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A Head Full of Knives: An Urban Fantasy Novel

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A Head Full of Knives: An Urban Fantasy Novel

By: Luke Smitherd
Narrated by: Luke Smitherd
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About this listen

From the author of Audible #1 bestsellers In The Darkness, That's Where I'll Know You, The Physics of the Dead, and The Stone Man (shortlisted for the Audible Audiobook of the Year award 2015)

Ever wished the world would revolve around you? Be careful what you wish for...

Martin Hogan feels like he's being watched by everyone and everything, and doesn't know why. Even his pets are acting strangely. Each night he sees animals gathering outside his house in the darkness, staring up at his windows with glittering eyes.

"Something is very wrong in the world…"

Things are happening that can't be explained. People are attacking both strangers and loved ones for no apparent reason. It started gradually, almost unnoticed, but now it's beginning to escalate. Random attacks in large groups are causing people to avoid crowds at all costs, and Martin is starting to believe it's all connected to him.

But Martin isn't paranoid. He is about to discover that he is absolutely right; the world does revolve around him, and the reason why is far worse than he could have ever imagined.

As his life spirals deeper into the terrifying and inexplicable, Martin seeks answers, only to find himself engulfed in a high stakes struggle for the future of mankind itself.

For the fate of human race rests solely in Martin Hogan's hands…

Luke Smitherd, author of the Amazon and Audible best sellers The Stone Man, In The Darkness, That's Where I'll Know You, and The Physics of the Dead presents the ultimate predicament in his latest unusual and original novel. A Head Full of Knives is a supernatural mystery that asks what you would do if the fate of the world lay with you (and guarantees you'll never look at animals in quite the same way again.)

©2014 Luke Smitherd (P)2015 Luke Smitherd Classics Fantasy Fiction Post-Apocalyptic Science Fiction City Paranormal Mind-bending Scary Thought-Provoking Destiny

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Critic reviews

"I had no preconceived idea of what to expect with A Head Full of Knives, and every time I thought I knew where the storyline was heading, Smitherd deftly turned down a new and unexpected path. In a field of genre fiction overflowing with mediocrity and stale ideas - published by large and small press alike - Luke Smitherd stands out as a truly new and original voice." ( AintItCoolNews.com)
All stars
Most relevant  

If you could sum up A Head Full of Knives in three words, what would they be?

Thought provoking, compelling, eclectic (4 words – I know!)

What did you like best about this story?

The detailed explanations of the situations the characters were in together with the way Luke makes something so crazy seem like it’s actually normality.

Have you listened to any of Luke Smitherd’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Yes, the Stone Man. Both are 5 star listens in my mind.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but a full time job, a wife, 2 kids and the desire for a few beers in the pub meant that I completed it in 4 days as opposed to one sitting.

Any additional comments?

To find out that Luke was self-published was a shock and was the catalyst to me writing my first ever review. Luke’s ability to immerse the reader / listener in a story as thought provoking and mind blowing as this without going completely off the rails is excellent – not to mention actually coming up with the idea in the first place!

There is no doubt in my mind that Luke will continue to gain 5 star ratings for his work and I have already bought ‘In The Darkness, That's Where I'll Know You: The Complete Black Room Story’.

I wish him all the very best & I look forward to many more years of reading / listening to his work.

Luke Smitherd – Best new British author for years!

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I loved this book. Very original and thought provoking. Best thing I've heard in a while

excellent and outside the box

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I find it so hard to review novels by Luke Smitherd, not because they aren't great, they are, but I don't want to leave any spoilers! This was the last of his currently available work for me to listen to, so I had high expectations, and I wasn't disappointed.
It took a little longer for me to become fully engaged with this one than some of the others, but the twists and confusion about what was going on make it totally worth that tiny bit of effort (as that's all it was!) All the pertinent information was provided only when it was relevant to the story which made me want to keep listening.
I cant wait to read/hear where this authors work is going next!

What's the audio equivalent of a page turner?

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Luke Smitherd has recently become very much one of my favourite authors. I love the dark tone of his books and the conclusions that are far from satisfactory. Although in my heart I want closure on all the issues that have run across my mind whilst reading, the unanswered questions keep me thinking about the books long after having finished reading them

This was my least favourite of his books to date but still great. I think there is a part of me that has recognised the pattern of the books and it followed this formula closely in this book which was a little disappointing as I have come to expect the unexpected with Smitherd's books

This story was completely different to the other books in terms of the actual plot in as much as it opened up another world entirely which I loved and seemed to be making parallels with Dante's Inferno. The ideas of the animals was fantastic and one with which I could totally relate.

Narration by Smitherd was very good as always and made a lot of the discourse come alive. Always like the afterword from the author

Really good book and well worth the credit. Can't recommend Smitherd highly enough

Not as good as his others but still great!

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Much in the same vein as Smitherd's excellent book 'The Stone Man' ... in that this is another intriguing plot that makes the impossible seem only too possible. Another page turner from Smitherd who surely is fast becoming the modern Stephen King.

Another intelligent compelling story from Smitherd

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This is a hard book to review without giving anything away. The title and book summary certainly didn't prepare me for what it is really about.
Instead I'll praise the way the author keeps you guessing. if like me you have read/listened to alot of books you will be aware just how many are predictable and how many never have you doubting that all will come good by the end of the tale.

I've only one book left to read by this author (so far) and what draws me back each time is that I'm never sure how they will end.

I only give this four stars because I'm comparing it to 'kill Someone' and 'In the Darkness that's where I'll know" which where exceptional in my opinion.

compelling and addictive

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As always I thoroughly enjoyed Luke Smitherds work, his writing is engaging, entertaining and has human voice. I got a little stuck on why the main character did not have more options to a solution as he had access unlimited funds. But Lukes work is sci fi / fantasy / original and set well in a modern time. Luke originality is the BEST aspect of his works. A wonderful listen, he narrates very well, it is nice to hear the author narrate. Well worth a download

A great listen

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What other book might you compare A Head Full of Knives to, and why?

This book has some very clever concepts. Without giving too much away it reminded me of three other great works:- Peter F Hamilton's "Nights Dawn" trilogy, where the dead pocess the living, James Herbert's "Fluke", where the story is told from perspective of a man who has been reincarnated as a dog, and Iain M Banks' "Surface Detail" with its multiple afterlives.

Luke Smitherd's story handles these concepts very differently, but just as cleverly. His imagination is astounding.

What about Luke Smitherd’s performance did you like?

Luke narrates this one himself and has done an excellent job.

Any additional comments?

This is an excellent, page turning book, that keeps you engaged from start to finish. I really enjoy Luke Smitherd's quirky, original stories and consider them the best of British sci-fi.

Ribeting

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Well, he continues to do it. Bring an original, engaging and personal story. With emotional knives and dark spoons, enough to stake and scoop the heart of any neo-heavy browed Neanderthal. Excellent. Sometime, in this life of mine, I will have to get myself to the Mecca that appears to be Coventry, ( being from Corby ) so gloriously represented in his stories. I surely must be missing something. And it seems so close. Look forward to more books, and stories and more words.

Another Enjoyable Original

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An absolute treat of a book.

A really compelling story about life, death, the afterlife and where they all intersect and overlap. Brilliantly told, just the right amount of mystery and intrigue. Lots of genuinely fascinating and creative ideas, and this author just writes beautifully. The prose sparkles and dazzles its way along, adding to and complementing the story every time.

This book is just wonderful - I've yet to find anything written by Luke Smitherd that's less than outstanding, and the more I read/listen to, the more I think he just doesn't know how to write a bad, or even mediocre, book. Brilliant appears to be his default setting.

Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

Dazzling!

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