Gone Bad

by Julie Morrigan

This short story collection features a rare cast of flawed, foul-mouthed, misguided and downtrodden, all of whom might be said to have, in one way or another, ‘gone bad’. This is strong stuff, no holds barred and no punches pulled. You wouldn’t want to be sharing the last bus home with these people.

Gone Bad has the distinctive flavour of north east England and gathers together 18 titles, mixing ‘flash fiction’ pieces with longer reads. Within the pages you can meet a murderous little boy, a psychotic Scouse backing singer, and a wannabe crime fiction writer with a penchant for hands-on research. Add to that a dishonest lottery winner, predatory girlfriend, long-suffering private detective and would-be rapist and you’re starting to get the lie of the land.

Praise for Gone

This was a terrific read. Highly recommended to any crime, drama, or thriller fans. (Smashwords)

Julie Morrigan is a rare find, tight smart prose used to tell dark, wildly entertaining tales of the darker side of the street. I WANT MORE. (GoodReads)

Judging from this collection, it's safe to say that from the dark and gritty depths of urban noir a new queen has risen. (GoodReads)

Genres: Horror

104 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 9, 2011

About the author

Julie Morrigan is the author of various novels, novellas and short stories, and best known for her gritty crime tales based in the north-east of England. Her most recent publication is horror novella Blackthorn Cottage, in which evil deeds from over a century earlier affect a family in the present day.

Her most recent novel is gangland novel Flesh and Blood, which follows crime thriller Debt of Honour, both published in 2024.

Gangland novel Cutter features the brutal exploits of vicious Sunderland gangster Gordon Cutter and his criminal firm.

For fans of short stories, Bad Times: North-East Crime collects Julie's shorter tales, originally published in the collections Gone Bad, Show No Mercy and Wired. Many also previously appeared in anthologies and magazines such as Bullet and Out of the Gutter.

Julie shares stories and news via her Substack newsletter, Bad Intent: https://juliemorrigan.substack.com/

Reviews

[Constantine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5.0

A good collection of 18 short stories. These stories are filled with horror, torture and they are very brutal in nature. I enjoyed some of them more than others. Some were really good, others were OK. What they all have in common is the creepy atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you are a fan of short stories then give this book a try but keep in mind that all of them are very dark.

[Richard Godwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Julie Morrigan does really well, exceptionally well, is structure her stories. There is never a spare word, or a redundant description in her prose. And she conjures the menace native to her fiction with ease from precise physical description.
‘I know how many legs you can take off a spider without crippling it, I know four different ways to set fire to ants.’
These lines, from the opening and brilliant story ‘Searching’, set the tone for what is essentially a tight collection of nuggets from the woman many say writes like a man. That may be an inherently sexist remark, however she does demonstrate a tough lack of sentiment that has no doubt given rise to the comparison.
Her narrative voice is intimate at times, and real. She also writes superb dialogue, including dialect. These stories are peopled with well drawn low lifes, smart asses you just know are going to get it, drop outs and losers in the best Noir tradition. And they are her characters, not the derivatives of someone else’s imagination.
Morrigan is a keen observer of people, as her descriptions of the interchanges between these men and woman shows. She is also bloody funny. There is a subtle watchfulness in her narratives that allows for many sharp edged ironies:
‘Cherry loved Dolly Parton. One night when we were heading out to a pub in the arse
end of nowhere, Dolly came on the radio singing ‘Jolene’. Cherry sang along with her
at the top of her voice, the music making her right foot heavy. We sped on through
the night, the eyes of startled small animals reflecting the headlights, although
mercifully she eased up a little once the song finished.
‘I fucking love a good sing-along, me,’ she announced. I knew. I’d heard her sing
many times during our journeys. All sorts of shit, all at the top of her voice. She
reckoned it warmed her up for the gig. ‘Not sure about that song, mind.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, if Devlin was talking about some bitch in his sleep, I’d fucking kill him. I
wouldn’t be begging her not to take my man, either. I’d bat her in the gob then cut his
cock off and stuff it up her arse.’’
These lines are taken from ‘Devlin, Me and Cherry B.’
There is a recurrent drugged sense of individuals compulsively deluding themselves their lives are not shit and they are going to make it that delivers the sense of having already lost like a killer punch. Aspirations are talked about with the braggadocio native to losers everywhere. And you know these people are trapped in their lives as they swim like bloated goldfish to the side of the bowl and tell us their yarns.
The stories move between the harshly comical and despairing, to the dark and violent. ‘The Sins Of The Father’ is a dark portrait of religious abuse.
Morrigan is brilliant at punch lines, and her use of them gives her stories that tightness that is one of their strengths. ‘Closing Time’ contains a detailed description of a drunk man who turns out to be the narrator’s father. She draws the reader into the characters’ world while maintaining detachment. ‘Pick A Pig Night’ is full of Morrigan’s sardonic humour. It nudges a scalpel into the games and lies that imbue gender role play.
If you want sharp, well drawn characters, stories written tightly and each sketching a small world you can step inside, if you want to read well drawn portraits of the kind of men and women who people the pages of crime fiction, then buy Gone Bad now.

[Aj · Rating 5 out of 5]

The thing about Julie's stories is, there are two ways to enjoy them. I read right through the first half of them and they impressed by their straight out character. The logical progression of folks acting badly and being served a great big bowl of just desserts. Serves 'em right those (borrowing an Aussie term) bludgers!
On the second half of the stories though, I took my time and and savored the tones, the settings and moods of the pieces. As I read more slowly through the second half I began to see the place where they all live. Their neighborhoods. Their dwellings. The cars on the street.
I enjoyed the second half so much, I went back and took my time with the first batch also. And, lo and behold, (me Ma used to say that)it was the same thing. The town, the streets and the people crowded in around me, jostling and explaining themselves by the crook of their head or the way they scurried about on their missions as well as with the plot and devices of the stories.
Lesson learned here is: Just because Julie's stories are short, don't hurry through. Give them time to breathe. Let them talk to you. Whisper in your ear the things you don't see on a fast read-through. Give 'em a bit more time to explain themselves and they'll fascinate you all the more.(less)

[Al · Rating 4 out of 5]

Described by some as “Brit Grit Noir,” a description I love, Gone Bad is a collection of eighteen short stories. The stories are dark and gritty, some with ending twists that might make you laugh (Pick a Pig Night and It Could Be You both did that for me). Other stories, like The Sins of the Father (which is probably not what you’d guess), have characters doing bad things where you can almost sympathize. Clever and well written, if you’re a fan of Noir, Gone Bad is definitely a keeper.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Sabrina Ogden · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few years ago my husband's work took him to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to help with the building of the Four Season's Resort. He lived in Jackson Hole for two years, coming home on the weekends when he could and on occasion I would make the drive his way. During one particular visit I presented him with a landscaping plan to complete the back and front yard (we were in a newer home and the work still needed to be done in the back and I decided to add some different landscaping to the front while we were at it). I can name a thousand things that bug me about my yard, but the one thing that I'm always reminded of when people make comments about it is the alleged affair that came with it.

I had hired a friend of a friend who owned a landscaping company to do the work for us. They worked during the day while I was at work and would leave shortly after I arrived home. They started the work in September right around the time the days were getting shorter and the nights were arriving earlier. (Okay that sentence totally wasn't necessary, but I'm leaving it 'cause it totally sounds like me).

Anyway... the day before a big shipment of rocks were going to be delivered I came home from work to find none of the landscapers there. In fact, it was pretty obvious no one had been there at all that day. I thought it strange since I never received any calls about a problem, and I even started worrying when it was clear the rest of the watering system pipes weren't going to be completed before the next days rock delivery.

I was just getting ready to call my friend when the doorbell rang. It was Brad. You could tell by looking at him that there was a problem, but before I could even ask him what was wrong he started to tell me.

"My sister-in-law committed suicide today. I've been with the family and at the hospital making arrangements with them and trying to take care of my wife who is, as you can imagine, devastated. We had no idea anything was wrong with her, Sabrina. We're all in shock. I was wondering if you'd mind if I worked late into the night to complete the pipes. I brought a couple of outdoor lights, and I'm thinking that if you open all of the blinds and turn on the interior lighting I'll have enough light to complete the job tonight. I'll be back in a couple of days to move the rocks and get the boulders set."

Obviously I didn't care if he worked late. I even offered to help. And even if I had known my neighbors would be watching the clock and reporting back to my spouse... I still would have had him work late. It wasn't until the phone rang early the next morning that I was informed of my misdeed. Those of you that know me probably can imagine how well that went over.

And now you're probably wondering how this leads into my review of Gone Bad by Julie Morrigan, aren't you? Well let me tell you. Gone Bad is a collection of 18 tales of crime ranging from little child killers, rapists, murderers, people making bad assumptions, and other people being cruel just because they can be. The interesting thing about all of the stories is that they are told in such a way that you can actually imagine them happening to you, eh... scratch that part. What I'm trying to say is that the stories are written with an incredible sense of realism. The descriptions. The conversations. You literally see the scenes unfold before you, and the endings for some of the stories come fast and they hit hard.

The story Watching was the most powerful for me because I've been a victim of people watching me from the sidelines and making assumptions about my activities. Watching is a story about a father who has never really cared for his son-in-law. In fact, his dislike for him is so strong he hires people to follow him around and snap photos. True, his son-in-law has a standing appointment every Tuesday and Thursday inside a house with a female, but that doesn't mean anything inappropriate is going on, does it? Does it? I guess you'll have to read the story and find out.

I also enjoyed Searching, the story about a search for a missing girl. Short and shocking is the only way I can describe this one. From the beginning of the story you think you know the truth, but can't possibly believe it to be the truth when the story is over. I had such a sense of disbelief when I finished this story that I actually read it over again. I read it again tonight before writing this review and I'm still in awe.

Devlin, Me and Cherry B is a story that will put the brakes on any idea you might be having about starting an affair with... well, with any one. Really. Just when you start to think there is going to be a happy ending, everything gets knocked off balance and your left screaming at your Kindle begging Ange to get out before it's too late. "Walk away from the eye-candy with the blue and chocolate brown eyes, Ange. Walk. Away." Yeah, this story... made me scared.

[Elizabeth A.]

A weak hand grabs at my ankle. I look down and his face is turned to look at me, all pleading eyes and bleeding nose. Why does he think I’d help him? – “Keeping It Real”

Why indeed, as it quickly becomes apparent that the folks in the eighteen blistering stories in Julie Morrigan’s collection, Gone Bad, are far from a warm, fuzzy, altruistic bunch.

No, Morrigan has chosen instead to write a wickedly good group of stories which all revolve around some of the worst behavior and emotions which people are capable of. Greed, deceit, torture, murder, jealousy, lust, rape? Step right up, Gone Bad’s got you covered.

The stories in the collection range in length from true “flash fiction” to a couple that are quite meaty, and though there is honestly not a dud in the group – no mean feat with as many stories as are included – there were a few that I found especially enjoyable.

“Searching” starts the collection off on a decidedly creepy note as a young boy joins in the search for a missing neighborhood girl. It’s not the first time he’s participated in such a search, his sister having gone missing recently as well, and it’s soon clear that’s not the only thing it isn’t his first time doing.

“Keeping It Real” is a particularly timely story given the current state of the publishing industry. In this short but brutal number an aspiring author shows just how far they’re willing to go to ensure their writing is as authentic as possible. After all, you need every edge you can to break into the business these days, right?

“Easy Money” is anything but when the old man two young thugs target for a home invasion robbery turns out not to be the easy mark they thought he was. Things quickly go sideways and the punks learn hands-on which is more powerful, the lure of money or the fear of death?

“Watching” was nominated for a Spinetingler Award and it’s easy to see why. This absolute gem cuts to the bone in its depiction of the way pride, jealousy, and assumptions can twist and distort people’s perceptions of reality. Think you’re sure you know what’s going on with someone? Think again.

“Local Hero” is simply one of the most deliciously ironic stories I’ve ever read. I don’t want to reveal too much about it, so suffice it to say this twist of fate stunner shows that sometimes karma is willing to get a little proactive on your ass if needed.

Some of the people in Gone Bad were born bad, others are knowingly and enthusiastically headed that way, and a few are simply caught up in bad circumstances fueled by powerful emotions. All of them, however, are disturbingly realistically portrayed. Funny how something Gone Bad is actually so damn good.

[Josh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gone Bad is a collection of 18 short stories by Julie Morrigan. Judging from this collection, it's safe to say that from the dark and gritty depths of urbane noir a new queen has risen. Morrigan's stories are filled with traditional darkness, humanitarian horror, humour, torture and violence. 'Keeping It Real' is a perfect blend of noir and horror as an aspiring crime writer takes to torturing their victim to death for the purpose of capturing the perfect murder scene in their novel. 'It Could Be You' tells the tale of a lottery ticket which leads to death - family drama with a touch of hit-man. 'The Loan Arranger' made me feel as though I were reading Allan Guthrie.-Morrigan explored all manner of depravity and pure wrongness in 'Colin' - a torrid story of a sex crazed teenager and the similarly themed 'Local Hero' - a story of a would-be rapist who ends up a maimed hero after saving his would be victim from an attempted rape. Other notable mentions include 'Watching', a tale about an overprotective father who makes a mess of his daughters life, and the humours 'Pick a Pig Night'. However, its 'Devlin, Me an Cheery B' and 'Let's Dance' which take the cake - both showcase strong and unrelenting female protagonists who know how to survive and fight for what they want. As far as short story collections go, you'd be hard pressed to find a better splattering of noir in the one place. Bring on the full length novel - 4 stars.

[Gareth Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing collection of crime shorts that hits the ground running and doesn't let up til it has you breathless and begging for more. Desperate characters doing desperate things, tales of revenge & creepy confessionals all race past at break-neck speed. All are told with verve and wit and most of them will have me coming back for more. Highlights include Devlin, Me & Cherry B, Local Hero & Twenty-five Grand but all are worth your time and attention.

I don't read short stories very often and when I have in the past it has always been the acknowledged masters (Carver, Wolff etc.). Kindle has changed all that and is allowing writers to collect their own back catalogues together and make them available at unbelievable prices - see also Nigel Bird, Dave White and Chris F Holm for more great collections. Julie Morrigan also has a novel called Convictions available which is nestling with intent on my Kindle. Can't wait.

[Nigel Bird · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been dipping in and out of this collection over the past few weeks when I felt like a break from a novel or just fancied a little something to get my teeth into; a little smackerel if you like.

I've really enjoyed spending time with Gone Bad. It's populated by happenings which seem almost normal, but have been twisted out of shape into something tense, dark and dramatic.

There aren't many happy endings, but there's a lot to think about and there is enought really dark-tar humour to add contrast to events.

Two of the tales, in particular, have stuck with me. 'Searching' is the opening. A child's missing and everyone's out on the lookout and it sets a perfect tone for what's to come. There's also a really great take on a winning lottery ticket that was fun and nail-biting all in one.

Very human, very alive and very well written.

[Chris Rhatigan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gone Bad is 18 ball-busting tales of nefarious and otherwise unseemly deeds from the warped mind of Julie Morrigan.

In an interview, she gave a three-word description of this collection: "sweary and violent." I agree. And that's how I like my fiction.

At times hilarious, at times wrenching, and always moving at the speed of a cheetah on crank, this is a fun and freaky read. Each story is about (or at least includes) someone who's gone bad--thieves, rapists, murders, tranny-beating arseholes, etc. They're all there and ready to make someone else's life a living hell. Morrigan's also got a gift for the ironic ending, which she uses liberally and to excellent effect.

This is the first book I bought for my Kindle (yay!) and it's a great find--99 cents well spent.

[Darren Sant · Rating 5 out of 5]

If reading an Ian Rankin novel is like a long walk down a slightly spooky lane then reading Julie Morrigan's Gone Bad is like a short terror fuelled dash through the house of horrors with a machete wielding lunatic hot on your heels.

These tales are short and deliciously nasty. The characters are not people you will want to meet down a darkened alley. Enjoyable stuff indeed. No comfy, cosy, snugly endings here Julie keeps it real. A great read and fantastic value for money with eighteen tales from the darker side of life.

[Elia · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic short story compilation!

Julie Morrigan is a master at leading you one direction and then turning everything on its head. I couldn't do a breakdown for each story, and like with every short story collection I loved some more than others and of course some had no effect on me at all. What you get here though is a thorough understanding of the deepest darkest holes of human society, with a slight twist on what you might imagine might happen.

[Josh Stallings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julie Morrigan is a rare find, tight smart prose used to tell dark wildly entertaining tales of the darker side of the street. She infuses fringe dwellers with both humor (and that harder hat trick), humanity. The only problem with this wonderful writer is, I can't find any other books by her. I WANT MORE.

[Paul Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark, dirty and dangerous - all of the characters in these stories fit that description. 18 stories of desperation, danger and deceit and I just couldn't get enough of it.

Favourite stories were "Sweet Charity", "Devlin, Me & Cherry B" and "Let's Dance".