Book review: The Triumph of the Spider Monkey

The Triumph of the Spider Monkey - Cover by Robert McGinnis

For the first in more than 40 years, The Triumph of the Spider Monkey by Joyce Carol Oates is once again available in print. The folks at Hard Case Crime brought this novella back to us earlier this summer and I'm grateful that they did.

In The Triumph of the Spider Monkey, Oates crafts the story of Bobbie Gottenson - a man who was abandoned as a baby in a bus station locker; who grew up being shuttled between a series of abusive foster homes and juvenille detention facilities. As an adult, this character yearns for success as a musician. Besides carrying his guitar, though, he also brings with him seething rage, paranoid delusions, and a capacity of shocking violence.

What results from this is a seductive and powerful take that Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl called "innovative, brilliant, curious, and creative."

In short, I recommend this book highly for anyone who enjoys dark thrillers. The Triumph of the Spider Monkey is available on Amazon.com as well as at most major booksellers.