Today’s Book Review Tuesday post is a seriously creepy, deliciously dark, sinfully sharp whip-crack of a novel. Voice, by Joseph Garraty, is the story of Johnny Tango (a.k.a. John Tsiboukas), troubled soul and lead singer of the band Ragman. And he owes thanks for both descriptors to the mysterious man he meets at the crossroads. Yes, the proverbial crossroads – as in Robert Johnson went down to the crossroads… (If you don’t know that legend, poor thing, it’s time to l learn something about the blues, so take a gander here.)
After a prologue sure to raise every single hair on the back of your neck, the story opens in a dark bar, new-band night under way. In a moment of perfect synchronicity – or else diabolical master-minding, you be the judge after reading the full story – fiction’s coolest female guitar-slinger, Case (of course she only has one name – she’s fiction’s coolest female guitar-slinger… ;)), finds herself a new band, and shortly thereafter John finds himself a new voice (and a new persona). And so it begins.
Voice is an incredibly paced, indelibly dark, wickedly entertaining story and a riot-ride from start to finish. Filled with memorable characters caught at their own crossroads – be it the cross between marital commitment and soul-deep attraction, brotherly loyalty and self-preservation, friendship and fear of being hurt – the story is an utterly eerie exemplification of the old Chinese proverb. In Garraty’s world you would do well indeed to be careful what you wished for, for you just might get it. And heaven help you and everyone around you then.
Joe Garraty has generously agreed to provide a giveaway copy of his book to a lucky Jill-Elizabeth.com reader! And I’m thrilled to be able to use Rafflecopter to facilitate the entry process.
Best of luck everyone – and if you don’t manage to win, go out and grab your own copy of Voice. It’s a wild ride, and definitely not for the faint of heart (this isn’t a kids’ book – it’s creepy and horrifying and colorful in the best possible ways), and worth every agonizing, adrenaline-soaked minute. As long as those minutes aren’t spent alone. In the car. Parked in the dark. In front of a copse of trees. During a thunderstorm. While waiting to pick up your step-daughter after cheerleading practice. In the dark. Yeah, those last ten minutes I spent in the car after putting the book down were, perhaps, the longest ten minutes of my life… This isn’t one to read before bed-time, at least not unless you are much less prone to wild imaginative flights of evil fancy than I am!
[…] Today’s a great day for Voice reviews! Here’s another, at Jill-Elizabeth.com. […]
Now that sounds wonderful (and wonderfully seasonal – I’m stocking up on fall books right now, in preparation for my October Extravaganza…) Thanks for the giveaway!
It sounds really good. This topic has been done before quite a bit but it sounds like a unique take with good characters.
Sounds sinister and dark; thanks for the offering! Rae
Rae, Julie & Jen – it is a great read, just the right amount of dark and creepy to throw you smack-dab into Fall! Thanks for entering/stopping by…
Sounds like a great Fall read. Something nice and creepy right before Halloween… 🙂
Indeed it is Amy! A perfect Halloween story. Speaking of which, I recently finished your e-book “Leftover Shorts” which has its own fantastic witch story (“Peripheral Witches”) – a review of which will post in the next couple of weeks… For those of you who aren’t familiar with Amy’s work, I strongly suggest you check her out!
Sounds like a thriller that I would enjoy reading
Anything that fits an opening sentence like yours has my full attention. This sounds like a whole ton of fun – could not pass up learning more about it!
Why thank you Jennifer! It was a ton of fun – an excellent, fast-paced read that will leave you biting your nails (unless you, like me, don’t have any because you’ve already bitten them off)… 😉
I would love to read this book for my blog!!! I love your site btw, now GFC following!
Thanks so much Allizabeth – I checked yours out and am also now following you. The book is really great – I hope you get to read it!
Love good, old southern hoodoo-voodoo stories and Robert Johnson begging at the crossroads is a CLASSSIC. Thanks for posting the review.
Oh, it is definitely one of those Baxter, I assure you! You are most welcome for the review – good luck with the giveaway!
oh! oh! pick me!! This book sounds fantastic!! It may just be your amazing review but I’m entering anyway.
Hey, Jill Elizabeth! It looks like you are celebrating Rocktober in STYLE, woman! (in fact, I don’t think I have this book on my Rock Books page over at West of Mars)
Feel free to link this post to The Meet and Greet at West of Mars (http://westofmars.com/2011/09/30/rocktober-go/) or the West of Mars Fans page at Facebook (http://facebook.com/WestofMarsFans) and I’ll give you some linky love in return.
Rock on, Sisterfriend!
Why thank you Susan – as a regular celebrant of Rocktoberfest, I will definitely link it!! You should definitely add the book to your Rock Books page – it’s a great thrill of a read, dark and dangerous and disturbing, just the way rock-n-roll should be… 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and I will indeed rock on – you too!
This sounds right up my alley! Very dark and scary! Oooh, maybe too scary? Good for my blog, too.
Not too scary Debbie – just right scary, honest! And it makes for a great blog post – just look at how many comments I’ve gotten… 🙂 Thanks for stopping by/entering/being one of those comments – hope to see you again!
Hey loyal Jill-Elizabeth.com readers – if you liked this review and are looking for some more hard-core rock books for your own Rocktoberfest, check out West of Mars… After Susan’s comment above I went to investigate, and I wanted to make sure you all got to join me in the sweet things I found there – so be sure to stop by The Meet and Greet (http://westofmars.com/2011/09/30/rocktober-go/) and the Facebook Fans page (http://facebook.com/WestofMarsFans)!
[…] with me: Misty at The Top Shelf hosts Jeremy Wagner for a guest blog post. Jill Elizabeth at All Things Jill Elizabeth is giving away a copy of Voice. Share and […]
I am new here and this sounds like a book I would like to read, discuss and review
Hey fellow Rocktober celebrator! This book is on my wishlist! 🙂 So I thought I’d run over here and try to win it!
Excellent Misty – good luck!! Even if you don’t win it though, you seriously have to pick it up – it’s incredible! Thanks for stopping by…
Sounds like a great book! Can’t wait to read it!
Congratulations Doug, you are the winner! I sent you an email about your prize – my email has been weird lately though, so if you don’t see it let me know… Thanks for entering/visiting, congrats again, and enjoy the book!! 🙂
Oooooooh, I like dark 🙂 It sounds like a good one!
Thanks for the giveaway!
tweeted about this post @pngbookworm
I quit reading King’s short stories because they were too scary but novels are another story -no pun intended – so, yes this one looks good. Enter me in the contest
Well I will be heading to the library shortly to check this out. It sounds great! Im ready for a ready like this!
It really was great Jess, a real edge-of-your-seat read! Thanks for stopping by… 🙂
[…] – I’ve reviewed this one already, so check out all the great things I have already said about it here. It’s a great guy-gift, and one you’ll want to make sure to […]