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The Lobster Boy And The Fat Lady’s Daughter
Read more at: http://www.london24.com/entertainment/book_review_what_milo_saw_by_virginia_macgregor_1_3750981
Copyright © LONDON24
Copy kindly supplied by Fahrenheit Press in return for an honest review.
5 out of 5 stars (I’d give it 6 or 7 out of 5 if I could!)
Mel Barry is a detective like no other and when her step-father, Charlie ‘Lobster Boy’ Koontz is arrested and framed for murder, Mel is his only hope.
Surrounded by freaks of the modern circus, Mel pursues a heartless killer through the darkest heart of the gothic South, only to discover the mysteries of her own shadowy past revealed in blood.
Set on the carnival lot of a South Georgia tobacco town, The Lobster Boy And The Fat Lady’s Daughter is a wild Lynch-ian ride through a world that few ‘normal’ people have ever experienced.
What do you know about the carnivals? What do you know about freak shows? Prepare to be informed, entertained and enlightened as you delve into the murky depths of how it all really works. Charlie Koontz aka Lobster Boy was born into the life of an entertainer, classed as disabled by polite society, and as a freak by himself, he runs the show that pulls in the crowds but success brings the pay-offs and bribes, and this is where the story begins.
Charlie is framed for murder, and in desperate need of help he turns to his step-daughter Mel. As she fights her way through the twists and turns of the Southern Georgian town, Mel discovers not everything is as is seems. The facts don’t add up, evidence is being ignored, and she can’t go to Charlie to help him but she needs to do something. With the freaks from the carnival at her side, and covering her back she takes on the fight to clear Charlie and free him, not realising that this will have her facing shadows that she’d wish stayed hidden from a past she’d rather forget.
There is so much that I could say about this book but I really don’t want to give away too much of the plot, too many hints or clues would give away too much and believe me, this isn’t a book you want spoiled for you!
Kriel’s writing style is quick, punchy and keeps you on your toes. His descriptions are intensely detailed, I found myself envisioning the Big Wheel and other fairground rides, but most sensationally descriptive were the acrobatic performances and fight scenes. In particular, the performance by one character really shows the attention to detail, the level of research undertaken and pride in ones work. The characters are engaging, you want to know more about them, you want to know what happened in their past, what secrets they have hidden.
The clever marketing of this novel prior to release created a buzz, and I am happy to say that it has lived up to the hype. This is an immensely enjoyable read, and I cannot wait to see what Kriel comes out with next, where will Mel Barry end up next? My only concern would be whether this impressive writing style and talent can be bottled so any subsequent works can be written to the same high standard.
I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone that enjoys Fiction, Mystery and hotshot PI type genres. In fact, I would go so far as to insist you buy this book, it definitely will be one of those you’ll kick yourself for not reading!
I would like to thank Chris McVeigh and Fahrenheit Press for the copy of this book in return for an honest review and if you would like to buy a copy, this book will be published on 30th October 2015, a copy can be purchased here The Lobster Boy And The Fat Lady’s Daughter (UK Kindle Version)
