The Gospel According to Johnny Bender

This book took various twists and turns keeping me from figuring out the ending in a manner that was highly entertaining. There were some areas of the book I needed to reread because for some reason I missed key information the first time I read the pages, but that could just have been I was trying to see something there that wasn't and didn't recognize the facts being given to me were important.

Overall it was an interesting read that should be read by anyone that loves this genre of books.

"Bad things happen in good stories though, don’t they Blackbird.”

One for the reader who wants something unusual and off the popular shelves.

This was strange and a bit more edgy than my usual read. I hate rating it because it seems to be a unique genre in it’s own right. Luckily on my blog I don’t have to worry about star ratings! This story is like being drunk itself. I had moments where I had to go back and read again just to keep my head straight. It is dark and who do we, the reader, trust in this story set in the village Endendale as it is having another carnival decades after the first in 1979? “Remembering is like pretending…” as pieces of a puzzle past to present come together, the telling is eerie and strange. Some people do seem to be stuck in time here, from what terrible thing happened in 79. And just what happened is shocking and a slow reveal. So much happened. Some of the people are terrible, and are they worse than Johnny Bender? You have to read to find out. Read to know what happened to the young drowned girl. Wrong choices, mistakes, meanness, confusion, cracked skulls. I will never look at carnival gold fish the same again. This is perfect for those that love indie fiction, a stray from the mainstream formula. There will be some people that can’t follow it because of the all the conversations with ‘blackbird’. You have to sink into the unique style and flow down that river with the dead as the party goers dance oblivious to how time stopped for one. Disturbing.

Urbane Publications

Publication Date: July 7, 2016

Flitting through time to an awesome 70's soundtrack, the stories and people weave together to tell the truth about what happened to Rose in 1979. We are taken through it all by Johnny Bender, seeing what needs to be seen and shown the secrets and lies of the town.

Although a little strange at times, this is a well written story with nicely developed characters and an East Midlands setting, which I enjoy as I can understand everything they say, what with being from Nottingham and all.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, 2 thumbs up!

A great read if alittle confusing at times with the jumping in timeline and characters But enjoyed it