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The Turtle Boy (Timmy Quinn #1)

by Kealan Patrick Burke (Goodreads Author)

3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 · rating details · 883 ratings · 171 reviews

School is out and summer has begun. For eleven year old Timmy Quinn and his best friend Pete Marshall, the dreary town of Delaware Ohio becomes a place of magic, hidden treasure and discovery. But on the day they encounter a strange young boy sitting on the bank of Myers Pond a pond playground rumor says may hide turtles the size of Buicks everything changes. For it soon b...more

Hardcover, 97 pages

Published by Necessary Evil Press (first published January 1st 2011)

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Jan 24, 2012 Lou rated it 5 of 5 stars

Schools out and it's summer that means ample time for kids to wonder where they should not. In this story some kids wander through mysterious territory near woods and a lake, they befriend an even more mysterious boy who has the strangest features. The story is of fathers, sons and buddies. This story has a theme of redemption. Kealan can really write a dark tale well, this is the first of his I have read he leaves you with a creepy and mysterious presence.

"The Turtle Boy had said: You don’t kno...more

13 likes · like · see review

Aug 08, 2011 Elaine rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, free-kindle-finds

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

2 likes · like · see review

Sep 12, 2009 Kate Jonez rated it 4 of 5 stars

The author did a good job setting the scene and building a sense of impending horror. The main character was well conceived. The book suffered from the author presenting too much information too quickly as the story unfolded. The book could have easily been twice as long. With a little more attention to detail and a second half that revealed its events with the same concern for tension as the first, this could have been an exceptional book. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 15, 2012 Anya Allyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: horror

In Ohio, 1979, Timmy and Pete are looking forward to the summer months. Lingering descriptions of the humid weather and lush overgrowth are overlaid on a story of two friends out exploring, trying to kick-start their summer. Timmy lets his imagination run away with him, while Pete seems to have already had his childhood imaginings somehow stripped away.
The dialogue between the boys sounds pitch-perfect, and right for the era.
They find themselves at Myers Pond, where a strange boy sits - a boy so...more

3 likes · like · see review

Aug 28, 2012 Kimberly rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Warning: I am going to gush. No apologies, because the author deserves that and more. I'd never heard of Kealan Patrick Burke when I downloaded The Turtle Boy on Amazon, but it sounded interesting and I'm always up for free. Wow. What a gift. The storyline of The Turtle Boy (The Timmy Quinn series, Book 1) is reminiscent of early King coming of age stories, which is what drew me to it in the first place; but what hooked me and reeled me in was Mr. Burke's writing. He tells Timmy's story with suc...more Warning: I am going to gush. No apologies, because the author deserves that and more. I'd never heard of Kealan Patrick Burke when I downloaded The Turtle Boy on Amazon, but it sounded interesting and I'm always up for free. Wow. What a gift. The storyline of The Turtle Boy (The Timmy Quinn series, Book 1) is reminiscent of early King coming of age stories, which is what drew me to it in the first place; but what hooked me and reeled me in was Mr. Burke's writing. He tells Timmy's story with such mellifluous, fluid prose that you are effortlessly drawn into his 11-year-old world and whisked away to summertime in Ohio. I'm thrilled to have uncovered a new author to follow, but a little dismayed that Mr. Burke has been around for a while and I'd never heard of him.

Timmy is your average 11-year-old without a care in the world, perched on the precipice of a summer full of digging for treasure, fishing, and just doing what boys do with the endless, lazy days of summer vacation. Things quickly take a dark turn when he and his best friend Pete meet a strange boy at the local pond, and Pete mysteriously gets sent away to camp by his abusive father shortly thereafter. One stormy night horrific secrets, past and present, are revealed and our protagonist discovers he has a gift -- or a curse, depending on how you look at it.

Mr. Burke paints a picture for the reader with fluid, beautifully descriptive prose that is not overbearing or pretentious. His talent for creating an authentic voice for his characters is unsurpassed, as is his tight, rock solid plot development. My only gripe is the length. Although it is the first in a series, I'm slowly developing a bit of a distaste for short, serialized fiction and I think the author did himself and this story a disservice by not presenting it as a full-length novel.

I did not want to put this little gem down. This is a truly gifted author who makes storytelling seem easy, and we all know it's not. I'm a little bit rabid about getting the word out on indie authors that I think deserve recognition, and Mr. Burke not only falls into that category for me but beyond. He's in the top-tier of indie authors I have read, up there with only a very, very elite few. This is apical, superlative writing and I have no doubt that Mr. Burke is going places in the magical world of publishing. I just can't figure out what's taking so long. Read this book and get the word out! I hate to be cliché, but if you're a fan of early King you'll be in heaven. I plan on eventually picking up all of Mr. Burke's works. I would have snatched them up already and probably would have devoured them all by now if I hadn't gone waaaayyyyyy over budget on my book purchases this summer. We all have to have our limits (or so my husband says). Blah.

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1 like · like · see review

Jun 11, 2012 Jennie rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: stephen-king-esque

Frankly, I have no idea how to rate or review this book. When I downloaded it I was under the impression that it was a YA novel. After reading it I have no idea who the intended audience was. I'm guessing its not a YA book, but I wouldn't bet anyone on it.

That being said, what I expected from this book was not at all what I actually got. This story was darker, creepier and more revolting than what I expected. And I didn't expect the supernatural at all, I was totally floored when the book too...more

1 like · like · see review

Apr 05, 2012 Jodi rated it 5 of 5 stars

What a great read! I got so caught up in the story that I read the whole book far too quickly and I wanted more!

What starts out as a lazy tale of two friend's summer holiday ends up whacking you upside the head and scaring the wits out of you in the blink of an eye. Once Kealan Patrick Burke has your attention he doesn't for one minute let up.

"The Turtle Boy" is an absolute must read for anyone who loves horror. And I have to say after reading the "teaser" of "The Hides" I'll be purchasing it as...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 26, 2012 Heather rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Meh, it was okay. Reminded me a lot (plot wise) of an Orson Scott Card book, so much so that I pretty much saw where it was going early on. Had it been flushed out into a full novel, instead of short story, it probably would have been more fulfilling.

(Others from the Worcester area will probably realize the title of this story was what caught my eye first!)

1 like · like · see review

Jul 13, 2012 Abraham rated it 4 of 5 stars

Kealan Patrick Burke’s The Turtle Boy

Plot:

Timmy Quinn is a normal boy who is enjoying a normal summer. He and his best friend Pete spend their days digging holes, exploring the local pond and spooking each other with tales of youthful tragedy. The basic ritual that most of us took for granted in our youth. Well, things change a bit when Pete and Timmy stumble upon a strange boy hanging around Myers Pond.

My Review and Thoughts:

An amazing written story, very vivid in description of the surrounding...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 29, 2012 Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, crime-thriller, kindle, supernatural-horror

I downloaded this book on the kindle because it was free, and highly rated. I didn't read the 'blurb' and if I had I probably would not have touched it with a barge pole! I generally avoid anything 'supernatural'; Twilight has a lot to answer for.

I literally had no idea even what genre of book I was reading, so I was genuinely surprised when it turned in to a 'ghost' story, perhaps this heightened my enjoyment, compared to if I was expecting things to take a turn for the spooky! This short story...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 03, 2010 T.S. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Childhood is our prologue. It is the necessary backstory behind our every adult belief and decision. Mostly, our childhoods are spent in the collection of experience that will define who we become. So what happens to the boy whose childhood is less than ordinary? What happens to the kid whose younger years were spent witnessing violence? Kealan Patrick Burke’s protagonist in The Turtle Boy, Timmy Quinn, is that kid, wandering through his childhood with ghosts and villains edging in on him.

In The...more Childhood is our prologue. It is the necessary backstory behind our every adult belief and decision. Mostly, our childhoods are spent in the collection of experience that will define who we become. So what happens to the boy whose childhood is less than ordinary? What happens to the kid whose younger years were spent witnessing violence? Kealan Patrick Burke’s protagonist in The Turtle Boy, Timmy Quinn, is that kid, wandering through his childhood with ghosts and villains edging in on him.

In The Turtle Boy, Timmy is all set for a mediocre summer with his best friend Pete– shoveling deep holes to dig their way to China, fishing down at a creepy pond and avoiding the railroad tracks where a pair of siblings met with tragedy. About that pond? Well, it’s hard to fish when you’ve broken your brand new pole, but the eerie vibe and shadowed surroundings seem too great a temptation for two bored boys looking for adventure.

Myers Pond boasts a wide assortment of delicious fears for a young boy–turtles, ticks, chiggers and, of course, The Turtle Boy himself. But this boy isn’t like Timmy or Pete. He isn’t like anyone the boys have ever seen. He’s pasty pale and wears dingy gray trousers and has clumps of hair missing, exposing his raw, red scalp. And, there’s his odd habit of letting the turtles feed off his feet.

When Timmy and Pete meet the boy, they are simultaneously frightened and fascinated by him. But The Turtle Boy, though he seems menacing and fearsome, isn’t the real villain of the story. In fact, the name of the true culprit is withheld, but Burke leaves the reader with great assumption about who the true “big bad” in The Turtle Boy truly is.

All parts thriller and horror and reminiscent of Stephen King’s The Body, The Turtle Boy leaves you guessing. It’s obvious Pete has a terribly abusive father and for a lesser writer, the reader would ultimately assume the fault for all evil deeds in the book lay at Pete’s drunk father’s hands. But Burke is better than that and leaves the reader to wonder, expects him to assume and then second guess that assumption.

Timmy, like the Turtle Boy, isn’t simply a scared kid who got mixed up in a murder mystery. He isn’t even a victim. Ultimately, Timmy becomes the necessary vessel for Burke to imagine the depths of childhood and the understanding of when that childhood changes. Timmy sees beyond reality, sees with his heart the ever-changing facets of his life and the truth of the past. He is able to move beyond the curtain, into the realm of the supernatural and witness how the Turtle Boy came to Myers Pond and the cruelty that brought him there. Like our individual childhoods, the veil is lifted and Burke allows Timmy to move forward (to a Timmy Quinn series, no less), but also into an age of development and understanding. Not so different from real life, it is an understanding that each of us must undertake.

*****

Review originally posted on http://bestdamncreativewritingblog.com/ October 2010(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Apr 09, 2012 Adam Wilson rated it 4 of 5 stars

I know I am probably saying what a lot of other folks have said by this point but Kealan Patrick Burke is an author worth watching. I mean, keep your eyes on him, or to

avoid law suits, keep your eyes on his work. This guy has been writing for years and I am ashamed that I took so long to give his work a try. The guy knows what he is

doing. He doesn't sort of know, kind of know, almost know... he knows what it means to be a writer. Excuse me, a GOOD writer. Having read Kin and now the Turtle Boy...more I know I am probably saying what a lot of other folks have said by this point but Kealan Patrick Burke is an author worth watching. I mean, keep your eyes on him, or to

avoid law suits, keep your eyes on his work. This guy has been writing for years and I am ashamed that I took so long to give his work a try. The guy knows what he is

doing. He doesn't sort of know, kind of know, almost know... he knows what it means to be a writer. Excuse me, a GOOD writer. Having read Kin and now the Turtle Boy by

Burke, I can back up what I said in my review of Kin, that Burke is an author who's work I will almost certainly like. The Turtle Boy isn't much like Kin at all as far

as plot goes but the fantastic writing is there and it politely lets you know. Also, Burke's understanding of people is just as important in this novella. Although the

book takes place in Ohio, it has a very realistic southern feel to it and I can not thank Burke enough for leaving out all of the lazy stereotypes that most authors

seem to scrape out of the heap of unoriginality when portraying southern folks and their life styles. (Edward Lee cough, cough). The story has a Boy's Life feel as well

which I hate using as a comparison because whenever a book deals with children and their coming-of-age, McCammon's brilliant novel is always the one there to snatch the

badge of honor. The only things preventing me from giving the book a perfect rating were its length (a bit short for my tastes) and the climax which was a bit on the

wild side and, in my opinion, diluted the emotional quality of the tale a bit. Other than those tiny issues, this is another wonderful story from a major talent in

fiction and if the world is in any way just, he will be mentioned in the same breath as the other top horror authors.
Also, I downloaded this book free for my Kindle. I hope that Burke does not allow it to remain free for long because the book is too good to give away, but if he

continues to offer it, the least we can do is read it. (less)

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Mar 14, 2012 Exanimis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: enjoyable, favorites, kindle-reads, 5-star

This is my first time reading something from Kealan Patrick Burke but I will be sure to add the name to my favorite authors. The Turtle Boy tells the story of two friends who encounter a ghost at a nearby pond, we are brought along as Timmy Quinn tries to come to terms with what he has seen and unravel the dark secrets that are hidden in the ponds murky black waters.Do not miss this wonderfully dark story.

1 like · like · see review

Nov 15, 2012 Beth Miller rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-26-october-2012

This book was free from amazon so I grabbed it without reading the blurb or knowing anything about it. The first half of the novella was incredibly well written, simple but sweet; although at first I thought I was reading a young adult fiction. I couldn't put it down and it was so easy to read. I was drawn into this wonderful world and time and didn't want to leave. It soon got scary, with the introduction of The Turtle Boy.

The next part of the book seemed rushed and jumbled. I had to re-read...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Jamie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bram Stoker Award winner The Turtle Boy makes you comfortable, colours you interested, then abruptly punches you in the face. Not with a friendly schoolboy jab, but with a stinging blow of pent-up adult ferocity, guaranteed to force the wind from one's sails and change an entire perception of the previously benign work now viciously assaulting the familiar innocence of childhood adventure. But while the sudden change in mood may be startling, the dark clouds are unable to dampen the intrigue whi...more

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May 23, 2012 Jud (Disney Diva) rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was surprised at the end to discover a newspaper clipping appear on my kindle screen, no wonder the story had a real ring to it if it is based on a true story. I only wish the full article was included and not just a portion.

I really enjoyed this, I do not like full on horror as I am a big fat scardey cat but this had just the right amount of suspense and surprise to satisfy me. The story is well written, I cared for the characters almost straight away and without question I believed everythi...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Lindsey rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was very intriguing in the beginning but towards the ends it became very dull and there was no "WOW" factors in the end of the book. All through the plot was great but the author could have thrown some more intersecting scenes in so the reader can paint a image in their minds. 11-year old boy named Timmy, who along with his friend encounters a horrific child at a local lake that he ends up calling The Turtle Boy. The Turtle Boy is a child who sees dead people. He always was feeding the...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Adriana Noir rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Seldom does a short story or novelette leave me at a loss for words. ‘The Turtle Boy’ has done just that. I had this stored on my Kindle for months before I read it and I’m now kicking myself for not getting to it sooner. Don’t make the same mistake!
Kealan Patrick burke weaves an entire world with his pen. I felt drawn into the small town summer setting of Delaware, Ohio. Everything breathed with such life, including the characters. I could picture the tall grass, dusty road, and railroad tracks...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars

Ohhhhh my friends.....this was such an excellent book and left me wanting more! Fortunately there are more in the series which I immediately have gone to download.
It's a story about kids and their summer vacation and what they discover down at the old pond in the woods. They find a small boy sitting by the pond dipping his feet in the water. The little boy is very pale and has sordid patches of sores and missing skin. As the story progresses we discover that the little boy has his own story to...more

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Feb 07, 2012 Teatree_elle rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and admittedly went to bed a little freaked out afterwards when I turned the lights off on a rainy night. The conclusion did feel rushed and I was upset with the way it ended. C'mon, Kealan...had you resolved the mystery in the book, I would have easily bought more books. This ploy did not have to be used.

This book took me back to my childhood and how I felt when school was let out for the summer. I recalled my days of imaginative adventures in natural and lazy s...more

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May 05, 2012 Bria rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Short novella that is creep-tastic. Not going to lie, I was so engrossed that I did a lot of skimming. Basically, you've got a ghost story that leaves a nasty cliff hanger. Probably won't read the rest of the series for the same reason I don't watch ghost movies/shows: I truly believe in ghosts and figure the dead would prefer to be left alone, whether real or fictitious. Didn't realize I had a ghost story in my hands when I picked it up, otherwise would have left it alone. But anyway, if ghost...more

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Nov 30, 2011 P. Christopher Colter rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book has received mostly great reviews. It's good, but in my opinion really needed stretching out. The pace was reasonable for the first half, and then in the second half Burke started piling things on so quickly that you had to struggle to keep up. Characters and situations that were not well-developed at all came flying from every directions. It was almost as though it was written hastily to meet a deadline. The premise is terrific, and the characters that I got to know were interesting,...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Lee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-gr-challenge, 2013-a-z-challenge

Great story, brilliant characters, and great writing. I was a little disappointed that it was so short, but am pleased that it is a series. The ending or the who done it aspect was a bit predictable, but it didn't detract from the story at all. That is if what is implied is actually the truth. With some authors you can never tell, and I am not familiar enough with Burke to be able to judge having only read this and Kin. It was a quick enjoyable read and Burke is quickly becoming a favorite autho...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 14, 2008 Erik rated it 3 of 5 stars

A mesmerizing and creepy tale that kept me flipping page after page waiting to see what was waiting right around the corner. Hard to put down, well written, really not much else I can say.

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 22, 2012 Gatorman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nook-lendme-books

This was a fantastic read and definitely lived up to the hype I've seen here on GR. Burke writes very well, reminiscent of John Connolly, another Irish author and one of my favorites. The theme of revenge from beyond may be old but Burke breathes new life into it and makes you want to complete the story. It does end abruptly but it is only the first in a series of novellas (and an unreleased long novel) dealing with Timmy, so the ending is understandable. Creepy with elements of mystery to satis...more

6 likes · like · see review

Apr 10, 2013 Robby rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: To all readers.

Recommended to Robby by: Goodreads friends

Shelves: kindle-edition, supernatural, series, horror

(4.5) Timmy, Timmy, Timmy... I had been looking forward to reading a Kealan Patrick Burke book for sometime. Finally, after getting into a kindle; I've succeeded. This was not a disappointment. This man can write; obviously. Without giving anything ( spoiler info) up/out? I just have to mention that Mr. Burke can truly relate to certain experiences as in the case of Timmy being placed in a drowning situation. I also; at around 11years of age; came extremely close to dying by drowning. I had exha...more

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Oct 01, 2011 Abs007 rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a nicely written story, very promising stuff. Here's my gripe. This is sold as a novella, it's about 100 pages, but the way it ends is a definite lead in to the next volume in the series. I suspect this is another in a recent trend I have noticed to split what in the past would have been one big novel into one, two, three or more parts in order to cash in. You can obviously get a larger remuneration for three books as opposed to one. Personally I don't like it and I probably won't be bot...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Jenn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, favorite-authors, free-fiction, i-own, horror, kindle, mystery, see-ya-in-hell, series, suspense

So, I think I might give this 4.5. The writing is top notch which I've come to expect with this author. I"m almost 100% positive I know where this is going so let's say a bit off a star for that although it really didn't bother me. The other bit off the star is because I got to the end and I was like WHAAAATTTT?? b/c I wanted to know what happened. Then, I calmed myself the fuck down realizing I have the others in the series to read. This was predictable yet totally surprising at times if that m...more

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May 10, 2012 Ben Campbell rated it 4 of 5 stars

This story is startling. Innocence, pride, disgrace, guilt, shame & infamy takes childhood innocence combined with pathos adulthood via paranoia and socialpathic tendencies.

I enjoyed the pathways this story took me through. Read and enjoy Burke's Ohio families and environment, you won't be disappointed, unless you're squemish about paranormal conditions where murder and diligent visions of past events come to life in front of your eyes.

I'm Ben Campbell, the author of seven, adventure explori...more

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Nov 24, 2012 April Cummins-Kohl rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

I loved this book so much I had to get the next in the series. I believe there are four books in the Timmy Quinn series.

What made me love this book was the author's use of visual text. Mr Burke definitely knows how to show instead of tell.

I am drawn to books about the supernatural, and this book was no disappointment.

The characters are very believable and the dialog really drives the story along.

There is a bit of "colorful" language, as my grandmother would say, but it is not bogged down in it....more

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About Kealan Patrick Burke

Born and raised in Dungarvan, Ireland, Kealan Patrick Burke is the Bram Stoker Award-winning author of five novels (Master of the Moors, Currency of Souls, Kin, The Living, and Nemesis: The Death of Timmy Quinn), over a hundred short stories, three collections (Ravenous Ghosts, The Number 121 to Pennsylvania & Others, and Theater Macabre), and editor of four acclaimed anthologies (Taverns of t...more

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The Turtle Boy (Timmy Quinn #1)

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