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Tales from Two-Bit Street and Beyond Part 1
This book consists of spooky stories, written by twelve local authors, Lynda West Scott, Drienie Hattingh, Wendy Toliver, Christy Monson, Patricia Bossano, Michele McKinnon, Dimitria VanLeeuwen, Sandee Martin Drake, Kera Erickson, Rod Cohen, Brenda Hattingh and Caroll Shreeve. The stories are based on legends of Historic 25th Street, Ogden, Utah. This street used to be Ogden's red-light district where many a murder took place. Al Copone reportedly said that this town is too rough for him.
Susan Squires: New York Times best-selling author of Companion Series, Da Vinci Time Travel Series and The Children of Merlin Novels. “These stories present plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning pages. Historic 25th Street is a living character in this anthology. We see it in its violent youth, its seedy downfall, and its resurrection as the historic center of a vibrant present. You’ll feel like you know the street, no matter where you live.”
Stan Trollip: Co-author of international award-winning best-sellers: A Carrion Death, Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu and Death of the Mantis. “Two-Bit Street and Beyond is a delight—a collection of short stories that bring to life the creepy past of Ogden’s historic 25th Street. Curl up and enjoy a wonderful read.”
Patrick Burns: Star of TruTV's Haunting Evidence and co-author of The Other Side: A Teen’s Guide to Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal. “After reading Tales from Two-Bit Street and Beyond, I’d love to spend a month exploring 25th Street and investigating the many paranormal tales shared by the writers of this book. The stories are quick to read and each one immediately draws you into the lives of the narrator and their brushes with ghostly unexplained encounters."
Carolyn Campbell: Author of three nationally-published books and 800 magazine articles in People, Redbook, Ladies’ Home Journal and Writer’s Digest. “This atmospheric and well-written collection of compelling stories is embodied with deftly rendered visions of the character of a city, intriguing insights into a variety of engaging personalities and fascinating revelations of a town’s colorful history, all sprinkled with a generous dollop of ghostly and mysterious fun. Pull up a chair and get ready to enjoy this spooky and spectacular treat!”
Caroll Shreeve: Author of Life Is Good, Victorian Details and The Wind Remembers. “Thirteen tease-your-mind stories enthrall with spooky twists guaranteed to give you shivers. The art of the short story is not dead. Neither are some mysterious ephemera you’ll meet wafting through this book!”
Natalie Curtis Pace: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. President of the League of Utah Writers (2010.) “From You’re Only Young Once, to Secrets of a Two-Bit Artist’s Model, expect to be entertained with stories of adventure, drama and ghosts. Each author’s twists and turns about Two-Bit Street keep you wanting more. Historic 25th Street is brought to life with the stories of the ghosts who call it home. The eerie tales will chill you to the bone, leaving you guessing about what is real. These are ghost stories at their best.”
Shanna Francis: Editor of The Ogden Valley News. “Take a walk back through time down Ogden’s most colorful street and relive the history, hauntings, and even horror that contributed to its nefarious reputation. This collection of hauntingly eerie tales by some of the area’s top up-and-coming authors will carry you on an unforgettable ride that you don’t want to miss, one guaranteed to leave you hanging onto the edge of your seat.
Susan Squires: New York Times best-selling author of Companion Series, Da Vinci Time Travel Series and The Children of Merlin Novels. “These stories present plenty of twists and turns to keep you turning pages. Historic 25th Street is a living character in this anthology. We see it in its violent youth, its seedy downfall, and its resurrection as the historic center of a vibrant present. You’ll feel like you know the street, no matter where you live.”
Stan Trollip: Co-author of international award-winning best-sellers: A Carrion Death, Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu and Death of the Mantis. “Two-Bit Street and Beyond is a delight—a collection of short stories that bring to life the creepy past of Ogden’s historic 25th Street. Curl up and enjoy a wonderful read.”
Patrick Burns: Star of TruTV's Haunting Evidence and co-author of The Other Side: A Teen’s Guide to Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal. “After reading Tales from Two-Bit Street and Beyond, I’d love to spend a month exploring 25th Street and investigating the many paranormal tales shared by the writers of this book. The stories are quick to read and each one immediately draws you into the lives of the narrator and their brushes with ghostly unexplained encounters."
Carolyn Campbell: Author of three nationally-published books and 800 magazine articles in People, Redbook, Ladies’ Home Journal and Writer’s Digest. “This atmospheric and well-written collection of compelling stories is embodied with deftly rendered visions of the character of a city, intriguing insights into a variety of engaging personalities and fascinating revelations of a town’s colorful history, all sprinkled with a generous dollop of ghostly and mysterious fun. Pull up a chair and get ready to enjoy this spooky and spectacular treat!”
Caroll Shreeve: Author of Life Is Good, Victorian Details and The Wind Remembers. “Thirteen tease-your-mind stories enthrall with spooky twists guaranteed to give you shivers. The art of the short story is not dead. Neither are some mysterious ephemera you’ll meet wafting through this book!”
Natalie Curtis Pace: Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. President of the League of Utah Writers (2010.) “From You’re Only Young Once, to Secrets of a Two-Bit Artist’s Model, expect to be entertained with stories of adventure, drama and ghosts. Each author’s twists and turns about Two-Bit Street keep you wanting more. Historic 25th Street is brought to life with the stories of the ghosts who call it home. The eerie tales will chill you to the bone, leaving you guessing about what is real. These are ghost stories at their best.”
Shanna Francis: Editor of The Ogden Valley News. “Take a walk back through time down Ogden’s most colorful street and relive the history, hauntings, and even horror that contributed to its nefarious reputation. This collection of hauntingly eerie tales by some of the area’s top up-and-coming authors will carry you on an unforgettable ride that you don’t want to miss, one guaranteed to leave you hanging onto the edge of your seat.
- GenresShort StoriesHorror
174 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
9 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
September 27, 2024
I grew up in an area rich in ghost stories. Our elementary school library had huge section of local material -- and this long before cable TV made ghost hunting a craze -- and I scared the bejesus out of myself with these books every autumn.
I heard of Tales from Two-Bit Street and Beyond from a newspaper, so when I saw it on the counter of a local store, I splurged.
Ogden, Utah's 25th Street, or Two-Bit Street if one is trying to sound trendy, has a colorful, sordid past. Al Capone famously said that Ogden was "too rough a town" for him based on what he witnessed on 25th Street during his brief stay. In the last decade, the city has put much energy and resources into renovation and rehabilitation, creating a delightful downtown that boasts art galleries, boutiques, and cafes. Some towns try to forget their checkered pasts; Ogden has chosen to embrace it, but at arm's length, the way one might embrace a relative who has a reputation as a pickpocket.
This book contains eleven stories that take place on or around 25th Street. The authors are regional, and most are members of the Utah League of Writers. Many of the stories reference some historical fact or news article from the early 1900s used as a launching pad for the current tale. These are very short stories, almost vignettes.
Not every story is a winner; they are either too heavy-handed with the name-dropping and wedging in of local trivia or the characters aren't well-developed. The majority could use better pacing, a critical element in a ghost story.
Of the eleven, I most enjoyed the following:
1. "Tunnel Vision" by Lynda West Scott -- A first person account by the young minion for a local crime boss whose disciplining of an underling gets out of hand. Takes place in the infamous (alleged) underground tunnels. (Lynda West Scott also contributed "Working Girl" to this collection, a monologue from the ghost of a prostitute making peace with the past and present that contains wonderful -- and plot appropriate -- detail about the area.)
2. "Room 1102" by Rod Cohen -- A down-on-their-luck couple decide to treat themselves to a romantic weekend at the historic Ben Lomond Hotel, but does the wife have a sinister motive? I've stayed at the Ben Lomond, so could appreciate some of the details in this story. The writing style was a bit stilted in the beginning, but the ending was deliciously creepy.
3. "Night Train" by Kera Erickson -- In spite of the damnable done-to-death present tense, this was one of the better plotted stories. It gets off to a slow start (usually death in a short story), but I got reeled into the time slip. Beware overly friendly strangers who know "shortcuts."
Conclusion: A fun read for Halloween, but not a particularly scary or well-crafted collection on the whole. Still, local authors deserve some love, so I'm glad I bought it. Lynda West Scott is the true gem among these authors, and I'm hoping she has other work out there somewhere. I'm basing my rating on the strength of the stories listed above, that the book is well laid-out and includes some terrific photos of the area, and that the contributions are from local authors.
I heard of Tales from Two-Bit Street and Beyond from a newspaper, so when I saw it on the counter of a local store, I splurged.
Ogden, Utah's 25th Street, or Two-Bit Street if one is trying to sound trendy, has a colorful, sordid past. Al Capone famously said that Ogden was "too rough a town" for him based on what he witnessed on 25th Street during his brief stay. In the last decade, the city has put much energy and resources into renovation and rehabilitation, creating a delightful downtown that boasts art galleries, boutiques, and cafes. Some towns try to forget their checkered pasts; Ogden has chosen to embrace it, but at arm's length, the way one might embrace a relative who has a reputation as a pickpocket.
This book contains eleven stories that take place on or around 25th Street. The authors are regional, and most are members of the Utah League of Writers. Many of the stories reference some historical fact or news article from the early 1900s used as a launching pad for the current tale. These are very short stories, almost vignettes.
Not every story is a winner; they are either too heavy-handed with the name-dropping and wedging in of local trivia or the characters aren't well-developed. The majority could use better pacing, a critical element in a ghost story.
Of the eleven, I most enjoyed the following:
1. "Tunnel Vision" by Lynda West Scott -- A first person account by the young minion for a local crime boss whose disciplining of an underling gets out of hand. Takes place in the infamous (alleged) underground tunnels. (Lynda West Scott also contributed "Working Girl" to this collection, a monologue from the ghost of a prostitute making peace with the past and present that contains wonderful -- and plot appropriate -- detail about the area.)
2. "Room 1102" by Rod Cohen -- A down-on-their-luck couple decide to treat themselves to a romantic weekend at the historic Ben Lomond Hotel, but does the wife have a sinister motive? I've stayed at the Ben Lomond, so could appreciate some of the details in this story. The writing style was a bit stilted in the beginning, but the ending was deliciously creepy.
3. "Night Train" by Kera Erickson -- In spite of the damnable done-to-death present tense, this was one of the better plotted stories. It gets off to a slow start (usually death in a short story), but I got reeled into the time slip. Beware overly friendly strangers who know "shortcuts."
Conclusion: A fun read for Halloween, but not a particularly scary or well-crafted collection on the whole. Still, local authors deserve some love, so I'm glad I bought it. Lynda West Scott is the true gem among these authors, and I'm hoping she has other work out there somewhere. I'm basing my rating on the strength of the stories listed above, that the book is well laid-out and includes some terrific photos of the area, and that the contributions are from local authors.
June 24, 2017
Another fun local ghost story book. Not every story was a favorite, but there was definitely a spooky atmosphere that matches the street after which the book is named. It's always fun to read something where you have actually been to the site and can feel the ambience.
Merged review:
An enjoyable read, especially as I live in the area and know the locations where the stories take place. I tell ghost stories on that street and it was interesting to see how these authors "flesh out" the bizarre occurrences that have happened to people on 25th Street.
Merged review:
An enjoyable read, especially as I live in the area and know the locations where the stories take place. I tell ghost stories on that street and it was interesting to see how these authors "flesh out" the bizarre occurrences that have happened to people on 25th Street.
February 9, 2014
Great read!
These were all fantastic stories! I very much enjoyed every single one and applaud the authors for their great work. I recommend this book.
These were all fantastic stories! I very much enjoyed every single one and applaud the authors for their great work. I recommend this book.
April 16, 2015
I liked this collection better than the first. The history portrayed in the stories was overall more specific and 25th Street became a character in its own right. Instead of random ghosts, readers will meet real individuals who once had businesses and notoriety on “Two-Bit Street.” Recognizable buildings and businesses are the scenes for these stories. The Rose Rooms (now the club Alleged), Two-Bit Street Café, Moore’s Barbershop, Union Station, Electric Avenue and the London Ice Cream Parlor (really a front for a brothel), The Ben Lomond Hotel, they’re all there. One story references the Broom Hotel, now torn down, but was once a luxury place to stay while visiting or passing through.
Some of the stories felt sloppy—details contradicted each other (Has the woman been widowed for 17 years or 20?) or just didn’t make sense (Who is the man seeking, Mei Ling or her daughter? Why was he on the fourth floor of the Ben Lomond Hotel when he saw her?). Others relied on insta-love to support the narrative, which is a major pet-peeve of mine. Others might not mind it so much.
However, the book is a fun and solid addition to the history and lore of Ogden’s Historic 25th Street. It’s a bit more mature than the first volume, so while I’d happily put volume 1 in the hands of junior high readers, I’d save this one for high school.
• Moderate language
• Sexual situations include references to prostitution, abortion, and unwed pregnancy. In one story, a man is seduced by a ghost and mentions that he will need to change his pants, leaving the reader to inference why.
• Violence is barely evident in this volume. Readers are told how certain characters met their deaths, but it’s all very tame.
• Characters drink socially
Some of the stories felt sloppy—details contradicted each other (Has the woman been widowed for 17 years or 20?) or just didn’t make sense (Who is the man seeking, Mei Ling or her daughter? Why was he on the fourth floor of the Ben Lomond Hotel when he saw her?). Others relied on insta-love to support the narrative, which is a major pet-peeve of mine. Others might not mind it so much.
However, the book is a fun and solid addition to the history and lore of Ogden’s Historic 25th Street. It’s a bit more mature than the first volume, so while I’d happily put volume 1 in the hands of junior high readers, I’d save this one for high school.
• Moderate language
• Sexual situations include references to prostitution, abortion, and unwed pregnancy. In one story, a man is seduced by a ghost and mentions that he will need to change his pants, leaving the reader to inference why.
• Violence is barely evident in this volume. Readers are told how certain characters met their deaths, but it’s all very tame.
• Characters drink socially
October 21, 2014
Again, I let mother read this one first and she said she didn't even finish it lolol she didn't like it that much.
I guess she's just not a short story horror/scare 'em/mystery person.
I started reading this, off and on, last Sunday afternoon, and ended up finishing it between about 1 or 2 in the morning ;oP
Again, 13 short stories, from about a dozen local authors, all set in and around Historic 25th Street, in Ogden Utah (it was known as Two Bit street in it's wild and wooly, early western boom town, Bars, Opium Dens & Brothels everywhere, railroad days, in the midst of Mormon Latter-Day Saint country). Two Bits, Four Bits, Six Bits A Dollar! All For (insert school name here), Stand Up And Holler! That cheer from high school is the Only reason why I know what Two Bits is! lololol
While I'm not overly familiar with all the places/shops/businesses there, it is a spot I've walked up, down, and around many times, since I came to this city in Oct./Nov. of '04'. I like how they've refurbished/renovated the whole street in the last 10yrs too.
As a second in the series, I did notice an increase in the quality of these stories. While I did like the first book, it was obvious, or at least appeared, that that the authors were rather new or inexperienced at this...they were new at ghost/horror/scare stories but all have published works in their names.
I can't wait 'til the library finally gets the next two books in this series (Tales from Two Bit Street part 2 and Tales from the Wasatch front)so I can read those too.
xoDaleB.xo
I guess she's just not a short story horror/scare 'em/mystery person.
I started reading this, off and on, last Sunday afternoon, and ended up finishing it between about 1 or 2 in the morning ;oP
Again, 13 short stories, from about a dozen local authors, all set in and around Historic 25th Street, in Ogden Utah (it was known as Two Bit street in it's wild and wooly, early western boom town, Bars, Opium Dens & Brothels everywhere, railroad days, in the midst of Mormon Latter-Day Saint country). Two Bits, Four Bits, Six Bits A Dollar! All For (insert school name here), Stand Up And Holler! That cheer from high school is the Only reason why I know what Two Bits is! lololol
While I'm not overly familiar with all the places/shops/businesses there, it is a spot I've walked up, down, and around many times, since I came to this city in Oct./Nov. of '04'. I like how they've refurbished/renovated the whole street in the last 10yrs too.
As a second in the series, I did notice an increase in the quality of these stories. While I did like the first book, it was obvious, or at least appeared, that that the authors were rather new or inexperienced at this...they were new at ghost/horror/scare stories but all have published works in their names.
I can't wait 'til the library finally gets the next two books in this series (Tales from Two Bit Street part 2 and Tales from the Wasatch front)so I can read those too.
xoDaleB.xo
September 20, 2015
Good ghost stories
I live in a house built in the 1800's. It has withstood human and nature alike and we have found items from this era in the framework. I believe in ghost and that buildings tell stories. I never once thought that our town may have ghost that walk the sidewAlks along with us. The cemeteries after dark are pretty active but would be kind of interesting to actually witness the same activities as two-hour street
I live in a house built in the 1800's. It has withstood human and nature alike and we have found items from this era in the framework. I believe in ghost and that buildings tell stories. I never once thought that our town may have ghost that walk the sidewAlks along with us. The cemeteries after dark are pretty active but would be kind of interesting to actually witness the same activities as two-hour street
October 8, 2013
this reminded me of a collection of high school writing assignments. Intersting idea. I can't imagine enjoying it at all if I didn't live in the city it's based on.
I was expecting more of the ghost stories that fill our urban legends.
I was expecting more of the ghost stories that fill our urban legends.
March 25, 2014
I got this book for Christmas from my brother-in-law. I really enjoy good ghost stories. This one fit the bill.
August 1, 2014
Fun Read full of ghost stories
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews