A Head Full of Knives: An Urban Fantasy Novel

By: Luke Smitherd

Narrated by: Luke Smitherd

Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of Audible #1 bestsellers In The Darkness, That's Where I'll Know You, The Physics of the Dead, and The Stone Man (shortlisted for the Audible Audiobook of the Year award 2015)

Ever wished the world would revolve around you? Be careful what you wish for...

Martin Hogan feels like he's being watched by everyone and everything, and doesn't know why. Even his pets are acting strangely. Each night he sees animals gathering outside his house in the darkness, staring up at his windows with glittering eyes.

"Something is very wrong in the world…"

Things are happening that can't be explained. People are attacking both strangers and loved ones for no apparent reason. It started gradually, almost unnoticed, but now it's beginning to escalate. Random attacks in large groups are causing people to avoid crowds at all costs, and Martin is starting to believe it's all connected to him.

But Martin isn't paranoid. He is about to discover that he is absolutely right; the world does revolve around him, and the reason why is far worse than he could have ever imagined.

As his life spirals deeper into the terrifying and inexplicable, Martin seeks answers, only to find himself engulfed in a high stakes struggle for the future of mankind itself.

For the fate of human race rests solely in Martin Hogan's hands…

Luke Smitherd, author of the Amazon and Audible best sellers The Stone Man, In The Darkness, That's Where I'll Know You, and The Physics of the Dead presents the ultimate predicament in his latest unusual and original novel. A Head Full of Knives is a supernatural mystery that asks what you would do if the fate of the world lay with you (and guarantees you'll never look at animals in quite the same way again.)

©2014 Luke Smitherd (P)2015 Luke Smitherd

Critic reviews

"I had no preconceived idea of what to expect with A Head Full of Knives, and every time I thought I knew where the storyline was heading, Smitherd deftly turned down a new and unexpected path. In a field of genre fiction overflowing with mediocrity and stale ideas - published by large and small press alike - Luke Smitherd stands out as a truly new and original voice." ( AintItCoolNews.com)

Wonderful

I turned on this book every time I could get two seconds to listen to it. At times I was literally aching to find out what happened next. I loved hearing about the creative afterlife that Luke invents. Great story and highly recommended!

Dogs, Decisions, Death, and the Dump

This is one of the most unique books you will ever read (or hear), and I HIGHLY recommend it. I think everyone falls into one of the following categories, but even if you don't, get the book and you'll find out how we're all connected.

Read this book if:

1. You ever thought your cat or dog knew what you were thinking;
2. You lost someone you loved and wonder all the time what happened to this person--and what will happen to you--after he/she died;
3. You try to imagine what "life after death" could possibly be like, not in a religious sense, but in a spiritual, "what will I do for eternity" sense;
4. You have questions that can't be answered, but you like talking about them and hearing the viewpoints of other people because--who knows--one of them could be right.

This book raises a lot of questions about life and death. Sometimes it provides an answer; but sometimes it doesn't because these types of questions are unanswerable. This book describes with detail and beauty and sorrow the consequences of our decisions. You feel what the characters feel. Sometimes that is wonderful and sometimes it hurts, but at all times, it stirs your feelings and gives you a sense of wonderment at the world(s) written about. Eternity and infinity are not easy to think about (they give me a headache), but this book provides original, thought-provoking, and mind-bending possibilities.

It's one of those books that you can (and will) read over and over again and always find something you missed all the other times.

The characters in the book and their thoughts, feelings, and actions are are captured perfectly. I don't think you will find one false note in any of the characters' depictions. They are people. They are not perfect and sometimes they do questionable things, but they also are people who love and get hurt and still try to do the right thing.

The narrator is British, but I had no problem with the accent or those strange words that we use differently even though we're both speaking English.

The narration also gives you a chance to close your eyes and actually imagine the images being described. There are scenes of normalcy, of great wonder, and of places you most likely never imagined could exist, but through this book, you will see them all and feel the real human emotions captured so perfectly.

I highly recommend this book. The creativity, imagination, and devotion that went into it are clearly evident in the true-to-life characters and in the scenes that defy description. That is quite an accomplishment.

Great story!

Would you consider the audio edition of A Head Full of Knives to be better than the print version?

Hmm, that's difficult. I really enjoyed reading it and only got the Audible version later to hear it read...and also really liked that. I can't honestly say I preferred one over the other; one was a voice in my head (haha! see what I did there?) versus the lazy (for me, doubtless it was endless effort for the author) version. However if forced to choose, really...who wouldn't pick the charming spoken accent?

What did you like best about this story?

Just..such a good story...scary and yet romantic and intriguing. The whole deal. I can never find books like this any more!

Have you listened to any of Luke Smitherd’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Right up there.

So Great

If you like twilight zone type stories you will this one. Very well done. Another success from Luke Smitherd.

Wow! Kept me turning all over the place!

So original and out there! This author has such a rich incredible world he shares in the most bizarre and interesting books. Best yet, this audible was narrated by the author! The outcome is a mind-expanding story told in the way it was written, complete with a touch of humor here and there within the brilliant madness. LOVED it.

blown away

I had no idea what to expect from this author, but was basically blown away by his story. The protagonist is heartbreakingly real. I had to take a few mental breaks from listening because of how well the author describes his experience. The narration is seamless, moving fluidly between words and emotion. I have to say that this book knocked me on my butt, figuratively speaking. I will definitely be back for another title!

Still tops on my list!

I got lost a few times on this trip. The book was excellent and kept me on the edge of my chair. I just was confused (for the lack of a better descriptive) a few times during the listen.

Still my favorite author of the 21st century.

Unique and creative story

As with all Luke Smitherd titles, A Head Full of Knives is different from anything I've ever read. I love his stories and listening to his audiobooks is always an enjoyable experience.

A Head Full of Knives has likable characters and tackles subjects like life after death, but does so without being too "preachy."

I will say that the narrator/author reads this book very quickly, which made it a little hard to focus. I don't mind a fast narrator, in fact I prefer it to someone who reads too slowly, but this might have been a bit too fast for me to really appreciate the story.

Exceptional!

Would you listen to A Head Full of Knives again? Why?

AHFOK is absolutely stimulating while Luke goes deep with this one. His original concepts and unique imagination kept me up a couple nights with listening to this mastermind of a writer narrate yet another astonishing and thought provoking story. I highly recommend this audible for an creepy but emotional and unusual thrill ride where you find yourself questioning everything! I wish I could give it more than 5 stars.

Fantastic story!

I have read and listened to every bit of Mr. Smitherd's work that I can get my hands on and have never regretted it. This story is right up there with all of his others. So imaginative, always unique, and (for this one especially) so many twists I didn't see coming. You know a story is great when you keep catching yourself talking to it. Can't rave enough about it. I'm only sad it's over. Til next time!

Luke Smitherd – Best new British author for years!

If you could sum up A Head Full of Knives in three words, what would they be?

Thought provoking, compelling, eclectic (4 words – I know!)

What did you like best about this story?

The detailed explanations of the situations the characters were in together with the way Luke makes something so crazy seem like it’s actually normality.

Have you listened to any of Luke Smitherd’s other performances? How does this one compare?

Yes, the Stone Man. Both are 5 star listens in my mind.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, but a full time job, a wife, 2 kids and the desire for a few beers in the pub meant that I completed it in 4 days as opposed to one sitting.

Any additional comments?

To find out that Luke was self-published was a shock and was the catalyst to me writing my first ever review. Luke’s ability to immerse the reader / listener in a story as thought provoking and mind blowing as this without going completely off the rails is excellent – not to mention actually coming up with the idea in the first place!

There is no doubt in my mind that Luke will continue to gain 5 star ratings for his work and I have already bought ‘In The Darkness, That's Where I'll Know You: The Complete Black Room Story’.

I wish him all the very best & I look forward to many more years of reading / listening to his work.

Consistently entertaining and original

Ok so I've read them all now and I am now at a bit of a loss as to where to go next !!
I'd read all the King, Koontz and Herbert stuff and fortunately happened across Luke but now I've read / listened to all his too -
UPDATE. Physics of the dead out!! LUKE hurry up with the next one please ;)

I like the way this Author thinks!

Any additional comments?

This was my third book purchased from Audilble by Luke Smitherd and my favorite to date. I listened to the Stone Man first, then In the Darkness, and finally A Head full of Knives, one after another.By the end of the third book (maybe because the author narrated the last two books himself?) you feel a real connection with him, his stories and characters. So much so that, even though you know the books are firmly fiction, you start wondering if he has indeed had an glimpse at another world and another way of thinking?His characters are so believable (very dry, witty and self effacing) that you are just drawn into them without a second doubt that these things could indeed happen. And the pace of the books is such that you cant stop listening. I cannot recommend this author enough!I have always been fascinated with films about AI and although this isn't the topic of his books there is definitely a link in my mind. He also writes with such logic, his characters always questioning what's happening to them, that it makes great reading for someone like me who hates plot holes and leaps of fancy.If you haven't read this book yet, give it a try. I've been on Audible for just over a year now, listening to around 60 books in this time, and this is close to the top of my favorites list.Enjoy!

Another great read

Or should that be listen.. kept me happy for quite a lot of dog walking time. The Stone Man is still my overall favourite but this one isn't far behind. I always thought the cat was a bit suspicious looking...

Great stuff!

Just finished this after listening to the stone man and the black room. A all three are great listens. The author apologises for reading two out of the three himself but I slightly preferred his narration to Mark Addis' as it was more intimate in some ways. Highly recommended and loved the quirky setting of my dull hometown that I haven't visited for years.

A frustratingly good listen

Another trip through the bizarre with Luke.
Be prepared to be frustrated, challenged and thought provoked. A dilemma no parent should face and a view in to an afterlife none of us would want to contemplate.

Continuing to Impress!!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would definitely recommend this audio book to a friend. After discovering Luke Smitherd his books continue to thrill and excite!

What did you like best about this story?

The characters really were totally believable and the story just didn't slack off.

What does Luke Smitherd bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

the true art of storytelling for me is being able to completely engross the reader with the story and characters. With Luke reading the book himself he more than accomplishes this.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have loved to listen in one sitting as i didn't want to turn it off.

Any additional comments?

I would certainly recommend to any avid audio book listener

Brilliant

This is the third book I have listened to by Luke Smitherd. Enjoyed it immensely.
Well written, well read. Brilliant plot.

Listened to the extra at the end about how the book came about. I can see why he is such a good novelist.

Recommend.

Rollercoaster!

Another fantastic story from Mr. Smitherd. A little confusing, at times, but just when you think you're lost, you find your place again. Excellent narration as always, nice to hear the different accents :). Overall, loved it. On to the next! .

Another masterpiece....gripping narrative strikes

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely, there are so many aspects which just shouldn't work, mind controlling cat anyone, but they fit together so perfectly that you will fall right in to the story. There are so many complex layers to the story but it dos more than that, this book makes you think and I mean deep! Life, death, reincarnation it's all there and more.

Who was your favorite character and why?

For me it was the character of "Callum" and if you want to know why I've put that on inverted commas you'll have to listen to the book!! Let's just say he is NOT what he seems and boy does it all unravel in connection to this character. I think this is what makes him my favourite, starts off as an innocent piece of the puzzle but becomes so much more!

Which character – as performed by Luke Smitherd – was your favourite?

The character of Martin.