Tales from the Gas Station, Vol 1. (Book 1 of 4) by Jack Townsend

First Line:

At the edge of town on the downhill side, beyond the abandoned railroad tracks to nowhere, past the point where the streetlights end but before the world disappears beneath a twisted canopy of oak and black willow trees, there’s a shitty little gas station open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Summary:

Jack is dying.

So, as a full-time employee at a twenty-four-hour gas station, he feels like he has nothing to lose. Not when he's seen it all [and then some]. Bodies appear in the freezer. Gnomes hide in mysterious places. Jack just wants to live the rest of his life in peace.

Until he can't keep ignoring the signs.

My Review: NO SPOILERS

I have both so much and so little I could say about this book. Jack is something else, I can tell you that 🤣

When I started this book, I was a little hesitant. It’s the first of its kind for me, where the main character GENUINELY barely gives a f*** about what’s happening. It was honestly so refreshing. The dialogue was hilarious, and by the end I needed him to survive. Not only did I care about him, but I felt like he'd been through way too much not to make it out in the end. The entire book was so entertaining. I never felt bored, and I never knew what crazy shit was gonna happen next.

Dark without being traumatic. Funny without being cheesy. Overall SO good.

Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My Favorite Quote(s):

Knowing that I won’t be around too much longer dulls any ambition to climb the corporate ladder, and this is one of the few professions where someone with my condition can really stand out.

After I blew past my expiration date, Dr. V. was quick to remind me that I was not getting better, I was simply dying much slower than anticipated. But when you think about it, isn’t that all anyone can really ask for?

I consider myself to be a grown man (more or less), and I have no doubt that if it ever came down to it, I could take a baby in a one-on-one fight.

Page Count

285 Pages

Date Finished:

July 29th 2026

Book Genre:

Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Dark, Funny, Tense, Fast-paced, Paranormal, Fantasy, Humor, Comedy, Thriller, Urban Fantasy