Customer Reviews

Hiram Grange and the Village of the Damned: The Scandalous Misadventures of Hiram Grange

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Shroud Publishing comes out strong with author Jake Burrow's `The Village of the Damned'. I found this novella to be a fast pace read, stepped in dark humor with the out horror of the walking dead ,smarty twisted with old world lore.

Burrow's has creatively introduced Hiram Grange, with all his hang-ups, as a character that'll stand proudly among the anti-heroes of literature.

I can't wait for more...

It's difficult to describe Grange--he's a character you really have to experience for yourself. I know one thing: SHROUD and Burrows have created something uniquely original, wholly involving, darkly funny and shocking. A must read. I loved it, and I can't wait to see where Hiram Grange goes next.

When I find a new series of books that grabs me I revert to an 11 year old. The anticipation of the next arrival is like waiting for Christmas all over again - and this is what I'm now facing. The first, The Village of the Damned, is a fast read not because of the size of the book but because I couldn't put it down. I didn't want to put it down. I was driven to finish it at quickly as possible. And then... I eagerly await the next.
The prospect of different authors telling the tale of this fascinating creature is beyond compelling. What new details are created in each author's mind and how will he develop in each story?
I can't wait to find out!

This highly anticipated debut does not disappoint. The concept of having a different writer for each Hiram novella is very cool. This introduction to one of the most damaged heros ever to grace a page is a fast and pleasurable read. It should however come with a warning label, since I am now addicted and found out there is no 12 step program to get me to kick Hiram.

Welcome to the world of Hiram Grange! He's the man you'll love to hate and hate to love. Hiram Grange is a man of one. With his trusty Webley, his admiration for The Green Fairy, his tasty addiction to opium, and his love for Jodie Foster not only will you be mesmerized by Hiram's charm and character, but you'll be entranced by the fast pace and smooth narrative of Jake Burrows' mind-blowing trip. "Hiram Grange and the Village of the Damned" is a trip well worth taking!

The talented Jake Burrows and the Shroud crew have developed in Hiram Grange a character so deep, so carnal and flawed, that one can't help but become involved as he dances with the dark.

Fast-paced and packed cover-to-cover with an abundance of dark comedy, Hiram Grange is the perfect blend of pulpy goodness and horror.

The supporting cast is memorable and singular. The situations are just over-the-top enough to keep you smiling as you turn the pages without making you roll your eyes. And Hiram himself is such a well-crafted character (quirks and all) that you don't want the book to end.

I usually find it hard to involve myself with a series run based on a singular character, but if "Hiram Grange and the Village of the Damned" is any indication as to the quality of the following books in the series then sign me up...I'm officially hooked!

The Village of the Damned was quite an adventurous read. I liked the fresh unpredictability it had and it never became boring or slow. In an environment of remakes and rehashed old ideas that are growing boring. The Village of the Damned is a damned good read! The main character Hiram Grange is captivating and odd, Jake Burrows is a very creative author. Reading it was like going on a fun and unpredictable carnival ride!

I approached Shroud Publishing's new book series with both excitement and trepidation. I usually don't count myself a fan of single character episodic fiction, and add to that that Hiram appeared at first glance to fit into the paranormal mystery subgenre and I was a bit leery.

I'm very glad that I gave this series a chance and picked up the just-released first book Hiram Grange & The Village of the Damned by Jake Burrows because boy were my fears unfounded.

Hiram is a fun pulp hero who is both modern-day scumbag and throw-back scoundrel. Grange has the body of Ichabod Crane, the mind and wit of Marlowe (not to mention Hiram's mind has sustained even more alcohol damage), carries an antique six shooter (which only holds five rounds, for sentimental reasons) and favors the substance abuse of a Victorian era Dandy.

With Village Burrows is charged with a difficult task: creating a first adventure that is not bogged down by too much exposition. In this respect the book is a resounding success as Burrows does not opt to go with the boring "origin story" structure. He instead introduces Hiram as already fully formed and established and proceeds to introduce some critical character development in the form of flashbacks. Glimpses at Hiram's parents and past tragedies tell the reader just enough to intrigue but not enough to bore.

All Burrow's hard work in establishing our hero would be for naught if the supporting cast wasn't up to the task, but luckily Hiram's rouges gallery is. The "big bad" for this novel is a reanimated, sledgehammer-wielding Church lady carrying out (with the aid of her husband's collection of possessed lawn gnomes) a supernatural vendetta against her neighbors. The delightfully over-the-top kills are based on the biblical plagues and are both disgusting and funny (which, like the divide between serious and comedic, is a line the book toes well throughout) .

The only real problem with the book is how quickly it's all over. The reader will flip to the last page and be tantalized with a list of further adventures but none of them are out yet. The end of the book hints at a larger mythology and (possibly?) an arch-nemesis for Hiram. One can't help but wait with baited breath, but still harbor the fear/hope that subsequent authors (each of the five planned books has a different author) will be up to the task of preserving Hiram's unique voice while not completely parroting Burrow's style.

Also worthy of mention are the fantastic illustrations provided by Malcolm McClinton and Shroud's own Danny Evarts. They add subtle extra flavor to the text and are used sparingly enough that they don't turn it into a picture book.

Both the time and financial commitment are minimal so what do you have to lose? Hiram's first case is a bizarre, grief-stricken, slime-oozing, Jodie-Foster-obsessed, gnome-smashing, absinthe-soaked, funny and thrilling ride. I highly encourage you to pick up a copy.

Original, stunning, thrilling, fun . . . there are not enough adjectives in English language to describe how brilliant this novella truly is. I'm glad this is just the first of many Hiram Grange adventures. Hiram is one of the most disturbing, fun, quirky, and darkly humorous characters in literature. I had a wonderful time reading this book and I can't recommend it enough.

Shroud Publishing is proving to be one of the best in the business. I've never been disappointed by one of their titles.

Meet Hiram Grange. He's got a number of addictions, a tragic past, and a rather unhealthy attraction to Jodie Foster. He's also got a Webley MK VI Revolver and an important job to do, so stay out of his way, will you?

In the first of five novellas in The Scandalous Misadventures of Hiram Grange series, readers are introduced to the aforementioned Hiram and his fellow misfits as they uncover a terrible secret in the quiet village of Great Bay, New Hampshire. Because Great Bay is one of twelve "major confluences" which house a great amount of supernatural energy, Hiram is sent to investigate, and comes across a plot to destroy the entire village (and possibly the world). The fate of Great Bay ultimately rests in the hands of an opium-addicted, absinthe-drinking misanthrope. So much for playing the odds.

Shroud Publishing's first foray into the world of Hiram Grange is an exciting and pulp-filled thrill ride, with an interesting cast of characters and an almost comically disturbing story. Burrows manages to take an unlikely hero and pit him against impossible odds, all the while laying the foundation for future entires in the series; he also never ceases to keep the adrenaline (and the gross factor) pumping constantly, setting the stage for what hopes to be a great series. Fans of horror and/or pulp will find a great friend in Hiram Grange.