King of Nod: Some Things Never Die

by: Scott Fad

Published by: Hooded Friar Press

Reviewed by Julina K. Mills

For 20 years, Boo Taylor has removed himself from his hometown, hiding himself amid the business of city life and staying as far away as he can from the haunted memories of his childhood. But when his father dies, Boo finds himself back on Sweetpatch Island with his mother, his now-grown childhood friends, the love of his life, and the ghosts from his past.

Author Scott Fad has created a rich tapestry of culture and characters in King of Nod. The characters are believable, easily distinguishable, and each has his own distinctive personality and traits. From the main character, Robert “Boo” Taylor, with his strong leadership abilities and consistent bravery, to Henry Ray Dutton, the criminal son of a poor white family, each individual in King of Nod stands out with vibrant if not always desirable qualities.

Set in the deep South during times of segregation and racism, Fad has found the perfect backdrop for his ghostly plot which includes a widow’s spirit seeking revenge on the descendants of those who performed her husband’s lynching centuries earlier.

Although I found the story a bit difficult to become absorbed in at first, after a couple of chapters I could barely put the book down! The storyline jumps backward and forward through time, giving glimpses of Boo’s childhood and the present day. I found this to be a bit overdone and sometimes hard to follow, yet I could see where the author was trying to make connections and reflect past experiences upon present-day events.

I also felt that sexuality and adult scenarios played a too-strong role in the book and that the story would have been just as rich without them.

In all, I felt that King of Nod was a fascinating book filled with frightening twists and amazingly vivid imagery.

Armchair Interviews agrees. This fiction is a good mix of Thriller, Ghost Story, and Southern Gothic.

Author’s Web site: http://www.KingofNod.com