I’m going to open this review with some random background information about myself. As I was growing up, my parents would, from time to time, decide to drop me off with my maternal grandmother and aunt, where I would stay for months at a time. No aw’ing because they were the best pieces of my childhood, but. Do you know where they lived? Texas. Do you know what we watched on television? Westerns. Do you know what books were in the house? Westerns. Décor? Western. Clothes? Western. Needless to say, my Florida self was not thrilled about it. To this day, I will have nothing to do with westerns unless it’s rewatching A Million Ways to Die in the West or my hand is forced.
Obviously, my hand was not forced in reading The Stranger by Jim Donohue. (If the name sounds familiar, scroll down the review page; I’ve reviewed several of his books.) When the book came my way, I did stare at it for a long moment and say, “… nu-uh.” A western and vampires? (I know I’ve written vampire books. Shut up.) I’d sooner read ***. (Don’t you wish you knew the name or names? But I don’t do that! So just guess and leave me alone.)
Ultimately, however, I decided to set aside my general reading rules and give it a go. I mean, obviously or we wouldn’t be here, right? I have many friends who can tell you, likely with some sourness, that being a friend of mine does not guarantee I will read your book. No, I decided to pick up The Strangers based on the merit of Jim’s writing in his other books If he had a formula, then I knew that there would be something in this book—one lone moment—where I would not only be caught off guard but in which I would decide that sitting through a vampire western novel was worth it. I don’t know how the man does it, but he’s a genius when it comes to the unexpected and I am a sucker for it.
So. Basic summary of the story, which is longer than anything else I’ve read of his, coming in at 225 pages. The main character is a child by the name of Josh. By the end of the story, he’s grown, so don’t think it’s a kid’s book or anything like that.
Anyway. Josh and his parents seem to have a decent enough life on their farm. That is until three fools show up, armed and full of shady threats. Though all of them are supposed to be experienced at this sort of business, one has only beans in his head and both of Josh’s parents are ultimately killed for no good reason. I mean, you know you’ve messed up when even the villain is like, “Why on earth would you do that??”
Josh is fortunate enough to be taken in by the local reverend, who spends years trying to teach him forgiveness and things of that not so fun nature. Josh, however, is single-minded. He spends every moment he can training with a gun, the well of hatred within him continually growing deeper. Part of me was thinking, “Go get ‘em, tiger,” and then the other part of me was already wincing at the inevitable showdown. What hope did a self-trained young man have against an entire group of well-trained killers? It seemed idealistic.
Regarding the vampires in this story, what I enjoyed most is that they were just… there. They were a thing. I didn’t have to deal with that, “Vampires aren’t real” trope that exhausts me. They were there, they were always a threat, you didn’t know when or where they would strike and people just… accepted it. This was the way of life. It was refreshing, especially considering the rest of the setting is pretty normal in terms of supernatural happenings.
(And, yes, without spoilers, the vampires absolutely do make use of that whole you don’t know when or where they’ll strike thing. I had a moment where I was like, “Wait, where do you think you came from??” Delightful.)
Though this is largely the story of Josh’s journey from little boy lost to seeker of vengeance, there are three other characters of note. One is a young woman who is, essentially, a vampire hunter. She comes into the story rather late, and I would be more than happy to read a future story of her adventures after the book. She was, of course, one of those Bad A** types but not to the point where she didn’t need any help and that whole trope. It’s also refreshing. Balanced.
Then there is the Stranger. Aaah, I said the thing, I said the thing. Did you see? The Stranger is… a stranger, surprise. I spent my time from the moment he showed up until the great reveal trying to figure out who he was. (I was nowhere close.) There isn’t much to be said on the Stranger without spoilers, so simply put—he’s definitely not human, vampires are probably afraid of him and he’s heading straight to the same town that the other two characters are headed. All three looking for revenge against those who took people dear to them away.
Lastly, there is the villain. He is a perfect villain. Full of himself, greedy, used to being able to get whatever he wants, whenever he wants it… The kind of guy that really makes you think, “Please, please, let you get what you deserve. It’d really make my day if you did.”
Now, what happens when our three main characters meet up in the town of Spectre to confront their enemies… I cannot say much more without spoiling things. Let me just put it this way. I’m willing to bet you’re not going to be able to figure out who the Stranger is, either. But it’s that moment that Jim never fails to provide for me in books, that moment where I paused and went, “… son of a b*tch. Did not see that one coming. How does he keep doing this to me?!” I would recommend this book for that moment alone.
As much as I loved the twist, though, it was not what made the book for me. It was the ending. I would love so much to delve into the ending and all that happens—and if you read the book and wanna talk about it, you know where to find me—but let’s just say… it’s a lot. It’s good and it’s bad and somehow you are both satisfied and starving. I didn’t honestly know whether to throw my phone or hold it close.
So, Jim. You got me to read not only a western, but a vampire western. And I wound up liking it. A lot. Enough that I would recommend it to anyone, whether or not they like horror, whether or not they like westerns or vampires. At the end of the day, this is a book about loss and trying to reclaim things that can’t be reclaimed.
… I’m going to figure out some way to get you back for this. Believe you me. Start checking under your bed regularly.
