Gasps: A collection of psychological thriller short stories

by Miranda Rijks

Twenty-two gripping and suspenseful bite-sized stories by best-selling psychological thriller author, Miranda Rijks.These short but addictive reads are perfect for when you need a quick thriller fix. They include stories about justice and revenge and strange things happening to ordinary people. Full of twists and suspense, they’ll get your heart racing and make you gasp out aloud.

Gasps - the bite-sized thrillers from the best-selling author of The Visitors and Make Her Pay.

What readers are saying about

“A deliciously dark collection of startling short stories, quirky characters and twisty endings. Expect the unexpected, the bizarre and the unsettling in this absolute page-turning triumph! A moreish medley of revenge, misfortune and woe.”
- AJ Wills – bestselling author of The Phantom Child

"The ONLY thing about this book that I didn’t like …. was that it ended!!! I cannot wait to read even more from Rijks." - Goodreads Reviewer

“Rijks is a masterful storyteller and expertly lures you into a world that is at times shocking, creepy and wicked, but is always deeply satisfying. From Dissonance, a story about a musical prodigy whose ambition to be the best does not lead to happiness, to Eviction, a chilling tale about a woman who plans her revenge on a scammer, each story will leave you gasping for more.” - AJ McDine - best-selling author of The Baby.

"Mysterious, twisted, dark, eerie, disturbing, and unsettling—this collection has it all. Each story is remarkably unique, showcasing the versatility of this talented author. You will be thrilled and satisfied by clever twists, shiver at dark turns, and find your heart touched by others.
I loved picking up these stories for a quick escape when I only had a few minutes to spare. Each and every one made me gasp—some with a tiny intake of unexpected emotion, some with shock." - Cathryn Grant - best-selling author of The Favourite Child

"WHAT!!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! WHAAAAAT! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT???!??!? This might be one of the most perfect bite-sized psych thriller collections I have seen....If you love short stories (I do!) and if you are looking for bite-sized thrillers that will make you gasp at the end of the story, get this one! - Goodreads reviewer

"Miranda Rijks' GASPS may be short stories, but this gasp-worthy knock-out collection of 22 irresistible psychological thrillers is big on entertainment and ideal for sampling! The author cleverly showcases her signature chills, thrills, dark humor, and wicked, twisty revenge plots that keep fans returning for more! Razor-sharp, these deliciously mischievous bit-size tales are a super addition to her list of hit titles. Highly recommend—a must-read for psychological thriller fans."
- Judith D. Collins #JDCMustReadBooks Blog

"This is a collection of short stories by the Queen of Twists, Miranda Rijks. I devoured one a day for twenty-two days and enjoyed every single one! Her fans are in for a real treat with this collection." - AJ Campbell - best-selling author of The Phonecall

"I really enjoyed this book of short stories my favorites were Rich Chocolate, Plagiarism, and Christmas Socks!! But all of them are really fantastic, well written and truly short which was nice

Genres: Short Stories

134 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2024

About the author

Miranda Rijks is the author of 26 psychological thrillers, many of which have been Amazon bestsellers. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband and black Labrador.

Her fast-paced, twisty thrillers are inspired by scary things that have happened to her or places she has visited.

Miranda turned to writing after recovering from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She's so grateful that she's now a full-time author and living the dream!

Visit www.mirandarijks.com to get her FREE novella, The Cheat, and the chance to name characters in her books.

Reviews

[Nikki Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty two short stories over 134 pages. That’s a lot in just a short amount of time. Our first story starts out with a missing sister and it takes off from there. Some stories were humorous and some suspenseful. If you enjoy a good creepy read but don’t want to commit for the long haul, Gasps is right up your alley.

Thanks so much Miranda Rijks for providing me with a complimentary digital copy. Out today May 26, 2024

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Talk about an appropriate title!! 22 short stories from thriller writer Miranda Rijks, what is not to love. This was a fun collection of stories that certainly will make you gasp… especially my favourite one Eviction 😱😱 wow.

It is nice to read something short and punchy, with dark humour and twisty endings. I read a few stories each day, in my lunch hour at work, just to clear my head.

Thanks so much Miranda for reaching out and sending me a copy. Always a pleasure to read your books.

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gasp-worthy!

"Miranda Rijks' GASPS may be short stories, but this gasp-worthy knock-out collection of 22 irresistible psychological thrillers is big on entertainment and ideal for sampling!

The author cleverly showcases her signature chills, thrills, dark humor, and wicked, twisty revenge plots that keep fans returning for more!

Razor-sharp, these deliciously mischievous bite-size tales are a super addition to her list of hit titles. Highly recommend—a must-read for psychological thriller fans."

A favorite author, Miranda, always surprises with a treat! Clever, funny, chilling, twisty, dark, and deliciously satisfying. Perfect for your summer beach bag.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins |#JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: May 26, 2024
May 2024 Must-Read Books
May Newsletter

[Christine M in Texas (stamperlady50) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of small stories. All very different and some make you cry, wonder and gasp!

A little revenge, twist and short stories which are perfect for a few minutes.

[Jamele (BookswithJams) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author Miranda J. Rijks for the digital copy to review!

I don’t read short stories often, but this one was just fantastic! And perfect!! I loved all of the 22 stories in here (22!!!), and it blew me away how some were incredibly short but yet felt like a complete story in the few pages they were written. I do have a couple of favorites (looking at you Eviction and Tits Away), and I loved the fact that I could read a couple at a time, then sit it aside and pick it back up later and read a couple more.

I love Miranda’s books and this one is right up there with her novels. I highly recommend you pick it up, it was thoroughly enjoyable!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of psychological thriller short stories that will make you… GASP! There were so many of these where I didn’t see the end coming, and I couldn’t believe where Rijks took it! This author is a must read for me, and the author should be a must read for you as well!

Each short story is unique, not one seems like it could be part of another. Each one has a little twist in it – all with leaving you gasping, some will also leave you stunned – I particularly enjoyed those.

Rijks is so talented that even though they are short stories, you don’t feel like you’re missing out on anything because they are short. Rijks sets the scenes perfectly.

The ONLY thing about this book that I didn’t like …. was that it ended!!! So many of these short stories are great ideas for full length novels. I cannot wait to read even more from Rijks.

[Christina Faris (books_by_the_bottle) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun collection of short stories with a psychological twist at the end of each one! I don’t always read short stories, but having loved everything of the author’s I have read in the past, I was excited when she reached out to me about this collection. With Rijks’ signature clever twists and dark humor, I found myself laughing out loud as well as being stumped by each story. I read this in an afternoon; it was fun to switch it up from novels to a few short stories.

Thanks to Miranda Rijks for the ARC! “Gasps” releases May 29, 2024. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

[Thriller Bookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

These bite-sized tales are perfect for a quick read with your tea or coffee, during a break, or on the go—whether you’re commuting on a bus, train, or plane. If you can’t spare hours for a full-length book, these stories are ideal (though you might find yourself devouring them all at once!).

They’re delightful and suspenseful, truly gasp-inducing. Miranda Rijks’s imagination and creativity shine through in each story!

[Kait · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seeing is Believing: 3⭐️ WTF was that?
Eviction: 5⭐️ did not see that coming
Nora’s Kitchen: 1⭐️
Is Revenge Ever Sweet?: 4⭐️ holy crap
Tits Away: 3⭐️
Flower Bomb: 3⭐️
Reeling in Love: 3⭐️
On the Mountain: 4⭐️ WTF
Flight: 5⭐️ 😳😳😳
The Mourner: 4⭐️
The Neighbours: 3⭐️
Rich Chocolate: 2⭐️
Slinfold’s Bell: 3⭐️
Thank You: 2⭐️
Wedding Blues: 3⭐️ yikes
Consequences: 4⭐️ DAMN
Plagiarism: 3⭐️
NED (No Evidence of Disease): 3⭐️
The Golden Loot: 2⭐️
Let’s Talk About It: 2⭐️
Dissonance: 3.5⭐️
Christmas Socks: 4⭐️

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

There was nothing psychologically thrilling about any of these psychological thriller short stories

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m so sorry- I wanted to read something quick on a day I was stuck at my (cool) grandpa’s house. And it turned into me force-reading it.
It might just be me, but I wasn’t psychologically thrilled at all…

[erin_leigh_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great collection of short stories. I’ve always been a fan of Miranda Rijks books and Gasps is no exception. The first story definitely had me gasping and I might or might not have had a nightmare after reading Seeing is Believing! I think the most shocking of all the short stories was Eviction. Fans of Miranda Rijks you are in for a ride. Thank you to the author for my arc of Gasps.

[Nikki | graciouslybooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title “Gasps” is very fitting. This is a collection of short stories that have little twists at the end of each one. This was a good read. I enjoyed it a lot.

This ARC was received via the author. All opinions are my own.

[Melissa Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories written by Miranda Rijks. I love her thrillers so this was a fun quick read of short (think one chapter) stories that will leave you gasping or scratching your head.

Some of the stories I would have loved to see as a full on book. The author was very creative as I imagine it’s harder to grasp a readers attention when it’s a shorter story. Some do leave you hanging so we need some extended versions!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally read short stories, but found this collection of 22 mini-thrillers perfect for my recent train ride. They evoked the memory of the One Minute Mysteries I read from my parents' bookshelves as a kid.

My favorite stories in the collection were Eviction and Flower Bomb. Both are so reflective of real-life but scary happenings. The Golden Loot was equally good, but was more of a morality play, with a happy ending. Some of the stories leave you gasping, some scratching your head, but all leave you wanting more and wondering what they would have turned into as full-length novels.

Miranda Rijks is among one of my auto-buys, for her consistently great writing, humor, and quirky stories.

Thanks to Miranda for an advance reader's copy!

[McBreakneck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy short thrillers but having read novelettes from Freida McFadden and Daniel Hurst, and collections by CL Taylor, CJ Tudor, Mark Tilbury and Daphne du Maurier and the Amazon Never Tell collection it seems I do.

I’ve enjoyed a few of Miranda Rijks’ novels so was eager to read this, a collection of 22 short thriller stories written over the years. They are short, the whole collection weighs in at 134 pages, so plenty of variety. There are strange encounters, mysterious strangers, lockdown stories, even cancer stories and much more.

There’s some very nice writing. Miranda Rijks can set a scene and perfectly capture characters in just a few pages just in time to set up a twist or reveal, then it’s on to the next one.

As with any collection, I liked some more than others, there are some real gems in here.

Gasps is included with kindle unlimited.

Thanks to Miranda Rijks

[Ag · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book’s title is exactly what this book is! This is a collection of… gasps.
There are short stories. Bite-sized psych thriller stories. If you have read other books by the super talented Miranda Rijks (trust me, she is good – if you haven’t read any, huh, what are you waiting for? GO GET A FEW OF HER BOOKS – or ask me, I will recommend my favorites), the little stories feel kind of tame compared to her usual writing, but they are equally good. They might even feel kind of cute – compared to her usual writing. But they are all GASPS nevertheless. You read it, and… you guessed it, you gasp. This might be one of the most perfect bite-sized psych thriller collections I have seen.
My daughter often asks me what I’m reading. I always tell her. I will show her the authors too, and tell her what I know about them. I will tell if I have spoken with the author and what I think of the author and how I feel about them in general (yup, I know). I reminded her that we had talked about Miranda before and that she had seen her books before. Then, seeing that those were teeny tiny stories this time, she asked if she could read them too. So, she did. She read the first one and. And. There was a yell from the bedroom. MOOOOOOOOM!!!! WHAT!!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! WHAAAAAT! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT???!??!? She read more. She kept reading. She was hooked. So, @mirandarijksauthor you have a new fan in this household.
If you love short stories (I do!) and if you are looking for bite-sized thrillers that will make you gasp at the end of the story (or, yell MOOOOOOM from the other room), get this one – the book is coming May 26.

[Mark Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the extreme pleasure of reading an ARC of Miranda Rijks' “Gasps”, a collection of 22 short stories. And I’m so honored - and glad! - I did!

I was not a reader of short stories because I always felt I wouldn’t be afforded enough time to become invested in the stories and characters. I thought I’d be cheated. But now, because of Rijk’s talented writing skills,I’m a fan!

“Gasps” has 22 psychological thriller short stories, anywhere from 7 pages to 26, and it was was nice to be able to read a couple stories a day, finish the thought, and move on. Each story was completely different and each one held my attention the whole time. My favorites are:

Eviction
Is Revenge Ever Sweet?
On the Mountain
The Mourner
Consequences
The Golden Loot
Christmas Socks

The book is called “Gasps”, but, full disclosure, not all were audible. Sure my mouth gasped 😮, but also my mind gasped 🤯, my eyes gasped 😳, and my heart gasped 🥺.

Do yourself a favor: read “Gasps” and (re)discover why you enjoy short stories! This collection will be published on May 26!

Congratulations, Miranda, on what’s sure to be another winning book! 🙌🏻

[Eva Edge · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gasps by Miranda Rijks is a collection of unique psychological thriller short stories. Quick and straight to the point. A little bit too quick for me. The story ended before I felt it was started. And way too many characters. So by the end of the book, I remembered just a handful from 22 stories.
But what is important, I remember feeling. There were many stories where I didn't expect the ending.
If I had a choice I would like to have a full-length first story about the girl who was looking for a rental flat. It ended at the moment when I got so excited, I forgot that I was reading short stories. I need more of that story :)
I was intrigued by the aeroplane story and the skiing story and I liked the Christmas sock story!

I flew through this book. Each story was like one chapter and it was so quick!

Thank you Miranda Rijks for this advance copy!

If you are a lover of short stories, this will be right up to your street!

[Sweet book of mine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Esta es una colección de 22 thrillers cortitos. La verdad no me encantaron, pese a que tiene muy buenas reviews, me parecieron muy poco interesantes…

Los menos malos (jeje):

Seeing is believing: La hermana de una mujer casada con un enterrador, está muy preocupada porque ha desaparecido.

Eviction: Una mujer que está a punto de ser desalojada de su casa, encuentra una excelente oferta de una casa en renta, es tan perfecta que no puede ser real.

Is revenge ever sweet: Una mujer espera un largo tiempo para vengarse de la niña que la hizo sufrir en sus tiempos escolares. El rencor no conoce límites.

Tits away: Una mujer diagnosticada con Kncr en etapa 4, recibe consuelo de alguien imposible de creer.

Flight: Cuando te despiertas de un confortable sueño para volver a la pesadilla que es tu realidad.

Rich chocolate: Dos hermanas hacen los chocolates más deliciosos del pueblo. Con una receta muuuuy especial.

[La Femme Readers · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short but addictive reads are perfect for when you need a quick thriller fix. They include stories about justice, revenge, and strange things happening to ordinary people. Full of twists and suspense, they’ll get your heart racing and make you gasp out aloud.

GASPS is a collection of catch-your-breath-worthy short stories that end with a treat each time. Miranda is such a clever writer. She does a superb job of creating quick narratives with hard-hitting twists. My favorite story that stuck out from the rest was “Flight.” I would love to see this idea in an entire-length novel! If you’re looking for a fast-paced read with a great range of light-hearted and disturbingly dark thrillers, GASPS would be the way to go!

[Jen James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading. I love having hours on end to spend reading. But there are times when you have just a few minutes spare, which is when a short story collection comes into it’s own.

Gasps is a short story collection by Miranda Rijks. 22 encapsulated little tales. All distinct, with separate characters, a real cross section of life and human nature.

My personal favourites were Thank You, Let’s Talk About It and Christmas Socks. In each of these, I really enjoyed the message behind the stories, the moral. I was particularly drawn to Let’s Talk About It, I absolutely agree with the sentiments of this story.

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of twenty two short stories by one of my favourite authors Miranda Rijks.

By my own admission I am not a big fan of short stories so for me this was always going to be touch and go to whether I liked it. In truth I found it a little hit or miss, some stories were interesting and some bite sized ones left me scratching my head. If I liked them I wanted them to be longer as I much prefer full length novels.

I enjoy the writing of Miranda Rijks, her full length novels are fast paced page turners and look forward to reading more of them soon. With twenty two stories in just 134 pages it was always going to be a big ask for me to enjoy them.

[Fictionatnight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty-two gripping and suspenseful bite-sized stories. They include stories about justice and revenge and strange things happening to ordinary people. 

These stories showcase the author’s dark humour and give you a taster for her psychological thrillers. Each story is unique and some took me by surprise.

I find short stories are perfect when you want to be entertained, startled and kept on tenterhooks. You can read a story in one sitting, whenever you have some time available. 

They leave you wanting more! 

Thank you, @mirandarijksauthor, for sending me this advanced copy! 

[Alyson Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we have a collection of twenty-two short stories, perfect for reading on breaks, whilst commuting or whenever time is short but you need a quick reading fix. Although not having the full-on psychological thriller vibe found in longer stories, nevertheless there are plenty of little twists and surprises along the way, and even some humour in this varied collection. They cover themes such as enlightenment, atonement and best of all…..revenge in many forms! For that reason, I think my favourites were Eviction, Rich Chocolate, Plagiarism, and Christmas Socks. I wonder which yours will be?

[Louise Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

We get twenty-two stories in this very quick read. I'm not a fan of short stories, but since I'm a fan of the author, I thought I would them a chance. Some of the stories had a bit of humour in them, others were supposed to be creepy. Some of them I liked, others not so much. There are about 135 pages, so it won't take you long to read them. Some of the stories are quite short, others just a few pages more. I'm sure many readers will enjoy these stories more than I did.

Published 26th May

#KindleBook

[C.A. Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t normally read short stories but when I heard Miranda Rijks wrote a collection, I had to read it!

I enjoyed each story but these were my favs:
Is Revenge Ever Sweet
Tits Away
And Christmas Socks

Twenty-two suspenseful and gripping short stories are included in "Gasps." These stories are perfect for those seeking a quick thriller fix. There were quite a few ‘gasps’ while reading and I loved how a few endings had me shocked. Definitely recommend if you enjoy short stories!

[Patricia A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Miranda Rijks for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Gasps, to be published May 26, 2024. This was billed as a book of short stories all in the psychological thriller genre. It was definitely intriguing and the myriad characters stayed with me for days after I read it. The stories were a variety of shocking tales, red herrings and a cliff hanger all of which kept me turning pages! Great read! 5/5 Stars!

[Jacki van de Schoor · Rating 4 out of 5]

22 short stories, full of suspense, humour and drama, what's not to love.

I don't normally read short story anthologies, but I really enjoyed Gasps. This is the first I've read from Miranda, and I'll definitely be reading more.

I especially enjoyed the story: Eviction. I would definitely be interested in reading more about the main character in this story, she was very intriguing.

Thanks to Miranda Rijks for the advance copy.

I highly recommend.

4 stars from me. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Carrie Magillen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty-two tasty and tantalising thriller shorts that literally leave you gasping, but before you can catch your breath, you’re onto the next! Fun, different and unexpected with all those surprises you want from a thriller. Not an easy feat to pull off in a few pages. A great showcase of Miranda Rijks’s style and ability to stun with events out of left field. And… as one hell of a prolific writer… there’s plenty more where that came from!