From author Jonathan L. Howard comes the start of a thrilling supernatural series that brings the H.P. Lovecraft mythos into the twenty-first century, optioned by Warner Bros TV. Daniel Carter used to be a homicide detective, but his last case — the hunt for a serial killer — went wrong in strange ways and soured the job for him. Now he’s a private investigator trying to live a quiet life. … quiet life. Strangeness, however, has not finished with him. First he inherits a bookstore in Providence from someone he’s never heard of, along with an indignant bookseller who doesn’t want a new boss. She’s Emily Lovecraft, the last known descendant of H.P. Lovecraft, the writer from Providence who told tales of the Great Old Ones and the Elder Gods, creatures and entities beyond the understanding of man. Then people start dying in impossible ways, and while Carter doesn’t want to be involved, but he’s beginning to suspect that someone else wants him to be. As he reluctantly investigates, he discovers that Lovecraft’s tales were more than just fiction, and he must accept another unexpected, and far more unwanted inheritance.
more
A creepy, twisted horror novel with a nod to H.P. Lovecraft!
Daniel Carter is a former homicide detective with bad memories, but his life gets even weirder when he mysteriously inherits a bookstore in Providence. He’s surprised, especially since he didn’t know the previous owner. So is Emily Lovecraft, the woman who runs the bookstore. As Carter discovers, Emily is a descendant of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft himself, and as they both get involved in a case of odd deaths, their lives take a decidedly Lovecraftian turn.
I really enjoyed how Jonathan L. Howard used the work of a horror master to tell a modern story here. Plus, a scary book partly set in a bookstore? Sign me up! I could’ve done with even more bookstore and more Emily Lovecraft, but all in all this was a strange, eerie tale I’d recommend to horror fans.
The story is, at times, quite bizarre, and the language has a cloying intimacy. I am particularly attuned to descriptions of drowning because my adult son died this way. I often wonder what it had been like for him. After reading Jonathan Howard’s account, I had to put the book aside. The affect his writing had upon my very psyche was profound.
H. P. Lovecraft occupies a rarified stratum in the literary world. His writing engendered a mythos latched onto by any number of writers from those who wrote contemporaneously to those writing now, in the twenty-first century. Readers unfamiliar with his stories will see the name Lovecraft and immediately think porn, or the name Linda Lovelace will spring to mind. Anyone who is a serious reader of genre fiction will respond to such suggestions in the negative, and, usually with, at the very least, a touch of scorn.
At first blush, CARTER & LOVECRAFT is police detective turned PI dime novel the likes of which have been around for decades. However, it doesn’t take long to realize that this is no John D. McDonald or Mickey Spillane pulp.
I hate spoilers, and saying more about the actual story would, of necessity, be riddled with them. If you want to know who the eponymous Carter and Lovecraft are, you need to pick up a copy and read about them for yourself. I will say that CARTER & LOVECRAFT was a totally satisfying read, no cliffhanger… a complete novel in every way. That is a refreshing change in a literary world where it seems that far too many books are part of a series. Yet, there is just enough wiggle room here to trigger a sequel or two. Should that ever happen, I will happily read such further adventures.
H.P. Lovecraft’s twisted world is visited upon a police officer turned private eye in Jonathan L. Howard’s “Carter & Lovecraft.”
Daniel Carter’s haunting last case and suicide of his then partner cause him to leave the police force. He sets up shop as a private detective, but before he can bore of the endless recognisance of cheating spouses, a big time lawyer presents him with surprising news. He’s the sole inheritor of a property in Providence. When he checks out this new windfall, he meets a descendant of the famed author, H.P. (who happened to be my favorite character in the book), the tough Emily Lovecraft. The two join forces when mysterious – and sometimes murderous – occurrences plague them and threaten the entire human race and the world as it is understood.
With a cast of “baddies” familiar to any H.P.L. reader, this novel was a fun romp through some of the strange cosmic horrors created by H.P.L. between 1908 and the mid 1930’s. It even touches on some of the controversial problems with H.P.L.’s works, as well, acknowledging without discounting them. Although it deals with horrors, the book’s presentation is more escapist than horrifying.
I understand this book is not only a part of a series, but is also being adapted for the small screen by Warner Bros. TV., so I imagine there’s much more to learn about this partnership and Jonathan L. Howard‘s re-imagining of H.P.L’s Cthulhu mythos.
out standing twist on modern lovecraft
Not written by H.P.Lovecraft, obviously, but still using his worlds and characters. A bit disappointing.
A fun roller coaster of a read!
Nice read – though the author did well using the existing mythos to creat an intersting story
I wasn’t familiar with the author before trying out this book. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Not heavy horror, but spooky and well paced. Looking forward to more of this series.
I enjoyed this book partly because I’m a sucker for all things Lovecraft…the premise was interesting, the characters plausible, although I thought Lovecraft could have used more depth…it’s exciting, attention grabbing, keeps you reading…decent plot…I did not find it too scary although there were some gripping moments…overall, I recommend this book for those who like their scares quiet; but exciting/
Extremely boring