Midsummer Shower: A Short Story

by Joyce Sterling Scarbrough

A young couple takes shelter from a storm in an abandoned cabin. They may have escaped the rain, but they can't escape the darkness that drove them there.

10 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2014

About the author

Joyce is an intelligent Southern woman weary of seeing herself and her peers portrayed in books and movies as either post-antebellum debutantes or barefoot hillbillies á la Daisy Duke, so all her heroines are smart, unpretentious women who refuse to be anyone but themselves. In addition to her novels, she has short stories featured in several anthologies.

Joyce has lived all her life in southern Alabama, she's the mother of three gifted children, and she's been married for over 30 years to her husband Tony—a public school teacher, coach extraordinaire, and the love of her life.

Reviews

[debbicat *made of stardust* · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a story!

I needed a quickie short story tonight for a challenge and boy did I find one. Thrilling , suspenseful, and a bit of a shocker. I’m impressed and off to look at more short stories by Joyce. Dauphin Island is mentioned and that location, close to home for this Gulf Coast girl, is one of my favorite places. Well done!
Highly recommended!

[T.M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tremendous story

Loved this story. Great character development throughout, and the plot reveals happened just at the right pace. Didn't see the ultimate reveal coming, even though the initial scene made it seem like an obvious conclusion. Highly recommended.

[Carrie Dalby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story is a great waiting room read. Suspenseful and the way the story spirals out, you aren't watching the clock. Clever, twisted story that gets more horrifying as you read.

[Sharon Milligan · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of those books that ended up on my Kindle and I have no memory of downloading it. Perhaps I interacted with the writer on Twitter at one time? Not sure.

Dark story. Not to my taste. Which makes it even more baffling as to how it appeared on my Kindle. It’s a story about abuse and murder. Not the cozy mystery kind.

I’ve given it two stars because for those who enjoy dark stories, this might go down well. But it’s not for me.

[Craig Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very twisted tale about two lovers hiding during a bad rain. Or at least one of them thinks they are two lovers. Heartbreaking and twisted, the perfect read for Edgar Allen Poe and HP Lovecraft readers.

[Mar Marburg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable

The narrative was good, I liked the use of vernacular but it gave away too much info making the ending predictable.

[Mark Hotopp · Rating 4 out of 5]

To short

Could have been a great story if it was longer. Would have liked to known mothers reaction. Good read for a short story