The Bookshop From Hell by David Haynes

If you've read any of my other book reviews, you'll know that I'm a reader who gravitates toward books about books, libraries, bookshops, and authors, regardless of genre.  This book hits all the marks in ways I never anticipated.

I discovered this title while browsing for audiobooks on ChirpBooks.com, and after reading the synopsis, and listening to the short snippet, I was drawn in to the story.  

This is a fantastic tale of a small town that gains a new bookshop.  The proprietor is a strange, enigmatic man, but super generous.  Everyone who visits gets a free book on their first trip into the shop.  The books are compelling and nearly impossible to put down.  Everyone in the town is drawn to read their story, even if they're not generally readers.  Having a book selected just for you, will do that, I suppose.  Reading a great story is a tremendous gift, after all.

The town changes because of the bookshop.  People become differently engaged with their neighbors, and mysteriously, the energy of this once gentle town, turns ugly very quickly.  Books are powerful weapons, especially when wielded by the unsuspecting.

The pace of the story is super quick, and it's difficult, because of that, to find a place to pause reading.  My favorite parts of this book?  The high school English teacher, the Librarian, the Student, and an ending left hanging and festering in your mind with a strong, unyielding desire to want more than you should.

This book was creepy good, and even though there was more "language" than I'm usually comfortable with, the story insisted I overlook that part and keep going.  I'm glad I did.  I'll be reading more from this author in the future. 

My only disappointment with this book (aside from the creative language) was the fact that it's not available in paperback (only audio and ebook).  It's a point I hope the author changes, as this is one I'd enjoy putting on my shelves, signed by the author, someday.

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