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E Ryan Janz
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The Desperation of Harry Kindle Edition

by E Ryan Janz (Author), Cherie Fox (Illustrator), Ocean's Edge Editing (Editor) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 134 ratings
See all formats and editions
The shocks and the secrets are buried - for now.

In this amazing romantic-mystery loaded with dark humor, twenty-three-year-old Monty Hill leaves his Midwestern roots for 1977 Hollywood with dreams of becoming a major film screenwriter. He meets his new neighbor, Harry, an unpredictable yet endearing man, who in hopes to assist Monty financially, steers him to an apparently dangerous producer of adult films, who demands Monty write him the biggest moneymaker of all time.
Meanwhile, Monty stumbles through a series of volatile romantic relationships with a variety of women along with his other personal encounters, and yet a second narrator looms menacingly in the background, inexplicably relating his own brief reprehensible accounts.
There are shocks and secrets aplenty buried in this intelligent story based on actual events, but it’s up to the reader to figure out where they are hidden before they crash-land with thoroughly unexpected explosions.
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  1. Print length
    342 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2020
  5. File size
    2527 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B083D87V2V
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2527 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 342 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1710608714
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 134 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
E Ryan Janz

E Ryan Janz

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

My name is Ryan Janz and I live in Anytown, USA, and I have chosen not to include my photo in my bio at this time in the abject fear I will be recognized and therefore mobbed by crazed fans. For example, say I post my picture, and let’s also say I’m walking my dog down my friendly neighborhood street, you know, Main Street, and as a result the unthinkable occurs:

1. I am breathlessly asked by a passing neighbor to autograph my wonderful new novella, A Baseball Story, or I’m pretty sure that’s what he said.

2. My neighbor doesn’t have the book with him, or as he put it, “I’ve never heard of your stupid piece of trash and you frighten me”.

3. I give him a copy I happen to be carrying in my wheelbarrow.

4. My neighbor is hesitant in believing I wrote the book.

5. I produce my driver’s license for proof of my authorship, careful to place my thumb over my picture because I do not wish to be recognized and therefore mobbed by crazed fans.

6. My neighbor threatens to call the police.

7. My dog insists we hastily return home, and as we do, I lower my baseball cap across my face because I do not wish to be recognized and…etc.

8. I hear police sirens and as I hide below the trap door in my basement my dog decides to move out.

9. While living under my basement and perusing a handy book containing chock full of fun survival techniques, it occurs to me I don’t own a dog.

10. Having read how baked rat can easily be transformed into a healthy snack while overthrowing the government, I hear a dog howling in the distance, reminding me it’s time once again to collect my wheelbarrow and join my best friend for a pleasant walk down Main Street, USA.

Since I have nothing better to do aside from watching every move my neighbors make, please do not hesitate to contact me at commrad23@yahoo.com. And please take a look at my website - https://eryanjanz.com. There you will find among other interesting artifacts, my hopefully amusing blogs, an FAQ page, and a place where you can subscribe to my free monthly newsletter. It provides content unavailable anywhere else. If you prefer audiobooks, you can exclusively get mine for FREE on my website, against an otherwise retail price of $13.08.

Thank you.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
134 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sarah P.
5.0 out of 5 stars Twists, turns and a completion to conflict
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
Starting out I had no idea that the story took place in the 70s, Hollywood and all the trauma that entailed. I was honestly horrified by some situations taking place in the book but was glad I pushed through, some people got the justice they deserved and others did not. The story takes us through what is Montgomery Hill’s point of view and his writer’s quip until the angst and multiple tragedies and events lead us to a quite pleasant conclusion and understanding of what truly occurred in the past and how he has a pulled through with his first best friend and a truth revealed and healed. I understand the main character’s plight in some ways that many things that aren’t positive was prevalent in that time period. This is my second review as I am not sure why the first wasn't published.
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Joanie
5.0 out of 5 stars suspenseful read
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
Dark humor is all around in this romantic mystery. Monty Hall moves to Hollywood to hopefully become a successful screenwriter. What Monty encounters are buried secrets and trauma. Some of those secrets are his own and he has trouble with them before finally accepting them. I enjoyed this read even if at times the story was hard to read, but it was worth getting to the end of the story.
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ME.....THE MOMMA
2.0 out of 5 stars The Desperation of Harry
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2021
Verified Purchase
When I started the book it was ok but the farther I got the darker it became and the more grossed out I became. I think things were brought out and too much description of the acts. I really didn’t get the jest except talking about gays and being unfair to them. Anyway I really got lost and confused. Also have to admit I could not read it all the way through. I too have to admit I really have no idea why I chose this book.
3 people found this helpful
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M. E. Rufkahr
3.0 out of 5 stars Book seemed to lose steam
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2021
Verified Purchase
Like most of the other reviewers, I found the book started off strong, but about 1/2 of the way through lost steam. It would help from some good editing to make a more streamlined story.
2 people found this helpful
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Linda Owens
5.0 out of 5 stars Poor dear Harry
Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2021
Verified Purchase
Oh how I love this crazy story! It's made me cry and laugh and get angry.....but it's such a beautiful book!!
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer Toppi
5.0 out of 5 stars FIVE STARS BECAUSE
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2021
Verified Purchase
Because anything less would be a crime. Thank you for this amazing book. This is one that I will keep to read again.
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
1.0 out of 5 stars Strange
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2020
Verified Purchase
Starts off with some humor and gets darker with every page. Started off liking and at end just glad to finish.
16 people found this helpful
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Alex Cat
2.0 out of 5 stars Still am not sure what it was about
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2020
That was a lot of disjointed story with way too many long descriptions of things that really didn't matter. A friend asked me to read it and I did.
10 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Father Ted
2.0 out of 5 stars "Puzzled"
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 9, 2020
Verified Purchase
Maybe the title intrigued me, or perhaps it was the front cover, I can't remember. The first chapter was interesting. and I wondered whether the quirky, dark humour could be sustained throughout. The further I read, the less I understood. The subject matter ( pornography, paedophilia) was uncomfortable reading and the writing became unnecessarily crude. By the end I wasn't sure what it all meant.
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