Rating: 
Summary: This is so freaking good, I'm nearly at a loss for words!
Review: A private investigator novel at it's heart, this fabulous book crosses over into so many other genres, in such entertaining, insightful, creative, clever, and wickedly witty ways, I was having cerebral orgasms as I whipped through the pages, breathlessly awaiting the next fabulous development, which is rarely more than a page or two away. When this much fun is packed into so tight a package, there should be a warning label about the potential for the volatile mixture to explode in your brain, a situation which could lead to a permanent, one-way trip to a multi-faceted-consciousness that will never let you see the world in the tired old way in which you're accustomed to seeing it, again. If you don't want to risk this kind of mind-expanding literary experience, you're browsing in the wrong isle. But give it a try, anyway, no one has ever been sorry to take a path like this before, and you can believe me, because I never lie, and I'm always right. No brag, just fact.
Rating:
Summary: The New Lawrence Block
Review: Although I read primarily Horror for my book reviews in the Small Press, I always mean to get more Mystery, Thriller, Sci-Fi and Humor reading done -- and I have, all in a single book: THE LICKING VALLEY COON HUNTERS CLUB.If you're a fan of ANY genre, you won't be disappointed -- this book is a gem, and it has something for everyone. I haven't seen a character with such a smart mouth and big heart as Hopkins's Martin Zolotow since I began reading Lawrence Block's Bernie Rhodenbarr character in his "Burglar" series. If you're at all acquainted with those, DEFINITELY get this book. It'll make a great addition to your collection, and give you a whole new character to cheer for! Zolo began life in a series of stories Hopkins co-wrote with another great author, David Niall Wilson (these stories would be well worth the search through the Small Press to find!), and I only hope he continues to live on and on through the pen (computer) of Hopkins! The Horror is in no way heavy-handed (for all who may be squeamish), and indeed you'll be so carried away by the plot and it's fast-paced action that you may not even realize it's there -- it blends so perfectly with every other element in Hopkins's writing that you become so involved in what's going on, everything you and Zolo encounter seem perfectly plausible! (It's worth the price of the book for the "scuba-diver" incident alone!) And the man can WRITE. If I may give you just one quote: "He smiled right back at her. 'Lady, I live in that abyss. I call it home. When the abyss gazes into me, it trembles.'" The entire book is THAT well-written. Speaking as both a writer myself and as a reviewer, short of taking the book and placing it into your hands I couldn't urge you more strongly to buy this book. It'll make you a Zolotow and Brian A. Hopkins fan for life! I'd stake my professional reputation on it.
Rating:
Summary: BAH Hits Paydirt!
Review: Brian A Hopkins has outdone himself! This story involving out favorite PI Martin Zolotow has it all! If you want a love story, this is it, if you want vampires, this is it, if you want a boring, dull, uninteresting story of a PI looking for baddies...this is NOT it! BAH does not hold anything back. It is hard to briefly describe a BAH story, and this story is no exception. There are damsels in distress, a hero who always get the snot beat out of him (but, does that stop him? NOOOOO!), and even vampires. The action is non-stop, and down and dirty, with just enough love interest to keep it interesting! This is my favorite Zolotow story. Ice Castles (BAHs MUCH anticipated follow-up to Cold At Heart) should only further cement BAH as one of this century's top science fiction writers!
Rating: 
Summary: The Return of Martin Zolotow
Review: Brian A. Hopkin's short novel, "THE LICKING VALLEY COON HUNTERS CLUB" (Yard Dog Press, 2000), enjoys the distinction of having been nominated for the Stoker award for Superior Achievement in a Novel. Having said that, and having enjoyed previous work by the author, I'm forced to admit to some measure of disappointment in this particular novel. LICKING VALLEY reintroduces the reader to the dysfunctional private detective, Martin Zolotow, previously featured in a series of stories co-written with David Niall Wilson (including the superior "La Belle Dame Sans Merci," 1995). The present novel, which pits the protagonist against what might be loosely termed a gang of redneck, genetically-engineered vampires, does have a bit to recommend it, but (in my opinion) it ultimately founders under the weight of a number of problems. First, the pace of the novel is so break-neck that Hopkins has decided to reveal bits and pieces of Martin's bruised psyche through the slightly clumsy artifice of occasional flashbacks in which he verbally spars with a police psychologist. Second, Hopkins adopts a literary stratagem that always makes my skin crawl: At various points in the narrative Zolotow quotes or paraphrases lines from well-known literary works. To my mind this is almost always a transparently cheap attempt to appear erudite. Third, too many of the characters appear as cartoonish sterotypes (e.g., the aforementioned psychologist; a young biogeneticist who, like too many scientists that inhabit the world of fiction, is a whiz-kid in the laboratory, but just doesn't understand women; and -- to a certain extent -- Zolotow himself, yet another tough-but-tender-hearted P.I.). LICKING VALLEY isn't a bad effort, but I expected better.
Rating:
Summary: The Return of Martin Zolotow
Review: Brian A. Hopkin's short novel, "THE LICKING VALLEY COON HUNTERS CLUB" (Yard Dog Press, 2000), enjoys the distinction of having been nominated for the Stoker award for Superior Achievement in a Novel. Having said that, and having enjoyed previous work by the author, I'm forced to admit to some measure of disappointment in this particular novel. LICKING VALLEY reintroduces the reader to the dysfunctional private detective, Martin Zolotow, previously featured in a series of stories co-written with David Niall Wilson (including the superior "La Belle Dame Sans Merci," 1995). The present novel, which pits the protagonist against what might be loosely termed a gang of redneck, genetically-engineered vampires, does have a bit to recommend it, but (in my opinion) it ultimately founders under the weight of a number of problems. First, the pace of the novel is so break-neck that Hopkins has decided to reveal bits and pieces of Martin's bruised psyche through the slightly clumsy artifice of occasional flashbacks in which he verbally spars with a police psychologist. Second, Hopkins adopts a literary stratagem that always makes my skin crawl: At various points in the narrative Zolotow quotes or paraphrases lines from well-known literary works. To my mind this is almost always a transparently cheap attempt to appear erudite. Third, too many of the characters appear as cartoonish sterotypes (e.g., the aforementioned psychologist; a young biogeneticist who, like too many scientists that inhabit the world of fiction, is a whiz-kid in the laboratory, but just doesn't understand women; and -- to a certain extent -- Zolotow himself, yet another tough-but-tender-hearted P.I.). LICKING VALLEY isn't a bad effort, but I expected better.
Rating:
Summary: Judy Sadler, poet and reviewer
Review: Brian A. Hopkins' imagination and wicked wit quickly involves the reader in this fast paced and brilliantly written tale. A "page turner" deluxe.
Rating:
Summary: Rednecks and baseball bats- Vampires and Cadillacs!
Review: Hopkins will keep you on the edge of your seat as he takes you through a journey of pure adrenaline pumping action! No wonder this monumental novel won a Stoker! You can't put it down!
If you review this for any less than five stars- you are impossible to please or joking!
Rating: 
Summary: How cool!
Review: I read this novel chapter by chapter, as it was being written. Was it 1997 - 98? The author was kind enough to allow many of his Literatzi cohorts the privilege of taking the journey with him as he unfurled his brain onto the page. It wasn't precisely my cup of tea when it comes to fiction, but extraordinarily well done within the genre. Well done Brian! Bravo!!
Rating:
Summary: A STOKER AWARD WINNING BOOK, AND DESERVEDLY SO!
Review: I read this, Brian A. Hopkins debut novel, when it was first released last year, and I loved it. After it *WON* the Horror Writers Association Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a First Novel for 2000, (not just nominated, as another reviewer erroneously states), I decided to go back and read it again.
The first time was great, and I found it an even more satisfying reading experience the second time through. All the good stuff these other reviewers are saying - it's true. This is a fast moving mean machine of a page turner, and my only beef is that it's over too soon.
This book carries my highest recommendation!
Rating:
Summary: Kickin' It
Review: I'm guilty. I've known Brian for a few years, and because of that I had the opportunity to read THE LICKING VALLEY COON HUNTERS CLUB before Yard Dog Press got their claws on it. I read it chapter by chapter...as it was written. And it's sweet. Brian leans toward mixing genres; it's in his nature. In TLVCHC he carries this penchant to a new level. There's techno, horror, action, and thriller. Laboratories and fist fights, hookers and detectives. It's got damn near everything. Martin, a character previously explored in long fiction with LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI and LA BELLE DAME SANS REGRET (I hope I spelled all that right,) is a tough guy long on muscles and short on memory. He's crosswired, and that spells some pain for our hero. But he's also smart, and he's also tough. Martin slaps and punches his way through the quandaries Brian throws his way. Goons first, then hunters reminiscent from THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME. Throw in a variety of innocent victims (most not so innocent) and you have stage after stage of action. Sometimes I found my self holding my breath. Five stars plus...and I ain't kidding.
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