Customer Reviews

Wild Horses

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

 

 

Hodge has been a favorite of mine for a year or so--ever since I got hold of some of his "horror" novels (The Darker Saints, Prototype, and Nightlife). But here, with a character-driven "crime" book, he goes even beyond the storytelling talent he displayed in those books. Allison is one of the most endearing and sympathetic female characters to come along in a while. I couldn't put the book down because I was rooting for her so hard. The most interesting thing, however, is the way that Hodge makes all of the other characters--Boyd Dobbins (aka Peter Wackermann), Gunther, and even Madeline--sympathetic, even though they are devious, deviant, slimy folks. Hodge likes both saints and sinners. There's something to like about these people beyond their "bad guy" personas. All of Hodge's characters--Doug Powell, Krystal, Thomas St. John--are so real, so vivid, that this book puts him at the top of the "crime" list with Elmore Leonard and "Big" Jim Thompson. But it's more than a crime novel, it's a novel about life, gambling, a big sum of money, Crystal Drano, and just moving on.

This book has the wonderful, excellently-crafted combination of humor, thrills, adventure, and pure chills that I love in a good read! Fast-paced and exciting, I'd recommend this book highly to anyone wanting a rollercoaster ride as opposed to a stroll in the park.

It's so good, I just want to be a missionary for this book. One is somewhat intimidated by the in-depth comments/reviews by other customers for this book, but one doesn't want to let that get in the way. Fact is, no matter how poorly or well I say it, this is still a registry of positive response for the novel that has touched me in all the right places, a humorous thriller with delight and death playing next door neighbors. I'm now read 56% of Brian Hodge's novels, and 100% of his short story collections - the man is a certifiable genius storyteller, so well does he spin a tale that we simply don't want to stop reading. Most hightest recommendation.

Brian Hodge, Wild Horses (Morrow, 1999)

Brian Hodge spent the early half of the nineties being one of the most weirdly original writers of horror fiction of our time. (Impossible to travel through, say Nightlife without saying "where does he GET this stuff?" at least once. Trust me.) So when this-a mainstream (gasp) novel that, from the description, sounds equally reminiscent of John Ridley's Stray Dogs and Doug Winter's Run-hit the shelves, I was a bit leery of it. I have watched other horror authors attempt this transformation and fail miserably. (Exceptions are to be made for such authors as Kathe Koja and Lucius Shepard, who were writing literature to begin with.)

Hodge does the job, and he does it well. His main character is day-care worker Allison Willoughby, who finds out her boyfriend, Boyd, is cheating on her. After a confrontation with Boyd and the ex-showgirl lover, Allison gets ready to move out. Before she does, she cleans out Boyd's laptop. What Allison doesn't know is that one of the things she erased was a file with the information necessary to get seven hundred thousand dollars stored in an offshore account which Boyd and the lover have been skimming from the casino in which Boyd is a dealer. Allison's headed back to her childhood home to settle some old ghosts, blissfully unaware that both Boyd and his new girlfriend, and the lover and her sadistic husband, are after her.

As far as the wonderful world of the crime/suspense thriller goes, if you're looking for a quick way to turn your brain off, get a few good one-liners, and have yourself a merry old time, you need look no further than Wild Horses. Fast-paced, straightforward, sharp, and funny, there is a good deal here to be enjoyed. A few folks who are unfamiliar with Hodge's earlier work in the horror genre might find themselves wincing a time or two at some of his more loving descriptions of damage caused by various characters, but overall you shouldn't have a problem with it. (Just keep reading. He'll stop after a paragraph or so. Honest.)

My only real problem with the book is that every once in a while a two-dimensional character pops up whose sole purpose in the novel is to advance the plot. But they are few, and while they're not far between they disappear pretty quickly once you're into the second half. (Again, keep reading. He'll stop after a chapter or so.) It's certainly not enough to keep you from picking it up if you're looking for a good, action-packed thriller. Fans of Winter and Ridley will definitely want to give this one a look. *** ½

I like this book for the simple reason that it has solid female characters--something that is missing in most crime/noir/adventure novels. Hodge, for a male (unless it's a pseudonym for a sister), has a nice grasp of the female psyche: period. The women in this book are not cliched--in fact, it is a character-driven story because, actually, the plot is pretty lame: $750,000 up for grabs! Oh, my! Seriously, the story is simple but Allison and Krystal were characters I could feel for. They are flawed, yes, but we all are in some way, and that's why I liked them. The men in the book are all pigs, and actually kind of thinly drawn. Except Thomas St. John--he's worse than thinly drawn, he's just too sappy and unbelievable. His appearance in the novel almost killed things. Allison didn't need him; she's strong enough on her own. Overall, a good read--I just wish these great female characters had been doing something more interesting.

This is my first time reading Brian Hodge and I will be definitely be looking for more of his books. I found Wild Horses to be a fast paced, exciting book with some really memorable characters. Even if some of them did stray from the usual likable types, I found them interesting and human despite some of their deeds.Wild Horses caught my interest from the first page and didn't disappoint in the end.

I have put Mr. Hodge on my Buy List and will do so with his next book, sight-unseen.

I can't say enough good things about this book! Action, humor, deeply affecting characters... I found myself identifying with multiple characters, some at odds with each other... It was just such great fun to read, with the fun being balanced with the occasional shock or gut punch that keeps it from being too light. Just like life, there's a little of everything here.

This is the first "Brian Hodges'" book I have read.He is on my must read list now! I Read Wild horses in one night! It moved along smoothly and kept everyone involved at all times. so you didn't have to stop and think "where is so and so". It involved everyday people, you don't need a degree to figure them out! Sure everyday people don't run across the country shooting people, but you can understand why they did it. this book offered a little bit of everything.. crime.. mystery..sex..love..and caring..life. If you enjoy Authors such as Jonathan Kellerman, you will enjoy Brian Hodge!

WILD HORSES is unlike anything Brian Hodge has written before; a comedy with his most well-developed characters inside a landscape of Las Vegas and The South. Beautifully written, razor-sharp dialogue, one-liners and even some of that Good Tome Hodge philosphical leanings and you have a book that will hit you on a multitude of levels; at once making you cry, laugh, squirm and, most importantly, think and care for these people...at least some of them. WILD HORSES is a winner and, with any justice, will make Brian Hodge a household name and bestseller. Those interested in the free Brian Hodge newsletter, AS ABOVE, SO BELOW email me at Hodgeite@aol.com Paul

This novel works on so many levels. Fascinating characters, with quirks that make them unique and real, not cutouts from some thriller outline. Unexpected plot twists. A mix of humor and violence that fans of Tarantino's films would be sure to enjoy. My recommendation is, if you don't want to spring for the price of the hardback (even at 30% off), wait for the paperback, but you really ought to READ THIS BOOK. You won't be sorry!