Cover: Viral Blues
(The Hat, #2)
by C. S. Boyack
The author sent me an ARC of this book (epub format) in exchange for an honest review.
My rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars)
Plot
(by Goodreads)
Someone knows about the hat. The creature from another dimension that helps Lizzie fight against the creatures of darkness.
They are summoned to a cryptic meeting with a secret society, where they meet other people with enhanced skills. It turns out someone, or something, has been tampering with the world’s vaccine supply. The goal doesn’t appear to be political or financial, but biblical pestilence.
Can this group of loners come together in time to make a difference when even the proper authorities are obstacles?
Check out Viral Blues, for your dose of paranormal adventure, with a strong sample of dark humor. And in recent superhero style, don’t miss the secret last chapter after the back material.
| Genre(s): | > Paranormal & Urban Fantasy (Kindle Store) > Superhero Science Fiction > Superhero Fantasy eBooks |
| Series: | The Hat, #2 |
| Length: | 194 pages |
| Release date: | 2019-09-12 |
Teaser
“We can’t pose as no band,” the hat said.
Lizzie walked in behind them, making her way directly to the coffee pot. Her over-sized ZZ Top concert tee hung to her knees. The hat perched atop her head in a sleeping cap configuration. She poured herself a cup. “No, but we have a band.”
“We’d have to steal the gig somehow,” the hat said.
My Opinion
This book re-introduces you to the hat and to Lizzie St. Laurent, jamming with their band, at the end of a gig, Lizzie gets an invitation – the beginning of something unanticipated.
With “Viral Blues”, C. S. Boyack presents us with a hilarious paranormal suspense story – the second in the series. The story is skillfully elaborated and has a great flow. Ernest Hemingway once stated “When writing a novel a writer should create living people; people not characters. A character is a caricature.” C. S. Boyack shows this masterly with this story – he created living people instead of mere characters; even if the hat is not human – it has personality. I was drawn into the story right away, very close to Lizzie, the hat, and – Lisa Burton. Lisa Burton has once again proven to be my ‘favourite character in a book of the year’. I could easily envision the characters – they are an amazing bunch, and locations. I had a wonderful and thrilling time reading “Viral Blues”. It is a highly enjoyable read – hopefully, not the last in the series.
This is for you if you like stories in novella length, paranormal events, hilarious moments, superheroes, and very likeable characters to cheer on.
This is a book to read again. Highly recommended!
In brief:
| Cover | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (four stars) |
| Writing | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Plot | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Characters | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (five stars) |
| Mood | Suspenseful, fun |
| Pace | Steady |
| POV | Third person – past tense |
| Language |  – 😳 |
| Violence | 😳 – 😡 |
| Sexual content | |
About the author
I was born in a town called Elko, Nevada. I like to tell everyone I was born in a small town in the 1940s. I’m not quite that old, but Elko has always been a little behind the times. This gives me a unique perspective of earlier times, and other ways of getting by. Some of this bleeds through into my fiction.
I moved to Idaho right after the turn of the century, and never looked back. My writing career was born here, with access to other writers and critique groups I jumped in with both feet.
I like to write about things that have something unusual. My works are in the realm of science fiction, paranormal, and fantasy. The goal is to entertain you for a few hours. I hope you enjoy the ride.
Craig
Connect with the author:
Website: https://coldhandboyack.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Virgilante
Amazon: C. S. Boyack
Buy link: https://books2read.com/u/bw252v
Please take a look at my statement on reading in My train of thoughts on …reading. Now I am asking you. 🙂
My questions for you bibliophiles:
What about you? What did you think about “Viral Blues”? Or – if you did not yet read “Viral Blues” – are you now interested in reading it yourself?
I am looking forward to reading your comments. 🙂
Review: The Experimental Notebook of C.S. Boyack
Review: The Experimental Notebook of C.S. Boyack II
My train of thoughts on... 
I had loads of fun with this book, Karen – just love these characters. Awesome review!
We will certainly have lots of fun with Craig’s upcoming works as well, Teri. Thanks for the praise.
Thank you, Teri.
Awesome review! Congratulations Craig!
Thank you, Mark. Made my day.
Sounds interesting. Thank you for sharing your review. I will check it out.
Thank you for checking it out. Hope you enjoy it.
Thanks for reading my review and your interest in Craig’s book, Damyanti.
Reblogged this on Archer's Aim and commented:
High praise for an excellent book.
Thanks for the help.
You’re welcome.
Thanks for the reblog. 🙂
You’re welcome.
What a great review, Karen, and I agree with you wholeheartedly! It was a great read!
Thank you, Jan.
Thank you so much, Jan. Here’s to more great reads featuring Craig’s remarkable characters.
What an excellent review. And I couldn’t agree more. I’ve read Viral Blues and it’s a fun, highly entertaining read. I just loved the mash-up of characters. Lisa and the Hat were my personal favorites but they’re all so good it’s hard to choose. Congrats to Craig!
Thanks, Mae. Means a lot to me that you said so here.
Thank you, Mae. Here’s to many more fab stories including Lisa, The Hat, and the other great characters.
Excellent review, Karen. I also enjoyed this book a lot.
Thank you, John.
Thanks a lot, John. And we still share the same great taste in books – stupendous. 🙂
😁
A great review of Viral Blues.
Thank you, Robbie, and thanks for sharing it other places, too.
Wow! He got top stars on everything. Hard to do. Really enjoyed the review.
Thank you, Judi Lynn. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas.
We’re not finished celebrating:) Our kids in Indy are coming tomorrow night, and we feast on Saturday. Hope your Christmas was good, and hope the Year of the Rat is good to both of us!
Yes! Go rats. I should see if I can get Grinders published in time for the celebration.
LOL. When does the Chinese New Year start? Do you have enough time?
Probably February, and it could happen. Things like that don’t move extra copies, but they amuse me.
Thank you very much, Judi. Craig’s writing and his ideas deserve my five stars for their ‘feel good’ reader’s experience.
Nice review. I read and enjoyed this book. Hope we’ll see more of Lizzie and The Hat.
Thanks, Joan. We will. I might make it my side project after Lanternfish gains a few new words.
Thank you very much, Joan. I totally agree with you – we need more of Lizzie and The Hat.
Reblogged this on Entertaining Stories and commented:
Finding a great review is like an extra Christmas present for me. You can check it out over at Karen’s place, and you should get to know her if you don’t already. She’s always been one of my strongest supporters and is an all around great lady.
Thanks for your kind words, Craig. It is always an honour to ‘support’ you.
I shared it a few extra places, so hopefully you’ll see a little extra traffic.
Thank you very much, Craig. I appreciate that.
Hope you enjoyed your Christmas. This post is like a new present for me. So glad you enjoyed Viral Blues, and I thought you might like seeing Lisa appear once more.
Hope you enjoyed yours, Craig. I thought you might like to have this review on that date.
Regarding the hat, Lisa, and all your stories: I want more. Thanks for being such a great storyteller.
Thanks. Lizzie and the hat will continue. The cameos from past books may, or may not. I have some new characters for them to interact with. I’ll probably get started on the next one after I get closer on the second Lanternfish book.
I will be looking forward to your new stories, Craig. If sheriff Jim Burrell has a new strange case to solve – Lisa might want to step in again? Unless she plays a major part elsewhere, that is. 😉
I enjoyed your review, Karen, and completely agree. I had such a good time with Viral Blues and it’s quirky characters, or shall I say, people. The Hat isn’t a thing to me, so I’ll call that a personality. The story moved swiftly, read well; plot was well-crafted and smooth; people and personalities were a joy. I was familiar with some from earlier books, and they were a pleasure to re-engage with, others were new to me, and fun to meet. I’d say Craig has reached his goal fully by entertaining me, and I congratulate him on the success of his endeavors.
Thank you very much for your kind feedback, Jet. The hat is definitely a personality. He – yes, I consider the hat a male – and Lisa are worthy complements for the other personalities.
Craig has the gift to bring every character out to the fullest – more entertaining stories are hardly possible.
Thanks for weighing in here, Jet. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. Comments like yours really help.
Merry Christmas, Karen 🎄🌟💖
A slightly belated Merry Christmas, Syl! 🌲💚🍀
Thank you, Karen! 😊😊😊