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Broken Bits and Bobs: A Collection of What Ifs, What Was, and What Never Should Be
Everybody loves a good bedtime story…
Presenting a collection of 13 tales from the same mind that brought you the Dwayne Morrow Mysteries!
Bring your blanket and cozy up to the fire.
Marriages grown cold, and patience is thin,
It’s up to Grandpa to tuck the kiddies in!
When pride and vanity become an obsession,
A young mother’s fight for her most precious possession!
Life insurance beneficiary, such a temptation,
A child’s impatience brings Christmas ruination!
Crime-solving ladies with mallets in hand,
A family vacation, but not as it’s planned!
There’s something for everyone, that’s not just a rumor,
It even contains a little toilet humor!
All this and more, is waiting for you,
And a couple of stories are more than half-true!
Presenting a collection of 13 tales from the same mind that brought you the Dwayne Morrow Mysteries!
Bring your blanket and cozy up to the fire.
Marriages grown cold, and patience is thin,
It’s up to Grandpa to tuck the kiddies in!
When pride and vanity become an obsession,
A young mother’s fight for her most precious possession!
Life insurance beneficiary, such a temptation,
A child’s impatience brings Christmas ruination!
Crime-solving ladies with mallets in hand,
A family vacation, but not as it’s planned!
There’s something for everyone, that’s not just a rumor,
It even contains a little toilet humor!
All this and more, is waiting for you,
And a couple of stories are more than half-true!
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 25, 2023
9 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Darin Miller
16 books405 followersDarin Miller was born in Portsmouth but currently resides in Grove City, both of which are located in Ohio. While he has worked in Information Technology for three decades, he has not solved a single, solitary crime to date. He is the BookFest award-winning author of the Ohio-based Dwayne Morrow Mystery series, as well as an unrelated short story collection, Broken Bits and Bobs, and a standalone psychological horror thriller, Equilibrium. With equal parts action, humor, suspense and mystery, the Dwayne Morrow series features characters you’re sure to love—and in some cases, loathe.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 20, 2024
So, I broke this review down by story because it’s a short story collection. Although to keep this a shorter review, I will just post a few. He goes back and forth between lighthearted and a little darker stories which made it interesting.
~Born under a bad sign: was just like wow! Ok so that’s kind of messed up but you see his side of things in a way. Then the ending leaves you wanting to know what the future holds for him with the level of irony that smacks him like a bag full of rocks right across the face.
~There goes the neighborhood: This story seemed innocent enough. Nosey, grumpy old man next door to new neighbors moving in. I’m not going to lie the need for a fence or lead for neighbors dogs is understandable. We have two dogs who will benefit greatly when we finish our fence not having to be tethered to a lead. The woods behind our house are thick if they got lost I’m not sure we’d ever find them. So, I wouldn’t risk their safety with traffic on our street, crazy neighbors, other animals or the woods. We also have a neighbor who doesn’t believe in a leash for his dog and walks her all the way around the neighborhood. She races ahead of him and can be one street over before he catches up. She’s almost been hit multiple times and comes into our yard as well as everyone else’s. Even though I am a dog lover, I can sympathize with George on the issue in that sense. However, what he does to retaliate ugh, nope that’s a little too much especially when they were working to resolve the issue. What happens as a result started to come into perspective a little bit before the end of the story but not too soon so it made it more surprising that way. To let anger and prejudice overpower your sense of reasoning is terrible. Not to mention if it would result in something so tragic happening to those who don’t deserve it. I almost cried at the end due to the situation but I’m a hardened reader so I don’t cry easily it books, especially when I write tragedy in my own stories. So, despite all of that this story will hit you in the feels from all sides.
~The chip on Margaret’s shoulder: When trust is lost in a marriage it is insanely hard to get it back, or so I’ve heard and read in this story. I couldn’t imagine. I’ve had many things happen in my life to make it very difficult to trust people. So with my husband it took quite a while and some fights to be honest. But love wins out and you eventually learn that trust, no matter who you are. But for Margaret she couldn’t. So instead of learning to trust him again and discuss any concerns with him (communication is everything) she took action to simply let a mistake take its course. The end result of being alone afterwards gives her a more deafening silence in her life than she thought. Realizing that had she learned to open herself back up to even a little of that trust again then she wouldn’t have made the biggest mistake of her life. Guilt is a terrible thing to live with.
~Perks: Did I mention anywhere that I normally read on my lunch breaks from work? 🤣 Don’t read this story while eating. Made it difficult at first 🤦🏻♀️🤣. Well written description though. And I have to add that I have never read a story that included a bathroom situation such as this, so kudos for thinking outside of the box or technically inside the stall 🤣. The ending though! I literally read the last few lines took a pause and said oh my god out loud. Awesome twist!
~The New car: Holy sh*t! I mean I love muscle cars, I really do, but that is extreme 😂. At first I was like why not keep the precious 😂. Then it took a turn in the story that I didn’t expect. A love for a car can be taken too far.
~A terminal case: In a way I expected the outcome just because of my writers brain I thought hmm 🤔 this would be a great twist and it turns out that I was right on half of it but was still surprised by the other twist at the end. An enjoyable read but also a very unlikable character 😂. I was happy with the outcome 😂.
~Best laid plans: This was my favorite story in the book! Don’t get me wrong all the others are equally enjoyable but I love that they still went on the trip in this story. Nothing turned out exactly the way they hoped but sometimes things happen for a reason. Although this is a work of fiction, I’m not necessarily a believer in guardian angels just due to life experiences but who’s to say they aren’t out there in some form or another. There’s still great mysteries to the universe. But be forewarned there is a little sadness to this one as well. Although, I’m a sucker for stories with all the emotions.
I love the little details in these stories without making it over descriptive. Darin Miller writes in such a way that it still moves the story forward while giving you the information you need. His Dwayne Morrow books are on my list, especially after this wonderful introductory into his work. I wanted to start with this one as I thought it would give me insight to his writings before I started down the Morrow mysteries and it did not disappoint.
If you haven’t read any of his books yet then you may want to add them to your list and give them a chance 😊.
~Born under a bad sign: was just like wow! Ok so that’s kind of messed up but you see his side of things in a way. Then the ending leaves you wanting to know what the future holds for him with the level of irony that smacks him like a bag full of rocks right across the face.
~There goes the neighborhood: This story seemed innocent enough. Nosey, grumpy old man next door to new neighbors moving in. I’m not going to lie the need for a fence or lead for neighbors dogs is understandable. We have two dogs who will benefit greatly when we finish our fence not having to be tethered to a lead. The woods behind our house are thick if they got lost I’m not sure we’d ever find them. So, I wouldn’t risk their safety with traffic on our street, crazy neighbors, other animals or the woods. We also have a neighbor who doesn’t believe in a leash for his dog and walks her all the way around the neighborhood. She races ahead of him and can be one street over before he catches up. She’s almost been hit multiple times and comes into our yard as well as everyone else’s. Even though I am a dog lover, I can sympathize with George on the issue in that sense. However, what he does to retaliate ugh, nope that’s a little too much especially when they were working to resolve the issue. What happens as a result started to come into perspective a little bit before the end of the story but not too soon so it made it more surprising that way. To let anger and prejudice overpower your sense of reasoning is terrible. Not to mention if it would result in something so tragic happening to those who don’t deserve it. I almost cried at the end due to the situation but I’m a hardened reader so I don’t cry easily it books, especially when I write tragedy in my own stories. So, despite all of that this story will hit you in the feels from all sides.
~The chip on Margaret’s shoulder: When trust is lost in a marriage it is insanely hard to get it back, or so I’ve heard and read in this story. I couldn’t imagine. I’ve had many things happen in my life to make it very difficult to trust people. So with my husband it took quite a while and some fights to be honest. But love wins out and you eventually learn that trust, no matter who you are. But for Margaret she couldn’t. So instead of learning to trust him again and discuss any concerns with him (communication is everything) she took action to simply let a mistake take its course. The end result of being alone afterwards gives her a more deafening silence in her life than she thought. Realizing that had she learned to open herself back up to even a little of that trust again then she wouldn’t have made the biggest mistake of her life. Guilt is a terrible thing to live with.
~Perks: Did I mention anywhere that I normally read on my lunch breaks from work? 🤣 Don’t read this story while eating. Made it difficult at first 🤦🏻♀️🤣. Well written description though. And I have to add that I have never read a story that included a bathroom situation such as this, so kudos for thinking outside of the box or technically inside the stall 🤣. The ending though! I literally read the last few lines took a pause and said oh my god out loud. Awesome twist!
~The New car: Holy sh*t! I mean I love muscle cars, I really do, but that is extreme 😂. At first I was like why not keep the precious 😂. Then it took a turn in the story that I didn’t expect. A love for a car can be taken too far.
~A terminal case: In a way I expected the outcome just because of my writers brain I thought hmm 🤔 this would be a great twist and it turns out that I was right on half of it but was still surprised by the other twist at the end. An enjoyable read but also a very unlikable character 😂. I was happy with the outcome 😂.
~Best laid plans: This was my favorite story in the book! Don’t get me wrong all the others are equally enjoyable but I love that they still went on the trip in this story. Nothing turned out exactly the way they hoped but sometimes things happen for a reason. Although this is a work of fiction, I’m not necessarily a believer in guardian angels just due to life experiences but who’s to say they aren’t out there in some form or another. There’s still great mysteries to the universe. But be forewarned there is a little sadness to this one as well. Although, I’m a sucker for stories with all the emotions.
I love the little details in these stories without making it over descriptive. Darin Miller writes in such a way that it still moves the story forward while giving you the information you need. His Dwayne Morrow books are on my list, especially after this wonderful introductory into his work. I wanted to start with this one as I thought it would give me insight to his writings before I started down the Morrow mysteries and it did not disappoint.
If you haven’t read any of his books yet then you may want to add them to your list and give them a chance 😊.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2024
Uncover the Thrill in Every Short Story
"Broken Bits and Bobs: A Collection of What Ifs, What Was, and What Never Should Be" by Darin Miller is a fun read. The blurb for this book is not wrong when it says that this collection of 13 short story mysteries provides a little bit of something for everyone. I was never really a fan of short stories; however, I had to give this one a try and I am glad I did. These stories are broken down into two categories: "Broken Bits" are darker mysteries while "Bobs" are a lighter mystery but all are wonderful stories.
From a man trying to kill his wife every year on their anniversary, to a woman trying to get rid of her husband in the worst possible way when she believes he is cheating on her again, a man's life takes a turn for the worse when he seems to love his car more than his wife, to the chaotic events that go wrong when a group of friends try to recreate the best vacation they shared. These are just some of the creative events that are found within these short stories.
All of these stories were fun to read. They all contained a unique mystery and most contained twists that I didn't see coming. Most of them contained bits of humor that I very much enjoyed. The characters were distinctive and were perfect for each individual story. For a book of short stories, I would have to say Darin Miller has something unique going here. If he ever writes any more short stories, I will definitely read them as well. There is a world of fun mystery in each short story.
"Broken Bits and Bobs: A Collection of What Ifs, What Was, and What Never Should Be" by Darin Miller is a fun read. The blurb for this book is not wrong when it says that this collection of 13 short story mysteries provides a little bit of something for everyone. I was never really a fan of short stories; however, I had to give this one a try and I am glad I did. These stories are broken down into two categories: "Broken Bits" are darker mysteries while "Bobs" are a lighter mystery but all are wonderful stories.
From a man trying to kill his wife every year on their anniversary, to a woman trying to get rid of her husband in the worst possible way when she believes he is cheating on her again, a man's life takes a turn for the worse when he seems to love his car more than his wife, to the chaotic events that go wrong when a group of friends try to recreate the best vacation they shared. These are just some of the creative events that are found within these short stories.
All of these stories were fun to read. They all contained a unique mystery and most contained twists that I didn't see coming. Most of them contained bits of humor that I very much enjoyed. The characters were distinctive and were perfect for each individual story. For a book of short stories, I would have to say Darin Miller has something unique going here. If he ever writes any more short stories, I will definitely read them as well. There is a world of fun mystery in each short story.
February 29, 2024
Entertaining collection of mystery stories...
As a fan of symbolism and foreshadowing and all those other literary elements that authors sneak into their writing, which all make for a fun read, and being an even bigger fan of the Dwayne Morrow Mysteries series, of course, I was curious about this collection of short stories. I'm thrilled to say I was not at all disappointed.
For me, something I'd expected to see but didn't really find was that there weren't any really dark parts -- which should not be confused with not having any creepy, eerie parts. Instead, what I found was that each story entertained with all the possibilities of what-ifs. A few of the stories even had a definite Stephen King vibe (in all the best ways). So many times, I found myself thinking, "Oh, this one is definitely my favorite" only to find I loved the next one and then the next one and so on. That being said, I have to say the very last story was a brilliant way to end the collection.
All in all, I'd definitely recommend Broken Bits and Bobs, especially if you're looking for a lighthearted, fun mystery read.
As a fan of symbolism and foreshadowing and all those other literary elements that authors sneak into their writing, which all make for a fun read, and being an even bigger fan of the Dwayne Morrow Mysteries series, of course, I was curious about this collection of short stories. I'm thrilled to say I was not at all disappointed.
For me, something I'd expected to see but didn't really find was that there weren't any really dark parts -- which should not be confused with not having any creepy, eerie parts. Instead, what I found was that each story entertained with all the possibilities of what-ifs. A few of the stories even had a definite Stephen King vibe (in all the best ways). So many times, I found myself thinking, "Oh, this one is definitely my favorite" only to find I loved the next one and then the next one and so on. That being said, I have to say the very last story was a brilliant way to end the collection.
All in all, I'd definitely recommend Broken Bits and Bobs, especially if you're looking for a lighthearted, fun mystery read.
February 26, 2024
This set of short stories did not disappoint. Some were a bit darker than I would have liked, but most were awesome. Some made me cringe, some made me smile, but all of them made me turn the page and keep reading.
This is stated as a mystery anthology, but note not all of the stories would be considered a complete "mysteries".... that being said this was a great collection of tales and were well written.
This is stated as a mystery anthology, but note not all of the stories would be considered a complete "mysteries".... that being said this was a great collection of tales and were well written.
February 5, 2025
Broken Bits and Bobs: a Collection of What Ifs, What Was and What Never Should Be
I won this book from the author in an online book club promotion. Well actually I could choose a book from his series, having read a work of his previously, I chose this title. I was not disappointed,it is a glorious Bits and Bobs of ingenious thoughts and plots. My mind was thoroughly engaged and delighted.
I won this book from the author in an online book club promotion. Well actually I could choose a book from his series, having read a work of his previously, I chose this title. I was not disappointed,it is a glorious Bits and Bobs of ingenious thoughts and plots. My mind was thoroughly engaged and delighted.
April 5, 2024
Darin Miller, Never dissapoints you. Haven't found a book of his that I haven't enjoyed! Loved this collection of short stories. Some very humorous and some were sad. But all were good! Highly recommend all of his books!
September 9, 2024
This is like no other collection of short stories that I have ever read, and I was definitely shocked in a good way. Twisted stories with twisted consequences, sooooo think before you act, because things are not always as they seem, and every scheme can take a turn in a heartbeat!
January 6, 2024
Great collection of short stories. These are not, however, sweet stories, but they are not too dark.
May 30, 2024
it was a cute book of short stories
June 25, 2024
Good collection of short stories. Darin Miller alternates tales between ones of contemporary fiction to slightly darker stories keeping the reader engaged.
August 3, 2024
What a great collaboration of different stories , I really enjoyed the outcomes of all these stories and a few kept me thinking.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews