Today I’m reviewing A Man Dies But Once, a short Novella from Matthew Harffy!
Here’s the blurb
A gritty prequel novella featuring one of the main characters from DARK FRONTIER.
Some things you never forget.
Texas, 1856
“A man always remembers his first murder. Just like he always remembers his first visit to the whore house.”
Grizzled frontiersman Jedediah White looks back on a memorable day from his youth in Texas. In his uncompromising and caustic style, Jed tells the vivid tale of a young man’s coming-of-age in a violent and often cruel land where his youthful lust and white-hot temper see him tangled in a series of events that spiral out of control faster than a stampede of longhorns.
Everybody’s story starts somewhere.
Review
As the synopsis suggests A Man Dies But Once is a prequel to the feature length story Dark Frontier.
We are back with Jed White as he reflects on his life and two of the most memorable moments.
Young Jed is on the cusp of manhood. Many still see him as a boy which he hates.. but sod them.. he’s been out in the world with his father and knows what he wants.. the object of his affection.. Pearl.
Jed’s luck is in when he manages to come into a little bit of money.. hopefully enough to pay for the services offered by the lovely Pearl.. little does Jed know this one adventure will tick off more than one “first” and hints to the man Jed will become.
Jed heads into town and has his eyes set on only one thing but he’s about to get himself mixed up in something much bigger.
I’m not going to spoil it but I really loved how the author didn’t shy away or tone the story down at all, there’s difficult moments to swallow as we see through Jed’s eyes, racism and slavery along with the exploitation of women and the horrible disease consumption.
A little side note, one of my favourite movies ever is Tombstone and while reading A Man Dies But Once I couldn’t help but be reminded of the brilliant performance for the late Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday who also suffered with consumption.
It’s a talent in itself that the author manages to add little details that stimulate the readers mind and makes things real, the cough.. the blood.. it’s a small but vivid bit of detail.
While a short tale the character development was spot on. I’m always worried that characters will be one-dimensional or boring but I knew with Matthew Harffy I didn’t need to be concerned.
Jed may be the main character but I really loved the detail, and time put in to make characters like Larry Woodrow and Gordon Sage come to life. I particularly liked Sage while he interacted with Jed at the bar.
Taking A Man Dies But Once as a standalone read you’d be impressed, it makes you want more.. but if you’ve read Dark Frontier already you’ll be even more impressed… Jed isn’t exactly a closed book but this Novella adds depth and gives the reader some insight into how Jed became the man he is… that ending as Jed has to contemplate the consequences of his actions.. how could it not stick with him..Wow.
I loved this one so much I own the kindle version and the paperback ha ha.
5/5 Stars.
David's Book Blurg 