Cavallaro's Cavalcade of Carnage
Brian Keene has recently stated that James Newman is "long overdue for a breakout and a bigger audience." I couldn't agree more. Both Brian and I have known this for years. I've read everything Newman has ever written (excluding his newest collection) and I'm telling you: You are doing yourself a huge disservice if you are not reading this guy. Start with ODD MAN OUT (my fave) and I'm willing to bet that this EXACT conversation will happen in your life:

YOU: Hey, have you read James Newman and/or Mark Steensland yet? They're really good.
OTHER READER: No, but I probably should because that super smart guy, Jason, from horrordrive-in.com told me to
YOU: I heard he is handsome too.
OTHER READER: He probably is.
YOU: Anyway, I gotta go buy their other book now.
OTHER READER: This conversation is unrealistic.
ME: No it isn't!!!

Anyway...IN THE SCRAPE is for all of the coming-of-age-story fans. It belongs on your shelf next to all of your favorites, trust me. It can be read in one sitting, but still packs the emotional heft that most writers need a higher page count to achieve. No plot summaries here. Ask Amazon for that.

I should mention that I'd never heard of Mark Steensland before I read their novella, THE SPECIAL (best book that I read in May). But he is surely on my radar now.

What a great start to Silver Shamrock Publishing! Home run on the first swing.

Grade: A

Review by Jason Cavallaro
jcavallaro42@gmail.com
Twitter: @pinheadspawn

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