Scream Queen

by Jeremy Griffin

Spanning the varied regions of the American South, Scream Queen offers glimpses into the tumultuous lives of characters facing imminent disaster. The mother of a felon looks to a group of Tibetan monks for peace of mind. A priest whose faith has been shaken after a tragic loss is sent to investigate an alleged miracle in a backwoods Louisiana church. At an Alabama horror convention, a middle-aged actress is forced to confront the uncomfortable truth about her legacy. A punk rock musician in the early stages of dementia tries to reconnect with his estranged son after a lifetime of debauchery. The stories in this book are at once humorous and tragic, deftly navigating issues of violence, spirituality, addiction, parenthood, and mortality for a clearer understanding of how our failures ultimately shape us.

198 pages, Paperback

Published October 15, 2024

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an impressive collection of stories, most notably the first five in the collection. In this book (the first I've read of Griffin, though I'm now interested in reading more), Griffin takes characters who have worn themselves to a kind of maximum density, whether it's an aging punk rocker who's wanting to connect with his estranged son now that he sees his mortality, or a priest assigned to investigate a potential miracle, or an actor whose claim to fame was being the recurring final girl of a string of crummy horror movies put on a panel to discuss her abusive co-star, who subsequently face a moment of choice, of having to decide whether to maintain the life that has been proving difficult but familiar, or challenging everything to face the void of uncertainty. The best stories here intrigue through the process of how that character comes to the choice that they do. The later stories get a tad redundant, sorry to say, though "Solve" is a refreshing burst. But overall, Griffin shows some great chops as a short story writer, and I'm going tolook into some more.

[Leah Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of short stories, each of which will draw you in with its authentic, relatable characters in the midst of pivotal moments in their lives. These characters will stay with you long after you finish reading.