Laudanum

Rating:
Summary: LaudanumDumbDumb
Review: From the too-trendy names (Devin, Jared, Brandon, et al) to the use of a conveniently discovered hidden journal to advance the plot, Cray Donnelly's writing style is eerily similar to that of author Mark Roeder of the same genre. Whether this is coincidental or not doesn't matter; they are both self-published for obvious reasons. No editor's eyes ever scanned this copy and the result is a mess. The Casey character is introduced as being 27 years old (and still in college, by the way). Forty pages and several months later he has become only 25. At either of these ages, his torrid affair with a high school student is presented as the most normal thing in the world. On one page the local rag where one of the cutely-named characters works is The Natchitoches Journal, on another page it is The Natchitoches Times. The newsroom of said publication is described as if it were The Washington Post. A couple of paragraphs after the weather is described as being bitterly cold, characters are milling about in shorts. Most irritating is that it is frequently difficult to understand which character is speaking the dialogue, a particular challenge in a book where "he" and "him" are prevalent. The author's bio says that he has been writing stories since he was 13. After reading Laudanum I would guess that he is now 15, but the picture accompanying the bio indicates otherwise.

Rating:
Summary: MUST READ!
Review: Hmm... where do I begin? Laudanum is an amazing tale of love and mystery, A story with a few gay characters, but the story isn't about being gay which is very refreshing. Not quite sure where some of the negative reviews are coming from, this is a great story. Sure you have a few inconsistencies but what book doesn't? They are minor elements and seriously most people will probably never notice. These characters are diverse and interesting, and there are twists and turns throughout the story. The only bit I really think could have been left out is the diary, which is a bit cliche but forgivable. It's really hard to write a review about this book because you just have to read it for yourself (don't want to give any details away). After the first page you will be hooked, and I think this element is one of the books best features, unlike most novels you don't have to wait for the third or fourth chapter before the story begins. It grabs you right away and takes you in. It's a great read on a dark winters day curled up by the fire. I disagree that the characters are not well developed, you get just the info you need to make the story work, and that is why the story works. Do we really need to know each characters family history as some authors believe, no I don't think so and I think this story is better because of it. This is an element that keeps the story going and keeps the reader attached. I also would not be surprised if this novel where made into a movie as some other suggest. It's a great read don't pass it up!

Rating:
Summary: LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!
Review: I am not gay nor am I even male but I still found this book to be very captivating and wonderful! Everyone should read Laudanum!

Rating:
Summary: Great Story That'll Keep You Guessing
Review: I got this book just the other day and have read it twice--the first time because I couldn't put it down, the second time because I was completely surprised by the ending and had to re-read it to see if all the clues were there, and they were...I just didn't pick up on all of them.

The story centers around a kid named Brandon, fresh out of high school, who comes home after a long hospital stay because of a car accident that nearly killed him. Then he finds out that his boyfriend was murdered the same night and realizes he is probably the only witness...the thing is he can't remember that night.

Deciding that the police aren't working hard enough to find the murderer, Brandon begins investigating the crime and is reunited with some high school friends. But as he investigates he doesn't know who he can trust, because they are all hiding something.

I won't ruin the ending because I didn't see it coming. But I really liked this book because it was never boring. No filler here. I got lost in the story and could feel their lives unfolding. Brandon's life seems to be a fragile balance and those around him feel helpless because they know his happiness seems to rely on the case being solved.

The story was good without being overly descriptive or overly cloying. The interaction of the characters was believable and the developement of the characters was very good.

Overall I recommend this book. It would be great to read on a long trip of to read by the fire...or to read whenever you have spare time--but you have been warned, this book is addictive. I can't wait until his next book comes out.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I purchased this book about a month ago and just finished reading it--for the fourth time. Mystery lovers HAVE to read this. Fiction lovers HAVE to read this.

For people turned off my mysteries, let me clarify...this is not a typical mystery. It's not a detective story, it's not "Murder, She Wrote," it's not about revenge. It's a touching and intelligent journey.

The story is about Brandon Keller. In the beginning of the story he's just returned home from a long hospital stay after a car accident that almost killed him. That's when he has to start facing his life again, and the first thing on his list is to find the person who killed his high-school love, the same night as his car accident--a night he doesn't remember.

Its during his own investigation into the crime that he discovers that he might be the only witness to the murder, now all he has to do is remember it. The thing I liked most about the book is that there is so much going on, but not in a confusing way. Yes, there is the mystery of the murder and the mystery about his car accident, but its about so much more--its about the secrets each character is hiding and the truth that those secrets cover up, its about sexual tensions, its about love and hate and indifference. Even the secondary characters play into the whole scheme of the story--every one has a purpose in the book so we're not subjected to window dressing characters. Another thing, each character is very well developed that I felt like I was reading about people I knew. You sense the pain as Brandon struggles to come to terms with many emotions, and you feel Devin's (the best friend) struggle to maintain control of his secrets and his life that seems to burden his emotions. Even the minor characters are fleshed out. One more thing before I go to the negatives; the writing style was effortless to read--it was like reading a movie, but not so densely filled with description that it detracted from the story. It seemed well planned out, the ending didn't seem rushed (like in so many other novels), but the ending...let me say SHOCKING! I didn't see it coming (who the murderer is), so I re-read it--all the clues were there, just very well hidden. But all the open stories were very neatly wrapped up by the end of the story.

I think that there could have been some more lighter moments since this book is so heavy and dark. Granted, its about murder and loss and struggling to move on, and at the end their lives seem brighter, but when we're in the story I felt like I was on the emotional roller coaster with the characters (which is good writing, but I need a break now and then). Also, I would have liked to see a few of the secondary characters moved up to primary characters because their mini-storylines were quite interesting and probably could have become a whole other book. So, I recommend this book to anyone who likes well-crafted stories and well-developed characters and a plot that will keep you guessing until the final pages.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I purchased this book about a month ago and just finished reading it--for the fourth time. Mystery lovers HAVE to read this. Fiction lovers HAVE to read this.

For people turned off my mysteries, let me clarify...this is not a typical mystery. It's not a detective story, it's not "Murder, She Wrote," it's not about revenge. It's a touching and intelligent journey.

The story is about Brandon Keller. In the beginning of the story he's just returned home from a long hospital stay after a car accident that almost killed him. That's when he has to start facing his life again, and the first thing on his list is to find the person who killed his high-school love, the same night as his car accident--a night he doesn't remember.

Its during his own investigation into the crime that he discovers that he might be the only witness to the murder, now all he has to do is remember it. The thing I liked most about the book is that there is so much going on, but not in a confusing way. Yes, there is the mystery of the murder and the mystery about his car accident, but its about so much more--its about the secrets each character is hiding and the truth that those secrets cover up, its about sexual tensions, its about love and hate and indifference. Even the secondary characters play into the whole scheme of the story--every one has a purpose in the book so we're not subjected to window dressing characters. Another thing, each character is very well developed that I felt like I was reading about people I knew. You sense the pain as Brandon struggles to come to terms with many emotions, and you feel Devin's (the best friend) struggle to maintain control of his secrets and his life that seems to burden his emotions. Even the minor characters are fleshed out. One more thing before I go to the negatives; the writing style was effortless to read--it was like reading a movie, but not so densely filled with description that it detracted from the story. It seemed well planned out, the ending didn't seem rushed (like in so many other novels), but the ending...let me say SHOCKING! I didn't see it coming (who the murderer is), so I re-read it--all the clues were there, just very well hidden. But all the open stories were very neatly wrapped up by the end of the story.

I think that there could have been some more lighter moments since this book is so heavy and dark. Granted, its about murder and loss and struggling to move on, and at the end their lives seem brighter, but when we're in the story I felt like I was on the emotional roller coaster with the characters (which is good writing, but I need a break now and then). Also, I would have liked to see a few of the secondary characters moved up to primary characters because their mini-storylines were quite interesting and probably could have become a whole other book. So, I recommend this book to anyone who likes well-crafted stories and well-developed characters and a plot that will keep you guessing until the final pages.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: If you like Christopher Rice then I must tell you to check out this book! Laudanum is the best book I have read this year, the author has an amazing writing style that just draws you in, in fact he is way different from Christopher Rice in that fact this this story could be real, and there are no boring parts! Once you pick up this book you will be hooked, this is a great book to read on rainy weekend at home. I don't want to say to much about the details because you just have to read it, it is so cleverly thought out that you really will be supprised by the time you get to the end. This book would make a great movie!
A MUST have for any mystery fan!

Rating:
Summary: Great Book!
Review: If you like Christopher Rice then I must tell you to check out this book! Laudanum is the best book I have read this year, the author has an amazing writing style that just draws you in, in fact he is way different from Christopher Rice in that fact this this story could be real, and there are no boring parts! Once you pick up this book you will be hooked, this is a great book to read on rainy weekend at home. I don't want to say to much about the details because you just have to read it, it is so cleverly thought out that you really will be supprised by the time you get to the end. This book would make a great movie!
A MUST have for any mystery fan!

Rating:
Summary: Two Stars, Four Shrugs
Review: Laudanum uses a routine plot device found in countless books, television and movies: the amnesiac in search of missing moments surrounding a major event, in this case murder. What generally makes one story stand out from another are clever twists combined with interesting story-telling techniques. This novel has neither, boasting characters as well defined as any grocery list, painted in nondescript shades of gray until one is indistinguishable from the other. A no-surprises romantic sub-plot emerges early and almost swells to tepid, culminating in an ending that the uber-romantic might like but most will find unconvincing and just plain silly. Told in dry language, there is unintentional humor in what could be called "adverbial moments" - the usual bare-minimum style suddenly becomes deeply, awkwardly, often pretentiously but always adverbially intent on demonstrating mastery of language, whether these extras fit in or not.

I've noted a curious sameness (including the review on the publisher's own `Betsy's Page' website, where PublishAmerica authors critique one another's work) regarding how subtle and clever all the clues were. I don't regard the narrator dolling out information or sudden memory flashes by the amnesiac as either. A few attempts to plant information in the narrative (including a major red herring) aren't exactly ham-handed, but could hardly be missed.

"Laudanum" refers to an opium derivative popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, marketed over-the-counter as a cure for many things, including insomnia. This legal form remains true to its namesake.


Rating:
Summary: WOW!
Review: Okay, lets frist dismiss the last review, after all this guy gave the book "The Tenth Man" a five star rating, LOL! Anyway, The book "Laudanum" is a great tail of love and murder, full of twists and turns. This is a great tail for the mystery lover. This is not just a story for gay men, this is a tail that anyone could fall in love with. Read the book and see for yourself, honey this book is so visual that you feel like you are reading a movie script! Look forward to more books from Cray Donnelly.