Slow Poison: The Reviews
I've just published my debut novel 'Slow Poison' on Amazon for kindle, with a print edition to follow shortly.
'Slow Poison' is a story of revenge. It is based in Europe and I feel it has that cold aloof about it that one often finds in the 'noir' genre of fiction writing.
The book was profiled on the now defunct Harper Collins website called Authonomy, where it reached the number one slot.
The book is now available from Amazon. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VH5GOFM
You'll find a selection of reader reviews below.
Comments;
What is interesting to me is the way the underlying themes integrate with the story in such a way as to be of equal importance and function. The story, although taunt and compelling, I think, requires the underpinning sense of waste and sorrow that this tale of vengeance so brilliantly demonstrates. There is a tangible sense that whatever Francis does it will never expunge or heal the wounds he carries. I think this is heightened by the connection to the holocaust, because, on a larger scale, there is nothing that will obliterate the memory of such sadness. Madeline Q
Intriguing, raw, a matching style as far as the overall tone and dialogues as well: very crude yet not offensively so as they go well with the somber ambiance of this story. I found myself wanting to know more, more about The Six, about the little girl, the investigation, the cops and the place with its culture which is unfamiliar to me. One can almost smell the booze and cigarette smoke, leather jackets and wet pavement. I give it a high score if only for virtue of successfully drawing me into this gloomy underworld of violence, prostitution, drugs and intrigues. So well written that it took me a while to escape the revolting world you're painting with words. I went to my kitchen and poured myself a scotch. Was it to get in the mood? Hardly. Your text got me there effortlessly. I was disturbed by the imagery you so craftily flung at me. I'll read more as I had to stop and catch my breath by the 3rd. chapter. In a nutshell? Bravo! Pieter
I have just read eleven chapters of your book. It is so dark and most of the characters are so twisted and cruel, it is intriguing but disturbing at the same time. To be honest, i cant bear to read any more. It is really well put together, which cant have been easy as it is such a complex story with so many threads together. Your writing is powerful and i am sure it will stay with me for some time, but it is too dark for me. I wish you all the best with it. Lucy S
Slow Poison has a breathtaking desperation about it from the very first line, and you are able to keep up that tension with every paragraph. All of the action and partying made me tired! The crassness of the dialogue is so utterly believable in this setting, I worry about the research put into it! Fantastically vile and fun to read. That's right, it is filthy and fun to read. Julie
This is so gritty and powerful a read; I had to stop and ask myself did I want to be witness to or endure the slow poison that spreads across the page with your nasty characters. To experience the world of the mindless football hooligans as they wreak their way across Amsterdam. But then we are introduced to some more likeable people only to learn that their fate is to become the catalyst for even more horrible encounters. Geoff
I wanted to stop reading, but I could not as your tight dialogue and setting had gripped me in your remorseless tirade of slime and evil as these losers are swept to their doom. My goodness this is excellent and I see now why you found my book so different a read. I loved your wonderful descriptions, whether they are just a few lines or whole passages that brought the red-light district to life.
I rather feel that the next chapters will be even bleaker, and I cannot say I if am looking forward to reading them. What I do know is that I must find out what happens and why so you have completed the task in making your reader wanting more. Well done. Backed with pleasure and six stars. Ray Jones
Casimir, the time and effort you put into your craft is immediately apparent. Although I am not particularly familiar with the genre 'Slow Poison' inhabits, your writing style alone was enough to pull me in. You pay particular attention to detail: your characters don't simply drive away in nondescript automobiles, they spend time in Range Rovers and Mercedes. Their music is Philip Glass, the ice cream strawberry-flavored. Lively and often disturbing descriptions help your plot come alive.
I also found the classic literature references and quotes well-utilized.
While gritty thrillers aren't necessarily my works of choice, if I was to explore that style I would certainly start with Casimir Greenfield. Keep up the good work - something tells me you've been proofing and revising 'Slow Poison' for quite some time.
Thomas Gabriel
Cas, Justice must be done. Sliding in and out of SP was an unsatisfactory way of reading it. Usually I take a paperback or a hardback and read from start to finish in two or three indulgent gulps. I still find it hard to read digital books and my dead tree library is one of my treasures. Last night I suggested to my partner that we take an early night, loaded up both our Galaxy P1000 tablets, and settled down to read SP together. That was 7.30pm. Garda and I often discuss our reads, both being avid readers. Like you, four hours a night is enough sleep for me. We made our usual small talk, Garda being a Melbournian needed some help with the vernacular. At 1.35am I finished it, and twenty minutes later Garda groaned and sighed, turning off her tablet. "I'm disappointed" she said. "Really! Why?" "I've finished it." "Yes, so?" "I'm still hungry. I feel like Oliver Twist wanting more please." This morning I noticed her sneakily loading her Galaxy into her briefcase. "The trouble with you writers," she said, "is that you take months to write a book, and no-talents like me read them in a day and it's not fair." "What's not fair?" "Well, you agonise and struggle to do something like this, and we just consume it like cornflakes at breakfast. That's not fair." "So I gather you like it then?" "It went too fast. I'm taking it to work to read again. I've got a laser printer and I want to print it out. I need to see if it's as good on paper as it was on that stupid tablet." This is the first book she has ever read on an ebook reader. Hates the damn things. If HC doesn't pick this up and run with it so that it's available at Big W I think she will don her assassins gear and come and kill you.
Graham Whittaker
