Near Death by Richard Wall – Book Review
Near Death by Richard Wall – Book Review
Near Death
Author – Richard Wall
Publisher – Burning Chair Publishing
Pages – 358
Release Date – 26th October 2020
ISBN 13 – 978-1912946129
Format – ebook, paperback
Rating – 4 Stars
I received a free copy of this book.
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Synopsis
“See you on the other side, Preacher Man.”
These are the last words of Joseph Hickey, a psychopath executed at Sing Sing prison for the murder of the Howell family in New York State.
After giving the last rites and watching Hickey die, troubled prison chaplain John Henry Beauregard quits his job to start a new life in the Appalachian Mountains.
Hickey’s death should have been the end of the nightmare, but then another family is murdered in identical circumstances, and John Henry is called back to New York to give the last rites to the killer.
As the killings continue, John Henry is drawn into a mystery with devastating consequences.
Is it possible to commit murder from beyond the grave?
Can John Henry stop the endless cycle of torment and solve the mystery before it is too late?
Review by Nia
This is a gritty and atmospheric story, following the journey of a priest struggling with his faith and an unredeemable killer who has the ability to return from the dead and continue killing.
John Henry Beauregard is a priest who served in Korea and still carries the mental scars of the scenes he witnessed there. Having to deal with a particularly malevolent murderer on death row picks at those particular scabs and after witnessing the execution of Joseph Hickey, he decides that he needs to make some changes in his life.
Of course, nothing’s that simple and as soon as he’s started to get his life on course, he’s called back to duty when another murder takes place and the killer asks for him by name. After that, it’s an investigation as to how this could be possible and how to stop a killer who won’t stay dead.
Set in the 1960s, this book also includes some insight into the racial relations at the time within New York and the Southern states which are not pretty. This snapshot of history, alongside the lasting trauma of the wars at the time, helps build the story into something you can really get your teeth into. It’s not just Hickey that’s inflicting evil on the world.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book, though the clichés are pretty heavy on the ground, but Vinnie the lawyer is my absolute favourite. A lawyer with an absolutely foul mouth and no respect for authority, who relies on his skills to get what he wants rather than other people treating him fairly, he’s just brilliant.
I did have some issues with the multiple POV chapters, I did find it confusing at times to work out what was going on as facts were being deliberately withheld until later in the story which I find frustrating, but everything did become clear at the end.
This book is pretty graphic when it comes to scenes of brutal murder and execution, right down to the boiling eyeballs. Personally, I’m all for that but it’s worth going in prepared!
The story follows a reasonably predictable path but the characters and the step back in time is what makes it stand apart from similar stories – well worth a read.
Purchase Online From:
Born in England in the 1960s, Richard Wall grew up in a small market town in rural Herefordshire before joining the Royal Navy. After 22 years in the submarine service and having travelled extensively, he now lives and write in rural Worcestershire.
Richard’s stories reflect his life-long fascination with the dark underbelly of American culture; be it tales of the Wild West, the simmering menace of the Deep South, the poetry of Charles Bukowski, or Langston Hughes, the writing of Andrew Vachss and John Steinbeck, or the music of Charley Patton, Son House, Johnny Cash, or Tom Waits.
I’m definitely intrigued by Near Death but I’m not a fan of books that jump around too much so not it would be the right book for me.
Not sure such a graphic book is right for me but great review! A killer who has the ability to come back from the dead is definitely not a story I’ve heard before 🙂
I don’t know if I’ve got the stomach for this one, I’m rather wimpy when things get gruesome. You are tougher than I am.
I’m intrigued by Near Death. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Jo. I feel these types of books have a certain market for them. Not everyone enjoys horror books.
Thanks Megan. I presume horror books aren’t for you given that they are often graphic.
HAHA, I know you and what you can handle. I don’t think this book is for you either.
Thanks Kate. Good to hear that you are intrigued. Let me know if you read it and your thoughts.