Rating: 
Summary: Very Enjoyable book.
Review: I'm not sure how I even got this book - I think maybe it was with some other ones I found at a yard sale. I liked Schenk's writing style and story line so much that as soon as I was finished with his book, I checked Ebay to see what else he had written. I was disappointed to find none.
Rating:
Summary: It's a cliche but...."Didn't want to put it down"
Review: If you are wondering how I read this so early before it was published, it's because Martin is my brother. But, honestly, I would not say I liked this book and wouldn't even want to show my face if it was bad, especially since I've been bragging about it for months. Martin has a sixth sense that I have been extremely jealous of, and wanting to obtain all my life. He can spot greediness and dishonesty a mile away, but he has always had a soft spot for the forgotten and the misfits in the world. This story has two people that seem to be forgotten by their town. They were once extremely popular in high school, but when the husband decides to try and make a living from farming organic vegetables and fails, they can't seem to get a break. When they eventually lose their home, the wife comes up with a "Baby Jessica" type scheme, only in this case, it's not an accident, and instead of a girl, they would use their son.The problems start when their daughter mistakenly becomes the victim of their plot. So as not to ruin the story, I will not go further into the particulars, but I will tell you that the characters are so well developed you feel you know them. His descriptions of time and place are so precise at times, I felt as if I was watching the story unfold in front of me. Quite honestly, I continue to be amazed at my own brothers talent.The dialogue is believable and the language is easy to follow, and I can see now why people are already comparing him to Stephen King. The story grabs you and holds you. You become angry, sad, scared, disgusted, and you like it. You want more, and you are mad when the book is done. This is the first story of his that I have read, and I am thoroughly impressed. Even if he wasn't my brother I would say the same thing -- Martin, write more books that are just as or more interesting than this one!
Rating:
Summary: When is his next book coming out?
Review: Loved "A Small Dark Place". Just checked to see if Martin Schenk has any more books I can buy and ended up here. Found my comments from a year and a half ago but no new book. Now that Stephen King is all busted up, I hope Schenk has another one coming soon! From your "number-one fan" ("Misery" reference).
Rating: 
Summary: Combines social element with schlock
Review: Martin Schenk captures the total essence of his characters' greed and capitalistic tendancies with this book. While baby Andromeda suffers in the dark hole, city council members are debating whether to spend the necessary money to rescue her. Others are plotting ways to benefit financially. In the end, the town becomes a tourist trap, complete with a museum recreating her tragedy. The first half of the book sets the stage and is well written. I found Martin to be a bit editorializing at points and seemed to be trying too hard to stereotype some of his characters' actions. But there are also moments of pure, crisp writing that makes the reader really think. The second half shifts to 15 years after Andromeda is rescued and reads like Stephen King's Needful Things. Quick, schlocky and gross at times. But it is fun. There really isn't one character the reader can like when the book is over, but so the case with humanity, I guess. I will definitely pick up any more books writtten by Martin Schenk. I think he will develop quite a following.
Rating:
Summary: Good enough to keep me off my computer for 2 days!
Review: The narrative flows smoothly, the characters are interesting, and, for a change, you can see how people can manipulate the media, rather than the media manipulating the situation! But you will keep thinking about baby Jessica, throughout the 1st part of the novel! OK, so it's your basic good vs. evil, but it's more like The Bad Seed than anything by Master King.
Rating:
Summary: Good enough to keep me off my computer for 2 days!
Review: The narrative flows smoothly, the characters are interesting, and, for a change, you can see how people can manipulate the media, rather than the media manipulating the situation! But you will keep thinking about baby Jessica, throughout the 1st part of the novel! OK, so it's your basic good vs. evil, but it's more like The Bad Seed than anything by Master King.
Rating: 
Summary: started off good, then a disappointment.
Review: What happened with this book. It almost seemed as though the first half and the second half were written by two separate authors. The writing started off crisp and thrilling, then disintigrated into cardboard characters, silly happenings and a totally ridiculous ending. What, no one else in this little town (except for Andie's brother) noticed that people were suddenly dying at an unexpected rate? And the editing was sloppy, which was a surprise considering this came from a major publishing house. At one point Andie laments the fact that she "can't lift one eyebrow at a time", and later she "arches an eyebrow"; then Velocover is capitalized at the first mentioning and not capitalized at the second. In all, this was a disappointment, and by the time I was finished I was wondering why I'd bothered.
Rating:
Summary: started off good, then a disappointment.
Review: What happened with this book. It almost seemed as though the first half and the second half were written by two separate authors. The writing started off crisp and thrilling, then disintigrated into cardboard characters, silly happenings and a totally ridiculous ending. What, no one else in this little town (except for Andie's brother) noticed that people were suddenly dying at an unexpected rate? And the editing was sloppy, which was a surprise considering this came from a major publishing house. At one point Andie laments the fact that she "can't lift one eyebrow at a time", and later she "arches an eyebrow"; then Velocover is capitalized at the first mentioning and not capitalized at the second. In all, this was a disappointment, and by the time I was finished I was wondering why I'd bothered.
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