Title: Old Order

Author: Jonathan Janz

Release Date: February 3, 2018

 

Janz is a favourite author of mine, one who I’ve never read something I haven’t enjoyed. When ‘Old Order’ was offered up as a freebie in the wake of the COVID-19 news, I snagged this and read it ASAP.

This one is a short but brutal read, one I highly enjoyed.

What I liked: the story follows Horace Yoder, drifter, who arrives at a secluded farmhouse seeking shelter and food in exchange for labour. The family agrees and it isn’t long before some seem nice and some seem off. I loved the character of Yoder and Janz slowly filled in some historical details as the story goes on. It soon becomes evident why Yoder is really there, but by that point, the family has also begun their plans as well.

What I didn’t like: the story is built on dread, on the knowledge that ‘something’ is going to happen. It was almost an immediate shift in tone from when Yoder decides to leave in the middle of the night. While both before and after are fantastic, it was a bit of an adjustment going from slow burn to full throttle.

Why you should buy it: well, it’s still free! But also, Janz is a great guy and a fantastic writer. There is a really indepth/insightful afterword which I found fascinating.

As for the story – the ending is grotesque in the best way possible and one you all should find out for yourselves!

5/5