Chase the Dragon

by Chris Walter

Populated with unforgettable characters such as a corpselike hitman plagued with OCD, a death metal bassist in serious need of anger management, and an extremely unlucky drug addict, "Chase the Dragon" is so wickedly entertaining that adjectives such as "crazed, "outrageous", and "savage" fail to do it justice. From start to finish Chase the Dragon is fast-paced and darkly humourous - a story about bad luck, a story about fate, a shitkicking, backslapping, riotously disturbing page-turner guaranteed to leave readers with aching ribs and a slanted view of the world around them. This is more than a novel - this is a hot-blooded rebuttal to evrything kind and decent. Let the chase begin.

247 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

Reviews

[Mikey Pea · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Chris' best books imo

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favourite novel by ex-Winnipegger, Chris Walter. His own personal experience and outlandish way with metaphors allows the reader a real-life glimpse at the insanity of living with drug addiction and the constant barrage of stress and violence that comes with it. You don't need past experience with street life or addiction to appreciate the nuances in this book. Walter writes in a way that makes the reader immediately relate, feeling they are intimately acquainted with the lifestyle and the neighbourhoods; as if actually watching the action rather than reading from the comfort of home. His characters are all tragic yet endearing, making it hard to choose which train wreck you're rooting for! "Chase the Dragon" had me laughing out loud at moments, not only from the over the top one-liners, but the brief cameo by the author himself! Chris Walter

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book practically melted my face off with vitriol and the harsh reality of mental illness. Walter encapsulates the relentless oppression of living on the streets, the constant grind of addiction. I was also shocked by Ellis' not-so-subtle unravelling, revealing the true horror of his character and history. I had hope for Dragon at the end, only to have it crushed by his persistent weakness. Good goddamn, what a constant rush! I couldn't put this book down.