Bad Intentions

Two crime lords form an uneasy alliance to coordinate a million-dollar illegal arms deal in rural California. The operation requires assistance from local criminals and triggers a series of chaotic events in a sleepy town. Hitman Jack Swift wants out of the business but must complete one final job before retirement. His mission intertwines with law enforcement operations and rival criminal interests, setting up a multi-sided conflict where trust is scarce and motivations are murky. The story shifts between multiple perspectives - criminals, law enforcement, and civilians caught in the crossfire - as tensions escalate toward an explosive confrontation. The stark California desert landscape serves as the backdrop for this tale of deception and survival. The novel explores themes of loyalty, redemption, and the price of violence through characters trapped in cycles of their own making. Bad Intentions presents a raw examination of how criminal enterprises affect both the guilty and the innocent.

Readers describe Bad Intentions as a dark, supernatural noir story with elements of horror. Many found the fast-paced prose and noir style engaging, with several reviewers highlighting Partridge's ability to blend crime fiction with supernatural elements. Likes: - Quick pace and short length - Noir atmosphere and dark tone - Character development of the protagonist - Supernatural elements woven into crime story Dislikes: - Some readers found the plot predictable - A few felt character motivations lacked depth - Several mentioned the ending felt rushed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (93 ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (8 ratings) From reader reviews: "Lean and mean noir with a supernatural twist" - Goodreads reviewer "Good quick read but wanted more backstory" - Amazon reviewer "Perfect blend of hardboiled and horror elements" - Cemetery Dance reader review "Ending needed more resolution" - LibraryThing review

The October Country by Ray Bradbury These interconnected horror stories share Partridge's blend of small-town darkness and supernatural menace.

Boy's Life by Robert R. McCammon A coming-of-age tale merges with horror elements in a Southern setting that echoes Partridge's fusion of crime and supernatural elements.

Dead in the West by Joe R. Lansdale This horror-western combines gunslinger action with undead threats in a style that mirrors Partridge's genre-mixing approach.

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill A rock star purchases a ghost online and faces escalating supernatural violence that matches Partridge's intensity and pacing.

Those Across the River by Christopher Buehlman A Depression-era town harbors dark secrets and ancient evil that unfolds with the same rural horror atmosphere found in Partridge's work.

🔹 Norman Partridge first gained recognition in the horror genre, earning a Bram Stoker Award for his collection "Mr. Fox and Other Feral Tales" before writing "Bad Intentions" 🔹 The book takes place in a small California town, drawing from Partridge's own experiences growing up in the American West 🔹 Partridge's writing style in "Bad Intentions" blends elements of noir fiction with supernatural horror, creating what critics have called "desert noir" 🔹 The protagonist's journey mirrors classic hardboiled detective fiction, but with modern supernatural twists that subvert traditional genre expectations 🔹 The author wrote much of the book while working night shifts as a security guard, which influenced the dark atmosphere and nocturnal settings in the story