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Sin
What would you do? Could you kill a killer? Does the death of one appease the deaths of a hundred? What about that hundred against a thousand?
What if you had no choice?
Meet Sin. No, not that sort of sin, but Sin, crazy as a loon (you ask Sister Moon), and proud of it. Sin locks himself away in a mental home and, every so often, gets violent. That’s only so they’ll give him those nice drugs, though. The ones that help him forget.
It’s a pity they don’t work.
Sin, you see, has a serious problem. Well, it’s not so much his problem, as ours – yours, mine and everyone else’s. People die around him. He doesn't like it and he can't help it. But someone else knows, and he has to stop them... and himself...
Flip and catch...
What if you had no choice?
Meet Sin. No, not that sort of sin, but Sin, crazy as a loon (you ask Sister Moon), and proud of it. Sin locks himself away in a mental home and, every so often, gets violent. That’s only so they’ll give him those nice drugs, though. The ones that help him forget.
It’s a pity they don’t work.
Sin, you see, has a serious problem. Well, it’s not so much his problem, as ours – yours, mine and everyone else’s. People die around him. He doesn't like it and he can't help it. But someone else knows, and he has to stop them... and himself...
Flip and catch...
306 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
19 people are currently reading
828 people want to read
About the author
Shaun Allan
37 books252 followersShaun Allan is a bestselling, award winning author who writes multiple genres, including psychological horror, introspective and emotive poetry, young adult and children’s. He has appeared on Sky TV to debate publishing, is a Wattpad Creator (previously Wattpad Stars), and been commissioned to write companion stories for such movies as The Purge: Anarchy, Sinister II, The Boy, A Quiet Place, IT and Amazon Prime’s Panic series. He also holds writing workshops at local schools. Many of his personal experiences are woven into the points of view and senses of humour of his characters, along with the places in and around his home town. His novel Sin has been adapted into a Chapters mobile game titled Straitjacket Lover and was optioned for television.
Shaun lives with his manic dog, Ripley (believe it or not). He works full time and, though his life feels as hyper as his dog, it probably isn't.
Shaun lives with his manic dog, Ripley (believe it or not). He works full time and, though his life feels as hyper as his dog, it probably isn't.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
November 27, 2011
"Sin. That's my name, don't wear it out, as I used to say once upon a very long time ago." (excerpt)
When I received this book for review and read the blurb, I thought to myself that this sounds like it’s going to be a dark, disturbing read, exploring the mind of an “I-was-abused-as-a-child” sorry-ass psychopath. That was my very first impression of “Sin”. With trepidation, I sat down to read, preparing to wrestle my way through to the last chapter, (I mean really, who wants to read about a crazy ol’ coot locked up in a padded six by six cell?). Well, all I can say, is that I couldn’t have been more wrong! By the time I got to page four, I was so absorbed in the story and intrigued with the main character – yes, Sin – that I couldn’t fathom not reading to the end.
Contradictory to the impression generated by the blurb of it being a journey into the mind of a serial killer, I experienced Sin as quite the opposite. In my opinion, Sin could’ve been my next door neighbor: a man just going about his daily life and minding his own business - until that unfortunate incident in the street in front of Woolworths, which changed his life for the worse. It took a few thousand deaths, but Sin soon catches on to what is happening and how the coin – or the ‘not-so-proverbial bad penny’ – affects him and the lives of the people around him. Subsequently feeling that he will be much less of a danger to others and himself, he voluntarily has himself locked up in an asylum, under the care - or what he perceives as such - of Dr Connors. Biiiiig mistake!
"Sin-sin-sirree, there's no place for thee,' I was Sin. Not a superhero but... but good. Yes. I'd plead my case to that jury and I'd convince them. I wasn't a big bad wolf, ready to eat the little piggies. But, Dr. Connors, I was going to blow your house down." (excerpt)
What I enjoyed most about “Sin” is the way the author tells the story as though he is having a conversation with you. As a big fan of the books of both Stephen King and Dean Koontz, I instantly recognized the author’s writing style of that similar to both these authors; and thus enjoyed the book even more. The story is recounted through Sin’s inner-dialogue and point of view; and has so much skillfully interlaced humor in it, that most of this book I read with a smile on my face.
"I wondered if, in a court of law, murder in absentia was a punishable crime. If I had an alibi tighter than Jacob Marley's business partner, even though I admitted to having done the crime - and thanks to Mental Homes R Us, done the time - would I still be sent down, joining the chain gang on a one way trip along the Green Mile? Maybe I could get Tom Hanks' or Michael Clarke Duncan's autographs. I doubted a defence of "I wasn't there m'lud" would be sufficient to get me off. But death by proxy. What would be the maximum sentence for that?" (excerpt)
“Sin” is not what I dreaded it would be. Dark? Yes. Disturbing? Sure. Boring? Heck, no!. Quite the opposite. It takes you into the life of a man whose parents thought it a joke to give him a name that caused him to be the butt end of ridicule; and who found it equally hilarious to name their daughter Joy. But a name such as Joy could not possibly be on the receiving end of beatings, name-calling and being made a fool of, now could it?
‘Ask me another.’
If you enjoy reading thought-provoking books that punch you in the chest with unpredictable shocking twists, “Sin” should be at the top of your list. I personally, am not into the whole inner dialogue thing and as laugh-out-loud funny as it was at times and heartbreakingly sad at others, I found the inner-dialogue, although relevant to the story, a bit lengthy - and therefore the 4 star rating. Other than that, I would highly recommend this expertly written book to anyone looking for a superb read. I can say with certainty that Shaun Allan is on his way to best-seller status!
And just to tantalize your appetite for this unusual first-rate book some more, here is another excerpt:
"I didn't mind them staying away from me. I wasn't in the mood for company, and trying to hold a conversation with a squirrel was something I was too tired to bother trying. They can be skittish creatures and tend to have a short attention span, so any chat is liable to dip and dive from subject to subject faster than I could make a banoffee pie disappear. Rabbits are different but just as hard to please. They simply look at you with blank faces, making it obvious that, no matter how riveting your conversation might be, they just wanted to know where you kept the carrots. I couldn't blame them. My stomach was starting to growl so a carrot or two, while not banoffee pie, would have been quite welcome."
When I received this book for review and read the blurb, I thought to myself that this sounds like it’s going to be a dark, disturbing read, exploring the mind of an “I-was-abused-as-a-child” sorry-ass psychopath. That was my very first impression of “Sin”. With trepidation, I sat down to read, preparing to wrestle my way through to the last chapter, (I mean really, who wants to read about a crazy ol’ coot locked up in a padded six by six cell?). Well, all I can say, is that I couldn’t have been more wrong! By the time I got to page four, I was so absorbed in the story and intrigued with the main character – yes, Sin – that I couldn’t fathom not reading to the end.
Contradictory to the impression generated by the blurb of it being a journey into the mind of a serial killer, I experienced Sin as quite the opposite. In my opinion, Sin could’ve been my next door neighbor: a man just going about his daily life and minding his own business - until that unfortunate incident in the street in front of Woolworths, which changed his life for the worse. It took a few thousand deaths, but Sin soon catches on to what is happening and how the coin – or the ‘not-so-proverbial bad penny’ – affects him and the lives of the people around him. Subsequently feeling that he will be much less of a danger to others and himself, he voluntarily has himself locked up in an asylum, under the care - or what he perceives as such - of Dr Connors. Biiiiig mistake!
"Sin-sin-sirree, there's no place for thee,' I was Sin. Not a superhero but... but good. Yes. I'd plead my case to that jury and I'd convince them. I wasn't a big bad wolf, ready to eat the little piggies. But, Dr. Connors, I was going to blow your house down." (excerpt)
What I enjoyed most about “Sin” is the way the author tells the story as though he is having a conversation with you. As a big fan of the books of both Stephen King and Dean Koontz, I instantly recognized the author’s writing style of that similar to both these authors; and thus enjoyed the book even more. The story is recounted through Sin’s inner-dialogue and point of view; and has so much skillfully interlaced humor in it, that most of this book I read with a smile on my face.
"I wondered if, in a court of law, murder in absentia was a punishable crime. If I had an alibi tighter than Jacob Marley's business partner, even though I admitted to having done the crime - and thanks to Mental Homes R Us, done the time - would I still be sent down, joining the chain gang on a one way trip along the Green Mile? Maybe I could get Tom Hanks' or Michael Clarke Duncan's autographs. I doubted a defence of "I wasn't there m'lud" would be sufficient to get me off. But death by proxy. What would be the maximum sentence for that?" (excerpt)
“Sin” is not what I dreaded it would be. Dark? Yes. Disturbing? Sure. Boring? Heck, no!. Quite the opposite. It takes you into the life of a man whose parents thought it a joke to give him a name that caused him to be the butt end of ridicule; and who found it equally hilarious to name their daughter Joy. But a name such as Joy could not possibly be on the receiving end of beatings, name-calling and being made a fool of, now could it?
‘Ask me another.’
If you enjoy reading thought-provoking books that punch you in the chest with unpredictable shocking twists, “Sin” should be at the top of your list. I personally, am not into the whole inner dialogue thing and as laugh-out-loud funny as it was at times and heartbreakingly sad at others, I found the inner-dialogue, although relevant to the story, a bit lengthy - and therefore the 4 star rating. Other than that, I would highly recommend this expertly written book to anyone looking for a superb read. I can say with certainty that Shaun Allan is on his way to best-seller status!
And just to tantalize your appetite for this unusual first-rate book some more, here is another excerpt:
"I didn't mind them staying away from me. I wasn't in the mood for company, and trying to hold a conversation with a squirrel was something I was too tired to bother trying. They can be skittish creatures and tend to have a short attention span, so any chat is liable to dip and dive from subject to subject faster than I could make a banoffee pie disappear. Rabbits are different but just as hard to please. They simply look at you with blank faces, making it obvious that, no matter how riveting your conversation might be, they just wanted to know where you kept the carrots. I couldn't blame them. My stomach was starting to growl so a carrot or two, while not banoffee pie, would have been quite welcome."
Read
December 1, 2011Sin is a ground breaking novel by Shaun Allan that grabs the reader from the first page and never lets go. The main character is named Sin and he is quite insane, or is he?
Sin is probably one of the most unique characters I have ever had the pleasure of getting to know in a book.
This novel is very well written, engaging, quickly paced, and just plain fun to read.
I highly recommend it!
Sin is probably one of the most unique characters I have ever had the pleasure of getting to know in a book.
This novel is very well written, engaging, quickly paced, and just plain fun to read.
I highly recommend it!
Read
May 7, 2015Sin
Sample
Copyright 2011 by Shaun Allan
-
I woke with a start. Was it possible to do that with a stop? Or with a finish? Why is it always a start? Not too long before I'd have been happy to wake up with an END. As my body jerked awake, the knotted tree trunk gave me a good kick in my back to remind me where I was. I could have told it that I hadn't forgotten, but trees are notoriously bad conversationalists, especially in the mornings. Well, without a hot Cappo and some toast, who isn't?
But... was it morning? Dewy webs dotted the ground like a warped game of Twister where all the spots were white or silver. Now that would be confusing – you wouldn’t know where to put your foot or hand. I stretched, wincing as my back breathed a sigh of relief at finally being released from the bark's surface. I wondered at who spun the wheel and who did the twisting. Spiders could cheat and squirrels only had short legs. It wouldn't really be a fair game. I'm glad I'd only played with my sister and friends.
The light had a hazy feel to it, as if it was on a dimmer that hadn't quite been turned all the way up. I could see a vague fog drifting across the fields beyond the forest, aimless and lost. I knew how it felt. The mist failed to reach into the confines of the trees, perhaps lying in wait for me when I emerged. No matter, I thought. I could handle a bit of fog. It was hardly a case of Mr. T versus Rocky Balboa, was it? Of course John Carpenter or James Herbert might disagree, but I'd have to take that chance. If the mist thought it was hard enough to try it on with me, let it have a go.
Big words from an escaped lunatic, don't you think?
It certainly felt like morning time. How early I couldn't tell, but the air had a definite crispness to it, like it was just out of the wrapping and hadn't been used yet. I felt guilty taking a breath, as if by exhaling I could possibly taint the atmosphere - but hey, I felt guilty taking the last jaffa cake from the box. It didn't stop me. The freshness of the air was sharp in my throat and nostrils, cleaning them out as it passed on through. I felt like someone had stuck a Dyson down my throat and sucked out all the grimy remnants of modern day’s pollution. It was as if every breath I'd ever taken had traces of muck and sludge mingled in it, and this clear morning air had scoured me out better than a hydrochloric enema. I could have been breathing for the very first time, instead of the twenty millionth or so.
How often do you breathe in a life time? I think I read somewhere that it was around twenty thousand times a day. It sounds like a lot, but it's only about fourteen times a minute, give or take the odd yawn or hiccup to spoil the flow. So that makes it about... erm... put the 1 on the doorstep... about seven hundred million or so in a century? Of course, if you're still breathing at a century then you're doing something right - breathing for one.
Anyway, today's felt like Numero Uno for me. My lungs had been plucked from my torso, chucked in a washer on 40° and hung on the line to dry, thereafter being shoved back in my body to start all over again. Refreshed, revived, replenished and renewed. I guess I'd been RE'ed in every which way but loose, Clyde. It was great. I was Samson before he'd nipped to the hairdressers for a quick wash, cut and blow dry. Whether it was Androcles or Saint Jerome who pulled the thorn from the lion's paw, I could do it with my teeth whilst blindfolded and with both hands tied behind my back. Unusually invigorated by the morning, I pushed myself to my feet, ignoring my protesting joints, and decided I was going to get my shiny metal behind into gear. If the men in white coats came a-hunting-we-will-go, then they'd have to catch me. If Dr. Connors was on the prowl, he'd have to find me. And if my dead sister wanted to stop by for a chat again, a-haunting-we-will-go, then she'd just have to call first so I could check my diary. Either that or she'd have to bring some Viennese Whirls. I hadn't had any for ages, and I just fancied one.
Of my sister, there was no sign. Maggots weren't wriggling towards the morning sun like turtles to the sea and the grass wasn't flattened where she'd stepped. No cockroaches crunched underfoot and I failed to see any globby bits of flesh, with hair still sprouting, hiding between the roots of the trees. My dream had been a dream and no more. Of course it had. Why did I feel the need to convince myself? Yes, it had seemed real, apart from her eye popping out and the like, but she was dead. It hadn't been real. Just a dream veering precariously close to the edge of nightmare without quite careening over.
Not that I'm saying my sister was a nightmare. She could sometimes be, though, a bit wee, a bit woo, a bit wah, if you know what I mean. Often even a bit WOAH! I didn't know whether to blame that on hormones or just general femininity. Who understood a woman? Not even women was my guess. And isn't any sibling a nightmare at times? Isn't it always a case of 'I can call you but if anyone else does I'll rip their head off?' Such it was with Joy and me. She did my head in, big style, sometimes, but she was still my sister. So why dream of her with a face melting faster than hot wax?
Go on, ask me another. Dare ya.
-
"Sin" by Shaun Allan is a 105,000 word supernatural thriller that has been described as a 'masterpiece of genuine creativity'.
There's a video trailer, excerpts and reviews, along with the origins of the story: http://www.shaunallan.co.uk/sin.php
Sin also has a blog, his diary from within the asylum, where he describes his experiences and the people he meets within the institute. Read it at http://singularityspoint.blogspot.com
Find me on Twitter: @singularityspnt
Sample
Copyright 2011 by Shaun Allan
-
I woke with a start. Was it possible to do that with a stop? Or with a finish? Why is it always a start? Not too long before I'd have been happy to wake up with an END. As my body jerked awake, the knotted tree trunk gave me a good kick in my back to remind me where I was. I could have told it that I hadn't forgotten, but trees are notoriously bad conversationalists, especially in the mornings. Well, without a hot Cappo and some toast, who isn't?
But... was it morning? Dewy webs dotted the ground like a warped game of Twister where all the spots were white or silver. Now that would be confusing – you wouldn’t know where to put your foot or hand. I stretched, wincing as my back breathed a sigh of relief at finally being released from the bark's surface. I wondered at who spun the wheel and who did the twisting. Spiders could cheat and squirrels only had short legs. It wouldn't really be a fair game. I'm glad I'd only played with my sister and friends.
The light had a hazy feel to it, as if it was on a dimmer that hadn't quite been turned all the way up. I could see a vague fog drifting across the fields beyond the forest, aimless and lost. I knew how it felt. The mist failed to reach into the confines of the trees, perhaps lying in wait for me when I emerged. No matter, I thought. I could handle a bit of fog. It was hardly a case of Mr. T versus Rocky Balboa, was it? Of course John Carpenter or James Herbert might disagree, but I'd have to take that chance. If the mist thought it was hard enough to try it on with me, let it have a go.
Big words from an escaped lunatic, don't you think?
It certainly felt like morning time. How early I couldn't tell, but the air had a definite crispness to it, like it was just out of the wrapping and hadn't been used yet. I felt guilty taking a breath, as if by exhaling I could possibly taint the atmosphere - but hey, I felt guilty taking the last jaffa cake from the box. It didn't stop me. The freshness of the air was sharp in my throat and nostrils, cleaning them out as it passed on through. I felt like someone had stuck a Dyson down my throat and sucked out all the grimy remnants of modern day’s pollution. It was as if every breath I'd ever taken had traces of muck and sludge mingled in it, and this clear morning air had scoured me out better than a hydrochloric enema. I could have been breathing for the very first time, instead of the twenty millionth or so.
How often do you breathe in a life time? I think I read somewhere that it was around twenty thousand times a day. It sounds like a lot, but it's only about fourteen times a minute, give or take the odd yawn or hiccup to spoil the flow. So that makes it about... erm... put the 1 on the doorstep... about seven hundred million or so in a century? Of course, if you're still breathing at a century then you're doing something right - breathing for one.
Anyway, today's felt like Numero Uno for me. My lungs had been plucked from my torso, chucked in a washer on 40° and hung on the line to dry, thereafter being shoved back in my body to start all over again. Refreshed, revived, replenished and renewed. I guess I'd been RE'ed in every which way but loose, Clyde. It was great. I was Samson before he'd nipped to the hairdressers for a quick wash, cut and blow dry. Whether it was Androcles or Saint Jerome who pulled the thorn from the lion's paw, I could do it with my teeth whilst blindfolded and with both hands tied behind my back. Unusually invigorated by the morning, I pushed myself to my feet, ignoring my protesting joints, and decided I was going to get my shiny metal behind into gear. If the men in white coats came a-hunting-we-will-go, then they'd have to catch me. If Dr. Connors was on the prowl, he'd have to find me. And if my dead sister wanted to stop by for a chat again, a-haunting-we-will-go, then she'd just have to call first so I could check my diary. Either that or she'd have to bring some Viennese Whirls. I hadn't had any for ages, and I just fancied one.
Of my sister, there was no sign. Maggots weren't wriggling towards the morning sun like turtles to the sea and the grass wasn't flattened where she'd stepped. No cockroaches crunched underfoot and I failed to see any globby bits of flesh, with hair still sprouting, hiding between the roots of the trees. My dream had been a dream and no more. Of course it had. Why did I feel the need to convince myself? Yes, it had seemed real, apart from her eye popping out and the like, but she was dead. It hadn't been real. Just a dream veering precariously close to the edge of nightmare without quite careening over.
Not that I'm saying my sister was a nightmare. She could sometimes be, though, a bit wee, a bit woo, a bit wah, if you know what I mean. Often even a bit WOAH! I didn't know whether to blame that on hormones or just general femininity. Who understood a woman? Not even women was my guess. And isn't any sibling a nightmare at times? Isn't it always a case of 'I can call you but if anyone else does I'll rip their head off?' Such it was with Joy and me. She did my head in, big style, sometimes, but she was still my sister. So why dream of her with a face melting faster than hot wax?
Go on, ask me another. Dare ya.
-
"Sin" by Shaun Allan is a 105,000 word supernatural thriller that has been described as a 'masterpiece of genuine creativity'.
There's a video trailer, excerpts and reviews, along with the origins of the story: http://www.shaunallan.co.uk/sin.php
Sin also has a blog, his diary from within the asylum, where he describes his experiences and the people he meets within the institute. Read it at http://singularityspoint.blogspot.com
Find me on Twitter: @singularityspnt
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 20, 2025
Didn't get on with this one I'm afraid! Great premise though.
August 31, 2011
Insane, that’s what this book is, and I mean that it the nicest possible way. The first time I was treated to Sin’s point of view, I wondered if I had gone insane myself and muttered, “What the hell…?” He’s off-the-charts random, but there’s a very good reason for it. He’s in a mental institution—asked to be put in there himself—because he found a 2p coin that makes weird things happen. If he flips it, bad things occur. He didn’t realise it at first, but the more he flips it, the more bad things happen until he can’t deny it any longer. He’s causing people to get hurt, to die. He tries getting rid of the coin, but the bloody thing keeps finding its way back to him.
As the tale progresses and Sin transports himself out of the institution because he’d rather die than be this insane, his thought processes calm a little. He doesn’t go off on so many tangents, and it’s almost like him being in the mental home makes him worse…but that’s a bit of plot I won’t go into due to spoilers.
The way Sin’s mind works is actually pretty much like mine. He thinks of one thing and that leads to another. It’s like a game of mind word association, where one thought makes another, and so on, until he’s so far away from his original thought he was to pause to remember what the hell he was on about in the first place. It’s amusing but also frustrating (this is not a negative comment! Read on…), because as a reader you want to know what happens next, but because we’re living in his mind, with what he has to cope with every day, you have to have the tangents in order to fully “get” what this poor guy’s going through.
After Sin transports himself out, he meets up with his dead sister. Honestly, it sounds mental, but he isn’t mad—it’s happening, it’s real, and I felt quite sorry for him in a way. I wouldn’t want to be him if you paid me. The doctor at the institute wants Sin back, and Sin’s sister, Joy, wants to help Sin, let him know what’s going on, but she’s not allowed to tell him. So she orchestrates things so she’s not exactly telling but showing, and that’s where things start to make sense to Sin. He isn’t crazy, and that’s a big relief, and I felt incredulous on his behalf that he was used in the way he was. It was cruel.
Best Bits: Woolworths. I really understood the comment that follows mention of this store. I thought the same thing myself when Woolworths closed down! See, Sin isn’t insane! Unless I am too!
The Royal Bank of Pocket.
…bless its sweet little copper heart…
I thought I’d mention that just to keep the mood up. (LMAO!)
…ducking into alleys for a crafty ciggy or nipping home for a packet of salt ‘n’ vinegar…
…enough to make them often look like disembodied heads floating along the hall… (Really vivid image here. Brilliant.)
A bit like PMT is an excuse for a woman to tear a man’s balls off. (AAAAAhahahahah!)
…one partridge in a pear treed mansion…
Knots as big as fists were digging their knuckles into my back…
Viennese Whirls. (THE best biscuit EVER!)
He slipped on a patch of piss in the Oak Tree toilets… (Ahahahaha!)
I could feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord. (I nearly wet myself here.)
Well tough titties.
It’s make a change from living in a town called Malice. Oooh, yeah. (LMAO!)
Verdict: Sin is not only insane but it’s FUNNY. There are some really good laughter lines inside, well placed to set you laughing when you aren’t expecting it. I felt as insane as Sin is meant to be, relieved when he wasn’t insane, and disgruntled that the poor guy went through what he did. He’s a happy enough soul, though, doesn’t complain much even when the chips are seriously low down, and I think he could just about cope with anything after going through this!
As the tale progresses and Sin transports himself out of the institution because he’d rather die than be this insane, his thought processes calm a little. He doesn’t go off on so many tangents, and it’s almost like him being in the mental home makes him worse…but that’s a bit of plot I won’t go into due to spoilers.
The way Sin’s mind works is actually pretty much like mine. He thinks of one thing and that leads to another. It’s like a game of mind word association, where one thought makes another, and so on, until he’s so far away from his original thought he was to pause to remember what the hell he was on about in the first place. It’s amusing but also frustrating (this is not a negative comment! Read on…), because as a reader you want to know what happens next, but because we’re living in his mind, with what he has to cope with every day, you have to have the tangents in order to fully “get” what this poor guy’s going through.
After Sin transports himself out, he meets up with his dead sister. Honestly, it sounds mental, but he isn’t mad—it’s happening, it’s real, and I felt quite sorry for him in a way. I wouldn’t want to be him if you paid me. The doctor at the institute wants Sin back, and Sin’s sister, Joy, wants to help Sin, let him know what’s going on, but she’s not allowed to tell him. So she orchestrates things so she’s not exactly telling but showing, and that’s where things start to make sense to Sin. He isn’t crazy, and that’s a big relief, and I felt incredulous on his behalf that he was used in the way he was. It was cruel.
Best Bits: Woolworths. I really understood the comment that follows mention of this store. I thought the same thing myself when Woolworths closed down! See, Sin isn’t insane! Unless I am too!
The Royal Bank of Pocket.
…bless its sweet little copper heart…
I thought I’d mention that just to keep the mood up. (LMAO!)
…ducking into alleys for a crafty ciggy or nipping home for a packet of salt ‘n’ vinegar…
…enough to make them often look like disembodied heads floating along the hall… (Really vivid image here. Brilliant.)
A bit like PMT is an excuse for a woman to tear a man’s balls off. (AAAAAhahahahah!)
…one partridge in a pear treed mansion…
Knots as big as fists were digging their knuckles into my back…
Viennese Whirls. (THE best biscuit EVER!)
He slipped on a patch of piss in the Oak Tree toilets… (Ahahahaha!)
I could feel it in the air tonight, oh Lord. (I nearly wet myself here.)
Well tough titties.
It’s make a change from living in a town called Malice. Oooh, yeah. (LMAO!)
Verdict: Sin is not only insane but it’s FUNNY. There are some really good laughter lines inside, well placed to set you laughing when you aren’t expecting it. I felt as insane as Sin is meant to be, relieved when he wasn’t insane, and disgruntled that the poor guy went through what he did. He’s a happy enough soul, though, doesn’t complain much even when the chips are seriously low down, and I think he could just about cope with anything after going through this!
April 13, 2012
This work is a surreal story describing the weird twist about a mental patient who voluntarily commits himself to a psychiatric facility to escape or stop his delusions under heavy medication. As the reader continues into the story the question to ask is he insane or actually san being manipulative by a dark evil doctor. The journey to insanity to sanity takes the reader for a wild ride; the humor excites the brain, because this author ingenious incorporates all sort of humor from dark to light to entertain the reader.
Sin has character; he is witty and very knowledge about people and psychology. His personal interaction and experiences stimulates the mind, “what if”. The question is he insane or in reality is able to use his mind to kill? This story is zany, witty, like traveling into twilight zone, definitely a challenge firing dominant brain cells, but worth the time getting familiar with this unique style of writing. Thanks for the entertainment. To find out more about this creation the author has a blog which introduces his character and his adventures. http://singularityspoint.blogspot.com/
This work is a surreal story describing the weird twist about a mental patient who voluntarily commits himself to a psychiatric facility to escape or stop his delusions under heavy medication. As the reader continues into the story the question to ask is he insane or actually san being manipulative by a dark evil doctor. The journey to insanity to sanity takes the reader for a wild ride; the humor excites the brain, because this author ingenious incorporates all sort of humor from dark to light to entertain the reader.
Sin has character; he is witty and very knowledge about people and psychology. His personal interaction and experiences stimulates the mind, "what if". The question is he insane or in reality is able to use his mind to kill? This story is zany, witty, like traveling into twilight zone, definitely a challenge firing dominant brain cells, but worth the time getting familiar with this unique style of writing. Thanks for the entertainment. To find out more about this creation the author has a blog which introduces his character and his adventures.
http://singularityspoint.blogspot.com/
The book can be reviewed at Goodreads and Amazon.com
http://amzn.to/SinEBUS OR http://amzn.to/SinEBUK and website is http://www.shaunallan.co.uk/
and at Lisa Vandiver's Blog
http://lisavandiver.blogspot.com/2011...
Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22797/1...
The book can be reviewed at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12... and Amazon.com
Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22797/1...
Sin has character; he is witty and very knowledge about people and psychology. His personal interaction and experiences stimulates the mind, “what if”. The question is he insane or in reality is able to use his mind to kill? This story is zany, witty, like traveling into twilight zone, definitely a challenge firing dominant brain cells, but worth the time getting familiar with this unique style of writing. Thanks for the entertainment. To find out more about this creation the author has a blog which introduces his character and his adventures. http://singularityspoint.blogspot.com/
This work is a surreal story describing the weird twist about a mental patient who voluntarily commits himself to a psychiatric facility to escape or stop his delusions under heavy medication. As the reader continues into the story the question to ask is he insane or actually san being manipulative by a dark evil doctor. The journey to insanity to sanity takes the reader for a wild ride; the humor excites the brain, because this author ingenious incorporates all sort of humor from dark to light to entertain the reader.
Sin has character; he is witty and very knowledge about people and psychology. His personal interaction and experiences stimulates the mind, "what if". The question is he insane or in reality is able to use his mind to kill? This story is zany, witty, like traveling into twilight zone, definitely a challenge firing dominant brain cells, but worth the time getting familiar with this unique style of writing. Thanks for the entertainment. To find out more about this creation the author has a blog which introduces his character and his adventures.
http://singularityspoint.blogspot.com/
The book can be reviewed at Goodreads and Amazon.com
http://amzn.to/SinEBUS OR http://amzn.to/SinEBUK and website is http://www.shaunallan.co.uk/
and at Lisa Vandiver's Blog
http://lisavandiver.blogspot.com/2011...
Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22797/1...
The book can be reviewed at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12... and Amazon.com
Via http://www.divinecaroline.com/22797/1...
January 16, 2012
When my new friend at work told me he was a writer I thought, “Yup. Sure. OK.” We all write don’t we, in one way or another. I’m forever helping my daughter with phrasing her uni assignments; composing personal and business letters to all and sundry; I’ve even written short items about ancestors for my family tree website.
To humour him (and because I was intrigued) I downloaded this book and started to read it. And carried on. And on.
Now I know what a “page-turner” is – and what they mean about not being able to put it down.
“Sin” is amazing. There’s a little bit of him in all of us, I think – we all carry perceived guilt for things that go on around us, or regret a minor action that caused a major event.
But no-one else could have expressed Sin’s thoughts and feelings in the way Allan has. There is this marvellous insight into the way the mind works; such imaginative use of words and rhythm ; colourful ways to describe black and white. The characters are sharp, yet completely blurred, so the reader feels an intimate relationship with them only to have that dashed in the next sentence or paragraph. One is constantly changing from knowing all that is going on, as if experiencing it oneself – and loving every minute, to feeling a total outsider – and grateful to be so.
The story twists and turns, flowing from Sin’s thoughts to the reader’s consciousness. Never, ever can one predict what happen in the next sentence, let alone the next paragraph or page.
I loved it. And I’m constantly nagging now for the follow-up volumes. Thank goodness for the blog (http://singularityspoint.blogspot.com...) to keep us informed about goings-on in the asylum.
To humour him (and because I was intrigued) I downloaded this book and started to read it. And carried on. And on.
Now I know what a “page-turner” is – and what they mean about not being able to put it down.
“Sin” is amazing. There’s a little bit of him in all of us, I think – we all carry perceived guilt for things that go on around us, or regret a minor action that caused a major event.
But no-one else could have expressed Sin’s thoughts and feelings in the way Allan has. There is this marvellous insight into the way the mind works; such imaginative use of words and rhythm ; colourful ways to describe black and white. The characters are sharp, yet completely blurred, so the reader feels an intimate relationship with them only to have that dashed in the next sentence or paragraph. One is constantly changing from knowing all that is going on, as if experiencing it oneself – and loving every minute, to feeling a total outsider – and grateful to be so.
The story twists and turns, flowing from Sin’s thoughts to the reader’s consciousness. Never, ever can one predict what happen in the next sentence, let alone the next paragraph or page.
I loved it. And I’m constantly nagging now for the follow-up volumes. Thank goodness for the blog (http://singularityspoint.blogspot.com...) to keep us informed about goings-on in the asylum.
September 1, 2012
Shaun Allan gives you more than expected with this stream-of-consciousness onslaught of what initially appears to be the ramblings of an insane man, who insists he is really a sane man who has a little problem--he causes buses to crash into buildings, earthquakes to appear on the other side of the planet--all sorts of catastrophes small to large, communal to personal. How does he do it? Simple, it's all done with the flip of a boomerang two-pence coin, and he just wants it to stop. Stop it does not.
The plot builds much like a solo flight in a first-generation jet climbing to its maximum altitude. Storing kinetic energy on the long ascent for such a moment as with a quick side-push of the stick and a stomp on the rudder, the vessel flips upside down and then the pilot pulls backward on the stick. The jet goes downward into an ever-increasing g-load, pointing earthward and then beginning the long, hard pull back to the horizon, shoulders aching, furrowed brow beaded with sweat, fighting to keep awareness as the heart pumps against the unnatural pressures. Then remarkably, the readers like the pilot discover they are on a course 180 degrees in the opposite direction, at a completely different altitude and with a near placard speed registering on the dial. Yes, we're going somewhere now.
You'll want to read this one.
Bravo, Mr. Allan.
C.D. Sutherland, author of
The Dragoneers: The Chronicles of Susah Book One
The plot builds much like a solo flight in a first-generation jet climbing to its maximum altitude. Storing kinetic energy on the long ascent for such a moment as with a quick side-push of the stick and a stomp on the rudder, the vessel flips upside down and then the pilot pulls backward on the stick. The jet goes downward into an ever-increasing g-load, pointing earthward and then beginning the long, hard pull back to the horizon, shoulders aching, furrowed brow beaded with sweat, fighting to keep awareness as the heart pumps against the unnatural pressures. Then remarkably, the readers like the pilot discover they are on a course 180 degrees in the opposite direction, at a completely different altitude and with a near placard speed registering on the dial. Yes, we're going somewhere now.
You'll want to read this one.
Bravo, Mr. Allan.
C.D. Sutherland, author of
The Dragoneers: The Chronicles of Susah Book One
July 4, 2011
This isn’t my usual genre as I prefer romance/chick lit. But, I was intrigued after reading the summary of this book. The book starts off with the written ramblings of a psychiatric patient. The author leads us to believe he is insane. But as the story progressed, I found myself not so sure.
People do die around him. Did Sin cause their deaths? Can he tele-transport? Is there a sinister force following him causing this destruction? All these thoughts ran through my mind as I read.
The plot twists and turns and led me to where I wasn’t sure I wanted to go, but happily did because I wanted to see the end.
I empathized with Sin and his vulnerability, never more so when he would speak with his dead sister, Joy. Was she a ghost or just an apparition in his mind?
The author does a good job of weaving a tale of suspense and intrigue. It is cleverly written and done in a most unique way. I’ve not read a book like it before and the last few chapters my knuckles were white as I gripped the edges of my kindle.
It was a satisfying read!
People do die around him. Did Sin cause their deaths? Can he tele-transport? Is there a sinister force following him causing this destruction? All these thoughts ran through my mind as I read.
The plot twists and turns and led me to where I wasn’t sure I wanted to go, but happily did because I wanted to see the end.
I empathized with Sin and his vulnerability, never more so when he would speak with his dead sister, Joy. Was she a ghost or just an apparition in his mind?
The author does a good job of weaving a tale of suspense and intrigue. It is cleverly written and done in a most unique way. I’ve not read a book like it before and the last few chapters my knuckles were white as I gripped the edges of my kindle.
It was a satisfying read!
April 29, 2012
I love urban fantasy and horror, so I knew that Sin would be a great read. And indeed it is. The action is nonstop, although much of it plays out in Sin's head. And believe me: that is a scary place to be.
It's not often that I read a book with a completely original character who lives and breathes; who comes alive. Sin is that character. The way he thinks, how he interacts with his dead sister, Joy, and the strange events surrounding a coin that Sin found and that completely changed his life.
As a reader, I see so many plots that have been recycled or restyled. Sin was completely new. The concept of a coin that can bring chaos and death (but not in a fantasy / Middle earth way, in a real world, gritty urban style) was amazing.
The author brought the book to an even higher level with his style. Allan constantly plays with words, their sounds and meaning. Sin has such a pervasive voice that drives the novel forward. I was fascinated until I read, with great reluctance, the final word.
It's not often that I read a book with a completely original character who lives and breathes; who comes alive. Sin is that character. The way he thinks, how he interacts with his dead sister, Joy, and the strange events surrounding a coin that Sin found and that completely changed his life.
As a reader, I see so many plots that have been recycled or restyled. Sin was completely new. The concept of a coin that can bring chaos and death (but not in a fantasy / Middle earth way, in a real world, gritty urban style) was amazing.
The author brought the book to an even higher level with his style. Allan constantly plays with words, their sounds and meaning. Sin has such a pervasive voice that drives the novel forward. I was fascinated until I read, with great reluctance, the final word.
June 18, 2012
Welcome to Sin's mind.
Sin is a confused guy. He thinks he can kill people by tossing a coin...flip and catch...flip and catch. He is so sure of it, in fact, that he voluntarily enters a psychiatric hospital. As the story unravels through Sin's thoughts (first person) and his impression of what is happening, the reader is forced to wonder... Is he crazy? Did these things really happen? Is he dreaming? Or is it all the effect of the drugs he is flooded with on a daily basis?
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Sin's case is far more than a simple voluntary admission. There is a larger force at work, trying to stop him from finding out the truth behind his "craziness".
Good story, excellent writing.
Sin is a confused guy. He thinks he can kill people by tossing a coin...flip and catch...flip and catch. He is so sure of it, in fact, that he voluntarily enters a psychiatric hospital. As the story unravels through Sin's thoughts (first person) and his impression of what is happening, the reader is forced to wonder... Is he crazy? Did these things really happen? Is he dreaming? Or is it all the effect of the drugs he is flooded with on a daily basis?
As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Sin's case is far more than a simple voluntary admission. There is a larger force at work, trying to stop him from finding out the truth behind his "craziness".
Good story, excellent writing.
January 23, 2012
The book opens with Sin's case report and a statement as written by Sin. This is an interesting opening to the story, as you find out that Sin purposely admitted himself into a mental institution. Flip. Catch.
The story seems almost disjointed at first, with the random thoughts Sin expresses. The story pulls you in, not willing to let you go until Sin's good and ready. As you meet the other characters in Sin's world, you begin to realize Sin's not as insane as he thinks himself to be. (Even if he does talk to his dead sister.)
The story seems almost disjointed at first, with the random thoughts Sin expresses. The story pulls you in, not willing to let you go until Sin's good and ready. As you meet the other characters in Sin's world, you begin to realize Sin's not as insane as he thinks himself to be. (Even if he does talk to his dead sister.)
January 8, 2016
Incredible book so far. Allen's style is amazing - be prepared to be pulled out of your seat and headlong into Sin's psyche. This psychological thriller / fantasy is quite unlike anything I've ever read before.
May 13, 2011
I thought this book was excellent! Written in my favourite style of first person, I couldn't put it down.
January 16, 2012
Loop-oop-dee-doo it's too dumb to finish you. What a waste.
March 23, 2012
Very interesting concept. Well executed.
April 3, 2012
To read this review and more like it check out my site www.ufreviews.com
First and foremost this book is pretty cool. The concept is pretty cool, and honestly I don't think you get the full picture of what kind of book you are getting yourself into until you start reading. It definitely wasn't what I was expecting, but I mean that in the best way possible.
The book is interesting from the very beginning, and you want to keep reading to find out more about not only the character Sin, but what he is going to do next. I mean I read the synopsis of the book I was pretty sure the main character was not the best guy in the world, I mean it sounds like he is a killer. But really he is a guy who would be a normal guy if not for this fact that bad things happen when he's around. But he isn't the one doing the bad things, so you really feel bad for this guy.
I think it's a really interesting plot, and of course you get to experience how Sin deals with the problem once he recognizes it. It's obviously a terrible situation, and so Sin obviously wants to do something to make sure that he stops being the reason for other people dying. So he does the only thing that he thinks will help, he ends up in mental hospital which doesn't work, so he starts to wonder if the only solution to the problem would be for him not to exist anymore.
The book is really interesting and thought provoking. I also believe that it is really well written. The dialogue was good, the inner monologue was good, there was humor interjected throughout the book. But the overall book made you think. You wondered about what would happen if you were in his shoes. Or what would happen if you knew someone like him. You felt for him. You wanted this to stop, you wanted him to just be a normal everyday guy.
Overall, I think the book is pretty good. It is one of those books that kind of falls in the urban fantasy realm because it deals with things that don't happen naturally in the real world, but at the same time is not completely a fantasy book per say. It's thought provoking, well written, and has some really good overall elements to the book. I would recommend it to pretty much anyone who likes books, it's one of those books that kind of fits into a multitude of categories and therefore has a wider audience. I will say the book is on the darker side, so if you are looking for something light and fluffy then this is not the book for you.
First and foremost this book is pretty cool. The concept is pretty cool, and honestly I don't think you get the full picture of what kind of book you are getting yourself into until you start reading. It definitely wasn't what I was expecting, but I mean that in the best way possible.
The book is interesting from the very beginning, and you want to keep reading to find out more about not only the character Sin, but what he is going to do next. I mean I read the synopsis of the book I was pretty sure the main character was not the best guy in the world, I mean it sounds like he is a killer. But really he is a guy who would be a normal guy if not for this fact that bad things happen when he's around. But he isn't the one doing the bad things, so you really feel bad for this guy.
I think it's a really interesting plot, and of course you get to experience how Sin deals with the problem once he recognizes it. It's obviously a terrible situation, and so Sin obviously wants to do something to make sure that he stops being the reason for other people dying. So he does the only thing that he thinks will help, he ends up in mental hospital which doesn't work, so he starts to wonder if the only solution to the problem would be for him not to exist anymore.
The book is really interesting and thought provoking. I also believe that it is really well written. The dialogue was good, the inner monologue was good, there was humor interjected throughout the book. But the overall book made you think. You wondered about what would happen if you were in his shoes. Or what would happen if you knew someone like him. You felt for him. You wanted this to stop, you wanted him to just be a normal everyday guy.
Overall, I think the book is pretty good. It is one of those books that kind of falls in the urban fantasy realm because it deals with things that don't happen naturally in the real world, but at the same time is not completely a fantasy book per say. It's thought provoking, well written, and has some really good overall elements to the book. I would recommend it to pretty much anyone who likes books, it's one of those books that kind of fits into a multitude of categories and therefore has a wider audience. I will say the book is on the darker side, so if you are looking for something light and fluffy then this is not the book for you.
December 9, 2011
Today’s review is on Sin by Sean Allen
Sin is the first book that I have read by Allen and it has been by far the most thrilling; for me, as I was a Mental Health Professional. This extraordinary tale into the life and mind of Sin Matthews had me inthralled throughout the pages. Unlike his sister Joy; who seems to bring joy to everyone, Sin brings death. Literally.
We have all seen it and perhaps have even done it. Picked up that solitary penny that you see on the sidewalk or the road. We may have even recited the cute little poem that goes along with picking it up. You know the one. “See a penny, pick it up. And all the day you’ll have good luck.” Well that’s not the case for Sin. After he picks up that penny things go wrong and accidents where people die begin happening all around him. He doesn’t realize it then, but it’s not just the penny causing these deaths. It’s actually him.
So what’s a guy to do when he is the cause of so much death? Well he voluntarily commits himself to a mental ward, straight jackets and all. When the drugs diminish in their effectiveness however, something else must happen. HE needs to end his own life. But can he? Is that truly the answer?
With the help of his dead sister, Sin discovers what’s really going on at the Psych Ward.
A murder mystery, a dead sister, and a not so crazy crazy guy makes for good reading.
4 of 5 stars
Sin is the first book that I have read by Allen and it has been by far the most thrilling; for me, as I was a Mental Health Professional. This extraordinary tale into the life and mind of Sin Matthews had me inthralled throughout the pages. Unlike his sister Joy; who seems to bring joy to everyone, Sin brings death. Literally.
We have all seen it and perhaps have even done it. Picked up that solitary penny that you see on the sidewalk or the road. We may have even recited the cute little poem that goes along with picking it up. You know the one. “See a penny, pick it up. And all the day you’ll have good luck.” Well that’s not the case for Sin. After he picks up that penny things go wrong and accidents where people die begin happening all around him. He doesn’t realize it then, but it’s not just the penny causing these deaths. It’s actually him.
So what’s a guy to do when he is the cause of so much death? Well he voluntarily commits himself to a mental ward, straight jackets and all. When the drugs diminish in their effectiveness however, something else must happen. HE needs to end his own life. But can he? Is that truly the answer?
With the help of his dead sister, Sin discovers what’s really going on at the Psych Ward.
A murder mystery, a dead sister, and a not so crazy crazy guy makes for good reading.
4 of 5 stars
July 30, 2017
What a great read. Like nothing I've ever read before, this was truly impressive.
I love the voice the author has created for Sin -- a bit sarky, a bit rambling, one that makes you smile all the time, even in the tense scenes. Sin has got to be one of the most interesting characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading about. And I loved Joy as well. The chemistry between Sin and Joy as brother and sister was pretty special, and I really felt for them both.
The idea of this story really pulled me in; a guy who causes bad things to happen to people around him, unintentionally, without even trying, voluntarily incarcerates himself in a mental institute to stop himself from hurting people. Then he tries, unsuccessfully, to kill himself and ends up out of the mental hospital with nowhere to go, only to discover that someone knows his secret and they are after him.
Sin might seem a little crazy at first, but you soon come to realise that he is in many ways just like you and me, the only difference being his strange, horrific abilities and his sarcastic, humorous attitude towards everything that life throws at him.
This is definitely not your average 'psychopath' book. It's got an intriguing plot, the most amazing main character, and there are so many questions that you just can't wait to find the answers to. Incredibly well-written book. If you're not into psychological thrillers, you should still read it. If you are... Merry Christmas.
I love the voice the author has created for Sin -- a bit sarky, a bit rambling, one that makes you smile all the time, even in the tense scenes. Sin has got to be one of the most interesting characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading about. And I loved Joy as well. The chemistry between Sin and Joy as brother and sister was pretty special, and I really felt for them both.
The idea of this story really pulled me in; a guy who causes bad things to happen to people around him, unintentionally, without even trying, voluntarily incarcerates himself in a mental institute to stop himself from hurting people. Then he tries, unsuccessfully, to kill himself and ends up out of the mental hospital with nowhere to go, only to discover that someone knows his secret and they are after him.
Sin might seem a little crazy at first, but you soon come to realise that he is in many ways just like you and me, the only difference being his strange, horrific abilities and his sarcastic, humorous attitude towards everything that life throws at him.
This is definitely not your average 'psychopath' book. It's got an intriguing plot, the most amazing main character, and there are so many questions that you just can't wait to find the answers to. Incredibly well-written book. If you're not into psychological thrillers, you should still read it. If you are... Merry Christmas.
July 15, 2011
Sin is an intriguing and enthralling story of a man who checks himself into a mental hospital because of his seeming ability to cause the deaths of those around him. The story is told from the point of view of Sin Matthews in a light and humorous tone that belies the increasing strange twists of fate in his life. Shaun Allan's prose is at the same time comfortable and lyrical. My favorite example was "The expanding pools of blood and oil, merging together like a ying-yang pictogram were just something to step over." Other examples: "...the air had a definite crispness to it, like it was just out of the wrapping and hadn't been used yet."
"The edge of the road merged with the stumpy hedgerow that ran along the side of the fields as if the workmen who'd put it down had thought to nicely tuck it under."
"The seats would be stained and torn, the stuffing poking up like a meerkat sentry watching out for hyenas."
The characters are well-drawn and believable, despite the strange situations in which they find themselves. Sin is a multi-dimensional character (in more senses than one), one whom I'm looking forward to getting to know better in the sequel. Read this book; you won't be disappointed.
"The edge of the road merged with the stumpy hedgerow that ran along the side of the fields as if the workmen who'd put it down had thought to nicely tuck it under."
"The seats would be stained and torn, the stuffing poking up like a meerkat sentry watching out for hyenas."
The characters are well-drawn and believable, despite the strange situations in which they find themselves. Sin is a multi-dimensional character (in more senses than one), one whom I'm looking forward to getting to know better in the sequel. Read this book; you won't be disappointed.
December 11, 2011
This book is all about Sin Matthews he is a one of a kind guy, Iv never seen a character like him before. And I will say its nice to have a character who isn't a total goody goody. Sin checked him self into a mental hospital because he seems to be able to kill people with just the thought of it. Sin is then visited by his dead sister who leads him to believe things are not what they seem.
Wow where to start with this book, I must say I wasn't to sure what I was going to think of it when I got asked to read it, because its not my normal kind of book.I thought it would be a little bit to crazy for me but I gave it ago and I am pleased to say I really enjoyed it. Yes it is dark and disturbing but it has amazing twists that will keep you clinging to the book wanting to know what happens next. Shaun has found a story line that iv never read in any other book before and he had me gripped right from the start. Written from Sin's point of view , we see the struggles he goes through and we see how crazy things really get for him.
Dark/Disturbing/Amazing twists and turns. This is what this book is full of, so if you like your book filled with this kind of thing then this is the book for you.
Wow where to start with this book, I must say I wasn't to sure what I was going to think of it when I got asked to read it, because its not my normal kind of book.I thought it would be a little bit to crazy for me but I gave it ago and I am pleased to say I really enjoyed it. Yes it is dark and disturbing but it has amazing twists that will keep you clinging to the book wanting to know what happens next. Shaun has found a story line that iv never read in any other book before and he had me gripped right from the start. Written from Sin's point of view , we see the struggles he goes through and we see how crazy things really get for him.
Dark/Disturbing/Amazing twists and turns. This is what this book is full of, so if you like your book filled with this kind of thing then this is the book for you.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2014
Sin shuts himself away in an asylum because he seems to have picked up a rather anti-social habit: people tend to die when they’re around him. He wants to know why. We all want to know why.
I saw the cover and thought – gorgeous. On reading the blurb I realized this book was very different to my usual reading genre, but the description was intriguing and that cover was calling, “Buy me, buy me.” I took a chance and bought the paperback.
I’m very glad I did. Reading this book is a little like experiencing a weird dream that every now and then strays into nightmare territory. And I mean that in a good way – it has the immediacy and unreality of a dream, and the thrill of a nightmare. The eccentric narrative voice takes you down labyrinthine paths and streams of consciousness, and the references to familiar turns of phrase, songs and adverts are given an imaginative twist which adds to the wonderful dark humor that infuses every page.
While you’re reading you may not know quite where the story is taking you, but you’ll know you’re on a unique adventure.
I saw the cover and thought – gorgeous. On reading the blurb I realized this book was very different to my usual reading genre, but the description was intriguing and that cover was calling, “Buy me, buy me.” I took a chance and bought the paperback.
I’m very glad I did. Reading this book is a little like experiencing a weird dream that every now and then strays into nightmare territory. And I mean that in a good way – it has the immediacy and unreality of a dream, and the thrill of a nightmare. The eccentric narrative voice takes you down labyrinthine paths and streams of consciousness, and the references to familiar turns of phrase, songs and adverts are given an imaginative twist which adds to the wonderful dark humor that infuses every page.
While you’re reading you may not know quite where the story is taking you, but you’ll know you’re on a unique adventure.
December 9, 2011
This is the story of Sin. A young man who checks himself into a psychiatric hospital because he can kill people just by thinking about it. He then tries to commit suicide by teleporting out of the hospital but he ends up on a beach somewhere. Not knowing what to do or where to go - he is visited by his dead sister. She has come to show him that all is not as it seems and is his doctor as benevolent as he first appears or does he have some skeletons in his closet?
This was a fantastic story. Written in the first person (not an easy thing to pull off but the author manages it and then some) I was really able to get in Sin's head and feel his anguish as the revelations start to pile up. It was a good solid page turner and the ending was suitably explosive. For a story with so few main characters I was certainly gripped from beginning to end.
I totally recommend this because it's different. And that in and of itself is its appeal.
This was a fantastic story. Written in the first person (not an easy thing to pull off but the author manages it and then some) I was really able to get in Sin's head and feel his anguish as the revelations start to pile up. It was a good solid page turner and the ending was suitably explosive. For a story with so few main characters I was certainly gripped from beginning to end.
I totally recommend this because it's different. And that in and of itself is its appeal.
January 31, 2012
Sin-tastic!
Over the past few months, I have read several books that revolve around characters in mental institutions, Sin being the most recent. I found, right from the start, being sucked into the mechanics of Sin's world and, more importantly, his mind. He drags you along on a merry-go-round that runs not only round in circles, but sideways, backwards and upside down!
This novel, I found, was one that is not easy to categorise. It involves a main character who can kill people with the flip of a coin, but is so horrified by the fact that he admits himself to a mental institution, hoping the drugs numb him enough to prevent any more loss of life.
I found the unreal events that unfold to be completely believable, once Sin explains them in his own unique way. The descriptives are humorous and down right honest.
If you want a crazy fun ride of a book, then this is certainly one to pick up!
Over the past few months, I have read several books that revolve around characters in mental institutions, Sin being the most recent. I found, right from the start, being sucked into the mechanics of Sin's world and, more importantly, his mind. He drags you along on a merry-go-round that runs not only round in circles, but sideways, backwards and upside down!
This novel, I found, was one that is not easy to categorise. It involves a main character who can kill people with the flip of a coin, but is so horrified by the fact that he admits himself to a mental institution, hoping the drugs numb him enough to prevent any more loss of life.
I found the unreal events that unfold to be completely believable, once Sin explains them in his own unique way. The descriptives are humorous and down right honest.
If you want a crazy fun ride of a book, then this is certainly one to pick up!
November 21, 2014
I've compared this to a cross between Stephen King, Doctor Who, and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. Lots of dark humor, with a writer's voice that shines through. A protagonist you can't help but like despite his...issues. Sin leaps off the page and captures your attention, holding you hostage for however long it takes you to finish. I'll be reading the second book, no question. I was honestly surprised at how much I enjoyed the book, considering I'm not a horror fan, but there is enough of the other elements to keep things entertaining for those with an odd sense of humor. There were a few editing blips that really could (should) have been caught, though there are always one or two no matter how hard you try, but they aren't frequent enough to detract from the reading experience. All in all, a fantastic read from a truly talented writer.
September 27, 2011
MY REVIEW
I've never been a fan of books written in the first person. I like to know what everyone is thinking, not just the main character. This book could not have been written any other way but in the first person. I did not like the character of Sin much at the beginning of the story. Slowly, over the course of many pages, I found myself sympathizing with him.
Several people have compared Shaun Allan to Alfred Hitchcock. I agree 100%. This is a psychological roller coaster ride that would have made Mr. Hitchcock proud. I can almost hear Rod Serling's voice "Sin Matthews, another traveller through The Twilight Zone."
Shaun Allan is a masterful storyteller. His words captivated and entranced me throughout the book. I look for more from this author.
I've never been a fan of books written in the first person. I like to know what everyone is thinking, not just the main character. This book could not have been written any other way but in the first person. I did not like the character of Sin much at the beginning of the story. Slowly, over the course of many pages, I found myself sympathizing with him.
Several people have compared Shaun Allan to Alfred Hitchcock. I agree 100%. This is a psychological roller coaster ride that would have made Mr. Hitchcock proud. I can almost hear Rod Serling's voice "Sin Matthews, another traveller through The Twilight Zone."
Shaun Allan is a masterful storyteller. His words captivated and entranced me throughout the book. I look for more from this author.
March 2, 2017
Wow!!!! To start of with I should just say that this book is amazing and I can't believe that I waited so long to read it. I have been wanting to read this book for a while but was slightly put off by the fact that it was under Horror and I like being able to sleep at night. However I have definitely changed my mind. Right away we are introduced to Sin (yes that's his actual name) who is in an insane asylum because he put himself there. He keeps insisting that he isn't crazy but you do start to wonder as his voice is definitely unique. The plot was brilliant and very original (I think) and all the characters were brilliantly crafted. You need to read this book!!!!
March 22, 2012
Psychologically - thrilling ride!!! Took me where I did not expect it to. A murder mystery? Loved it!!! There I was gettin into Sin's obvious OCD head and never once did I fink he was going to end up behaving as rationally as he does. You can't predict this story as you enjoy reading along. And that's an automatic, much-loved, joy of mine!!! And I more than found it here with Shaun Allan's "Sin".
March 7, 2012
This novel is beautifully written with some wonderful psychotic/poetic prose. I thought the whole story was a little too flat for a full length novel though, perhaps because of the first person telling. I'll be looking out for more from the author in the future.
June 27, 2013
An interesting character to say the least. Very unique and quite strange. A little uncertain about the ending but I think that was by design.
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