Gina Rae Mitchell

The Dark Matter of Natasha by Matthew R Davis | Review for The Write Reads Tours | 4.5 of 5

A book blog tour from The Write Reads.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Dave & the Gang at The Write Reads for providing me with the information for this tour.

Book Details

The Dark Matter of Natasha by Matthew R. Davis
Published by Grey Matter Press on 06/21/2022
Genres: Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Fiction / Coming of Age, Horror
Format: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 130

Natasha stalks the quiet streets of dead-end Lunar Bay like doom in a denim jacket. She’s a grim reminder that some teenagers can never escape the ever-tightening noose of their lives. Burned out and benumbed by a traumatic past, dogged by scurrilous small-town gossip, she finds solace in drugs, sex and Slayer.

What horrors have her flat eyes witnessed? And how far will she go in pursuit of the one tiny spark of hope that still flickers in her haunted heart?

When a naïve transplant crosses her path, he's drawn into shadow and doubt. With his girlfriend ghosting him, Natasha’s fresh introduction to her half-lit world is darkly appealing. Now faced with confusing quandaries—connection or convenience, relationship or exploitation—can he help any of the women in his life? Or is he just helping himself?

The untold tragedies of Natasha's lonely life may be more than he can handle. And in a town whose history is littered with dead girls, there may be no happy ending for anyone.

A tar-black coming-of-age story, this gritty psychological thriller from Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author Matthew R. Davis, eloquently chronicles the crushing gravity of small-town hopelessness, the double-edged catharsis of sex, drugs, and heavy metal, and the brutal weight of youth's first lessons in accountability.

Source: Received from the author or publisher for review., The Write Reads Tours

 

Praise for The Dark Matter of Natasha

“A searing indictment of the selfishness of youth and the injustices of an uncaring world. Bleak, poignant, and dripping with pathos. Powerful stuff.” — Alan Baxter, Australian Shadows Award-winning author of Served Cold, The Gulp and the Eli Carver Supernatural Thriller series

“The Dark Matter of Natasha is a pitch-perfect threnody of small-town despair, a super-collision of sex, Slayer, and the cosmic indifference of infinite space.” — J. Ashley-Smith, Shirley Jackson Award-winning author of Ariadne, I Love You and The Attic Tragedy

“The Dark Matter of Natasha is a haunting coming-of-age story told with confidence and razor-sharp insight. Equal parts tawdry, irreverent and as dark as the space between stars, Matthew R. Davis serves up a soiled platter of sexual awakening guaranteed to leave a mark.” — John C. Foster, author of Rooster and The Isle

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Purchase Links for The Dark Matter of Natasha

Amazon: One Link for All Countries

Blackwell’s     Kobo      AppleBooks/iTunes     Google Play

Waterstones     The Book Depository

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My thoughts on The Dark Matter of Natasha

All I knew of this book before reading was that it is a dark psychological thriller, not my normal go-to genre.

I must say I could not put it down and read it in one sitting. Now granted it’s not a long book, coming in at 130 pages or so, but it’s still gripping from start to finish.

The story looks at the bleak life of Natasha as seen through the eyes of a young man grappling with hormones, girlfriend troubles, and a rather nomadic up-raising.

Whether it’s the bombshells Natasha drops like they mean nothing or the intimate look at coming of age in unconscionable circumstances,  the backstory of Natasha will break your heart. It also gives you many opportunities to ponder how close you or your loved ones might have come to a life like this. It’s easy to imagine a young girl simply beaten down by her life.

This book is not an easy read, but I think it’s one we can all benefit from reading. It is dark, definitely dark, but quite mesmerizing. It’s kind of like driving past an accident, where you can’t help but look. If we all take a tiny bit of understanding from this tale, perhaps we can help someone down the line that is caught in a similar trap.

Please consider this thought-provoking story for your next read.

I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.

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Easy Amazon Info Links

Amazon: One Link for All Countries

The Dark Matter of NatashaShop on Amazon The Dark Matter of NatashaShop on Amazon

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