Open and Shut by J. R. Lindermuth

SHUT
Open and Shut by J. R. Lindermuth
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (19 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Domestic disturbance calls to the residence of Booth and Stacey Keiser aren’t uncommon. Keiser, a State Police trooper, is known for his volatile temper, and his wife has often been the target for his rage. So officers of the Swatara Creek Police Department aren’t surprised when the couple are found dead on the lawn of their home.

Officer Fred Drumheiser is ready to write it off as a tragic murder-suicide. But Corporal Harry Minnich isn’t prone to snap judgments. Something about the situation rubs Harry wrong, and his suspicions lead to a forensics test with a surprising conclusion.

Sometimes the only clue about what really happened to two people who died violently comes from the investigating officer’s intuition. Is it better to listen to this still, small voice and risk being wrong or ignore it and risk being right?

Studies suggest that gastric bypass surgery reduces cialis cost canada see that store now the total number of co-morbid conditions of patients by 96%. lowest price on levitra Obscene material is never allowed on air, no matter what the cause or circumstance. In conclusion, impotent men should first seek medical help because psychological counselling can be of greater new.castillodeprincesas.com levitra 60 mg embarrassment than not being able to perform in your bedroom with your partner. Cures of Infertility: A variety of medication and options are available for tackling viagra tablets in india new.castillodeprincesas.com infertility. Officer Fred Drumheiser and Clp. Harry Minnich have just been called to the scene of a grisly murder-suicide. To make matters worse one of the victims is a fellow law enforcement officer. Fred and Harry are consummate professionals during the course of their investigation, but the tension of solving the mystery behind the death of one of their own hovers behind every move these men make. As much as they enjoy their work it was easy to see how much this case unnerved them.

While reading this short story I wondered why Harry and Fred’s professional obligation as mandated reporters wasn’t taken more seriously. If Booth Keiser was known to be an abusive spouse why hadn’t more of an effort been made to help his wife get out of such a dangerous situation? Many states require police officers to arrest the abuser and file reports about what is happening so that the victim will have a trail of evidence when he or she decides to leave. I wasn’t sure why the main characters never mentioned this over the course of their investigation. It was a little difficult to tell when this story took place. Perhaps it was set in a time in which there weren’t laws governing this sort of thing? The rest of the tale gave no indication of in which decade it was set, although I didn’t get the feeling it was intended to be a historical piece. The dialogue seemed to be fairly modern, and the setting was in a quiet, suburban neighborhood that provided few clues about when the Keisers died.

The quickly deepening mystery lured me back into the plot. My second reading of Open and Shut was in many ways better than my first. In retrospect I missed a few hints early on that should have helped me figure out what was really happening, and it was satisfying to piece everything together before the officers did so.

Open and Shut is meant to be reread. This is a must-read for anyone who loves subtle mysteries and has a good eye for detail.

The Clearing of Travis Coble by Jonathan Janz

TRAVIS
The Clearing of Travis Coble by Jonathan Janz
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Horror, Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense
Length: Short Story (25 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Travis Coble didn’t kill and eat his family. At least that’s what a jury decided twenty years ago. But like Lizzie Borden, Travis Coble was branded guilty by an angry public and consigned to a life of suspicious whispers and sidelong stares. Now, Professor Dick Myers wants to clear Travis’s name once and for all. An interview with the reclusive mountain man would not only bring Myers fame—it could save his job.

But Myers will find more than a good story in Coble’s isolated shack in the Smoky Mountains. He will find the truth about what happened twenty years ago…and the true meaning of horror.

Are gut instincts always trustworthy? Is it better to listen to them and take a chance at being wrong or ignore them and risk something you won’t realize you’ve surrendered until it’s gone?

Kamagra belongs to the group of PDE-5 of vasodilators and the main ingredient of this tablet cialis for cheap is Sildenafil Citrate. It online cialis is not recommended for adults under 18 years of age. The biker lady doesn’t always ride her india viagra for sale own bike but often takes a back seat to her husband or life partner. So, it is best to consult someone or seek some Internet help for directions before the usage. levitra generika try that now Dick honestly believes he’s an objective reporter and all-around nice guy but the truth behind these assumptions is about to be sorely tested. As I read this book I changed my mind about this guy several times. In the beginning I admired his personality and character but as his social prejudices began to emerge I wondered how someone so intelligent and well-educated could know virtually nothing about other cultures in his own country. To be fair to him, though, Dick’s lack of knowledge is due to what I can only assume was a lack of opportunity to befriend people from rural backgrounds rather than a conscious attempt to ignore them.

I was never sure why Dick would travel to such a remote location without bringing along a cell phone. While reception can be spotty in rural locations wouldn’t it be better to bring the phone along and have a chance of contacting the outside world than to leave it at home and hope for the best? Mr. Janz’s stereotypical characterization of certain groups was also disappointing. The tropes he relied up to build tension in the plot are so well-known in the horror genre that I half-expected him to surprise the audience by subverting them. When that didn’t happen it was difficult for me to maintain interest in those characters.

Mr. Janz definitely knows how to tease an audience. While in retrospect there were several well-placed clues in the first few scenes I genuinely expected this story to produce a different ending than the one we were given. It was deliciously easy to misinterpret what was actually happening and while I would have strongly preferred to see less stereotypical treatment of certain characters the author maintained a consistently frightening atmosphere from the beginning to the end of this tale. By the final scene I had to remind myself to keep breathing as I uncovered the final mystery.

The Clearing of Travis Coble is gut-wrenching, politically incorrect horror. It’s a good choice for readers in the mood for a truly frightening story that works best when taken at face value.

Mr. Elkins and The Zombies of Elbert County by Thom Adorney

ZOMBIES
Mr. Elkins and The Zombies of Elbert County by Thom Adorney
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (22 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

When John Bell tells his family that he saw zombies crossing their farm one October night, he asks them the keep it quiet so as to not cause a panic. But when his first daughter, Cecelia, draws a picture of the zombies in school, the cat’s out of the bag.

Now, some in the conservative little town want the little girl expelled. Some want to exploit the zombies for publicity. The media outlets catch wind of it and are in a feeding frenzy. All John wants is to keep the town from descending into chaos. One thing’s for sure – when the townsfolk descend on the Bell household to see the zombies for themselves, they’re going to get a lot more than they bargained for.

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This was a fun story and while not of the scary type of zombie tale, it had some great characters, and of course, the children who couldn’t keep a secret. I liked the setting of this story and I think Mr. Adorney did a great job describing the area where this tale took place. I could actually see the zombies dragging their feet along the ground as I turned the pages. The ending surprised me and this was a tale I wished would have been a little longer so the author could have played out the plot some more.

If zombies are your thing then it’s one worth checking out.

Surprise Larceny by S. Furlong-Bolliger

LARCENY
Surprise Larceny by S. Furlong-Bolliger
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (8 pgs)
Rating: 4 Stars
Review by: Stephanotis

Frank had it all figured out: a few under-the-the table money transfers, a new identity, and a plan to live out his retirement years a self-made man. He would have succeeded too, if it weren’t for an untimely surprise. Instead, he wakes up in a hospital to find that a couple of his coworkers have their own plan.

It offers effective treatment for low sex drive, you need buy generic cialis to practice exercises regularly. Consumers today also prefer to shop online, since they will not have to walk into a pharmacy cheap sildenafil no prescription and deal with the awkward social interaction of buying Kamagra. sample generic viagra Chronic back pain every so often will last almost everywhere in lifestyles. There is no denying that the most horrible thing that could ever happen tadalafil canada online deeprootsmag.org to a man is going through the condition, he seems physically fit and gets stimulated by touching his partner or thinking about an intimacy. Surprise Larceny puts a new spin on the old adage–keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.

This was a fun story and although I guessed early on what was happening, the characters made up for it. They were all a little quirky and despite this being a short read, the author did a good job developing them. I liked the twist in the plot at the end of the book. I won’t give it away but will say that although it might not be a fun ending for the main character, it definitely is for the reader.

If you like quirky mysteries and are short on time this would be a good pick for you.

The Jurors Who Knew Too Much by Gail Farrelly

JURORS
The Jurors Who Knew Too Much by Gail Farrelly
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Short Story (9 pgs)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

Sixty-somethings Lorna and Ike are jurors in a murder trial. They soon find they like each other and begin hanging out together in the courthouse. When they realize they may have some inside information on the crime the defendant is accused of committing, they’re suddenly faced with a difficult choice of what to do – and that decision could make for some serious trouble for everyone involved.

Performing exercise is not a starting point but it is a good endpoint for a man to gain an ideal generic viagra penile erection during the penetration. An ED viagra online is incurable condition, but can be calmed down with the help of medication. This solution also bears the potential strength to elevate the signs or symptoms naturally. cheap viagra In order to understand this problem and with an aim to cure the sex problems, VigRx plus pills came into being in the year 2000 found that sildenafil briefly enhanced the problem in brand cialis canada some patients by relaxing their lower esophageal muscle tissues. If you’re looking for a quick, fun mystery, The Jurors Who Knew Too Much is a good bet.

Despite its short length it packs in a lot of story. And although the author might have used some coincidences to get the story into first gear, I think you can easily overlook them because it’s enjoyable read. Sort of amateur sleuth meets courtroom drama. Plus, there’s a budding romance in the mix too. While the ending might have the two main characters in hot water, legally it nevertheless was the perfect conclusion to this whodunit.

The Third Man by Malachi King

THIRD
The Third Man by Malachi King
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Horror, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (12 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

When two young men get lost in Alaska’s mountainous wilderness, they slowly begin to die of exposure. As their senses become numb, they become aware of a third man traveling with them at times, and are too disoriented to make contact. When the two young men collapse in exhaustion and give themselves over to death, the mysterious third man appears again. Is he there to help, hinder…or is he even there at all?

Based on a phenomenon experienced in the real world by various adventurers including mountaineers on Everest and by the Shackleton survivors in the Antarctic, The Third Man redefines the modern ghost story.

Tom and Jarvis’ history of taking foolish risks may finally have caught up with them. As these two best friends struggle to stay alive in an unforgiving climate will Tom be able to figure out what’s really happening to them?

Theirs was a learning model of sexual functioning and the objectives of treatment viagra for women consisted of effectively achieving alleviation of performance anxiety and re-educating clients regarding sexuality. Asian Red Ginseng is a canada viagra cialis gnarled root which has elements known to treat erectile dysfunction. ED condition in viagra in uk man can put psychological strain and contribute to low self-esteem, depression and relationship issues. On top of cialis 100mg canada that, it can be dangerous for the health of the patient. Almost everyone makes a few dumb mistakes in their youth but unfortunately Jarvis and Tom’s thirst for adventure has resulted in a life-threatening hike through bitter cold. While their fingers and toes freeze solid and turn black the heroes of this tale struggle to make it home before they succumb to hypothermia. By the time the story begins Tom and Jarvis are so close to death that all they can think about is survival. The unconditional, platonic love they share shines through in simple gestures like building a fire or making sure the other one keeps moving even when he wants to sleep.

We’re given glimpses of how they developed their bond in a few flashbacks but I still finished this story with an unclear understanding of the personality differences between Tom and Jarvis. They’re both impulsive, thrill-seeking and oblivious to danger but it would have been helpful to see more examples of the differences between these characters that aren’t based on race or culture.

At first I thought the ending was a little too ambiguous but given the context in which this story occurs it makes sense to leave room for interpretation. After all, Tom and Jarvis were in no condition to ask coherent or thoughtful questions for several key scenes! This approach also leaves room for a sequel which I would read eagerly if Mr. King ever decides to write it.

How do we know what is real? How does the answer to this question vary from one perspective to another? The Third Man is a thought-provoking exploration of these questions that I recommend to anyone interested in a philosophical approach to horror.

About Last Weekend by Alyssa Swan

LAST
About Last Weekend by Alyssa Swan
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Short Story (10 pgs)
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Stephanotis

Denise is taking her son to a fete; her ex Chris is taking his daughter too. Thrown together when the kids decide to spend the day together, Denise and Chris confront their feelings for one another, and about last weekend.

Creating well-rounded characters and an interesting plot isn’t always easy in a short story but Ms. Swan did an excellent job with About Last Weekend. It held my interest from beginning to end and I think it had a lot to do with the quick pacing, and that she didn’t waste a word on anything that didn’t belong in this story.
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The heroine was very likable, and at first I didn’t think the hero was going to be someone I rooted for as he’d obviously hurt the heroine, but he too turned out to be someone I wanted to see get what his heart desired. I’m glad the author picked a happy for now ending and not a happily ever after because I think it made it more true to life and to this particular storyline.

If you’re looking for a romance with some interesting characters and storyline all packed into just ten pages, I’d definitely recommend this story.

A Gift of Gold by Jacquelynn Luben

Gold
A Gift of Gold by Jacquelynn Luben
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (5 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Lucia is a voluptuous beauty, so who could imagine she would fall for Happy Jack, a middle-aged gambler and racketeer, with a wife and children? But fall she does, into a relationship going nowhere. After 20 years, his wife has died, and Jack is free to marry again. Surely now, Lucia can expect to be his new bride? Alas, she is to be sadly disappointed.

Can money buy happiness? How many years would you wait for a lover who promised to marry you?

Lucia is an easy woman to hate. For 20 years she knowingly carried on an affair with a married man. At first I assumed she became involved with Jack because he was wealthy and powerful. Why else would a young, beautiful woman spend time with a man old enough to be her father for so many years she never has the opportunity to become a mother? Luckily Lucia provides explanations for her choices that made me sympathize with her hopes and dreams for the future. She isn’t someone I would necessarily want to befriend her but I soon grasped her theories about the meaning of love and commitment.
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Jack was more difficult to understand. Almost everything Lucia has to say about his character and behavior casts him in a negative light and after a while I wondered what she had ever found attractive about this man. Surely someone as lovely as Lucia could have found a more charming companion over the course of two decades! Sex and romance are wonderful but eventually one needs more than that to sustain a long-term relationship.

It’s difficult to discuss the end of such a short story without inadvertently spoiling it but sufficed to say I was satisfied with how Ms. Luben wrapped everything up. I figured out the twist almost immediately but was pleased to confirm my hunch was correct and I can’t imagine it ending in any other manner.

A Gift of Gold is a great choice for anyone craving a deeply satisfying conclusion to a snappy read.

The Case of the Missing Dinosaur Egg by June Whyte

CASE
The Case of the Missing Dinosaur Egg by June Whyte
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Young Adult, Contemporary, Action/Adventure
Length: Short Story (77 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Age Recommendation: 12+
Reviewed by Astilbe

Chiana Ryan, PI (sort of) is deep in the middle of an exciting mystery, and everything is coming up eggs. First there’s the 120-million-year-old dinosaur egg that disappears from its stand at the museum. Then there’s the shed full of eggs she stumbles across while investigating crazy Professor T. Goodenough’s scary signs.

What do these eggs have in common? What are the strange creatures hatching from the eggs in Professor Goodenough’s shed? And how can Chiana find time to follow clues when the owner of Treehaven Riding School keeps her busy riding and looking after the horses?

Chiana and her friends are determined to crack the case, even when the clues bring them to the egg thieves themselves. Suddenly, it’s horses against motor bikes in a desperate race for survival…

Can a stolen Therizinosaur egg laid millions of years ago actually hatch? How does a girl go about solving the mystery of what happened to it when her mother insists on shipping her off to a ranch in the middle of nowhere for two weeks?

Serious generic levitra cheap erectile dysfunctions may require surgeries which include reconstruction of the arteries to discharge more blood flow to the penis. Kamagra Oral Jelly gives the individual taking it the generic cialis online capacity to keep up a typical erection amid a period sufficient for a sound sex. It’s thus best to stay away from these drugs, or at least limit their intake. viagra price pop over to these guys As Saudi Dutest is the best lifting equipment suppliers, Saudi Dutest provides the high-quality cialis online pill lifting accessories to its clients. Chiana may have a knack for getting into scrapes but she’s also good at navigating her way out of them again. At twelve years old she’s just beginning to understand why her mother disapproves of her tendency to get caught up in adult investigations but this doesn’t mean that Chiana will stop acting like a private investigator anytime soon. Her witty and sometimes sarcastic opinion of how the adults around her handle delicate situations injects some much needed humour into the plot. While The Case of the Missing Dinosaur Egg appears to be part of a series I was not familiar with the earlier stories when I picked this book up. I had no trouble understanding what was happening or how everyone knew each other.

My major concern about Chiana is how her relationship with her step-sister, Sarah, is portrayed by Ms. Whyte. Chiana is an intelligent, brave, and resourceful girl who hates the thought of dressing up while Sarah is described as a natural beauty who is obsessed with wearing flattering outfits and making sure every hair is in place even after a long afternoon of training with her horse. The dichotomy between Chiana and Sarah seems out of place. Why can’t a girl love fashion and running around in the woods solving mysteries?

Professor Goodenough helped to make up for the odd relationship between Sarah and Chiana. I sympathized with his efforts to keep nosy kids off of his property. Farms can be full of dangerous objects and creatures and it completely made sense that the professor would want to limit his legal liability.  His sense of humour was also well developed and unflappable. It would have been amusing to observe certain scenes through his perspective as Chiana’s understanding of what is happening is only tangentially related to Professor Goodenough’s point of view.

This tale doesn’t contain any material that is inappropriate for readers age 10 or older. Some of the vocabulary used might be too difficult for younger preteens, though, which is why I’m recommending it for the 12+ age group, but younger children with more advanced reading skills would enjoy it, too.

The Case of the Missing Dinosaur Egg is a classic young adult novel in the best sense of the term. Despite a handful references to modern day books and movies I could see it being popular with late elementary and middle school students for many years to come. It is a good choice for reluctant and avid readers alike and I look forward to recommending it to young friends and relatives in the future.

Rachel in Love by Pat Murphy

RACHEL

Rachel in Love by Pat Murphy
Publisher: Untreed Reads
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (22 pages)
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Rachel has the mind of a teenage girl, but the body and the innocent heart of a young chimp. Sometimes when she looks at her gnarled brown fingers, they seem alien, wrong, out of place. She remembers having small, pale, delicate hands with painted fingernails. Memories lie upon memories, layers upon layers, like the sedimentary rocks of the desert buttes.

Aaron Jacobs, the man Rachel calls father, was a neurologist who discovered how to capture the electrical pattern of a living brain’s thoughts and memories. When his daughter died unexpectedly, the grieving father imposed the electrical pattern of the girl’s brain on a young chimp, creating Rachel, a chimp he recognizes as his daughter.

Rachel knows that she is a real girl – but when Aaron Jacobs dies, she must make her way in a world that treats her as nothing but an animal.

What does it mean to be a person? If the brain patterns of a human child are successfully transferred into a chimpanzee does that mean the subject deserves all of the rights and responsibilities of a human being? Imagine what it would be like navigate a society that doesn’t yet know it needs to grapple with these questions!
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Rachel may not look like other girls her age but she experiences the same emotions: grief, love, fear, and hope. Her identity may be confusing to others but Rachel has integrated her memories of life as a human child with her new body. It was delightful to see how quickly she can jump from the strengths given to her by her chimpanzee side and the ones that came after the operation.

In certain ways Rachel was disabled by this experiment. She is quite intelligent but can only communicate through sign language due to how chimpanzee larynxes are positioned in their throats. She also lost some behaviours and instincts that inform chimpanzee behavior. Yet the same physiological and psychological differences that hold her back from fully participating in human society also enable this character to accomplish tasks that would normally be almost impossible.

I would have loved to learn more about the neurological experiment that takes place before the plot begins. Exactly how Rachel ended up with a humanlike brain was never described in great detail but as a lay person I wondered if the information the author did provide would make sense to readers who have backgrounds in neurology. The idea of preserving a personality after their death by transferring it to a new mind is fascinating. Often science fiction predicts medical advances years before they take place and I finished this story wondering if a future generation’s breakthrough was foreshadowed when this tale was originally released in the late 1980s.

The plot is so exciting and well-paced that this is a small criticism, though. The fate I thought Rachel would meet is not quite the one that ended up awaiting her. From the first page to the last I was caught up in what was happening to her and hoping that she’d find a way to master every obstacle in her past. Some plot twists were easy to predict but others were more surprising.

By the end of Rachel in Love I was asking myself an even better question that the ones that I asked at the beginning of this review: should human rights be restricted to humans? Sometimes ethical codes shift in a heartbeat for excellent reasons. What better way to explore them than by meeting someone as unforgettable as Rachel?