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Short Stories
Thriller novelist, Thomas Ryan, is also a prolific writer of short stories.
Ryan’s short storys span the spectrum of human emotions, from the creepy ‘Nightmares’, to the fun and humour of ‘The World’s Biggest Bun’. Ryan believes all good short stories should have unexpected twists and turns. Applying his thriller techniques he manages to achieve this end. Readers will find Ryan’s short story writing gripping and easy to read.
In this first collection one of the short story’s ‘Ruth’ was included in an anthology recently published in the USA.
Quoting a recent reviewer, ‘these are very intriguing, original stories, all well written and enjoyable. Ryan really gets inside his characters and makes their world our world, whatever its moral code or unwritten rules. These stories are powerful and stay with you once you've finished them.’
Short Stories by Thomas Ryan are a must read.
Ryan’s short storys span the spectrum of human emotions, from the creepy ‘Nightmares’, to the fun and humour of ‘The World’s Biggest Bun’. Ryan believes all good short stories should have unexpected twists and turns. Applying his thriller techniques he manages to achieve this end. Readers will find Ryan’s short story writing gripping and easy to read.
In this first collection one of the short story’s ‘Ruth’ was included in an anthology recently published in the USA.
Quoting a recent reviewer, ‘these are very intriguing, original stories, all well written and enjoyable. Ryan really gets inside his characters and makes their world our world, whatever its moral code or unwritten rules. These stories are powerful and stay with you once you've finished them.’
Short Stories by Thomas Ryan are a must read.
- GenresShort Stories
92 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2013
About the author
Thomas Ryan
7 books87 followersThomas Ryan has been a soldier in a theatre of war, traded in Eastern Europe, trampled the jungles of Asia, and struggled through the trials of love and loss; ideal life experiences for a would be author. Schooled by professionals, who have helped him hone his literary skills, Ryan is quickly establishing himself as a skilled writer of thriller novels and short stories. He considers himself foremost, a story teller, a creator who has enthusiastically plunged his psyche into the world of creativity and fantasy. With the reader in mind he weaves colourful characters into the fabric of his riveting storylines. Taking readers on a thrilling journey is what motivates Ryan as a writer.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 14, 2015
I would like to thank Net Galley, Far and Wide Publishing, and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
I have just within the last few months become interested in checking out short stories. I am so glad I decided to do this, as New Zealander Thomas Ryan’s first collection, simply called Short Stories, is wonderful!
This book contains 7 terrific short stories. All are very different in content, though most tend to lean towards the dark side. Every one of them is compelling; I was not bored once reading these stories. The best thing about them is that each one contains a neat little (or big) twist at the end. I actually found several of these to be jaw dropping. No surprise that Mr. Ryan has also written a couple of thriller novels.
Though I read these one at a time, usually when I only had a short time to read, they could easily be devoured all at once. I loved all the stories, but my favorites were The Artist and The Affair.
I was delighted to find that a second volume of shorts by Mr. Ryan is now available, and I downloaded it as soon as I finished volume 1. If you wish to sample his wares, Mr. Ryan has a free short story (“Gerry”) on his Goodreads profile page. I highly recommend Mr. Ryan’s Short Stories to all fans of shorts. If you feel you are not a short story fan, but haven’t really given the genre a chance, I strongly suggest you try this volume. I bet you will thank me afterwards!
I have just within the last few months become interested in checking out short stories. I am so glad I decided to do this, as New Zealander Thomas Ryan’s first collection, simply called Short Stories, is wonderful!
This book contains 7 terrific short stories. All are very different in content, though most tend to lean towards the dark side. Every one of them is compelling; I was not bored once reading these stories. The best thing about them is that each one contains a neat little (or big) twist at the end. I actually found several of these to be jaw dropping. No surprise that Mr. Ryan has also written a couple of thriller novels.
Though I read these one at a time, usually when I only had a short time to read, they could easily be devoured all at once. I loved all the stories, but my favorites were The Artist and The Affair.
I was delighted to find that a second volume of shorts by Mr. Ryan is now available, and I downloaded it as soon as I finished volume 1. If you wish to sample his wares, Mr. Ryan has a free short story (“Gerry”) on his Goodreads profile page. I highly recommend Mr. Ryan’s Short Stories to all fans of shorts. If you feel you are not a short story fan, but haven’t really given the genre a chance, I strongly suggest you try this volume. I bet you will thank me afterwards!
September 11, 2015
I think one of the reasons I like short story collections so much is because you never know what your going to get. So many little surprises all mixed into one book...some great, some forgettable.
Short Stories by Thomas Ryan is a collection of 7 tales that delve into the darker side of human nature and the masks that people hide behind.
I found each story to be wonderfully told with flawed characters and fulfilling endings...each story more delightful than the last.
My favorite was 'Nightmares', with 'The Dementia Man' a strong second.
This collection has brought me a new author worth keeping an eye on. I highly recommend to all fiction lovers who enjoy taking a peek into the seedier side of human nature.
I just discovered the author has a free short story posted on his Goodreads page called ’Gerry', go check it out...another great little gem!!
My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Short Stories by Thomas Ryan is a collection of 7 tales that delve into the darker side of human nature and the masks that people hide behind.
I found each story to be wonderfully told with flawed characters and fulfilling endings...each story more delightful than the last.
My favorite was 'Nightmares', with 'The Dementia Man' a strong second.
This collection has brought me a new author worth keeping an eye on. I highly recommend to all fiction lovers who enjoy taking a peek into the seedier side of human nature.
I just discovered the author has a free short story posted on his Goodreads page called ’Gerry', go check it out...another great little gem!!
My thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2015
This is a small volume of mostly very short stories (7 stories in 92 pages) that I rate 3.5 stars.
My favourite story was the Dementia Man in which a woman Police Officer is commended for her diligence. I won't say any more than that except that it has a twist in it I never saw coming. My only recommendation is that the last line be cut as it is overkill.
Other stories are "Ruth" in which the Judge and the defendant have a lot in common (also a very good story); "The World's Biggest Bun" where a man takes his revenge on a workmate who stole his idea; "Nightmares" where a beautiful woman and a writer share the same nightmare premonition; "The Artist" where the artist's agent separates him from his wife for her own gain; "The Affair" where a teenage girl follows her mother to a sleazy motel; and "Mending Kittens" where a homeless man has a revelation.
As I said the stories are short, even for short stories, but they are written with a dry humour and all have a little sting in the tail.
A worthwhile collection.
Thank you to NetGalley and Far and Wide Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
My favourite story was the Dementia Man in which a woman Police Officer is commended for her diligence. I won't say any more than that except that it has a twist in it I never saw coming. My only recommendation is that the last line be cut as it is overkill.
Other stories are "Ruth" in which the Judge and the defendant have a lot in common (also a very good story); "The World's Biggest Bun" where a man takes his revenge on a workmate who stole his idea; "Nightmares" where a beautiful woman and a writer share the same nightmare premonition; "The Artist" where the artist's agent separates him from his wife for her own gain; "The Affair" where a teenage girl follows her mother to a sleazy motel; and "Mending Kittens" where a homeless man has a revelation.
As I said the stories are short, even for short stories, but they are written with a dry humour and all have a little sting in the tail.
A worthwhile collection.
Thank you to NetGalley and Far and Wide Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2015
Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to download this book. Each story was well written and each ended in the most logically bizarre ending. Looking for a happy, bucolic ending, not here. I would certainly look to this author for future reading.
September 30, 2015
I was looking forward to reading this book, I really enjoy short stories and find them a brilliant way to pass a few hours. This book had some good ones and it was a pleasant read that covered a few tough subjects too. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2017
I'm beginning to feel like a stuck record....
So, I loved all these stories. They were all very well plotted, and I was surprised by the twists in each and every one of them.
My favourite simply had to be "Ruth", but I also particularly enjoyed "The Affair", as well as the one about the man with dementia.
But really... editing! Editing, editing, editing!
"Ruth" (the first story in this collection) was the most polished of the lot. Unsurprising, since that particular story was also published in an anthology in the USA, and is supposedly award-winning. I can see why.
But as I got further along, the editing got worse. Typos, missing words, lack of punctuation... to the point where the last story was barely readable.
Great stories, but all I can say is, "Damn! What a shame."
So, I loved all these stories. They were all very well plotted, and I was surprised by the twists in each and every one of them.
My favourite simply had to be "Ruth", but I also particularly enjoyed "The Affair", as well as the one about the man with dementia.
But really... editing! Editing, editing, editing!
"Ruth" (the first story in this collection) was the most polished of the lot. Unsurprising, since that particular story was also published in an anthology in the USA, and is supposedly award-winning. I can see why.
But as I got further along, the editing got worse. Typos, missing words, lack of punctuation... to the point where the last story was barely readable.
Great stories, but all I can say is, "Damn! What a shame."
January 9, 2018
I decided to try something new: reading short stories. This book has taken me by surprise. The endings have twists and surprises. The writing is witty. For example, Ruth, the first story, reads like the usual abuse case in court. However, the end is unexpected. Everyone should read this story. You never know who can be the abuser.
As I read The Artist, I could not figure out where the tale was going. Jealous lover or something else. It was something else.
I believe my favorite is The Affair. Everyone who is married or has been married can relate to this story in some way. Ride em cowboy!
You must read this book!
As I read The Artist, I could not figure out where the tale was going. Jealous lover or something else. It was something else.
I believe my favorite is The Affair. Everyone who is married or has been married can relate to this story in some way. Ride em cowboy!
You must read this book!
June 29, 2017
Very interesting short stories book. Every single story has an unexpected ending. The autor's imagination is really huge. :) These endings were so exciting for me that I rushed with reading, only to see what will happen in the end. Which took a bit of joy out of it. I wish the stories were a little bit longer, just a little bit more. Still, I would love to see some thrillers (movies) made by this autor. I am sure it would be something crazy and new. :)
May 27, 2017
Overall I thought that these short stories were quite good. All of the stories made me think that all of them should be a novel. They were all great reads. I would love to read these short stories again someday. Each and every one of them made me want to read them again.
December 10, 2018
Surprising twists
Entertaining and fun with a nice variety of styles. Some of the twists were unexpected and quirky. Worth a read.
Entertaining and fun with a nice variety of styles. Some of the twists were unexpected and quirky. Worth a read.
February 8, 2015
Hard-hitting stories, with an observant eye cast over human nature and character. The stories work both as authentic reflections and descriptions of human emotions, frailties and vices, and also as cleverly constructed tales with unexpected twists and turns to keep the reader's attention. The stories are eclectic and gripping: serial premonitions of murder; people locked in sterile or violent marriages; others locked in spirals of violence, murder and deprivation; generally a picture of drab, brutal, unforgiving life. I can't stress too much the expert construction of these extremely well-written stories and the unexpected, yet totally viable endings to them; as a reader, I gasped in surprise initially, only then to nod in understanding. This is how short stories should be. A collection not to be missed.
January 15, 2014
Short Stories by Thomas Ryan delivers five tales, each very different from the last. It straddles genres from crime and drama to a touch of the paranormal.
My favourite of the lot personally was Nightmares. It was a simple plot about premonitions and murder but had a great twist at the end, like the others that you will not expect coming.
This is a great weekend read if you're after something quick to flick through or if you are not a heavy reader. It certainly has something for everything.
My favourite of the lot personally was Nightmares. It was a simple plot about premonitions and murder but had a great twist at the end, like the others that you will not expect coming.
This is a great weekend read if you're after something quick to flick through or if you are not a heavy reader. It certainly has something for everything.
August 30, 2014
Thomas Ryan’s collection of short stories is like no collection of stories I’ve ever read. The stores span the gamut of human emotions, all presented in a parody of the situation presented by the author, from Ruth, to The Artist and The Dementia Man, just to name a few, Ryan snares the reader and drags him/her into the many twists and turns of his thrilling adventures in a cauldron of flawed human behaviors. This is a collection of stories not to be missed—a masterpiece. BRAVO!
August 21, 2014
This collection of short stories was well developed, keeping me interested and ultimately surprised. The author has a way of drawing you into the world of the characters. My favorite story was the intriguingly titled “Mending Kittens”. I won’t tell you anything about the story; you need to discover this gem for yourself.
January 11, 2015
Sensational 5*****
Short Stories: Includes 'Ruth' and 'Nightmares'
Thomas Ryan
A magnificent collection of short stories has been created from Ryan.
The Dementia Man was one of my favorites but they were all very well written and entertaining.
The author has a gift - a great way of connecting with his audience and taking the reader to a new place.
Sensational 5*****
Short Stories: Includes 'Ruth' and 'Nightmares'
Thomas Ryan
A magnificent collection of short stories has been created from Ryan.
The Dementia Man was one of my favorites but they were all very well written and entertaining.
The author has a gift - a great way of connecting with his audience and taking the reader to a new place.
Sensational 5*****
September 21, 2015
I received this arc from Netgalley.
I really enjoyed reading these seven short stories. I loved the twists at the end of each story. Well written and not a dud in the bunch. I will be keeping a look out for other books by Mr Ryan.
I really enjoyed reading these seven short stories. I loved the twists at the end of each story. Well written and not a dud in the bunch. I will be keeping a look out for other books by Mr Ryan.
January 16, 2014
A selection of short stories by someone who understands the genre and, I suspect, had a wicked sense of fun writing them.
September 22, 2015
A quick and easy read.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews