Pure cotton candy but Charlie is such a good writer, such an artist with the short subtle metaphor, that you forget he was just banging these out for the money. ( )

This is clearly CLG doing his version of The X-Files (a series for which he also wrote a few tie-in novels).

Cabins in the woods, small town creepiness, strippers, hunters, and a backwoods creature on the loose that seemingly kills at random. Proctor comes seeking answers to his friend's murder at the creature's claws. More of a mystery with supernatural overtones (again, like many episodes of X-Files).

As expected from Charles Grant, this is a slow-burn. Also, it's the first in a series, so we get elements of set-up, but not that get in the way. Even elements clearly being set in place for future novels serve a purpose, here, so as to be unobtrusive.

I've been away from Grant for many years. This was a nice, comfortable return. Less Grindhouse, then Hitchcock. With a monster. ( )

October 14, 2000
Black Oak: Genesis
Charles Grant

First book in the Black Oak series. I’m surprised at myself for liking this series, because in a way it’s very X-file-ish. It’s not about alien encounters, though, and centers more on the supernatural. I also really enjoy Grant’s writing, which is lean and evocative, with fantastic imagery. The character of Ethan Proctor is interesting, because you don’t really know what he’s about. There’s some secret in his past, some source of pain, but what that is is never really stated. He’s the head of Black Oak Security, which investigates a variety of mundane things, but is also known for investigating the paranormal and the strange.

They’ve very short, which is both good and bad. I usually end up wanting more, but at the same time I like the brevity. King could take some lessons… ( )

I would recommend this to people like myself who enjoy a good supernatural mystery. This book sort of reads like an episode of the X-Files; not surprising, since this author also writes X-Files stories!

basic plot summary/no spoiler

Ethan Proctor owns a company called Black Oak Security. One of his team of investigators, Sloan Delaney, is taking some needed time off, traveling the back roads in search of really campy kitsch. I can relate...I love the stuff myself. Anyway, one of the places he has planned to see is the Cumberland Museum of the Odd, in the hills of Kentucky. So he goes there, takes a room at the attached motel & asks the motel owner to show him the museum. A day or so later back at home, Proctor is returning from a visit to a nursing home (his mom), and goes over his phone messages, when he hears one left by Sloan. Sloan gives him the name of the town where he is, then screams into the phone. In the background, there is also an eerie noise. By the time Proctor & one of the team, Taz, get to KY, they find out that Sloan is dead. They also find that the people in the town are scared spitless but aren't talking. Proctor will not leave until he has solved the mystery of what happened to Sloan.

Very fun novel and the rest of the series is good too. ( )