I read this a long time ago and it was truly good.

It was far more funny than anything else.

Both of the bounty hunters were a real trip.

They were like the comic relief in a horror flick, bringing a touch of lightheartedness and humor to an otherwise intense and perhaps spooky situation.

McCammon was really the man back in the day.

His work had a certain charm and appeal that made it stand out.

The story was engaging and full of interesting characters and plot twists.

Even after all this time, I still remember it fondly and would recommend it to others who are looking for an entertaining read.

Whether you're a fan of horror, comedy, or just good storytelling in general, this piece has something to offer.

It's a classic that has stood the test of time and continues to be enjoyed by readers today.

I read my first book from Robert R. McCammon, and it was truly excellent!

I randomly bought this book at a secondhand store because I was really attracted by the cover and had a great hunch about it. And I wasn't wrong (this time).

Gone South is a story about Dan Lambert, a man who is out of luck. He is sick of the deadly aftermath of agent Orange in Vietnam and is desperately seeking a job. When he fails to get a loan to continue using his car at a bank, he snaps and kills someone in a blind fury.

The bank then sets a bounty on his head, and all sorts of crazy bounty hunters, cops, and madmen attempt to catch him. He is on the run to the South, towards the Louisiana Bayous, along with a girl who is looking for a healing woman in the swamp. And there are two of the craziest and most bizarre bounty hunters hot on their tails.

One of them, named Pelvis, is the worst kind of Elvis impersonator, a ruthless loner and a freakshow because he has the body of his unformed twin brother by his side. That's some wild imagination!

4.5 rounded up

This was truly a peculiarly strange and deeply heartfelt read.

Each and every one of the characters possessed extremely strong personalities. Their dynamics with one another were even more powerful.

I wholeheartedly relished reading this and was thoroughly entertained from the very start right through to the finish.

This was my initial encounter with Robert McCammon's work, and it most definitely will not be my last!

I found myself completely engrossed in the story, unable to put it down.

The way McCammon crafted the characters and their relationships was truly remarkable.

It made for a captivating and unforgettable reading experience.

I can't wait to explore more of his books and see what other amazing stories he has to offer.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a unique and engaging read.

Robert McCammon is one of the authors I never miss. No matter what he has written, I am interested in reading it and I know it will be worth the dedicated time. "Insanity" is not a typical crime novel. At first glance, the heroes seem absurd and impossible in any reality, but precisely in this lies the magic of McCammon - he writes so skillfully that only after several pages do you believe in everything.

"Insanity" is not an odyssey for several strangers either, the plot is much deeper. Yes, there is all the action - thefts, killers, drug dealers, alligators (after all, we are in the swamps of Louisiana), but there is also that thin, delicate moment that touches you, because "the good goes hand in hand with the bad". Not everything is just black or white. I couldn't wait to find out what happens at the end of the book and the finale left me pleasantly surprised and satisfied.

If you are looking for a novel that will challenge you and push you out of the stereotypes of thinking, "Insanity" will satisfy that hunger for something different. Just trust McCammon and the demons in his head.

The whole review - here: https://azcheta.com/bezumie-robart-ma...

The very best of McCammon.

Billed as an action/adventure, intrigue thriller, "Gone South" truly delivers the goods. It not only provides the excitement and thrills one expects from such a genre but then takes it a step further, evolving into a profound lesson in humanism. It is truly a touching and engaging read.

Dan, in a moment of panic, accidentally shoots the man who is repossessing his truck and then flees from the law. In a desperate attempt to avoid capture, he slinks through the byways of the Deep South, not entirely sure of his destination. Along the way, he becomes embroiled in another man's death and now finds himself being hunted for bounty by a former side-show star with three arms and a newbie hunter who is a failed Elvis impersonator. What follows is an ever-expanding comedy of errors that includes Deep South legends, drug-filled alligators, a neglected fairyland, and a shootout with a drug cartel.

I have to admit that this book started off a little shakily for me. The opening chapters, with their flashbacks to the Vietnam War, felt a bit dated. However, it soon becomes clear that these are just setting the background for the main character. Once the story gets flowing, it is completely captivating, filled with non-stop action and adventure (trigger warning: there is a significant amount of violence). The characters are unforgettable, the situations seem impossible, and the flawed characters' existences add depth and authenticity. It is also a story about the search for hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.

While there is some levity in the book, it is important to note that this is NOT a comedy. It is, without a doubt, one of the very best books I have ever read, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to others.

I have discovered a new favorite Robert McCammon novel. I was once unsure if anything could ever displace Mystery Walk or Mine in my heart, but here we are. Gone South is an absolute gem, a glorious and countrified character study. On display is one of McCammon's most captivating plots, set against the backdrop of the Louisiana swamps.

If I may be so bold as to humble brag for a moment, I am attending a McCammon reading/signing this Tuesday. I will most definitely take my first edition of this book for him to autograph. And I have a strong suspicion that I will be rereading it frequently. How could I not? The story follows a Vietnam vet whose life has fallen apart and who has lost nearly everything... except his will. After killing a banker in self-defense, he is on the run from a couple of rather unique bounty hunters (a man with three arms and an Elvis Presley impersonator... trust me, it works). In tow is a girl who is desperately seeking a miracle in the heart of the Bayou. McCammon's characters are always well-rounded and fully developed, but these particular ones are truly special. I have the sense that McCammon created the characters first and then built the story around them. The result is a thrilling adventure filled to the brim with people that the reader can't help but care deeply about.

Every Robert McCammon novel is an underrated masterpiece, and this one is no exception. McCammon has never received the attention he truly deserves. Although this isn't the horror or historical fiction that he is renowned for, I highly recommend checking it out if you're up for a wild boat ride through the swamps in search of redemption. Just be careful of those alligators!

It was Hell's season, and the air was thick with the acrid stench of burning children. This is how Dan Lambert's journey south commences, in the sweltering heat of a Shreveport summer in 1991. The Vietnam War haunts him, leaving him physically scarred by Agent Orange and emotionally broken by PTSD, which has driven away his wife and child. As if his illness and family woes weren't enough, the country is in the grip of a recession, and Dan is out of work. The final straw comes in the form of a bank summons to repossess his pickup truck, his only means of finding employment. An argument with the bank manager leads to a fight, and suddenly Dan is on the run from the law, having "gone south."

McCammon explores the multiple interpretations of this phrase throughout the novel. It's Cajun talk for being dead, an expression used in Vietnam for someone who goes crazy and snaps, and also the actual journey Dan takes towards the Alabama bayou and the Mississippi Delta water labyrinth, where he hopes to escape pursuit and assess his situation.

Dan Lambert isn't the only character on a quest. He meets Arden, a girl on the run from herself and society, with a disfiguring birthmark on her face, searching for the Bright Girl, a mythical creature said to be able to heal all illnesses with a touch of her hands. Clint and Pelvis Eisley, a mismatched pair of bounty hunters, add humor to the story, while also revealing their own pain and rejection. Little Train, a solitary fisherman and war veteran, lives in isolation in the bayou.

Each member of the group, except Little Train, is seeking a way out of their problems. Dan must accept responsibility for his killing rage and come to terms with his illness, Arden must embrace her disfigurement, Clint must decide about his job dissatisfaction, and Pelvis must move beyond his Elvis infatuation.

The author also introduces a band of drug smugglers hiding in the swamp as adversaries. Their role is the most conventional part of the novel but provides exciting action sequences. In the beginning, there are some similarities with Toni Morrison's "Home," but the two novels diverge in their styles and treatments. McCammon's novel is a fast-paced thriller with horror elements and black humor, while Morrison's work leans towards the classical form of Greek tragedies.

Coming after "Boy's Life," this novel may seem like a step down in quality, but McCammon still manages to create a memorable story and characters. He expresses his disappointment with the publishing industry, which forced him to write copycat thrillers. However, even when his heart wasn't fully in this project, he didn't disappoint his readers and made the story more about the spiritual journey of the characters.

My favorite passage from the introduction illustrates McCammon's artistic credo and why he's one of my favorite authors. It emphasizes the importance of purity, hope, struggle, and the power of creating a world and characters through writing.

When Vietnam vet Dan Lambert receives a notice in the mail stating that his truck is being repossessed, he makes his way down to the bank. The bank manager turns out to be an arrogant asshole, and before Dan realizes it, the situation has taken a significant turn for the worse. Now, with the police in pursuit and the bank president placing a $15,000 bounty on his head, where will Dan flee?

After reading "Boy's Life" by Robert McCammon, I was on the lookout for more of his works at a reasonable price. I came across "Gone South" through a Bookgorilla email, among other things.

For some reason, this book sat untouched on my Kindle until someone informed me that it featured both an Elvis impersonator and a parasitic twin. After that, I knew I had to fit it into my reading schedule.

At the start of the book, Dan Lambert is a semi-employed carpenter, a divorced Vietnam vet still haunted by the war and diagnosed with Leukemia. When he loses his truck, he inadvertently sets off a chain of events that leads to a shitstorm, and he soon finds himself on the run. Hot on his trail are Flint Murtaugh, a gambler and bounty hunter, and Pelvis Eisley, a wannabe bounty hunter who tags along. Flint has a conjoined twin he calls Clint, and Pelvis is an Elvis impersonator, as his name might suggest.

"Gone South" is more of a straightforward crime novel compared to McCammon's previous works. There are no supernatural elements present. However, it does contain a bit more gore than your average crime book. It leans more towards the style of Elmore Leonard and Joe Lansdale's crime novels. Like Leonard's works, you end up having a soft spot for the bad guys. The dialogue is excellent and often hilarious. McCammon also showcases his writing skills throughout the book. I found myself highlighting quite a few memorable lines as I read.

In the introduction, which I'm glad I read after finishing the book, McCammon describes "Gone South" as a journey from hell back to the garden of Eden. Now that I've completed it, I can see what he means. Dan, Arden, Murtaugh, and Eisely all lack direction at the beginning. Through the course of the story, they all grow as characters, facing various challenges and emerging changed on the other side. It doesn't hurt that there are much more menacing bad guys than Murtaugh along the way.

What more can I say? "Gone South" is an incredibly gripping and entertaining read. I have nothing negative to say about it. While I had read and enjoyed several of Robert McCammon's books before, I had always thought of him as a bit of a Stephen King ripoff and didn't understand why some people held him in such high esteem. Now I do. I give this book four out of five stars.

Of all the McCammon books I have read so far, this one stands out as the most straightforward.

A man, turned fugitive due to a terrible accident, attempts to outrun the law in order to spend the remaining years of his life outside of prison.

Although the story is relatively basic, the characters are not. Dan, a Vietnam vet facing hard times and struggling to make ends meet, forms an unlikely bond with a girl named Arden.

Arden, burdened by a birthmark, feels she doesn't fit into "normal society" and becomes Dan's traveling companion.

Adding to the mix are a couple of very unusual bounty hunters, or perhaps I should say a throuple? Flint's situation is truly strange.

This was my 5th McCammon book, and I had expected it to be more like Swan Song, given that it was one of his earlier novels when he mainly wrote horror.

However, it was not like Swan Song, lacking the scope and imagination of that story.

Nor was it as creative as Boy's Life, which I found to be a truly magical tale.

After finishing the book, I went back to read McCammon's Foreword. I found it quite interesting.

Gone South was part of a two-book deal with the publisher, paired with Boy's Life.

The writing style and tone are so different that I wouldn't have guessed they were written back to back.

McCammon expresses his desire to break out of the horror rut and vary his style.

I also learned from the Foreword that after writing Gone South, McCammon went on a 10-year "retirement" of sorts.

His next book, Speaks the Nightbird in 2002, was a departure from the horror genre, although it did have its share of creepy moments.

I liked the ending of Gone South. I had feared that it would be too predictable, but it wasn't.

McCammon characterizes the book as a journey from Hell back to the Garden of Eden, a fresh start, a chance to be new again.

I agree with his description, although I can understand the flat reaction from the publishing executives at the time.

Overall, I thought Gone South was a pretty good read, even if it didn't have the same magic as some of his other stories. I give it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

The good news is that if this is one of his "lesser" books, then I have many great McCammon reads ahead of me.

Robert McCammon has an extraordinary talent for crafting a journey that stands out from the rest. In this particular tale, it strongly resembles The Odyssey in terms of the diverse cast of characters and the immersive atmosphere. Our heroes find themselves fighting their way through the treacherous swamps of Louisiana, in pursuit of The Bright Girl, a mythical faith healer.

This story is not just a simple manhunt; it is also a profound exploration of redemption. The main character, Dan, is on the run from the law and being chased by bounty hunters due to a terrible misunderstanding. Along the way, he crosses paths with Arden, a young woman seeking a cure for a facial deformation. Together, they embark on a journey towards salvation. The people they encounter are as vivid and colorful as the land they traverse. Although some of the antics may have a slapstick quality, the tone is perfectly in line with the high stakes of their adventure.

Gone South is a dark and captivating novel that never loses that hint of hope. It beautifully showcases the beauty and danger of the American South. With a rating of 3.5/5, readers should definitely keep an eye out for those lurking gators!

It was something a little different than I expected. This is not even remotely horror. It's more of a thriller, based on which Tarantino or Lynch could direct another cult classic. And I would really love to go to the cinema for such a movie.

I have the experience with McCammon that every book of his that has come into my hands is different, so it's always like opening a black box. However, it has never happened to me that I found something really bad in that box. And this one is also an interesting and good book. I enjoyed it and I recommend it.

This book commences with a rather dark sentence: "It was hell's season, and the air smelled of burning children."

Undoubtedly, this sets the tone for the initial part of the book, in which McCammon描绘出一幅严峻的画面，刻画了一位越战老兵在战后艰难挣扎的生活，他仍然被战争带来的恐怖所萦绕。

Dan Lambert is a weary man with numerous issues. He makes some significant mistakes and thus becomes the subject of a manhunt. He makes his way southward through Louisiana and encounters some rather outlandish characters along the way.

Creating memorable characters is McCammon's forte, and the characters that Dan Lambert meets are, to say the least, extremely interesting. The descriptions of how people look are always very vivid and funny. For example: "She had red hair that flowed over her thick-set shoulders in a torrent of kinky curls. Her face was about as appealing as a chunk of limestone, all sharp edges and forbidding angles."

As this wild chase progresses towards the Louisiana marshlands (the bayous), an internal struggle between good and bad unfolds. There are some profound insights along the way, such as: "It's not where you are that's important; it's where you are going that counts." And during the scenes in the Bayou, the Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Born on the Bayou" constantly played in my mind. It is an excellent song and serves perfectly as a soundtrack to this action-packed thriller.

All in all, this was my tenth McCammon book. He is one of my favorite writers, and I consider this book to be a good read. Perhaps it's not great, but it is definitely enjoyable, and I truly liked the ending of this one.