Customer Reviews

Pork Pie Hat (Criminal Records Series)

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

 

 

After seeing this book advertised and finding out that I already had it in my copy of the anthology, October Dreams, I read it right away. Ironically (after the last poster's comment) on Christmas weekend. I don't want to give away too much of the story, but I will say that the tension and horror in a little boy's mind seems quite realistically done. I lean towards supernatural horror tales, but this book is an artful reminder that the worst horrors happen, both in our minds, and at the hands of men. If you don't have a jazz CD to put on in the background as you sink into the dark story, you will hear the music in your head.

This little book was a quick read. Peter Straub's style of writing makes whatever story he is telling move right along (even if it's as convoluted and confusing as Dark Matter).

I can't really talk about this book without giving away the story. All I can say is read carefully. I can mention that you will feel like you are there at the club listening to Hat perform. You will also feel like you are right there with Hat and his friend on that fateful Halloween night so many years ago.

For a white guy from Wisconsin Straub paints a convincing picture of the life black people had in Mississippi back during segregation. I suppose that is to be expected from such an artful storyteller.

Get this little book now and read it before Halloween for maximum effect. You will spend an pleasant evening though with it even if you read it in December.

Racial line-crossing in Jim Crow Mississippi? This slight tale has it. Scared little kid, with very little to do with the cat on the cover? Check. Some fairly good paragraphs about jazz. Sure. Overall, though, there's not much here.