One very anti-social and unexpected anti-hero… #TheIntrovert #Review @nholten40 @MichaelPMichaud @BOTBSPublicity

I first read this novella in 2016 and was delighted when Sarah from Book on the Bright Side Publicity approached me and asked  if I would re-post my review for the blog tour! As I enjoyed this quirky, dark novella I also agreed to take part in The Introvert Confounds Innocence blog tour in October – I’m looking forward to this read! But I digress, let’s find out a bit about the author and this book before I share my original review below!

About the Author

I am an American-Canadian citizen, a criminal prosecutor, and author of BILLY TABBS (& THE GLORIOUS DARROW) (bitingduckpress) and THE INTROVERT series (Black Opal Books). I have a B.A. in English from McMaster University, an Honors B.A. in Political Science (summa cum laude) from McMaster University, a J.D. from The University of Western Ontario (with an international exchange completed at Washington & Lee). I have won awards for both my community service and my work as a criminal prosecutor. I am a member of Crime Writers of Canada and International Thriller Writers. I also strive to maintain a strong social media author presence, including at facebook.com/michaelpaulmichaud, and have made regular appearances on SiriusXM’s Canada Talks. I am an unabashed and unapologetic zealot of Twin Peaks. Literary influences are primarily Orwell, Dickens, Vonnegut, Dostoevsky.

About the Book

A vacuum salesman by day, the introvert lives a quiet life alone with his dog until a work relationship and a dark secret from his past team up to create an uncomfortable imbalance in his otherwise ordered life, one that soon finds him squarely at the center of a murder investigation. With his thoughts continually urging him to make people “red and open” and to “achieve it” with his girlfriend Donna, what follows is a sometimes brutal, oftentimes hilarious, and absurdist account of the life of one very anti-social and unexpected anti-hero.

Well OMFG! What a fantastically weird, twisted and absolutely quirky novella this is! So much so, I am not even sure where in the world to begin! The cover is simple, yet eye-catching and pretty much gives you a feel of the wickedly wonderful writing you will stumble across as you delve into the world of The Introvert!

The majority of this book takes place in either an office, The Introvert‘s home/neighbourhood or the local area – which pretty much gives you a clue about the way “The Introvert” does not do much outside of his comfort zone. Within the pages we find a twisted reality, where evil is done for good, where lust becomes love, where the unreal is…well real…or real in the mind of “The Introvert” himself.

The plot is well paced and builds up superbly to the WTAF moments! And there are a few of those! Believe me! I love things that are depraved and abnormal and figuratively grab you by the throat. This novella did just that! It was bizarre in the nicest possible way!

I really enjoyed the fact that it was not overloaded with characters and for a short novella, the ones that were included were well written and likeable. Even the anti-hero! I found myself drawn to him despite his inability to grasp that what he was doing was oh-so-wrong! A few stood out and are worthy of a mention. Donna Wintergrass– she is “The Introvert’s” girlfriend. I have to be honest, she annoyed the hell out of me at first. She is needy, comes across as desperate and frankly, quite naive! But as the story unfolds, these characteristics endear the reader to her. I wanted to shake her at times and scream “snap out of it lady!” – but then, I shrugged my shoulders and thought “more fool you” – sometimes we only see what we want to see, right!?

The Inspector was also another fab character. He played a cat-n-mouse game with The Introvert who always seemed to frustratingly outwit him! But it was The Introvert himself who stole the show. Dark, deep and down-right deviant, everything he said and did just repulsed and enthralled me at the same time! He is anti social, blends into society almost unnoticed, but he is someone you definitely need to take notice of! He has child-like qualities that instantly makes the reader protective of him and his love of animals pulls you in and makes you believe he is harmless. He is not!! See what I mean? WTAF is going on! ??

Would I recommend this wee novella? You bet your arse I would! I found it’s originality refreshing, it’s quirkiness addictive and the strangeness was absolutely awesome! Well worth checking out, #bookjunkies! See what others think by following the tour: