Customer Reviews

Stray

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

 

 

Lee Allen Howard opens "Stray" in the seedy underbelly of a dark Pittsburgh gay bar and proves that some gay life may not be that far removed from dark back rooms, furtive glances and blind alley sex. But "Stray" is no mere hookup tale. In fact, it tells the story of a young man's quest for escape which tangles him in a sick and twisted love affair for which he becomes an unknowing player. His escape from his life may become an escape for his life.

"Stray" quickens the pulse and may give you pause the next time you think to strike up a conversation with a tall, dark stranger in a dimly lit bar.

Lee Allen Howard is an imaginative writer with slick, vivid prose and high octane pacing. I love what I've read of his, and plan to get more of his work soon. He writes like no one else, and I mean this in a very good way. He is doing his thing, and I happen to find that thing very, very good.

"Stray" is a fantastic story. He sums up his characters quickly and beautifully and the surreal ending works so well that I had no problem whatsoever believing it was happening. A bit disturbed, but the way he pulled it off, I 100% believed the unbelievable. And the very end is the type of ending I always love. It's the kind of ending that gets a writer into my literary pants, so to speak.

Excellent job, Mr. Howard. You got me hooked. I highly recommend "Stray."

When your father abuses you, what's a young man to do? Tad takes a
chance at a new life when he runs away to the big city, but things go
from bad to worse when his connection turns him away. He lucks into
finding a generous man who takes in strays. But there's a price to pay,
and turning a trick is the least of his problems. Lee Allen Howard's
writing is clean, and he notches up the tension while sketching an
eerie atmosphere. A disturbing read.

When purchasing kindle books I don't go for anything less than 400kb. This was listed as being over 700 so I thought I was getting a novel. (Looking afterwards I see that it is listed at 13 pages, so my fault there). Even so I don't know how it could be advertised as 700kb. That being said...

While I may not be a fan of short stories I do read them on occasion and enjoy them. This was not a very good short story. I can't go into depth without giving away spoilers but I was left not quite understanding what was going on.