The Witch’s Revenge by Danny Odato

April 2, 2014 By Leave a Comment

REVENGE
The Witch’s Revenge by Danny Odato
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Horror, Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (188 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

In Harangul, a village in the Latur district of Maharashtra, the Nehra family wakes up to what they believe is an ordinary day. But things are about to take a dark turn in the little village when a mysterious old woman moves into the abandoned house next door. Padma, a simple woman, is married to Mohan, a hardworking tailor. They have four children and are raising them in a loving, traditional Hindu family. They enjoy the culture of their small community and rely on their many friends, elders, and traditions to lead happy and spiritual lives. But soon after the arrival of the strange woman next door, a child is involved in a horrible, fatal incident. Another child becomes seriously ill, and a woman falls to her death from her roof. Then Padma’s own family suffers a tragic loss. Mohan and Padma seek spiritual advice, to no avail, and the authorities offer no assistance. Finally in desperation, as things become more bizarre in the colony, a party of brave men ventures out to seek a strong baba from far away. With faith, strength, and a very strong sense of community, the people of Harangul work tirelessly to free their home from the grasp of a terrible evil presence—a daayan who threatens their very existence. The Witch’s Revenge is a striking novel that seamlessly blends Indian tradition with suspense and horror—a book eloquently presented by a gifted new storyteller.

How would you protect your loved ones from a threat that no one saw coming?

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It would have been helpful to have more information about the villain’s thought processes during the course of this tale. While a strong backstory helps to explain this individual’s motives, certain parts of it never quite made sense to me. Given this character’s knowledge and personality, I would have expected a very different course of events to be the most logical outcome of their experiences.

With that being said, the rest of the characters were quite easy to get to know. Mr. Odato smoothly shifts from one point of view to the next. Since nearly all of the plot is experienced from the perspective of a handful of individuals it was easy to quickly figure out who is speaking when it changes again.

There were quite a few grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes in this book. While I was reading I wondered if certain syntax errors were placed in the text deliberately in order to give hints about the narrator’s background, most of them did not further the plot and seemed to be there accidentally. They were distracting due to how often they occur.

Mr. Odato’s detailed descriptions create a setting that works incredibly well with the plot. It was easy for me to visualize what the village looks like, especially at night when some of the scariest scenes occur. The foreboding presence of a nearby jungle that is rumoured to be haunted sent a chill down my spine.

The Witch’s Revenge has clearly been influenced by classic horror tropes. I would especially recommend this book to readers who are big fans of this style of writing as it is a good example of what it can be.

Filed Under: Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Losing Touch by Christian A. Larsen

March 31, 2014 By Leave a Comment

TOUCH
Losing Touch by Christian A. Larsen
Publisher: Post Mortem Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (209 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Morgan Dunsmore feels like everything is out of reach–a paying job, a healthy marriage, even a good bowel movement. Complicated by his wife’s recent back surgery, Morgan tries to protect his wife & kids from his anxieties, not to mention their financial burdens, but that just pushes them away even further. In the middle of it all, he starts to lose his tangibility. He may be able to walk thru walls, but that ability comes with a price. He has to learn not just how to control it, but how to use it without anyone finding out, not even his family. He doesn’t want to become a circus freak or government test subject while providing for his wife & kids, but there doesn’t seem to be any honest work for a man who can secretly phase through solid matter. The temptations, on the other hand–the temptations are endless, & when he succumbs to the first, the rest begin to fall like dominoes…

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What Morgan needs more than anything in life is a break. His emotional and financial troubles are explained in such excruciating detail that it almost felt like a memoir at times instead of a fictional story. The strained but loving relationship between Morgan and his wife only solidified my desire to know what what happens to them next. He has been with her for so many years that this reader learned more about his personality and character flaws from their interactions than I did from his inner monologue.

A little too much time was spent focusing on the main character’s adjustment to his newfound ability. While the first few scenes are well-written, Morgan’s shock lingers just past the point of believability. Had this section of the book been a little shorter it easily would have earned a much higher rating as the plot quickly picks up speed once he begins to play around with his powers.

With that being said, the pacing in the rest of this book is excellent. The creeping dread I felt as I anticipated what would happen next kept me engrossed in the plot. I figured out some plot twists ahead of time, but Mr. Larsen includes a few surprises that I never saw coming. I don’t know if he has any plans to write a sequel, but there is definitely room to revisit these characters if he chooses to do so. This reader would be very interested in hearing more from Morgan in the future.

The horror and science fiction elements in Losing Touch are sneaky. This is a tale that slowly creeps up and only reveals its sharp teeth at the last possible moment. For this reason it’s a great choice for anyone who is new to either genre and would like a small taste of what they have to offer.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Waiting by Hunter Shea

March 28, 2014 By Leave a Comment

WAITING
The Waiting by Hunter Shea
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Horror, Paranormal, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (112 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

“Clinging to life, haunted by the dead. ”

Newlywed Cassandra Pagano lies in a state between life and death, her body fed and preserved by the machines at her side. While she struggles, unaware of the world around her, someone waits a boy. A phantom that appears solid, real, “alive.” Cassandra s husband, Brian, sees him in the house, by her bedside, running down darkened hallways. The boy walks without sound, whispers words that can t be deciphered.

If the pharmacy buy viagra is next to the message subject is usually either a strange email address or a bizarre name. Premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction among order discount viagra men and painful sex among females are to be excluded. If they do not communicate with customers, it can cause problems and stress that researchers should not viagra generico cialis have to deal with. Some men face it once and some men face cheapest viagra uk it often in their lifetime. Terror and tension are driving Brian to the breaking point. Why is the boy there, and what does he want with Cassandra and her fading soul?

Prolonged stress can crack even the strongest person. Brian is no exception to this rule, but if he wants to help his wife he has to figure out a way to stay whole.

The most important thing any good ghost story needs is the right ambiance. Mr. Shea sets the eerie tone for his tale early on, and from Brian’s very first encounter with the paranormal I looked forward to seeing what the author had in store for his characters. The setting was so subtly frightening that I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next.

As the plot unfolded I returned to the question of Cassandra’s health over and over again. After how close her family came to losing her I had some trouble believing that her doctors would send such a fragile patient home with what only seemed to be part-time nursing care. This became even more true once I realized that none of her relatives worked in the medical field or had any previous experience with any of the machines that are keeping her alive. It would have been helpful for this issue to have been addressed in more detail early on.

At several different points in the narrative the perspective switches to a secondary character. Each switch happens quickly, and at first I was a little thrown off by how fast it occurs as well as the short amount of time that is dedicated to their experiences. Eventually I understood the author’s reasons for including these scenes, though, and I do think the story is stronger because they were included.

The chilling ending is ultimately what earned this tale its rating. While I figured it out in advance, it fit in well with everything that I learned about the characters in earlier chapters and sent a cold tingle down my spine. One of the reasons why I am such a big fan of the horror genre is how fear can bring out the best and worst of us. This tale is a good example of how that works.

I stayed up late to finish The Waiting, although I wouldn’t recommend doing the same to anyone hoping to get a good night’s sleep. It’s much better to read this book in the middle of the day while ignoring any unusual shadows or heavy footsteps in the corner of the room.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

Piercing the Veil by Mason Ian Bundschuh

March 27, 2014 By Leave a Comment

VEIL
Piercing the Veil by Mason Ian Bundschuh
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Horror, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (66 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

“Do you” really “want to know what s on the other side? ”

Simon is a brilliant grad student eager to get ahead. So when a professor offers him a secret research position at a cutting-edge lab on the cusp of proving an impossible theory, Simon thinks it s a dream come true. But the math doesn t add up and the other technicians working the graveyard shift don t seem quite right somehow.
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When students start disappearing from Simon s university, he realizes there may be a horrible connection to the research at the lab. He suspects his coworkers may not be entirely human after all. And the disappearances are getting closer to home.

Sometimes a thin line is all that separates an ordinary day from a baffling one.

Simon’s arrogance and tendency to judge others harshly made it difficult for me to like him, but his personality is so well-described in this short story that I couldn’t wait to find out what happens to him next. His positive qualities help to round him out as a protagonist. While I wouldn’t necessarily want to meet him, Simon is well-rounded and a good choice as the audience’s guide through this particular tale.

I never quite understood why it took Simon so long to pick up on certain clues. He’s an intelligent, meticulous man who has strong opinions about many different topics. Simon also seems to have formed an excellent mental map of his surroundings. While the pacing itself was well done, it would have been helpful for this reader to have a better explanation of why Simon overlooked so many clues that seemed like they should have been more obvious to a man with his background.

Certain short stories expect a lot from the readers, and this is one of them. Physics references are common and most of them are not explained by the time the plot moves on to the next scene. While some clues are provided, they also require some work in order to reveal their secrets. Given the subject matter this was a good decision, though, and I truly enjoyed putting all of the pieces together.

Piercing the Veil stretched my mind. This is a great choice for anyone in the mood for something clever.

Filed Under: Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , ,

Sandy Creek by Trina M. Ward

March 25, 2014 By Leave a Comment

SANDY
Sandy Creek by Trina M. Ward
Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary, Horror, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (242 pages)
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Something evil dwells in and around Sandy Creek. There have been numerous sightings of a Creature that remains a mystery in the unsuspecting town located along the Gulf Coast. Murders, attacks as well as odd mishaps all take place within the Sandy Creek area. Preston, his girlfriend Shayne, his best friend Aaron and Kimberly will encounter something beyond their wildest imaginations. Nothing could ever prepare them for what they find. The answer is within the truth, but the truth may not exactly set them free.

Few things are stronger than the bond between siblings. Little does Preston know just how far his love for his sister is about to take him, though.

The author’s vivid descriptions of the setting made me feel as if I were wandering around Sandy Creek alongside Preston and his companions as they attempt to figure out what really happened to his sister. Every sense other than taste is invoked as what should be a peaceful body of water gradually reveals its dark underbelly. My favourite scenes involve the protagonist’s exploration of this area due to how easy it is to mentally picture exactly what he is experiencing.
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I got to know Preston very well during the course of his tale, but it was harder to figure out the personalities of the people around him. Each one is given a brief introduction, but had their names not been included in later scenes it would have been difficult for me to know who was speaking based on what they said or how they react to everything that happens to them. Preston has a well-defined personality that affects every decision he makes. The secondary characters do not seem to share this same advantage.

As soon as the mystery presents itself in the first chapter I couldn’t wait to find out what happens next. The author’s use of a well-paced plot as well as her decision to begin a little later in the timeline than I was expecting kept me on my toes.While the cast of characters is about the size I would expect for a novel this length, I was also surprised by how quickly many of them are introduced in the first few chapters.

There is also a lot of telling instead of showing in this book. Preston’s reaction to his sister’s disappearance felt genuine to this reader, but many other emotions, character traits, and clues about what is really happening are released in a sentence or two instead of being allowed to gradually seep through body language or dialogue.

The ending redeemed many of my concerns about earlier chapters. It wasn’t something I saw coming until right before it happens and I was impressed that the author was able to keep me guessing for well over 200 pages. If this is any indication of Ms. Ward’s writing ability, I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

Sandy Creek is a solid mystery that I would recommend to anyone in the mood for a challenge.

Filed Under: Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Haunt Me by Lena Loneson

March 18, 2014 By 2 Comments

HAUNT
Haunt Me by Lena Loneson
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Genre:, Suspense/Mystery Horror, Contemporary, Paranormal, Action/Adventure, Holiday, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (80 pages)
Other: M/F, Voyeurism
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Minerva Silence, TV psychic and fraud extraordinaire, can read them all. She’s not even aware that her gift is real until she’s confronted by the spirit of her late husband, and by the man who murdered him.

Bram would do anything to protect the woman he loves, even from beyond the grave. But he needs her passion, her body’s response to him, if he’s to manifest and help her to defeat the men who mean to kill her.

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The chemistry between Minerva and her deceased husband, Bram, is as strong now as it was on their honeymoon a decade ago. By far the best scenes in this novella explore how little has changed between these two over the years. After spending so much time together Minerva and Bram know exactly how to turn each other on. The results are electrifying.

It took me some time to understand the rules governing spirits in this universe. While I figured out what they are and are not capable of doing, it would have been helpful to have certain restrictions spelled out a little sooner in the plot. What seem like inconsistencies early on turn out to have good explanations, and had this not been the case this story would have easily earned a much high rating.

By the end of the first scene I was intrigued by the spooky, atmospheric plot. Ms. Loneson does a fantastic job at combining the horror and erotic themes in unexpected ways beginning with the reader’s first introduction to Minerva. I’m a fan of both genres but have never read a book quite like this one before, and I am planning to explore the rest of this author’s catalogue soon in the hope of finding more treasures like this one.

Haunt Me kept me guessing until the very end. This is a great choice for anyone in the mood for a spicy, paranormal mystery.

Filed Under: Erotic Romance, Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Samurai and Other Stories by William Meikle

February 26, 2014 By Leave a Comment

SAMRUAI
Samurai and Other Stories by William Meikle
Publisher: Crystal Lake Publishing
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical, Paranormal, Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Short Story (132 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Review by: Astilbe

In Samurai and Other Stories you’ll find numerous ghosts, many Scotsmen, a big blob, some holy relics, some unholy relics, a Mothman, a barbarian, some swordplay, a shoggoth and people that nobody expects.

This collection by William Meikle brings together stories from the past decade in an exploration of the perils of exploring dark places, both external and internal.

Los Angeles Lakers (4) – Kobe is https://pdxcommercial.com/technology-gives-brokers-deeper-insights-customers-cre-interests/ generic levitra online giving me flashbacks of 2005-06 but I snap out of it when the 40 point game ends in a victory. 2. If a website doesn’t care about the privacy of your own residence buying sildenafil for simply a fraction of the price. General sildenafil delivery properties of pheromones: People who use pheromones are likely to suffer from male disorder. It is the prior injury but possibly many many years earlier, that is held in place, mentally, and this mental “holding” is what leads to the reduced circulation in an area. cialis for sale cheap Includes: Samurai, Rickman’s Plasma, Home is the Sailor, Turn Again, Inquisitor, The Scotsman’s Fiddle, The Toughest Mile, The Havehome, The Yule Log, Living the Dream, The Shoogling Jenny, The Haunting of Esther Cox, Dancers, The Brotherhood of the Thorns, The Young Lochinvar, and A Slim Chance.

Should everything that goes bump in the night be investigated? It’s much easier to ask this question in the middle of the afternoon than when you hear something bizarre in the inky darkness and know dawn is many hours away.

“The Yule Log” opens with John selecting the perfect log to burn in his fireplace. This isn’t any ordinary kindling, though, and I was mesmerized by what he decides to carve into it first and why he chose that particular motif. It was also interesting to see how John’s emotional state is communicated to the reader in a piece that includes almost no dialogue. This is a good Christmas story for readers who ordinarily find that genre too sentimental.

In “Inquisitor,” Father Fernando has been given the responsibility of interrogating a strange creature that has just sailed in from the New World. He steps into this role with only a handful of diary entries from the last man who encountered the creature to guide him. The concept is well thought out, but I would have liked to see more time spent on the climax of Father Fernando’s investigation. Certain aspects of the plot would have been much more frightening had they been given more time to develop before the end. There were several other tales in this book that followed a similar pattern. Each one starts off with an intriguing question or scenario, but much more time is spent hinting at what is actually going on than wrapping up the plot threads.

By far my favourite story in this collection is “The Haunting of Esther Cox.” Upon first glance Esther is no different than any other young woman living in a rural community in the late 1880s. She has an impeccable reputation and is surrounded by adoring family members. Yet she’s also carrying a terrible secret that threatens to destroy everything good in her life. Each diary entry provides another clue about what is really happening. In this case that particular writing style works extremely well because of how slowly certain facts wiggle to the surface of her mind. The descriptions of the strict social mores of her culture add an extra layer of horror to this tale, and the creative ways in which Esther responds to everything her community expects of someone her age and gender makes this a must-read.

This was my first introduction to Mr. Meikle’s work. If it is any indication of his writing style, I can’t wait to read more from him. He has a highly imaginative mind whose tendency to find the dark twist in even the most mundane circumstances is well-suited for both the horror and science fiction genres.

Samurai and Other Stories is a truly original collection of horror tales that are especially appropriate for longterm fans of this genre. It is as unique as it is deeply creepy, and I look forward to starting the whole thing over from the beginning.

Filed Under: Horror, Reviews, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Where You Live by Gary McMahon

February 24, 2014 By Leave a Comment

LIVE
Where You Live by Gary McMahon
Publisher: Crystal Lake Publishing
Genre: Horror, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary, Paranormal, Holiday
Length: Short Story (123 pages)
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

Horror is everywhere…

It’s waiting behind a closed door, sitting in an ordinary chair, or following you on a country walk. Perhaps it’s washed up on a tranquil beach, hanging at a local skate park, recorded on an MP3 player hard drive, or even embedded somewhere deep within the design of something as simple and innocuous as a supermarket barcode.

Horror is everywhere, in the shadows and in the light.

It takes on every shape, comes in every conceivable size.
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But most of all it’s right where you live.

Fear can be many things: an early warning system, a false alarm, a cheap thrill, or even the sublimation of stereotypes you’d never admit to believing in. The question is, how do you know when it’s real?

In “Just Another Horror Story,” a couple in the middle of a torrid love affair check into a hotel room for a night of debauchery. Little do Terry and Nancy know what actually awaits them. This tale was a great introduction to Mr. McMahon’s work. While I was able to anticipate some of the twists and turns in it I was pleasantly surprised by how often he made me second-guess my predictions about what would happen next.

“Trog Boy Ran” is by far the best story in this collection. Shortly Niles Reedman responds to a recent, painful breakup by stalking his ex-girlfriend and very odd things begin to occur around him. The pacing in this piece is so well done it felt almost cinematic. As disturbing as it was for me to step into the mind of a chilling and extremely dangerous protagonist, I couldn’t stop reading until I reached the end of Niles’ adventure.

I desperately wanted to like “The Chair.” In it a boy named Ben battles with despair, loneliness and an undisclosed malaise as his mother struggles with her own mental illness. The introduction caught my attention right away, but I had trouble understanding the symbolism of certain objects in Ben’s life and well as what was happening in the final scene. The sequel to this tale, “The Table,” answers some questions before asking the reader to sort out a brand new batch of them. The concept is alluring, but given the subtlety of what is happening these particular stories may have worked better as a novella.

This pattern repeats itself a few other times in this collection. Every entry includes at least one surprising, frightening, or unexpected element, but some of their horrors are a little difficult to unravel. I found something I really enjoyed about every single tale. That isn’t something that normally occurs for me when I review larger anthologies. Had a little more time been spent planting clues about what was truly happening in the tales that skipped over as much exposition as possible this book would have easily earned a much higher rating.

Save some time to savour the story notes at the end of this novel. Reading them made me feel like I was sitting down with Mr. McMahon to have a personal conversation about where his ideas come from and why he wrote certain characters the way he did. This section is a definite highlight of the novel, but it should be saved until the very end to avoid spoilers.

Where You Live is a solid collection of psychological horror. It’s a good choice for anyone in the mood for a thought-provoking, understated read that becomes more frightening the more one thinks about what they just read.

Filed Under: Reviews, Romance, Science Fiction/Fantasy Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Loving Husband and the Faithful Wife by Kit Power

February 20, 2014 By 1 Comment

BAD
The Loving Husband and the Faithful Wife by Kit Power
Publisher: Black Beacon Books
Genre: Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary, Horror
Length: Short Story (35 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

The Loving Husband and the Faithful Wife

A cutesy tale of romance and domestic bliss? Step inside this suburban home to find out what happens when the couple decide to have an extension added. What could possibly go wrong?

The Debt
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Meet Del. Meet Tel. Two men from the wrong side of the tracks. Del stayed straight. Tel, well, he didn’t. Now Del is in debt up to his eyeballs, facing ruin. Only Tel can help. Will he though? And if he does, can Del afford the terms?

Two dark tales of fear, paranoia, and good intentions, set in situations where grey bleeds into black, and where there are no easy answers. Kit Power invites you to see the world through the eyes of the faces that pass you every day. Discover how it feels to really know someone.

Some decisions are easier to make than others. The trick is to figure out ahead of time exactly how far you’re willing to go to reach your goals.

This was my first introduction to this author’s work and it has whet my appetite for more. Mr. Power did quite well at introducing this reader to his characters through a series of subtle hints about their personalities that are sprinkled throughout fast-paced plots.

“The Loving Husband and the Faithful Wife” has a strong, intriguing premise, but I had trouble piecing together some of the clues the narrator provides about what is happening. A few of them seem to be mutually contradictory, and I would have preferred to see more time explaining how all of them fit together. I don’t know if the author intends to write a sequel to this tale, but I would be quite interested in reading one if it is ever published. There is still so much these characters haven’t revealed about themselves yet.

It took a few paragraphs for me to adjust to the Cockney dialect and nearly-constant swearing in “The Debt,” but Del’s predicament snagged my attention right away. At times it was a little difficult to believe he had grown up in such a rough neighbourhood due to how he reacts to certain things that are common in that sort of environment. Having an explanation for how this occurred would have resulted in a higher rating for this book. The pacing is strong, though, and Del’s journey is so compelling that I didn’t want to stop reading.

The Loving Husband and the Faithful Wife is a promising collection. I look forward to seeing what Mr. Power writes next, and I’d recommend these stories to anyone who is new to the mystery genre. Either tale is a good place to start.

Filed Under: Horror, Mystery/Suspense, Reviews Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Dollar Dreadful Vol. 1: A Tangle of Shadows by M.L. Hart

February 17, 2014 By Leave a Comment

DOLLAR
A Tangle of Shadows by M.L. Hart
Dollar Dreadful Vol. 1:
Publisher: 451 ePublishing Haus
Genre: Horror, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (64 pages)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe

1) Freak of Nurture

If, out of the blue, you were offered your deepest desire, would you immediately recognize it for what it was and seize hold of it before it slipped through your fingers forever? And could you even be honest about what that desire might truly be? Could you forsake your whole way of life, throw over your loved ones and life-long beliefs to pursue something utterly unknown? Would you fall prey to temptation, not knowing where it might lead, what its consequences might be? Or would you purse your lips, turn your face away from everything you’ve ever wanted and refuse it in the name of propriety? Would you really leave behind the daily grind, the mortgage and the marital bed for something so deep and secret you can barely admit it to yourself?

Christian Trent, weary and soul-sore on the commute home late at night, is confronted with this very proposition…

2) The Voice of Ignition
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Anton’s deadly obsession is fuelled by the voice of ignition that always insists, cultivating his urge to burn, prompting pyromania. The voice tells Anton that arson is his holy mission, that he’s destined to bring hell-fire to earth as the agent of fate, just and righteous. But despite his deep devotion to his fiery raison d’être, the voice is never satisfied. It whispers to him, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see them all burn?’ and Anton cannot help but agree. And so the voice’s incessancy drives him out on the prowl once again, cans of petrol in his car-boot and intent to commit arson in his heart…

3) A Tangle of Shadows

You are trying hard to recover from a devastating breakdown. Then, as if by chance, you meet the most lovely, glamorous woman you’ve ever encountered. She is extraordinarily beautiful and, consequently, far out of your league. So, it is entirely unexpected when she declares her desire for you, how her intention is to satisfy your every whim. And, astoundingly, she proceeds to do so, fulfilling all your needs with a style and nonchalance that captivates you. You are falling madly in love with her and she reciprocates, a new life of delight is unfolding before you like a map of paradise. Then, the rub. She tells you that she is in serious trouble, the kind of trouble that would only get worse if the police were called in. Without even realising it, you’ve been thoroughly enmeshed in a tangle of shadows and both your lives are at stake…

Sometimes thoughts are the scariest things of all.

There are traces of Edgar Allen Poe’s writing style in this collection. Mr. Hart knows exactly how to inject a dark ribbon of dread into what should be an completely ordinary sequence of events. His use of uncommon, slightly antiquated vocabulary and his ability to step into the mind of characters whose understanding of reality isn’t always analogous to how other people would interpret certain events also reminds me of Poe’s work. This is a particularly good book for readers new to the horror genre who aren’t necessarily familiar with all of the sub genres because so many of them are included in these tales.

“Freak of Nurture” caught my attention immediately. Mr. Hart’s description of what it feels like to live with anxiety is extremely accurate. Christian is not always an easy character to like due to how quickly he’s willing to stereotype and judge others, but seeing how his fears affect every aspect of his life gave me sympathy for his plight. There is quite a bit of telling instead of showing in this piece, though, and for that reason it is the weakest one in this book.

By far my favourite story is “The Voice of Ignition.” Anton is a chilling and nuanced antagonist who terrified me within a few paragraphs. Figuring out how he repeatedly eluded the authorities made it impossible for me to stop reading.The final scene alone would have made me give this tale a much higher rating if it had been released on its own.

Framing the plot as the content of a letter gave a unique perspective to “A Tangle of Shadows.” More than once I was convinced I understood what was happening only to be surprised by yet another plot twist. While I had some trouble figuring out the ending, the dialogue was so well-written that I enjoyed going back to determine what had actually happened.

Dollar Dreadful Vol. 1: A Tangle of Shadows is a frightening and thought-provoking collection of short stories that I would recommend to anyone who likes psychological horror.

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