Joe Coffin (Season One) [Book Review]

This year I have decided to focus, predominantly, on book recommendations, which brings us to my first reviewed book of the year, recommended by David Dubrow​.

Genre - Horror/Crime-Thriller/Suspense/Vampire
Year Published - 2015
Length - 457 (digital) pages
Written by Ken Preston​

Tagline: "Get ready. Joe Coffin is on his way. And he's mad as hell."

Rating: 5/5 Skulls

Plot Summary:
On the day that Joe Coffin, hitman for Birmingham gang The Slaughterhouse Mob, is released from jail he has nothing but murder on his mind.
While inside his wife and young son were killed, and now he is out for bloody revenge.
The problem is, Coffin's enemies are circling, and his wife might not be quite as dead as she should be.

Review:
If you are like me, you are probably wondering what's up with the "Season One" on the book cover. Let me explain in the author's own words...

"Joe Coffin is a vampire horror story and a gritty gangster thriller, written TV style in episodes and seasons. If you liked Breaking Bad and Dexter, and if you prefer your vampires bloody and brutal then you will love Joe Coffin..."

Season One is episodes 1 - 4.

I am not sure if the tv series format is Preston's idea or not, but I am in love with Preston's style. He has written an extremely fast-paced, character-driven story that does not shy away from anything!
(You know the author means business when a ten-year-old kid gets his throat torn open in the first chapter/episode of the book!)

Preston immediately draws you into his story, and his writing is very realistic. (You feel as if you are a part of the story, as if it could actually be true.)
Preston is also a Master of suspense! (there are several "hold-your-breath" moments)
I also enjoyed the names of each chapter, and I hope to see more of Mr. Corpse & Mrs. Stump - two very intriguing side-characters.

As for Coffin, he is the perfect protagonist to the story. For you comic book fans, he reminds me of 'Joe Fixit' which is funny, considering that shortly after I told my wife that, Preston wrote the line, "The man was huge. Paint him green and rip his trouser legs off at the knee, and he'd be the Incredible Hulk." (too funny!)

If you have an e-reader or a book app, I encourage you to visit the author's website: kenpreston.co.uk - who knows, you may even get a free copy of Season One!

Season Two (episodes 5 - 8) is already out, so you can expect a future review of that book, guaranteed!

In the meantime, someone needs to turn this series into an actual television show, pronto!

Jason