Better Off Dead

by Ryan King

Shawna tries to cope with the loss of her husband and son, but she is pushed to the edge when the man responsible for their deaths goes free. Thirsting for revenge, Shawna seeks the advice of a former mob contract killer who opens the way for a terrible choice and a perilous path.

ebook

First published July 6, 2013

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautician Shawna will put up with a lot to keep her job and earn her tips. But Mrs. Trowski’s selfish diatribes and cruel bullying are more painful than funny, and it’s hard for Shawna to share her friends’ amusement. When the woman turns Shawna’s own personal tragedy into food for gossip it proves too much. Shawna’s still angry with the drunk driver who killed her family. “That’s something you got to deal with,” says customer Sammy, “or it will tear you apart.” But, of course, dealing with her hanger might tear something or someone else apart too, as this short story proves. There’s an intriguing mix of genuine pain, gleeful harm, dark humor and dark horror in this tale of a website’s strange allure, and the joy of not-quite-revenge. So who will next be “better off dead”?

Disclosure: I found this ebook free and enjoyed a quick read.

[Bettye McKee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Plot with a twist in the tale

Shawna is living hand to mouth since her husband and son were killed by a drunk driver. The killer served a short prison term, and the minute he was released, he started drinking again. "He's going to kill someone else!" she thought. But what could she do to prevent more deaths?

Ah, yes, there is a solution, but can she do what is required? That's where the plot veers into the unexpected.

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