The Traveler and The Chicken Man

Quality read if at times a little long in the tooth, The Traveler And The Chicken Man is a story of a small holiday town in the grips of a terrible event, along with all the old ghosts and new revelations that stir up in its wake. Front and center of the haunting is reformed convict Jack Ross, proprietor of a road/lakeside burger shack preparing for the summer rush amid a deteriorating situation with his parents, some conflicting love interests, and a cadre of a powerful family who just aren't willing to forgive and move on from what happened in the past. When several murders begin happening in town, it seems that Jack may be responsible, or may be a target, depending on just who you ask. At times, it is funny, especially when dealing with Jack's luck, or lack thereof, in dealing with his love life, a real comedy of errors, especially facing these situations in front of his over exuberant teenage employee, or the endless jockeying between law enforcement agencies. At others, it is rather dark, while not being overly grisly, the fate of some of the victims is disturbing to read, especially as it is told from their perspective.

Some of it is predictable, though that isn't really a sin or something to hold against the book, and some of it is an odd choice, a personal opinion regarding a plot development in the last fifth of the book or so, but regardless, the author does an outstanding job of setting up the pins and knocking them down. Ultimately it was an enjoyable book, and more than that, when I was stepping away I still found myself thinking about what I had read in it; chapters, decisions, possibilities. I think that makes it better than any perceived flaws it might have, I'll remember reading this and specific parts of it for a long time. I'd recommend it!