how dangerous it makes him feel, but he can't bear turning the barrel on himself to end the nightmare. Dubious leads and fraught confrontations with Ken's police officer neighbor and his would-be accomplices and his potential targets add tension throughout. Ken's pursuit of integrity, honest intimacy, and the truth amid a whirlwind of exposed secrets, gun point confessions, and blindsiding betrayals also make for a stunning, emotional ride in every chapter.
To go into further detail on the characters' misadventures would be to unload spoilers best left in the chamber so readers can experience the full impact for themselves.
As a thriller it's fast paced and often gritty, with plenty of clues and mysteries and pivots and revelations to keep the pages turning, but it's also a novel with true heart and depth. With his remarkable cast capable of surprising readers and themselves, McNulty explores the boundaries of just punishment and vengeance, courage and cowardice, forgiveness and condemnation, fierce hate and even fiercer love, all in revelatory ways that left my mind churning and my heart aching.
This book packs several rounds worth of emotional wallop and ethical complexity, and deserves the full five stars for its characters and quandaries and ideas and their executions (pun always intended). My only reason for giving less, here, is that certain occurrences weigh heavy on my heart for personal reasons after I put the book down, and that detracts from my pure enjoyment just a hair, and I assign stars to remind myself of the joy I felt. In particular the author did such an excellent job portraying the experience of addiction for the afflicted and their family that I couldn't detach from it. [Content warnings: drug addiction, death by drug overdose, sex related exploitation.]
On the other hand, while genuinely devastating things happen and the characters respond with fitting bitterness and sorrow and self-recrimination and outrage, McNulty also pleasantly surprised me on occasion when matters did not escalate to the tragic eventualities or losses I feared. I'd even say he's masterful at choosing just how far to push the suffering and regret and when to offer his characters and empathetic readers a reprieve of comfort or a good turn.
(And I'm not just saying that because there's a very sweet dog and he survives the tale, but it helped.)
After the brilliantly twisted and moving debut that was Bad Parts, McNulty manages to outdo himself here and once again leaves room for hope and redemption in the end, and for another sequel which I am more than eager to get my hands on. As with rocker Ash and her family, I want to spend more time with Ken and these other messy underdog characters. Despite or perhaps in part because of the impossibly tough choices they must make and the desires and impulses they must overcome in their fight to preserve what matters most.
WHEN A BOOK DESERVES TO SHOOT TO THE TOP OF THE BEST SELLING THRILLERS LISTS, SPEAK UP---BOOST THE SIGNAL!
Narrator Tim Jackson really nails the audiobook performance too.
Recommended to anyone who will listen but especially for fans of Stephen King's works like The Dark Half and Big Driver, or the (TV show) Dexter series.
Except that unlike serial killer hunter Dexter Morgan, Ken Fujima had no killer instinct before the cursed gun came into his life.
He was the hardworking, gentle guy next door taking care of his aging father and substitute teaching at the local high school. A reliable, likeable man of earnest conviction and quiet desperation always wishing he could do more.
Do more to hold his family together after his mother's untimely death. Do more to help the addicts in his life get clean. Do more to attain the full-time teaching position he knows he's earned. Do more to show an unhappily wed co-worker his affections without compromising his honor.
Do more to escape the pain of his past, including a cheating fiancee and being trailed by the nickname 'Ken the Eraser' for an ugly incident at a former school district. (When the grim story behind that nickname finally comes out in the penultimate chapter, it's fully worth the wait.)
Ken thought he knew what (little) he was capable of, until the night his father's past catches up to them both--- as does the cursed gun with a long bloody history within an infamous criminal brotherhood.
An accomplice to the gun's previous owner outlines the inescapable terms: the gun will force Ken to kill six people before it releases his hand. (Which gives literal and dreadful new meaning to the phrase 'gun hand.')
Unlikely allies join his reluctant vigilante quest to shoot only those targets who make the world a crueler place. In helping Ken, they will risk being caught in the crossfire too---and not just from weapons held by police or potential victims, as the gun tries to twist the resentments of a lifetime, or of mere seconds, into murderous rage.
The gun's pressure on its wielder, both psychological and physical as a rampaging fever, only intensifies the longer they resist taking deadly aim. But Ken won't give in without a fight. Not even when so many of his plans go awry, and the gun's hunger makes it almost impossible to think about anything but killing and the total sense of relaxation that will, temporarily, follow.
It had to be tempting to pen a vigilante thriller like Charles Bronson's film Death Wish, where a good man is pushed too far and a series of wicked predators are easily identified or even caught red-handed and hardly mourned. But the author's approach is so much richer and more nuanced and, I would argue, ultimately far more satisfying and true to life.
Ken is NOT empowered by the gun, and there's nothing sexy in how dangerous it makes him feel, but he can't bear turning the barrel on himself to end the nightmare. Dubious leads and fraught confrontations with Ken's police officer neighbor and his would-be accomplices and his potential targets add tension throughout. Ken's pursuit of integrity, honest intimacy, and the truth amid a whirlwind of exposed secrets, gun point confessions, and blindsiding betrayals also make for a stunning, emotional ride in every chapter.
To go into further detail on the characters' misadventures would be to unload spoilers best left in the chamber so readers can experience the full impact for themselves.
As a thriller it's fast paced and often gritty, with plenty of clues and mysteries and pivots and revelations to keep the pages turning, but it's also a novel with true heart and depth. With his remarkable cast capable of surprising readers and themselves, McNulty explores the boundaries of just punishment and vengeance, courage and cowardice, forgiveness and condemnation, fierce hate and even fiercer love, all in revelatory ways that left my mind churning and my heart aching.
This book packs several rounds worth of emotional wallop and ethical complexity, and deserves the full five stars for its characters and quandaries and ideas and their executions (pun always intended). My only reason for giving less, here, is that certain occurrences weigh heavy on my heart for personal reasons after I put the book down, and that detracts from my pure enjoyment just a hair, and I assign stars to remind myself of the joy I felt. In particular the author did such an excellent job portraying the experience of addiction for the afflicted and their family that I couldn't detach from it. [Content warnings: drug addiction, death by drug overdose, sex related exploitation.]
On the other hand, while genuinely devastating things happen and the characters respond with fitting bitterness and sorrow and self-recrimination and outrage, McNulty also pleasantly surprised me on occasion when matters did not escalate to the tragic eventualities or losses I feared. I'd even say he's masterful at choosing just how far to push the suffering and regret and when to offer his characters and empathetic readers a reprieve of comfort or a good turn.
(And I'm not just saying that because there's a very sweet dog and he survives the tale, but it helped.)
After the brilliantly twisted and moving debut that was Bad Parts, McNulty manages to outdo himself here and once again leaves room for hope and redemption in the end, and for another sequel which I am more than eager to get my hands on. As with rocker Ash and her family, I want to spend more time with Ken and these other messy underdog characters. Despite or perhaps in part because of the impossibly tough choices they must make and the desires and impulses they must overcome in their fight to preserve what matters most.
WHEN A BOOK DESERVES TO SHOOT TO THE TOP OF THE BEST SELLING THRILLERS LISTS, SPEAK UP---BOOST THE SIGNAL!
November 20, 2021
Fast and fun and thought provoking read
There aren't many books that can straddle the lines of fun and though provoking. The novel presents a new twist on an old question, of trading something for something with the caveat of the choice is no longer optional.
Without being preachy about guns, this story takes a darkly nuanced look at the gun debate and has some fun doing it.
While no narrative is perfect, it checked all my boxes: fast paced, thought provoking, morally gray, real characters and approachable. While it's not all ages, it's a great read for anyone looking to read more, or just looking to enjoy a story void of pompous and self-indulgent writing.
There aren't many books that can straddle the lines of fun and though provoking. The novel presents a new twist on an old question, of trading something for something with the caveat of the choice is no longer optional.
Without being preachy about guns, this story takes a darkly nuanced look at the gun debate and has some fun doing it.
While no narrative is perfect, it checked all my boxes: fast paced, thought provoking, morally gray, real characters and approachable. While it's not all ages, it's a great read for anyone looking to read more, or just looking to enjoy a story void of pompous and self-indulgent writing.
April 7, 2022
McNulty has done it again! Such a great thriller. I truly did not anticipate the ending. I loved the many twists and turns and the character building was phenomenal. Ken truly pulls on your heartstrings in a unique way and the other characters are just as interesting. Don't want to give anything away! Definitely recommend you check it out for yourself!
April 4, 2024
Rather like the gun, this book is unputdownable. I did guess very early on who the main bad guy was, and what our anti-hero would do at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2024
Made it 10% through and was so disappointed in this completely asinine story of stupidity and violence that I had to quit. Supernatural failure.
September 13, 2022
I was intrigued by the premise of this book. A cursed gun that fuses itself to your hand the moment you touch it and doesn’t let go till you have killed six people.
Ken Fujima, a substitute teacher, hopes to get a full-time position but is thwarted once too often. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Michelle Salto and her sister Hannah set out to seek revenge on the two members of the Japanese mafia, the yakuza, who shot their parents in cold blood 20 years ago. The girls’ lives are destroyed on account of the sins of their parents.
Receiving a cursed gun in a package from their father’s friend, the girls set out to kill their parent’s killers. The sixth man Michelle kills is Ken’s father.
When Ken picks up the gun, it sets off a chain of death and destruction that can only end after he has killed six people. Ken thinks he can fight against the instinct to kill, but the gun has a mind of its own, and it is thirsty for blood.
Ken, the son of an honest mother and a father who used to be a gangster, has a strong moral compass. Forced to kill, Ken seeks to play vigilante against the appetite of the gun.
But will his morals stand against the will of the gun?
The writing was powerful.
He tore the details out of himself like bits of shrapnel from a festering wound – painful yet necessary.
The main characters are Americans of Japanese origin. There aren’t too many characters in this book, but they all have a key role to play.
The narrative was smooth, well written and well paced. It was almost like a detailed screenplay. I could easily imagine the action.
The very first chapter, with the writing so spare yet lush, felt like a short story. Things got better from there. Starting from a difficult situation, the author keeps upping the ante for the main characters. The addition of crazy and bizarre characters like Robby and Chrissie does nothing to make things easier for Ken. These are people whose moral compass is already soiled thanks to drug abuse.
The author tells us that Ken had developed a tolerance towards the absurd. But to us, as readers, the events playing out don’t appear absurd. Instead we watch the action unfold with bated breath.
The book raises moral questions. If you were forced to kill somebody, would you? If the choice wasn’t yours to make, how would you react?
It also reminds us that our actions have the potential to affect the lives of others long after we are gone.
This is my first book by Brandon McNulty but it won’t be the last. I sure hope there will be a book 2, an Exit Wounds, in the future. There are far too many loose threads, Robby, Takahashi, Angela, Ken, that need to be tied up.
Ken Fujima, a substitute teacher, hopes to get a full-time position but is thwarted once too often. Meanwhile, 24-year-old Michelle Salto and her sister Hannah set out to seek revenge on the two members of the Japanese mafia, the yakuza, who shot their parents in cold blood 20 years ago. The girls’ lives are destroyed on account of the sins of their parents.
Receiving a cursed gun in a package from their father’s friend, the girls set out to kill their parent’s killers. The sixth man Michelle kills is Ken’s father.
When Ken picks up the gun, it sets off a chain of death and destruction that can only end after he has killed six people. Ken thinks he can fight against the instinct to kill, but the gun has a mind of its own, and it is thirsty for blood.
Ken, the son of an honest mother and a father who used to be a gangster, has a strong moral compass. Forced to kill, Ken seeks to play vigilante against the appetite of the gun.
But will his morals stand against the will of the gun?
The writing was powerful.
He tore the details out of himself like bits of shrapnel from a festering wound – painful yet necessary.
The main characters are Americans of Japanese origin. There aren’t too many characters in this book, but they all have a key role to play.
The narrative was smooth, well written and well paced. It was almost like a detailed screenplay. I could easily imagine the action.
The very first chapter, with the writing so spare yet lush, felt like a short story. Things got better from there. Starting from a difficult situation, the author keeps upping the ante for the main characters. The addition of crazy and bizarre characters like Robby and Chrissie does nothing to make things easier for Ken. These are people whose moral compass is already soiled thanks to drug abuse.
The author tells us that Ken had developed a tolerance towards the absurd. But to us, as readers, the events playing out don’t appear absurd. Instead we watch the action unfold with bated breath.
The book raises moral questions. If you were forced to kill somebody, would you? If the choice wasn’t yours to make, how would you react?
It also reminds us that our actions have the potential to affect the lives of others long after we are gone.
This is my first book by Brandon McNulty but it won’t be the last. I sure hope there will be a book 2, an Exit Wounds, in the future. There are far too many loose threads, Robby, Takahashi, Angela, Ken, that need to be tied up.
March 21, 2024
Entry Wounds
A Supernatural Thriller
by Brandon McNulty
Pub Date 28 Sep 2021
BooksGoSocial
Horror| Mystery & Thrillers
In exchange for my review, BooksGoSocial and Netgalley provided me with a copy of Entry Wounds:
After being savagely attacked by a pair of West Coast assassins, Ken Fujima, a downtrodden substitute teacher from suburban Pennsylvania, is trying to rebuild his life. As part of a revenge scheme, they attack his wheelchair-bound father, forcing Ken to intervene.Attempting revenge, they attack Ken's wheelchair-bound father, forcing him to intervene.
When Ken is scuffled with his opponent, he picks up a mysterious revolver to protect himself. What he soon learns is that the revolver is a cursed yakuza weapon that will remain fused to his hand until he either dies or kills six other people.The revolver is a cursed yakuza weapon that will remain fused to his hand until he dies or kills six others.
Tormented by this gruesome ultimatum, Ken teams up with his estranged brother, a recovering heroin addict, in hopes of targeting drug dealers responsible for recent overdoses among his high school students.In order to target drug dealers responsible for recent overdoses among his high school students, Ken teams up with his estranged brother, a recovering heroin addict.
As hours tick away and other murderous opportunities arise, Ken strives to remain moral, but the haunted revolver has other ideas—if he won’t decide who dies, the gun will.As the hours tick by and more murderous opportunities present themselves, Ken tries to remain moral, but the haunted revolver has other ideas.
I give Entry Wounds three out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
A Supernatural Thriller
by Brandon McNulty
Pub Date 28 Sep 2021
BooksGoSocial
Horror| Mystery & Thrillers
In exchange for my review, BooksGoSocial and Netgalley provided me with a copy of Entry Wounds:
After being savagely attacked by a pair of West Coast assassins, Ken Fujima, a downtrodden substitute teacher from suburban Pennsylvania, is trying to rebuild his life. As part of a revenge scheme, they attack his wheelchair-bound father, forcing Ken to intervene.Attempting revenge, they attack Ken's wheelchair-bound father, forcing him to intervene.
When Ken is scuffled with his opponent, he picks up a mysterious revolver to protect himself. What he soon learns is that the revolver is a cursed yakuza weapon that will remain fused to his hand until he either dies or kills six other people.The revolver is a cursed yakuza weapon that will remain fused to his hand until he dies or kills six others.
Tormented by this gruesome ultimatum, Ken teams up with his estranged brother, a recovering heroin addict, in hopes of targeting drug dealers responsible for recent overdoses among his high school students.In order to target drug dealers responsible for recent overdoses among his high school students, Ken teams up with his estranged brother, a recovering heroin addict.
As hours tick away and other murderous opportunities arise, Ken strives to remain moral, but the haunted revolver has other ideas—if he won’t decide who dies, the gun will.As the hours tick by and more murderous opportunities present themselves, Ken tries to remain moral, but the haunted revolver has other ideas.
I give Entry Wounds three out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
July 17, 2023
This book was very enjoyable to read! Some of the characters have interactions that I was not expecting, sort of a fresh take on some things. I have very few complaints overall. McNulty really knows his writing stuff.
That being said... this is a book that deserves, if not needs, a sequel. I liked the ending, thought most of it was well thought-out and stuff, but for all of his advice on his own YouTube channel about not leaving things on too vague of a note for the reader, I feel this book does exactly that. There was one character who gave the main character advice that turned out to be bad, and I wasn't satisfied with the explanation. Then there was something else, right near the end, that could have either paid off or led directly to a sequel, but McNulty did nothing with that, either. One minor character seems like he's going to play a larger part in the story eventually... but he never does. It's as if McNulty either forgot where he was going with some of these things (which I don't actually believe is the case) or maybe rushed some things after the final conflict.
Still, this is a book that's very worth reading, and I wouldn't call the ending bad. He just left me wanting more but unless there's a sequel, we won't get it. That's how good of a job he did; he sort of became a victim of his own success from the rest of the story. Read it and see for yourself.
That being said... this is a book that deserves, if not needs, a sequel. I liked the ending, thought most of it was well thought-out and stuff, but for all of his advice on his own YouTube channel about not leaving things on too vague of a note for the reader, I feel this book does exactly that. There was one character who gave the main character advice that turned out to be bad, and I wasn't satisfied with the explanation. Then there was something else, right near the end, that could have either paid off or led directly to a sequel, but McNulty did nothing with that, either. One minor character seems like he's going to play a larger part in the story eventually... but he never does. It's as if McNulty either forgot where he was going with some of these things (which I don't actually believe is the case) or maybe rushed some things after the final conflict.
Still, this is a book that's very worth reading, and I wouldn't call the ending bad. He just left me wanting more but unless there's a sequel, we won't get it. That's how good of a job he did; he sort of became a victim of his own success from the rest of the story. Read it and see for yourself.
July 17, 2023
My wife and I read this book together (one of us would read aloud while the other drove or whatever) and we both really enjoyed it.
I first encountered Brandon McNulty on his YouTube channel. I enjoyed his writing advice so I got Entry Wounds after I told my wife the premise and she thought it sounded delicious.
I have almost no complaints about the book. I feel it is indeed very well written. I don’t want to talk too much about the things I liked or didn’t because if you know the premise you should know whether it’s your thing or not. If it sounds good to you then you should know he executes the ideas wonderfully.
If I had to say anything negative, or just not positive, I have two things. As efficiently as he writes I felt like there was a lack of the author’s voice in a way. What I mean is: I don’t know if I could pick his work out from other well-written books. He does everything pretty well, but I can’t pinpoint an aspect he’s uniquely superior at.
The second thing is a character’s proud confession late in book had me fairly grossed out. I won’t say what, but I was definitely going “Ew! Ew! Ew!” out loud. It’s not a fault of the book so much as a feature of the reader.
I first encountered Brandon McNulty on his YouTube channel. I enjoyed his writing advice so I got Entry Wounds after I told my wife the premise and she thought it sounded delicious.
I have almost no complaints about the book. I feel it is indeed very well written. I don’t want to talk too much about the things I liked or didn’t because if you know the premise you should know whether it’s your thing or not. If it sounds good to you then you should know he executes the ideas wonderfully.
If I had to say anything negative, or just not positive, I have two things. As efficiently as he writes I felt like there was a lack of the author’s voice in a way. What I mean is: I don’t know if I could pick his work out from other well-written books. He does everything pretty well, but I can’t pinpoint an aspect he’s uniquely superior at.
The second thing is a character’s proud confession late in book had me fairly grossed out. I won’t say what, but I was definitely going “Ew! Ew! Ew!” out loud. It’s not a fault of the book so much as a feature of the reader.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2024
"Entry Wounds" intertwines a supernatural thriller with thought provoking ideas about humanity - things aren't often as black and white as we think they are. Just when you think you have got the story figured out, the plot twists to reveal something else.
I started reading this twice. The first chapter did not hook me. In fact, the first time I tried reading it, I didn't make it through chapter 1. A couple of months later I gave it another try and as soon as I got to chapter 2 I felt an instant connection with the character of Ken Fujima. From that point on I was hooked. McNulty is good at ending a chapter in a way that makes you want to read the next chapter once I was into the meat of the book. I'm still left wondering what happened to two characters in chapter 1 but it isn't a major issue in the whole of the book.
I wasn't thrilled with the ending. It wasn't as clean-cut as I would like but it does feel like a conclusion. I also feel like it left it open to perhaps a sequel to the story.
If you liked action/pact crime thrillers then I would recommend this book - even if like me you need to just power through chapter 1.
I started reading this twice. The first chapter did not hook me. In fact, the first time I tried reading it, I didn't make it through chapter 1. A couple of months later I gave it another try and as soon as I got to chapter 2 I felt an instant connection with the character of Ken Fujima. From that point on I was hooked. McNulty is good at ending a chapter in a way that makes you want to read the next chapter once I was into the meat of the book. I'm still left wondering what happened to two characters in chapter 1 but it isn't a major issue in the whole of the book.
I wasn't thrilled with the ending. It wasn't as clean-cut as I would like but it does feel like a conclusion. I also feel like it left it open to perhaps a sequel to the story.
If you liked action/pact crime thrillers then I would recommend this book - even if like me you need to just power through chapter 1.
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