BOOK #4

A few pages into Mr. Bayard's 2009 release The Black Tower, I decided not only was he my new favorite author but my new BFF as well. Well, the BFF part is only in my head but he is INDEED my new favorite author.

Mr. Timothy is his 2004 release and while not AS enchanting as The Black Tower, it was still a great story. Basically, he picks up Tim Cratchit (or Tiny Tim as we all know him) and deposits him into the underbelly of London in 1860. Tim is struggling to 'find himself' after losing his parents and his siblings are lost to him- emotionally and physically. He gets involved in murders and kidnappings on a ride not to be expected of such a beloved character. Mr. Bayard's perfect English prose in this book takes a while to get used to but after a few pages the rhythm catches on and you get sucked into the story.

By turns, it is funny and sad, sadistic and sweet and as with The Black Tower, Bayard proves to be a master at big surprises. I swore at Bayard when he killed off a great character but I suppose it made sense. I still cried though.

My next book is another Bayard release, The Pale Blue Eye and I'm eager for another good round of well-written words.



P.S. I reached out and sent Bayard an email to tell him that he was my new BFF and author and since then we've exchanged some funny emails. Funny, smart, hip guy.