Kentucky Dragon

One fateful evening, the Morris family's ordinary life is upended by the arrival of a mysterious man clutching a duffel bag. His presence casts an eerie spell over the household, rendering everyone—except the youngest brother, Mike—helpless under his trance. What does he want? What secrets does the duffel bag conceal? Why is a whiskey-bottle lamp that never turns off so significant? And who—or what—is “The Chicken Man,” whose shadowy power looms over this family? The answers lie in the pages ahead, but be warned: this is no gentle journey. Brace yourself for a heart-pounding ride that will take you to the edge of reason and back.

At its core, this is a tale of debts unpaid, ancient German folklore, the eternal clash between heaven and hell, and the boundless power of love. It is also the story of a father's desperate determination to shield his family from forces far beyond human comprehension. We follow Mike and his brother Don as they embark on a relentless quest for answers—answers that span decades, cross continents, and tear at the very fabric of their lives. The burning question at the heart of their odyssey: what truly happened to their older sister, Abby?

This book is not for the faint of heart. It brims with visceral gore, nail-biting suspense, and an ever-present spiritual undertone that cloaks the story in an air of the supernatural. Michael Park's masterful prose flows like a river, carrying you through every twist and turn with breathtaking ease. From the very first page, I was utterly captivated. I found myself snatching moments throughout the day to dive back in, desperate to uncover the next revelation, the next thread the brothers would unravel in their search for truth.

Yet, even the most gripping tales are not without their flaws. For nearly the entire journey, I was convinced I was holding a five-star masterpiece in my hands. But as the story reached its climax in the final three chapters, the narrative began to falter. What had been a tightly woven tapestry suddenly felt disjointed and rushed, as though the threads were unraveling too quickly. By the time I turned the final page, I was left with more questions than answers, unsure if I had fully grasped the ending. Perhaps this story demands a second reading to unlock its deeper meanings. While the ending still showcased Park's talent for beautiful prose, it lacked the cohesion and clarity that had defined the rest of the book.

Overall, this book earns a well-deserved 4 stars. Despite my reservations about the ending, it is an unforgettable journey that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who stumbles upon this review.

A special thanks to BookSirens for providing an ARC copy of this book. I am eager to explore more of Michael Park's works in the future—this story has left an indelible mark on me.