5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 7, 2022
Quite delightful. I looked for other material from Henry Summers but came up short. If this is his first book, I hope it will not be his last. Road trippy with dose of L.F. Baum thrown in.
5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Road Trip Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 16, 2022
This book took me to places in the US I have yet to visit. I sometimes felt like I was along on the road trip. I did have a little trouble reading one of the fonts used by the narrator, but other than that, it was an enjoyable book. Would be a great read for a week at the beach.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable read Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2023
This book started off a little slowly but quickly got into a very interesting voyage, quite humorous at times. I found the text for the words from the deceased friend to be a little difficult to read but at least there was no mistake where these thoughts were coming from. It is a very well-written story with some very imaginative scenarios. There is a hint at the end to a sequel. I will look for one and definitely get it.
Online Book Club
4 out of 5 stars – [recommend it to lovers of thrillers or road trip/adventure books with some fantasy elements] Reviewed November 9, 2023 (revision with corrections due summer of 2024)
Michael “Draco” Rooney has one objective now: to help Dot navigate the terrible situation he’s been thrown into. The more complicated things get, the more he realizes he will need a lot of help to ensure things turn out well.
Dot seems to be in over his head, and other people’s lives hang in the balance now. The problems pile up, and he often seems to run out of luck. He needs help — maybe a trusted hand to guide him or someone else to take the reins for a while and relieve him of the pressure. Unfortunately, his closest friend is no longer with him — or is he?
By the Oz. by Henry Summers is a wild ride. With crazy twists and dizzying uncertainties interspersed with philosophical questions and drastic decisions, you won’t be able to put this book down until the end.
The idea behind this book was fascinating. The book was written in alternate perspectives, shifting between Dot’s and Draco’s points of view. Most of it was from Dot’s point of view, so we were not always aware of what was happening behind the scenes until we were reintroduced to Draco’s thoughts. It created a sense of suspense. There were so many moments when things changed so drastically that before I could come to terms with the new development, it triggered a whole new sequence of events. This fast-paced quality of the book made it very difficult to put down and would make the reader eager to find out what would happen at the end. For instance, when some characters successfully reached the airport, I thought they had finally made it home free. At the last minute, a shocking twist made me (and the characters) aware that the journey was still far from over.
The author’s writing did justice to the story. He wove an incredibly complex web without getting too lost in the details. I marveled at his ability to add more elements to the book, building scene upon scene and raising the suspense.
The characters, though diverse, were real and easy to relate with. Despite Dot’s occasional flashes of panic, guilt, and regret, he was admirable for his boldness and determination to keep those around him safe.
I found some errors in this book. The book could use another round of editing. Due to the number of errors, I’d rate it 4 out of 5 stars. (Note: revision with corrections due summer of 2024)
Apart from the number of errors, I found nothing to dislike about this book. I’d recommend it to lovers of thrillers or road trip/adventure books with some fantasy elements.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable book with interesting characters
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2024
The author does an excellent job developing the characters and keeping the book very interesting. Small sections of the book were a bit hard to read because of the type of print used but I believe new editions will correct this minor issue.
March 21, 2025 5 out of 5 stars
What a wonderful book! Always read it while hanging by the pool and the detail made me feel as if I was with Mike throughout the journey.
Melanie McCloud
June 10, 2025 – 4 out of 5 stars
This book will take you on a wild ride! The character’s journey takes you across several states and some intense situations. As the story unfolds, more characters embark on the journey with Dot and Toni. The story started a bit slow, but once it got going, it became action-packed, and it was hard to put the book down. The characters took many risks, were taunting the law, and were chased by some very bad actors. The spirit of an old friend kept watch over the group of travelers.
The author has a unique style in the settings of the book. There are no page numbers on the pages or the contents page. The chapter titles each contain three short phrases. The font would also change throughout the book. It was indicative of one of Dot’s dreams or inner thoughts of a character. There were a few grammar errors in the book, but they never distracted me from the story. Because of the errors and the slow start to the story, I give the book a 4 out of 5-star rating.
In the ending, the author does a good job of wrapping up the story with where and what each character did after their journey ended. The descriptions of the characters and the scenes were very descriptive. You felt like you were there with them. There were many close calls, and you find yourself rooting for their escape.
A trigger warning may be needed for some readers, as there are drug scenes that involve the drug trade and the effects of the drugs on the characters. It also contained some death scenes.
I would recommend this book to anyone ready for an edge-of-your-seat action storyline. This book is the first in a series. I am interested in reading his future books.
Samantha Farnsworth
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2025 – 4 out of 5 stars
What a wild ride! I felt like Dorothy on this adventure jam-packed with travel, drug use, helpful spirits, and a tangle of bad guys on the way to Oz. This journey is narrated by an acquaintance of the main character, a spirit new to his form. The spirit learns many lessons on the way to help guide the main character to his fate. The main character, naive about the spirit’s assistance, faces numerous life questions and unexpected threats on his journey to pay for his last semester of school. This is the ultimate dangerous college road trip. The road is long, the entourage grows at every turn, and the action is fantastic.
The author did a great job creating an immersive story and showing the experiences and thoughts of a person under the influence of drugs. There was a lot of driving time, and it was rare the pacing felt slow. The characters’ minds were active during the ride or while experiencing the effects of drugs; the dialogue and banter between characters were great. The point of view was interesting as well. The spirit narrator allowed for an omniscient point of view, allowing us a closer relationship to the minds of all characters involved. Through the story, the narrator’s spirit would give us glimpses of his discoveries in his new spirit form. It was a really interesting perspective on how spirits can have a presence and impact in the human world.
I give this novel a four out of five rating. It was a joy to read. I enjoyed the plot and how immersive the story was. The author did a great job describing the settings and characters with their different backgrounds. The point of view was a little confusing at times; there were not always clear indications whose mind we were in, but it was still enjoyable. I also enjoyed the three-lined poems at the chapter’s introduction, preluding us to the scenes ahead. I would recommend this book to most adult audiences. Keep in mind the topic of drugs is frequent, and some violence, so please take note if you are sensitive to these topics.
Nna Emeka
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2025 – 3 out of 5 stars
A great book with great plot narrative. I liked how the characters were introduced to the book’s plot.
Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2025 – 5.0 out of 5 stars By The Oz
(Author’s Note: This review is consolidated from reviews on two different platforms. It is rewritten but captures the essence of the reviewer statement. Thank you, Nancy Egop.)
By The Oz.[ounce] by Henry Summers is a very interesting book, and I cannot emphasize enough how interesting it is. The book is a crime thriller. Think drugs, and cops, you know, that kind of scenario.
The book is about two men and a girl, namely Draco, Dot (Mike Pharr-Moore), and Toni.
In the beginning of the book, Draco is the one narrating the story. It will surprise you to know that Draco, at the point where he starts narrating this story, is dead. The person, or thing, narrating the story is Draco’s ghost, or spirit, as it is referred to in the book.
…Draco got busted, and Mike [Dot] inherited his problems. Draco was shot by the police who were pursuing him following a drug deal. Guess what? During the chase, Draco would have escaped, but he turned back to save a dying cop, the very one who was chasing him, and that was how he got shot. That part of the narrative,alone is evident that the book has more than enough to deliver to the readers, as far as adventure and thrill are concerned.
Dot is a student who is desperate for grades in order to graduate, and from the look of things, he didn’t meet up. What that meant was that he would have to find a way to extend his grant, or foot the bill of extra semesters himself. Trust me when I say that this is just the tip of the iceberg. The book is full of adventures from start to end. Or is it the story of the girl called Toni?
Toni was an orphan who…ran away with Dot. [Toni] makes it more interesting as they try to flee mob bosses as well as the government. Totally outstanding, this book. It has drama, and a perfect story line. What else can anyone ask for as far as entertainment is concerned?
I’ll give this book five out of five stars. I love everything about the book, from the plot, the narrating style and even the fact that I saw no grammatical errors throughout the book.
Henry Summers 