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Con Morte
Arthur Ellis Award nominee Axel Howerton weaves a dark tale of family, murder-for-hire, coffee, and the cost of redemption.
"Jackie Nobody, he ain't like you and me..."
That's because Jack sees monsters behind the eyes of terrible people, and Jack would know, because he's one of them.
Jack Nada is a killer for the Calabrese mob. He's been beat-down, framed-up, screwed-over, and betrayed by everyone he's ever met, pretty much since the day he was born.
He's out of patience, out of time, and out of coffee. His favorite barista is missing, and the prescription that keeps him sane just ran out.
Now everyone is going to pay.
CON MORTE - the first title in the exciting new "Noirvellas" series of dark crime and noir fiction from Coffin Hop Press!
"Jackie Nobody, he ain't like you and me..."
That's because Jack sees monsters behind the eyes of terrible people, and Jack would know, because he's one of them.
Jack Nada is a killer for the Calabrese mob. He's been beat-down, framed-up, screwed-over, and betrayed by everyone he's ever met, pretty much since the day he was born.
He's out of patience, out of time, and out of coffee. His favorite barista is missing, and the prescription that keeps him sane just ran out.
Now everyone is going to pay.
CON MORTE - the first title in the exciting new "Noirvellas" series of dark crime and noir fiction from Coffin Hop Press!
282 pages, Paperback
Published September 25, 2017
5 people want to read
About the author
Axel Howerton
20 books102 followersAxel Howerton is a former entertainment journalist, and the Arthur Ellis Award nominated author of the detective caper "Hot Sinatra"; the modern gothic fairytale "Furr"; the zombie novella "Living Dead at Zigfreid & Roy"; and the noir fable "Con Morte". His forthcoming "Wolf & Devil" urban fantasy series for Tyche Books kicks off with "Demon Days" in February 2018.
When he's not on-duty as a "purveyor of literary badassery" and "hometown anti-hero", Axel wanders the foothills of Southern Alberta with his two brilliant sons, and a wife that is way out of his league.
Visit Axel online at www.axelhow.com or seek him out on social media as #AxelHow
When he's not on-duty as a "purveyor of literary badassery" and "hometown anti-hero", Axel wanders the foothills of Southern Alberta with his two brilliant sons, and a wife that is way out of his league.
Visit Axel online at www.axelhow.com or seek him out on social media as #AxelHow
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 7, 2017
First, a declaration of interest: I share a publisher with the author.
I read Con Morte in two evenings and could easily have read it in one, but it was so good I wanted to make it last longer and savour it.
It tells the story of Jack Nada, a man whose feelings have flatlined. He thinks deeply about things, but his emotional responses are oddly uncaring.
He views life in the same detached way scientists view experiments. He finds it informative, but not moving.
This is so even when he’s describing his own actions, some of which are extreme by normal standards, and (to put it mildly) merit an emotional response of some kind.
A partial explanation for his behaviour is set out in the opening pages, but the underlying cause isn’t, at that point, explained.
As his riveting story progresses, Jack’s tight grip on his feelings becomes ever more tenuous, until he can hold them in check no longer, and has to confront, for the first time, an event buried deep in his psyche.
The denouement when he does so is moving and truly satisfying.
Powerful and disturbing, this story will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
A gem of the noir genre.
I read Con Morte in two evenings and could easily have read it in one, but it was so good I wanted to make it last longer and savour it.
It tells the story of Jack Nada, a man whose feelings have flatlined. He thinks deeply about things, but his emotional responses are oddly uncaring.
He views life in the same detached way scientists view experiments. He finds it informative, but not moving.
This is so even when he’s describing his own actions, some of which are extreme by normal standards, and (to put it mildly) merit an emotional response of some kind.
A partial explanation for his behaviour is set out in the opening pages, but the underlying cause isn’t, at that point, explained.
As his riveting story progresses, Jack’s tight grip on his feelings becomes ever more tenuous, until he can hold them in check no longer, and has to confront, for the first time, an event buried deep in his psyche.
The denouement when he does so is moving and truly satisfying.
Powerful and disturbing, this story will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
A gem of the noir genre.
May 26, 2018
I WISH I could rate this book AT LEAST 6 out of 5 stars....or more.
Unbelievable. True, old school, mobster style writing - something you don't see anymore. This book was a WORK OF ART. The writing was incredible. I could NOT put it down. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. When I was reading it, I couldn't stop. I finished it in a few days - and I do not have time to read all day. I spent every moment I had gripping the pages, wanting to know what would happen.
I was taken on a journey with the main character. I felt what he was feeling. I was there with him. I had physical reactions to the emotions that he was experiencing, as if I was experiencing them myself.
I WILL read this again. READ THIS !!!
Unbelievable. True, old school, mobster style writing - something you don't see anymore. This book was a WORK OF ART. The writing was incredible. I could NOT put it down. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. When I was reading it, I couldn't stop. I finished it in a few days - and I do not have time to read all day. I spent every moment I had gripping the pages, wanting to know what would happen.
I was taken on a journey with the main character. I felt what he was feeling. I was there with him. I had physical reactions to the emotions that he was experiencing, as if I was experiencing them myself.
I WILL read this again. READ THIS !!!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews