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Last Dance of a Black Widow
Meet Abbey Whistler. She's just died at the age of eighty and waits in her hospital room to be taken to the afterlife. But she quickly learns that crimes committed while alive actually do have repercussions when you die.
From the author of the Pandora's Children collection of short stories, the novellas Dogs of War and King of the Merge, and the free short story Blink comes Last Dance of a Black Widow, a sobering 3,000 word short story that explores the death of a life lived poorly.
From the author of the Pandora's Children collection of short stories, the novellas Dogs of War and King of the Merge, and the free short story Blink comes Last Dance of a Black Widow, a sobering 3,000 word short story that explores the death of a life lived poorly.
10 pages, Nook
First published October 3, 2011
38 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Bradley Convissar
30 books105 followersI am a dentist by day, a writer of dark fiction at night, and a father, husband, and not-so-proud pet owner when time permits.
I am the author of several dozen short stories, four novellas, and will be releasing my first novel, Blood, Smoke and Ashes, a supernatural thriller, in early 2013.
I was born in Georgia, but moved to southern New Jersey before I could be forced to be an Atlanta Braves fan. I spent my formative years living outside of Philadelphia where I latched on to the Philly sports teams and was promptly disappointed for almost twenty years. I spent my college years in New Orleans where I learned his bachelor's degree in evolutionary biology at Tulane University, then relocated to lovely Newark New Jersey, where I earned his DMD.
After eight years of bouncing around, I finally settled down back in south Jersey, only miles from the house I grew up in. I am happily married and the proud father of two children. I am also "dad' to a diabetic, half-blind eight-year-old daschund named Friday who is little more than a lump on the couch most of the time.
When not filling cavities or performing root canals or extracting teeth or fabricating dentures, or writing, I spend my time playing with my kids, playing video games, reading comic books, reading non-illustrated books, and impotently rooting on my beloved Philadelphia Phillies and less than beloved Philadelphia Eagles.
My favorite authors are, but not limited to, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Clive Barker, Richard Matheson, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, Simon Green, Jim Butcher, and Jeffery Deaver. I like to think that I learned something of the art of writing from each of these authors.
To this day, I wonder how the TV show LOST got so bad, so quickly. The wasted potential of the first three seasons still haunts me.
I am the author of several dozen short stories, four novellas, and will be releasing my first novel, Blood, Smoke and Ashes, a supernatural thriller, in early 2013.
I was born in Georgia, but moved to southern New Jersey before I could be forced to be an Atlanta Braves fan. I spent my formative years living outside of Philadelphia where I latched on to the Philly sports teams and was promptly disappointed for almost twenty years. I spent my college years in New Orleans where I learned his bachelor's degree in evolutionary biology at Tulane University, then relocated to lovely Newark New Jersey, where I earned his DMD.
After eight years of bouncing around, I finally settled down back in south Jersey, only miles from the house I grew up in. I am happily married and the proud father of two children. I am also "dad' to a diabetic, half-blind eight-year-old daschund named Friday who is little more than a lump on the couch most of the time.
When not filling cavities or performing root canals or extracting teeth or fabricating dentures, or writing, I spend my time playing with my kids, playing video games, reading comic books, reading non-illustrated books, and impotently rooting on my beloved Philadelphia Phillies and less than beloved Philadelphia Eagles.
My favorite authors are, but not limited to, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Clive Barker, Richard Matheson, Douglas Preston, Lincoln Child, Simon Green, Jim Butcher, and Jeffery Deaver. I like to think that I learned something of the art of writing from each of these authors.
To this day, I wonder how the TV show LOST got so bad, so quickly. The wasted potential of the first three seasons still haunts me.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 21, 2019
An interesting short story.
December 29, 2017
This short story is a woman reflecting on her life as her earthly body lies dead. Her father seems to appear and walk her through the life she made the choice to live. This woman has lived a life of lesser value of others and as she ends her last request, a dance her partner has changed and her afterlife begins.
Wonderful short tale of life choices and the results that may be.
Wonderful short tale of life choices and the results that may be.
September 29, 2018
Very surprising
This was a very QUICK read. It was good and kept me engaged throughout the story. A true black widow.
This was a very QUICK read. It was good and kept me engaged throughout the story. A true black widow.
June 5, 2019
gives you food for thought
September 25, 2023
This was actually a good little short story.
February 12, 2017
A Black Widow faces the choices she made in her life and what the consequences will be after her death.
February 12, 2012
Full Review:http://thetbrpile.weebly.com/1/post/2...
Abbey has died and she’s not going straight to heaven. The world freezes as she leaves her body and Abbey is forced to confront her 'father' with the sins that filled her life. It’s not stealing and cheating that’s for sure, apparently Abbey was a psychopath...
Last Dance of a Black Widow was an interesting, dark tale of Abbey’s previous husbands and how they all died at her hand. Editing is a major downfall in this book but the plot was solid. The ending was okay but lacked and there was too much promotion for the author. That took up a couple pages that was more begging than anything else.
Last Dance of a Black Widow is a promising story but needs to be fleshed out and gain a better editor.
Abbey has died and she’s not going straight to heaven. The world freezes as she leaves her body and Abbey is forced to confront her 'father' with the sins that filled her life. It’s not stealing and cheating that’s for sure, apparently Abbey was a psychopath...
Last Dance of a Black Widow was an interesting, dark tale of Abbey’s previous husbands and how they all died at her hand. Editing is a major downfall in this book but the plot was solid. The ending was okay but lacked and there was too much promotion for the author. That took up a couple pages that was more begging than anything else.
Last Dance of a Black Widow is a promising story but needs to be fleshed out and gain a better editor.
February 4, 2012
Abbey Whistler has just died and before Death comes for her, she is visited by her long dead father and all of her husbands she has killed. They want her to admit the truth that she is a sociopath, but even in death she still makes excuses. She has a last dance with her father and is then taken by death in what the reader assumes is hell. I like these short stories because you can see the author's potential for writing a full length novel. This is a story I would love to see fleshes out into a longer novel! But readers /parents be forewarned - I do not think the content of this short story is appropriate for readers under 15. 4 stars!
October 31, 2012
I didn't realize that this was a short story when I downloaded this free Kindle title, so I was more than a little confused when I first read Last Dance of a Black Widow.
Abbey is an old black widow that has brutally murdered all of her husbands. As her spirit leaves her body and she is confronted by her father and her deceased husbands. As Abbey recounts her sins, she comes up with a number of excuses to excuse her behavior. While Abbey is weaving her brutal tales of murder, she starts to realize that Heaven isn't a place where she belongs.
I thought this was a solid short story, but it could be so much more if it were developed into a full story and was properly edited.
Abbey is an old black widow that has brutally murdered all of her husbands. As her spirit leaves her body and she is confronted by her father and her deceased husbands. As Abbey recounts her sins, she comes up with a number of excuses to excuse her behavior. While Abbey is weaving her brutal tales of murder, she starts to realize that Heaven isn't a place where she belongs.
I thought this was a solid short story, but it could be so much more if it were developed into a full story and was properly edited.
November 20, 2012
The idea of a black widow looking back on her life after death is one that intrigued me into downloading this free ebook. However, although the overall concept was a great one, I thought it read more like an explanation rather than a story. All of the actions of her life were told by someone else instead of shown to the reader, and that left me feeling detached and mostly uninterested in what the black widow had done.
It wasn’t a bad read, and for being free it certainly passed the time, but as for whether I’d recommend it or not, I’m not sure.
It wasn’t a bad read, and for being free it certainly passed the time, but as for whether I’d recommend it or not, I’m not sure.
December 31, 2011
This short story was different than anything I've read before. The Black Widow has died & before Death comes for her, she is visited by her father & the husbands she killed. I really wish the author would take this short story & turn it into a full length book. There are some many directions it could go. The story interested me enough to try some of his other works (full length books/novels) at some point.
August 7, 2012
This short story was fantastic. What starts off as sad woe-is-me depiction of an old woman who has just departed from this life, quickly spirals downward with her descent into where she truly belongs - hell.
Reminiscent of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," a disembodied entity lists Abbey's rap sheet line item by line item as her initial cries of denial give way to unrepetant confession. Great novella. Throughly enjoyed it.
Reminiscent of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," a disembodied entity lists Abbey's rap sheet line item by line item as her initial cries of denial give way to unrepetant confession. Great novella. Throughly enjoyed it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2013
Wow. Incredibly short, fast read. I like to see those who do bad get their just, eternal desserts, so the ending was satisfying. It does mystify me that anyone would truly feel as Abbey did and not repent to avoid eternal torment, but I guess that's what separates me from sociopaths. Which is a good thing. Good, worthy read. Got it as a Kindle freebie, not sure if it is still free now or not. Worthy read. :)
November 9, 2011
One of a several short stories I have recently written. Nothing too complicated, nothing too twisty, just a quick, fun (and possiblty thought provoking)read. Just a quick note on reviews: Last Dance currently has 4 5-star reviews over at Amazon AND 3 5-star reviews over at Smashwords. So check them out as well.
September 15, 2012
I read this for something to distract me from a stressful workday. Which it did. And I liked it. The description of everything in gray was interesting and stuck with me. I liked that death appeared first as someone the protagonist loved and by whom she could be comforted. The reaping was a bit intense.
July 20, 2015
"Last Dance of a Black Widow" is an enjoyable eerie short story about an 80 year old woman who has been married multiple times. She finally dies in a hospital bed. In a grayish place about to begin her afterlife, she is visited by her long dead father and husbands she had murdered. However, even in death she has her excuses. Finally, she is taken away to...
March 23, 2012
I actually preferred this book over the last book, Dogs of War, I read of his. This short story was so good that I could have seen it being expanded to a full length nove.
April 5, 2012
Well-constructed short story that didn't let itself be bogged down with backstory. It showed instead of telling. You don't have a heroine, and you know what, that's okay. She's who she says she is (in the end) and completely at peace with it.
January 20, 2013
Again, this wasn't at all what I thought it would be. I really enjoyed it - the black widow was creepy! I found it interesting that she made up excuses for everything, like she had herself convinced that she was the victim. A very poignant tale.
November 11, 2011
Short, creepy but well written...
November 28, 2011
This short story left the short hairs on the back of my neck stand out straight. What a delightful horror story. A must read
December 31, 2011
Completely eerie and haunting, well written. Quick fast read. Nice free short story from Amazon.
January 3, 2012
This was a great short! It left me wanting more!! It was creepy and dark, I loved it :)
June 22, 2012
Short story with a lot of impact. Well written.
July 1, 2012
A black widow woman waits for her deliverer when she dies at age 80.
July 31, 2012
Everyone tries to justify their mistakes in the end. I enjoyed the imagery. Lots of detail.
October 14, 2012
It's a short story. It would make a good novel if some effort had been put into it.
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August 11, 2012it was ok
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews