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Dead Ends
Here are three sinister stories - tales from dark places, where things don't always end well.
"Recalculating". Maggie loves garage sales - the thrill of the hunt - as she might call it. Of course, some deals are too good to be true.
"Sweet Lenora". In 1930s Pennsylvania, girls are expected to behave a certain way - or else.
"Donations". Clarissa, the librarian, works too much. Her new secret admirer aims to change that - permanently.
"Sweet Lenora" originally published in Paranormal Anthology with a Twist.
"Donation"s originally published in Stalkers.
"Recalculating". Maggie loves garage sales - the thrill of the hunt - as she might call it. Of course, some deals are too good to be true.
"Sweet Lenora". In 1930s Pennsylvania, girls are expected to behave a certain way - or else.
"Donations". Clarissa, the librarian, works too much. Her new secret admirer aims to change that - permanently.
"Sweet Lenora" originally published in Paranormal Anthology with a Twist.
"Donation"s originally published in Stalkers.
Audible Audio
First published October 1, 2013
12 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Bart "J.B." Hopkins
17 books253 followersJ.B. Hopkins grew up along the muddy waters of the Texas coast.
He owned an Atari 2600, loves 80's music, and can use a card catalog like nobody's business.
J.B. likes to snap pictures, design covers, and tell stories.
Subscribe to his newsletter and score a free copy of Dead Ends.
https://eepurl.com/hu2AgL
J.B. has written five novels, a novella, and a few dozen short stories.
He owned an Atari 2600, loves 80's music, and can use a card catalog like nobody's business.
J.B. likes to snap pictures, design covers, and tell stories.
Subscribe to his newsletter and score a free copy of Dead Ends.
https://eepurl.com/hu2AgL
J.B. has written five novels, a novella, and a few dozen short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 30, 2013
As good a collection of horror tales as any around. Actually, they are my favorite kind of horror, the quiet kind that hides in a sunny day or at a garage sale. The author is my son Bart Hopkins, but I do believe
this review is accurate, all family pride aside. And kudos to Cynthia Shepp's editing and Rene Folsom's cover.
this review is accurate, all family pride aside. And kudos to Cynthia Shepp's editing and Rene Folsom's cover.
March 30, 2017
Different than my normal reads, but enjoyable. 3 good short reads. I listened to this on audio and enjoyed.
November 12, 2013
Bart Hopkins is the author and Co-Author of two novels. With Dead Ends he puts his writing to the test and forms a short story collection.
Dead Ends is made up of three short stories with dark tones. Things may not always be as they seem. And the endings are there to shock you.
Dead Ends.
Recalculating:
Recalculating is a story where you sort of know the ending from the start, but you are still completely surprised to see how it plays out. You may never see it coming.
When a couple comes upon a GPS system at a garage sale, they decide to take a much needed vacation.
This may be the worst mistake of their lives.
Listening to directions on a GPS may not be all it is cracked up to be.
Sweet Lenora:
The beginning of this story had sort of a Carrie feel to it to me. With a crazy mother and a daughter.
Then it turned out to be very far from that once you get to the end. Though, maybe they need to find Jesus.
This one is unlike Recalculating, because you can’t really guess what is going on.
It keeps you hanging on until the end because it keeps you guessing where the story is headed.
Here’s a piece of advice: you may want to have some garlic around you while reading this.
Character development was surprisingly well done in such a short amount of pages.
Donations:
Donations is easily the creepiest and most horror filled of the three. It is also longer than the other two, so the character and story development really adds to it.
When the one you love is dying, how far will you go to save them?
This short story combines two different story lines, and they come together in a surprising way. It will keep you guessing up until the last page.
It is a very dark story with a mix of romance and craziness.
You may sleep with the lights on after this one.
Overall rating: 5/5 Stars. If you like horror, drama, and short stories, pick this up now.
Dead Ends is made up of three short stories with dark tones. Things may not always be as they seem. And the endings are there to shock you.
Dead Ends.
Recalculating:
Recalculating is a story where you sort of know the ending from the start, but you are still completely surprised to see how it plays out. You may never see it coming.
When a couple comes upon a GPS system at a garage sale, they decide to take a much needed vacation.
This may be the worst mistake of their lives.
Listening to directions on a GPS may not be all it is cracked up to be.
Sweet Lenora:
The beginning of this story had sort of a Carrie feel to it to me. With a crazy mother and a daughter.
Then it turned out to be very far from that once you get to the end. Though, maybe they need to find Jesus.
This one is unlike Recalculating, because you can’t really guess what is going on.
It keeps you hanging on until the end because it keeps you guessing where the story is headed.
Here’s a piece of advice: you may want to have some garlic around you while reading this.
Character development was surprisingly well done in such a short amount of pages.
Donations:
Donations is easily the creepiest and most horror filled of the three. It is also longer than the other two, so the character and story development really adds to it.
When the one you love is dying, how far will you go to save them?
This short story combines two different story lines, and they come together in a surprising way. It will keep you guessing up until the last page.
It is a very dark story with a mix of romance and craziness.
You may sleep with the lights on after this one.
Overall rating: 5/5 Stars. If you like horror, drama, and short stories, pick this up now.
October 30, 2013
Trust me when I say the title DEAD ENDS is a great play on words and entirely appropriate for this collection of three short stories – all three of which are fantastic. The writing is original and clever, and takes you on three fast-paced, scary rides.
In ‘Sweet Lenora’ the title character isn’t ‘ladylike’ enough and there are consequences, but you won’t be able to guess what they are or the violence that follows. ‘Donations’ is also quite good and pretty creepy – but of the three stories I really enjoyed ‘Recalculating’ the most.
You ever made a wrong turn using a GPS? Then you’ve heard the electronic voice telling you it’s ‘recalculating’ … but your GPS has never been this scary. And after reading this short story you’ll probably never use it again, or visit Big Bend in Texas, or shop at a garage sale …
If you enjoy creepy and scary then I highly recommend DEAD ENDS.
In ‘Sweet Lenora’ the title character isn’t ‘ladylike’ enough and there are consequences, but you won’t be able to guess what they are or the violence that follows. ‘Donations’ is also quite good and pretty creepy – but of the three stories I really enjoyed ‘Recalculating’ the most.
You ever made a wrong turn using a GPS? Then you’ve heard the electronic voice telling you it’s ‘recalculating’ … but your GPS has never been this scary. And after reading this short story you’ll probably never use it again, or visit Big Bend in Texas, or shop at a garage sale …
If you enjoy creepy and scary then I highly recommend DEAD ENDS.
July 8, 2016
Three terrific shorts, each one craftily created. Vivid imagery, believable characters and dialogue, easy-to-read writing, and most importantly, interesting stories with a similar tone. They could easily be shorts from one of Stephen King's collections.
Although I enjoyed them all, my personal favorite was the third story; without spoiling anything, you'll love the big twist at the end.
I recommend it to anyone who likes short stories. A first-rate ride into the dark side.
Although I enjoyed them all, my personal favorite was the third story; without spoiling anything, you'll love the big twist at the end.
I recommend it to anyone who likes short stories. A first-rate ride into the dark side.
December 28, 2013
Interesting stories 3 in all. The first one you knew what was coming but then he throws you at the end. It reminded me of a Twilight Zone episode. The second was better you didn't know what was happening till the end of it. And the third was the most twisted of all. Just when you thought you knew what was happening he goes and changes it up. Great read if you like dark twisted reads.
October 28, 2015
Good book
These short stories are great page Turner. I couldn't put down. I especially liked the last story very unique ending.
These short stories are great page Turner. I couldn't put down. I especially liked the last story very unique ending.
September 12, 2016
This is a great collection of three short stories. All are well written and exciting.
February 8, 2018
I read Dead Ends, by Bart Hopkins, in one short afternoon. The book consists of three short horror stories, all of which I found to be enjoyable and in a language that was understandable and easy to read. The main characters were all relatable, everyday people, which added to the enjoyment and overall creepiness of the stories. I seriously couldn't put this book down. I went into it with the mindset that I was going to read one story, and then before I realized it, almost two and a half hours had passed and I had read all three! It was definitely time well spent, though.
In "Recalculating," a housewife comes across a GPS for $5 at a garage sale and decides that she and her husband need a vacation. It was the type of story that I knew how it was going to end before it ended, but getting there was still an exciting ride. I think this one might have been my favorite and the most macabre of the three.
The second story, "Sweet Lenora," takes place in 1930's Pennsylvania. Lenora's mother is constantly lecturing her on how she is not ladylike enough, which eventually has dire consequences. I had no idea how this story was going to play out until I finished it and just couldn't believe what had happened.
In the final story, "Donations," two story lines merge to form an incredibly creepy turn of events. I don't want to spoil anything here, so I'll just say that I found this story to be the most chilling of the three, and I'm sure glad I have very watchful neighbors and no spare key outside my house.
I listened to the stories in audio, and I thought Wayne June, the narrator, did an excellent job; it's almost like he was made for acting out the horror genre, although I'm sure he is great at others as well. One of the biggest points for me when listening to an audiobook is whether I can tell who is speaking by voice alone, and I could easily discern the speaker with June's easy-to-follow narration. Even in a dialogue between two female characters, he acted them out in a way that I could still tell the difference. The book was already exciting, but I felt like June made it even more so with his voice acting, as he told the stories, especially the creepy parts, in a gripping way that made me need to keep listening; I think this was the reason I was able to finish it in a single afternoon.
For me, June narrated the book at a perfect pace. I've always thought horror was a genre that could be ruined by reading too quickly, as sometimes the reader won't obtain the full effect if the stories are rushed. But I thought he did an excellent job narrating at a comfortable speed. The plot flowed very well and without interruption, and I did not notice any blatant edits in the audio or anything else in the quality that would distract from the book.
This was a very pleasant listening experience for me. I felt like the narrator enhanced the text, and if I had just been reading the physical book, I might not have gotten quite the same chilling effect as I did listening to June's reading of it. The stories themselves are creepy and exciting, and I would highly recommend them to anyone interested in horror or just looking for a thrilling read.
I received this book from Audiobook Jukebox in exchange for an honest review.
Title: Dead Ends
Author: Bart Hopkins
Narrator: Wayne June
Publisher: Bart Hopkins (Unabridged, 2016)
Length: 2 hrs., 20 min.
In "Recalculating," a housewife comes across a GPS for $5 at a garage sale and decides that she and her husband need a vacation. It was the type of story that I knew how it was going to end before it ended, but getting there was still an exciting ride. I think this one might have been my favorite and the most macabre of the three.
The second story, "Sweet Lenora," takes place in 1930's Pennsylvania. Lenora's mother is constantly lecturing her on how she is not ladylike enough, which eventually has dire consequences. I had no idea how this story was going to play out until I finished it and just couldn't believe what had happened.
In the final story, "Donations," two story lines merge to form an incredibly creepy turn of events. I don't want to spoil anything here, so I'll just say that I found this story to be the most chilling of the three, and I'm sure glad I have very watchful neighbors and no spare key outside my house.
I listened to the stories in audio, and I thought Wayne June, the narrator, did an excellent job; it's almost like he was made for acting out the horror genre, although I'm sure he is great at others as well. One of the biggest points for me when listening to an audiobook is whether I can tell who is speaking by voice alone, and I could easily discern the speaker with June's easy-to-follow narration. Even in a dialogue between two female characters, he acted them out in a way that I could still tell the difference. The book was already exciting, but I felt like June made it even more so with his voice acting, as he told the stories, especially the creepy parts, in a gripping way that made me need to keep listening; I think this was the reason I was able to finish it in a single afternoon.
For me, June narrated the book at a perfect pace. I've always thought horror was a genre that could be ruined by reading too quickly, as sometimes the reader won't obtain the full effect if the stories are rushed. But I thought he did an excellent job narrating at a comfortable speed. The plot flowed very well and without interruption, and I did not notice any blatant edits in the audio or anything else in the quality that would distract from the book.
This was a very pleasant listening experience for me. I felt like the narrator enhanced the text, and if I had just been reading the physical book, I might not have gotten quite the same chilling effect as I did listening to June's reading of it. The stories themselves are creepy and exciting, and I would highly recommend them to anyone interested in horror or just looking for a thrilling read.
I received this book from Audiobook Jukebox in exchange for an honest review.
Title: Dead Ends
Author: Bart Hopkins
Narrator: Wayne June
Publisher: Bart Hopkins (Unabridged, 2016)
Length: 2 hrs., 20 min.
May 9, 2018
The author gives three short stories where all roads lead to the end of life. There are interesting, unique and enjoyable. I wouldn’t say they are scary but on the dark side, they do make you rethink what you buy and how you deal with issues.
The narrator did a great job there are a few little issues at the start where he pauses and should not have. I thought the character voices were great, he shows good emotions. You always know who is talking and what they are feeling. There are no volume changes, if any breaks were taken I could not tell. I found no background noises, just a clean and clear audio. The narrator’s normal voice is just as pleasant as his character voices. He really bought the stories to life giving a good listen.
Recalculating: Maggie loves garage sales along with steals and deals, some just aren’t worth the cost. I will never look at another garage sale the same.
Sweet Lenora: is about a mother who wants control and her daughter to act like a lady. She will get more of a lesson then she wants.
Donations: Clarissa has a secret admirer who doesn’t have her best interest at heart. Here there is a story inside a story, but they both meet in the end with a twists end.
I thought the stories were a little short and needed more information. The why of it all is a little confusing. I wanted a little more background so it would have been easier to have understood the reasoning behind each. Beside that it was a great listen.
The narrator did a great job there are a few little issues at the start where he pauses and should not have. I thought the character voices were great, he shows good emotions. You always know who is talking and what they are feeling. There are no volume changes, if any breaks were taken I could not tell. I found no background noises, just a clean and clear audio. The narrator’s normal voice is just as pleasant as his character voices. He really bought the stories to life giving a good listen.
Recalculating: Maggie loves garage sales along with steals and deals, some just aren’t worth the cost. I will never look at another garage sale the same.
Sweet Lenora: is about a mother who wants control and her daughter to act like a lady. She will get more of a lesson then she wants.
Donations: Clarissa has a secret admirer who doesn’t have her best interest at heart. Here there is a story inside a story, but they both meet in the end with a twists end.
I thought the stories were a little short and needed more information. The why of it all is a little confusing. I wanted a little more background so it would have been easier to have understood the reasoning behind each. Beside that it was a great listen.
January 16, 2018
These are fun stories to read with some surprise endings. My favorite one was recalculate but I did like them all.
September 10, 2020
interesting book with 3 short stories my favorite is the first one but all were good.
October 20, 2021
Great stories
Great short stories but the book ended abruptly. Which is why I took a star away. But I did like the stories
Great short stories but the book ended abruptly. Which is why I took a star away. But I did like the stories
March 25, 2024
Book was okay, different stories were good, but wouldn’t recommend it!!
December 22, 2013
I've been a fan of Hopkins since I read "Fluke" and have been steadily gobbling up his stories ever since. I really love these three stories, they remind me a bit of Stephen King, another of my favorite authors, because they involve "everyday" people like you and me who then get pulled into extraordinary situations. Check out "Dead Ends" - you won't be disappointed!
October 21, 2015
A nice read for a quick thrill
What I liked most about this book was the author's attention to detail. The way he described everything put you right into the story. Each story contained something different, a new element of fear. The book may be short, but the goosebumps will last hours.
What I liked most about this book was the author's attention to detail. The way he described everything put you right into the story. Each story contained something different, a new element of fear. The book may be short, but the goosebumps will last hours.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews