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Ragged
The Wind in the Willows meets Fargo, in this gripping tale of murder and revenge in a tight-knit community of woodland animals.
In a feral twist on crime fiction, Cal, a mutt with a criminal past, must step back into the world of animal violence to avenge the death of his wife and protect his pups from the inherent darkness of nature.
His journey leads him out of the woods and into the dump where he spent his youth, a dump run by Maurice and his ferocious gang of rats, weasels, stoats – murderers all. Cal has to face up to his past to save his children, and protect the woods from the violence on the borders.
Meanwhile the woodland community is fraying at the seams as talk of infection and sickness is spreading like wildfire. Anyone could be rabid, and turn violent at a moment’s notice. And the local trader, that should be bringing much needed supplies to the community has vanished. With a long winter ahead, and their protector, the great brown bear, asleep on the mountainside, can the town stop their own fears destroying them?
In a feral twist on crime fiction, Cal, a mutt with a criminal past, must step back into the world of animal violence to avenge the death of his wife and protect his pups from the inherent darkness of nature.
His journey leads him out of the woods and into the dump where he spent his youth, a dump run by Maurice and his ferocious gang of rats, weasels, stoats – murderers all. Cal has to face up to his past to save his children, and protect the woods from the violence on the borders.
Meanwhile the woodland community is fraying at the seams as talk of infection and sickness is spreading like wildfire. Anyone could be rabid, and turn violent at a moment’s notice. And the local trader, that should be bringing much needed supplies to the community has vanished. With a long winter ahead, and their protector, the great brown bear, asleep on the mountainside, can the town stop their own fears destroying them?
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 3, 2017
9 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 19, 2022
OH MY GOD I AM SO JEALOUS OF THIS UK COVER THAT PUBBED TODAY!
******************************************
during my 2 weeks of illness, i managed to drag my lung-rattling corpse of a self out of bed exactly once - to go see this guy
read with this guy, Angel Luis Colón
at the mysterious bookshop. in the rain. the RAIN.
i may have been playing up my woe for sympathy or humor. but it was definitely woe-making to have antibiotics prevent me from enjoying the bounty of beer and wine.
overall, totally worth it. i mean, as long as i didn't infect everyone who was there. s'everyone okay?
*********************************************
a couple years back i read this author’s book Safe Inside the Violence, which i legit enjoyed even though 1) i still have a wobbly relationship with short stories and 2) it was one of those daisy-chain situations where an author-friend of his suggested it to me after i’d read his book, which had in turn been suggested to me by a different mutual author-friend and it seemed like i was crowd-surfing in a very small room. but occasionally, good things do come from being passed around a room fulla dudes: sometimes you get a son named greg, and sometimes you get to read some great books!
with one positive reading experience in his favor, when chris irvin offered me an arc of his new book, i was already predisposed towards reading it, but when i read the description, zero convincing was needed.
It's Wind in the Willows and Fantastic Mr. Fox meet Fargo in Christopher Irvin's signature slice-of-life crime style.
and then an ADDITIONAL blurb by paul tremblay (who is somehow also in this dude-room), name-dropping even more temptation with:
RAGGED is a vivid fever dream, mixing Roald Dahl, Wes Anderson, Watership Down, and Jim Thompson.
i would add to that list Each Day a Small Victory, which was itself called “wind in the willows meets pulp fiction,” and probably didn’t influence the writing of this book, but is another great novel about animals who talk like people but don’t feel bad about eating their neighbors.
this book has more humanity layered on top of its animal characters than that one - language is spoken, clothing is worn, and there’s a stronger sense of community, where creatures of all stripes shop at the same store, attend school together, and do feel a little bad about eating a neighbor. that’s not to say this is some richard scarry utopia where everything’s grand,
there are plenty of conflicts and resentments veining this world - a mutually-observed division between mammal and not-mammal, a disdain for the criminal class “vermin” who live in the rubbish heap on the wrong side of the river under the exiled raccoon maurice, and some pervasive species-based stereotyping, as one character needs to be reminded,
”Not everything a fox says is a lie.”
it’s just a great all-around story. it has strong characters (including sir george washington, the most badass toad of all time), and it inhabits its own brand-new genre i am calling literary crime fantasy, but there are also shades of mystery, medical thriller, and smalltown drama. the nod to Fargo is actually perfect, whether that means the movie or the show to you - it’s understated and even in tone, there’s an everymandog character who gets in over his head with some baddies, and then misunderstandings, coincidences and a series of ill-conceived secret-covering lies snowballs into consequences and regret. and some bodies, naturally. all it's missing is the musical score.
also, and i don’t know how to write this freely without all the spoiler ninnies screeching at me, but this is the second book this year that i have read culminating in a <— spoiler for this book (and linguistically inaccurate to boot), the other one being <— spoiler for another book that is only a spoiler if you have already clicked the first spoiler tag, haven’t read that book, or consider “something that happens in the book” to be a spoiler, instead of its more rational and precise usage.
in any event - this book is great. you should totally read it. my only regret is that the artwork isn’t in the arc, and i’m dying to see it. chris did send me a couple of samples in an email, and cal looks like a sadder version of mcgruff.
or this statue near rock center
but i can't wait to see all of it.
and now i have!
come to my blog!
******************************************
during my 2 weeks of illness, i managed to drag my lung-rattling corpse of a self out of bed exactly once - to go see this guy
read with this guy, Angel Luis Colón
at the mysterious bookshop. in the rain. the RAIN.
i may have been playing up my woe for sympathy or humor. but it was definitely woe-making to have antibiotics prevent me from enjoying the bounty of beer and wine.
overall, totally worth it. i mean, as long as i didn't infect everyone who was there. s'everyone okay?
*********************************************
a couple years back i read this author’s book Safe Inside the Violence, which i legit enjoyed even though 1) i still have a wobbly relationship with short stories and 2) it was one of those daisy-chain situations where an author-friend of his suggested it to me after i’d read his book, which had in turn been suggested to me by a different mutual author-friend and it seemed like i was crowd-surfing in a very small room. but occasionally, good things do come from being passed around a room fulla dudes: sometimes you get a son named greg, and sometimes you get to read some great books!
with one positive reading experience in his favor, when chris irvin offered me an arc of his new book, i was already predisposed towards reading it, but when i read the description, zero convincing was needed.
It's Wind in the Willows and Fantastic Mr. Fox meet Fargo in Christopher Irvin's signature slice-of-life crime style.
and then an ADDITIONAL blurb by paul tremblay (who is somehow also in this dude-room), name-dropping even more temptation with:
RAGGED is a vivid fever dream, mixing Roald Dahl, Wes Anderson, Watership Down, and Jim Thompson.
i would add to that list Each Day a Small Victory, which was itself called “wind in the willows meets pulp fiction,” and probably didn’t influence the writing of this book, but is another great novel about animals who talk like people but don’t feel bad about eating their neighbors.
this book has more humanity layered on top of its animal characters than that one - language is spoken, clothing is worn, and there’s a stronger sense of community, where creatures of all stripes shop at the same store, attend school together, and do feel a little bad about eating a neighbor. that’s not to say this is some richard scarry utopia where everything’s grand,
there are plenty of conflicts and resentments veining this world - a mutually-observed division between mammal and not-mammal, a disdain for the criminal class “vermin” who live in the rubbish heap on the wrong side of the river under the exiled raccoon maurice, and some pervasive species-based stereotyping, as one character needs to be reminded,
”Not everything a fox says is a lie.”
it’s just a great all-around story. it has strong characters (including sir george washington, the most badass toad of all time), and it inhabits its own brand-new genre i am calling literary crime fantasy, but there are also shades of mystery, medical thriller, and smalltown drama. the nod to Fargo is actually perfect, whether that means the movie or the show to you - it’s understated and even in tone, there’s an every
also, and i don’t know how to write this freely without all the spoiler ninnies screeching at me, but this is the second book this year that i have read culminating in a <— spoiler for this book (and linguistically inaccurate to boot), the other one being <— spoiler for another book that is only a spoiler if you have already clicked the first spoiler tag, haven’t read that book, or consider “something that happens in the book” to be a spoiler, instead of its more rational and precise usage.
in any event - this book is great. you should totally read it. my only regret is that the artwork isn’t in the arc, and i’m dying to see it. chris did send me a couple of samples in an email, and cal looks like a sadder version of mcgruff.
or this statue near rock center
but i can't wait to see all of it.
and now i have!
come to my blog!
September 24, 2017
I received an advanced copy of this book for review.
I loved Irvin's previous works Safe Inside the Violence and Burn Cards and while I was very excited to see he was releasing a new book, I was concerned that it seemed he was going to be drifting from the signature crime fiction that I have come to enjoy so much. Animal main characters? In the woods?
Well I had nothing to worry about. This book is the Christopher Irvin that I was hoping it would be, it just happens to take place within an incredibly imaginative world. I won't say much about the setting Irvin created, learning the ins-and-outs of it are one of the great pleasures I had in reading this book.
The characters themselves are vivid and enjoyable, personalities paired well to their unique anatomies. The cast itself is extensive, and may have been too much for a group of human characters. But the differentiation between characters is made easy thanks to the variety of species involved. The mix of mannerisms and personalities is a high-point of the novel. Each character is a blend of human emotions paired with their animal instincts. The creation of these personalities was clearly done with care and intention, and it shows through in every character that appears in this book.
While the setting and characters are both noteworthy highlights, what really impressed me was the plot. My desire for gritty crime fiction was fully satisfied in this book. It has all the signatures I was looking for: checkered pasts, violent run-ins, and a touch of whodunit.
Overall, I loved this book. I would recommend it to any fans of Christopher Irvin and his current neo-noir crime writer colleagues like (and I'm sure I'll miss a few) Eric Beetner, Jordan Harper, Megan Abbott, Sara Gran, and Duane Swierczynski. But this book should also find fans in other genres due to its uniqueness. In that respect I would recommend this to fans of classic books featuring non-human main characters that happen to focus on darker subjects like Watership Down and Animal Farm, but also to fans of newer works like Robert Repino's Mort(e) series.
This book is fast paced thanks to the story, but also manages to cut deep thanks to the characters. Reading this fully cemented my enjoyment of Christopher Irvin as one of my favorite current authors. I am excited that he has made the jump to a full length novel, as I'm sure the move from novellas and short stories is not an easy one. I'm happy to have gotten a longer story, and to have spent more time with the main characters compared to previous works.
I loved Irvin's previous works Safe Inside the Violence and Burn Cards and while I was very excited to see he was releasing a new book, I was concerned that it seemed he was going to be drifting from the signature crime fiction that I have come to enjoy so much. Animal main characters? In the woods?
Well I had nothing to worry about. This book is the Christopher Irvin that I was hoping it would be, it just happens to take place within an incredibly imaginative world. I won't say much about the setting Irvin created, learning the ins-and-outs of it are one of the great pleasures I had in reading this book.
The characters themselves are vivid and enjoyable, personalities paired well to their unique anatomies. The cast itself is extensive, and may have been too much for a group of human characters. But the differentiation between characters is made easy thanks to the variety of species involved. The mix of mannerisms and personalities is a high-point of the novel. Each character is a blend of human emotions paired with their animal instincts. The creation of these personalities was clearly done with care and intention, and it shows through in every character that appears in this book.
While the setting and characters are both noteworthy highlights, what really impressed me was the plot. My desire for gritty crime fiction was fully satisfied in this book. It has all the signatures I was looking for: checkered pasts, violent run-ins, and a touch of whodunit.
Overall, I loved this book. I would recommend it to any fans of Christopher Irvin and his current neo-noir crime writer colleagues like (and I'm sure I'll miss a few) Eric Beetner, Jordan Harper, Megan Abbott, Sara Gran, and Duane Swierczynski. But this book should also find fans in other genres due to its uniqueness. In that respect I would recommend this to fans of classic books featuring non-human main characters that happen to focus on darker subjects like Watership Down and Animal Farm, but also to fans of newer works like Robert Repino's Mort(e) series.
This book is fast paced thanks to the story, but also manages to cut deep thanks to the characters. Reading this fully cemented my enjoyment of Christopher Irvin as one of my favorite current authors. I am excited that he has made the jump to a full length novel, as I'm sure the move from novellas and short stories is not an easy one. I'm happy to have gotten a longer story, and to have spent more time with the main characters compared to previous works.
January 9, 2018
4 and 1/2 Stars 🌟 What a refreshing take on an anthropomorphic ( I had to look up that word lol) animal tale where love & revenge takes place in the woods! This book will stay with me for a long time- highly recommend!!
Read
September 19, 2017The thing about Ragged is that it grasps onto the innocence we all possess by the clever device of setting its dark and complex story amidst a world of anthropomorphized woodland creatures. And with this twist, it is impossible for the reader to leave behind their childish desire for all to turn out well. What Irvin does, by basically inventing this waiting for a name genre (Narnia Noir? Animal Autopsy?), is capitalize on his reader's trust and uses it to make the very adult themes of the book hit you that much harder.
Cal's search for the truth about his wife challenges his idealized version of her and the life the two of them shared. It forces him to confront his own past and the mistakes he made there in an effort to preserve some kind of hope that he could better the lives of his own children.
Irvin's point hits twice as hard by his use of the reader's own suspension of disbelief as a kind of allegory for how a parent must approach the "saving of their children's future." If the reader is to believe the talking animals of these woods are so deeply twisted up in moral and immoral dealings, then the reader must also believe that it is possible for Cal to save his pups from the same fate of his wife, and therefore possible for any of us to make up for the mistakes of our own youths and hope for a better more peaceful tomorrow.
Cal's search for the truth about his wife challenges his idealized version of her and the life the two of them shared. It forces him to confront his own past and the mistakes he made there in an effort to preserve some kind of hope that he could better the lives of his own children.
Irvin's point hits twice as hard by his use of the reader's own suspension of disbelief as a kind of allegory for how a parent must approach the "saving of their children's future." If the reader is to believe the talking animals of these woods are so deeply twisted up in moral and immoral dealings, then the reader must also believe that it is possible for Cal to save his pups from the same fate of his wife, and therefore possible for any of us to make up for the mistakes of our own youths and hope for a better more peaceful tomorrow.
May 25, 2022
Wind in the willows meets the godfather!
Ragged is a different kind of story for me. I normally like my fantasy stories to be based around humanoid type characters/races with fantastical counterparts. This, however, converted me! Christopher Irvin has created a beautiful forest world in this story full of a vast array of animal characters.
The foundation of the story is based around a forest dwelling town of sentient animals who are so much like humans but encompassing their individual animal based characteristics. Each of the animal groups in the story has unique personalities which provides a wealth of intrigue around so many different characters. There is so much to learn about each of them and this just maintains the beauty of this character driven novel. As with all ‘civilised’ societies, there is unfortunately prejudice involved. Each animal group tends to make sly digs at the others and ultimately creates masses of friction between them at times. There is also a faction/gang that live on the outskirts of the village that prey on the supply caravans and those that stray too far from town which brings in the godfather, gang warfare aspect of the story. Needless to say the townsfolk have their own opinions of these ragged villains!
The family values of this novel are beautifully portrayed. Based around a father whose wife disappeared and subsequently died, looking after his pups whilst investigating her disappearance and also trying to hold his standing in a town who are suspicious of his past. I felt such a connection to Cal as a husband and father of two, I couldn't begin to imagine how I would cope in his shoes…or should I say fur!
Ultimately Ragged is a superb novel which had me hooked from the very beginning. The heartfelt family values along with standing up for what is right and bringing society together made this story one that creates such positive feelings about life. Regardless of your background or genetic make up, everyone has the ability to do right in this world, to be anything. Embrace who you are. We are all special.
Ragged is a different kind of story for me. I normally like my fantasy stories to be based around humanoid type characters/races with fantastical counterparts. This, however, converted me! Christopher Irvin has created a beautiful forest world in this story full of a vast array of animal characters.
The foundation of the story is based around a forest dwelling town of sentient animals who are so much like humans but encompassing their individual animal based characteristics. Each of the animal groups in the story has unique personalities which provides a wealth of intrigue around so many different characters. There is so much to learn about each of them and this just maintains the beauty of this character driven novel. As with all ‘civilised’ societies, there is unfortunately prejudice involved. Each animal group tends to make sly digs at the others and ultimately creates masses of friction between them at times. There is also a faction/gang that live on the outskirts of the village that prey on the supply caravans and those that stray too far from town which brings in the godfather, gang warfare aspect of the story. Needless to say the townsfolk have their own opinions of these ragged villains!
The family values of this novel are beautifully portrayed. Based around a father whose wife disappeared and subsequently died, looking after his pups whilst investigating her disappearance and also trying to hold his standing in a town who are suspicious of his past. I felt such a connection to Cal as a husband and father of two, I couldn't begin to imagine how I would cope in his shoes…or should I say fur!
Ultimately Ragged is a superb novel which had me hooked from the very beginning. The heartfelt family values along with standing up for what is right and bringing society together made this story one that creates such positive feelings about life. Regardless of your background or genetic make up, everyone has the ability to do right in this world, to be anything. Embrace who you are. We are all special.
June 19, 2023
It truly is a fantastic feeling when a book you know nothing about, a book you've never even heard of, wows you, impresses you, and becomes one of your favorite reads of the month. This was my experience with Ragged. Having never even heard of the author before, what started as a cover buy that sat on my tbr shelf for months, turned into a book that contains everything I seek out, plenty of violence, a bleak and horrific storyline, and characters that captivate the soul.
A cross between Fantastic Mr Fox and an extremely gritty detective noir, Ragged is a book that contains more humanity than most other novels, despite its characters being anything but human. This novel contains a deep sense of family, of community, of care for each other. Of course this also comes with long buried secrets bubbling to the surface. This may seem like it's something geared towards children, a whodunit full of walking, talking animals living out in the woods, but I can assure you, this book is absolutely not for kids.
A fast moving and relatively short story that cuts deep, that hurts and shocks, Ragged is the book I never knew I needed.
A cross between Fantastic Mr Fox and an extremely gritty detective noir, Ragged is a book that contains more humanity than most other novels, despite its characters being anything but human. This novel contains a deep sense of family, of community, of care for each other. Of course this also comes with long buried secrets bubbling to the surface. This may seem like it's something geared towards children, a whodunit full of walking, talking animals living out in the woods, but I can assure you, this book is absolutely not for kids.
A fast moving and relatively short story that cuts deep, that hurts and shocks, Ragged is the book I never knew I needed.
January 8, 2023
I received this book for Christmas Eve without knowing anything about it.
Which was funny as I was being nostalgic for the old Redwall books I’d read as a tween and this story, with its anthropomorphic characters and woodland fantasy setting was the perfect answer for.
The mystery and world building at the heart of the story are really well done but it’s the characters that Irvin has created here that will really stick.
From the dodgy Raccoon Maurice, to broken hearted Cal the dog and the absolutely wonderful war veteran toad named George Washington - all fantastic and memorable.
A great start to reading in the new year.
Which was funny as I was being nostalgic for the old Redwall books I’d read as a tween and this story, with its anthropomorphic characters and woodland fantasy setting was the perfect answer for.
The mystery and world building at the heart of the story are really well done but it’s the characters that Irvin has created here that will really stick.
From the dodgy Raccoon Maurice, to broken hearted Cal the dog and the absolutely wonderful war veteran toad named George Washington - all fantastic and memorable.
A great start to reading in the new year.
May 27, 2023
A very entertaining read for fans of Redwall, however, the final 40 pages left the ending feeling rather rushed. Overall, a fun anthropomorphic murder mystery.
October 22, 2022
An incredibly original book-anthropomorphic forest creatures meets gritty crime in a riveting tale of revenge, redemption and ultimately, love. I picked this up by chance on the new release shelf at the library and was so glad that I did. I will read anything Christopher Irvin writes from now on!
May 6, 2022
The blurb on the back reads, “Watership Down if it was written by Raymond Chandler”, I have to disagree.
It’s much better than that.
I can however agree with the quote on the front page, being “I wish I wrote this.”
Ragged is the story of a mutt named Cal trying to make a life for himself after the sudden death of his wife. He wasn’t always on the side of the angels, and he isn’t an angel himself, not by any means, but that’s what makes the character compelling. It’s what makes all the characters compelling, just because they’re animals doesn’t make them any less human, and in many cases, puts into sharp relief what we consider to be acceptable for humans to behave like.
An example of this, would be the introduction (no spoilers, fear not) of the bear, Old Brown, and a scene where he toys with the fish that Cal was talking to, causing no end of trauma to the poor fish, but thereby making the point, “But that’s what bears do.” But if we accept that that’s what bears do, surely we have to accept that some humans do things that we consider unacceptable, but if we accept that it’s their nature, then…
This was superb in every way, every character had a point and purpose, they were both interesting and relevant at all times, they had motivations and needs, things that are missing in many stories these days.
It’s not the longest of books, but it’s dark in ways that most books featuring human characters are afraid to be, the nature of the animal is out there, the darkness within is apparent at every turn, but because they’re animals, Irvin can say the truths that people would question about humans, and we accept it in this book, because they’re animals.
This is the mastery, to take the study of people and transplant it into a place where we don’t ask the questions we would of humans, we accept these characters and who, what, they are, and with that, enjoy the story because of that acceptance.
I loved this, if there is justice anywhere, this will be an animated feature at some point, and like Watership Down before it, it will not be for kids, not at any point.
And that’s not a bad thing.
It’s much better than that.
I can however agree with the quote on the front page, being “I wish I wrote this.”
Ragged is the story of a mutt named Cal trying to make a life for himself after the sudden death of his wife. He wasn’t always on the side of the angels, and he isn’t an angel himself, not by any means, but that’s what makes the character compelling. It’s what makes all the characters compelling, just because they’re animals doesn’t make them any less human, and in many cases, puts into sharp relief what we consider to be acceptable for humans to behave like.
An example of this, would be the introduction (no spoilers, fear not) of the bear, Old Brown, and a scene where he toys with the fish that Cal was talking to, causing no end of trauma to the poor fish, but thereby making the point, “But that’s what bears do.” But if we accept that that’s what bears do, surely we have to accept that some humans do things that we consider unacceptable, but if we accept that it’s their nature, then…
This was superb in every way, every character had a point and purpose, they were both interesting and relevant at all times, they had motivations and needs, things that are missing in many stories these days.
It’s not the longest of books, but it’s dark in ways that most books featuring human characters are afraid to be, the nature of the animal is out there, the darkness within is apparent at every turn, but because they’re animals, Irvin can say the truths that people would question about humans, and we accept it in this book, because they’re animals.
This is the mastery, to take the study of people and transplant it into a place where we don’t ask the questions we would of humans, we accept these characters and who, what, they are, and with that, enjoy the story because of that acceptance.
I loved this, if there is justice anywhere, this will be an animated feature at some point, and like Watership Down before it, it will not be for kids, not at any point.
And that’s not a bad thing.
April 25, 2025
So, how the hell do I start reviewing this book? Guess with the basics. The story is set in a world with anthropomorphised animals living in a community in the woods. Our main protagonist is Cal, a mutt with a rough past, and we are introduced to him just hours after he has been forced to put down his own wife and the mother of their pups, due to her losing her mind and becoming a danger to everyone. From there, we follow the happenings of a few days, and we get introduced to several memorable characters. Of course we have Cal, and his pups, pre-teen Franklin, and innocent child-age Gus. We also have Billiam the Badger, the lone elected official of the Woods, Duchess, the hedgehog proprietor of the general store, George Washington, a very regal toad and war veteran, now serving as volunteer guard for the schoolhouse.
While it's never explicitly stated, the disease is clearly Rabies, and Irvin does not shy away from portraying how absolutely horrific the consequences of it can be. On that note, this book is brutal. As in, I feel inclined to include a trigger warning for extreme violence, which might be made worse when you consider that all the characters are animals. One of the early examples that happens within the first 100 pages: TW Violence and gore
What's the closest paralell I can draw? It'd probably be The Wolf Among Us, a fantastic game with a mystery at its core, and with surprisingly brutal scenes just like this book.
So, in the end, do I recommend this book? If you are not turned off by the somewhat outlandish premise, and can stomach scenes like the spoiler-tagged part, I think it is definitely worth picking up.
4/5 stars
While it's never explicitly stated, the disease is clearly Rabies, and Irvin does not shy away from portraying how absolutely horrific the consequences of it can be. On that note, this book is brutal. As in, I feel inclined to include a trigger warning for extreme violence, which might be made worse when you consider that all the characters are animals. One of the early examples that happens within the first 100 pages: TW Violence and gore
What's the closest paralell I can draw? It'd probably be The Wolf Among Us, a fantastic game with a mystery at its core, and with surprisingly brutal scenes just like this book.
So, in the end, do I recommend this book? If you are not turned off by the somewhat outlandish premise, and can stomach scenes like the spoiler-tagged part, I think it is definitely worth picking up.
4/5 stars
July 25, 2022
Book 44! Christopher Irvin's 'Ragged'
Thank you @titanbooks for my review copy!
"Cal would deem himself a proud mutt, but when you're head of the sole family of dogs to make their home in the Woods, you become the dog" 🐕👀
The woodland community is the home of many animals; badgers, foxes, pigs, dogs, and even a talking fish in the river called Gil (to name a few). Cal and his wife Winifred have lived in the woods with their two pups, everything was as fine as could be (considering Cal's violent and ominous past) until the sickness came...
the narrative follows several different voices, predominantly Cal, but also various other woodland creatures or 'vermin' who live at the rubbish heap - Cals old home. As rumours of sickness spread from animal to animal, panic and fear begins infecting the communities, as the rules around sickness are clear - if you are diseased, you are not welcome anymore.
Upon Winifreds death, Cal tries to quietly grieve without drawing attention to his family, but with winter coming, food running low and no delivery at the locals shop for a while... everyone is getting hungry.
I really liked this book, there are moments where what was happening was a bit ambiguous... but the gory, bloody, watership down - esc vibe is phantasmagorical- and I am here for it.
Thank you @titanbooks for my review copy!
"Cal would deem himself a proud mutt, but when you're head of the sole family of dogs to make their home in the Woods, you become the dog" 🐕👀
The woodland community is the home of many animals; badgers, foxes, pigs, dogs, and even a talking fish in the river called Gil (to name a few). Cal and his wife Winifred have lived in the woods with their two pups, everything was as fine as could be (considering Cal's violent and ominous past) until the sickness came...
the narrative follows several different voices, predominantly Cal, but also various other woodland creatures or 'vermin' who live at the rubbish heap - Cals old home. As rumours of sickness spread from animal to animal, panic and fear begins infecting the communities, as the rules around sickness are clear - if you are diseased, you are not welcome anymore.
Upon Winifreds death, Cal tries to quietly grieve without drawing attention to his family, but with winter coming, food running low and no delivery at the locals shop for a while... everyone is getting hungry.
I really liked this book, there are moments where what was happening was a bit ambiguous... but the gory, bloody, watership down - esc vibe is phantasmagorical- and I am here for it.
November 12, 2024
Honestly I adored this - it was so different to anything I've read before. Sort of a crime-noir (scandi-noir?) but set in the woods. We get a Beagle father with a shady past trying to rebuild his life in the woodland community. He fishes. There's a toad that guards the school who wears a duffle coat and carries a musket. A wholesome hedgehog that runs the local store. A racoon who leads the underworld in the fells and his army of rat/weasel/etc lackies. This, I suppose, is a little like if Redwall and something like Tinker/Tailor had a book baby. Weird. But immersive. AND IT HAD ILLUSTATIONS. Which were glorious.
Dropped a star as the lack of badass females let me down. All of them are either sick, dead (or soon to be), crazy, accused criminals, background mothers, or a terrifying schoolmistress. With the exception of the landlady Karley the Muskrat. Who at least had some spice to her.
Dropped a star as the lack of badass females let me down. All of them are either sick, dead (or soon to be), crazy, accused criminals, background mothers, or a terrifying schoolmistress. With the exception of the landlady Karley the Muskrat. Who at least had some spice to her.
December 28, 2017
Christopher Irvin’s new novel, Ragged, is a page turner of a mystery/crime thriller, interwoven with a captivating story of family and community. The fact that all the characters are animals never distanced me from the drama; to the contrary, it provided a bracing reminder of the degree to which we’re driven by beastly instincts, which are never as far from the surface as we might wish to believe.
For my full review of the book, see http://smallpresspicks.com/ragged-lov....
For my full review of the book, see http://smallpresspicks.com/ragged-lov....
June 30, 2022
I enjoyed this but it finished really abruptly. I wanted more.
March 18, 2022
I didn't know what to expect from this book but I really liked it. It was well written with a good level of character development and an engaging and captivating plot. I couldn't put this book down and I read it really quickly. I loved it.
November 3, 2024
A really unusual concept, almost like wind in the willows dark, gritty cousin.
The world of the the woods was really well crafted, with the nice town of forest animals and the rubbish heap, on 'the wrong side of the river' with the rats and other vermin. The interactions between the different animals as humanoids who still had the genetic instincts of their species added more depth to their society and the problems they faced.
Overall, would really recommend, although I am still questioning how a deer, who is described as having hooves, can hold and swing an oil lamp/torch???
The world of the the woods was really well crafted, with the nice town of forest animals and the rubbish heap, on 'the wrong side of the river' with the rats and other vermin. The interactions between the different animals as humanoids who still had the genetic instincts of their species added more depth to their society and the problems they faced.
Overall, would really recommend, although I am still questioning how a deer, who is described as having hooves, can hold and swing an oil lamp/torch???
June 4, 2022
This book, this piece of literature (future classic to me) is fabulous, amazing , there aren’t enough superlatives for how good this is. It’s not a long read, but it’s powerful, it’s dark, I always love how these books always show how humans are more animalistic and vase, via this metaphor. The writing is fantastic, such a beautiful talent to take ��humanity’ and transplant it into ‘animals’ Ragged is a book that will be with you long after you read it and still find something new to ponder on. Ragged is an enjoyable, complex and interesting read, it’s definitely one you want to read, especially if you’re looking for something a bit different.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
June 3, 2022
This is quite an unusual and original fantasy, it's not the first thriller/mystery that features animals as main characters but it's surely the only i read that could be classified as a noir or hard boiled.
You can feel the influence of writers like Hammett or Chandler and of classic fantasy writers.
There's violence, there's sad moments but there's also lighter and witty parts.
it isn't a long story and it kept me turning pages.
I loved Cal and loved the well developed characters and the plot.
I'm curious about future books by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
You can feel the influence of writers like Hammett or Chandler and of classic fantasy writers.
There's violence, there's sad moments but there's also lighter and witty parts.
it isn't a long story and it kept me turning pages.
I loved Cal and loved the well developed characters and the plot.
I'm curious about future books by this author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
December 20, 2022
A fascinating and hugely enjoyable mix of Wild West crime drama and The Wind In The Willows! Definitely recommended
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
April 29, 2022
Ragged isn't your typical crime noir mystery. Yes, there's characters with dark pasts, criminals, death, and infection on the horizon that all put this small community in danger, but thanks to Christopher Irvin's wonderfully weird imagination Ragged does something very different; it sets it all in a community of woodland animals.
Cal is a dog who grew up outside of the woodland community, a member of the wasteland gang, a group of criminals and killers made up of rats, stoats, and weasels, headed up by Maurice, the cruel raccoon. But Cal has long since given up on that old life, having started a family and become a member of the woodland community. However, when his wife, Winifred, goes missing Cal tracks her down to the fells, where she's fled to escape her family, to keep them safe as the infection that courses through her blood turns her feral. Cal does the only thing he can, and ends his wife's suffering.
Keeping Winifred's infection and subsequent death a secret, lest the community think he and his family could be sick and cast them out, Cal tries to find out how his wife was infected in a bid to seek revenge. As Cal investigates the rest of the community tries to deal with the increasingly difficult problems that come from a lack of food and supplies as the local traders haven't visited the village in weeks. Everyone is on edge, waiting for help to come; and with infection and the denizens of the wasteland stirring more trouble is on the horizon for the citizens of the woodlands.
The blurb for Ragged described the story as being a cross between Wind in the Willows and Fargo, and that's a pretty apt description. The book features anthropomorphic animals yes, but it's not a story for kids, and has a much darker tone. The book begins with Winifred being infected, struggling to focus and to get away from her family, and the tone doesn't really get any lighter from there. There's a constant sense of unease and sadness that permeates the book, and as the reader you're waiting for something worse to happen as Cal and the others try their best to carry on.
The story has a large cast of characters, and if the book was featuring humans I think that perhaps it would be easy to get lost as you get dropped into this large community of people. However, thanks to the cast being made up of different animals it became a lot easier to keep track of who everyone was, and what kind of person they were. The characters aren't just regular humans in animal form, and have aspects of their animal personalities baked into them. Certain traits that would feel weird, or perhaps over-the-top in humans fit perfectly with the characters of Ragged, especially as they walk a fine line between civilised and feral.
The story is definitely improved by it being animals as well, and whilst this could have worked in some form with people, changing out the rabies infection to some other form of disease that could cause problems for the community, it just wouldn't have been the same. Irvin didn't just take a story and throw animals into it, but made a plot and a world that could only work because of the unique take on the characters. So much of this book comes back to it being these anthropomorphic animals that you don't even realise how much world building and clever creation has gone on because you're so wrapped up in the main mystery to realise.
I really do think that Ragged is one of those books that will give you different feelings whilst reading it to when you've finished, and that once you start looking back at it once its done you start to see how much bigger it was than you first thought, and how much more intricate everything is. Because of this I think this could easily be one of those books that people end up reading more than once, just to try and get more and more out of it.
Ragged was an enjoyable read, one that was more complex and interesting than I was first expecting, with some unique ideas and innovative takes on the genre that a lot of stories would struggle to get away with. One that's definitely worth checking out for fans of the genre who're looking for something a bit different.
Cal is a dog who grew up outside of the woodland community, a member of the wasteland gang, a group of criminals and killers made up of rats, stoats, and weasels, headed up by Maurice, the cruel raccoon. But Cal has long since given up on that old life, having started a family and become a member of the woodland community. However, when his wife, Winifred, goes missing Cal tracks her down to the fells, where she's fled to escape her family, to keep them safe as the infection that courses through her blood turns her feral. Cal does the only thing he can, and ends his wife's suffering.
Keeping Winifred's infection and subsequent death a secret, lest the community think he and his family could be sick and cast them out, Cal tries to find out how his wife was infected in a bid to seek revenge. As Cal investigates the rest of the community tries to deal with the increasingly difficult problems that come from a lack of food and supplies as the local traders haven't visited the village in weeks. Everyone is on edge, waiting for help to come; and with infection and the denizens of the wasteland stirring more trouble is on the horizon for the citizens of the woodlands.
The blurb for Ragged described the story as being a cross between Wind in the Willows and Fargo, and that's a pretty apt description. The book features anthropomorphic animals yes, but it's not a story for kids, and has a much darker tone. The book begins with Winifred being infected, struggling to focus and to get away from her family, and the tone doesn't really get any lighter from there. There's a constant sense of unease and sadness that permeates the book, and as the reader you're waiting for something worse to happen as Cal and the others try their best to carry on.
The story has a large cast of characters, and if the book was featuring humans I think that perhaps it would be easy to get lost as you get dropped into this large community of people. However, thanks to the cast being made up of different animals it became a lot easier to keep track of who everyone was, and what kind of person they were. The characters aren't just regular humans in animal form, and have aspects of their animal personalities baked into them. Certain traits that would feel weird, or perhaps over-the-top in humans fit perfectly with the characters of Ragged, especially as they walk a fine line between civilised and feral.
The story is definitely improved by it being animals as well, and whilst this could have worked in some form with people, changing out the rabies infection to some other form of disease that could cause problems for the community, it just wouldn't have been the same. Irvin didn't just take a story and throw animals into it, but made a plot and a world that could only work because of the unique take on the characters. So much of this book comes back to it being these anthropomorphic animals that you don't even realise how much world building and clever creation has gone on because you're so wrapped up in the main mystery to realise.
I really do think that Ragged is one of those books that will give you different feelings whilst reading it to when you've finished, and that once you start looking back at it once its done you start to see how much bigger it was than you first thought, and how much more intricate everything is. Because of this I think this could easily be one of those books that people end up reading more than once, just to try and get more and more out of it.
Ragged was an enjoyable read, one that was more complex and interesting than I was first expecting, with some unique ideas and innovative takes on the genre that a lot of stories would struggle to get away with. One that's definitely worth checking out for fans of the genre who're looking for something a bit different.
April 26, 2022
My thanks to Titan Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Ragged’ by Christopher Irvin in exchange for an honest review.
I was initially intrigued by the cover of this dark fantasy thriller showing a roaring bear and what appears to be a dog walking upright, wearing clothing and holding a torch.
Cal is a mutt living in the woods with his pups. In order to avenge the death of his wife Cal travels to the Rubbish Heap in the Fells where he spent his youth. The Heap is home to a murderous community of rats, weasels and the like ruled over by the mangy raccoon, Maurice. In returning there Cal is forced to come to terms with his criminal past.
Meanwhile, the woodland community is itself in crises as the vital supply wagon hasn’t arrived and a long winter looms ahead. In addition, there are rumours of a sickness (rabies) that could infect anyone, turning them violent. With their protector, Old Brown, the great bear asleep on the mountainside, can the town overcome their collective fears before these destroy them?
I certainly have no issues with novels that feature anthropomorphised animals. Usually they aren’t as gritty as ‘Ragged’ but it grew on me and I ended up reading the novel in a single sitting.
It’s not all darkness as there are lighter moments and witty dialogue. I especially appreciated GW (George Washington), the regal toad who provides protection for the local school with his harpoon gun. He was beyond brave.
Irwin clearly was honouring, ‘The Wind in the Willows’ and the three parts of ‘Ragged’ reference chapter titles of Grahame’s classic: ‘The River Bank’, ‘The Wild Wood’ and in a slight twist on the original: ‘The Piper at the Gates of Night’.
I found the characters memorable and well realised. There was also plenty of action including some fairly strong violence. Throughout I felt that Irvin’s detailed descriptions of the Woods, Fells, and their inhabitants brought the story vividly to life. The novel also has a few illustrations by Conor Nolan.
I found this an unusual crime thriller that proved very entertaining. It left me curious about the author’s other writings.
I was initially intrigued by the cover of this dark fantasy thriller showing a roaring bear and what appears to be a dog walking upright, wearing clothing and holding a torch.
Cal is a mutt living in the woods with his pups. In order to avenge the death of his wife Cal travels to the Rubbish Heap in the Fells where he spent his youth. The Heap is home to a murderous community of rats, weasels and the like ruled over by the mangy raccoon, Maurice. In returning there Cal is forced to come to terms with his criminal past.
Meanwhile, the woodland community is itself in crises as the vital supply wagon hasn’t arrived and a long winter looms ahead. In addition, there are rumours of a sickness (rabies) that could infect anyone, turning them violent. With their protector, Old Brown, the great bear asleep on the mountainside, can the town overcome their collective fears before these destroy them?
I certainly have no issues with novels that feature anthropomorphised animals. Usually they aren’t as gritty as ‘Ragged’ but it grew on me and I ended up reading the novel in a single sitting.
It’s not all darkness as there are lighter moments and witty dialogue. I especially appreciated GW (George Washington), the regal toad who provides protection for the local school with his harpoon gun. He was beyond brave.
Irwin clearly was honouring, ‘The Wind in the Willows’ and the three parts of ‘Ragged’ reference chapter titles of Grahame’s classic: ‘The River Bank’, ‘The Wild Wood’ and in a slight twist on the original: ‘The Piper at the Gates of Night’.
I found the characters memorable and well realised. There was also plenty of action including some fairly strong violence. Throughout I felt that Irvin’s detailed descriptions of the Woods, Fells, and their inhabitants brought the story vividly to life. The novel also has a few illustrations by Conor Nolan.
I found this an unusual crime thriller that proved very entertaining. It left me curious about the author’s other writings.
July 7, 2022
A book which contained some interesting characters, none of which I feel like I properly got to know unfortunately. It had some really good parts, but the ending was abrupt and overall I found the story to be uenven in both tone and pacing. Since so many people seem to love this book tho, it may just not be my cup of tea. Still, I wasn't bored whilst reading it at all and definitely wanted to finish it to know the ending.
April 25, 2025
This book was like a twist on nostalgia, Watership Down enhanced.
Firstly I loved the descriptive parts of this book it did a fantastic job of bringing you as the reader into the world of the criminal animal underworld alongside the day to day going on’s of the wood life. From the detail taken to describe the outfits the characters were wearing to a school run by a squirrel teacher.
This story follows Cal the reformed criminal trying his best to keep his boys safe, physically and mentally, whilst he seeks to revenge the death of his wife. The wife that had saved him from his previous life.
As the rumours spread of a disease killing creatures of the woods, then a gruesome murder of one of the well known citizens of the forest. Panic sets in and suspicions grow, but who will join Cal on his mission to solve the murder and stop anymore of his friends from dying.
I loved this twist on a crime thriller it was not what I expected but a great read that I devoured in one sitting. It is a success in a book about animals being a gritty read.
Firstly I loved the descriptive parts of this book it did a fantastic job of bringing you as the reader into the world of the criminal animal underworld alongside the day to day going on’s of the wood life. From the detail taken to describe the outfits the characters were wearing to a school run by a squirrel teacher.
This story follows Cal the reformed criminal trying his best to keep his boys safe, physically and mentally, whilst he seeks to revenge the death of his wife. The wife that had saved him from his previous life.
As the rumours spread of a disease killing creatures of the woods, then a gruesome murder of one of the well known citizens of the forest. Panic sets in and suspicions grow, but who will join Cal on his mission to solve the murder and stop anymore of his friends from dying.
I loved this twist on a crime thriller it was not what I expected but a great read that I devoured in one sitting. It is a success in a book about animals being a gritty read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2025
An unexpected murder mystery novel unusually located in a forest 🙃 it is well written, and the animal characters are explained in detail...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2025
Kinda mid. Not sure if I enjoyed it or not. Maybe I didn’t quite understand it
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