The Unwinding Cable Car


Fiction - Paranormal
235 Pages
Reviewed on 11/12/2020
Buy on Amazon

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    Book Review

Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite

In The Unwinding Cable Car by Andrew J Brandt, Hamilton Raines's life is falling apart. A once successful author, Hamilton has recently found one of his novels in the bargain bin of a local store, his wife Carol has just left him and his publishing contract has no chance of being renewed. His next novel has to be a best-seller or he is finished. When Hamilton visits a local coffee shop, he meets Jeremy, his biggest fan and an aspiring novelist himself. Hamilton is delighted to sign a copy of his novel but he is even more thrilled when a mysterious woman, Calliope, enters the coffee shop. Suddenly, Hamilton finds the enthusiasm to write again. Is it the coffee shop atmosphere or Calliope that is responsible for transforming his life? Hamilton is unsure. When Jeremy is found dead, Hamilton seizes the opportunity to manipulate the situation to attract fame once again. With Hamilton's next novel an instant best-seller, the future is looking bright, until Hamilton's past catches up with him. Soon those who helped him succeed return looking for payment, but not the financial kind.

The dark atmosphere of this novel was amazing. The plot unravels slowly, revealing subtle details about Hamilton's background and personality. I loved the tension and suspense throughout; it was completely gripping. Even when there were lulls in the action, you knew Hamilton was about to face another torrent of psychological mind games from his tormentors. Each character had an important part to play in the plot and was described so wonderfully, they jumped from the page. Andrew J Brandt knows exactly how to spark your imagination and build scenarios that are really chilling. The twists in the plot were completely unexpected. I did not foresee what unfolded. The Unwinding Cable Car is definitely not a book you want to read before bedtime. Even as the story came to its conclusion, the author threw another plot curveball into the mix. The final line in the Epilogue was a masterpiece.

Susan Sewell

A writer's life takes an unexpected and bizarre turn when a mysterious woman approaches him in a coffee shop in the supernatural novel The Unwinding Cable Car by Andrew J. Brandt. After publishing two of his books and working on his third, Hamilton Raines's writing has come to a standstill due to writer's block. Taking his publisher's advice to get out of his rut, Hamilton stops at the nearest coffee house to try his hand at writing there. On that fateful day, Hamilton meets two people who change the course of his life; Jeremy, an aspiring author, and Calliope, an alluring and attractive woman. Inspired by Calliope's presence, Hamilton's creativity flourishes, and in a relatively short amount of time, he has authored a nationally acclaimed novel. In a macabre twist of fate, just as Hamilton's career launches, Jeremy's throat is cut, and Calliope's attitude changes from a loving muse into an obsessive and deranged stalker. Now, an angry and menacing visage of Jeremy's ghost haunts him, prophesying Hamilton's death at the hand of his muse. Did Calliope have something to do with Jeremy's untimely demise? Can Hamilton escape her hold before it is too late?

Containing a vengeful immortal villain wreaking havoc in the lives of unsuspecting writers, The Unwinding Cable Car by Andrew J. Brandt is an intense and haunting supernatural thriller depicting a legendary Greek goddess employing her prowess in the modern world. It is an exciting novel with an eerie essence that captured and held my attention from the first page until the last. Intriguingly written, the intensity and apprehension of the chilling plot continue to swell, creating a hair-raising tale that comes to an unexpected and shocking conclusion. With its enigmatic characters, dark and ethereal ambiance, and spine-tingling plot, it is a gripping novel that will entertain and delight fans of supernatural thrillers.

Lit Amri

"I have inspired the greatest stories of all time, but now it’s my turn. I want my story told.” In The Unwinding Cable Car by Andrew J. Brandt, Hamilton Raines's first novel impressed the literary world and expectations were high. Yet, after three mediocre novels and a failed marriage, he's edging closer to a rut. Prompted by his agent to get a change of scenery to find his writing spark again, a coffee shop becomes his writing sanctuary instead of his apartment. There he meets a mysterious woman who invokes the genius in him. His new book becomes an instant bestseller, turning Hamilton into a celebrity. However, his success has a price, and he's about to find out how much it will cost him.

Some writers don’t believe in waiting for the muse. It's not the case for protagonist Hamilton Raines. In fact, the muse comes to him, literally. The story’s intrigue is driven by the chance meeting between Hamilton and the enigmatic Calliope Angelos. She inspired him so much that it propelled the author to the level of success that he only dreamed of before. The chapters are succinct and the plot is well-paced, and some references to current pop culture are perfectly acerbic. The story exposition can be subtle and even deceiving, which is excellently done by Andrew J. Brandt. The ending is satisfactory yet still leaves a burning question: is it all psychological or something mystical? The Unwinding Cable Car's tantalizing element of mystery will keep readers riveted.