The Knackerman Who Salvaged The Stars is a work of fiction in the thriller, interpersonal drama, and visionary fiction sub-genres, and was penned by author Caroline A. Connell. The work is intended for the general adult reading audience and contains some moderate references to violence and darker themes. The work takes elements of epistolary fiction and multiple points of view to slowly craft the unfolding of a global disaster, weaving both drama and mystery into its many disparate elements as they slowly begin to connect. What results is a highly engrossing and originally penned tale that is sure to keep readers turning the pages to find out what the finale of the plot will be.

Author Caroline A. Connell has crafted a masterfully well-planned work of fiction with plenty of interesting twists, poignant moments, and a dark shadowy atmosphere to offer its readers. One of the features which I found particularly impressive about this piece was the epistolary elements of the story, such as the realia of the news reports and Twitter feeds, which ground the story in an eerie sense of reality and make it all the more exciting for that reason. The storyline also never played to any typical format or trope, which kept me guessing as a reader and brought the story to some very satisfying conclusions that I would never have seen coming. Overall, I would highly recommend The Knackerman Who Salvaged The Stars to fans of totally original storytelling styles, slow-burning character-driven plots, and for readers of unusual dramatic fiction everywhere.

The Knackerman Who Salvaged The Stars is an amalgamation of multiple stories spread all over but interconnected by a common thread. The deaths of incarcerated pedophiles in Australia ring alarm bells across the globe when the process is repeated all over the planet. Soon, the targeted individuals are not restricted to prisoners, but pedophiles hiding amongst the general populace from all walks of life. As world powers set up emergency meetings to analyze the unpredictable threat, suspicion gnaws at some, who accuse each other of using futuristic technology to carry out the assassinations. Meanwhile, more are added to the lists from all walks of life, eliminating millions from the global population. As the stealer of souls targets the humans responsible for environmental destruction, humanity repents for their crimes, hoping to avoid complete destruction.

The Knackerman Who Salvaged The Stars is a literary fiction novel that explores the themes of karma, judgment, redemption, and hope. Author Caroline A. Connell uses an unusual device to bring forth a global catastrophe that unearths the best and worst aspects of humanity. The narrative uses multiple POV characters to show the varying factions involved in it, and this helps in conveying the scope of the story. The characters have well-developed arcs, but because of a large cast, they are primarily used as tools to move the plot forward and explore the themes the narrative is interested in. Despite the tragedy and destruction, I found the climax quite hopeful and optimistic. Highly recommended.

Sometime in 936 A.D., the Athelstan King of the United Kingdom has a life-changing event and vows to be a better king. He promises to address treason, theft, and social order to make his kingdom fair and just. Move forward more than a thousand years to the present day and we meet political leaders facing one of, if not the greatest test of their governments. As prison inmates over the globe start to die, no one is safe. Through glimpses into the leaders and how they react to social media exchanges of individuals, the scope of the crisis is laid bare. But what do King Athelstan and a 70-year-old woman in London have to do with what is happening and what is her relationship with Bob? In The Knackerman Who Salvaged the Stars, Caroline A. Connell creates an intertwined, fast-moving novel.

In The Knackerman Who Salvaged the Stars, Caroline Connell takes a hard look at what we as a species have done to the place where we and other species live. She vividly describes what would happen if we are called on to pay for our sins. The theme is how superficial and selfish we have become due to our social media connectivity and how that connectivity can lead to change and enlighten people about social issues. The novel opens a philosophical question regarding oneself and one’s actions and how a vow to be better can even centuries later affect society. This was very relevant and thought-provoking, and a good hard look at where we are and what we have done. Great writing and holding of theme lines throughout the diverse situations and characters. This is heavy reading that ends with self-evaluation and the question, "Where will I be when the trigger is pulled?"

The Knackerman Who Salvaged the Stars by Caroline A. Connell is a powerful story that is open to multiple interpretations and will appeal to both fans of horror and urban fantasy. It begins with the illness of Athelstan the Glorious, the royal who is cured by a gorgeous “goddess” from about two thousand years in the future. He takes a vow of celibacy to devote his life to a new calling. In our time, death stalks the sidewalks of London, making humankind aware of its mortality and responsibility to live life to the fullest. The death toll is alarming, and the government struggles with mass burials. People wake up to new rounds of deaths, and those who survive are unsure of what happens next. But is humanity prepared for this night, for the next onslaught, the humbling one that comes with all the sex offenses, the letter “S” being the calling card?

Unlike anything I have read before, this book is gripping, and lyrical prose infuses the writing with energy and beauty, featuring descriptions that mesmerize readers. The writing has a lot of religious symbolism, and the setting is a world beset by multiple ills and where people are constrained to live under martial law. Images of people running away from looting and rioting with stocks running out speak of dismay. An array of interesting characters is introduced in this novel. Each of these characters deals with the situation uniquely while the government is in a frenzy to find solutions. I particularly enjoyed the way characters like Math and Enid, Liza, and Helen are developed.

There are strong hints of science fiction, and readers will love the complexity of plot and the depth of character. This is a tale of mayhem similar to the story of a pandemic, the only difference being that it is not a pandemic. The social commentaries are gripping, and the author uses streams of consciousness to explore the inner world of the evil that befalls humanity. The Knackerman Who Salvaged the Stars by Caroline A. Connell is a fascinating story with unforgettable characters and an event that will haunt readers long after they have turned the last page. Very evocative of contemporary times.