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kellyvandamme's review
5.0
This is an anthology of crime fiction and most importantly: it is a collection of short stories done right! Each story is a mini novel, a full-blown, fleshed-out yet succinct tale and each one hit that sweet spot. I chose this anthology because it has a mix of authors whose work I’ve enjoyed and new to me authors, AND the proceeds go the Samaritans, so you can enjoy yourself and help others, bloody fantastic! I discovered it on Twitter when Meggy was promoting it and she later reviewed it, do check that out here. It’s hard to pick a favourite, they’re all really good, but one that stuck with me is Sausage Fingers by Victoria Selman. Other contributors are Dominic Nolan, James Delargy, Claire Empton, Phoebe Morgan and Niki Mackay. I would definitely recommend this one to crime anthology lovers!
annebrooke's review
5.0
I totally LOVED this book - great bite-sized stories and lots of new authors I will definitely be looking up very soon. A fabulous read.
bgg616's review
4.0
This collection preceded the volume of Christmas stories I recently read. And it was much better. A variety of plots, and not all murders. Each of these short stories was a winner, and I am likely to investigate longer works by many of these authors.
jayneyh314's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
“Afraid of the Light” is a collection of 14 short stories from leading crime fiction authors with all profits being donated to charity.
I find short stories a bit hit and miss usually if I’m honest. I don’t mind novellas so much as there is more time to get engrossed but sometimes short stories just feel too short and I don’t care enough about the characters. “Afraid of the Light”, however, is a very good collection and makes the most of the short story format.
It is a slightly odd collection as I felt like the first couple of stories were more supernatural type stories than they were crime fiction but they still worked as short stories and the rest of the collection was more traditional crime fiction.
Even in a short story format I’m drawn to a twist so one of my particular favourites was “Sheep’s Clothing”. I absolutely loved that one. I was also quite fond of “Sausage Fingers” and “Planting Nan”. There’s some great little characters that have been created for these stories and I’d love to see some of the ideas fleshed out into a longer format but some of them, “Sheep’s Clothing” included, definitely work best in the short story format.
I’m so glad my friend recommended this collection to me as it has been perfect for me right now. I’ve had a cold and also been doing some revision during my lunch hour at work and by the end of the day my brain power and capacity have definitely reduced and it’s been so nice to not have to focus on lots of details or remember character interactions from one day to the next.
Every story was well written. I’ve mentioned there were some I preferred to others but that’s more to do with the plot of those stories rather than anything wrong with the writing on any of the others. Reading this collection has also made me want to find out more about some of these authors and look into reading some of their other work because if they can achieve work like this within limited page numbers I’m excited to see what they can do with a full length book.
laurahastoomanywips's review
5.0
Read via Pigeonhole.
Amazing collection of short Psychology/dark thrillers. Each one was well written, made you think afterwards. Some were gross, some dark humoured, some creepy. Really enjoyable read, will be keeping eye out for these authors in future.
Amazing collection of short Psychology/dark thrillers. Each one was well written, made you think afterwards. Some were gross, some dark humoured, some creepy. Really enjoyable read, will be keeping eye out for these authors in future.
florinereads's review
4.0
3.5 rounded up.
I'm not a massive fan of short stories, but this small collection was fun. Loads of good ideas, some very creepy one without being gory.
I hated one of the stories though, set in prison with a gay relationship - I wished people would stop stereotyping things they most likely don't know anything about.
I'm not a massive fan of short stories, but this small collection was fun. Loads of good ideas, some very creepy one without being gory.
I hated one of the stories though, set in prison with a gay relationship - I wished people would stop stereotyping things they most likely don't know anything about.
alisonannk's review
5.0
This is a fantastic collection of short stories. One of the best I have read in a long time.
Short stories are difficult collections to review as you can have some truly brilliant and some truly awful. Thankfully, this anthology is all great.
I particularly loved the penultimate story by James Delargy as it was dark and twisty, like the others, but oh so funny too! Dark dark humour, which I love.
Also of note are the stories by Phoebe Morgan, about a son suffering night terrors; NJ Mackay, about a bereaved brother; Victoria Selman, about a strange series of murders; Dominic Nolan, about a lifelong criminal (Dominic also wins the award for best twist!); and Robert Scragg, which essentially looks at cat-fishing (and comes a close second with best twist).
The length of the stories is perfect too - I often find short stories can be too long but these are generally bite sized and super tasty.
What is even better about this is that royalties from this anthology go to the Samaritans. A worthy cause and great reading material so there's nothing to lose!
Thanks so much to The Pigeonhole for bringing this great anthology to my attention and letting me read along with a fabulous community of readers.
Short stories are difficult collections to review as you can have some truly brilliant and some truly awful. Thankfully, this anthology is all great.
I particularly loved the penultimate story by James Delargy as it was dark and twisty, like the others, but oh so funny too! Dark dark humour, which I love.
Also of note are the stories by Phoebe Morgan, about a son suffering night terrors; NJ Mackay, about a bereaved brother; Victoria Selman, about a strange series of murders; Dominic Nolan, about a lifelong criminal (Dominic also wins the award for best twist!); and Robert Scragg, which essentially looks at cat-fishing (and comes a close second with best twist).
The length of the stories is perfect too - I often find short stories can be too long but these are generally bite sized and super tasty.
What is even better about this is that royalties from this anthology go to the Samaritans. A worthy cause and great reading material so there's nothing to lose!
Thanks so much to The Pigeonhole for bringing this great anthology to my attention and letting me read along with a fabulous community of readers.
stephlyon25's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
meggyroussel's review
5.0
What are you afraid of? Fourteen crime fiction authors explore some of our deepest fears and put them into words.
I find the words anthology and short stories daunting. An anthology means you are going to get a taste of different settings, writing styles, characters. What if the flow of stories doesn’t work? What if I get so invested in an author’s particular story and then get frustrated? Short stories mean writers have so few pages to convince the reader. Even if I usually give a book fifty pages to hook me, short stories get even less, so what happens if the magic isn’t immediate?
Yet, when I was asked to read Afraid of the Light, I didn’t hesitate. I hear you. “How?!? She just said she wasn’t sure about both anthologies and short stories! This woman is crazy!” I am not! Well, I am, in a good way. So why I did I say yes to this project?
Two reasons.
One. The authors themselves. I have known most of them and have read some or most of their work. I know, I am a chicken, but when it comes to satisfying my criminal thirst in a short amount of time, it is difficult for me to take risks. Still, there were a few names I had yet to discover, and let’s be honest, we readers are generally curious. I wanted the thrill of a blend of familiarity and novelty. I wanted the unknown. Guess what, I got it!
Two. The reason behind the anthology. All royalties are donated to Samaritans. Mental health is precious, and we need to take care of it more than ever. I am grateful fourteen talented authors took from their time and evil minds to help in their own way.
Now that you know why this anthology found itself on my reading list, let me tell a little more about its content.
Fourteen short stories. Fourteen different kind of shivers. I know, I didn’t know it was possible, but they did it! Let’s have a look! I have decided not to say much about the stories themselves. I prefer to focus on how they made me feel in the hope it sparks an irrepressible urge to buy Afraid of the Light as soon as you’re done reading my review!
Are You Listening by Adam Southward
New author to me! I was excited as a kid on their birthday when I realized Adam had chosen and nailed a subject I’m particularly close to. They say we control technology, we own it… Do we? I have so much love for this entrée!!!
Daddy Dearest by Dominic Nolan
This author has the best lines. And his very own definition of evil. I’m still shivering. It’s not fear, it’s… deeper. Stronger. Darker.
Deathbed, Beth Dead by Elle Croft
Life’s gifts can be a curse. How my heart broke and filled with a bitterness I never knew I had in me! Efficient, heartbreaking, and bound to leave a trace.
Loveable Alan Atcliffe by S R Masters
This one really disturbed me. Oh loveable Alan… Don’t we all have skeletons in the closet?
Sleep Time by Phoebe Morgan
Phoebe Morgan, thank you. I had to leave my little electric candles on after reading your story right before bedtime!
Coming Home by N J Mackay
A different kind of fear. Life after a nightmare. The coldness and the loneliness oozed from the pages and my fingers gripped the Kindle a little tighter. Can the light find you in the dark?
Sausage Fingers by Victoria Selman
I owe Victoria Selman a newly found distrust for sausage fingers and those I love the most. They say parents have the answer to everything. They are here to show us the way. Never has it been so true!
Just a Game by Rachael Blok
Probably the story which felt the ‘scariest’ to me. Scary in the purest form. Just detailed enough to tickle the part of your brain that is fascinated by how things can go wrong in the blink of an eye.
Drowning in Debt by Heather Critchlow
The best plans always have a flaw! How I loved this domestic nightmare, the passion and the strength behind it!
To Evil or Not to Evil by Jo Furniss
First, brilliant title! Second, my nightmare come true. Imagine having a constantly updated feed telling others what you feel! How do relationship evolve from this when you can’t hide what’s inside, get time to think? I felt like the character in the story, a real prisoner in a free world. No privacy, nowhere to hide, and robots to take over… I was furious, frightened, with a feeling of unease filling my lungs and limbs! Brrr!
Sheep’s Clothing by Robert Scragg
Beautiful, cunning, absolutely devastating. I loved being tricked by the author, getting the hint, and taking a second to ask myself where I stood at the end of the story.
Frantic by Clare Empson
Domestic bliss pushed to the edge. Probably one of my favorite stories, if I was able to choose a favorite.
Planting Nan by James Delargy
Family love always blossoms… Another favorite! See, I am unable to pick one. Disturbing doesn’t even cover this one. James uses the most innocent thing on earth – a child (not my saying, I find kids to be little monsters) and puts him in the middle of a very special gardening lesson.
Shadow by Kate Simants
A real punch to the stomach! A narrative that just seeped into my mind, giving me a rush of adrenaline, until I reached the end and my mind went Boom.
There is such diversity in those stories that I couldn’t stop reading. Minutes flew by while I jumped from one nightmare to the next, printing Polaroid pictures of each monster in my mind, the power of the different writing sealing the evil behind my eyes.
Afraid of the Light is the perfect example of what an anthology is about – forces coming together to create a universe with doors to worlds all ready to make the reader feel. Every word in each short story is perfect, the balance between each author is pure, the result is an entertaining and engaging read. But this team has done more than just throw crazy ideas around. They address difficult matters, they force you to look in the mirror and see what is lurking in the shadows. They hold your hand while you visit unsettling truths and discover more than fear – justice, guilt, unconditional love. All those emotions and notions that can lead us to take a step back from the light and meet the shadows. We all have a shadow. What is yours?
Thank you to Alex North of a fantastic foreword!
I find the words anthology and short stories daunting. An anthology means you are going to get a taste of different settings, writing styles, characters. What if the flow of stories doesn’t work? What if I get so invested in an author’s particular story and then get frustrated? Short stories mean writers have so few pages to convince the reader. Even if I usually give a book fifty pages to hook me, short stories get even less, so what happens if the magic isn’t immediate?
Yet, when I was asked to read Afraid of the Light, I didn’t hesitate. I hear you. “How?!? She just said she wasn’t sure about both anthologies and short stories! This woman is crazy!” I am not! Well, I am, in a good way. So why I did I say yes to this project?
Two reasons.
One. The authors themselves. I have known most of them and have read some or most of their work. I know, I am a chicken, but when it comes to satisfying my criminal thirst in a short amount of time, it is difficult for me to take risks. Still, there were a few names I had yet to discover, and let’s be honest, we readers are generally curious. I wanted the thrill of a blend of familiarity and novelty. I wanted the unknown. Guess what, I got it!
Two. The reason behind the anthology. All royalties are donated to Samaritans. Mental health is precious, and we need to take care of it more than ever. I am grateful fourteen talented authors took from their time and evil minds to help in their own way.
Now that you know why this anthology found itself on my reading list, let me tell a little more about its content.
Fourteen short stories. Fourteen different kind of shivers. I know, I didn’t know it was possible, but they did it! Let’s have a look! I have decided not to say much about the stories themselves. I prefer to focus on how they made me feel in the hope it sparks an irrepressible urge to buy Afraid of the Light as soon as you’re done reading my review!
Are You Listening by Adam Southward
New author to me! I was excited as a kid on their birthday when I realized Adam had chosen and nailed a subject I’m particularly close to. They say we control technology, we own it… Do we? I have so much love for this entrée!!!
Daddy Dearest by Dominic Nolan
This author has the best lines. And his very own definition of evil. I’m still shivering. It’s not fear, it’s… deeper. Stronger. Darker.
Deathbed, Beth Dead by Elle Croft
Life’s gifts can be a curse. How my heart broke and filled with a bitterness I never knew I had in me! Efficient, heartbreaking, and bound to leave a trace.
Loveable Alan Atcliffe by S R Masters
This one really disturbed me. Oh loveable Alan… Don’t we all have skeletons in the closet?
Sleep Time by Phoebe Morgan
Phoebe Morgan, thank you. I had to leave my little electric candles on after reading your story right before bedtime!
Coming Home by N J Mackay
A different kind of fear. Life after a nightmare. The coldness and the loneliness oozed from the pages and my fingers gripped the Kindle a little tighter. Can the light find you in the dark?
Sausage Fingers by Victoria Selman
I owe Victoria Selman a newly found distrust for sausage fingers and those I love the most. They say parents have the answer to everything. They are here to show us the way. Never has it been so true!
Just a Game by Rachael Blok
Probably the story which felt the ‘scariest’ to me. Scary in the purest form. Just detailed enough to tickle the part of your brain that is fascinated by how things can go wrong in the blink of an eye.
Drowning in Debt by Heather Critchlow
The best plans always have a flaw! How I loved this domestic nightmare, the passion and the strength behind it!
To Evil or Not to Evil by Jo Furniss
First, brilliant title! Second, my nightmare come true. Imagine having a constantly updated feed telling others what you feel! How do relationship evolve from this when you can’t hide what’s inside, get time to think? I felt like the character in the story, a real prisoner in a free world. No privacy, nowhere to hide, and robots to take over… I was furious, frightened, with a feeling of unease filling my lungs and limbs! Brrr!
Sheep’s Clothing by Robert Scragg
Beautiful, cunning, absolutely devastating. I loved being tricked by the author, getting the hint, and taking a second to ask myself where I stood at the end of the story.
Frantic by Clare Empson
Domestic bliss pushed to the edge. Probably one of my favorite stories, if I was able to choose a favorite.
Planting Nan by James Delargy
Family love always blossoms… Another favorite! See, I am unable to pick one. Disturbing doesn’t even cover this one. James uses the most innocent thing on earth – a child (not my saying, I find kids to be little monsters) and puts him in the middle of a very special gardening lesson.
Shadow by Kate Simants
A real punch to the stomach! A narrative that just seeped into my mind, giving me a rush of adrenaline, until I reached the end and my mind went Boom.
There is such diversity in those stories that I couldn’t stop reading. Minutes flew by while I jumped from one nightmare to the next, printing Polaroid pictures of each monster in my mind, the power of the different writing sealing the evil behind my eyes.
Afraid of the Light is the perfect example of what an anthology is about – forces coming together to create a universe with doors to worlds all ready to make the reader feel. Every word in each short story is perfect, the balance between each author is pure, the result is an entertaining and engaging read. But this team has done more than just throw crazy ideas around. They address difficult matters, they force you to look in the mirror and see what is lurking in the shadows. They hold your hand while you visit unsettling truths and discover more than fear – justice, guilt, unconditional love. All those emotions and notions that can lead us to take a step back from the light and meet the shadows. We all have a shadow. What is yours?
Thank you to Alex North of a fantastic foreword!