Hater

With the release of Dog Blood finally on the distant horizon, I figured it was appropriate to finally write a review of this novel, after a couple of times reading through it. I am a fan of David Moody's work in the past; the Autumn series, Trust, and Straight To You were all spectacular pieces of fiction. The man has a brilliance about him where it concerns undercurrents of isolation, fear, and bleak paranoia...allowing those narrative elements to become almost as potent as the characters themselves, hell, they almost become characters in their own right. Regarding Hater itself, I was almost astounded as I proceeded through the novel. Almost painful at times, you can't help but relate to the protagonist...and want to bite your nails as the story progresses. This is, without any hesitation, the single best novel that he has written. By the final pages, you find yourself almost begging to be a "hater". I can only hope that Dog Blood turns out to be even half as thrilling and exceptional as this first installment ended up being...and being familiar with Moody's work, I don't doubt that I will be satisfied.

Sometimes the world is bigger than the rat race and the three kids and the wife that is constantly nagging you at home. Sometimes it is also bigger than the petty problems you see at the job you undertake that boots people's cars 24/7, and sometimes it is bigger than any dream/ nightmare you have ever had. This happens to be true when things start to happen that turn out to be more than scares, and moreso when those scares threaten everything you love. In Hater we see just that, with a plague of violence swallowing up one such person we follow from a first-person perspective, noting how a few changes make his world view different. Seeing a guy beaten to death at a concert changes his mind about the disagreements he has with his father-in-law, for example, and watching an elderly person being beaten to death makes him feel much more adequate as he brings home food. In this plague of "haters," it becomes a question that strikes deeper than who will live and who will die. It also asks "at what cost," and "what happens if I suddenly become engulfed in hatred as well?" One thing I loved about Moody's work here is that he didn't go from the frills when explaining things. He simply trimmed the proverbial fat and showed us things we would already know, making his world look like a world I could understand. I personally enjoyed that, and I enjoyed what this did for the pace of the story. Instead of having something slow down the vehicle when it finally starts rolling, the story keeps going all the way through. It even begins that way, showing us exactly what is to come by showcasing the mind of a Hater at the beginning of each chapter. This means you see the act of violence but not as an act of violence alone. Instead, you understand the why powering it, giving you an insight that many authors forget to lend their readers. If I were going to recommend a "plague" book, I would think about this one quite a bit. It has the non-stop tapping that makes the wallet smile, and it does this while explaining the person we are following. I love that part about the book - the understanding - enough that I have read the book more than a couple of times just because it flows so well. It is a fast read, too, clocking in at one or two days, and that is not because of a reader being short-changed. Instead, it is because the book is one of the good ones and it gets my vote as such. Read, enjoy, avoid umbrellas.

There must be something with new authors and 2009; this is the 3rd novel I've read this year by a first-time author. Although it was originally self-published on-line, David Moody's Hater, found a publisher and, with that, should enjoy a lot of new interest. It wasn't until the last few pages that I realized that this is the first novel in a series. Finishing Hater, I can't wait for the next installment. Set in an unnamed city in Britain, Danny McCoyne works in the Parking Fine Processing office, a government job for those workers on their way down. Husband and father, he watches his money closely, as he doesn't have much to spare. After he gets home from a long, tough day being shout at from upset people with parking fines or wanting boots removed from their cars, he can't even relax in front of the television, his kids are monopolizing it. But there are times where he and his wife are able to escape from their modest flat. On one outing, they are at a club enjoying one of Danny's favorite bands. However, mid-set, the lead singer stops playing and simply stares out into the crowd. And then he goes berserk-using his guitar as a weapon, he lashes out at his bandmates. Danny and his wife escape the ensuing chaos and rioting patrons. Later, the 24 hour news stations begin to show other seemingly acts of random, vicious violence, eventually calling the instigators "Haters.". These random acts are occurring all over the city, at such a rate that the government tells people to stay indoors, create a "safe room," and to wait for further instructions. And then the military gets involved and starts house to house searches. Moody has written a book that is very hard to put down. Interspersed with scenes of violence, shocking in it's fury and randomness, Moody carefully introduces us to Danny McCoyne until you really care about the character. You go with Danny to his job, experience his home life, his interactions with his children, and witness his relationship with his father-in-law. Then, when it appears that Haters are tearing society apart, you hope that Danny is able to protect his family. Moody increases the tension by investigating the mundane; if you are locked in your flat, how do you provide for your family as your food stocks diminish? How do you protect your family, especially if you don't know if one of them is a Hater? How do you explain to your children the scenes of violence on the television and out in your street? Suspenseful, disturbing, and utterly enjoyable, Hater is world full of fear, mistrust, and madness. And it is one of the best books I have read.

Awesome, outstanding, very well written book! "Hater" is the 1st book in what will be a trilogy. The next book, "Dog Blood" will be out soon according to back page's author's notes. Don't let the obscure title fool you, "Hater" is the real deal! A word of advice, read "Hater" now, don't wait until the movie comes out or until all three books are out and everyone is talking about it and your three books behind. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! A few random people are brutally attacked by strangers. The next day, several more attacks. All random, all appear to be for no certain reason. The media declares the attacks are being committed by haters! But who is a hater, what is a hater, how can we tell them apart? The government puts the following message on every television, every station- REMAIN CALM DO NOT PANIC TAKE SHELTER WAIT FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS THE SITUATION IS UNDER CONTROL The haters can tell us apart, they already know, "it's kill or be killed, hate or be hated!" Haters are not zombies, their not vampires, read it and find out for yourself! The book gets better & better all the way through. It's fast paced and the ending is phenomenal! Guillermo del Toro, director of "Pan's Labyrinth", "Hellboy 1 & 2" has already purchased the rights to this novel for production of the major motion picture "Hater"! I will definitely watch the movie and definitely read the next two novels when they come out. Read it!

David Moody is now my favorite author. I look forward to his new books with great anticipation. The realism of his stories (while taking place in such fantastic predicaments) adds a layer of suspense that never fails to clutch at my heart. And throat. And bowels. Mr. Moody's novel "TRUST" is an excellent example of the "Fantastic Realism" of which I speak. It was an honest tale of how the world would react if we weren't the only........but I never spoil a book for someone who has yet to read it. David Moody keeps getting better & better--I own all of his books and every one is excellent. He always chooses a terrific subject and then brings it to very realistic life. Please read his "AUTUMN" series to see what I mean. As long as David Moody keeps writing,I will keep buying his books! BRAVO!