**Fade To Black** by *L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain*: The Grobnagger Chronicles #1.
First, there's someone who appears to be just an ordinary kind of guy, but he gets seizures in which he dreams he's hanging upside down in an alley with a rope attached to his foot and no idea how to get himself out of this position much less return to his real life where he doesn't have to undo knots and figure out how to get to the ground without breaking a limb or falling on his head. Once he's met this challenge and overcome it, he is not prepared for what's next which is a brute who begins chasing him down this alley with the sole intention of strangling him to death. After repeating this scenario a number of times, our hero, Jeff Grobnagger, does get better with the knots and the running away, but he still ends up dead until the seizure ends and he returns to the present. Then the story expands to include a new found friend named Glenn who has a cat with digestive problems and a missing daughter. At first Jeff is somewhat wary of Glenn, but after Glenn takes Jeff home and cooks him some of the best food he's ever tasted, Jeff starts to become less paranoid about what Glenn's motives might be.
There is more to Glenn than meets the eye, however. He does have an agenda of his own concerning a missing daughter, and he does know more about the dreams Jeff has during the seizures than he admits to Jeff at first. However, neither Jeff nor Glenn could possibly prepare themselves for some of the occasions they experience together that defy logical explanation. There are very few dull moments once these two men hook up and begin meeting others who appear to have some stake in what Jeff's dreams are all about. The most entertaining parts for me were when Jeff gave his take on either what was happening at the moment or what had previously happened. I laughed out loud more than once at the way in which Jeff perceives his situations and circumstances, even when he's being strangled. Which is why the pages flew by and I didn't want to stop reading until I had all the answers to all the questions -- or at least the answers the authors were willing to give up in this, the first book of Jeff Grobnagger.
The last third of the book was the best part for me. That's when we got to see who Jeff Grobnagger is all about. It was obvious to me that the authors gave a lot of thought to each of the main characters we came to know. There was a lot of humor in this book, but as it came to a close, there was also a lot of heart. There is a maturity in the writing that made me stop and think about what I'd read more than once. There were also a couple surprises I never saw coming. Vargus and McBain have written something quite unique, and I highly recommend it to those who like to read books a little out of the mainstream and who appreciate a fresh look at material that really hasn't been done quite like this before. I'm looking forward to the next installment of the Grobnagger Chronicles as well as anything else these talented writers give us. I'm telling everyone I know about this book, and not only because I thought it was such a good read. It's because it's fun to say Grobnagger over and over again!
OR
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Follow the authors
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Unwell Hydration from Alex Cooper
Hydrate & focus with every sip Shop now
Shop this series
See full series- Kindle Price:$14.97By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
Shop this series
There are 5 books in this series.
Kindle Price:
$14.97
By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2014
- Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2015
Top reviews from other countries
-
- GC MacQuarieReviewed in Australia on February 13, 2015
Hilariously funny. Deeply philosophical.
I'm on the train during my normal commute to work, I have earphones in because I'd rather listen to something like Liszt than the endless boredom of chatter, and I lose it. Literally. I'm laughing out loud and people are looking at me.GC MacQuarieHilariously funny. Deeply philosophical.
Reviewed in Australia on February 13, 2015
Then, at lunch, among my colleagues, the same thing happens. Suddenly I'm crazy cat lady.
Then I reached the middle of the book. Suddenly I'm feeling emotional because this guy just can't catch a break. His sense of humour is masking his belief that he's not worth anything. It's obvious from the beginning that he's not exactly Mr Confidence, but when it's written in black and white - deep.
Jeff Grobnagger has seizures. When he has these seizures, he is killed by the man in the hooded mask. During Jeff's plight to find out why he has these seizures, he befriends Glenn, a mid fifties man who is embarking on his own journey.
Forget the enticing plot line - which in itself will want you coming back for more - this character is intensely layered. You'll be rooting for him until the very end.
My brand of satirical humor may be different to yours, but for me, this book was slap your knee funny. Reading the inner monologue of Jeff Grobnagger, kept me turning the pages from beginning to end.
Hilariously funny, deeply philosophical and only the beginning.
Read this book. You won't regret it.
Images in this review
- LisaLovesBooksReviewed in Canada on January 1, 2015
Thrilling, suspenseful, awesome!
