Christopher Null

Alex lives the life of a typical suburban kid, until his first day of high school brings the wrath of the school bully and star football player, Steve. After years of abuse, Alex turns the tables on his tormentor, hatching a slow and brutal plan to end Steve's tortures for good. But will Steve's murder really make life any better for Alex? And what if he actually gets away with the crime? Half Mast is a haunting and powerful tale of revenge... and the inevitable remorse that comes with it.

The San Francisco Chronicle says "Very believable... Readers returning to the trials of puberty will find this fast read disturbingly accurate."

Slashdot says Half Mast is "an impressive debut novel about an uncommon subject matter."

Blogcritics says "A stunning accomplishment, achieving several difficult tasks simultaneously: gripping caper yarn, perceptive coming of age story, keen observation and commentary on drastic Darwinian social stratification in school (with echoes of Columbine, et al), and a devastating look at the inexorable manifestation of the internal into the external which some call fate."

Curled Up With a Good Book says "I am deeply impressed with this novel... Christopher Null [has] made it to my immediate buy list from this moment on."

The Boox Review says "A completely absorbing, provocative, and finely crafted story."

The Compulsive Reader says "The story is a cautionary tale that is thought provoking and will haunt you for a long time. I will be looking forward to Christopher Null's second book."

3am magazine says "The idea and the appeal of this book is that we're going to see something that we never get to see, a raw and frightening thing that we're going to remember for quite some time. We're going to watch a kid figure out how to become a killer, and the author leads us down that pathway with skill."

The New York Resident says "Null's mastery of the language laces Half Mast with a brilliant thread of emotional tragedy as Alex pinballs helplessly through a young life gone terribly wrong. With its carefully conceived plot, three-dimensional characters and mature refusal to find easy solutions for difficult circumstances, Half Mast scores on all levels. A truly gripping story from its enigmatic opening through its stunning denouement, Half Mast is a striking example of the best of contemporary American fiction."

All About Murder Reviews says "A very satisfying read with a shocking yet stunning ending."

MyMac.com says "What really separates Half Mast from the rest... is the coolly realistic gaze at the aftermath of the vengeful deed and the deeply flawed protagonist."

Resources

Half Mast at Goodreads
Half Mast large cover image (JPG)