One of the most underrated novels of the 21st century sprung from the mind of one of the most influential writers and publishers, Barry Hoffman. BORN BAD spun a new web into the serial killer library with a antagonist who intrigued and mystified readers. After the novel caught the eye of many a Stoker voter and before his own award-winning Gauntlet Press exploded onto the scene, Hoffman settled into the background as a writer, emerging as a young adult guru with THE SHAMRA CHRONICLES, one of the most inventive series in the new millennium and smartly written.
A question that often arises about chapbooks is “why buy one?” Unless it’s penned by one of the world’s greatest, most readers, other than connoisseurs, most won’t bother with the purchase. However, once in awhile, there comes one that shines as a short story or standalone prequel or addendum to another work and say, “yes, this is why you should buy a chapbook.”
Interloper is one of those rare stories that fits into the category of why a reader should buy into the chapbook idea, especially if he or she has read BORN BAD. If he or she hasn’t, no matter, this will serve as great incentive to find the full novel while standing on its own as a worthy purchase.
When readers first met Shanicha Wilkins, she hit the pages fully formed as a sociopathic killer. In Interloper, she is born, molded, and sculpted into the character met in Born Bad in fine fashion, growing into the story, naturally and toying with the reader’s perceptions.
Protagonist Diana loses her lover in the first scene which launches the story that begs for a vehicle much larger than a chapbook yet fits comfortably within the limits to which it is confined. She finds her dreams plagued by dreams of pain and disaster. Yet she is given a power to intervene and stop the dreams from becoming reality. What she doesn’t realize at first is another figure in the shadows, the one causing the pain, or at least enjoying the spectacles of suffering.
Sixteen-year-old Shanicha is finding her way in the world and becomes a part of Diana’s in a manner that both surprises and intrigues. The cat and mouse, yin and yang tug of war struggles as both characters develop into people who deserve a larger canvas.
Hoffman’s greatest strength is his characterization and he reminds his fans why they fell for Shanicha in the first place. His writing, unobtrusive, burrows under the reader’s skin and sometimes, their morals. He isn’t afraid to touch upon taboos, gore, and issues many other writers struggle to include naturally into their stories. Diana and Shanicha’s relationship, one that will undoubtably intrigue, will leave readers feeling their money is well spent but also wishing for more.
Hopefully, Hoffman will choose to revisit Shanicha once again. Hopefully, it will be in novel form.
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