I read The Crying Heart Tattoo with the highest expectations. I had heard rave reviews and was prepared to read a compelling love story. I was sorely disappointed. The author sets up the female character to appear confident, worldly and strong, yet he has her act weak and pathetic. Her so-called backround was unbelievable when compared to her actions. I never felt an unbreakable bond between the two characters. The writing was obvious in some instances with too many cutsey lines repeated a bit too often. The ending felt tacked on, as if Mr. Martin just ran out of story. The book lacked depth and all in all was just not a compelling read.

When I read this book and reviewed it shortly afterward, I don't think I gave it fair due. As time goes on and I think back to this book I love it more and more.

This is the story of Felicity and Sonny.....life-long lovers with a turbulent and sometimes downright heartbreaking relationship. Felicity, 20 years Sonny's senior, is brazen and even loopy at times. She lends a great deal of humor to the story as well as veiled sadness.

Sonny, on the other hand is a huge jerk throughout most of the story as he becomes more and more bitter and jaded. Felicity seems to be the only spark left in his life...a spark which he almost puts out.

Running parallel to the story of Sonny and Felicity is the tale of Gravelda and Genipur. They are two rather primitive tribal people who are hauntingly similar to their modern-day counterparts. It's a story that Felicity tells to Sonny in chunks over the years as their meetings become fewer and farther between. The story allows Felicity to quietly vent her feelings about her relationship with Sonny.

This is a book that, even if you become a little dazed about in the process of reading, will stick to you long after you've read the last page. Far be it from me to withold credit where credit is due....and I must admit, this book is a jewel.

I read this book many years ago, and make a point of reading it again at least once a year. Long before tattoos were acceptable for women, I got a crying heart tattoo because of how this book touched my heart.

In two words Quick Fun. This novel is no great piece of literature, but it was a good quick solid read, that was interesting to say the least.
The concept, alone was what riveted me, to read the book. Imagine that your best friend from 10 years ago suddenly comes to your front door and strikes up a conversation, about this or that. Then at some point he asks you who do you hate, and who hurt you or your family. No big deal. Right?
Then suddenly all the people who you mentioned the day before start turning up dead.
So starts the adventure, that is both interesting and never failing. I like these type of books from time to time, short in length, long in suspense. Good Clean Fun.

On the cover of my copy of David Martin's "Tap, Tap" is a sticker that promises the novel is "guaranteed to scare or your money back." This is a sucker's bet, and the reader wins nearly every time. "Tap, Tap" is not a particularly scary book, but that's not to say that it's not worth reading; quite to the contrary, it's a wonderful novel.

The story involves Roscoe Bird, a Washington, D.C., businessman who is married and putting his past behind him. Enter Peter Tummelier, Roscoe's childhood friend. Peter now claims to be a vampire and seeks to claim his share of the pair's childhood dream of sailing off into the sunset together (literally). Peter begins to kill Roscoe's enemies in a way calculated to frame Roscoe so that the latter will have no choice but to flee to avoid prosecution. Roscoe's wife, who has a fascination for the sort of very abnormal behavior Peter is exhibiting, finds herself drawn into the seine, as well. Meanwhile, police are indeed falling for Peter's ruse and make it very clear that Roscoe is suspected of murder.

That police would so readily fall for the ploy is problematic, but Martin's writing easily overcomes the plot holes. The writing switches tenses (from past to present and back), voice (from first-person to third-person and back), and locations in a way that could have been very jarring. But Martin is so skilled a writer and the pace is so fast that the end result works--and works well. As I said at the outset, I do not think "Tap, Tap" is scary at all. There are moments of terror, to be sure, but the overall effect is more along the lines of a rollercoaster, a ride on which the reader is carried along rapidly with so many sensations that they almost tend to blur with the passing scenery. Sure, there is some true horror, but there are also moments of great humor and of pathos. And it all seems to blend together remarkably well.

One of my firends suggested that I read this book, and I'm so glad I did!!

Roscoe Bird (you have to love that name) has a problem. One of his school friends is back in town (Peter Tummelier), and soon Roscoe's enemies start turing up dead. Not just one's in Roscoe's present, but his enemies that were in his childhood. Peter has plans for Roscoe and his family.

Through the book we meet a lot of interesting and creepy characters. Most of the creepiness comes in when we meet Peter and his brother. Not only do we read about what Peter and his Brother do in the present, but we also read the sick and twisted childhood that they had. When you read about the childhood that peter and his brother had, you start to feel sorry for them on how they turned out as adults. But you will get the heebie-jeebies when you read this wonderful book.

This is one of the most interesting vampire books that I've read. You don't know if there is a vampire or just some serial killer. I can promise you that you'll be guessing right up to the end.

Martin has a wonderful writing style. He has the talent to mix in horror and humor in this story. The characters seem life like, and one can't help but to feel a range of emotions as they read. Martin also has the gift to keep the reader glued to the page. I highly suggest you read this book. You won't be sorry. I know i wasn't.

Just when you thought David Martin had exhausted every literary trick, he does it again. Far less gory than some of his previous--but far more imaginative--PELIKAN is a must-read for Martin fans of which there are many. (Too bad his books aren't better-promoted.)

That's what I like about David Martin's novels; they are beyond bizarre! Loyal Martin readers will be able to appreciate this new book. PELIKAN's characters and plot are intriguing, to say the least. No one else can combine hookers, clowns, and nuns so perfectly without seeming ridiculous. I, too, wonder if they are real people that Martin actually met while living in the French Quarter.

To those of you who have never been to NOLA and know the cityonly by its popular image as a once-a-year haven for the drunk andtopless, this is the book to read for a fit and proper introduction. Martin's PELIKAN takes you to the back alleys and dark side streets that give New Orleans its full-bodied flavor and true character. And as a bonus, wrapped in this accurate description of the city known as the nation's anus (the explanation is in the book) there's a gripping heist story. Read this book!

David Lozell Martin has created some memorable characters and vividly realistic scenes in his gruesome and gory novel, "Cul-De-Sac". Washed-up cop Teddy Camel (first introduced in Martin's "Lie To Me") comes to the aid of his former lover as she tries to save her husband from the evil clutches of the mysterious house known as Cul-De-Sac and one of it's former residents, convicted murderer Donald Growler.

Growler, you see, has revenge on his mind. Revenge in the form of grisly murders of the former residents of Cul-De-Sac who helped to frame him for the death of his cousin. But was Growler really framed or is this just the warped perception of a pychotic mind? As Camel and Annie Milton try to save Annie's husband, they end up finding out more about the original Cul-De-Sac murder then they bargained for.

Without giving away too much of the plot, let me just say that this book has a number of plot twists that will keep the reader guessing. And, while the finale follows a somewhat expected path, even it has an interesting final twist. As long as the reader is not easily disturbed by florid scenes of violence, then this will be a satisfying and extremely quick "read". Fans of Richard Laymon and Rex Miller will no doubt flock to other novels by David Martin.

Highly recommended is the aforementioned, "Lie To Me", plus "Tap, Tap" and "Bring Me Children" all written by Martin.

The majority of my favorite books have me well-hooked by the end of the first chapter. David Martin's latest nailed me by the end of the first page. And kept me thoroughly riveted right through the end.

Cul-De-Sac involves a very burned-out ex-cop, whose life is turned inside-out by the sudden appearance of his sensuous ex-girlfriend, the fairly freckled Annie. There's also the ex-girlfriend's husband (an ex-Jesuit). Most notably, there is Growler -- an ex-con who, after serving time for a murder he didn't commit, goes on a bloody rampage of vengence against all those who put him away. Growler's prison experiences have left him with a serious grudge as well as a new set of teeth; he's a man on a mission and in addition to wreaking some extremely violent havoc, is in desperate search of...yup, you guessed it; an elephant. Really.

This book made me laugh out loud. It also made me avert my eyes from the page occasionally; while some scenes are very funny, be warned that the violence is not for the faint of heart.

I've bought four more copies for friends thus far, because I won't let mine out of my sight. I've also scrambled to get my hands on all of Martin's previous books (only partially successful); Cul-De-Sac takes gets my vote as Martin's best for its sheer audicity, outrageousness, and great, great writing.

If you're a fan of Pulp Fiction or Twin Peaks, Cul-De-Sac will thrill you

David Martin does it again, another homerun. Is is possible that jail can change a person? Take someone who's innocent of murder then spent several years in jail, and when he comes out, he's a changed man. This is the story of Doland Growler. Grolwer (you have to love that name) had to spend years in jail, and he was changed froever. Now that he's out, he wants to find the ones who set him up for murder and was forced to do unspeakable things in jail. But now Growler is out, and it's times to make the giulty pay.
Don't think that that the above spoils anything. What I said is mention in the back of the book. I left out a lot, trust me.
Martin gives the reader many chills with the unique murders that Growler commits. Martin also has the ability to keep the reader glued to the page, and actually forced the reader to put the book down. This book has a lot of plot twiwts and excellent characters that will heep the reader hooked to the very last page.
If you know of Martin's works, then you need to get this book, and other book Mratin wrote. Now, if you haven't read any books my Martin, then you must start it. You may want to read a book called "Lie to Me", before you read this book. One character in Lie to me, shows up here. Start this book, you won't be sorry.

I bought this book after reading the reviews here. I was greatly disappointed.
It just wasn't scary. Sure, it had a lot of "twisted" characters, but none were too well imagined. A blind doctor who wants to gouge out people's eyes with a spoon, a black woman who practices voodoo, a fat cop who's kind of dumb. Nothing that original.
The gore was kept to a minimum, although one scene at towards the end attempted to make up for the relatively bloodless book. It didn't work. There were a couple of gratuitous sex scenes though. Probably the most descriptive sex scenes I've ever read in a book. I just found them exploitative and pointless.
David Martin doesn't have a true writer's flair either. His words often fall flat. There is no beauty or style to his prose.
Avoid this book.

Well, as the title suggests, I am only just under 100 pages through this book, and I am utterly awe-struck by the whole affair.
This books out-grosses anything that any other horror author I have ever read has(and probably ever WILL) write.

Nothing compares to the sheer sickness of this book, it contains everything you could ask for - gore,sex,incest, horror, etc.

Read it now!

This novel features: a blind doctor who is completely mad and sadistic; a washed-up reporter in turmoil; an exotically beautiful girl. There are depraved games of torture, and perverse eroticism.

I was reading this book late one night when, just as I got into a scene with the mad doctor mutilating one of his victims, I was startled by a loud noise on the roof. I actually jumped, and my heart thumped. It was a possum running around up there. Even though I knew what it was I had trouble shaking the fear. This is the first book which has affected me so powerfully.

I loved that sensation, and kept on reading right through the night until I had finished the book. David Martin is a master of suspense!