Ninetoes vs AN HOUR BEFORE DARK

Ninetoes reads his first Larry Hinkle, the collection AN HOUR BEFORE DARK, not knowing that Blog Manager Tom almost got Larry killed one night…because we don’t talk about that anymore.

TITLE: An Hour Before Dark

AUTHOR: Larry Hinkle

GENRE: Science Fiction/Horror

PAGES: 188

FORMAT: Ebook

PRICE: $3.99

Hey there, book lovers! It’s your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes Loves Books Headquarters. Today, I am looking at Larry Hinkle’s An Hour Before Dark. I have coffee in my system and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

Larry Hinkle is referred to as “the least famous author you have never heard of”. It says so on his Amazon page…

…that needs to change right now! Hang around, and you will see why.

An Hour Before Dark is a book of nine short stories. When I got it, I was not certain of what I was in for. A grotesque white creature with no eyes and shark’s teeth on the cover gave me an idea, and I was prepared for what was to come. As it turns out, I was not prepared. Not. At. All.

The first story, “You Are Now Free To Move About,” is about a man who has a debilitating fear of flying, and after some therapy, takes his final exam of sorts by boarding a plane for a two-hour business trip. Since this is an anthology of horror/science fiction, as you can imagine, things go sideways really fast.

Now, you would think you know what you are in for. The tone is set. Trust me, you have no idea.

As each story progresses, you notice small things in common, like those from a story or two before. Things like that damned plane. About midway through the book, it hit me that every one of these stories is connected in some small way. Then you get hit with the glue of these stories in the one titled “What The President Knew.” (My personal favorite story of the group, and the longest one.) And this is the story in the middle of the anthology. So there is more. Oh yes, dear reader, there is MORE.

Now, I am of the mind that each author is a sorcerer, or a magician, and they weave their spells in the words they write. That has always been my stance for the past 55 years. Some authors weave a minor spell, and you move on. Others weave a major, earth-shattering, senses-sharpening spell that leaves you breathless and begging for more. Well, Mr. Hinkle, I am here begging, and I rarely do that. Larry Hinkle is the kind of wizard that makes Gandalf look like Pee Wee Herman. Yeah, I said it.

I encourage anyone reading this to get their hands on a copy of this book. It is the third in the series of anthologies that deal with “The Trail”. The other two books are: The Space Between and The Eris Ridge Trail. I have not yet read the other two books, so I can say that it really is not necessary to read them in order.

Would I recommend this book to my friends? Hell yes!

Will I get the other two books in the series? Hell Yes!

Is this book worth the money? Hell Yes!

This book is perfect for fans of the television shows The X-Files, Fringe, and Fringe as well as anyone who likes an interdimensional tale, sharp writing, and a great experience.

I give this book 5 enthusiastic bookmarks out of 5!

Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing. Thank you for understanding.