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A Boy's Hammer
Alan and his mother disappeared in a plane crash off the coast of Helsinki.
20 years later, a giant man with his whole body covered in tattoos appears amidst the rubble of an explosion at a Philadelphia oil refinery. Detective Jefferson O’Brady, a dissolute alcoholic with a photographic memory, is brought in to piece together the mystery behind this behemoth. The hulking man says that he’s Alan come back from the realm of the dead, and Alan’s genius billionaire Aunt Mimi agrees.
And the first thing the reappeared giant has to do? Return to Helsinki, Finland to find the means to craft Ukonvasara—the hammer of Ukko.
All the while, strange happenings are underway in Philly:
A resurrected serial killer. Hidden (oc)cult conspiracies. Bizarre murders that defy the laws of space and time. Aunt Mimi in a miraculous trance state that grants her unseen visions of prophecy and telekinetic powers.
Detective O’Brady may be the only person capable of getting to the bottom of it all, but he can’t rely on the force, and his allies are few and far between.
Something’s going down in the City of Brotherly Love.
20 years later, a giant man with his whole body covered in tattoos appears amidst the rubble of an explosion at a Philadelphia oil refinery. Detective Jefferson O’Brady, a dissolute alcoholic with a photographic memory, is brought in to piece together the mystery behind this behemoth. The hulking man says that he’s Alan come back from the realm of the dead, and Alan’s genius billionaire Aunt Mimi agrees.
And the first thing the reappeared giant has to do? Return to Helsinki, Finland to find the means to craft Ukonvasara—the hammer of Ukko.
All the while, strange happenings are underway in Philly:
A resurrected serial killer. Hidden (oc)cult conspiracies. Bizarre murders that defy the laws of space and time. Aunt Mimi in a miraculous trance state that grants her unseen visions of prophecy and telekinetic powers.
Detective O’Brady may be the only person capable of getting to the bottom of it all, but he can’t rely on the force, and his allies are few and far between.
Something’s going down in the City of Brotherly Love.
609 pages, Paperback
Published January 4, 2022
About the author
Alex Grass
4 books208 followersBorn in Harrisburg, PA, Alexander Grass lived in Philadelphia, Israel, and a few other places before settling in Brooklyn with his wife and three kids.
As a teenager, Alex was in a thrash-metal band called Shock Syndrome. He later worked in construction, landscaping, driving in a car auction, and worked in parts and shipping for a Honda dealership.
After obtaining his GED, he went to Penn State online before attending Cardozo Law School on scholarship. While at Cardozo, Alex was a Floersheimer Student Fellow in Constitutional Law, and a law clerk for the Institute for Justice and for the New York County Defenders. After a stint in rehab, he dropped out of law school to become a full-time author.
As a teenager, Alex was in a thrash-metal band called Shock Syndrome. He later worked in construction, landscaping, driving in a car auction, and worked in parts and shipping for a Honda dealership.
After obtaining his GED, he went to Penn State online before attending Cardozo Law School on scholarship. While at Cardozo, Alex was a Floersheimer Student Fellow in Constitutional Law, and a law clerk for the Institute for Justice and for the New York County Defenders. After a stint in rehab, he dropped out of law school to become a full-time author.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 29, 2022
Action packed
My thanks to the author, Alex Grass, and to Goodreads Guveaway s for this ebook. This was a well-written action packed novel about a young human (Alan) who becomes more than his humanity provided for. He searches for his mother while fighting evil with some help from earthly and non earthly beings. There is quite a bit of violent imagery so its not for the faint if heart. Action fantasy lovers will be thrilled.
My thanks to the author, Alex Grass, and to Goodreads Guveaway s for this ebook. This was a well-written action packed novel about a young human (Alan) who becomes more than his humanity provided for. He searches for his mother while fighting evil with some help from earthly and non earthly beings. There is quite a bit of violent imagery so its not for the faint if heart. Action fantasy lovers will be thrilled.
March 23, 2022
I won this Goodreads Giveaway, and when it arrived in the mail I was shocked at how thick it was and thought from the cover it wouldn’t be very good but, meh, it was free. So of course quite to the contrary, I rather enjoyed it. It’s a bit grotesque at times and rather odd but in a fascinating sort of way.
January 20, 2022
I enjoyed the author's style of writing, but found the book to drag out in certain places. Over all a good read and story.
June 19, 2022
I was looking forward to another Alex Grass book and this was another great book! Part science fiction, mythology, and horror - drop into a world filled with characters that spin together to weave a great tale!
January 31, 2022
Think Alan from Jumanji meets Edgar from MIB, both chased by John Constantine but that's only the start. Made for an oddly strange yet familiar story. There were elements that had me thinking I knew exactly where the author was going, only for him to throw in a new twist.
This was a very nice read. Author had a smooth, easy to follow pace. The story, intriguing with enough mystery to keep going. Hoping for a second the expands further into this universe and more of O'Brady's story. Highly recommend if mystery, sci-fy, or fantasy is your thing.
This was a very nice read. Author had a smooth, easy to follow pace. The story, intriguing with enough mystery to keep going. Hoping for a second the expands further into this universe and more of O'Brady's story. Highly recommend if mystery, sci-fy, or fantasy is your thing.
June 8, 2022
What a surprisingly fun read. Part science fiction, fantasy, mythology, and horror. The book goes deep into Finnish mythology/folklore for various characters and Tuonela which is the Finnish hell basically. Don't think that you need to know any mythology it is all explained and I was surprised by the depth of the characters. Definitely a book to keep to be re-read. I feel like it would be even more enjoyable a second time around. Would love to see this turned into a graphic novel or a Netflix series.
P.S. The band Amorphis would be proud of this work.
P.S. The band Amorphis would be proud of this work.
June 2, 2022
Amazing Read
I was looking forward to reading another book by this author and I'm glad that I did. It was a brilliant fantastical tale that had me hooked from the beginning chapters. The story is so detailed that at times I wondered how this authors mind worked. I think it might just be as weirdly beautiful as the book was. I can't recommend this book or author more, get it, read it and be prepared to be amazed.
I was looking forward to reading another book by this author and I'm glad that I did. It was a brilliant fantastical tale that had me hooked from the beginning chapters. The story is so detailed that at times I wondered how this authors mind worked. I think it might just be as weirdly beautiful as the book was. I can't recommend this book or author more, get it, read it and be prepared to be amazed.
January 24, 2022
Excellent book. I enjoyed it so much. The storyline flowed so smoothly, descriptions were vivid, the characters were interesting and kept my attention. Never a dull moment. I was a bit surprised by the epilogue. Sequel set up maybe?
I liked this book better than Dreck. It was easier to follow and more entertaining (in my opinion). Although I enjoyed Dreck also.
Thanks for bringing this story to life. It was easy to get invested in our heroes lives.
I liked this book better than Dreck. It was easier to follow and more entertaining (in my opinion). Although I enjoyed Dreck also.
Thanks for bringing this story to life. It was easy to get invested in our heroes lives.
March 2, 2022
This book is very different from what I usually read it is hard to follow at times. I like that it's so different but the different worlds are a little confusing. I'm glad I got to read this I wouldn't have picked it out myself but it was a goid book.
February 19, 2024
This is the fourth book by Alex Grass that I have had the pleasure of reading, and it is my favourite. The story is so bizarre and captivating that it was hard to put the book down.
I found the main character lovable and the villains extremely dislikable (in the best way). Alex Grass brings a cult aspect in such a creepy way, using them as pawns for the bigger picture.
Having Finnish mythology intertwined through the story culminating at the end was fascinating. It was a roller coaster getting to know the various characters, but they were all brought together at the end.
This may not be for you if you are sensitive to disturbing language and vulgarity. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would expect nothing less from an Alex Grass book.
I found the main character lovable and the villains extremely dislikable (in the best way). Alex Grass brings a cult aspect in such a creepy way, using them as pawns for the bigger picture.
Having Finnish mythology intertwined through the story culminating at the end was fascinating. It was a roller coaster getting to know the various characters, but they were all brought together at the end.
This may not be for you if you are sensitive to disturbing language and vulgarity. However, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would expect nothing less from an Alex Grass book.
July 10, 2023
Caution
Very good storyline, however it was marred with too many swear words & vulgarity. Also, the last chapter & epilogue rambled, didn't make sense & appears to be a "soapbox" diatribe of personal beliefs, as well as strong negative feelings. The chapters didn't have much to do with the storyline, were confusing, & created a negative impact on my review of the book.
Very good storyline, however it was marred with too many swear words & vulgarity. Also, the last chapter & epilogue rambled, didn't make sense & appears to be a "soapbox" diatribe of personal beliefs, as well as strong negative feelings. The chapters didn't have much to do with the storyline, were confusing, & created a negative impact on my review of the book.
July 19, 2022
A very good story
I liked this book. I also enjoyed the author's writing style, the book has a really good flow to it. The characters are well written. The story makes you want to keep reading! I definitely recommend this book!
I liked this book. I also enjoyed the author's writing style, the book has a really good flow to it. The characters are well written. The story makes you want to keep reading! I definitely recommend this book!
Want to read
February 26, 2022A wacky/far out tale ..... rather lengthy read. OK but a little too "crazy" for me.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews