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Never Tell Collection #4
Scorpions
A man’s lifetime of secrets and lies. A woman on the hunt for his hidden riches. But there’s a sting in the tale in this gripping short story by the New York Times bestselling author of We Lie Here.
Frankie is a caregiver facing a meager and thankless future. Until her elderly charge dies—but not before revealing his secret. It’s buried in Death Valley. Enough money to change Frankie’s life forever. All she has to do is follow his instructions and stay on the path, and her prayers will be answered. It’s everything Frankie hopes for. But nothing like she expects.
Rachel Howzell Hall’s Scorpions is part of Never Tell, a heart-pounding collection of stories about secrets, lies, and mind games. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Just keep the endings to yourself.
Frankie is a caregiver facing a meager and thankless future. Until her elderly charge dies—but not before revealing his secret. It’s buried in Death Valley. Enough money to change Frankie’s life forever. All she has to do is follow his instructions and stay on the path, and her prayers will be answered. It’s everything Frankie hopes for. But nothing like she expects.
Rachel Howzell Hall’s Scorpions is part of Never Tell, a heart-pounding collection of stories about secrets, lies, and mind games. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Just keep the endings to yourself.
49 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 19, 2024
774 people are currently reading
606 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Howzell Hall
34 books2,459 followersRACHEL HOWZELL HALL l is the critically acclaimed author and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist for And Now She’s Gone, which was also nominated for the Lefty-, Barry-, Shamus- and Anthony Awards and the Audible Originals bestseller How It Ends. A New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James Patterson, Rachel is an Anthony-, International Thriller Writers- and Lefty Award nominee and the author of They All Fall Down, Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes and City of Saviors in the Detective Elouise Norton series. Her next thriller, These Toxic Things, out in September 2021, recently received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, calling the novel ‘cleverly-plotted’ and ‘a refreshing take on the serial killer theme.’
Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and has been a featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers Programs. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit www.rachelhowzell.com
Her next novel And Now She’s Gone will be published in September 2020. You can find her at www.rachelhowzell.com and on Twitter @RachelHowzell.
Rachel is a former member of the board of directors for Mystery Writers of America and has been a featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed Crime in the City series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast; she has also served as a mentor in Pitch Wars and the Association of Writers Programs. Rachel lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter. For more information, visit www.rachelhowzell.com
Her next novel And Now She’s Gone will be published in September 2020. You can find her at www.rachelhowzell.com and on Twitter @RachelHowzell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 313 reviews
November 12, 2025
2.5/5 ★
I didn’t love or hate anything. This was just okay.
In Scorpions, weary caregiver Frankie discovers that her late patient has left her a hidden fortune buried in Death Valley. Following his cryptic instructions, she sets out to claim it, only to find herself caught in a dangerous web of secrets and deception. What begins as hope quickly turns into a chilling test of trust and survival. 🦂
This story was exactly what I expected and nothing more. It was written fairly well, and the setting was interesting to read about. I wasn’t fully annoyed by the characters, but I didn’t love them either. There were attempts at twists, but nothing was truly shocking. It’s not that I guessed them, but by that point I didn’t really care.
I’m moving this down to a 2 because it felt very forgettable. It’s the kind of book you can relax and read easily, but you don’t get much out of it.
This is book 4 of 6 in the Amazon Stories: Never Tell: Can You Keep a Secret? collection. I think you can skip this one unless you want to read the full collection.
I didn’t love or hate anything. This was just okay.
In Scorpions, weary caregiver Frankie discovers that her late patient has left her a hidden fortune buried in Death Valley. Following his cryptic instructions, she sets out to claim it, only to find herself caught in a dangerous web of secrets and deception. What begins as hope quickly turns into a chilling test of trust and survival. 🦂
This story was exactly what I expected and nothing more. It was written fairly well, and the setting was interesting to read about. I wasn’t fully annoyed by the characters, but I didn’t love them either. There were attempts at twists, but nothing was truly shocking. It’s not that I guessed them, but by that point I didn’t really care.
I’m moving this down to a 2 because it felt very forgettable. It’s the kind of book you can relax and read easily, but you don’t get much out of it.
This is book 4 of 6 in the Amazon Stories: Never Tell: Can You Keep a Secret? collection. I think you can skip this one unless you want to read the full collection.
June 13, 2024
the setup…
Frankie once had a promising future ahead of her as a scientist. But then her father died and her mother pretty much lapsed into dysfunction. Frankie couldn’t return to college because she failed to apply for financial aid on time. Then while trying desperately to take care of her mother, she was caught shoplifting food and served three months in jail as a consequence. Now she’s a caretaker for a miserable man, the only job she’s able to secure that pays decent money and provides a place to stay. But then her patient dies and leaves her a note with directions to his secret stash…buried in Death Valley.
the heart of the story…
Frankie’s situation at first feels like an American tragedy but later I could see how her choices contributed to her seemingly bad fortune. When she gets that sudden windfall, the decisions she makes from that moment forward bear that out. While I wanted to be sympathetic, it was hard to feel sorry for someone who just doesn’t learn from her own past, especially knowing a “scorpion” when you see one.
the narration…
The narrator captured the hapless Frankie perfectly and did a fine piece of storytelling.
the bottom line…
The ending seem to fit the pattern of Frankie’s life but left the window open for some hope maybe? I’m unsure as I think it was left to my imagination. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy of the collection. All opinions are my own.)
Frankie once had a promising future ahead of her as a scientist. But then her father died and her mother pretty much lapsed into dysfunction. Frankie couldn’t return to college because she failed to apply for financial aid on time. Then while trying desperately to take care of her mother, she was caught shoplifting food and served three months in jail as a consequence. Now she’s a caretaker for a miserable man, the only job she’s able to secure that pays decent money and provides a place to stay. But then her patient dies and leaves her a note with directions to his secret stash…buried in Death Valley.
the heart of the story…
Frankie’s situation at first feels like an American tragedy but later I could see how her choices contributed to her seemingly bad fortune. When she gets that sudden windfall, the decisions she makes from that moment forward bear that out. While I wanted to be sympathetic, it was hard to feel sorry for someone who just doesn’t learn from her own past, especially knowing a “scorpion” when you see one.
the narration…
The narrator captured the hapless Frankie perfectly and did a fine piece of storytelling.
the bottom line…
The ending seem to fit the pattern of Frankie’s life but left the window open for some hope maybe? I’m unsure as I think it was left to my imagination. 3.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy of the collection. All opinions are my own.)
May 1, 2024
4★
“I’m sweating and panting, frozen in place, hoping that I’ve blended in with the other frightened brown things in the desert.”
We meet Frankie, alone in the California desert, throwing out cash she had stashed in her bra, but now it’s making her even hotter. “Frozen” may seem an odd word to use, but her condition is so extreme, I think it makes sense here.
Then the story goes back to four days earlier, where we see her life as an aide to a cranky, smelly old man with no redeeming features at all.
“Nothing on Ruben Mayer works, and everything that does work . . . leaks. His blood flows like gravy to a heart that probably resembles a burned meatball. His lungs sound like crumpled paper caught in an engine on a humid day. He has no natural teeth. His prostate is larger than Miami.”
He is demanding and foul (who wouldn’t be, in his condition?), and his wife can’t stand him. Frankie needs the money and had trouble finding a job after a three-month stay in jail for shoplifting. At a job interview, when asked about her strengths and weaknesses, she thinks.
“Strength: I can make a jailhouse McFlurry using ice cubes, powdered creamer, salt, milk, M&M’s, Sweet’n Low, and plastic baggies. This may be a strength 'and' a weakness, depending on the audience.”
But what about that desert? Well, now she’s on a treasure hunt, of sorts, looking for the cash from a heist Ruben and his late friends pulled off years ago. After Ruben dies, Frankie finds a note to her with a map to where it’s buried – in Death Valley.
But she’s no longer alone. There are two other people, and none of this trio is to be trusted. This is the fourth story in the Never Tell collection, and I enjoyed this one. Nobody is likeable, but that doesn’t lessen the suspense as we wonder who’s going to survive the scorpions and “frightened brown things” in the desert.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for a copy of the #NeverTell (Can You Keep a Secret?) collection for review.
“I’m sweating and panting, frozen in place, hoping that I’ve blended in with the other frightened brown things in the desert.”
We meet Frankie, alone in the California desert, throwing out cash she had stashed in her bra, but now it’s making her even hotter. “Frozen” may seem an odd word to use, but her condition is so extreme, I think it makes sense here.
Then the story goes back to four days earlier, where we see her life as an aide to a cranky, smelly old man with no redeeming features at all.
“Nothing on Ruben Mayer works, and everything that does work . . . leaks. His blood flows like gravy to a heart that probably resembles a burned meatball. His lungs sound like crumpled paper caught in an engine on a humid day. He has no natural teeth. His prostate is larger than Miami.”
He is demanding and foul (who wouldn’t be, in his condition?), and his wife can’t stand him. Frankie needs the money and had trouble finding a job after a three-month stay in jail for shoplifting. At a job interview, when asked about her strengths and weaknesses, she thinks.
“Strength: I can make a jailhouse McFlurry using ice cubes, powdered creamer, salt, milk, M&M’s, Sweet’n Low, and plastic baggies. This may be a strength 'and' a weakness, depending on the audience.”
But what about that desert? Well, now she’s on a treasure hunt, of sorts, looking for the cash from a heist Ruben and his late friends pulled off years ago. After Ruben dies, Frankie finds a note to her with a map to where it’s buried – in Death Valley.
But she’s no longer alone. There are two other people, and none of this trio is to be trusted. This is the fourth story in the Never Tell collection, and I enjoyed this one. Nobody is likeable, but that doesn’t lessen the suspense as we wonder who’s going to survive the scorpions and “frightened brown things” in the desert.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for a copy of the #NeverTell (Can You Keep a Secret?) collection for review.
March 24, 2024
"Can you keep a secret?" In short, no these characters could not!!!
Scorpions is the fourth short story in the Never Tell series. I wasn't sure exactly where it was going for about the first half of the story but I ended up enjoying how it all played out. This one definitely felt like something I could see on the big screen. Not as creepy as the stories before it but twisty none the less. 3.5 stars.
Scorpions is the fourth short story in the Never Tell series. I wasn't sure exactly where it was going for about the first half of the story but I ended up enjoying how it all played out. This one definitely felt like something I could see on the big screen. Not as creepy as the stories before it but twisty none the less. 3.5 stars.
July 27, 2024
Story 3 stars**
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Tamika Katon-Donegal
Audio 4 stars**
Narrator Tamika Katon-Donegal
May 19, 2024
Low 3 from me. This is an okay short read but I’d recommend the others in this collection before this one.
December 29, 2024
Didn’t like this one as much.
April 2, 2024
Scorpions is a short story in the Never Tell Collection by Rachel Howzell Hall. Once she had ahead of her a promising career as a rocket scientist; now, at twenty-five, a series of unfortunate incidents and vital things overlooked, and Francesca is an ex-con caring for eighty-seven-year-old obnoxious Ruben Mayer. Who turns out to be Victor Rangel, the only survivor of an armoured car heist. And when he dies, because “of all the people I hated, I hated you the least”, he gives her the directions to the loot, hidden in a mine shaft in Death Valley, where the most common lifeform is scorpions. But Frankie’s not the only one who knows about the stash… Classic Howzell Hall. 5/5
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories
March 22, 2024
A bizarre story about choices and consequences.
"Scorpions" is the fourth book in the "Never Tell" collection available on Amazon. I opted for the audiobook version and was delighted with the terrific narrator!
The story revolves around a young woman who, despite having a bright future ahead of her, makes bad choices that lead to her becoming the caretaker of a grumpy old man who is hateful and ungrateful for her help. However, after his death, he leaves her with an unexpected gift that has the potential to transform her life.
#Scorpions #RachelHowzellHall #AudibleAudio #BrillianceAudio #KindleUnlimited #AmazonOriginal #ShortStory #justfinished #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbookloverspromotions #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #ReadersOfTheLateArc #TalkWordyToMeTeam #lovetoread #bookworm #lovebooks #booknerd #readaholic #bookstagrammer #booktok #booktoker
"Scorpions" is the fourth book in the "Never Tell" collection available on Amazon. I opted for the audiobook version and was delighted with the terrific narrator!
The story revolves around a young woman who, despite having a bright future ahead of her, makes bad choices that lead to her becoming the caretaker of a grumpy old man who is hateful and ungrateful for her help. However, after his death, he leaves her with an unexpected gift that has the potential to transform her life.
#Scorpions #RachelHowzellHall #AudibleAudio #BrillianceAudio #KindleUnlimited #AmazonOriginal #ShortStory #justfinished #honestreview #thriller #bookreviewer #thrillerbookloverspromotions #thrillerfriendsunite #thrillerobsessedbookishclub #ReadersOfTheLateArc #TalkWordyToMeTeam #lovetoread #bookworm #lovebooks #booknerd #readaholic #bookstagrammer #booktok #booktoker
April 18, 2024
Great for a short read and some Very dark humor at times
April 29, 2024
It's in my Nature
Review of the Amazon Original Stories eBook (March 19, 2024), released simultaneously with the Audible Original audiobook.
The title of this one made me immediately think of the fable The Scorpion and the Frog and it did live up to that precedent. Francesca (Frankie) has made her living as a caregiver to a cantankerous senior named Ruben, after losing her college scholarship and becoming a petty thief. When she is turfed out by the uncaring current wife at the time of Ruben's passing, Frankie finds a note and a treasure map to stolen loot buried down an abandoned mine shaft by Ruben and the gang of his youth. But Frankie isn't the only one on the hunt.
The tension here is well done as the suspense builds while the reader wonders which of the current band of treasure seekers will betray the others and when. Or will the Death Valley desert and its scorpions get them first? An ironic ending is tacked on to close things off.
Scorpions is the fourth of six Amazon Original Stories eBooks/Audible Audio audiobooks released on March 19, 2024 as part of the Never Tell Collection of short stories which are promoted with the collective description:
Trivia and Links
Rachel Howzell Hall is the author of several novels, the most popular of which is What Never Happened (2023). Her most recent novel is What Fire Brings (expected publication June 11, 2024).
You can watch for current and past Amazon Original Stories which are usually paired with their Audible Original narrations at an Amazon page here (link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
Review of the Amazon Original Stories eBook (March 19, 2024), released simultaneously with the Audible Original audiobook.
In Southern California, there are four prevalent species of scorpions. Five, if you count Shane and Jocelyn Mayer. I'll have to watch my back as I drop down into that hole.
The title of this one made me immediately think of the fable The Scorpion and the Frog and it did live up to that precedent. Francesca (Frankie) has made her living as a caregiver to a cantankerous senior named Ruben, after losing her college scholarship and becoming a petty thief. When she is turfed out by the uncaring current wife at the time of Ruben's passing, Frankie finds a note and a treasure map to stolen loot buried down an abandoned mine shaft by Ruben and the gang of his youth. But Frankie isn't the only one on the hunt.
The tension here is well done as the suspense builds while the reader wonders which of the current band of treasure seekers will betray the others and when. Or will the Death Valley desert and its scorpions get them first? An ironic ending is tacked on to close things off.
Scorpions is the fourth of six Amazon Original Stories eBooks/Audible Audio audiobooks released on March 19, 2024 as part of the Never Tell Collection of short stories which are promoted with the collective description:
"How well do you know people? How well do they know you? Six award-winning, bestselling authors of suspense explore the lingering threat of secrets and the inescapable fear that they can’t stay buried forever. No matter how dark the hiding place, the consequences of revealing the truth can bring out the worst in lovers, friends, family, and strangers."
Trivia and Links
Rachel Howzell Hall is the author of several novels, the most popular of which is What Never Happened (2023). Her most recent novel is What Fire Brings (expected publication June 11, 2024).
You can watch for current and past Amazon Original Stories which are usually paired with their Audible Original narrations at an Amazon page here (link goes to Amazon US, adjust for your own country or region).
May 11, 2024
Things were going well til the ending. It felt like a cop out.
April 1, 2024
Very odd. Don’t think I’ll continue with the collection
June 3, 2025
Interesting story!
Definitely kept my interest! Totally had me wondering what was gonna happen next and how these people were going to make it out with the money. Wasn’t super impressed with the ending.
Definitely kept my interest! Totally had me wondering what was gonna happen next and how these people were going to make it out with the money. Wasn’t super impressed with the ending.
April 10, 2025
This short story was so good!!! I really wish it would have been a full-length story 🤪
April 3, 2024
Loved this one! Reading about a girl down on her luck, living in her car, just trying to make ends meet - I can definitely relate, lol. The shenanigans she gets into when the old guy she's been caring for dies were a little silly at times, but this was fast-paced and action packed. Hidden money, a treasure map, backstabbing partners - trust no one, truly!
___________________________
Find me outside of Goodreads!
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___________________________
Find me outside of Goodreads!
Substack | Instagram | YouTube
November 15, 2025
Eager to add some short story reading to tide me over, I looked to the Never Tell collection. This piece by Rachel Howzell Hall was a good read that I devoured in a single sitting. Hall keeps the reader wondering how things will progress with this piece and delivers a great ending. Frankie has been a caregiver for the last while, as it is one of the few jobs she can get with her criminal past. She has a challenging client, whose death opens interesting possibilities for her when he leaves a letter and directions to a massive stash he's hidden in Death Valley. Frankie is ready to set out with two unlikely accomplices, all in hopes of finding enough money to change her life forever. Nothing goes as she expected and by the end...money is the least of her worries.
Rachel Howzell Hall speaks volumes in this short piece, perfect for a single sitting read. The story rushes in its opening pages and leaves the reader to try piecing things together before a clear understanding ensures no doubt of the journey. The themes emerge and soon there is enough momentum to keep the reader begging for more, as this booty-fueled race has the reader flipping pages to get answers.
Characters present great contrasts as the story gets its traction. Hall does well to keep the reader from connecting too much, but does leave things open for a quasi-linkage with Frankie. Before long, things are a blur and no one is quite sure of backstories, focused on the upcoming revelations that are sure to keep the reader wondering.
Surprises are present throughout and there is no time to rest on one's laurels. The subtle twists that keep the reader guessing are part and parcel of a strong reading experience. This collection is all about the twist factor and Hall does well to keep things off balance from the start, with a wonderfully tense revelation by the final pages. I am eager to see if I can locate more by the author soon.
Kudos, Madam Hall, for an entertaining short read!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Rachel Howzell Hall speaks volumes in this short piece, perfect for a single sitting read. The story rushes in its opening pages and leaves the reader to try piecing things together before a clear understanding ensures no doubt of the journey. The themes emerge and soon there is enough momentum to keep the reader begging for more, as this booty-fueled race has the reader flipping pages to get answers.
Characters present great contrasts as the story gets its traction. Hall does well to keep the reader from connecting too much, but does leave things open for a quasi-linkage with Frankie. Before long, things are a blur and no one is quite sure of backstories, focused on the upcoming revelations that are sure to keep the reader wondering.
Surprises are present throughout and there is no time to rest on one's laurels. The subtle twists that keep the reader guessing are part and parcel of a strong reading experience. This collection is all about the twist factor and Hall does well to keep things off balance from the start, with a wonderfully tense revelation by the final pages. I am eager to see if I can locate more by the author soon.
Kudos, Madam Hall, for an entertaining short read!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
April 16, 2024
Ummm...... not for me
2.75⭐️
Frankie has had a tough life. That is until the old man she takes care of dies, leaving her a treasure map. Treasure that will change Frankie's life.
My Thoughts
Omg the way this author describes a fart! 😂 well done. Had me laughing out loud 🤣
That ends where I enjoyed the book. I had a hard time with this read. I couldn't relate to the characters. I couldn't quite get into the story. It all felt over the top but not in a good way.
Frankie has a criminal record. She keeps running into people on drugs. ( author over description of heroin use was a real turn-off )
There was nothing redeeming about her. I just couldn't like or care about any of the characters.
2.75⭐️
Frankie has had a tough life. That is until the old man she takes care of dies, leaving her a treasure map. Treasure that will change Frankie's life.
My Thoughts
Omg the way this author describes a fart! 😂 well done. Had me laughing out loud 🤣
That ends where I enjoyed the book. I had a hard time with this read. I couldn't relate to the characters. I couldn't quite get into the story. It all felt over the top but not in a good way.
Frankie has a criminal record. She keeps running into people on drugs. ( author over description of heroin use was a real turn-off )
There was nothing redeeming about her. I just couldn't like or care about any of the characters.
May 9, 2024
*audiobook!
May 13, 2024
No Honor among thieves
April 18, 2024
Enjoyable
I like how the author brings the story around full circle. It was easy to follow, liked the main character accepting responsibility for her actions, and her overall moral character.
Recommended 👍
📚📚📚
I like how the author brings the story around full circle. It was easy to follow, liked the main character accepting responsibility for her actions, and her overall moral character.
Recommended 👍
📚📚📚
March 20, 2024
A scorpion’s gotta scorpion!
March 14, 2024
This short story was the push I needed to read a Rachel Howzell Hall book! I’m really amazed how these short stories have been packing so much atmosphere, characterization and plot into such short stories.
Scorpions had the perfect eerie desert vibe and the ending will have you staring at the wall for awhile.
Scorpions is from the Never Tell Collection from Amazon Original Stories. Thank you to NetGalley!
Scorpions had the perfect eerie desert vibe and the ending will have you staring at the wall for awhile.
Scorpions is from the Never Tell Collection from Amazon Original Stories. Thank you to NetGalley!
July 3, 2024
I sat here and wrote a review in my post-gallbladder attack pain pill haze and this crusty app didn't have the decency to post it. It definitely wasn't my stubby fingers..
A quick but engaging read was exactly what I needed tonight. It really hit the spot and aside from being sick, I've been in a book slump lately. I've picked some duds. RHH is one of my favorite authors so I knew a short story from her would help me back on the horse and I was right this time lol hasn't happened much lately.
A caregiver receives information that could change her life after her client dies. He was a grumpy old fart with no one who really loved him so it isn't surprising he'd give her clues leading to a hidden treasure.
What *is* surprising is that his two greedy relatives also know and she's in a position where she needs their help. These 3 weren't exactly besties even when the curmudgeon was alive, so it's going to be hard to trust each other now.
Does anyone have a shot at this money? Does it exist? If it does exist, will there be consequences to finding it? I have many questions and many doubts and I am ALL ears! 🌽 Sorry, I'm still kinda loopy.
A quick but engaging read was exactly what I needed tonight. It really hit the spot and aside from being sick, I've been in a book slump lately. I've picked some duds. RHH is one of my favorite authors so I knew a short story from her would help me back on the horse and I was right this time lol hasn't happened much lately.
A caregiver receives information that could change her life after her client dies. He was a grumpy old fart with no one who really loved him so it isn't surprising he'd give her clues leading to a hidden treasure.
What *is* surprising is that his two greedy relatives also know and she's in a position where she needs their help. These 3 weren't exactly besties even when the curmudgeon was alive, so it's going to be hard to trust each other now.
Does anyone have a shot at this money? Does it exist? If it does exist, will there be consequences to finding it? I have many questions and many doubts and I am ALL ears! 🌽 Sorry, I'm still kinda loopy.
June 11, 2024
“Frankie baby,” Karsyn coos, “nothing is easy. You gotta take the punches to win the fight.”
Frankie was getting ready for a promising career as a rocket scientist; but didn't submit the federal aid application on time. Her mom gets depressed and short on money, Frankie steals some fruit to try several natural remedies... guess what... she gets caught stealing and is sent to jail.
Now that she is out working as a CNA taking care of Ruben Mayer. Everything changes when he dies, and he left a letter talking about how he stole a lot of money with some friends and hid it in the desert! With Frankie's luck nothing goes her way, Ruben's son and ex-wife know about it too... the idea of even splitting the money would be good... nothing goes as planned when they make it to the desert and start getting the money out of the hidden spot.
Nothing good at all happens to Frankie even though she even prays for it.
Frankie was getting ready for a promising career as a rocket scientist; but didn't submit the federal aid application on time. Her mom gets depressed and short on money, Frankie steals some fruit to try several natural remedies... guess what... she gets caught stealing and is sent to jail.
Now that she is out working as a CNA taking care of Ruben Mayer. Everything changes when he dies, and he left a letter talking about how he stole a lot of money with some friends and hid it in the desert! With Frankie's luck nothing goes her way, Ruben's son and ex-wife know about it too... the idea of even splitting the money would be good... nothing goes as planned when they make it to the desert and start getting the money out of the hidden spot.
Nothing good at all happens to Frankie even though she even prays for it.
March 31, 2024
As a reader, I recently finished a book that left me feeling disappointed, particularly with its ending. The narrative started off promisingly enough, with engaging characters and an intriguing plot. However, as I neared the conclusion, it became apparent that the author had opted for a rushed and unsatisfying ending.
What bothered me the most was the lack of closure for important plot points and character arcs. It felt as though the author took the easy way out, tying up loose ends in a haphazard manner rather than taking the time to craft a meaningful resolution. As a result, I was left feeling unfulfilled and questioning the purpose of investing my time in the story.
Overall, while the book had its moments of intrigue, the disappointing ending overshadowed any enjoyment I may have derived from the journey. For readers who value a satisfying conclusion, I would advise looking elsewhere.
What bothered me the most was the lack of closure for important plot points and character arcs. It felt as though the author took the easy way out, tying up loose ends in a haphazard manner rather than taking the time to craft a meaningful resolution. As a result, I was left feeling unfulfilled and questioning the purpose of investing my time in the story.
Overall, while the book had its moments of intrigue, the disappointing ending overshadowed any enjoyment I may have derived from the journey. For readers who value a satisfying conclusion, I would advise looking elsewhere.
March 31, 2024
Book 4/6 in the Never Tell collection. Another eh story, not great.
April 12, 2024
I liked it
This was different and I enjoyed how the author wrote peoples greed into the story. If they had not gotten greedy and willing to share then they would have been ojay
This was different and I enjoyed how the author wrote peoples greed into the story. If they had not gotten greedy and willing to share then they would have been ojay
June 19, 2024
“Keep me from harm so that I will be free . . .”
GENRE:
Mystery Thriller
Thriller Shorts
Short Stories
Novella
Horror
New Adult
TROPES & THEMES:
“There is no honor among thieves”
Hidden Treasure
Treasure Map
Dysfunctional Family Dynamics
Caregiver Archetype
“Noble Shoplifter”
SETTING:
Desert 🏜
Death Valley
California
REVIEW 💭
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Scorpions, a mystery thriller with horror elements by Rachel Howzell Hall, follows Frankie, a twenty-five-year-old caregiver who risks it all chasing after hidden treasures in Death Valley, with dreams of a better future… The very future she feels was stolen from her.
Her relationship with her mother is fractured, despite Frankie dropping out of Cal Poly and giving up a promising future to stay home and care for her. In a noble attempt to support her ailing, disabled mother, she begrudgingly takes a job below her pay-grade and gets in serious trouble after making a series of poor choices. Consequences that ultimately rupture her relationship with her mother and alter the course of her life.
Now, her mother is estranged from her, living with Frankie’s sister and Frankie is caring for a difficult, grumpy elderly man — a job she jumped on without hesitation due to her grim situation. Angry, she blames everyone around her for where her life journey has taken her.
When her elderly patient, Ruben, passes, he leaves her an actual treasure map to riches he long ago buried, presenting a specific path for a brand new opportunity to live the life she imagined for herself.
Except, she isn’t the only one to know about Ruben’s secret stash — his son is also aware, the same son Ruben warned her to stay away from.
“But the air feels like lava against my skin. Probably because I didn’t listen to Ruben and stay away from Shane. Probably because this is supposed to be my last day alive. What did I expect? A scorpion’s gotta scorpion.”
I’d recommend this read to fans of dark misadventure reads, mystery, and horror. Scorpions deserves allllll the stars.
GENRE:
Mystery Thriller
Thriller Shorts
Short Stories
Novella
Horror
New Adult
TROPES & THEMES:
“There is no honor among thieves”
Hidden Treasure
Treasure Map
Dysfunctional Family Dynamics
Caregiver Archetype
“Noble Shoplifter”
SETTING:
Desert 🏜
Death Valley
California
REVIEW 💭
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Scorpions, a mystery thriller with horror elements by Rachel Howzell Hall, follows Frankie, a twenty-five-year-old caregiver who risks it all chasing after hidden treasures in Death Valley, with dreams of a better future… The very future she feels was stolen from her.
Her relationship with her mother is fractured, despite Frankie dropping out of Cal Poly and giving up a promising future to stay home and care for her. In a noble attempt to support her ailing, disabled mother, she begrudgingly takes a job below her pay-grade and gets in serious trouble after making a series of poor choices. Consequences that ultimately rupture her relationship with her mother and alter the course of her life.
Now, her mother is estranged from her, living with Frankie’s sister and Frankie is caring for a difficult, grumpy elderly man — a job she jumped on without hesitation due to her grim situation. Angry, she blames everyone around her for where her life journey has taken her.
When her elderly patient, Ruben, passes, he leaves her an actual treasure map to riches he long ago buried, presenting a specific path for a brand new opportunity to live the life she imagined for herself.
Except, she isn’t the only one to know about Ruben’s secret stash — his son is also aware, the same son Ruben warned her to stay away from.
“But the air feels like lava against my skin. Probably because I didn’t listen to Ruben and stay away from Shane. Probably because this is supposed to be my last day alive. What did I expect? A scorpion’s gotta scorpion.”
I’d recommend this read to fans of dark misadventure reads, mystery, and horror. Scorpions deserves allllll the stars.
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