This is one of my favorite Moore books, a delightfully goofy/gruesome story set at Christmas time in an unusual little coastal-California town, so when I found this fair-condition hardcover at a local Saver's thrift shop I couldn't resist getting it for another release copy.

Hint: when reading a Moore book, start at the very beginning. Even before page 1, I mean. You never know what you'll find in the "acknowledgements" section, for example; and then there's his "author's warning":

"If you're buying this book as a gift for your grandma or a kid, you should be aware that it contains cusswords as well as tasteful depictions of cannibalism and people in their forties having sex. Don't blame me. I told you."

And the first line of the novel itself sets the mood perfectly: "Christmas crept into Pine Cove like a creeping Christmas thing: dragging garland, ribbon, and sleigh bells, oozing eggnog, reeking of pine, and threatening festive doom like a cold sore under the mistletoe."

Note: if you're reading this entry and have not read The Stupidest Angel yet, note that while it isn't essential to the enjoyment of this book to have read Moore's previous novels, it does enhance the experience considerably. Furthermore, as this book does reveal some of the outcomes of previous books, reading it first could spoil many surprises. [If you don't want any spoilers at all you should probably skip my review as well, although I won't give away any who-survives or who-ends-up-with-whom tidbits.] I'd recommend saving this one until you've read all of Moore's other books - or at least Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal, Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove, and Island of the Sequined Love Nun, which cover the majority of the back references.

OK! That said, I thought this was hilarious, with a nasty-shark-toothed-smile here and there. I was delighted to meet so many old friends again (especially Roberto), and I found the mixture of traditional-Christmas-story elements and Moore's twisted humor very enjoyable indeed. There are hints of "Gift of the Magi" and "Our Town" and assorted action movies, and some sections with heavy guy-to-guy advice for the lovelorn [I didn't say it was good advice, mind] - oh, and an ever-so-subtle influence from "Night of the Living Dead".

This edition has a bonus story called "And Before We Knew It, Christmas Had Rolled Around Again", which opens with the festive... er, wait, which opens with a serial killer arriving in Pine Cove. We get to see how the Pine Cove folks have fared since the end of the original story, while hoping that they'll find a way to thwart the killer's schemes while still carrying out this year's "Christmas for the Lonesome". Yes, the premise is pretty dark for a holiday story, but the story includes nods to still other Moore works, and (spoiler warning) our heroes succeed across the board. "I told you that costumes make people act weird." And now I want to get a General MacArthur costume for my plush fruit-bat in honor of Roberto!

[I was amused to find this book featured in this Unshelved Book Club comic strip; check it out! And the TV Tropes page for this book may be of interest as well; just beware of spoilers...]

I left this book in the Little Free Library at around noon; hope the finder enjoys it!

*** Released as part of the 2015 December holiday release challenge. ***

*** Released as part of the 2015 What's In A Name release challenge. ***