#BookReview-‘Whiteout’ by Ashton Macauley

Super thrilled to be bringing you a review of ‘Whiteout’ by Ashton Macauley published in paperback and hardback by Aberrant Literature (link below).

About the book…

Nick Ventner is a drunk with a blatant disregard for others. He’s also damned good at hunting creatures that aren’t supposed to exist.

Currently at 4.57 stars on Goodreads and 4.8 stars  on Amazon!

From amateur necromancers in the bayou to Sasquatch impersonators in the Pacific Northwest, Nick’s seen it all. Even if some of the details might be a little fuzzy.

“An excellent drunken romp…Macaulay takes inspiration from many of the great monster hunting books and movies throughout the times, and combines them with an Indiana Jones feel to give us a fantastic Anti-Hero” – John Ceccarelli

In Whiteout, Nick faces his greatest challenge to date. Accompanied by his trusty mountain guide, Lopsang, and his testy apprentice, James, Nick journeys into the Himalayas to settle a matter of pride and payouts, as he searches for the lost riches of Shangri-La rumored to lie within the mountain’s peak. However, the sudden arrival of Nick’s greatest adversary, Manchester, complicates matters, and pits the two in a race towards the top, and both soon find that they have not just one another to contend with, but also a mythical and elusive yeti that has been terrorizing the mountain.

“Great writing. [Ashton Macaulay] does an amazing job of mixing suspense, drama, and humor, keeping you on the edge while reading, but also laughing out loud as you turn the pages. – Kyle Bennin

Featuring death-defying obstacles, hair-raising encounters with creatures from beyond, and a heavy dose of sarcasm along the way, Whiteout is sure to satisfy anyone looking for a fast-paced adventure novel brimming with action, suspense, and imagination. Not to mention the occasional whiskey on the rocks.

“I LOVED the main character…fast paced and exciting!” – Becki Kobielush

Whiteout is the first in a planned trilogy from author Ashton Macaulay and Aberrant Literature, so be sure to stay on the lookout for more Nick Ventner adventures to come!

‘There’s just no room for respectable monster hunters anymore.
They all just want the spectacle’

Wow! What a series opener, Nick Ventner is the hero we all need whether he likes it or not!
I am getting major Kolchak vibes from this book which could be a series that runs and runs…

About the author…

In his own words…

‘My name is Ashton Macaulay, and I’ve been writing all my life. On May 1st, 2018, my first novel, Whiteout, the story of a drunken monster hunter chasing a yeti through the Himalayas was published by Aberrant Literature’

”Throughout my life I have always been inspired by bringing an irreverent sense of humor to those topics that often frighten or sadden us. In an age filled with plenty of non-fiction to keep us grounded, I’m trying to create literature that transports readers away to the big adventure novels of old, and pokes fun at just about everything that goes bump in the night.

Aberrant Literature also published my first short story, Diary of a Dead Man, a humorous look at what happens when the ghost of a depressed writer decides to haunt a dreary, old New Orleans hotel for kicks. Diary of a Dead Man is available in Abberant Literature Volume 3, currently for sale on Amazon.

Aberrant also published another of my short stories, Future Solutions in Aberrant Tales, in the fall of 2018.”

If this is the standard of the first book in a proposed trilogy, I cannot wait to see what Books 2 and 3 bring!

Yes, it’s light hearted with a tongue well and truly in cheek approach that will leave you smiling a Nick’s adventures but it is hard to make someone smile, that skill should never be underestimated in a book. The last thing an author wants is ..

So, using a neat framing device, a stranger called Winston has summoned Nick to tell him his tale about the time he hunted a yeti.

Winston’s reasons for this are unclear, and the reader is as suspicious as Nick about his motivation, but monster hunting isn’t paying the bills so Nick swallows the bad whisky and begins…

A letter from Lopsang, a villager whose brother was eaten by a yeti brings Nick (BSc in policitcal science) and his archaeological student sidekick James, to Nepal. An encounter with rival monster hunter, Manchester, leads to a thrilling chase for not just the famed creature but also what a yeti appearance signifies-the opening of the doors to Shangri-La.

What did I love? Everything about it!
The interplay between Nick and James, the dropped hints about past adventures, the wrap around story about Winston at the same time as juggling a mountainside monster hunt…all of it was so well executed that I am in awe of this outstanding debut. You will be able to tell your warg from your werewolf by the end of this adventurous,entertaining, well written romp.

All I can say is…more please !

Links-http://www.aberrantliterature.com/

          https://macashton.com/about/

Twitter-@AberrantLit

@RealMacAshton