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The Deepest Black
A crime novel unlike any you've ever read―based on true events
Where does the line blur between fact and fiction?
Acclaimed author Randall Silvis is looking for a story―any story to follow up the series of gripping mystery novels that catapulted him to success. And then, out of nowhere, a story appears. A mysterious stranger named Thomas Kennaday tips Silvis off about a series of murders in a small Pennsylvania town, sending Silvis off on a tentative investigation in hopes of finding material for his next novel.
What Silvis discovers is much more than a typical small-town murder case, and it soon becomes clear that Kennaday, who seems to have disappeared into thin air, is somehow pulling the strings of the investigation from behind the scenes. Based on true events, The Deepest Black is a profoundly thoughtful, unsettling read, and a crime novel unlike any you've ever read before.
Where does the line blur between fact and fiction?
Acclaimed author Randall Silvis is looking for a story―any story to follow up the series of gripping mystery novels that catapulted him to success. And then, out of nowhere, a story appears. A mysterious stranger named Thomas Kennaday tips Silvis off about a series of murders in a small Pennsylvania town, sending Silvis off on a tentative investigation in hopes of finding material for his next novel.
What Silvis discovers is much more than a typical small-town murder case, and it soon becomes clear that Kennaday, who seems to have disappeared into thin air, is somehow pulling the strings of the investigation from behind the scenes. Based on true events, The Deepest Black is a profoundly thoughtful, unsettling read, and a crime novel unlike any you've ever read before.
368 pages, Paperback
Published August 2, 2022
43 people are currently reading
3575 people want to read
About the author
Randall Silvis
48 books306 followersRandall Silvis is the internationally acclaimed author of over a dozen novels, one story
collection, and one book of narrative nonfiction. Also a prize-winning playwright, a
produced screenwriter, and a prolific essayist, he has been published and produced in
virtually every field and genre of creative writing. His numerous essays, articles, poems and short stories have appeared in the Discovery Channel magazines, The Writer, Prism International, Short Story International, Manoa, and numerous other online and print magazines. His work has been translated into 10 languages.
Silvis’s many literary awards include two writing fellowships from the National
Endowment for the Arts, the prestigious Drue Heinz Literature Prize, a Fulbright Senior Scholar Research Award, six fellowships for his fiction, drama, and screenwriting from the Pennsylvania Council On the Arts, and an honorary Doctor of Letters degree awarded for “distinguished literary achievement.”
collection, and one book of narrative nonfiction. Also a prize-winning playwright, a
produced screenwriter, and a prolific essayist, he has been published and produced in
virtually every field and genre of creative writing. His numerous essays, articles, poems and short stories have appeared in the Discovery Channel magazines, The Writer, Prism International, Short Story International, Manoa, and numerous other online and print magazines. His work has been translated into 10 languages.
Silvis’s many literary awards include two writing fellowships from the National
Endowment for the Arts, the prestigious Drue Heinz Literature Prize, a Fulbright Senior Scholar Research Award, six fellowships for his fiction, drama, and screenwriting from the Pennsylvania Council On the Arts, and an honorary Doctor of Letters degree awarded for “distinguished literary achievement.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
October 3, 2022
I do not know where to begin with my review of The Deepest Black by Randall Silvis. It should also be noted that I did not want to finish reading, but finish it I did in the hope that all would become clear about these characters and this plot. Oddly, the author has inserted himself as the main character which made this feel like true crime rather than fiction. Three murders have occurred in Pennsylvania and Randall Silvis is approached by a stranger who gives him the details about these murders, assuring him that he should look into the case. From that point on, the story becomes muddled with characters popping in and out, here and there, some supposedly hallucinations. This is not my first Silvis novel and I was disappointed but this is probably just a one-off. The author was aiming for something completely different and that was accomplished at the expense of a good story. This is only my opinion and readers should form their own. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2022
I'm so surprised to be the first to rate and review this. Silvis is a fairly well known name. Well, at any rate, let's see if we can do this justice...
I really enjoyed Silvis’ Two Days Gone, so I remembered his name. But then he went into series, and I normally don’t and that was that for a while. Until now that is. I saw this one on Netgalley and it looked so exciting. The meta approach, the true crime story involving the author himself, all that made me think of Chasing the Boogeyman by Chizmar, which was one of my last year’s favorite reads and one of the best literary WTF surprises in ages.
And sure enough, this book begins so strongly. Silvis as himself is a solitary figure living somewhere in PA boonies, riding his motorcycle and trying to get back on the writing wagon after completing his mystery series. His sons are now adults who live away and without them, there’s only his devoted younger ladyfriend for company. Which is actually plenty because Silvis due to his misophonia is quite happy to be on his own most of the time.
Enter a strange young man who approaches Silvis out of the blue and tells him he knows the secrets to a local crime, well two crimes he claims are interconnected. Silvis is reluctant but soon enough his natural curiosity takes over and he finds himself falling further and further down into a conspiracy laden web of child abuse and UFOs and more.
It sounds fun and it is…until it overindulges. There’s no other way to describe it. Wherein Chasing the Boogeyman was very clearly a controlled literary experiment, this thing becomes so rambling, so overdone, so confusingly hallucinogenic that it’s difficult to credit it, class it or even rate it, really.
I mean, I loved the writing, but over time Silvis and his spiraling both became kind of…annoying? Maybe frustrating is more like it. Yeah, frustrating.
What was this novel trying to be? It’s unclear even after reading the conversation with the author. Even it’s a mind f*ck, it’s a success, albeit a muddled one. If it’s for real, then it kind of reads like Silvis’s coming out as a weirdo party where a man decides he’s at a place in his life where he can comfortably lay out every weird belief he holds dear for all the world to see.
Both are ok, but the latter is infinitely less interesting.
There are also some straight up confusing things about the book and I don’t know if this is because I was technically reading an ARC or deliberate, but Silvis’ age changes throughout the narrative form 50s to 60s and once he leaves a note signed Randall S. and then gets a callback and proceeds to be referred to as Silvis…things like that.
As far as his beliefs go…well, they are varied, some more out there than others. Aliens are a huge one. Men in Black and all that. As proof, he lists facts alongside speculations seamlessly, which can be confusing if you don’t do your own research.
It’s also difficult to review a book with the author as the protagonist because you are inadvertently reviewing both. I’m not sure how likable Silvis comes across. Not sure his vision of himself as a sexy old(er) dude on a nice red motorcycle holds up. I’m not sure his libertarian politics peeking through are all that fun. And boy, can he talk about his sons. Yes, we get it, you completed your biological imperative and made two babies. They turned out well. Fatherhood’s the best. Kudos. Life’s purpose found. Can we let it go now?
And in the end, there’s a fairly unsatisfying ending. Nothing definitive. No gotcha twists. Just more expansive expounding on the great mysteries of the universe and how much the character/author appreciates them.
They say the truth is out there. Randall Silvis might have found his. Or at least, he’s questing. Should you join him on his quest? That’s up for debate. This is definitely the sort of book where user mileage will vary. It drew me in from the first and then slowly let down, so it wasn’t an optimal reading experience, albeit certainly an interesting one. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
I really enjoyed Silvis’ Two Days Gone, so I remembered his name. But then he went into series, and I normally don’t and that was that for a while. Until now that is. I saw this one on Netgalley and it looked so exciting. The meta approach, the true crime story involving the author himself, all that made me think of Chasing the Boogeyman by Chizmar, which was one of my last year’s favorite reads and one of the best literary WTF surprises in ages.
And sure enough, this book begins so strongly. Silvis as himself is a solitary figure living somewhere in PA boonies, riding his motorcycle and trying to get back on the writing wagon after completing his mystery series. His sons are now adults who live away and without them, there’s only his devoted younger ladyfriend for company. Which is actually plenty because Silvis due to his misophonia is quite happy to be on his own most of the time.
Enter a strange young man who approaches Silvis out of the blue and tells him he knows the secrets to a local crime, well two crimes he claims are interconnected. Silvis is reluctant but soon enough his natural curiosity takes over and he finds himself falling further and further down into a conspiracy laden web of child abuse and UFOs and more.
It sounds fun and it is…until it overindulges. There’s no other way to describe it. Wherein Chasing the Boogeyman was very clearly a controlled literary experiment, this thing becomes so rambling, so overdone, so confusingly hallucinogenic that it’s difficult to credit it, class it or even rate it, really.
I mean, I loved the writing, but over time Silvis and his spiraling both became kind of…annoying? Maybe frustrating is more like it. Yeah, frustrating.
What was this novel trying to be? It’s unclear even after reading the conversation with the author. Even it’s a mind f*ck, it’s a success, albeit a muddled one. If it’s for real, then it kind of reads like Silvis’s coming out as a weirdo party where a man decides he’s at a place in his life where he can comfortably lay out every weird belief he holds dear for all the world to see.
Both are ok, but the latter is infinitely less interesting.
There are also some straight up confusing things about the book and I don’t know if this is because I was technically reading an ARC or deliberate, but Silvis’ age changes throughout the narrative form 50s to 60s and once he leaves a note signed Randall S. and then gets a callback and proceeds to be referred to as Silvis…things like that.
As far as his beliefs go…well, they are varied, some more out there than others. Aliens are a huge one. Men in Black and all that. As proof, he lists facts alongside speculations seamlessly, which can be confusing if you don’t do your own research.
It’s also difficult to review a book with the author as the protagonist because you are inadvertently reviewing both. I’m not sure how likable Silvis comes across. Not sure his vision of himself as a sexy old(er) dude on a nice red motorcycle holds up. I’m not sure his libertarian politics peeking through are all that fun. And boy, can he talk about his sons. Yes, we get it, you completed your biological imperative and made two babies. They turned out well. Fatherhood’s the best. Kudos. Life’s purpose found. Can we let it go now?
And in the end, there’s a fairly unsatisfying ending. Nothing definitive. No gotcha twists. Just more expansive expounding on the great mysteries of the universe and how much the character/author appreciates them.
They say the truth is out there. Randall Silvis might have found his. Or at least, he’s questing. Should you join him on his quest? That’s up for debate. This is definitely the sort of book where user mileage will vary. It drew me in from the first and then slowly let down, so it wasn’t an optimal reading experience, albeit certainly an interesting one. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
May 1, 2022
Wow . . . what a freaking ride. So, this starts out so intriguing. An author--literally THE author--is sitting down for lunch when a strangers approaches. The guy tells him about a new and mysterious crime that just occurred in his neighborhood and then tells him to talk to some woman to learn more. It sounds like a trap but it could be his big break.
I love the strange. Conspiracies of men in black, Missing 411, UFOs, and Indrid Cold. And that's where this story was headed . . until it past it and dove into something else entirely. If you're anything other than right-wing fighting pizza gate, you won't enjoy the author's views, opinions, and the last half of the book. It also gets so rambling and confusing.
It's good writing but it really lost its way. Nothing about the ending was satisfying.
I love the strange. Conspiracies of men in black, Missing 411, UFOs, and Indrid Cold. And that's where this story was headed . . until it past it and dove into something else entirely. If you're anything other than right-wing fighting pizza gate, you won't enjoy the author's views, opinions, and the last half of the book. It also gets so rambling and confusing.
It's good writing but it really lost its way. Nothing about the ending was satisfying.
December 8, 2025
“And certain women, I had learned over the years, find a man on a motorcycle irresistible.”
Nothing about this man, from riding a motorcycle to the book he wrote is irresistible. This book was weird. Bad weird. It was not at all what I thought it might be, and it was everything I didn’t want it to be.
An author seeks a story to write a book about and a random guy at a restaurant gives him one.
This book is loosely based on true events. I emphasis the word loosely. I would compare it to picking up the paper, seeing a story about a homicide, and making up your own story that has you as the lead character. That is what this is. A passing glance at a true crime turned into an “all about me” story.
“Little did I know, back when I first counted up my nine escapes from the angel of death, that she wasn’t yet done flirting with me.”
The writing style was poor, the plot was all over the place, and the characters were a joke. It is labeled a crime novel, but it is really the ramblings of an older man about his life and various conspiracy related things that he finds interesting with a splash of paranormal mixed in.
One star to a book I would never in a million years recommend to another person.
Nothing about this man, from riding a motorcycle to the book he wrote is irresistible. This book was weird. Bad weird. It was not at all what I thought it might be, and it was everything I didn’t want it to be.
An author seeks a story to write a book about and a random guy at a restaurant gives him one.
This book is loosely based on true events. I emphasis the word loosely. I would compare it to picking up the paper, seeing a story about a homicide, and making up your own story that has you as the lead character. That is what this is. A passing glance at a true crime turned into an “all about me” story.
“Little did I know, back when I first counted up my nine escapes from the angel of death, that she wasn’t yet done flirting with me.”
The writing style was poor, the plot was all over the place, and the characters were a joke. It is labeled a crime novel, but it is really the ramblings of an older man about his life and various conspiracy related things that he finds interesting with a splash of paranormal mixed in.
One star to a book I would never in a million years recommend to another person.
September 8, 2022
This book did not work for me. I kept losing the thread of the narrative, and my attention kept wandering as I read as none of the characters appealed to me.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
July 26, 2022
International bestselling author Randall Silvis delivers his 25th novel, THE DEEPEST BLACK, inspired by actual events—a mind-bending journey where the lines are blurred between fact and fiction. (love the cover)
The book starts strong and intriguing with the narrator, Randall Silvis (yes, himself), a crime novelist at a Chinese buffet.
He is approached by Thomas Kennaday and begins to tell a wild story about connections between a triple murder and a discovery of an abandoned baby.
He wants Silvis to look into the case.
Silvis, who lives in Pennsylvania's rural Mercer County, is searching for a subject for his next book, and when this guy provides him with details, he is intrigued.
Kennaday does not provide clear answers. Silvis cannot locate him after the conversation. Who is this man, and how does he know these things?
He seems to know what Silvis will do. The other clues wind up being frustrating.
Also frustrating for the reader, as well.
From here on out, I was lost. The book took a wacky downward spiral into conspiracy theories, men in black, UFOs, hells angels, paranormal, men in black, secret agencies that use time travel, aliens, Dan Aykroyd, New Age, realities, and all sorts of outlandish wild events.
Even though this is a favorite author of mine and a big fan, and I enjoyed his Ryan DeMarco series, a talented writer, this novel was definitely NOT my cup of tea. I was so looking forward to this one.
I thought it was going to be a crime thriller. Not paranormal. The setup was good and went downhill from there. It is not a classic whodunnit or mystery. It is bizarre. I do not have words to describe or try to review this novel adequately. I am being generous with the 3-star rating. My head is spinning, what is this? There are no words. Unfortunately, this one just did not work for me
STRANGE. BIZARRE. OUTLANDISH. FAROUT. CONFUSING. CONVOLUTED. UNSETTLING.
There may be a market for this genre; however, I am not one of those readers. Many fans may be shaking their heads in wonder. Hopefully, Silvis will soon return with the riveting crime/literary thrillers he is known for. I give him credit for being a risk taker.
I look forward to picking up his next book. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this one.
Thank you to #PoisonedPenPress and #NetGalley for an ARC to read, enjoy, and review.
Blog Review @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Aug 2, 2022
My Rating: 3 Stars
The book starts strong and intriguing with the narrator, Randall Silvis (yes, himself), a crime novelist at a Chinese buffet.
He is approached by Thomas Kennaday and begins to tell a wild story about connections between a triple murder and a discovery of an abandoned baby.
He wants Silvis to look into the case.
Silvis, who lives in Pennsylvania's rural Mercer County, is searching for a subject for his next book, and when this guy provides him with details, he is intrigued.
Kennaday does not provide clear answers. Silvis cannot locate him after the conversation. Who is this man, and how does he know these things?
He seems to know what Silvis will do. The other clues wind up being frustrating.
Also frustrating for the reader, as well.
From here on out, I was lost. The book took a wacky downward spiral into conspiracy theories, men in black, UFOs, hells angels, paranormal, men in black, secret agencies that use time travel, aliens, Dan Aykroyd, New Age, realities, and all sorts of outlandish wild events.
Even though this is a favorite author of mine and a big fan, and I enjoyed his Ryan DeMarco series, a talented writer, this novel was definitely NOT my cup of tea. I was so looking forward to this one.
I thought it was going to be a crime thriller. Not paranormal. The setup was good and went downhill from there. It is not a classic whodunnit or mystery. It is bizarre. I do not have words to describe or try to review this novel adequately. I am being generous with the 3-star rating. My head is spinning, what is this? There are no words. Unfortunately, this one just did not work for me
STRANGE. BIZARRE. OUTLANDISH. FAROUT. CONFUSING. CONVOLUTED. UNSETTLING.
There may be a market for this genre; however, I am not one of those readers. Many fans may be shaking their heads in wonder. Hopefully, Silvis will soon return with the riveting crime/literary thrillers he is known for. I give him credit for being a risk taker.
I look forward to picking up his next book. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend this one.
Thank you to #PoisonedPenPress and #NetGalley for an ARC to read, enjoy, and review.
Blog Review @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Aug 2, 2022
My Rating: 3 Stars
August 17, 2022
I’ve really enjoyed Silvis’ Ryan DeMarco series so I was excited to read his new one. I felt like the mystery part of this was interesting but the rest consisted of a lot of convoluted posturing and it fell completely flat for me. I did not really understand the point of it all. I hope Silvis will return to writing books more like his DeMarco series.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Poisoned Pen Press and Randall Silvis for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Poisoned Pen Press and Randall Silvis for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
September 3, 2022
I’d rate this as 3.5 stars if possible. One of the more bizarre books I’ve read and not at all what I was anticipating but an overall easy read. The author manages to throw in a multitude of conspiracy theories and far-out ideas into a supposed true-crime murder mystery. UFO’s, pizza gate, the Kennedy assassination and Mothman all in the same story !?!? However, references to the reported experiences of people like Dan Aykroyd and Catherine Oxenberg had me checking Google multiple times to read their accounts (I never knew Aykroyd described a real-life encounter with “MIB” and was a strong proponent of alien visitation). I liked the main characters of Silvis and Cara well enough. While I appreciate weird stories the ending was too loose for my taste.
July 8, 2022
I don’t know what I was expecting when I read the synopsis for this book. It sounded interesting - a mystery that’s a mix of fact & fiction, with a triple murder & an abandoned baby. However, this self-indulgent drivel was not it. I struggle with a lot of books written in the first person, and this had the addition of the author as a character, which made it even harder to get into. Adding to this are conversations on conspiracy theories, secret agencies that use time travel, aliens, and so much more. Then, there’s no real resolution to the crimes that were being investigated. For me, it felt like a lot of the book was just streams of rambling thoughts that the author needed to put down on paper. I ended up not caring about any of this & angry that I wasted my time with this book - I haven’t read any other books by this author, but if this is how he writes, his fans will probably enjoy this.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press & NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2022
To offer a balance to the current reviews: This is a tour de force. Reading style; I had to sit back and just listen, not try to follow but just listen. Brilliant writing and way to cover and speak to the topics presented. Excellent read! I do recommend it and I did not receive a copy, I borrowed it from my library, audiobook.
Edit: It reminds me of a non-fiction New York Trilogy.
Edit: It reminds me of a non-fiction New York Trilogy.
August 22, 2022
Bestselling author/playwright Randall Silvis is on the hunt for a story. He is looking to write a new book as a follow-up to the mystery series that made him famous. While eating at a Chinese food buffet, a man named Thomas Kennaday invites himself to join Randall at lunch, dropping a story about a series of murders in small-town Pennsylvania into Randall’s lap. Kennaday leaves, sticking Randall with the lunch bill. Randall does dig into the story told by Kennaday, and soon finds these are no ordinary murders. It becomes abundantly clear that Kennaday, who has completely disappeared after that lunch, is somehow still orchestrating the murder investigation. The rest of this very strange tale reads somewhere between fiction and reality, as Randall digs deeper and experiences events that can only be described as “otherworldly.”
Told in first person narrative, the word that comes to mind to best describe this work is meta fiction (or maybe meta reality!?) The reader must willingly suspend disbelief in spite of the book being “based on a true story.” In all honesty, I’m not sure where fiction becomes reality or reality becomes fiction. Did a “spirit attack” or a panic attack happen? Did the “men in black” appear and disappear in a split second? Did Kennaday know what would take place in advance? Did Randall actually experience omens and portends or merely imagine them? The work contains a few genres wrapped into one, and while both page-turning and thought provoking, it also left me feeling like I read pure fiction. It’s not a book for everyone; it will read somewhat true to some and purely fictional to others.
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Randall Silvas, and Poisoned Pen Press for the ability to read and review this ARC.
Told in first person narrative, the word that comes to mind to best describe this work is meta fiction (or maybe meta reality!?) The reader must willingly suspend disbelief in spite of the book being “based on a true story.” In all honesty, I’m not sure where fiction becomes reality or reality becomes fiction. Did a “spirit attack” or a panic attack happen? Did the “men in black” appear and disappear in a split second? Did Kennaday know what would take place in advance? Did Randall actually experience omens and portends or merely imagine them? The work contains a few genres wrapped into one, and while both page-turning and thought provoking, it also left me feeling like I read pure fiction. It’s not a book for everyone; it will read somewhat true to some and purely fictional to others.
I’d like to thank NetGalley, Randall Silvas, and Poisoned Pen Press for the ability to read and review this ARC.
July 31, 2022
The Deepest Black by Randall Silvis is a very highly recommended metafiction true crime memoir where Silvis is the main character.
When Silvis can't come up with the idea for a new novel he just happens to meet a stranger at a buffet who tells him about a murder case in a nearby small town in Pennsylvania’s rural Mercer County. Thomas Kennaday tells him some vague details about a local mystery involving an abandoned baby and the shooting deaths of two adults and a child. Then he mentions a young woman who will have more details, Phoebe, a resident of the house where the shootings occurred. The problem is that she only reveals small portions of the story as dictated by Kennaday, and there is much more going on that is apparent in her comments. This sends Silvis on a quest to uncover what really happened and why Kennaday told him about it.
Written like a true crime story this odd genre bending novel follows the plot of a true crime novel and a mystery but also veers off into supernatural. Silvis is the main character and narrator. I may be an outlier, but I though it was not only totally engrossing, but un-put-downable. Sure there are references to various collusions, unknown sections of alphabet agencies, an abuse ring, inexplicable events, spirituality, UFOs, oppression, mind control, men in black, and more, but it all made sense within the narrative. I appreciated his honest opinions about events he is observing in the novel.
Obviously, this is a novel that will work brilliantly for some readers and not for others.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Poison Pen Press via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/0...
When Silvis can't come up with the idea for a new novel he just happens to meet a stranger at a buffet who tells him about a murder case in a nearby small town in Pennsylvania’s rural Mercer County. Thomas Kennaday tells him some vague details about a local mystery involving an abandoned baby and the shooting deaths of two adults and a child. Then he mentions a young woman who will have more details, Phoebe, a resident of the house where the shootings occurred. The problem is that she only reveals small portions of the story as dictated by Kennaday, and there is much more going on that is apparent in her comments. This sends Silvis on a quest to uncover what really happened and why Kennaday told him about it.
Written like a true crime story this odd genre bending novel follows the plot of a true crime novel and a mystery but also veers off into supernatural. Silvis is the main character and narrator. I may be an outlier, but I though it was not only totally engrossing, but un-put-downable. Sure there are references to various collusions, unknown sections of alphabet agencies, an abuse ring, inexplicable events, spirituality, UFOs, oppression, mind control, men in black, and more, but it all made sense within the narrative. I appreciated his honest opinions about events he is observing in the novel.
Obviously, this is a novel that will work brilliantly for some readers and not for others.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Poison Pen Press via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2022/0...
did-not-finish
August 27, 2022I just cannot get into this. The author has made himself the main character and his thoughts are meandering and annoying and blending fact and fiction. Just not my jam right now.
Many thanks to the publisher anyway for a free digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
Many thanks to the publisher anyway for a free digital galley in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2022
I'd like to know what parts of this are based on a true story. Like, WTF?! I'm honest in my reviews and this one is a doozy, so prepare yourselves.
The synopsis of this one sounded so good but I was honestly not a fan. This features the author as the main character and narrator. He is approached by a man who tips him off to a local shooting and a baby abandoned in the woods and then disappears.
I was interested at this point and then it quickly went off the rails. It was essentially a long rambling of about every conspiracy theory out there. Pedophilia rings, aliens, secret government agencies, time travel, evil spirits, astral projection. You name it, it was more than likely covered here. He went way too deep into a lot of it. Some of it honestly felt like a long-winded lecture from a believer of Q Anon. Double yikes.
I finished this because I was wanting some kind of closure on the original mysteries he set out to investigate and others he picked up along the way. I wish I hadn't. So much of the ending was speculation and I was left with a lot more questions than answers.
I've never read anything by this author before, so fans of his work might enjoy this. Thank you to netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this one sounded so good but I was honestly not a fan. This features the author as the main character and narrator. He is approached by a man who tips him off to a local shooting and a baby abandoned in the woods and then disappears.
I was interested at this point and then it quickly went off the rails. It was essentially a long rambling of about every conspiracy theory out there. Pedophilia rings, aliens, secret government agencies, time travel, evil spirits, astral projection. You name it, it was more than likely covered here. He went way too deep into a lot of it. Some of it honestly felt like a long-winded lecture from a believer of Q Anon. Double yikes.
I finished this because I was wanting some kind of closure on the original mysteries he set out to investigate and others he picked up along the way. I wish I hadn't. So much of the ending was speculation and I was left with a lot more questions than answers.
I've never read anything by this author before, so fans of his work might enjoy this. Thank you to netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 30, 2022
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
It is with a heavy heart that I rate/review The Deepest Black. The Ryan Demarco series is one of my all-time favorite detective mystery series, and I fell in love with Randall Silvis' writing. However, shortly after the start of this book, I just wanted it to be over. In my opinion, it was tedious and boring. I assumed I would love a story that melds fact and fiction and stars Randal Silvis himself as the narrator. Yet I did not, it was an exhausting journey of ramblings, time slips, visions, discussion of sex trafficking and pedophilia in the world, evil spirits and conspiracy theories.
It is with a heavy heart that I rate/review The Deepest Black. The Ryan Demarco series is one of my all-time favorite detective mystery series, and I fell in love with Randall Silvis' writing. However, shortly after the start of this book, I just wanted it to be over. In my opinion, it was tedious and boring. I assumed I would love a story that melds fact and fiction and stars Randal Silvis himself as the narrator. Yet I did not, it was an exhausting journey of ramblings, time slips, visions, discussion of sex trafficking and pedophilia in the world, evil spirits and conspiracy theories.
July 25, 2022
This is not the classic whodunnit or mystery as it's a sort of meta book and the author is also the narrator.
If you love Anthony Horowitz and the "Magpie Murders" you can appreciated this pastiche that mixes elements and I found highly entertaining.
It worked in a bizarre way and I had fun.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
If you love Anthony Horowitz and the "Magpie Murders" you can appreciated this pastiche that mixes elements and I found highly entertaining.
It worked in a bizarre way and I had fun.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
September 24, 2022
Well, THAT Was Different
This one takes an open mind. It starts out seeming to be a well-written thriller with a seriously creepy edge. I was enjoying it immensely. Even when things leaned more toward the "crazy with a side of paranoia" I was still all in.
It was okay to me that the main character was into a lot of New Age, astral spirituality stuff. It's not my speed, but the story was still interesting. It's not imperative that I agree with a character's beliefs to enjoy a good read. But somehow it just lost traction about 75% of the way through the story. There's a fuzzy line where it goes from being a great story to the realization that the author isn't writing fiction. I like it better when I thought it was fiction-- when I didn't feel like the author was trying to stretch my mind with celestial possibilities.
It wasn't the "out there" concepts that had me disassociating with the characters, but rather the change in tone and timbre of the story. Perhaps I'm just left with a sense that the story didn't tie up in a neat little bow before the end of the book, but then that wouldn't really be possible.
Basically, this is a book that the reader will have to decide on individually. Are you into the idea that we're not alone in the universe? Do the X-Files and Men in Black intrigue you? You'll probably enjoy this read then. But if you're easily offended by the broader concept of spirituality in a New Age sense, or if you're strictly looking for a good thriller, you might want to skip this one. If you're an audiobook listener who deplores the stutter-step, halting style of some narrators (the James T. Kirk style), then skip the audio.
This one takes an open mind. It starts out seeming to be a well-written thriller with a seriously creepy edge. I was enjoying it immensely. Even when things leaned more toward the "crazy with a side of paranoia" I was still all in.
It was okay to me that the main character was into a lot of New Age, astral spirituality stuff. It's not my speed, but the story was still interesting. It's not imperative that I agree with a character's beliefs to enjoy a good read. But somehow it just lost traction about 75% of the way through the story. There's a fuzzy line where it goes from being a great story to the realization that the author isn't writing fiction. I like it better when I thought it was fiction-- when I didn't feel like the author was trying to stretch my mind with celestial possibilities.
It wasn't the "out there" concepts that had me disassociating with the characters, but rather the change in tone and timbre of the story. Perhaps I'm just left with a sense that the story didn't tie up in a neat little bow before the end of the book, but then that wouldn't really be possible.
Basically, this is a book that the reader will have to decide on individually. Are you into the idea that we're not alone in the universe? Do the X-Files and Men in Black intrigue you? You'll probably enjoy this read then. But if you're easily offended by the broader concept of spirituality in a New Age sense, or if you're strictly looking for a good thriller, you might want to skip this one. If you're an audiobook listener who deplores the stutter-step, halting style of some narrators (the James T. Kirk style), then skip the audio.
October 2, 2022
I'll concede reading fiction isn't a productive activity. An occasional chuckle, a surprise or an emotional revelation occurs, but looking back there isn't a lot you're taking away from reading these books. This book falls below that level, unless I missed it as a complete parody. Silvis contends it's a story about a triple murder in a rural Pennsylvania town and devolves into explaining the meaning of certain numbers, magic mushrooms and his own mental imbalance.
As I said earlier, unless I missed the point and Silvis is following in the footsteps of Chris Carter (the X-files creator) this is a complete waste of time.
As I said earlier, unless I missed the point and Silvis is following in the footsteps of Chris Carter (the X-files creator) this is a complete waste of time.
October 6, 2022
2.5 stars….started so good but i got so lost 😭😭 a little bit like ahs asylum in the sense that there was waaaaay too much paranormal shit happening and it lost sight of the original plot
September 17, 2022
I loved RandallSilvis Two Days Gone and was eager to read this new one. This mystery was very dark with elements of the supernatural and time warps. It dealt with a crime involving a pedophilia ring whose members includeed moviie stars and high level government officials. I did not like how dark it got. Not at all as good as Two Days Gone.
June 18, 2022
As a long time fan of Mr. Silvis and his Ryan DeMarco series, I looked forward to reading his newest outing, The Deepest Black. This “meta” mystery features the author as the protagonist at the center of the story. A triple homicide, abandoned child, the occult, eastern mysticism and conspiracy theories are all thrown together in a dizzying stew of a story that is compelling at times, confusing at others.
The author is hugely talented and, obviously, willing to take risks. Unfortunately, this one just did not work for me though I can appreciate the effort. 3 Stars
My thanks to Net Galley, Source Books and Mr. Silvis for the opportunity to review an advance copy of The Deepest Black
The author is hugely talented and, obviously, willing to take risks. Unfortunately, this one just did not work for me though I can appreciate the effort. 3 Stars
My thanks to Net Galley, Source Books and Mr. Silvis for the opportunity to review an advance copy of The Deepest Black
August 1, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The premise for this book was very interesting to me. Randall Silvis takes a meta approach by using himself as the narrator and protagonist in his own crime novel. Unfortunately the execution was poor. Portrayed in the novel as an introverted author who had written himself into a corner after his last series, I wonder if Silvis should have scrapped this one as well.
The Deepest Black reads more like a self-insert fan fiction and an opportunity to push a certain brand of conspiracy the author subscribes to than an investigative crime novel.
If you are a fan of author self-inserts or of Silvis himself you may still enjoy this book, but it was a bit of a dud for me.
The premise for this book was very interesting to me. Randall Silvis takes a meta approach by using himself as the narrator and protagonist in his own crime novel. Unfortunately the execution was poor. Portrayed in the novel as an introverted author who had written himself into a corner after his last series, I wonder if Silvis should have scrapped this one as well.
The Deepest Black reads more like a self-insert fan fiction and an opportunity to push a certain brand of conspiracy the author subscribes to than an investigative crime novel.
If you are a fan of author self-inserts or of Silvis himself you may still enjoy this book, but it was a bit of a dud for me.
July 27, 2022
The Deepest Black is a tough one for me to review.
I am a big fan of Randall Silvis and I like the narrator being the author .
The book started out strong and I followed the same clues that Mr. Silvis did but I got frustrated at points.
I did finish the book as I was still intrigued and wanted to know what happened.
The Deepest Black although not my favourite of Randall Silvis is still certainly worth the read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the privilege of reading and reviewing this book.
I am a big fan of Randall Silvis and I like the narrator being the author .
The book started out strong and I followed the same clues that Mr. Silvis did but I got frustrated at points.
I did finish the book as I was still intrigued and wanted to know what happened.
The Deepest Black although not my favourite of Randall Silvis is still certainly worth the read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the privilege of reading and reviewing this book.
August 12, 2022
Honestly, I don’t know what to make of this book. It’s a murder mystery and also about a kidnapped baby. There’s a lot of conspiracy theories and just ridiculousness.
The author is also the narrator in the book and I don’t think it works all that great. I think he’s supposed to be a meta-hero but it comes off as annoying. I DNF’ed at 34%. This one was not for me.
The author is also the narrator in the book and I don’t think it works all that great. I think he’s supposed to be a meta-hero but it comes off as annoying. I DNF’ed at 34%. This one was not for me.
January 1, 2023
I’ve enjoyed previous books by Silvas, but this book was a tough read. The plot was intriguing, but the story has two many rabbit trails that were onerous to get through. The mystery itself was good, but there was just too much to wade through to find it.
December 10, 2022
This was a challenging book for me to rate - one that made me wish I used half stars for my ratings. If I did, I would have give it 3.5 stars, because it truly fell in between "Liked It" and "Really Liked It."
Part of the problem is something I've mentioned in earlier reviews of Randy's works. I've known Randy for almost 40 years. He was my 9th grade writing teacher at Knoch High School in Saxonburg, PA. And I starred in the world premieres of two of his plays: "The Riddle of the Sphinx" at the Butler, PA Little Theatre and "Driven to Acts of Kindness" at Clarion University (also in Western PA). Therefore, I hardly can be considered an objective reviewer.
Having said that, I objectively believe Randy is a brilliant writer. Unfortunately, he has never gained the notoriety he deserves because his writing falls between two genres - something he confesses to in the author interview that appears at the end of this first installment in the Ryan DeMarco series. Basically, his books are too intricate and plot driven for "literature." But they're also too literary for the "mysteries" genre.
And this book? Well, good luck categorizing it. Is it a mystery? Kind of. Is it a horror book? Hmm...not quite. Is it a speculative fiction book? Perhaps. The one thing I'm certain of is that it's VERY different from his recently concluded Ryan DeMarco series.
The book follows the first-person, author-as-protagonist format popularized in Anthony Horowitz' Hawthorne series. Therefore, Randy the author is Randy the main character.
As you know, I never go deeply into plots in my reviews to avoid spoilers. And in this case, I'm not sure I could adequately describe it even if I wanted to.
But at the 30,000-foot level, the premise is that Randy is saved from a severe bout of writer's block when he encounters a mysterious stranger named Thomas Kennaday, who draws the author into investigating a triple homicide and abandoned baby case. As Randy's investigation intensifies, he encounters a lot more than he bargained for, calling into question the very existence of reality as he (and the reader) understands it.
I'll leave it at that.
It's an interesting, unique plot. But at times it drags, due to Randy (the protagonist, not Randy the author) not being able to unravel the mysteries he encounters. Also, it takes a fair amount of suspended disbelief to accept some of the action. Finally, both my wife and I were a little disappointed with what was a less-than-dramatic ending.
Having said that, I thought the book had glimpses of Randy's phenomenal writing. Here are just two favorite examples of mine:
"...the only experiences that give any true weight to life are love and death; the first experience suggests to us that we are a part of something more significant than our own egos, and the second experience provides the proof." [pp. 126-127]
"Grief is a very selfish emotion, as is wanting to hold on to a suffering loved one as long as possible. Grief is little more than feeling sorry for yourself, and grief plays on a loop at funerals." [p. 164]
In the end, I was torn between three and four stars, as I alluded to above. I liked it...I just didn't like a lot.
Part of the problem is something I've mentioned in earlier reviews of Randy's works. I've known Randy for almost 40 years. He was my 9th grade writing teacher at Knoch High School in Saxonburg, PA. And I starred in the world premieres of two of his plays: "The Riddle of the Sphinx" at the Butler, PA Little Theatre and "Driven to Acts of Kindness" at Clarion University (also in Western PA). Therefore, I hardly can be considered an objective reviewer.
Having said that, I objectively believe Randy is a brilliant writer. Unfortunately, he has never gained the notoriety he deserves because his writing falls between two genres - something he confesses to in the author interview that appears at the end of this first installment in the Ryan DeMarco series. Basically, his books are too intricate and plot driven for "literature." But they're also too literary for the "mysteries" genre.
And this book? Well, good luck categorizing it. Is it a mystery? Kind of. Is it a horror book? Hmm...not quite. Is it a speculative fiction book? Perhaps. The one thing I'm certain of is that it's VERY different from his recently concluded Ryan DeMarco series.
The book follows the first-person, author-as-protagonist format popularized in Anthony Horowitz' Hawthorne series. Therefore, Randy the author is Randy the main character.
As you know, I never go deeply into plots in my reviews to avoid spoilers. And in this case, I'm not sure I could adequately describe it even if I wanted to.
But at the 30,000-foot level, the premise is that Randy is saved from a severe bout of writer's block when he encounters a mysterious stranger named Thomas Kennaday, who draws the author into investigating a triple homicide and abandoned baby case. As Randy's investigation intensifies, he encounters a lot more than he bargained for, calling into question the very existence of reality as he (and the reader) understands it.
I'll leave it at that.
It's an interesting, unique plot. But at times it drags, due to Randy (the protagonist, not Randy the author) not being able to unravel the mysteries he encounters. Also, it takes a fair amount of suspended disbelief to accept some of the action. Finally, both my wife and I were a little disappointed with what was a less-than-dramatic ending.
Having said that, I thought the book had glimpses of Randy's phenomenal writing. Here are just two favorite examples of mine:
"...the only experiences that give any true weight to life are love and death; the first experience suggests to us that we are a part of something more significant than our own egos, and the second experience provides the proof." [pp. 126-127]
"Grief is a very selfish emotion, as is wanting to hold on to a suffering loved one as long as possible. Grief is little more than feeling sorry for yourself, and grief plays on a loop at funerals." [p. 164]
In the end, I was torn between three and four stars, as I alluded to above. I liked it...I just didn't like a lot.
December 31, 2023
I found this book to be totally engaging yet confusing at the same time. The premise of the author himself trying to figure out the crime was different than any other book I've read, but the underlying questions that arise from the investigation added another level of fiction to what was a true crime... or so the reader is lead to believe. Although the blurring of fact and fiction added a heightened interest to the story and kept me on edge, the conclusions of conspiracies the author lists in Chapter 39 as the reasoning for the murders at the end of the story are way too far fetched and crazy to be believable. They border on the wacko Q and Maga movement garbage conspiracies. So, unfortunately, he kind of lost me on that. Otherwise, the rest of the story was good, characters were well fleshed out and his prose is exceptional. A good story to get lost in, of course, except for those out there conclusions as his analysis of how and why the murders happened. But his writing was excellent and I am still of fan of his work. The eerie men in black, the oddness of this story and the way the author tells it is definitely worth taking the time to read it.
May 12, 2024
This book isn’t what I expected at all. It started as a very intriguing murder mystery that devolved into science fiction with a myriad of daft conspiracy theories akin to QAnon conspiracists.
I felt like some characters were hard to keep track of and there weren’t really clear cut answers at the end. Which sometimes works out for certain books, but this one was very unsatisfying. For murder mysteries, the end game of the book is neatly tie together things and provide a conclusion of the story. This book didn’t really do that and some characters felt abandoned.
I definitely think some may love this book if they enjoy books on the sci-fi side or even spiritual side, I just wish this was mentioned in the synopsis. I was very hopeful for this story based on the synopsis alone, but ended up longing for the ending.
Additionally, the author’s opinions about the current state of affairs had little to do with the actual plot line. It seems like the author just wanted a book to plant his beliefs in.
I felt like some characters were hard to keep track of and there weren’t really clear cut answers at the end. Which sometimes works out for certain books, but this one was very unsatisfying. For murder mysteries, the end game of the book is neatly tie together things and provide a conclusion of the story. This book didn’t really do that and some characters felt abandoned.
I definitely think some may love this book if they enjoy books on the sci-fi side or even spiritual side, I just wish this was mentioned in the synopsis. I was very hopeful for this story based on the synopsis alone, but ended up longing for the ending.
Additionally, the author’s opinions about the current state of affairs had little to do with the actual plot line. It seems like the author just wanted a book to plant his beliefs in.
August 25, 2022
This is not your typical Randall Silvas story of Ryan DeMarco solving cases. This is first person Randall as a writer who needs to write, but nothing is working out for him until a man sits at his table in a restaurant and tells him of a recent local multiple murder. Randall, being an introvert who has lately been all in his head and sitting out the world was not aware of this happening, but decides to investigate. What he finds could be something unexplainable by ideas we have on this planet.
Based on some of his real life other worldly experiences, he does not presume to have answers for everything and some is left to our own ideas and experiences and beliefs.
I liked the first person relating of this story and while I was expecting more, based on previous books, I was glad I read it and feel it is worth reading and deserves at least 3 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion
Based on some of his real life other worldly experiences, he does not presume to have answers for everything and some is left to our own ideas and experiences and beliefs.
I liked the first person relating of this story and while I was expecting more, based on previous books, I was glad I read it and feel it is worth reading and deserves at least 3 stars.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest opinion
October 4, 2022
The Deepest Black by Randall Silvis.
A Novel.
A triple homicide in a small Pennsylvania town is no small event. And when one of the locals is a writer with a hefty dose of curiosity, the secrets that people have been trying their best to hide never stay hidden for long...
Acclaimed author Randall Silvis pushes the boundaries of crime fiction with The Deepest Black, a gripping and twisty novel written in the style of a true crime memoir that blends fact and fiction and leaves the reader guessing every step of the way..
I found this slow. I read it in the hope it would pick up. 3*.
A Novel.
A triple homicide in a small Pennsylvania town is no small event. And when one of the locals is a writer with a hefty dose of curiosity, the secrets that people have been trying their best to hide never stay hidden for long...
Acclaimed author Randall Silvis pushes the boundaries of crime fiction with The Deepest Black, a gripping and twisty novel written in the style of a true crime memoir that blends fact and fiction and leaves the reader guessing every step of the way..
I found this slow. I read it in the hope it would pick up. 3*.
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