Dead Harvest (The Collector) [Mass Market Paperback]

Chris F. Holm (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 28, 2012 | Series: The Collector

Meet Sam Thornton, Collector of Souls.
 
Sam’s job is to collect the souls of the damned, and ensure their souls are dispatched to the appropriate destination.
 
But when he’s dispatched to collect the soul of a young woman he believes to be innocent of the horrific crime that’s doomed her to Hell, he says something no Collector has ever said before.
 
“No.”
 
File Under: Urban Fantasy [ Souled Out | Damned If You Don’t | Collector Mania | On The Run ]
 
e-book ISBN: 978-0-85766-219-4

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A war is brewing between angels and demons in this twisty, fast-paced, and thoroughly enjoyable urban fantasy debut... Sam is a likable antihero, pleasantly human despite being unquestionably damned, and the politics of Heaven and Hell provide plenty of material for sequels." - Publishers Weekly

"A very promising first novel." - Locus

"With a candid style that exhibits solid confidence and finesse, Chris Holm pulls readers in and pins us to the edge of our seats with a cleverly conceived story that is flawlessly executed." - NY Journal of Books

"Chris Holm’s smooth writing style and rather charming characters (yes, Sam is charming, so there), made Dead Harvest a pleasure for me. 4.5/5 stars." - My Bookish Ways

"Dead Harvest does not feel like a debut. Chris F. Holm's writing is assured and the world building is outstanding... I completely enjoyed reading Dead Harvest with its unlikely anti-hero and world painted in shades of gray. The Collector series is on my must buy list." - The Qwillery

"The first book in The Collector series, is completely fresh and absolutely distracting. You won’t be able to put it down, and you’ll want a stiff drink and a smoke to go with it." - Sacramento Book Review

“...classic mix of deduction, ultra-violence, narrow escapes, shocking revelations, and sudden turns of fortune that make noir such a satisfying genre. Also, possessions, demons, seraphs, and lucky cat statues. Just fantastic enough to be entertaining, but not so unrealistic that it stretches the bounds of credulity.” -Josh, In Order of Importance 

"A great protagonist, powerful bad guys (you have to love Bishop, the bad guy who can be anybody), pacing, tension and some really clever twists (the need for, and effects of, meatsuits is particularly cool) make this one of my favourite books."
-CheffoJeffo

About the Author

Chris Holm was born in Syracuse, New York, the grandson of a cop with a penchant for crime fiction.  It was the year of punk rock and Star Wars, two influences that to this day hold more sway over him than perhaps his wife would like. 
 
His stories have appeared in a slew of publications, including Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine, Beat to a Pulp, and Thuglit.  He has been an Anthony Award nominee, a Derringer Award finalist, and a Spinetingler Award winner. 
 
He lives on the coast of Maine with his wife and a noisy, noisy cat.  When he’s not writing, you can find him on his porch, annoying the neighbours with his guitar.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Angry Robot; Original edition (February 28, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 085766218X
• ISBN-13: 978-0857662187
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #619,512 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Chris F. Holm wrote his first story at the age of six. It got him sent to the principal's office. He'd like to think that right then is when he decided to become a writer. Since then, his work has fared better, appearing in such publications as Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, Needle Magazine, and Thuglit. He's been an Anthony Award nominee, a Derringer Award finalist, and a Spinetingler Award winner, and his novella "The Hitter" was selected for inclusion in THE BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES 2011. His Collector novels, DEAD HARVEST and THE WRONG GOODBYE, recast the battle between heaven and hell as Golden Era crime pulp. You can visit Chris on the web at www.chrisfholm.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic March 5, 2012

By J. Summerell

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I've been wanting to get my hands on a Chris F. Holm novel for a very long time. Holm's short stories in his collection 8 POUNDS 8 Pounds: Eight Tales of Crime, Horror, & Suspense knocked my socks off (and kept me awake at night), and I was looking forward to a tale that I could spend more time in.

DEAD HARVEST was worth the wait.

Holm's pacing in this novel is perfect. The action builds, the peril mounts, there's a tap of the brakes, and then POW. Sam Thornton (The Collector) is an engaging protagonist, and I connected with him easily. Throughout the book I found myself in full-on fret over the fates of the secondary characters, and when I shut the book last night I was completely satisfied with the conclusion. As DEAD HARVEST is the first of a trilogy Holm provides plenty of glimpses into Sam's life prior to his damnation, but he skillfully leaves room for us to learn more in the coming novels.

An excerpt from the second installment in Sam's tale is included at the end of the book, but I didn't read it because I don't want to go crazy waiting for the novel itself.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars File Under: Great writing | Excellent World Building | Intriguing Mystery | Terrific Characters February 28, 2012

By The Qwillery

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Dead Harvest is a noirish urban fantasy with a surprisingly different and likable main character - Sam Thornton. Sam is a Collector. He's part of the careful balance between Heaven and Hell. He gets his orders and off he goes to collect a damned soul and send it off to Hell. You might say he works for the bad guys, but it's not quite that simple. In Dead Harvest, Sam is assigned the job of collecting the soul of a young woman (Kate) who has brutally murdered her family. It should be an easy job. Find her, collect her soul, go on to next job. Unfortunately for Sam, things are not as they seem. He decides something is not right about this collection and decides to figure out what is going on.

Sam is an amazingly likable character despite what he does. Through a series of well placed flashbacks we learn how Sam became a Collector. He did not have an easy life. 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions' could probably be Sam's motto. Which is not to say that he did everything on the up and up when he was alive. Nonetheless, I was on his side. I wanted him to be right and to figure out what was really on. I did not want him to have to collect Kate's soul.

In addition to Sam there is a well fleshed out supporting cast. Kate is terrific even though she's not sure what she did or didn't do. She may actually be guilty. In addition we meet some angels, demons, seemingly crazy people, and Sam's remarkably chilling co-worker, The Bishop, who is out to collect Kate's soul because Sam has not.

Dead Harvest does not feel like a debut. Chris F. Holm's writing is assured and the world building is outstanding. The story is fast-paced with several well-done action scenes. The mystery kept me guessing - did she or didn't she and if she didn't what is really going on?... I completely enjoyed reading Dead Harvest with its unlikely anti-hero and world painted in shades of gray. The Collector series is on my must buy list.

File Under: Great writing | Excellent World Building | Intriguing Mystery | Terrific Characters

I give Dead Harvest 5 Qwills. (Originally posted at The Qwillery) Read more ›

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Dark Fantasy Soul Collector October 13, 2012

By Jeffrey Bowes

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

An interesting novel. The first in the Collector series. The protaganist, Sam Thornton, is a collector of souls, sentenced to this task by hell for mis-deeds in his lifetime. He has no body and normally animates the bodies of the recently dead. He can also possess the bodies of the living, forcing the inhabitants along for the ride. However, their are consequences to doing this for his soul.

The plot of the first book is somewhat predictable. I saw the ending coming from some distance away and it mirror several recent movies. But the main character is interesting and the writing is tight, well-paced, and kept me engaged. I look forward to more in this series.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great writing style December 16, 2012

By Tracey

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really like the concept of this book. It's very Constantine, which I LOVE. The voice in which this author writes is so smart a## and funny and glib. You don't really get close to the other characters because it's all from one point of view and he's alone quite a bit (usually getting his butt kicked) but you find yourself loving him and pulling for him the entire time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very entertaining gonzo deconstruction of urban fantasy December 8, 2012

By Rabbit Hill Manor

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Enjoyed the story and the protagonist. Believable responses to unorthodox events. Basically a real-time chase from start to finish. Jack Kerouac as a reaper.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful way to start a trilogy March 5, 2012

By Elizabeth A. White

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Things haven't shaken out Sam Thornton's way for quite some time. Driven by desperation and good intentions, Sam made a very bad decision many decades ago. And you know what they say about good intentions. Yeah, the road to Hell. Thing is, Sam didn't make it all the way down that road, but got detoured into Purgatory and shanghaied into eternal employment as a soul collector. If your time has come and the powers that be have marked you for damnation, it's Sam's job to remove your soul and send it on its way to hell. It's a rather unpleasant experience for both parties.

Things go from unpleasant to unheard of, however, when Sam is assigned to collect Kate MacNeil's soul. At first blush is seems like a no-brainer since the young woman was caught red-handed, literally, having just butchered her family. Slaughter three people, go to Hell. Makes sense. So imagine Sam's surprise when upon attempting to collect Kate's soul he's met with an outpouring of purity so overwhelming he's convinced she didn't commit the crime; she's been improperly marked for damnation. However, one does not simply refuse to collect the assigned soul. It's never happened in the history of, well, ever. Failure to collect Kate's soul is sure to seriously piss off the denizens of Hell who've claimed it. On the other hand, improperly sending a pure soul to Hell for damnation could touch off a war with Heaven.

Unwilling to concede there's nothing that can be done about the situation, Sam takes Kate on the run until he can figure out a way to appease the demons without enraging the angels. Of course Sam and Kate also have to stay one step ahead of the humans who are after them.... You know, the police who are convinced Sam helped a cold-blooded murderess escape from the psychiatric until of the hospital where she was under police guard. Oh, and there's also the little matter of a replacement collector - a sort of spiritual relief pitcher - who's been sent to get done what Sam has refused to do. If he can pull it off, Sam will have saved an innocent soul and done something no collector ever has. If he fails, well, it probably means an all out war between Heaven and Hell and global Armageddon for humanity. Either way, Sam's about to make history.

Those who've read author Chris Holm's accomplished work in the short story format are well-aware of how talented a writer the man is. He's been an Anthony Award nominee, a Derringer Award finalist, and his collection, 8 Pounds, made numerous best of the year lists, including mine. And despite all that, I was still completely blown away by the tour de force that is Dead Harvest. In the hands of a less skilled author an attempt to mesh as many different genres as are represented in Dead Harvest would undoubtedly have ended up a jumbled, rudderless mess. Not so here. No, Holm takes a pinch of fantasy, a little supernatural, a dash of hardboiled crime fiction, and blends them into a pitch-perfect adventure in a way that is nothing short of authorial alchemy.

While undoubtedly burned-out, jaded, and world-weary - not to mention damned - Sam also somehow manages to still recognize and appreciate the goodness left in humanity, and feels obligated to find a way to keep them from becoming collateral damage in a war not of their making and over which they have no control. He's also just damn stubborn, and tired of being Purgatory's mindless errand boy, which makes him a great underdog to root for. Similarly, Kate is not just some helpless human caught up in events but demands, much to Sam's frustration, to take an active role in helping Sam find a solution. Along the way they encounter an array of angels, demons, and oddities whose motives and allegiances they must continually question if they're going to get through this mess with their souls intact.

Yes, in Dead Harvest Holm has created a character and reality that are amazingly engaging and ripe for additional exploration, which is why it's so exciting to know there are two sequels yet to come. And they can't get here soon enough to suit me. Read more ›