Killing It

By: Mike Bockoven

Narrated by: Joe Hempel

Length: 8 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

From the twisted and imaginative mind of Mike Bockoven, author of the cult classic FANTASTICLAND, comes a wholly original and witty new novel of terror, perfect for fans of FROM DUSK TIL DAWN and SHAUN OF THE DEAD.

Since the late 1980's, The Square had been one of the most important clubs in New York for the alt-comedy scene. But before that it was something much darker and is now a place where evil lingers, waiting for a chance to spill blood.

After a night of killing on stage, four comics find themselves in a desperate situation as the spirits of the past come out to play, and a fight for laughs becomes a fight for survival in the most unlikely of places.

©2023 Mike Bockoven (P)2023 Spotify Audiobooks

Story Just Doesn’t Make It

This wasn’t what I was hoping for from Bockoven. The story wasn’t tight, and none of the characters were compelling. Just a meh ghost story that doesn’t really go anywhere. Leaving a review to boost Bockoven through because I’ll read anything he writes after Fantasticaland.

Enjoyable but just okay.

My expectations were high because of how much I love Fantasticland. This isn't that. it's decent. fast-paced, bloody and fun, but it lacks a strong message.

I'd group it with novels like Horrorstor and the Troop. it's a bit pulpy but fans of those novels will enjoy it.

Great Story

I loved every book he’s written so far. This one was really good too. Would definitely listen again.

I do Fantasticland every year. It doesn’t get any better

Good tale in a unexpected environment

This book takes place in a comedy club and I enjoyed how the comics were these damaged and mostly likable people in a doozy of a situation. There were some interesting little comedy club/open mike insider information sprinkled in the story that was cool to learn. I liked this book and the narration was nicely done.

killing it

Mike Bockoven i love Books he good author i'm so excited to his next book of his

Okay, but a bit of a letdown

Honestly, I'm giving it a 4/5 partly because I don't like to give authors that I enjoy lower. with that said, I really was hoping for more from this. I loved Fantasticland and had reasonably high hopes for this. The premise was interesting, and it seemed like a fun slasher. It just wasn't very good.

The first major gripe is the pacing. I HATE when shows do flashback or callback episodes in the middle of the action or near the end of the season. This entire book is like that. one step forward, two steps back. something exciting is about to happen and the next chapter cuts to another character, 20 mins early. Rinse and repeat. The first half even delves into back stories, which is sort of okay but still kills the momentum of the book and the action. I wish there was a straightforward version that was half as long but tighter.

Second is the humor. I loved the performance of the narrator but I'm not sure if he has bad comedic timing or the jokes are really that bad. There seems to be a strong reverence for the biggest and more important names in stand up comedy without really understanding how to craft or tell jokes. In that way, it reflects the club owner that always wanted to be around comedy but could never make it as a comedian. Almost ironic.

It seems like the point was trying to make a feminist point about comedy and female comedians, but it felt more like pandering than anything else. I don't want to dig too far into that, but it felt kind of shallow and off putting.

There are some fun moments or gore and violence and the premise and "villain" are interesting, but it was slow for being such a fast-paced concept and not as funny as it may be could have been. But, like taste in books, humor is subjective. Maybe worth a listen for some. If it's your first time reading his work, I'd start with Fantasticland instead.

Violent and funny.

I’ve listened to every Mike bockoven published so far. While pack remains my favorite I have no bad words to say about killing it. As funny as it is violent and dark. Definitely worth a listen. This is Rad!

Fantastic

So far, I have absolutely enjoyed everything this guy has written. I highly recommend his other two audio books as well. I hope to hear a sequel to the werewolf one someday.

Far fall from Fantasticland

Fantasticland was so clever, captivating and creative, it’s easy to understand that it will be a difficult book for Bockoven to top, but this book was so disappointing it’s hard to believe the same author even wrote it. Why a comedy bar when he so obviously isn’t a comedian?? I didn’t laugh once throughout the entire book. The narrator was horrible, the jokes weren’t funny, the “humor” was painful to listen to. I was so looking forward to this book. I’ll definitely wait a while and actually consider the reviews before I use a credit on his next book.

A struggle to get through.

OMG, this book tries so hard to be funny but fails miserably. I want to love it since I love the author's other books. In the end, I stopped listening.