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A Life To Waste
Dave is a middle aged waste of space. His days drip away in a haze of drinking, smoking and stealing from his mother. But one night the sound of screams disturbs Dave’s habitual living, and everything changes. Something evil is on the loose, snatching people from the comfort of their own homes. Dave’s neighbour’s, his family, his friends are suddenly vanishing. No one is safe. Unfortunately for Dave, it’s up to him to put a stop to it. Even if it kills him.
144 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2013
61 people are currently reading
1760 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Lennon
81 books279 followersAndrew Lennon is the bestselling author of Every Twisted Thought and several other horror/thriller books. He has featured in various bestselling anthologies, and is successfully becoming a recognised name in horror and thriller writing.
His work has appeared alongside horror royalty such as Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Richard Chizmar, Clive Barker, and many more.
Andrew is a happily married man living in the North West of England with his wife Hazel & their children.
For more information please go to www.andrewlennon.co.uk
His work has appeared alongside horror royalty such as Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Richard Chizmar, Clive Barker, and many more.
Andrew is a happily married man living in the North West of England with his wife Hazel & their children.
For more information please go to www.andrewlennon.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 158 reviews
June 23, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book, especially the second half which was not for those who hate horror and gore (in which case you should read other books than those in the horror category).
The books opens with the story of Dave, a promising athlete, heading for athletic glory, but things go horribly wrong in his life and key male figures leave and Dave is left with an empty gap in his heart and his life. He becomes an angry, selfish and horrible young man (sadly).
His life degenerates into days and nights of yelling and ordering his mother around, drinking beer, eating junk food and devouring horror movies, technically he's probably depresses but nobody suggested he see the doctor. He had a lovely relationship with a real go-getter girlfriend too who eventually gets sick of watching him become a lazy couch potato that doesn't even notice her anymore.
This is the build up to the....bad stuff. Could NOT wait for the bad stuff.
His world is turned inside out when a next door neighbour vanishes and the police describe the crime scene during questioning, suddenly Dave is living a nightmare himself imagining things, unable to sleep and feeling he is going crazy.
Then it gets bad, really bad for him, but I can't tell.
When the horror aspect of the book slides in, it's really clever, it really give me the chills and I took some sick enjoyment from watching lazy bones Dave getting the frights of his life. Then it gets really personal for Dave, oh yes, VERY personal.
I will not share more plot but from here the writing is a cut above the rest of the book, this author has a talent with writing and helping us visualise the most horrific of situations that a human being could tolerate. What is Dave to do not. You might be as surprised as I was.
Some of the props used in scenes were just so darn creepy and I did not expect the plot to go where it did but it was a real thrill ride!
One of the scenes at the end of the book reminded me of a very recent scene that was similar in an episode of the brilliant TV series "Hannibal" and THAT is a show that blow the mind with visual horror until you feel you can't take anymore.
I felt the first half of the book built on Dave's character which was important for the latter half of the book but was torn between a final 3 or 4 star final rating. I went with 4 stars on the back of the latter half of the book which I thought was great, so much adrenalin for the reader, a book where you can yell "it's behind you!!!"
Certainly has the gore factor, the horror factor, the scare factor and all that you would want. Being not as long as a novel, this is a great book to just get stuck into and escape into until you are out the other side.
Nice work Mr Lennon, you have a new fan here in the Booklover Catlady. Keep the great writing up, I plan to read it all.
Thanks to Andrew Lennon for my copy of this book to read and review, hugely appreciated.
The books opens with the story of Dave, a promising athlete, heading for athletic glory, but things go horribly wrong in his life and key male figures leave and Dave is left with an empty gap in his heart and his life. He becomes an angry, selfish and horrible young man (sadly).
His life degenerates into days and nights of yelling and ordering his mother around, drinking beer, eating junk food and devouring horror movies, technically he's probably depresses but nobody suggested he see the doctor. He had a lovely relationship with a real go-getter girlfriend too who eventually gets sick of watching him become a lazy couch potato that doesn't even notice her anymore.
This is the build up to the....bad stuff. Could NOT wait for the bad stuff.
His world is turned inside out when a next door neighbour vanishes and the police describe the crime scene during questioning, suddenly Dave is living a nightmare himself imagining things, unable to sleep and feeling he is going crazy.
Then it gets bad, really bad for him, but I can't tell.
When the horror aspect of the book slides in, it's really clever, it really give me the chills and I took some sick enjoyment from watching lazy bones Dave getting the frights of his life. Then it gets really personal for Dave, oh yes, VERY personal.
I will not share more plot but from here the writing is a cut above the rest of the book, this author has a talent with writing and helping us visualise the most horrific of situations that a human being could tolerate. What is Dave to do not. You might be as surprised as I was.
Some of the props used in scenes were just so darn creepy and I did not expect the plot to go where it did but it was a real thrill ride!
One of the scenes at the end of the book reminded me of a very recent scene that was similar in an episode of the brilliant TV series "Hannibal" and THAT is a show that blow the mind with visual horror until you feel you can't take anymore.
I felt the first half of the book built on Dave's character which was important for the latter half of the book but was torn between a final 3 or 4 star final rating. I went with 4 stars on the back of the latter half of the book which I thought was great, so much adrenalin for the reader, a book where you can yell "it's behind you!!!"
Certainly has the gore factor, the horror factor, the scare factor and all that you would want. Being not as long as a novel, this is a great book to just get stuck into and escape into until you are out the other side.
Nice work Mr Lennon, you have a new fan here in the Booklover Catlady. Keep the great writing up, I plan to read it all.
Thanks to Andrew Lennon for my copy of this book to read and review, hugely appreciated.
January 7, 2026
3.5 stars. This was ok for me. I really questioned the long-winded approach to give the reader the full scope of our lead, Dave's, history ahead of the story at hand. It was almost the first third of the book before the focus was on present time. And then it became a more traditional horror story, leaving out much of the emotional depth created in the earlier portion. As much as I'm not the biggest fan of jumping back and forth, I feel like if we were kept present, but had memories, dreams, or flashbacks of past instances that shaped Dave's character as they were pertinent to the current situations, it would have suited this all much, much better. As is, it felt very disjointed, almost like two separate stories put together. Neither portion was done badly, and were quite enjoyable, but there needed to be much more finessing of the content to bring it all full circle.
February 6, 2017
BLURB
Dave is a middle aged waste of space. His days drip away in a haze of drinking, smoking and stealing from his mother. But one night the sound of screams disturbs Dave’s habitual living, and everything changes. Something evil is on the loose, snatching people from the comfort of their own homes. Dave’s neighbour’s, his family, his friends are suddenly vanishing. No one is safe. Unfortunately for Dave, it’s up to him to put a stop to it. Even if it kills him.
MY THOUGHTS
This book is only a short read, about 150 pages, but it caught my imagination instantly. It certainly holds a solid punch for a small book.
The story moves along nicely as we find out why Dave has ended up like he is. A layabout, drinking alcohol, smoking weed and completely reliant on his mum for support. His successful past has diminished and his world turns into a very strange experience indeed!
He lives with his mum and never leaves their house. His mum does all his shopping, cleaning, washing and cooking. He basically rules the roost, and his mum is very wary of him.
The story is based around Dave and his simplistic life. He's a strange little character that has given up on the world, but things start to get a little strange, and he is noticing weird things happening. He becomes very unsure if these things are real, or he is losing his mind.
Towards the end, things do get very bizarre, and to be honest it does get a bit gory and horror themed. Horror is not my usual genre, but this worked for me and I read this book in one sitting, immensely intrigued of the outcome.
A cracking little book that's definitely worth a read and don't let the horror aspect put you off, it's a fun little read!
A good 4/5 stars!
Dave is a middle aged waste of space. His days drip away in a haze of drinking, smoking and stealing from his mother. But one night the sound of screams disturbs Dave’s habitual living, and everything changes. Something evil is on the loose, snatching people from the comfort of their own homes. Dave’s neighbour’s, his family, his friends are suddenly vanishing. No one is safe. Unfortunately for Dave, it’s up to him to put a stop to it. Even if it kills him.
MY THOUGHTS
This book is only a short read, about 150 pages, but it caught my imagination instantly. It certainly holds a solid punch for a small book.
The story moves along nicely as we find out why Dave has ended up like he is. A layabout, drinking alcohol, smoking weed and completely reliant on his mum for support. His successful past has diminished and his world turns into a very strange experience indeed!
He lives with his mum and never leaves their house. His mum does all his shopping, cleaning, washing and cooking. He basically rules the roost, and his mum is very wary of him.
The story is based around Dave and his simplistic life. He's a strange little character that has given up on the world, but things start to get a little strange, and he is noticing weird things happening. He becomes very unsure if these things are real, or he is losing his mind.
Towards the end, things do get very bizarre, and to be honest it does get a bit gory and horror themed. Horror is not my usual genre, but this worked for me and I read this book in one sitting, immensely intrigued of the outcome.
A cracking little book that's definitely worth a read and don't let the horror aspect put you off, it's a fun little read!
A good 4/5 stars!
November 10, 2021
An intriguing little horror story that tells of a lonely, good-for-nothing middle aged guy, that has given up on life, suddenly thrown into a gruesomely horrific set of circumstances that end in blood, gore and bodily mutilation.
Some great ideas in the storyline, but equally a few holes and several events that could have benefited from further explanation and development.
Particularly liked that true to life feel of normality at the start of the adventure.
An enjoyable and easy-to- read piece of traditional gruesomeness.
Rating: 3.4 stars.
Some great ideas in the storyline, but equally a few holes and several events that could have benefited from further explanation and development.
Particularly liked that true to life feel of normality at the start of the adventure.
An enjoyable and easy-to- read piece of traditional gruesomeness.
Rating: 3.4 stars.
January 19, 2024
2.5 stars
December 20, 2014
Thank you for the opportunity to review your book, Andrew.
1.5/5 stars
The Skinny:
As a young adult Dave, the main character, suffered a tragic loss. Dave, not able to handle his grief, gradually allows his personality and ambitions to wither away. Because of this, Dave grows to become a man prone to sitting on the couch and drowning himself in beer and food. He continues his life in this manner, regularly harassing his mother as well, until the day that his neighbor disappears. What follows is Dave’s spiral into panic, which leads to a search for his mother and ultimately himself.
The review:
I feel that this book had a lot of potential, but the cool story line was lost in the ‘fluff.’
This book started off pretty slowly. I kept waiting for something to happen in the first 30%, but it was essentially just background information about Dave and his past. Now that I’ve reached the end I can see that SOME of the background information was necessary, but I feel that it could have been condensed considerably (especially the parts concerning Trevor…there didn’t seem to be any purpose?)
The backstory from the beginning of the novel, as I stated, needed to be trimmed down. There was too much of it, and a lot of it didn’t seem to pertain to the rest of the story. In this same way, there were many descriptions/details/scenes in the story that were too long and frankly unnecessary. For example:
“She was a fair bit shorter than Dave, she always seemed to be tanned, Dave assumed she used the sun beds, this was wrong she just had naturally dark skin, maybe she had Spanish or Greek heritage somewhere down the line, she didn’t know but she liked the fact that she always looked tanned, so did Dave.
P.S. the darkness of her skin had nothing to do with the story…nor did her heritage…nor did she for that matter?? Maybe I’m being too dramatic. She sort of mattered because she left when Dave became even more of an alcoholic (showing that his downward spiral was getting worse).
*There were also two other scenes (a doctor scene and a library scene) that just didn’t really fit.*
While there was quite a bit of “extra” added into the book, the actual horror parts of the story were pretty creepy. I thought the creature was quite well done. It was kind of nauseating (in a good way…if there is a good way to be nauseated?!) to read about his ‘habits?’ . This being said, I would have liked a little more description of the character. He was basically described as being bigfoot-like with dark/black eyes. I wanted MOAR!!
Side note: There were also quite a few grammatical errors in the copy that I received. I noted many typos, run-on sentences, etc. I feel that a thorough editing job would have benefited this story. I don’t claim to be perfect with my grammar usage, nor do I know everything about grammar, but it was clear that this needed some polishing.
Overall:
I feel that this would have been better as a short story. It seemed as if some parts were drawn out, and had almost a filler-like quality to them. These parts overshadowed the cooler creepy storyline, which I would have liked to have seen a lot more of.
I would be interested in reading more by this author if there were more horror in the story and less filler.
1.5/5 stars
The Skinny:
As a young adult Dave, the main character, suffered a tragic loss. Dave, not able to handle his grief, gradually allows his personality and ambitions to wither away. Because of this, Dave grows to become a man prone to sitting on the couch and drowning himself in beer and food. He continues his life in this manner, regularly harassing his mother as well, until the day that his neighbor disappears. What follows is Dave’s spiral into panic, which leads to a search for his mother and ultimately himself.
The review:
I feel that this book had a lot of potential, but the cool story line was lost in the ‘fluff.’
This book started off pretty slowly. I kept waiting for something to happen in the first 30%, but it was essentially just background information about Dave and his past. Now that I’ve reached the end I can see that SOME of the background information was necessary, but I feel that it could have been condensed considerably (especially the parts concerning Trevor…there didn’t seem to be any purpose?)
The backstory from the beginning of the novel, as I stated, needed to be trimmed down. There was too much of it, and a lot of it didn’t seem to pertain to the rest of the story. In this same way, there were many descriptions/details/scenes in the story that were too long and frankly unnecessary. For example:
“She was a fair bit shorter than Dave, she always seemed to be tanned, Dave assumed she used the sun beds, this was wrong she just had naturally dark skin, maybe she had Spanish or Greek heritage somewhere down the line, she didn’t know but she liked the fact that she always looked tanned, so did Dave.
P.S. the darkness of her skin had nothing to do with the story…nor did her heritage…nor did she for that matter?? Maybe I’m being too dramatic. She sort of mattered because she left when Dave became even more of an alcoholic (showing that his downward spiral was getting worse).
*There were also two other scenes (a doctor scene and a library scene) that just didn’t really fit.*
While there was quite a bit of “extra” added into the book, the actual horror parts of the story were pretty creepy. I thought the creature was quite well done. It was kind of nauseating (in a good way…if there is a good way to be nauseated?!) to read about his ‘habits?’ . This being said, I would have liked a little more description of the character. He was basically described as being bigfoot-like with dark/black eyes. I wanted MOAR!!
Side note: There were also quite a few grammatical errors in the copy that I received. I noted many typos, run-on sentences, etc. I feel that a thorough editing job would have benefited this story. I don’t claim to be perfect with my grammar usage, nor do I know everything about grammar, but it was clear that this needed some polishing.
Overall:
I feel that this would have been better as a short story. It seemed as if some parts were drawn out, and had almost a filler-like quality to them. These parts overshadowed the cooler creepy storyline, which I would have liked to have seen a lot more of.
I would be interested in reading more by this author if there were more horror in the story and less filler.
June 21, 2023
How far would you go to save the ones you love? How much would you need to change as a person to do it?
Dave is a waster. He treats everyone around him like crap. Suddenly the people around him disappear, taken from their homes violently. Now Dave is on a mission and nothing will stop him from finding his mum.
I really enjoyed this novella! Lennon fills in the gaps of Dave's childhood and allows us to watch him grow from a bright kid full of potential to a sullen and selfish adult. The author provides snapshots of the life that was, and the life that could have been. Dave's redemption arc happens quickly but given the situation he finds himself in, it's really do or die. It was quite a sad tale with hints of humour and plenty of action. Once that action starts, Lennon doesn't flinch from brutality at all. A short, very well-rounded read, I highly recommend this one.
Dave is a waster. He treats everyone around him like crap. Suddenly the people around him disappear, taken from their homes violently. Now Dave is on a mission and nothing will stop him from finding his mum.
I really enjoyed this novella! Lennon fills in the gaps of Dave's childhood and allows us to watch him grow from a bright kid full of potential to a sullen and selfish adult. The author provides snapshots of the life that was, and the life that could have been. Dave's redemption arc happens quickly but given the situation he finds himself in, it's really do or die. It was quite a sad tale with hints of humour and plenty of action. Once that action starts, Lennon doesn't flinch from brutality at all. A short, very well-rounded read, I highly recommend this one.
May 10, 2023
The first 30% of this book was just exposition and I don't think it was necessary at all. I also found that the story suffered from the need to demonize Dave for being traumatized and ill equipped to handle it.
When we got to the point where Dave encountered the villain and we finally stopped hearing how much Dave sucks the story got pretty good even though Dave's actions were completely out of character. The conclusion was just ok (I'm not a fan of the more trauma will fix unresolved issues trope).
When we got to the point where Dave encountered the villain and we finally stopped hearing how much Dave sucks the story got pretty good even though Dave's actions were completely out of character. The conclusion was just ok (I'm not a fan of the more trauma will fix unresolved issues trope).
June 5, 2014
3.5*
This bizarre horror story follows Dave whose pitiful life of doing NOTHING but eat, drink and pick on his poor Mum is challenged by a very strange and horrific incident.
Dave is a promising and dedicated athlete until an accident leaves him traumatised causing him to retreat inside himself cutting off the outside world. He relies on his mum to work and bring him food and booze but treats her appallingly.
He loves to stay up late watching horror films but one night he hears screaming for real - initially ignoring it events begin to shake him out of his sedentary lifestyle.
True evil has found him but can he rejoin the human race and beat it...woooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
A creepy and odd story with a morality twist.
This bizarre horror story follows Dave whose pitiful life of doing NOTHING but eat, drink and pick on his poor Mum is challenged by a very strange and horrific incident.
Dave is a promising and dedicated athlete until an accident leaves him traumatised causing him to retreat inside himself cutting off the outside world. He relies on his mum to work and bring him food and booze but treats her appallingly.
He loves to stay up late watching horror films but one night he hears screaming for real - initially ignoring it events begin to shake him out of his sedentary lifestyle.
True evil has found him but can he rejoin the human race and beat it...woooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
A creepy and odd story with a morality twist.
January 25, 2015
This was a good read. It had many real characters that I think we all have known at one time or another.
To every "waste of space" person, you should read this and be ashamed!
Thank you Andrew to allowing me to read this from a free download on Amazon.
To every "waste of space" person, you should read this and be ashamed!
Thank you Andrew to allowing me to read this from a free download on Amazon.
December 24, 2017
A gripping story.
How the incident of her missing mother changed Dave's life! I loved every word of this novel.
"One question continued to enter Dave’s mind. No matter how many times he tried, he just couldn’t answer it. Why? Why had that horrible man done all those things? Was he abused when he was younger? Was he mentally ill? Dave had no doubt that the giant had some form of mental problem, he could see that every time he pictured those big black eyes. Behind those eyes was nothing but an empty void. It was obvious the killer didn’t have a very high intellect either. Using pig blood to try and lead the police on a false trail. Didn’t he even know about DNA testing & crime scene investigations?"
You are right Andrew Lennon, though I am not a reader of Horror but I found your novel very interesting. Keep writing, all the best!
How the incident of her missing mother changed Dave's life! I loved every word of this novel.
"One question continued to enter Dave’s mind. No matter how many times he tried, he just couldn’t answer it. Why? Why had that horrible man done all those things? Was he abused when he was younger? Was he mentally ill? Dave had no doubt that the giant had some form of mental problem, he could see that every time he pictured those big black eyes. Behind those eyes was nothing but an empty void. It was obvious the killer didn’t have a very high intellect either. Using pig blood to try and lead the police on a false trail. Didn’t he even know about DNA testing & crime scene investigations?"
You are right Andrew Lennon, though I am not a reader of Horror but I found your novel very interesting. Keep writing, all the best!
June 7, 2017
I received this ebook free for a Promotional Group Read.
I disliked Dave very quickly. Which is fine, I was supposed to, and the author did a very good job of making him unlikeable and fleshing out the whole personality. Once the action started, though, I found that the characterization became much more superficial.
The actual story itself was interesting, and fast paced. I think it could be more fleshed out, but I liked it.
Dave's a runner, so let's do it this way. The book was basically a sprint. 100 or 200 meters whatever. The athletes are all milling around getting ready. You focus on the hero, show interviews, background information, heartbreaking setbacks, training montage, shots of the family in the crowd. Finally everyone's all lined up. BANG, They're out of there, it's exciting, breakneck speeds. 10 seconds, it's over. Flag over the shoulders, a shot of everyone cheering and crying, on to the next event.
Honestly, I did like it. The setup just left me expecting a bit more substance.
I disliked Dave very quickly. Which is fine, I was supposed to, and the author did a very good job of making him unlikeable and fleshing out the whole personality. Once the action started, though, I found that the characterization became much more superficial.
The actual story itself was interesting, and fast paced. I think it could be more fleshed out, but I liked it.
Dave's a runner, so let's do it this way. The book was basically a sprint. 100 or 200 meters whatever. The athletes are all milling around getting ready. You focus on the hero, show interviews, background information, heartbreaking setbacks, training montage, shots of the family in the crowd. Finally everyone's all lined up. BANG, They're out of there, it's exciting, breakneck speeds. 10 seconds, it's over. Flag over the shoulders, a shot of everyone cheering and crying, on to the next event.
Honestly, I did like it. The setup just left me expecting a bit more substance.
Read
December 14, 2014I received this novella for free in exchange for an honest review. I will not give this novella a rating,as I am a friend of the author and communicate with him frequently.
"A Life To Waste" is not your classic horror story. It's unique prospective makes you feel as if the author is personally relating the story directly to you.
The main character starts out as a rather unlikeable but he grows and manages to redeem himself in the end.
There are genuinely creepy moments in this story,my biggest complaint was that those moments were not expanded upon.
"A Life To Waste" is not your classic horror story. It's unique prospective makes you feel as if the author is personally relating the story directly to you.
The main character starts out as a rather unlikeable but he grows and manages to redeem himself in the end.
There are genuinely creepy moments in this story,my biggest complaint was that those moments were not expanded upon.
February 18, 2024
I liked this, I thought it was going to be a supernatural type of story but it ended up going in a different darker direction. I liked it, the ending was a to be expected, but it was still a good story.
January 25, 2014
A Life To Waste by Andrew Lennon gave me a lot to think about. More on that at the end. This is an excellent story of a promising young athlete, Dave who through no fault of his own is left psychologically traumatised after a car accident robs him of Olympic glory. Now that his dream has been crushed, Dave goes out of his way to alienate himself from all his childhood friends and girlfriends until he is a middle-aged waster living with his Mum.
All those wasted years have left Dave a train wreck of a person whom no one could ever love, except his long-suffering mother. He drinks too much, is abusive and refuses to work, instead sponging off his poor mother whose husband and Dave's father was forced to leave due to Dave's violent outbursts.
Life has hit rock bottom for Dave until a serial killer targets people in his street. Okay, Dave is terrified, but his wasted life is given the kick start it needs when his Mum is taken by the killer. Dave kicks his booze habit and does all he can to save his mother from this sadistic monster.
Can Dave finally realise his potential and fulfil that which seemed impossible? Can he save his mother? Read this fascinating very scary horror/drama novel to find out.
This is a five star effort trapped in a FOUR STAR novel just waiting for some fine tuning that I am sure will enhance this author's status. Highly recommended for all serial killer thriller fans.
All those wasted years have left Dave a train wreck of a person whom no one could ever love, except his long-suffering mother. He drinks too much, is abusive and refuses to work, instead sponging off his poor mother whose husband and Dave's father was forced to leave due to Dave's violent outbursts.
Life has hit rock bottom for Dave until a serial killer targets people in his street. Okay, Dave is terrified, but his wasted life is given the kick start it needs when his Mum is taken by the killer. Dave kicks his booze habit and does all he can to save his mother from this sadistic monster.
Can Dave finally realise his potential and fulfil that which seemed impossible? Can he save his mother? Read this fascinating very scary horror/drama novel to find out.
This is a five star effort trapped in a FOUR STAR novel just waiting for some fine tuning that I am sure will enhance this author's status. Highly recommended for all serial killer thriller fans.
July 1, 2024
This was a short and fun read that got me out of my reading slump. The story follows David, who, as the title would suggest, is a complete waste of space, having pretty much given up on life after his olympic dreams were shattered by a car accident. His mom does everything for him despite the fact that he is absolutely terrible to her. Before long, something spooky (and violent) happens with David's neighbor, and he begins experiencing disturbing nightmares to the point where he questions using prescription sleeping pills as a way of hallucinating. Fans of extreme horror will dig this, but don't go in expecting too much. This gets a 3/5 from me but was one of two epic moments away from being a 4.
November 27, 2023
I bought this book about 3 years ago, and I am so annoyed with myself for not reading it sooner, it was brutal, brilliant fun! A real patchwork of events, cleverly stitched together to form a very satisfying read….. 😉
Dave is a 35 year old lazy slob who still lives at home with his mother, Margaret, whom he bullies, degrades and guilts into doing everything for him. Because of this, she spends most of her time hiding away from him in her room or at work.
Dave has no friends, apart from weed and alcohol, but it wasn't always that way. He used to have dreams of becoming an Olympic sprinter, until a horrific accident left him in mourning for his trainer and idol, Phil, and with no more enthusiasm for running after his recovery from his leg injuries. And even less enthusiasm for life in general!
After a split second of losing control, he loses his father too, and any respect that was left from his mother. Things started to look up for a little while after meeting Claire, but the drink and drugs soon took control again, and he found himself back at the bottom of that black pit of numbness and inebriation.
When his neighbour goes missing, leaving nothing but a bloody mess behind, it shakes David up, causing him to experience horrifically disturbing nightmares. When he seeks help from his doctor and his dreams turn more pleasant, his reality takes a massive, brutal, kick to the face! And when his mother goes missing, he finds a new passion and determination and plans to do whatever it takes to get her back.
This story kept taking really unexpected twists and turns and getting wilder and more fucked up each time. From a mothers love, desperation and heartache, to a man's depths of despair to his utter grit and determination. From a normal enough start, an interesting and intriguing read, keeping you guessing and turning the pages at a steady pace, to, BAM! it takes a huge twist and has you burning up those pages until the very end!
A smooth narrative, complete with all the creepy stuff, giggling children in the middle of the night, eerie jack-in-the-box, a chilling ice-cream truck, unsettling atmosphere, and buckets of blood, all leaving you with goosebumps and wanting more. I started off disliking David immensely, then my feelings towards him started to switch back and forth, until I was cheering him on!
A lot of gory, messed up fun, but I will never be able to hear Teddy Bears Picnic the same ever again!!
Dave is a 35 year old lazy slob who still lives at home with his mother, Margaret, whom he bullies, degrades and guilts into doing everything for him. Because of this, she spends most of her time hiding away from him in her room or at work.
Dave has no friends, apart from weed and alcohol, but it wasn't always that way. He used to have dreams of becoming an Olympic sprinter, until a horrific accident left him in mourning for his trainer and idol, Phil, and with no more enthusiasm for running after his recovery from his leg injuries. And even less enthusiasm for life in general!
After a split second of losing control, he loses his father too, and any respect that was left from his mother. Things started to look up for a little while after meeting Claire, but the drink and drugs soon took control again, and he found himself back at the bottom of that black pit of numbness and inebriation.
When his neighbour goes missing, leaving nothing but a bloody mess behind, it shakes David up, causing him to experience horrifically disturbing nightmares. When he seeks help from his doctor and his dreams turn more pleasant, his reality takes a massive, brutal, kick to the face! And when his mother goes missing, he finds a new passion and determination and plans to do whatever it takes to get her back.
This story kept taking really unexpected twists and turns and getting wilder and more fucked up each time. From a mothers love, desperation and heartache, to a man's depths of despair to his utter grit and determination. From a normal enough start, an interesting and intriguing read, keeping you guessing and turning the pages at a steady pace, to, BAM! it takes a huge twist and has you burning up those pages until the very end!
A smooth narrative, complete with all the creepy stuff, giggling children in the middle of the night, eerie jack-in-the-box, a chilling ice-cream truck, unsettling atmosphere, and buckets of blood, all leaving you with goosebumps and wanting more. I started off disliking David immensely, then my feelings towards him started to switch back and forth, until I was cheering him on!
A lot of gory, messed up fun, but I will never be able to hear Teddy Bears Picnic the same ever again!!
April 4, 2023
I loved loved loved the second half of this book! It was gruesome and gave me serious anxiety wondering what was going to happen.
The first half I found a bit dry and really despised Dave. Thankfully he redeemed himself in my opinion.
Also, the child he heard running around in his home at night… what was that about? Was Dave just delirious from exhaustion?
The first half I found a bit dry and really despised Dave. Thankfully he redeemed himself in my opinion.
Also, the child he heard running around in his home at night… what was that about? Was Dave just delirious from exhaustion?
January 27, 2024
This book was BRUTAL. The gore in this book was amazing. The story was fantastic! It was so weird and creepy. The description of what Dave saw in the warehouse. My lord. Insane and intense. Completely obsessed with the book!
October 4, 2013
"A Life to Waste" by Andrew Lennon is an at times very creepy horror story that at several moments during the read had me at the proverbial edge of my seat. I am not usually a fan of the genre and read the book on the recommendation of a friend.
Luckily I was far from disappointed.
We witness Dave wasting his life away after a car accident that ends his promising running career. Full of lethargy Dave begins a downward spiral of drinking and doing nothing.
Then some dreadful events in his apartment block bring terror to his life and he needs to come out of his self destructive cycle to save his own skin.
Lennon spends a great deal building up Dave and his background which pays of remarkably well when Dave is confronted with the sudden horror, the subtlety of which is brilliant by the way, as is the slow and gradual build up of the horrifying tension that spirals him into panic and paranoia. Dave is doubting his own sanity at times, probably as many of us would when experiencing what Dave goes through.
However, I found that there is much more to this horror story than meets the eye. Dave is an interesting character in that he once had a perfect life that was taken away from him. We feel for him, despite some of his less likeable traits and actions. I would not classify this story as simple horror - even though it is pretty good at that part, no doubt.
No, I found the psychology of a failed or broken athlete and his late call to become responsible and turn his life around most rewarding as it adds depth to the story. I cannot say more without spoiling the book for you, only that there is a moral lesson in this book I would not have expected. To put the icing of the cake, the writing style, particularly at the beginning of the book, edges on literary realism, a brilliant tool in the portrayal of Dave's broken life and a credit to the writer.
The book is well paced, gathering speed at the right time and keeping the momentum all the way to the dramatic end. With the ambiguity of Dave's character the book was almost impossible to predict for this reader and so a compelling and very rewarding read. A lot of thought and work has gone into this short horror novel that I would highly recommend to fans of the genre and to those who won't mind the horror but are interested in great psychological character development.
Luckily I was far from disappointed.
We witness Dave wasting his life away after a car accident that ends his promising running career. Full of lethargy Dave begins a downward spiral of drinking and doing nothing.
Then some dreadful events in his apartment block bring terror to his life and he needs to come out of his self destructive cycle to save his own skin.
Lennon spends a great deal building up Dave and his background which pays of remarkably well when Dave is confronted with the sudden horror, the subtlety of which is brilliant by the way, as is the slow and gradual build up of the horrifying tension that spirals him into panic and paranoia. Dave is doubting his own sanity at times, probably as many of us would when experiencing what Dave goes through.
However, I found that there is much more to this horror story than meets the eye. Dave is an interesting character in that he once had a perfect life that was taken away from him. We feel for him, despite some of his less likeable traits and actions. I would not classify this story as simple horror - even though it is pretty good at that part, no doubt.
No, I found the psychology of a failed or broken athlete and his late call to become responsible and turn his life around most rewarding as it adds depth to the story. I cannot say more without spoiling the book for you, only that there is a moral lesson in this book I would not have expected. To put the icing of the cake, the writing style, particularly at the beginning of the book, edges on literary realism, a brilliant tool in the portrayal of Dave's broken life and a credit to the writer.
The book is well paced, gathering speed at the right time and keeping the momentum all the way to the dramatic end. With the ambiguity of Dave's character the book was almost impossible to predict for this reader and so a compelling and very rewarding read. A lot of thought and work has gone into this short horror novel that I would highly recommend to fans of the genre and to those who won't mind the horror but are interested in great psychological character development.
June 27, 2016
Whole big bag of nope!
So, this book shows innocent things from childhood, if shown in a certain light, can really scare you! I found this book a little slow to start, however the slowness is needed, because the back story is so fully developed you feel like you know them, you care about what happens to them, however!! when it found its feet it petrified me :'( a quick glace at my read list will show you that horror and thriller books are my favourite, but very few books actually freak me out. It might not be the same for you, but Ice cream vans in horror stories really really ( REALLY ) freak me out! Add a nursury rhyme and BANG hannah is checking under the bed and behind doors.
This book is written in a fashion of.. What's the word... Well not typical, but that just adds to the story, its written how a friend would tell you a tale, amazing book!
27/06/16 18 months later and it still scares the life out of me :'(
So, this book shows innocent things from childhood, if shown in a certain light, can really scare you! I found this book a little slow to start, however the slowness is needed, because the back story is so fully developed you feel like you know them, you care about what happens to them, however!! when it found its feet it petrified me :'( a quick glace at my read list will show you that horror and thriller books are my favourite, but very few books actually freak me out. It might not be the same for you, but Ice cream vans in horror stories really really ( REALLY ) freak me out! Add a nursury rhyme and BANG hannah is checking under the bed and behind doors.
This book is written in a fashion of.. What's the word... Well not typical, but that just adds to the story, its written how a friend would tell you a tale, amazing book!
27/06/16 18 months later and it still scares the life out of me :'(
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2014
Dave is man in his mid thirties, has no job and lives with his mum. After tragic accident that happened when he was a teenager, he loses himself in alcohol and drugs. Suddenly his neighbour disappears in mysterious circumstances and he decides to investigate.
The first half of the book is slow-paced, it focuses more on the things in the past that led Dave to practically waste his life. It certainly added depth to his character but I couldn't wait for the horror to begin. The descriptions of what he discovers in his investigation are truly horrifying. The song that the bad guy was constantly humming surely made everything even more creepier.
It was a good book, I only expected the scary parts to come sooner :).
Thanks for sending me a free copy from the Making Connections group.
The first half of the book is slow-paced, it focuses more on the things in the past that led Dave to practically waste his life. It certainly added depth to his character but I couldn't wait for the horror to begin. The descriptions of what he discovers in his investigation are truly horrifying. The song that the bad guy was constantly humming surely made everything even more creepier.
It was a good book, I only expected the scary parts to come sooner :).
Thanks for sending me a free copy from the Making Connections group.
January 21, 2018
I received this ebook free for a Promotional Group Read.
There was an interesting story in this (short) novel, reminded me of Richard Laymon without the sex.
Dave is a slacker that has to deal with some disapperances, and all hell breaks loose.
The story was there, the characters were there, however, the way the story is written is very basic, with large flashbacks that pad the first half of the book and it takes a while to get you thrilled.
While not impressed, it is the author's first book and would seriously consider giving one of his newer works a go.
There was an interesting story in this (short) novel, reminded me of Richard Laymon without the sex.
Dave is a slacker that has to deal with some disapperances, and all hell breaks loose.
The story was there, the characters were there, however, the way the story is written is very basic, with large flashbacks that pad the first half of the book and it takes a while to get you thrilled.
While not impressed, it is the author's first book and would seriously consider giving one of his newer works a go.
October 12, 2013
At first I wasn't sure I was going to like this book, Dave is not the most likable of people and the events of his early life are very depressing. I had in fact set it aside after a few pages and gotten distracted with other books for a while. I picked it up tonight at random and after a few pages I got sucked into the story and before I knew it I'd eaten up the whole thing!
Dave is the victim of his own discontent, angry, sullen and drunk he lets the world pass him by day after day. He was once a happy teen who loved to run, but after a tragic accident all of that went away and things started to fall apart. Now middle aged and wallowing in his own wasted life there doesn't seem as if there will ever be hope for him. Then one night terrible events start to happen, a woman next door disappears and Dave is the only witness to her attack. Having only heard her screaming and mistaken it for another wild night Dave is confused by the incident and soon overrun with nightmares. Unable to sleep and terrified by his dreams Dave resorts to sleeping pills to cope. What he wakes up to will only pull him deeper into the nightmare and force him to reevaluate his life, if it has any hope of having meaning.
This novel is nothing like you expect it to be! It has a slow start as we go through the details of Dave's daily life and the life he left behind as a teen and then it slowly starts to creep into something much darker. Bit by bit Dave's beginning to become more self aware and as he does he begins to see more and more of the world around him. Where before he was not a very likable man we begin to feel for him and to be happy that things are changing for him under the strangest of circumstances. In the midst of this the bigger mystery of the novella starts to unfold and we're pulled away into a very dark place where we begin to see how a real person might react in such horrific circumstances. A Life to Waste is a bit of a sleeper but when it kicks in it really grabs you and doesn't let go until the end.
Dave is the victim of his own discontent, angry, sullen and drunk he lets the world pass him by day after day. He was once a happy teen who loved to run, but after a tragic accident all of that went away and things started to fall apart. Now middle aged and wallowing in his own wasted life there doesn't seem as if there will ever be hope for him. Then one night terrible events start to happen, a woman next door disappears and Dave is the only witness to her attack. Having only heard her screaming and mistaken it for another wild night Dave is confused by the incident and soon overrun with nightmares. Unable to sleep and terrified by his dreams Dave resorts to sleeping pills to cope. What he wakes up to will only pull him deeper into the nightmare and force him to reevaluate his life, if it has any hope of having meaning.
This novel is nothing like you expect it to be! It has a slow start as we go through the details of Dave's daily life and the life he left behind as a teen and then it slowly starts to creep into something much darker. Bit by bit Dave's beginning to become more self aware and as he does he begins to see more and more of the world around him. Where before he was not a very likable man we begin to feel for him and to be happy that things are changing for him under the strangest of circumstances. In the midst of this the bigger mystery of the novella starts to unfold and we're pulled away into a very dark place where we begin to see how a real person might react in such horrific circumstances. A Life to Waste is a bit of a sleeper but when it kicks in it really grabs you and doesn't let go until the end.
July 9, 2023
This short, sharp shock to the senses lights like a fuse that burns until it hits the charge and then...BOOM! The whole experience is an explosive exercise in endurance.
Our "hero," a term that is used somewhat ironically, is Dave. He had dreams of being an Olympic runner and being the fastest person in the world. He had a friend and even a young woman who was sweet on him. When his coach dies in an automobile accident, Dave's life slides downward at a gradual pace. He gets into a physical altercation with his father, who moves out. He is abusive toward his mother. He becomes a drunken, stoned waste of space who has to steal to keep his buzzes going. Outside of his microcosm of inebriation, there is a force of pure evil breaking into homes and taking people to some unknown destination. He becomes affected once the bulky being breaks into his house and steals his mother away. What follows is a visceral, violent and vindictive foray into horror and death.
Andrew Lennon achieved what few authors can do: pack a short read with so much intensity and heart. Dave is such a dynamic character: an irredeemable, crass loser in the beginning and a changed man who has learned a valuable lesson by the end. The way the chapters flow and how they leave the suspense hanging like a body on a hook makes you want to keep going, even if you have other obligations or a job (unlike unemployed Dave).
This book gets a ☠️ x5 from me!
Our "hero," a term that is used somewhat ironically, is Dave. He had dreams of being an Olympic runner and being the fastest person in the world. He had a friend and even a young woman who was sweet on him. When his coach dies in an automobile accident, Dave's life slides downward at a gradual pace. He gets into a physical altercation with his father, who moves out. He is abusive toward his mother. He becomes a drunken, stoned waste of space who has to steal to keep his buzzes going. Outside of his microcosm of inebriation, there is a force of pure evil breaking into homes and taking people to some unknown destination. He becomes affected once the bulky being breaks into his house and steals his mother away. What follows is a visceral, violent and vindictive foray into horror and death.
Andrew Lennon achieved what few authors can do: pack a short read with so much intensity and heart. Dave is such a dynamic character: an irredeemable, crass loser in the beginning and a changed man who has learned a valuable lesson by the end. The way the chapters flow and how they leave the suspense hanging like a body on a hook makes you want to keep going, even if you have other obligations or a job (unlike unemployed Dave).
This book gets a ☠️ x5 from me!
April 29, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. This was my first time reading something by Andrew Lennon, for a first novel it is really good. He is definitely an author I will be keeping an eye on.
Dave sits at home all day and night doing nothing, no job, no friends, no life. He lives with his mum and is not very nice to her. He drinks and smokes weed, watches movies and sleeps. Then one night he hears screaming coming from his neighbor, Lisa. He thinks nothing of it, as it happens quite frequently. The next day he finds out she is missing.
After several nights of not sleeping because of what has happened, he decides to get some sleeping pills. That night he sleeps but wakes up to a terrible tragedy, his mother is missing.
He decides to try to stay awake and catch this kidnapper. What he discovers is terribly horrific.
4 out of 5 stars.
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Dave sits at home all day and night doing nothing, no job, no friends, no life. He lives with his mum and is not very nice to her. He drinks and smokes weed, watches movies and sleeps. Then one night he hears screaming coming from his neighbor, Lisa. He thinks nothing of it, as it happens quite frequently. The next day he finds out she is missing.
After several nights of not sleeping because of what has happened, he decides to get some sleeping pills. That night he sleeps but wakes up to a terrible tragedy, his mother is missing.
He decides to try to stay awake and catch this kidnapper. What he discovers is terribly horrific.
4 out of 5 stars.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2...
http://lisasandberg88.wordpress.com/
http://thezeroshour.com/
https://m.facebook.com/lisa.sandberg8...
https://m.facebook.com/thezeroshour?r...
http://1988lisa1988.tumblr.com/
Twitter - @1988Lisa1988
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A1NU...
June 21, 2015
I have previously enjoyed a few short stories by Andrew Lennon so was looking forward to reading something more substantial. This book drew me in instantly. I couldn't ignore the numerous grammatical and spelling errors, as well as a lack of punctuation in certain places. Under normal circumstances, I would have given up and deleted the book from my Kindle but I know Lennon can tell a story and sure enough, I managed to look past the errors and get lost in David's nightmare. So much so, that I was slightly uncomfortable reading the latter half in the dark, which culminated in a hybrid of Hostel and The Human Centipede. This book is not for the faint-hearted, be warned. For horror fans, I can wholeheartedly recommend this one.
December 2, 2016
I Received This Book For Free From Author. Thanks
I'm not even sure what the hell I just read! Beginning started off very slow (I almost DNF) But at 63% It started getting better but I ain't gonna lie, this book scared me. Lol. The way the author writes, it's like your right there. Seeing the dark shadows in the corner, smelling the same vile smells, hearing the screams and don't get me started on the scene with: Andrew Lennon, has a real talent when it comes to writing gory horror scenes..
I'm not even sure what the hell I just read! Beginning started off very slow (I almost DNF) But at 63% It started getting better but I ain't gonna lie, this book scared me. Lol. The way the author writes, it's like your right there. Seeing the dark shadows in the corner, smelling the same vile smells, hearing the screams and don't get me started on the scene with: Andrew Lennon, has a real talent when it comes to writing gory horror scenes..
January 15, 2014
This book is a slow burner but if you stick with it you will be rewarded with a great ending. A Life to Waste is about Dave, a middle-aged slacker who drinks too much and lives with his mum. However, Dave gets the chance to be a hero when his mother goes missing.
This crime turn horror novel is quite dark and graphic later on and definitely not for the faint-hearted. It has a couple of good twists and gives the protagonist great character development on the build-up to the finale.
Definitely one for the crime, horror or thriller fans!
This crime turn horror novel is quite dark and graphic later on and definitely not for the faint-hearted. It has a couple of good twists and gives the protagonist great character development on the build-up to the finale.
Definitely one for the crime, horror or thriller fans!
April 19, 2025
Really needed a good horror story that was page turning like this one :)
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