Katie

Valancourt 20th Century Classics

By: Michael McDowell

Narrated by: Kimberly M. Wetherell

When Philo Drax receives a letter from her wealthy grandfather saying he fears for his life at the hands of the vicious Slape family, she rushes to the rescue. But too late! Katie Slape, a monstrous girl with psychic powers and a penchant for smashing skulls with her hammer, has already finished him off and gotten hold of his cash.

Determined to track down the murderers, Philo hunts Katie and her family through the streets of 1860s New York, where the Slapes’ coffers are filling up with money as their cellar fills up with corpses. But going after the Slapes might be the worst decision of Philo’s life, for no one escapes the bashing of Katie’s hammer!

A bloody, action-packed romp, Katie (1982) is a throwback to the exciting and violent “penny dreadfuls” of the Victorian era and features the same brilliant writing as Michael McDowell’s classic horror novels The Elementals and Blackwater.

“A great read - evocative of another era, engrossing from the first page, chilling.” (Publishers Weekly)

“McDowell must now be regarded as the finest writer of paperback originals in America.” (Stephen King)

“Michael McDowell has a flair for the gruesome...the nurturing of utmost horror.” (Washington Post)

“You need a strong stomach...filled with gore and horror. At the same time, he writes so well that you can’t stop reading his books.” (Ocala Star-Banner)

©1983, 2020 Michael McDowell (P)2020 Valancourt Books LLC

good read, but not my favorite McDowell

it's a good story. great narration. just not my favorite story by McDowell, it was the only reason I listened to it. was good and worth the credit!

Excellent book from an excellent author!

Having read Mr. McDowell again he has placed another jewel in his crown GREAT BOOK!

If you like Michael McDowell, you’ll love this!

I have listened to every other book by McDowell on Audible and this is just as great as the rest. This one packs a bit more of a punch in the gore aspect, but the story and characters are just as well written as his other novels. Stephen king isn’t wrong when he praises McDowells writing. He was truly one of the best!

If Mark Twain were more gruesome

Another fairly tale like story that might be worthy of an R Rated Disney movie. Let me just put this out there that if you love dogs then you will have an issue with this story because 3 dogs die (1 puppy early on, one ill tempered watch dog belonging to a murderous family, and one yippy small dog that gets his revenge after death). That aside, the whole tale is very much like a Mark Twain style story of murder, orphans and justice. I can only believe some folks will make a term paper analyzing all the story elements and reversals of fortune but much like the main character you might just grouse about the ending not being filled with more action. It is fun if a little bloody and a nice example of the writers craft.

Another good one!

Recently discovered this author. His story are long and detailed to the point where you wonder what the point is. Then “things” start happening and you understand why you needed to know all those details. Superb storyteller. Narrator was slightly annoying but I was able to get past it.

Awesome story awesomely told

Michael McDowell can tell a story like no other- depictions of 1871 were accurate and interesting

Great story, meh narrator

Another great story by Michael McDowell, wish the narrator was as good as the book.

Incredible

Michael McDowell is a legend and his novel Katie is wonderfully realized by Kimberly Wetherell's pitch perfect narration! Wow! I'm going to seek out more of her books. Absolutely incredible.

Well worth 1 credit— but not incredible

His good writing saves this from being a 3 star. It’s not horror... it’s basically a fairy tale?! It’s a story of a poor girl mixed up with very bad luck and murder (repeat 4x) with the immediate reversal of said back luck due to pure good luck (not hard work or effort on her part). The characters have zero depth but are somehow enjoyable? So bizarre— honestly how a book this “heavy” zips right along and then ends the way it does.

Katie Don't Play....with that hammer and knife.

It was a bit slow at the beginning, but the pace picked up which was nice. It was a nice, period slasher horror read. I could see this turned into a movie.