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The Redemption of Howard Marsh #1
Bringing Home The Rain: The Redemption of Howard Marsh 1
Howard Marsh is a lot of a liar, a thief, a poor man’s wizard. He’s the product of a miserable county with more dirt roads than paved; where poverty and loss is the order of the day. He’s a man haunted by his past, and has yet to find any reason to try and piece himself back together. Where we find him is at the bottom, eking out a living as a water witch, a copper thief, a finder of lost things. Living in a storage shed and trying to maintain what's left of the frayed relationships of the few family members who will still talk to him. Untrained, he uses the drugs that ravage his body to fuel his magic. Within these pages Marsh will work to unravel two supernatural mysteries as only a redneck wizard poorly, and with much cursing. In Bringing Home the Rain he has to piece together just why it hasn’t rained in months within the bounds of a perfect circle just south of town. And in Dancing With Your Demons he’s on the trail of a missing woman who’s now infamous son once burned down a church. He is Howard Marsh, the Methgician. He’s a travesty...but he’s the best hope Jubal County has.
288 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2021
118 people are currently reading
573 people want to read
About the author
Bob McGough
12 books55 followersBorn and raised in South Alabama, Bob is an author, podcaster, tabletop game designer, and all around hot mess. His cause of death will most likely result from one of the hitchhikers with he picks up reckless abandon. A study in contrasts, he once skinny-dipped at a wedding and is also an Eagle Scout. He has two useless college degrees, has roadied for bands, and broke his wrist in a wall of death at a Divine Heresy show. He’s written for video games, designed board games, and owns a disturbing number of roleplaying games. When he was eight he give a camel a coke in Israel and got flashed in Paris. When he grew up he watched a monkey steal a man’s wallet in Costa Rica. He’s made passible podcasts, filmed terrible short horror movies, and been the producer on a trio of albums you've never heard of. Thriving on the groans of those he has punned around he spends far too much time nervously laughing. He once dug up a dead cow in a creek thinking it was a human cadaver and had a cousin that’s a water witch. In college he gave haunted ghost tours (even though he’s pretty sure ghosts aren’t real). He’s been stalked, gave a Prophet a lift, and been stagger drunk in more states than he would care to admit.
More relevant he wrote these books, some other books, and has been published by a number of other folks with questionable judgement. The fictional things he writes sometimes come weirdly true.
He lives in the middle of Alabama with his amazing LadyWife, the Kiddo, and a number of portly cats.
More relevant he wrote these books, some other books, and has been published by a number of other folks with questionable judgement. The fictional things he writes sometimes come weirdly true.
He lives in the middle of Alabama with his amazing LadyWife, the Kiddo, and a number of portly cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
June 6, 2025
This was a fun read!
The premise seemed silly to me when I first heard about this book. Read for the shirt I was impressed by the written style. It was smooth clean written, and the author already knows how to get to the characters head.
And what a character to follow around. It is you typical outside the law character that is smarter than the situation they live in would suggest, and even if they don’t admit to themselves, they have morals than their actions would suggest.
What starts out as a junky wizard being forced to help the law enforcers ends up going deep into the realm of black magic, with a great balance between drama mystery and urban fantasy.
This was such a short read and is one that I think I will revisit often. There are many equals and I’m excited to start on those!
The premise seemed silly to me when I first heard about this book. Read for the shirt I was impressed by the written style. It was smooth clean written, and the author already knows how to get to the characters head.
And what a character to follow around. It is you typical outside the law character that is smarter than the situation they live in would suggest, and even if they don’t admit to themselves, they have morals than their actions would suggest.
What starts out as a junky wizard being forced to help the law enforcers ends up going deep into the realm of black magic, with a great balance between drama mystery and urban fantasy.
This was such a short read and is one that I think I will revisit often. There are many equals and I’m excited to start on those!
March 6, 2023
Howard Marsh isn’t a role model. For anything. His life sucks, and he has no career prospects or successful relationship. Hobbies? Meth, weed, LSD, heavier stuff. Sure, he has a little magical talent, but so what? Almost anyone who can do magic does it better than him.
Except, Howard learned a trick and figured he could use heavy drugs to gap the difference in power. That’s useful, especially that he attracts troubles and occult threats. The series revolves around Howard solving supernatural mysteries. Bringing Home The Rain contains two novellas /stories, both told in short chapters and suspenseful.
I liked the way McGough introduced the world, the rural setting, and the protagonist. Rather than relying on unnecessary explanations, we discover the world through Howard’s drug-addled perspective and his insights into various things he experiences/investigates. Witchcraft doesn’t make him a fortune, but it helps him to get by. And to buy drugs to further destroy himself.
Howard is Howard’s main antagonist, but he has to deal with more than just his self-destructive behaviour (for example with the possessed Turkey or the over-zealous Reverend). Locals know Howard does drugs and is a small-time thief, but they tolerate him because he’s useful. If Bringing Back The Rain lacks anything, it’s the over-arching plot that would hook readers early on. I didn’t mind, though. Each story held its own.
There’s something addictive in Howard’s perspective and short chapters that make the story fly by. Deep inside, Howard is a decent, and surprisingly likable, guy who will stand for the weaker and fight injustice. We don’t see moments in which drugs take him to the darkest places, but it’s in-between the lines. Now, I live in Europe and have no experience or knowledge of America’s rural parts, but the setting felt very real. As did descriptions of people’s motivations and lives.
Pick it up if you’re in the mood for rural fantasy set in backwoods Alabama. Grab it if you want to read about a redneck witch and a drug addict solving occult mysteries. If you’re looking for good urban fantasy with horror elements, yes, you guessed right. Go for it. It’s fun!
Except, Howard learned a trick and figured he could use heavy drugs to gap the difference in power. That’s useful, especially that he attracts troubles and occult threats. The series revolves around Howard solving supernatural mysteries. Bringing Home The Rain contains two novellas /stories, both told in short chapters and suspenseful.
I liked the way McGough introduced the world, the rural setting, and the protagonist. Rather than relying on unnecessary explanations, we discover the world through Howard’s drug-addled perspective and his insights into various things he experiences/investigates. Witchcraft doesn’t make him a fortune, but it helps him to get by. And to buy drugs to further destroy himself.
Howard is Howard’s main antagonist, but he has to deal with more than just his self-destructive behaviour (for example with the possessed Turkey or the over-zealous Reverend). Locals know Howard does drugs and is a small-time thief, but they tolerate him because he’s useful. If Bringing Back The Rain lacks anything, it’s the over-arching plot that would hook readers early on. I didn’t mind, though. Each story held its own.
There’s something addictive in Howard’s perspective and short chapters that make the story fly by. Deep inside, Howard is a decent, and surprisingly likable, guy who will stand for the weaker and fight injustice. We don’t see moments in which drugs take him to the darkest places, but it’s in-between the lines. Now, I live in Europe and have no experience or knowledge of America’s rural parts, but the setting felt very real. As did descriptions of people’s motivations and lives.
Pick it up if you’re in the mood for rural fantasy set in backwoods Alabama. Grab it if you want to read about a redneck witch and a drug addict solving occult mysteries. If you’re looking for good urban fantasy with horror elements, yes, you guessed right. Go for it. It’s fun!
March 30, 2023
What a pleasant surprise, based on a GR friend’s positive review. I really enjoyed this book, a light, surprisingly satisfying, course between the heavier dishes of the Fantasy menu that I usually indulge in.
It’s actually two separate back to back tales about Howard Marsh, a small time thief, bum and drug user in rural contemporary Alabama. He’s also a minor magician; water divining, finding lost objects, rarely doing anything ‘high explosive’ that traditional wizards indulge in. Folk magic, I guess, a skill he mostly keeps concealed. I liked the updated scenario, a big change from the medieval style worlds, or Wuxia, of most modern magical fantasy and I thought it worked well.
Howard has serious drug and alcohol abuse problems and no real direction in life. He barely gets by. The drug highs can even help boost his small scale magical powers. I was a bit worried that it didn’t emphasise the tragic side of drug abuse, the cravings, the downs, etc., that I’ve seen from secondhand experience, although Howard understands he has a problem but is mostly fatalistic about it. He also tries to do the ‘right thing’ sometimes, against his better judgement, so he is a sympathetic character ultimately.
The author does include a short appendix giving links for people with drug and mental health issues though.
This dark side is leavened with a good line in observational wit, which had me chuckling. The writing is pacy, with short chapters.
In summary, an enjoyable, well written, fantasy, funny but based in a dark lifestyle. I’ll certainly read more books in this series, of which there are several it seems. I didn’t find any down sides to my reading enjoyment, so 5*.
It’s actually two separate back to back tales about Howard Marsh, a small time thief, bum and drug user in rural contemporary Alabama. He’s also a minor magician; water divining, finding lost objects, rarely doing anything ‘high explosive’ that traditional wizards indulge in. Folk magic, I guess, a skill he mostly keeps concealed. I liked the updated scenario, a big change from the medieval style worlds, or Wuxia, of most modern magical fantasy and I thought it worked well.
Howard has serious drug and alcohol abuse problems and no real direction in life. He barely gets by. The drug highs can even help boost his small scale magical powers. I was a bit worried that it didn’t emphasise the tragic side of drug abuse, the cravings, the downs, etc., that I’ve seen from secondhand experience, although Howard understands he has a problem but is mostly fatalistic about it. He also tries to do the ‘right thing’ sometimes, against his better judgement, so he is a sympathetic character ultimately.
The author does include a short appendix giving links for people with drug and mental health issues though.
This dark side is leavened with a good line in observational wit, which had me chuckling. The writing is pacy, with short chapters.
In summary, an enjoyable, well written, fantasy, funny but based in a dark lifestyle. I’ll certainly read more books in this series, of which there are several it seems. I didn’t find any down sides to my reading enjoyment, so 5*.
February 21, 2023
Perhaps closer to 4 stars than 3, but there were some editing issues that pulled me out of the stories a couple of times. However, the idea of a drug-addicted backwoods wizard is pretty entertaining, especially since he has a good heart and is a reluctant good guy. There are 3 more books (so far) in this series, definitely worth a try.
February 17, 2024
3.5 stars. Needs one more pass with an editor and it's actually two short novels rather than one story which I didn't know until I got to the second one. Very enjoyable and I like the MC. Excited to read more
January 26, 2023
My goal this year is to read 250 books that I own, as I now own 1700 kindle books, around 700 that are unread. Trying to choose between so many is often exhausting, and so I open my tbr collection on my kindle, handed it to my husband and said, "Pick something for me to read".
He chose this book (I realize now that he likes the cover art because 2 weeks later when I asked him to choose another book, he "randomly" chose book #4 in this series).
So I didn't really know what this book was about going into it. But I was quickly amused by the concept of Rural Fantasy with poor drug-addicted MC "methgician" who peddles his abilities mainly for his next fix.
Though I was born and raised in the midwest, I've spent the last 20 years in the rural south and the author definitely hit the right mix of poverty, desperation, religion and drugs.
He chose this book (I realize now that he likes the cover art because 2 weeks later when I asked him to choose another book, he "randomly" chose book #4 in this series).
So I didn't really know what this book was about going into it. But I was quickly amused by the concept of Rural Fantasy with poor drug-addicted MC "methgician" who peddles his abilities mainly for his next fix.
Though I was born and raised in the midwest, I've spent the last 20 years in the rural south and the author definitely hit the right mix of poverty, desperation, religion and drugs.
March 10, 2022
When I first started reading this I had a really hard time with it. The writing itself was good but the main character Howard was beyond frustrating and hard to route for, but then out of no where I found that he'd grown on me. His meth addled sweetness was hard to deny and despite my initial thoughts, I'm actually excited to see where Howard Marsh's adventures take him next.
And then wouldn’t I feel the fool leaving behind a bit of meth and half a bag of pork rinds? Can’t take it with you.
And then wouldn’t I feel the fool leaving behind a bit of meth and half a bag of pork rinds? Can’t take it with you.
September 22, 2025
A nice, short read. I love a good (start of a) redemption arch, and characters down on their luck sometimes catching a lucky break due to their own hard work. Lovable mess of a MC, interesting rural American setting, and magic that gets channeled more effectively through drugs?? Sign me up ^^
April 28, 2022
I hesitated to post this review, because I've encountered the author around the 'nets and he seems like an ok guy. However, for me this book just didn't do it. First, I didn't realize when I picked this up, that it isn't really a novel. It's more like several longish short-stories in one volume. I think that if the author re-developed this into true novel form, it would improve greatly. I read this book because it had an interesting premise. There was an idea there. It could have been so very good, but for me it was not great. It has the feel that it should have been workshopped with a good writing group to tighten the outline. It also seemed in need of an editor. There were a noticeable number of errors in punctuation, spelling, and word choice (using the wrong but similar sounding word, but not in a way that seemed intentional). That took away from it a bit for me.
I've read vast amounts of literature, fantasy, sci-fi, horror. I've seen despicable characters made sympathetic. I've seen other extremely down-and-out characters made sympathetic (or made unsympathetically hate-able). In this case, I never came to care much about the characters in this book. The protagonist hints at things in his past that might help us care more about him, but they aren't actually revealed. Yeah, he's from a poor, tough area in the rural American South, and I love that setting, and it should have made this aces for me, but somehow we just kept getting Big Hints. "Something bad" happened to the main character to make him the junkie he is. "Granny" is scary powerful, and he won't go around her. It was deeply disappointing that we don't get to meet Granny. There are fae in this book's setting, it seems, and they even like one of the main character's actions enough that they leave him a reward! We don't see them, just the reward they left. The rest of the book, this isn't mentioned again! Not the effects of this on the character, nothing (just a sudden fae powerup [maybe] with unspecified effects, then forgotten)! Just Big Hints and Loose Ends all around.
It seemed the entire time to me that the main character was narrating his life as if it were the life of someone else, not his own. It was a very detached first-person narration in some ways. Perhaps this was an intentional artistic choice that has just *whooshed* past me as a reader. Perhaps all the hinting, forgetting, and loose ends is intentionally done to make us feel more like the hot mess that the main character is, but for me that didn't connect.
At this point, I feel like, I would love to see the main character grow and progress. There are Big Hints that he may, but I just read this entire book without getting much of that. I didn't like any character enough to make me sure I want to read the next book. There are still Big Hints of things I might really like later, but there are SO many other books on my to-be-read list. So, I may check in on this author later again, because I really wanted to love this. However, every book is not for every reader, and you may love it. For me, as the stars say: "It's OK".
I've read vast amounts of literature, fantasy, sci-fi, horror. I've seen despicable characters made sympathetic. I've seen other extremely down-and-out characters made sympathetic (or made unsympathetically hate-able). In this case, I never came to care much about the characters in this book. The protagonist hints at things in his past that might help us care more about him, but they aren't actually revealed. Yeah, he's from a poor, tough area in the rural American South, and I love that setting, and it should have made this aces for me, but somehow we just kept getting Big Hints. "Something bad" happened to the main character to make him the junkie he is. "Granny" is scary powerful, and he won't go around her. It was deeply disappointing that we don't get to meet Granny. There are fae in this book's setting, it seems, and they even like one of the main character's actions enough that they leave him a reward! We don't see them, just the reward they left. The rest of the book, this isn't mentioned again! Not the effects of this on the character, nothing (just a sudden fae powerup [maybe] with unspecified effects, then forgotten)! Just Big Hints and Loose Ends all around.
It seemed the entire time to me that the main character was narrating his life as if it were the life of someone else, not his own. It was a very detached first-person narration in some ways. Perhaps this was an intentional artistic choice that has just *whooshed* past me as a reader. Perhaps all the hinting, forgetting, and loose ends is intentionally done to make us feel more like the hot mess that the main character is, but for me that didn't connect.
At this point, I feel like, I would love to see the main character grow and progress. There are Big Hints that he may, but I just read this entire book without getting much of that. I didn't like any character enough to make me sure I want to read the next book. There are still Big Hints of things I might really like later, but there are SO many other books on my to-be-read list. So, I may check in on this author later again, because I really wanted to love this. However, every book is not for every reader, and you may love it. For me, as the stars say: "It's OK".
February 7, 2026
What if Harry Dresden was a meth addict in small town Alabama?
That’s the question Bob McGough asks in “Bringing Home the Rain.” And for my part, I thought this book fucking ruled.
Howard Marsh, our POV in this book, is an addict, living in a storage unit. He gets by selling scrap metal and stealing copper.
Oh, and he’s a wizard.
“Bringing Home the Rain” is actually 2 novellas in one volume, and both are a lot of fun. Though, I did think the second one was superior.
The real draw here for me is how accurately McGough portrays that sort of small town southern rurality that is so often used as parody fodder, but so rarely given real voice.
Howard is a screw-up. But he has a lot of heart, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in his head. I will absolutely be continuing this series.
That’s the question Bob McGough asks in “Bringing Home the Rain.” And for my part, I thought this book fucking ruled.
Howard Marsh, our POV in this book, is an addict, living in a storage unit. He gets by selling scrap metal and stealing copper.
Oh, and he’s a wizard.
“Bringing Home the Rain” is actually 2 novellas in one volume, and both are a lot of fun. Though, I did think the second one was superior.
The real draw here for me is how accurately McGough portrays that sort of small town southern rurality that is so often used as parody fodder, but so rarely given real voice.
Howard is a screw-up. But he has a lot of heart, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time in his head. I will absolutely be continuing this series.
January 15, 2023
I was pleasantly surprised. To be honest, I was a little wary of reading about a meth addict. Truly not my thing, but Bob McGough did a brilliant job of making Howard Marsh a likable character.
The setting is in the deep south among the common folk. Howard Marsh comes from a family with the Power. An undefined magic that runs in their family line and appears to be derived from tales of folk magic you read about in those areas.
He lives in a storage shed, and makes money water witching and doing odd jobs, so he can support his meth, alcohol, and various other drug problems. The difference is, he can use the high to control more magic.
This book is actually two Marsh adventures in the form of novellas. He does have a way of making you love him even if you abhore his lifestyle. He has a big heart when it comes down to it. I know I always want to cheer for the underdog! There are hints at what drove him to the drugs, but it isn't revealed in this book. Hopefully, we find out what happened, and how he'll break free by the end of the series!
This is a brilliant one. The narrative goes done smooth like icy sweet tea on a sweltering summer day. Worth a read! I've already downloaded book 2.
The setting is in the deep south among the common folk. Howard Marsh comes from a family with the Power. An undefined magic that runs in their family line and appears to be derived from tales of folk magic you read about in those areas.
He lives in a storage shed, and makes money water witching and doing odd jobs, so he can support his meth, alcohol, and various other drug problems. The difference is, he can use the high to control more magic.
This book is actually two Marsh adventures in the form of novellas. He does have a way of making you love him even if you abhore his lifestyle. He has a big heart when it comes down to it. I know I always want to cheer for the underdog! There are hints at what drove him to the drugs, but it isn't revealed in this book. Hopefully, we find out what happened, and how he'll break free by the end of the series!
This is a brilliant one. The narrative goes done smooth like icy sweet tea on a sweltering summer day. Worth a read! I've already downloaded book 2.
May 29, 2023
This really felt like a short story and a novella packaged together, but it worked. It's hard to identify with the protagonist for me, for what I think are glaringly obvious reasons, but everyone does love an underdog and someone trying to do the right thing while making so many bad choices for themselves.
The narrative for the environment was extraordinarily evocative, and probably is part of what made me like the book a little less, since I've had a few of those dirty sticky humid days with biting bugs all about. It was too good!
I'm not sure I'll read more of this. It's got a great hook, but not for me, per se. Very much in the vein, pun intended, of Harry Dresden, but in Alabama and meth.
The narrative for the environment was extraordinarily evocative, and probably is part of what made me like the book a little less, since I've had a few of those dirty sticky humid days with biting bugs all about. It was too good!
I'm not sure I'll read more of this. It's got a great hook, but not for me, per se. Very much in the vein, pun intended, of Harry Dresden, but in Alabama and meth.
September 30, 2022
Urban fantasy is done. This is rural fantasy set in backwoods Alabama. Howard Marsh lives in a storage shed that he sometimes pays rent on using the proceeds from his work as a water witch and a finder of lost things, when said money doesn't go to meth instead. He's strong-armed by local law enforcement into investigating the cause of a supernatural drought in the first novella, and in the second, hunting down a missing woman whose son burned down a church.
This was quite good! It has some of the flaws of self-published fiction, in that it could use another editing pass, and some of the flaws of urban fantasy, in that the protagonist is a snarky down-and-out disaster wizard but not quite as morally grey as I'd like him to be. But it is also the most original urban fantasy I've encountered in ages, in that it's actually doing something interesting with the genre, features extremely working class and lumpen proletariat characters in a way that feels authentic and respectful, and it's hella fun. It paints a picture of rural weirdness that is lived-in and vaguely unsettling. And it manages to be pretty funny. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.
This was quite good! It has some of the flaws of self-published fiction, in that it could use another editing pass, and some of the flaws of urban fantasy, in that the protagonist is a snarky down-and-out disaster wizard but not quite as morally grey as I'd like him to be. But it is also the most original urban fantasy I've encountered in ages, in that it's actually doing something interesting with the genre, features extremely working class and lumpen proletariat characters in a way that feels authentic and respectful, and it's hella fun. It paints a picture of rural weirdness that is lived-in and vaguely unsettling. And it manages to be pretty funny. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series.
April 16, 2023
I enjoyed these two tales in the life of Howard Marsh, a very different fantasy character with a different brand of magic. Nice change to have a modern setting and the accidental hero character was different too. Most enjoyable
July 10, 2025
3.5 rounded up
A liar, thief, meth addict that also has magic and has to save the day? Yes please.
I wanted to make an effort to read more self-published/independent authors and stumbled upon the series at my local library did not and did not realize at the time that the author was also from Alabama.
I won't say this is one of my favorite books I've ever read, but I do think it was a good start to a series and I'm excited to continue reading the Howard Marsh saga.
A liar, thief, meth addict that also has magic and has to save the day? Yes please.
I wanted to make an effort to read more self-published/independent authors and stumbled upon the series at my local library did not and did not realize at the time that the author was also from Alabama.
I won't say this is one of my favorite books I've ever read, but I do think it was a good start to a series and I'm excited to continue reading the Howard Marsh saga.
January 10, 2023
Awesome read
I really enjoyed this book. If this would have been placed in the town I was from I could name those folk. This was an easy read and gave me laughs throughout. Now on to the second one!
I really enjoyed this book. If this would have been placed in the town I was from I could name those folk. This was an easy read and gave me laughs throughout. Now on to the second one!
October 5, 2021
Great mix of fantasy, mystery,and reality
This was a well written book with an unusual protagonist. A male witch who is basically a down and out drug user living in a storage container. It beats the usual witch based mysteries because the protagonist is someone you can believe actually exists. You can't help but be drawn into his story.
I hope Bob writes some more books like this.
This was a well written book with an unusual protagonist. A male witch who is basically a down and out drug user living in a storage container. It beats the usual witch based mysteries because the protagonist is someone you can believe actually exists. You can't help but be drawn into his story.
I hope Bob writes some more books like this.
October 6, 2021
drug fueled magical fun
A quick and easy read about a screw up, lowlife of a mage named Howard Marsh. The novel was a fun and exciting read, brining some of the worst parts of southern life into clear focus while also including magical fireballs. Look forward to book 2.
A quick and easy read about a screw up, lowlife of a mage named Howard Marsh. The novel was a fun and exciting read, brining some of the worst parts of southern life into clear focus while also including magical fireballs. Look forward to book 2.
January 21, 2024
This book's a blast, easy to breeze through. Marsh, the little meth head wizard, snagged a spot in my heart for sure.
February 1, 2023
This isn't normally something I'd pick up, but this was a good solid read. This tells two stories about Howard Marsh, a drug addict with an inclination towards magic. Both episodes follow Marsh as he tries to solve mysteries in his small rural county: the first, why it hasn't rained in a 5-mile radius; and the second, what happened to Inez Richmond, who gave up drugs to find God and left her kids behind.
Marsh is not a good man, but he has his moments of something like altruism. I see influence from other modern supernatural tales like, well, Supernatural or Buffy, but with an otherwise ignored setting. The county itself feels like a character, and Howard both loves and feels resigned to where he lives.
It's a little rough around the edges, like the protagonist, but I had a good time reading about the unlikely adventures of a meth addict magician.
Marsh is not a good man, but he has his moments of something like altruism. I see influence from other modern supernatural tales like, well, Supernatural or Buffy, but with an otherwise ignored setting. The county itself feels like a character, and Howard both loves and feels resigned to where he lives.
It's a little rough around the edges, like the protagonist, but I had a good time reading about the unlikely adventures of a meth addict magician.
April 9, 2022
Enjoyed this. Howard Marsh is an interesting protagonist who has made some regrettable life choices but is refreshingly honest and unrepentant about them. At his core he is a decent guy and this drives his actions. This book is actually two stories both good, but enjoyed the first one more. It would have been good imho to capture a little more of his backstory of how he learned of his abilities. He seems self-taught despite having a grandmother who is a powerful and feared witch. His relationship with her could have been explored more.
July 24, 2022
I actually picked this book up after meeting the author. He gave me the tagline - a meth head wizard solves crimes in rural Alabama.
I was like shut up, I'm in.
It was a fun romp, I will read the rest for sure, but it's kind of hard for me because some of the descriptions are so dead on, so reminiscent of exactly what I've been through that it was eerie. He's amazing at atmosphere. I'm super impressed. It was a lot of fun, but there's this sad undercurrent there. Hard to read right before bed. But excellent book.
I was like shut up, I'm in.
It was a fun romp, I will read the rest for sure, but it's kind of hard for me because some of the descriptions are so dead on, so reminiscent of exactly what I've been through that it was eerie. He's amazing at atmosphere. I'm super impressed. It was a lot of fun, but there's this sad undercurrent there. Hard to read right before bed. But excellent book.
February 1, 2022
A fun fresh entry into the urban fantasy genre. Country fantasy, I guess, since it takes place in rural Alabama. A drug-addicted 'methgician' who is both charming and slightly honorable makes a great main character that I couldn't help rooting for.
November 18, 2022
Can it be urban fantasy if it's Rural Alabama? this story has wizards, mythical creatures, and characters struggling with real-world addictions. McGough has created a character in Howard Marsh that I can't wait to read more about.
January 10, 2022
This was a quick and fun read. It was a great blend of the ordinary life of a drug addict with magic and mystery added for an entertaining story. Definitely worth a read.
February 3, 2022
I really enjoyed this. Well written, moved along nicely and an amazingly likeable protagonist given his situation.
January 11, 2025
With a world as lively as Howard Marsh, I'm in love with this series!
January 18, 2026
I discovered Bringing Home the Rain at a little shop in Montgomery, Alabama that sells art and literature by local Alabama artists and writers. It had been a long time since I had settled in and read a good book. I wanted something different. I picked up the first book in Bob McGough's Jubal County Saga and read the back cover. "Within these pages Marsh will work to unravel two supernatural mysteries as only a redneck Wizard can: poorly, and with much cursing." Well. Looks like I found "different".
When one thinks of wizards, one typically thinks of a dignified and sage Gandalfian character with great magical prowess fighting in high-stakes save-the-world adventures. Howard Marsh is not that. Oh God, no. He's a total train wreck. He's a magically gifted black sheep of a family of magically gifted black sheep. He is impoverished and drug addicted and living in a storage unit. He ekes out a meager living using his magical abilities to find lost things, lost people, and sources of underground water for farmers and country folk. Sometimes he is hired to break curses blighting the farmlands and ends up fighting dangerous spirits. He's also not above stealing copper. On the surface this is very off-putting. Marsh is not hero material. And given the fact his motives are initially self-serving and partly fueled by his need of illicit drugs, barely qualifies as anti-hero material. But this is part of what makes him an interesting, even compelling protagonist. Marsh has pretty good self-awareness about his condition and he's apparently settled in to accept his role as a total unrepentant loser. But something begins to happen as his story unfolds, we begin to see that for all his faults and failures and bad life choices, there's something within him even he cannot see. Empathy creeps into his actions, tiny hints of a desire to do better sometimes appear if only for a moment. There is a duality motif at work in his character, and it makes him into much more than just another meth-head loser who will never amount to anything. The law sees this when they simultaneously want to arrest him and ask him for his help. His family sees it when they both shun him and get angry at his screw-up yet helps him when he needs it. This first book in the series perfectly sets up a fascinating dynamic between Marsh and his family, Marsh and society, and even Marsh and his own self-worth and motivations. And it all unfolds in a steady, slow burn pace that steeps us into a strange, sometimes dangerous shadow world within the southern environment as told from Marsh's perspective.
Bringing Home the Rain is essentially two novelettes of two complete stories. But it is much more than that. It is the beginning of a long, difficult redemption saga of a man who has hit rock bottom and continues to dig anyways. But fate starts tapping him on the shoulder. Fate has other plans for this redneck wizard who is content with his rudimentary self-taught skills and his low-stakes redneck life. Mr. McGough's writing style is straightforward, uncluttered and free of unnecessary poetic affectations and it's peppered with just the right amount of wry humor and darkness which makes for a brisk, enjoyable read. I finished this book about a half an hour before beginning this review. And I'm already anxious to go buy the next book to see how it all continues to unfold.
When one thinks of wizards, one typically thinks of a dignified and sage Gandalfian character with great magical prowess fighting in high-stakes save-the-world adventures. Howard Marsh is not that. Oh God, no. He's a total train wreck. He's a magically gifted black sheep of a family of magically gifted black sheep. He is impoverished and drug addicted and living in a storage unit. He ekes out a meager living using his magical abilities to find lost things, lost people, and sources of underground water for farmers and country folk. Sometimes he is hired to break curses blighting the farmlands and ends up fighting dangerous spirits. He's also not above stealing copper. On the surface this is very off-putting. Marsh is not hero material. And given the fact his motives are initially self-serving and partly fueled by his need of illicit drugs, barely qualifies as anti-hero material. But this is part of what makes him an interesting, even compelling protagonist. Marsh has pretty good self-awareness about his condition and he's apparently settled in to accept his role as a total unrepentant loser. But something begins to happen as his story unfolds, we begin to see that for all his faults and failures and bad life choices, there's something within him even he cannot see. Empathy creeps into his actions, tiny hints of a desire to do better sometimes appear if only for a moment. There is a duality motif at work in his character, and it makes him into much more than just another meth-head loser who will never amount to anything. The law sees this when they simultaneously want to arrest him and ask him for his help. His family sees it when they both shun him and get angry at his screw-up yet helps him when he needs it. This first book in the series perfectly sets up a fascinating dynamic between Marsh and his family, Marsh and society, and even Marsh and his own self-worth and motivations. And it all unfolds in a steady, slow burn pace that steeps us into a strange, sometimes dangerous shadow world within the southern environment as told from Marsh's perspective.
Bringing Home the Rain is essentially two novelettes of two complete stories. But it is much more than that. It is the beginning of a long, difficult redemption saga of a man who has hit rock bottom and continues to dig anyways. But fate starts tapping him on the shoulder. Fate has other plans for this redneck wizard who is content with his rudimentary self-taught skills and his low-stakes redneck life. Mr. McGough's writing style is straightforward, uncluttered and free of unnecessary poetic affectations and it's peppered with just the right amount of wry humor and darkness which makes for a brisk, enjoyable read. I finished this book about a half an hour before beginning this review. And I'm already anxious to go buy the next book to see how it all continues to unfold.
May 15, 2024
Terrific Story & Narration🎧A Wild & Intriguing Ride!
Bringing Home the Rain: The Redemption of Howard Marsh
The Jubal County Saga, Book 1
By: Bob McGough
Narrated by: John Solo
I enjoyed this book immensely, the story drew me right in, grabbing my attention and captivating it the entire time. Ok, so Bob McGough tells us that “Howard Marsh is a lot of things: a liar, a thief, a poor man’s wizard”, and he is all that, and so much more, some good, some not so good, but you know what, I was for him and hoping for the best outcome in every situation he found himself in and some of the were real doozies. McGough’s descriptive details are amazing and he paints a vivid picture with his words to bring you alongside the character and giving you a bird’s-eye view of everything going in the world of Howard Marsh. Some may say Howard is a man down on his luck, but he gets by, lives his life in a drug induced oblivion, mostly by choice, getting by, sometimes with help, sometimes by the skin of his teeth, sometimes it is just luck. Despite all that, he is an interesting man, one with gifts and abilities that are sought after in times of need. I found the paranormal elements to be intriguing, and the writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as is the character development. Bob McGough, thank you for this great story and wild ride.
🎧📚🎧 John Solo is a wonderfully talented voice artist, and he did an amazing job capturing the essence of the story and the characters. He has a knack of choosing the perfect voice for the characters, ones that fit their personality to a tee, and I love how he owns each role, sounding believable and just as I imagined the character to sound. He sets the perfect tone for the story, captures all the characters’ emotions and has you feeling them all. John Solo is an entertaining storyteller and his performance elevates the story to another level. Thank you for another fantastic listen.
Bringing Home the Rain: The Redemption of Howard Marsh
The Jubal County Saga, Book 1
By: Bob McGough
Narrated by: John Solo
I enjoyed this book immensely, the story drew me right in, grabbing my attention and captivating it the entire time. Ok, so Bob McGough tells us that “Howard Marsh is a lot of things: a liar, a thief, a poor man’s wizard”, and he is all that, and so much more, some good, some not so good, but you know what, I was for him and hoping for the best outcome in every situation he found himself in and some of the were real doozies. McGough’s descriptive details are amazing and he paints a vivid picture with his words to bring you alongside the character and giving you a bird’s-eye view of everything going in the world of Howard Marsh. Some may say Howard is a man down on his luck, but he gets by, lives his life in a drug induced oblivion, mostly by choice, getting by, sometimes with help, sometimes by the skin of his teeth, sometimes it is just luck. Despite all that, he is an interesting man, one with gifts and abilities that are sought after in times of need. I found the paranormal elements to be intriguing, and the writing, plot and world building are fantastic, as is the character development. Bob McGough, thank you for this great story and wild ride.
🎧📚🎧 John Solo is a wonderfully talented voice artist, and he did an amazing job capturing the essence of the story and the characters. He has a knack of choosing the perfect voice for the characters, ones that fit their personality to a tee, and I love how he owns each role, sounding believable and just as I imagined the character to sound. He sets the perfect tone for the story, captures all the characters’ emotions and has you feeling them all. John Solo is an entertaining storyteller and his performance elevates the story to another level. Thank you for another fantastic listen.
December 14, 2023
I went into this book with little to no expectations. I knew the basic premises but was unsure how relatable the main character was going to be. It took until the second half, and a side character, to see something that broke down a barrier I had not been expecting. I live in an area with lots of drug use and see lots of drug users. I was worried it might be triggering, but the author works around the concept well and doesn’t mention anything specific for the most part other than weed, and does very little to focus on the aspect of how this makes him feel in a way that would be encouraging.
Instead we see an insight into a man who fuels his ‘magic’ by utilizing hard substances. For better or for worse.
In the second half, which there are basically two tales within the book, there is a character that talks about getting clean. I’ve never personally had to experience, or worry about this, but I’ve seen others who have. There was such realism to the way this character was hardened and weary of his path going forward. It was a scene that made me pause and put the book down and realize that the author has definitely done some research.
Overall it’s a foray into the mythical, the methical, and an interesting adventure into what the backwater states look like in all their glory. Marsh doesn’t start out strongly drawing you in as a person but by the end his selflessness and willingness to go above and beyond does it. For a man that has very little he shares what he has and that’s what’s important. I believe that redemption, as is in the title, is something truly within his grasp.
So sit back, relax, and get ready for some adventure through gravel, woods, and a surprisingly open storage unit. It’s one wild ride but definitely worth hanging on for.
Instead we see an insight into a man who fuels his ‘magic’ by utilizing hard substances. For better or for worse.
In the second half, which there are basically two tales within the book, there is a character that talks about getting clean. I’ve never personally had to experience, or worry about this, but I’ve seen others who have. There was such realism to the way this character was hardened and weary of his path going forward. It was a scene that made me pause and put the book down and realize that the author has definitely done some research.
Overall it’s a foray into the mythical, the methical, and an interesting adventure into what the backwater states look like in all their glory. Marsh doesn’t start out strongly drawing you in as a person but by the end his selflessness and willingness to go above and beyond does it. For a man that has very little he shares what he has and that’s what’s important. I believe that redemption, as is in the title, is something truly within his grasp.
So sit back, relax, and get ready for some adventure through gravel, woods, and a surprisingly open storage unit. It’s one wild ride but definitely worth hanging on for.
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