Firefly Rain

By: Richard Dansky

Narrated by: Jason Crum

When Jacob left home for a new life, he pretty much forgot all about Maryfield, North Carolina. But Maryfield never forgot him. Or forgave him.

After a failed business venture in Boston, Jacob Logan comes back to the small Southern town of his childhood and takes up residence in the isolated house he grew up in. Here, the air is still. The nights are black. And his parents are buried close by. It should feel like home—but something is terribly wrong.

Jacob loses all his belongings in a highway accident. His car is stolen from his driveway, yet he never hears a sound. The townspeople seem guarded and suspicious. And Carl, the property caretaker with so many secrets, is unnervingly accommodating. Then there are the fireflies that light the night skies . . . and die as they come near Jacob’s home. If it weren’t for the creaking sounds after dark, or the feeling that he is being watched, Jacob would feel so alone. He shouldn’t worry. He’s not.

And whatever’s with him isn’t going to let him leave home ever again.

©2008, 2010, 2023 Richard Dansky (P)2024 Richard Dansky

Southern gothic

I listened to the audio version of this book. The narrator's accent and the vivid descriptions thrust the reader into the rural South. The story flows smoothly as it plays out.

I recommend this book to anyone wanting to dive into a gothic story. Looking forward to more from this author.

Great book!

Very enjoyable listen. The thesis: A man can only swim upstream for so long before he gets tired. Better to just let the water take you where it's gonna go. Well done, and excellent narration

Entertaining Dark Gothic Tale of Family and Horror

This was a reread for me. I read and loved this book many years ago when it was first published. When Jacob returns to his hometown in very rural NC, he expects to just be there long enough to catch his breath, settle his parent's affairs and move on. Maryfield, the town, the people and the home, have other ideas.

There is a ton of southern charm in this one, some humor and some very dark moments as Jacob learns more about his own life, his parents, and is drawn further and further in to a dark mystery that might just swallow him whole.

Charming and creepy Southern gothic vibe

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. The plot kept me interested, but most of all I loved the characters and the setting. I find horror novels lacking in character development, and this book came through in spades with the main character and the side characters. The setting gives off the most charming and creepy southern gothic vibe that works perfectly with the characters’ idiosyncrasies. If there was a sequel, I would buy it in a heartbeat. (Tip: you’re probably going to want to speed up the narration a tad. I struggled w the overly slow drawl of the narrator.)