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Syd and Marcy
Marcy practices to be a great actor, but she isn’t pretending to kill people. Is the murder an audition for Hollywood, or is it reality? When a ruthless detective is pitted against two self-centered scammers on the lam, it’s hard to tell whose side to be on. A femme fatale and her boyfriend are too wild to trust, but they just don’t know any better. According to the Old South, they must be punished. The frenetic ride takes off that is not only Syd and Marcy’s escape from Memphis to the backwoods of Mississippi—it’s also a darkly comedic escape to Southern Gen X nihilism in a black Mustang on a dark road getting darker. Featuring a conflict between the Old South and the New, and written in a facile and succinct prose, Syd and Marcy spirals frankly through the realities and illusions of a culture on the rails.
177 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 26, 2012
1 person is currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Beaird Glover
5 books22 followersBeaird learned Morse code and became a ham radio operator at the age of nine. In the late eighties, he worked at Yellowstone and then toured Europe with some Australians in a VW microbus. When he was twenty-one, he sold a nonfiction book about cryptography for $500. He has since written several novels and published them by himself or with small publishers. He taught English in Taiwan, learned Spanish in Buenos Aires, and went to physician assistant school in Brooklyn. He and his wife have two cats and a feral community outside. He works as a PA at a hospital in New Orleans.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 23, 2014
As I read through this, my rating swayed between 3 and 5 stars. The story is very good. It reminded me a little bit of Bonny and Clyde. A young couple believe that they are on their way to Hollywood, and that life, and death, are just scenes in a movie. There is a great deal of violence, dark humor, backwoods incest, strange relationships and bent cops.
Despite all of that, I found myself empathizing with Syd and Marcy, particularly Marcy, as the story evolved. They are murderous, but likeable. That may sound strange, but read it and you may feel the same. I can't say much more without telling you the story.
By the end, which is unpredictable by the way, I'd worked my way up to four and a half stars, which could've been five. However, I recalled all the irritating typos and little grammatical errors that were scattered throughout the text. For example, "you're" instead of "your," and "they're" instead of "their."
I could tolerate those errors in the interests of a well told story.
Recommended.
Despite all of that, I found myself empathizing with Syd and Marcy, particularly Marcy, as the story evolved. They are murderous, but likeable. That may sound strange, but read it and you may feel the same. I can't say much more without telling you the story.
By the end, which is unpredictable by the way, I'd worked my way up to four and a half stars, which could've been five. However, I recalled all the irritating typos and little grammatical errors that were scattered throughout the text. For example, "you're" instead of "your," and "they're" instead of "their."
I could tolerate those errors in the interests of a well told story.
Recommended.
April 30, 2013
First things first – I loved the title and the book cover! The title is apt for a movie and the way this story is told, I could visualize a movie in the dark comedy genre.
I was hooked from the very first chapter and although the characters are dark and comedic, I felt a certain amount of empathy for them given their background. I could visualize most of the scenes from the very detailed descriptions that the author has intricately weaved in. A lot of times, it felt like I was watching a movie unfold in front of me. After reading some scenes, my mind would automatically pause to visualize the scene with my eyes closed.
This book is highly engaging and it is very interesting to see that Syd and Marcy never lose sight of their goal in spite of their hazardous journey.
I was hooked from the very first chapter and although the characters are dark and comedic, I felt a certain amount of empathy for them given their background. I could visualize most of the scenes from the very detailed descriptions that the author has intricately weaved in. A lot of times, it felt like I was watching a movie unfold in front of me. After reading some scenes, my mind would automatically pause to visualize the scene with my eyes closed.
This book is highly engaging and it is very interesting to see that Syd and Marcy never lose sight of their goal in spite of their hazardous journey.
May 8, 2013
***I received a free copy in exchange for a book review***
I enjoyed this 20 chapter book. My favorite lines: 1) “You ever heard about the wrong place at the wrong time? That’s where you at.” 2) Her Hollywood smile did not fade and she giggled with appreciative modesty that passed as flirtatious approval.
The opening was pretty intense with Marcy killing the guy behind the counter. From there, I knew it’d be a wild ride. When they arrive in Mississippi, the story really got interesting. There were plenty of colorful personalities, a.k.a. crazies. Syd’s uncle had married his own daughter Sardis and kept her chained in the shack. Litton and Blaine were three-dimensional. Just because they work for the law doesn’t necessarily make them the good guys. I enjoyed the twist of the private eye became obsessed with catching Syd and Marcy while the sheriff could care less that the couple may or may not have murdered someone in his town.
My favorite scenes: 1) when Sardis gets loose and runs away 2) when the private investigator handcuffs Syd and Marcy in the back of the car to return them to Mississippi 3) when Marcy escapes her home in Tennessee 4) the bank scene
It was a very fast read, and I was entertained all the way to the end. Do they live their dreams and make it to Hollywood? You’ll have to read to find out.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
I enjoyed this 20 chapter book. My favorite lines: 1) “You ever heard about the wrong place at the wrong time? That’s where you at.” 2) Her Hollywood smile did not fade and she giggled with appreciative modesty that passed as flirtatious approval.
The opening was pretty intense with Marcy killing the guy behind the counter. From there, I knew it’d be a wild ride. When they arrive in Mississippi, the story really got interesting. There were plenty of colorful personalities, a.k.a. crazies. Syd’s uncle had married his own daughter Sardis and kept her chained in the shack. Litton and Blaine were three-dimensional. Just because they work for the law doesn’t necessarily make them the good guys. I enjoyed the twist of the private eye became obsessed with catching Syd and Marcy while the sheriff could care less that the couple may or may not have murdered someone in his town.
My favorite scenes: 1) when Sardis gets loose and runs away 2) when the private investigator handcuffs Syd and Marcy in the back of the car to return them to Mississippi 3) when Marcy escapes her home in Tennessee 4) the bank scene
It was a very fast read, and I was entertained all the way to the end. Do they live their dreams and make it to Hollywood? You’ll have to read to find out.
I RECOMMEND this book to read.
February 22, 2013
Book review: Syd and Marcy by Beaird Glover
This is quite violent and dark in many places but if you like your humour at its blackest you may enjoy it. At the beginning of the book the crime all seemed so unrealistic and unlikely but thankfully I don’t live in the US. I know from reading the news that gun and other crime is common in the US and this is probably a realistic characterisation of the typical persons involved.
It is hard to comprehend how you can consider calling the US an advanced society when so many people carry weapons whilst not being in their right mind. This novel shows that nobody is safe and the future cannot possibly be good.
Any British reader considering this will surely have their views on outlawing guns confirmed. It was not my usual escape and whilst I cannot say that I thoroughly enjoyed the read it was quite gripping in places. At the end my thoughts were provoked and I suppose that is all you can ask for.
This is quite violent and dark in many places but if you like your humour at its blackest you may enjoy it. At the beginning of the book the crime all seemed so unrealistic and unlikely but thankfully I don’t live in the US. I know from reading the news that gun and other crime is common in the US and this is probably a realistic characterisation of the typical persons involved.
It is hard to comprehend how you can consider calling the US an advanced society when so many people carry weapons whilst not being in their right mind. This novel shows that nobody is safe and the future cannot possibly be good.
Any British reader considering this will surely have their views on outlawing guns confirmed. It was not my usual escape and whilst I cannot say that I thoroughly enjoyed the read it was quite gripping in places. At the end my thoughts were provoked and I suppose that is all you can ask for.
February 18, 2013
Syd and Marcy are two very damaged individuals who have their own warped set of morals. Both have had troubled childhoods and protect themselves emotionally the only way they know how. Their meeting is a catalyst for the crime spree they begin. Blaine is the Detective on their tail but has demons of his own. As this cat and mouse game continues we are left to decide who the villain really is.
I enjoyed reading Sydney and Marcy as Beaird Glover has a distinctive voice and tells this story very well. He gives you the information to decide for yourself about his flawed characters. Parts of this book are quite horrific, it's dark and there is some black humour. He sets the scene well in the Deep South. An engaging short read.
I enjoyed reading Sydney and Marcy as Beaird Glover has a distinctive voice and tells this story very well. He gives you the information to decide for yourself about his flawed characters. Parts of this book are quite horrific, it's dark and there is some black humour. He sets the scene well in the Deep South. An engaging short read.
March 25, 2013
If you like Quentin Tarantino, this one's for you!
Some people have to die. Other people have to kill them. That's how it is.'
Syd and Marcy gives the reader insight into the minds of serial killers who struggle to distinguish between reality and fiction. This is an incredibly dark novel about disturbed, downtrodden people who have should never be in the possession of guns. The book contains graphic scenes of sex, drugs and violence but it also addresses some of the underlying causes. Whilst I didn't quite feel sympathetic to the main characters, I felt sorry that their pasts had lead them to such twisted situations. Beaird Glover has a sophisticated narrative voice. This is not violence for violence sake, but a journey into the depths of deranged minds.
Some people have to die. Other people have to kill them. That's how it is.'
Syd and Marcy gives the reader insight into the minds of serial killers who struggle to distinguish between reality and fiction. This is an incredibly dark novel about disturbed, downtrodden people who have should never be in the possession of guns. The book contains graphic scenes of sex, drugs and violence but it also addresses some of the underlying causes. Whilst I didn't quite feel sympathetic to the main characters, I felt sorry that their pasts had lead them to such twisted situations. Beaird Glover has a sophisticated narrative voice. This is not violence for violence sake, but a journey into the depths of deranged minds.
July 7, 2013
twisted, but delicious!! Recommended!!!
May 3, 2015
This is a hard book to sum up, but please cue the Nine Inch Nails and then fade into the banjoes. This book is Natural Born Killers, meets Deliverance, with a slap dash of Holmes and Watson thrown in for good measure. It's dark, gristly, violent and sometimes painfully uncomfortable to read. If it weren't for the humour used to break up the disquietude I don't know if it would even be tolerable. There's sexual abuse, incest, human bondage, drug use, alcoholism, bigotry, racism, violence, violence, and more violence. There's poverty, ignorance, social/economic inequality and a severe lack of formal education. But there's also a seed of hope apparent in Syd and Marcy's love for one another, Marcy's concern for her younger sister, and Litton's willingness to be flexible. It's well worth picking up.
In a sense the book reads a bit like a cautionary tale of cyclical violence and perpetual victimhood. Everyone is crazy. Everyone is hurting. Everyone is just trying to make do and everyone is essentially failing. Litton is just about the only person who even remotely has his shit together here and even he has a crumbling marriage, rather lackadaisical attitude toward his job, and is sitting on a political powder keg. On the other hand there are a few gems of interpersonal understanding. Syd's empathy for Marcy's circumstance, behaviours and other 'issues' almost makes him a psychological genius. It's also a little bit touching. Unrepentant murder he may be, but I couldn't help liking him...a lot.
I believe the Quentin Tarantino comparison has been made in previous reviews, but it's apt. Not only because of the extreme and often unexpected violence, but also because of the thread of dark humour left in it's wake. Imagine if Q.T. took a swipe at doing a remake of Lord of the Flies...scary huh? And while Lord of the Flies might seem like an odd comparison to make, since no one is stranded on an island and almost everyone is old enough to be considered an adult, I think it does actually make sense.
Like Golding's classic exploration into the precarious balance between humans' natural inclination to dominate over others and to settle into structured civility as well as the fluid nature of personal morality, Glover's work presents the reader with psychotic killers you can relate to, crooked cops saving the innocent at the expense of other innocents, and abhorrent abuse at he hands of perpetrators who probably had no better chance in life than their victims. It's hard to know exactly where the moral line should be drawn. But they're all still just normal people in abnormal circumstance, much like Piggy, Ralph, Jack and the rest were just normal boys before finding themselves alone and unobserved in the wild. Even more frightening is the unspoken inference that all of this could be happening anywhere near you, at anytime if you just chose to look a little deeper. These are the people who fall through the cracks and are ignored by society's invisible rule abiders, that would be us sheep BTW. [I didn't mean that to sound anywhere near as pretentious as it does on a second read, but the comparison still stands.]
It's hard not to root for Syd and Marcy even as they made bad choice after bad choice, even as they killed and unintentionally tempted others into making similarly morally repugnant choices, leading to more disastrous circumstance. It's hard to condemn two such guileless killers. They left chaos behind them wherever they went, but had no real ill-intent. It's this dissonance between the reader's emotional response to the characters and the logical brain's advised response to them that makes this such and interesting read. Or at least that's how I felt about it.
In a sense the book reads a bit like a cautionary tale of cyclical violence and perpetual victimhood. Everyone is crazy. Everyone is hurting. Everyone is just trying to make do and everyone is essentially failing. Litton is just about the only person who even remotely has his shit together here and even he has a crumbling marriage, rather lackadaisical attitude toward his job, and is sitting on a political powder keg. On the other hand there are a few gems of interpersonal understanding. Syd's empathy for Marcy's circumstance, behaviours and other 'issues' almost makes him a psychological genius. It's also a little bit touching. Unrepentant murder he may be, but I couldn't help liking him...a lot.
I believe the Quentin Tarantino comparison has been made in previous reviews, but it's apt. Not only because of the extreme and often unexpected violence, but also because of the thread of dark humour left in it's wake. Imagine if Q.T. took a swipe at doing a remake of Lord of the Flies...scary huh? And while Lord of the Flies might seem like an odd comparison to make, since no one is stranded on an island and almost everyone is old enough to be considered an adult, I think it does actually make sense.
Like Golding's classic exploration into the precarious balance between humans' natural inclination to dominate over others and to settle into structured civility as well as the fluid nature of personal morality, Glover's work presents the reader with psychotic killers you can relate to, crooked cops saving the innocent at the expense of other innocents, and abhorrent abuse at he hands of perpetrators who probably had no better chance in life than their victims. It's hard to know exactly where the moral line should be drawn. But they're all still just normal people in abnormal circumstance, much like Piggy, Ralph, Jack and the rest were just normal boys before finding themselves alone and unobserved in the wild. Even more frightening is the unspoken inference that all of this could be happening anywhere near you, at anytime if you just chose to look a little deeper. These are the people who fall through the cracks and are ignored by society's invisible rule abiders, that would be us sheep BTW. [I didn't mean that to sound anywhere near as pretentious as it does on a second read, but the comparison still stands.]
It's hard not to root for Syd and Marcy even as they made bad choice after bad choice, even as they killed and unintentionally tempted others into making similarly morally repugnant choices, leading to more disastrous circumstance. It's hard to condemn two such guileless killers. They left chaos behind them wherever they went, but had no real ill-intent. It's this dissonance between the reader's emotional response to the characters and the logical brain's advised response to them that makes this such and interesting read. Or at least that's how I felt about it.
May 30, 2013
Syd and Marcy have found one another and seem to complete one another. Hollywood and fame call their names and anyone who gets in their way can just die. Literally. The clerk at the Zippy-Doo did, and look what it got him. Armed with a camera and a desire for renown, Syd and Marcy take Memphis by storm. But when Marcy appears on the news in a security camera video from the Zippy-Doo, the two begin to see the consequences of their recklessness. Syd's backwoods family in Yalahoma Township, Mississippi seem like the perfect refuge. Syd's uncle Enid is too much like Marcy's abusive father, though, and before they know it, Enid has a bullet in his brain. Enid's daughter/wife Sardis, mentally unsound and nonverbal, remains the only witness to the crime. Yalahoma Sheriff Litton Shaw gets involved when he accidentally hits Sardis in her panicked flight around town. Litton brings his good friend Blaine on to help solve the case. But Blaine seems to take it all too seriously. Litton just wanted to help the poor troubled Sardis, after all.
After some brilliant detective work by Blaine and some stupid mistakes on Syd and Marcy's part, Blaine gets them in his sights. But will Blaine turn them over to Litton and the justice system with very little evidence to convict them, or will he take the law into his own hands?
This book was not at all what I expected. A tale of young love and idealism, this book is not. The cover and synopsis seemed to promise a crazy romp with a mischievous couple. But the story held a lot of depth. Each character seems to symbolize an important aspect of morality, acting out the natural result of their outlook. The bad parts are bad and compassion for everyone (except maybe Blaine) grows with each chapter. The characters screw up and do some bad things on purpose, and then feel remorse. Despite their strong link with their predominant trait, the characters are all very believable as people also. I felt my own connection to each one and the innate human similarities between us.
The mystery of the story is unique because it isn't whodunit or how, but will Syd and Marcy get caught. Part of the time I hoped they would, but then the author would show more about why they did what they did and I would feel compassion for them. Even the villain, who wasn't the one we suspected, suffered from a radical dysfunction. Beaird did a great job of making me wonder who was really the "bad guy" and then see that, like life, it was all of them and also none of them. Beaird Glover has crafted a smart and fascinating read. I approve this title for Awesome Indies. http://awesomeindies.net
I received this book from the author for the purposes of unbiased review.
After some brilliant detective work by Blaine and some stupid mistakes on Syd and Marcy's part, Blaine gets them in his sights. But will Blaine turn them over to Litton and the justice system with very little evidence to convict them, or will he take the law into his own hands?
This book was not at all what I expected. A tale of young love and idealism, this book is not. The cover and synopsis seemed to promise a crazy romp with a mischievous couple. But the story held a lot of depth. Each character seems to symbolize an important aspect of morality, acting out the natural result of their outlook. The bad parts are bad and compassion for everyone (except maybe Blaine) grows with each chapter. The characters screw up and do some bad things on purpose, and then feel remorse. Despite their strong link with their predominant trait, the characters are all very believable as people also. I felt my own connection to each one and the innate human similarities between us.
The mystery of the story is unique because it isn't whodunit or how, but will Syd and Marcy get caught. Part of the time I hoped they would, but then the author would show more about why they did what they did and I would feel compassion for them. Even the villain, who wasn't the one we suspected, suffered from a radical dysfunction. Beaird did a great job of making me wonder who was really the "bad guy" and then see that, like life, it was all of them and also none of them. Beaird Glover has crafted a smart and fascinating read. I approve this title for Awesome Indies. http://awesomeindies.net
I received this book from the author for the purposes of unbiased review.
April 28, 2013
If Quentin Tarantino tried his hand at Bonnie and Clyde, this is what it would look like. Beaird Glover's SYD & MARCY is a gritty novella set in the American South. Sydney and Marcy are two broken lovers who have the grand design of one day moving to Hollywood and making it big. But they need money for such a trip and they go about funding their exodus the only way they know how: robbery, murder and fraud. Their lawbreaking eventually makes them the subject of local police, in particular a detective with a flair for vigilantism.
As badly as this duo wants out of their Appalachian backwater, they are very much a product of the region's (at least as it is commonly portrayed) low education, poverty and hillbilly culture. Having grown up with a prostitute of a mother, Sydney suffers from alcoholism and also the gambling addict's persistent belief that "today's my day," while Marcy displays definite psychological baggage, including apathy whenever she takes a life, all of which is related to her abusive father and contributes to her devotion Sydney and his unrealistic grandiose schemes.
This book would definitely receive a hard "R" if it was a film, and readers should be aware for lots of language, frequent instances of sex and violence, and even incest and human captivity. I'm typically not a fan of this kind of fiction (I don't even really care for Tarantino to be honest) so it took a little while for me to begin to appreciate the story. Character development is the author's greatest strength. These characters range from depraved to disturbed, and in the case of Syd and Marcy, they really act as their own worst enemies throughout making bad decision after bad decision. While this can be frustrating for someone with common sense to read, it is refreshing to get away from fiction archetypes and see flawed characters making flawed decisions. This story's most noticeable weakness is that the ending seems a little rushed, and the resolution, while fitting, is only about half a page. As far as theme goes, I don't believe fiction always has to "say" something (sometimes a good story is just a good story), however I did detect some slight commentary on the part of the author on the impact of violent culture in media on youth development when he explains Marcy's blase attitude to taking life is related to her view that it is just acting.
All in all, SYD & MARCY is intriguing yet uncomfortable, and its length makes it short enough to not be an onerous commitment while long enough to be worthwhile investment.
This review and other reviews are also available at kevinmooreauthor.blogspot.com
As badly as this duo wants out of their Appalachian backwater, they are very much a product of the region's (at least as it is commonly portrayed) low education, poverty and hillbilly culture. Having grown up with a prostitute of a mother, Sydney suffers from alcoholism and also the gambling addict's persistent belief that "today's my day," while Marcy displays definite psychological baggage, including apathy whenever she takes a life, all of which is related to her abusive father and contributes to her devotion Sydney and his unrealistic grandiose schemes.
This book would definitely receive a hard "R" if it was a film, and readers should be aware for lots of language, frequent instances of sex and violence, and even incest and human captivity. I'm typically not a fan of this kind of fiction (I don't even really care for Tarantino to be honest) so it took a little while for me to begin to appreciate the story. Character development is the author's greatest strength. These characters range from depraved to disturbed, and in the case of Syd and Marcy, they really act as their own worst enemies throughout making bad decision after bad decision. While this can be frustrating for someone with common sense to read, it is refreshing to get away from fiction archetypes and see flawed characters making flawed decisions. This story's most noticeable weakness is that the ending seems a little rushed, and the resolution, while fitting, is only about half a page. As far as theme goes, I don't believe fiction always has to "say" something (sometimes a good story is just a good story), however I did detect some slight commentary on the part of the author on the impact of violent culture in media on youth development when he explains Marcy's blase attitude to taking life is related to her view that it is just acting.
All in all, SYD & MARCY is intriguing yet uncomfortable, and its length makes it short enough to not be an onerous commitment while long enough to be worthwhile investment.
This review and other reviews are also available at kevinmooreauthor.blogspot.com
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May 8, 2013Southern Fried Satisfaction
By
DAnthony - See all my reviews
This review is from: Syd and Marcy (Kindle Edition)
There is a lot going on in this story that simmers beneath the surface. Ostensibly, this is a coming of (r)age novel about a dangerous young man (Syd) falling in love with an equally dangerous girl (Marcy) who lets her acting fantasies deluge her reality. But it is also a novel about class distinction, racial issues, incest, human bondage, big dreams and revenge. Set in the Deep South, the author does a superior job of cluing the reader in to the mindsets of the natives and lingering tensions that are still present in that region.
Darkly comedic and very well-written, Glover gets the reader to sympathize with the budding sociopath lovers. Though coldly murderous and remorseless, Syd nevertheless truly loves Marcy, and sees in her a companion who not only excites him, but also completes him. At times immature and rash, other times cruel and a natural-born killer, the bombshell Marcy looks to Syd for leadership and emotional refuge. She would do anything to please him, and fully believes that he will help her achieve stardom as an actress in Hollywood. After murdering and ridding the world of a despicable relative of Syd's, the two lovers set free his tortured daughter and continue on a clueless journey of the South, unaware that they are now being tracked down by the brilliant, homespun detective, Blaine Gunnison, who cares little for true justice. Gunnison is a finely drawn characterization of terror, MacGyver and vigilantism. The reader understands that the three killers will meet, but Glover surrenders few hints as to how this meeting will play out.
I thoroughly enjoyed this quick read. Glover weaves Southern culture, wonderfully crafted side stories and black humor into an engaging story of defensible murder, damaged lives and unrealistic life-pursuits. Though the ending somewhat stretched credulity, I was happy with it. I think most readers will be. And, wow, what a cover!
May 29, 2013
This is a story about a loving young couple—murderers—and the private detective who tracks them down; all are sociopaths. The plot follows the usual path until the end (telling it would be a spoiler), with murder, investigation, chase, capture, escape, final confrontation, and conclusion. Along the way, we encounter various unusual and a few truly strange southern characters as the couple make love, get drunk, and behave in various unsavory ways while evading the law. Though the murders are senseless, the killers—Syd and Marcy—are sympathetic because they are in love, escaping bad personal circumstances, ignorant, harbor ridiculous ambitions, and lack conscience. Credit the author for creating such convincing yet improbable characters. The sympathetic sociopaths brought to mind Malick’s film Badlands, and Capote’s In Cold Blood and some of Jim Thompson’s novels. The behavior of the young couple and the detective chasing them was often so outlandish I found it humorous. Why not? One reviewer called this novel a noir, which it may be, but it was never dreary, always highly entertaining.
The writing is excellent. Glover writes energetic, direct, spare dialogue, without a wasted word, and his dialect comes across as genuine and differentiated by character. He can also write a fine lyrical passage such as this one: “They woke up one day to find the trees glowing silver with budding leaves and soon azaleas were lavishing pink flowers onto the world and dogwoods were screaming bright white all over town.” How about this one, which describes the mental state of a man on a binge: “His synaptic circuits were burnt and the corpuscles in his nose were singed and throbbing and bursting drops of blood that fell down into his mouth or onto the mirror if he was leaning over it.”
The writing is excellent. Glover writes energetic, direct, spare dialogue, without a wasted word, and his dialect comes across as genuine and differentiated by character. He can also write a fine lyrical passage such as this one: “They woke up one day to find the trees glowing silver with budding leaves and soon azaleas were lavishing pink flowers onto the world and dogwoods were screaming bright white all over town.” How about this one, which describes the mental state of a man on a binge: “His synaptic circuits were burnt and the corpuscles in his nose were singed and throbbing and bursting drops of blood that fell down into his mouth or onto the mirror if he was leaning over it.”
May 26, 2013
This book is a diamond in the rough, in my opinion. In the beginning, Syd and Marcy come across as hard-core psychopaths. This put me off a bit and I considered not finishing the book. But I’m so glad I did finish it!
As one gets a little further into the story, several things become more apparent. One, these two are not hardened criminals. They’re messed-up kids from horrible backgrounds, which does not make their actions okay, but it does make them more believable characters. And eventually I found myself feeling kind of sorry for them. Two, the book is just as much about the maverick detective, Blaine, who is determined to catch Syd and Marcy and bring them to justice any way he can.
One of the problems I had with the book is that Mr. Glover falls into a very common pitfall for beginning authors. He tells the reader what is going on psychologically with the characters, instead of just showing us the character through his/her behavior, feelings and inner dialogue. I hope Mr. Glover can come to trust his own ability to develop characters, because he’s quite good at it when he stops telling and sticks to showing.
I loved the character of the black Mississippi sheriff who initially calls Blaine in on the case, and then wishes he hadn’t. Blaine is like a dog with a bone.
And there is a great twist at the end that totally blew my mind. I found myself still thinking about the sheriff and the ending the next day. When a story stays with me like that it’s a good sign that it was well worth reading.
I’m looking forward to reading more of Mr. Glover’s work. I'd love to see what he can produce when he has polished his writing craft a bit more.
As one gets a little further into the story, several things become more apparent. One, these two are not hardened criminals. They’re messed-up kids from horrible backgrounds, which does not make their actions okay, but it does make them more believable characters. And eventually I found myself feeling kind of sorry for them. Two, the book is just as much about the maverick detective, Blaine, who is determined to catch Syd and Marcy and bring them to justice any way he can.
One of the problems I had with the book is that Mr. Glover falls into a very common pitfall for beginning authors. He tells the reader what is going on psychologically with the characters, instead of just showing us the character through his/her behavior, feelings and inner dialogue. I hope Mr. Glover can come to trust his own ability to develop characters, because he’s quite good at it when he stops telling and sticks to showing.
I loved the character of the black Mississippi sheriff who initially calls Blaine in on the case, and then wishes he hadn’t. Blaine is like a dog with a bone.
And there is a great twist at the end that totally blew my mind. I found myself still thinking about the sheriff and the ending the next day. When a story stays with me like that it’s a good sign that it was well worth reading.
I’m looking forward to reading more of Mr. Glover’s work. I'd love to see what he can produce when he has polished his writing craft a bit more.
July 23, 2013
In this viscerally impacting story laden with descriptive passages that create a near cinematic imagery for the reader, Glover has created a crazy romp that delivers far more than the premise would indicate.
Dark and gritty the story is more than a tale of whodunit, but will the culprits be caught and when. As you ride along, the characters display hidden characteristics and rationale for their behavior that does increase your understanding, if not empathy, for even the most dysfunctional of them all. No, the characters are not someone you would want for a neighbor, they have too little impulse control and identify too strongly with their perceptions of their powerlessness in society, but they are realistically portrayed, nearly breathing as you read.
What emerges is a story that substitutes characters and their traits for complex issues with moral and ethical themes, providing the reader a true banquet of options to mull over once the last page is turned. Glover has a style that is not sparse, but intelligently and evocatively descriptive, and each word is specifically placed for a decided reaction. That is not to say you are guided to any one particular impression, but given a series of them to form your conclusions. Twisted and complex, with roadblocks and hidden obstacles this was a book that mystery lovers will enjoy, even without the whodunit.
I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Dark and gritty the story is more than a tale of whodunit, but will the culprits be caught and when. As you ride along, the characters display hidden characteristics and rationale for their behavior that does increase your understanding, if not empathy, for even the most dysfunctional of them all. No, the characters are not someone you would want for a neighbor, they have too little impulse control and identify too strongly with their perceptions of their powerlessness in society, but they are realistically portrayed, nearly breathing as you read.
What emerges is a story that substitutes characters and their traits for complex issues with moral and ethical themes, providing the reader a true banquet of options to mull over once the last page is turned. Glover has a style that is not sparse, but intelligently and evocatively descriptive, and each word is specifically placed for a decided reaction. That is not to say you are guided to any one particular impression, but given a series of them to form your conclusions. Twisted and complex, with roadblocks and hidden obstacles this was a book that mystery lovers will enjoy, even without the whodunit.
I received an eBook copy from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
May 23, 2013
I found this story to be kind of Natural Born Killers meets Deliverance meets Monk (or at least his chaotic doppelgänger). An interesting combination, to be sure, if not quite what I was expecting.
Mr. Glover has a good style and has created a cast of interesting, if largely uncongenial, characters. While Syd, Marcy and Sardis' lives/pasts are tragic and you do feel for them throughout, I had a bit of a hard time with the fact that almost every (even incidental) character is debauched or flawed in some elemental way. I suppose this is a statement on the backwoods South but, while it may be somewhat true, it leaves you with a bit of a creep (which may be the author's intent). The detective is a bit too accurate at times, too (even commented on by another character in a line I snickered out loud at: "I'm sure they broke a twig somewhere and you'll go straight to them tomorrow."). He of course also has a dark side that adds a different dimension to how the story plays out. I will also say that, although I don't know that I *liked* the ending, it will certainly surprise you.
A bit more humor might have added to the stars for me, but overall it was an intriguingly twisted look into the psyche of Southern culture and moral consciousness that leaves you with a dilemma of sympathy for the unlikeliest of characters.
And the amazing cover art will instantly draw you in!
**I received a free copy of this book for an honest review**
Mr. Glover has a good style and has created a cast of interesting, if largely uncongenial, characters. While Syd, Marcy and Sardis' lives/pasts are tragic and you do feel for them throughout, I had a bit of a hard time with the fact that almost every (even incidental) character is debauched or flawed in some elemental way. I suppose this is a statement on the backwoods South but, while it may be somewhat true, it leaves you with a bit of a creep (which may be the author's intent). The detective is a bit too accurate at times, too (even commented on by another character in a line I snickered out loud at: "I'm sure they broke a twig somewhere and you'll go straight to them tomorrow."). He of course also has a dark side that adds a different dimension to how the story plays out. I will also say that, although I don't know that I *liked* the ending, it will certainly surprise you.
A bit more humor might have added to the stars for me, but overall it was an intriguingly twisted look into the psyche of Southern culture and moral consciousness that leaves you with a dilemma of sympathy for the unlikeliest of characters.
And the amazing cover art will instantly draw you in!
**I received a free copy of this book for an honest review**
May 30, 2013
A Thrill Ride with a Healthy Dose of Reality
Most of the time death in action-packed literature and film is given as much integrity as it is in a video game, but not here. Don't get me wrong, "Syd and Marcy" has it's video-game moments--the protagonists live life like it's an arcade and "Hollywood" is the last game they hope to beat. Glover seductively takes us through his characters' entrancingly violent tumble through a life they consider a rehearsal for a career in action films, but he truly shines when the heavy toll of death begins to rip through their veils of delusion.
The moments of reality sprinkled throughout this un-apologetic thrill ride are where the novel derives its grit. Rape and abuse are seen from both the perspective of victims and perpetrators, and I, as the reader, was periodically pulled into the sociopath's perspective of life as something that only happens to the self.
Glover handles the challenge of making fiction seem more real than reality skillfully, and I was surprised how quickly I started to root for his murderous protagonists. No, it wasn't just and escape. "Syd and Marcy" also reminded me why we yearn for escape in the first place, that our jaded lives really do push us into delusions.
Written with explosive American flare and steady, charming style, "Syd and Marcy" should bring Beaird Glover the attention he deserves as a writer of provocative fiction.
Most of the time death in action-packed literature and film is given as much integrity as it is in a video game, but not here. Don't get me wrong, "Syd and Marcy" has it's video-game moments--the protagonists live life like it's an arcade and "Hollywood" is the last game they hope to beat. Glover seductively takes us through his characters' entrancingly violent tumble through a life they consider a rehearsal for a career in action films, but he truly shines when the heavy toll of death begins to rip through their veils of delusion.
The moments of reality sprinkled throughout this un-apologetic thrill ride are where the novel derives its grit. Rape and abuse are seen from both the perspective of victims and perpetrators, and I, as the reader, was periodically pulled into the sociopath's perspective of life as something that only happens to the self.
Glover handles the challenge of making fiction seem more real than reality skillfully, and I was surprised how quickly I started to root for his murderous protagonists. No, it wasn't just and escape. "Syd and Marcy" also reminded me why we yearn for escape in the first place, that our jaded lives really do push us into delusions.
Written with explosive American flare and steady, charming style, "Syd and Marcy" should bring Beaird Glover the attention he deserves as a writer of provocative fiction.
June 4, 2013
Syd and Marcy was a bit of a rollercoaster ride in a very good way. Dark and violent it tells the tale of a couple who come together and in a lot of ways complete each other - but much like Bonnie and Clyde this is not at all in a good way. Treating life as scenes in a movie, they struggle to distinguish between fact and fiction and we follow them on their destructive path. Giving Serial Killers depth of character is no easy feat, but Beaird Glover has accomplished this with aplomb. You may even feel a vague sympathy at times, especially for what has brought them here - yet their redeeming features are few. Enter Blaine, the detective on the chase and things get even more interesting..characterisation is top notch in this novel. And well, the ending is stunning, unexpected and clever, you won't see it coming. So all in all, a terrific read, well written, great characters and one to set the heart pumping. My thanks to the author for sending me a copy of this book for review - I very much enjoyed it.
February 23, 2016
This is an exceptionally good story which has all the elements necessary to become a cult classic. I really enjoyed it.
As others have noted, there are many writing flaws that detract from it being perfect. I would recommend the author consider a major edit and review. Examples include excessive use of passive voice, randomly shifting point of view (making it confusing to follow), and awkward grammar.
If you can suspend your irritation at the stylistic flaws, you will find a story that’s well worth reading. The characters elicit emotion – positive and negative. Blaine, the Sherlock Holmes type detective, becomes your hero until…well you decide. The ending is quite unpredictable.
Give it a read and you won’t be disappointed.
As others have noted, there are many writing flaws that detract from it being perfect. I would recommend the author consider a major edit and review. Examples include excessive use of passive voice, randomly shifting point of view (making it confusing to follow), and awkward grammar.
If you can suspend your irritation at the stylistic flaws, you will find a story that’s well worth reading. The characters elicit emotion – positive and negative. Blaine, the Sherlock Holmes type detective, becomes your hero until…well you decide. The ending is quite unpredictable.
Give it a read and you won’t be disappointed.
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