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Book Review of Deadman by J. H. Smithson 3.5/5

Best of luck.

First: There will be spoilers.
Will they ruin the story? It’s very unlikely..
But I do have some very strong feelings towards certain aspects of this book that just could not be tempered.

Okay! So, I won an Amazon Kindle copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and even thought it may not have blown me away, I am grateful I had the opportunity to read it. This in no way effects my review.

When I first came across this book, the synopsis had me completely intrigued. It sounded like just the kind of action-packed, tension laced, edge of your seat kind of read that I usually enjoy. I was excited to dive in.
Yea.. got to love it when you don’t stick that landing.

To be fair, this is a pretty compulsive read.
But we’re not here to be fair. We’re here to be honest. And, that, I can do.

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Deadman by J.H.Smithson

Publication date: March 7, 2022
Genre: Thriller, Suspense
Pages: 421 (kindle)
Standalone

First line: Of all the people over so many years that have been lucky enough to stand on the sandy shoreline of the lake and gaze across its crystal blue waters, breathing the evergreen fresh air as it drifts in over snowcapped mountain tops, most end up with the same question poised behind their lips: how is it possible that such a beautiful spot, utterly untouched by the concrete and iron grip of mankind, could be christened with a name so dismally morose?

One man’s arrogance unleashes hell on an unsuspecting town.

Ben Treager may have taken over the head of his father’s company, but the boardroom isn’t where his passion lies.
Finding and procuring some of the world’s most dangerous creatures, Ben craves the power hunting gives him, the sense of euphoria he gets from being the better predator.

Then an incredible discovery is made.
A beast of myth and legend has been found in the Russian wilderness and Ben will do anything to obtain it. Fortunately, money talks, and he has that in spades. He gets his prize but a storm has moved in and the pilot insists that conditions are too unstable to fly in. Ben is having none of it, they must leave the country before they’re presence draws the wrong kind of attention, and nothing so simple as a snow storm will dissuade a man like him.

The plane never makes it to their destination and, somewhere in the wreckage, Ben’s latest acquisition has been released.
Now it will come for them, one by one, as this creature’s rage and fury demands the death of all men.

Three and a Half Stars

Characters: Well written.
Storyline: Intense. Gripping.
Pace: Steady
Writing: Smooth.. but needs further editing.
Cover: 4.5/5

Povs: Many.

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“For in the Far East of Russia, all things earth and animal have reason to rejoice when the shivering fingers of winter finally ease their grip on the land.”

Ben Treager, now reigning CEO of his father’s company, is used to getting what he wants and not giving a damn about who’s offended by his arrogance. A hunter and a thrill seeker, with the bank account to obtain damn near anything, Ben gets what he wants and screw the consequences. Ben wants his fun.. and nothing on this planet will compare to the rush of hunting such a beast.
Will he live to regret that choice?

This book did not start off well for me. I almost DNFed it before I had even reached the second chapter so I’ll offer a warning.. if you adore animals of all kinds, (or any kind,) and you can’t handle their suffering.. do. not. read. this.
I can not in good conscience recommend this book to my fellow animal lovers.

The only reason I continued to keep reading it was—at first—sheer stubbornness.. Then I became invested in seeing one of the characters, Ben, die a slow, horrible death. (Why, yes, I do realize how unhealthy that sounds) However, and I feel the need to defend myself here, this mofo deserves it!

I honestly didn’t think he could be so stupid, ontop of cruel and heartless, but this guy takes a ginormous, man-eating, hate filled creature and he modifies it to be bigger, stronger, and faster. The perfect prey for his hunt. Are you fcking kidding me?
Now I had to finish the damn book because I just knew that thing was going to kill every single human being that crossed its path.

“We’re going to die,” he says. Oddly, his tone is no longer frightened. The words come out as though he is merely commenting on a news article he’d read in the morning paper. “Now who’s going to feed my cat?”

They inevitably crash because of Ben’s childish inability to listen to someone with the skill and experience to know when flying a plane is a bad idea. So what does he do? He sits there and blames the dead guy, who not only warned him that it was too risky, but died because of it.

Have you watched Game of Thrones? Okay. If you have.. You’ll know who Geoffrey is. A prince turned boy-king who’s a spoiled, twisted, infuriatingly arrogant, and vicious little psycho who just needs to STFU and get killed off so we can continue the series in relative peace. (And I’m not being dramatic.. I love kids. I love to search out even the tiniest bits of good in people. But this kid? He’s a sadistic little monster.) And in this book? That’s Ben.

Almost 50% in and we still only begin to see the full scope of horror he has unleashed.
I haven’t even mentioned the town full of innocent and unsuspecting people that gets wrapped up in this mess.
Which is shocking, actually, because the characters found there are so well written and wonderfully fleshed out that it was a relief.
Finally, something I could say I liked.

“He had always been a true believer that a gun in the hand was the fastest way to escalate a minor confrontation into a major one.”

This is not a happy book.
There are quite a few graphically bloody and gore-filled scenes. Death of a child. Animal abuse.
Horror after horror fills these pages and the writing will tug you along each and every one of them, encouraging, insisting you continue on.

You have to give Smithson credit, he did a brilliant job here..
Any author who can make a reader feel something so strongly deserves a round of applause in my book.
And you will feel.

“Man has changed him.
And now Man is all that matters. He will punish Man. Kill it and devour it until none remain in this world. Erased. Maybe then, and only then, will he find what has been lost. All these things that have been stolen from him. Maybe he can be a tiger once again.”

Would I recommend this book?
Sure.. as long as you don’t mind death, destruction, and the suffering of humans and animals alike. Go right ahead.
Me? I will be very careful when choosing anything else by this author in the future

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And that is that.
Thank you for stopping by! I know this isn’t exactly my most upbeat review but it’s all I have so.. hopefully it was at least informative.

Be sure to take care and have a wonderful weekend!

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