"Allison" Book Review
Written by Steve Pattee
Independently Published
Written by Jeff Strand
2020, 268 pages, Fiction
Released on March 20th, 2020
Review:
Allison has it a bit rough. Ever since she was a child, she has had these powers where if she gets too excited – be it positive or negative excitement – people get hurt. Badly. It’s telekinesis, but it only affects humans. Because sometimes you just can’t control your emotions, Allison has lived her life in self-isolation, spending most of her time alone with her cat.
Deciding to venture out one day, Allison saves a pregnant woman from falling. The mother-to-be that Allison saves has a boyfriend who works for a very bad man. After an attempt to extort Allison for money by pretending his girlfriend miscarried fails, he inadvertently discovers her power and decides to kidnap her for his boss to make amends for a job gone bad. His plan starts an avalanche of pain, death, and body destruction.
I love Jeff Strand’s work. It’s gotten to the point that I don’t even bother to read the synopsis of his books. I just go into them blind because he never disappoints. However, in the case of Allison, the description came across my timeline on Twitter and even though I jump on new books by Strand anyway, I made it a point to get my filthy hands on this one. I knew I was going to love it after the first chapter. Strand is ruthless.
One of my favorite things about Allison is, well, Allison herself. She has all this uncontrollable power and she’s lived her life avoiding people and relationships in order to not hurt anyone, but the moment someone tries to hurt her, all bets are off. Just because she avoids conflict doesn’t make her weak. Lord, no. This woman will destroy anyone who threatens her livelihood. Allison is a delightful balance of sensitivity and no-time-for-bullshitivity.
And the violence? Oh, it’s exquisite. As the book progresses, Allison slowly gets more control over her power. That’s not a spoiler; if you’ve ever watched a movie or read a book, you would know this was coming. However, I won’t tell you how she learns to get better at breaking bones. I’ll let you find out for yourself. But I will say this, once she gets on a roll, there is nothing but blood and broken bodies.
As with all of Strand’s books that I’ve read/reviewed, the dialogue is on point. The man can write snappy dialogue and back-and-forth banter like nobody’s business, and that’s shown here. The conversations between her and the mob boss are some of the best in the book. And the awkward discussions she and Cody, her potential love interest, have are equally amusing. Oh, and related to that, how she prepares to have sex with the love interest is both hilarious and cringe-inducing.
I have yet to be disappointed in a book by Strand, and this is absolutely no exception. I know I probably say that in every review I do of his work, but the man is batting a thousand. If you’ve never read anything by him, this is a fantastic place to start because it has everything I love from a Jeff Strand book: humor, witty dialogue, awkward-as-hell situations, ultra-violence, and a gorgeous cover by Lynne Hansen. Additionally, Allison’s character is ripe for a series. I can easily see her and Cody getting into wacky predicaments where she is forced to slaughter people by the dozens. Jeff, make this happen.
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