Dragged into a Drug-Induced Haze with All Smoke Rises

I received Mark Matthews’ All Smoke Rises: Milk-Blood Redux when it was recently nominated for a Bram Stoker award in Long Fiction. Just finished the book and thought I’d share, so here’s my review:

Get ready to be dragged into a world where all smoke rises, but down is up, and up is down. This is the second of Mark Matthews’ novels I’ve read, and it is quite good. While it needs a little polishing, his story telling is at its best, drawing you into a world you never knew existed. It stretches the boundaries of what we know, adding a little heroine with a syringe and words on a page. You’ll be sucked into the book before you know it and turn the final page, wondering how he doesn’t… although you probably don’t want to know. Mark’s understanding of the addict and self-justification is scary, but like a car wreck, you won’t be able to look away.

For a mysterious ride into a drug-filled haze of a story, mystery and addiction pulling you to turn the next page, pick up your copy of All Smoke Rises: Milk-Blood Redux. It’s worth it.

4/5 Stars.

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the A Life of Death collection, The Priors, and Strange Circumstances