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Night on the A
The faces of Gotham and the stories behind them.
Everyday strangers you pass on the street.
The smiles, the tears, the love, mystery and the slapstick emotions, (this is New York after all…)
Ten tales. Ten lives.
Like the lovelorn under-cover cop.
The lonely guy at the diner on the verge of the heroic.
The grieving fiancee and her nonsupportive cat.
The eccentric co-op neighbor with a big secret.
The confounded therapist and the Michael Corleone wannabe.
The janitor with the soul of a giant.
And the veteran centenarian saint
Random strangers from the crowd.
Now you don’t have to pass them by.
Now you can stop.
And say hello,
On your way to the train.
Step inside
And please …
watch the closing doors.
Everyday strangers you pass on the street.
The smiles, the tears, the love, mystery and the slapstick emotions, (this is New York after all…)
Ten tales. Ten lives.
Like the lovelorn under-cover cop.
The lonely guy at the diner on the verge of the heroic.
The grieving fiancee and her nonsupportive cat.
The eccentric co-op neighbor with a big secret.
The confounded therapist and the Michael Corleone wannabe.
The janitor with the soul of a giant.
And the veteran centenarian saint
Random strangers from the crowd.
Now you don’t have to pass them by.
Now you can stop.
And say hello,
On your way to the train.
Step inside
And please …
watch the closing doors.
246 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2025
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
November 12, 2025
4 stars overall. Overall, these were enjoyable stories, though contemporary fiction isn't normally my cup of tea. I liked being able to get small samples of the various slices of life. I'd be interested to read Book 1 as well. I liked how weird all the characters were.
Showdown at Linblad's - 3/5 This story started great and I was excited to see where it went, but it ended abruptly and in a way that lost the momentum.
Baby of the Witch - 4/5 I really enjoyed this. It was different and compelling. I only wished it had lasted longer, the ending left me feeling a little bereft.
Night on the A - 4/5 Another really compelling story, and I liked that the narrator was a bit unreliable.
A Scent of Life - 5/5 This was so weird and I loved every second. All the characters were fascinating and I never knew what was coming.
The End of the Block - 5/5 Short but impactful. Good for her!
The Deathpartment - 4/5 The ending wrapped up a little too neatly for how off the wall the rest of the story was, but overall I really enjoyed this and the weird characters.
Black Cloud - 3/5 I really liked the characters in this, but the story wrapped up too fast for me, it felt a little abrupt.
The Night of Lily Kildare - 4/5 This was fun and different from the rest of the stories so far, so it was refreshing to read.
Shoes to Die For - 4/5 God I loved this, it was so weird in the best way. The final scene didn't quite do it for me, but I understand why it was there, I guess. Still really enjoyable.
After Action Dreams - 3/5 This story was well written but wasn't as well fleshed out as the rest, and especially as the final story, I found it a little lacking.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Showdown at Linblad's - 3/5 This story started great and I was excited to see where it went, but it ended abruptly and in a way that lost the momentum.
Baby of the Witch - 4/5 I really enjoyed this. It was different and compelling. I only wished it had lasted longer, the ending left me feeling a little bereft.
Night on the A - 4/5 Another really compelling story, and I liked that the narrator was a bit unreliable.
A Scent of Life - 5/5 This was so weird and I loved every second. All the characters were fascinating and I never knew what was coming.
The End of the Block - 5/5 Short but impactful. Good for her!
The Deathpartment - 4/5 The ending wrapped up a little too neatly for how off the wall the rest of the story was, but overall I really enjoyed this and the weird characters.
Black Cloud - 3/5 I really liked the characters in this, but the story wrapped up too fast for me, it felt a little abrupt.
The Night of Lily Kildare - 4/5 This was fun and different from the rest of the stories so far, so it was refreshing to read.
Shoes to Die For - 4/5 God I loved this, it was so weird in the best way. The final scene didn't quite do it for me, but I understand why it was there, I guess. Still really enjoyable.
After Action Dreams - 3/5 This story was well written but wasn't as well fleshed out as the rest, and especially as the final story, I found it a little lacking.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 31, 2025
As the title suggests, Ennis James Sheehan's story collection Night on the A is New York-specific. The locales are ordinary and workaday: luncheonette, bar, subway, a downtown co-op, a hot club. Sheehan's prose is fluent, conversational and smooth with an occasional lit or historical allusion thrown in for good measure. He isn't immune to the spoken cliche, but is wise and knowing of the street. His characters are a janitor and a purple-coiffed assistant, an undercover cop in drag scoping out a suburban gang on the train, exes whose marriage smashes down an elevator shaft, co-op tenants meeting about the sale of a "deathpartment" where the tenant expired.
One almost wishes the author had focused more on its noirish, procedural aspect of that 70 pp story and "pushed" the near-anecdotal short shorts. Perhaps it's no accident St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes, makes an appearance. Sheehan's characters are often lovelorn or neverfound, a man whose big dream is walking across the Bay Bridge, another spying a would-be high school sweetheart at St. Vincent Hospital's ER. This collection is a breezy, even grotesquely comic read with a scent of sulphur.
One almost wishes the author had focused more on its noirish, procedural aspect of that 70 pp story and "pushed" the near-anecdotal short shorts. Perhaps it's no accident St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes, makes an appearance. Sheehan's characters are often lovelorn or neverfound, a man whose big dream is walking across the Bay Bridge, another spying a would-be high school sweetheart at St. Vincent Hospital's ER. This collection is a breezy, even grotesquely comic read with a scent of sulphur.
December 1, 2025
Night on the A is a warm, quirky, and quietly affecting collection of slice of life tales that captures the strange magic of New York where heartbreak, humor, grit, and grace all ride the same train. Each story feels like a small window into a stranger’s soul: tender, odd, funny, sometimes sad, always human. Ennis James Sheehan weaves these ten character-driven vignettes with a gentle touch, giving even the briefest moments surprising emotional depth. A charming, heartfelt mosaic of the city’s hidden lives
October 4, 2025
I received a ARC free from the author and this is my voluntary honest review.
Ten, well written tall tales with a few unnecessary cuss words..
Strange,
Off the wall.
Interesting.
Intreging.
Spooky.
Erie.
Heart pounding.
Fun.
Tales that make you hang on, waiting, anticipating the next move.
What will happen next?
You can't let go.
You want more, and you can't stop reading until the end.
Wow!
Don't miss.
Ten, well written tall tales with a few unnecessary cuss words..
Strange,
Off the wall.
Interesting.
Intreging.
Spooky.
Erie.
Heart pounding.
Fun.
Tales that make you hang on, waiting, anticipating the next move.
What will happen next?
You can't let go.
You want more, and you can't stop reading until the end.
Wow!
Don't miss.
December 30, 2025
Night on the A by Ennis James Sheehan is a set of ten short stories about everyday people. Received an ARC from BookSirens, and here goes my review.
It's a quirky, heartfelt collection of tales set in New York. About everyday strangers you pass on the street. These stories include an under-cover cop in love, a predatory ex, a secretive neighbour, and many more people.
The characters are eccentric yet deeply human, making this an engaging read. Each story shows the funny, sad and surprising sides of urban life.
Great for readers who enjoy short, quirky stories about real people and the absurdness of daily life.
It's a quirky, heartfelt collection of tales set in New York. About everyday strangers you pass on the street. These stories include an under-cover cop in love, a predatory ex, a secretive neighbour, and many more people.
The characters are eccentric yet deeply human, making this an engaging read. Each story shows the funny, sad and surprising sides of urban life.
Great for readers who enjoy short, quirky stories about real people and the absurdness of daily life.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews