A short read of approximately 7,500 words: Tommy has spent many years detained within Broad-lands Institute -- a hospital for the criminally insane. Over time he has learned to accept his confinement. After all, it is no more than he deserves given the heinous nature of his previous crimes.
However, when a new member of the nursing staff begins taking an interest in Tommy, he learns things previously kept from him: Like why he is being permanently dosed with meds. How, and why, his parents really died. And is it just a coincidence his earlier crimes occurred at the time of a full moon?
Nurse Jenny informs Tommy about the true nature of his world: Secret Government cabals, and their plans for a New World Order; the murder of his parents, and facing up to the reality of his life as a werewolf.
Then, when she thinks he is ready, she tells him the biggest secret of all: Nurse Jenny has a way out of Broad-lands.
But, as is often the case, nothing comes without a price. What is the real motivation for her aiding Tommy's escape? A tale of horror that unfolds beneath the light of a full moon.
Once More with Feeling "There are people in the house. They have the children. What should we do?" Available October 17th, 2022. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BDMCLZVQ
I was born into a world of horror... Well, not quite, but almost! To be more precise, my 'very sudden' arrival into this world came about via a broken cinema seat. It was a seat into which my heavily pregnant mother found herself wedged. Once it had collapsed beneath her bulk, the resulting chaos of attempting to free her - perhaps not surprisingly - induced a rather rapid labor. Talk about a grand entrance. I'm guessing it was something of a talking point among those present, and probably for many years after. Oh, yeah, and the film that was showing? It was The Phantom Of The Opera!
I have had a fascination with all aspects of the horror genre since my childhood, and it is a major driving force in my desire to write entertaining stories.
Carmilla: The Wolves of Styria is my first novel; It's the story of Laura Bennett, who finds everything changes on the day a beautiful and mysterious stranger first enters her life...
A novel length re-imagining of J.S. Le Fanu's original novella, Carmilla: The Wolves of Styria draws on much of the original narrative, but also introduces an array of new Characters to bring a whole new level of horror, and tragedy, to the legend of Carmilla.
The novel is co-authored by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu and David Brian.
Collections of my short stories can be found in the fantasy books Dark Albion, Kaleen Rae, and The Cthulhu Child.
Tommy is confined within Border-lands, a mental health facility for the criminally insane. Since the tender age of fourteen, he has been experiencing violent outbursts that result in brutal death and dismemberment. The carnage takes place under the bright glow of the full moon leading him to believe that he's more beast than man.
After spending nine years at Broad-lands, he is befriended by a new nurse, Jenny, who, for the next three years, forms a bond with him and fills him with thoughts of conspiracies, leading him to question everything about his life. Were his parents murdered and if so, by whom and for what reason? And why do they constantly take vials of blood from him? Are they experimenting with his lycanthropic gene?
When Jenny reveals her plans to help him escape Broad-lands, Tommy is thrilled. But what will happen during the next full moon?
This is truly a great short story. Readers are introduced to characters who are well-developed and realistic. A story unfolds and I thought that I had a good idea what was going on. WRONG! I was totally caught off guard by the unexpected twist at the end. Exceptional storytelling from an author whose work deserves more attention, in my opinion.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for the ending I didn't see coming :)
A short fun read, quite different from any other werewolf short story. I was dead certain it was going in a particular direction, only to find David had me sucked all the way in to the final page. Well done Mr. Brian.
This was a short read about a man that is locked away in a mental asylum for crimes he commited. He finds out that he is not only a man but something else which I won't give any spoilers, so you will just have to read the book. The ending was not as expected, but I liked how it ended. Five stars for this one!
This is a Kindle short read, but one which manages to touch on Lycanthropy, conspiracy theories, unexplained deaths, and, of course, multiple homicides beneath the light of a full moon.
David always knows how to tell a great short story. His stories are intriguing, well-written, and regularly contain a twist and a dark wit. He should be more well-known than he is, as his tales are of a very high standard. I have yet to read anything he has written that I didn’t like. He is an awesome storyteller.
I liked almost everything about this story. The only part I did not like was the last three sentences. Maybe it's just me, but they ruined the story and I had to knock off a star.
Tommy leads a less than charmed life. Incarcerated in a mental hospital, for crimes he can barely remember committing, and then having to contend with the murder of his parents, and his barrister. Life sucks! With the arrival of a new nurse things seem to be looking up. Jenny takes an interest in Tommy, and it isn't only based on attraction. Tommy is about to learn why all of his crimes were committed under the light of the full moon.
This is only a thirty minute read, but worthwhile. And I really liked the ending.
An interesting perspective of being a werewolf. Think along the lines of “An American Werewolf in London” and you get the plot. The ending felt rushed. Did find a few grammatical errors which can be easily remedied.