An Untimely Frost Paperback – October 14, 2019

Different, interesting characters, loved the ending I didn't see coming. You'll find yourself staying up to know how it ends.

Pros: Humorous, fun, interesting, smart, engaging; an appropriate and fun coming of age story, perfectly blended motley of cultural and literary ideas.Cons: Feels somewhat stitched together; not in a bad way, but could be a little jarring for some folks (not really a con, but I can't think of anything else).I've been meaning to read one of Mr. Spencer's novels for some time now at the recommendation of many of my friends and family. This is the first one I've had the time to pick up, and now I can see why people rave about his books.Untimely Frost is certainly unique and captivating, but the writing itself and the way Spencer weaves a good story really stood out. The character development, plot, philosophical depth, and generally interesting story woven into it are masterfully handled.Each character has a place and a point. Not a single idea or piece of character development is wasted. This thing is definitely a head-scratcher; I finished the book two days ago and I'm still having moments of clarity with some of the story ideas. So much of the book seems to not have a point, and then I'll refer back to another scene from earlier and have an 'Ooooooohh, that's neat!' moment. After finishing it, I've come to look at it as a mash-up of Catcher in the Rye with a famous pop culture spin I'll not spoil here. This book also flips quite a few expectations around, apparently for fun and stylistic purposes, and the ending will probably screw with your head a good bit.Did I mention this story has a few parts that are absolutely bizarre and hilarious? There are more than a few scenes where Mr. Spencer really gets into the head of the main character and lands a complete slam-dunk in describing how someone his age would view the situation, and it really comes off as funny and genuine.I would really like to see a companion essay on the book, or maybe an in depth interview with Mr. Spencer over some of his ideas. I kept trying to squeeze in little bits of time throughout the day to find out what happened next, but it was the experience of the story itself that kept me sitting down for longer hauls. The tale itself has kept me thinking about the story often over the past few days. Some additional thoughts on the story by the author would be wonderful.I think this one hits a good middle ground for many types of readers, but I think it would be a particularly memorable experience for those into paranormal and new age novels.Definitely worthy of 5 stars across the board.

Just when I thought it was impossible to do anything new with zombies, along comes “An Untimely Frost.”This novel is much more than a standard horror story. Cadillac, its sixteen-year-old protagonist, resides in Devil’s Elbow, Kentucky, in 1971, and Spencer succeeds in taking many of the usual Southern Gothic elements—struggling families abandoned by hard-drinking, philandering daddies, eccentric religious sects, tiny towns with names that are funny in more ways than one, and so forth—and making even those of us who grew up on Faulkner and O’Connor feel like we are encountering them for the very first time. The book is darkly, often grotesquely funny throughout, but there’s nothing light about it. Even the humor serves a serious purpose. It causes us to ponder even as we laugh, and its insights into life and death are truly staggering in a few choice places. Then again—I don’t want to scare anybody off—it’s simply fun to read and awfully hard to put down.If there is anything that can be seen as a drawback, it’s that feeling of “Where is all this going?” that comes about midway through. Some may begin to feel a little impatient at some point after the dead emerge from the river, but I promise, “An Untimely Frost” ends up in a place that is hard-to-see-coming, somewhere oddly beautiful that only a master storyteller like Mark Spencer can take us to.

Mark Spencer has layers of imagination and the ability to share his ideas with his readers. Although this is a genre previously untouched by me, I found myself entering the mindset of the family and friends who welcomed the dead who walked out of the river. I didn't see the gory body parts hanging in, out, and around. I actually felt true compassion and sympathy for their outcome. And I will never react to the word FROG without thinking of the narrow minded flock of souls that were members of this denomination. Cadillac had lots of growing up to accomplish. He mastered this with an appetite for love and delicious meals. I must admit I'm reading the marvelous book again and again. And since I was born in Lake Village, AR, Spencer's tidbet about this area was appreciated. My family and I spent many days and holidays at Lake Chicot State Park. Fortunately, we missed Cadillac and his escapades. Run and get this book. What a most excellent read. Thanks again, Professor Spencer!

This tale pushes the limits of a young mans mind in rural Kentucky, to solve current issues and to resolve past life events making for a very adventurous future. A wonderful small town setting along the Ohio river to establish the story line that is followed by a grand adventure through the southern delta and culminates in one of the greatest American city. Read and enjoy the ride

Mark Spencer weaves together a mesmerizing tale of life in the small KY town of Devil’s Elbow, known for its namesake hairpin turn on the road above a river and decades-long spate of mysterious disappearances of its residents.Told from the point of view of 16-year-old Cadillac as he watches is secret crush – Kathy – plunge to her death in a church school bus, this book reimagines the relationship between the living and the dead. As mourners and townspeople gather at the crash site, rescue efforts are derailed as the dead begin emerging from the water. Not just victims of the school bus crash, but also long-missing victims of the town’s treacherous road – including Cadillac’s father. In a unique twist on “beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” some see the grotesque reality in the Resurrected while others see the unmarked face of their loved one. Don’t put this book down until you reach the end.

The story kept me glued to the page right to the very end! The writing is as stunning as the story is compelling! It reminds me of THE RETURNED but more complex and frightening. Don’t wait to read this. It will knock your socks off!!!!