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Friction: Dark Tales of Suspense
In these darkly suspenseful short stories, classic dread and modern menace mingle in candlelit corners: an unsettling ode to Edgar Allan Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado, where pride and vengeance still echo behind steel and bone; a bartender forced to craft the perfect martini for the Devil himself, knowing one wrong twist of citrus could cost more than a bad review; and a seemingly devoted wife whose love turns methodical as she plans the final, irreversible solution to her marriage.
Wicked, witty, and quietly brutal, these tales invite you to step closer, listen carefully, and discover what awaits on the other side of “just one more page.”
Wicked, witty, and quietly brutal, these tales invite you to step closer, listen carefully, and discover what awaits on the other side of “just one more page.”
Paperback
Published February 14, 2026
2 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Paul Michael Kane
8 books24 followersPaul Michael Kane combines his extensive background in visual communication with traditional and alternative photographic processes utilizing the latest advances in digital media. Exhibited internationally, his works have been purchased for numerous private and public collections. He’s won several “best-in-show” awards and continues to explore new technologies as the field of digital photography expands.
Published widely as a photographer, designer and a writer, Kane’s award winning photographic work has received 5-star ratings by Popular Photography’s blog site.
Published widely as a photographer, designer and a writer, Kane’s award winning photographic work has received 5-star ratings by Popular Photography’s blog site.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 5, 2026
Bold new voice in the horror genre. I find short stories are a great introduction to an author's style and voice. Paul Michael Kane doesn't disappoint in either category. He has crafted 9 tales of the macabre and strange sure to linger in the mind long after the book hits the nightstand. Looking forward to more from this author. Perhaps a novel??
March 2, 2026
I loved all the stories in this book. Couldn’t put it down and finished in just a few hours.
February 22, 2026
Paul Michael Kane is already well-known for his amazing photography, but his debut book, Friction, proves he is just as talented with a pen as he is with a camera. This collection of nine suspenseful stories shows he really knows how to "paint" a scene with words, creating detailed worlds that pull you in right away.
What makes Friction so good is the variety. Kane doesn’t just stick to one style; he covers everything from a sci-fi revenge story to an occult murder mystery. One of the best parts is a character who feels like a mix of The Walking Dead’s Rick Grimes and The Godfather’s Vito Corleone, it’s a perfect example of how he creates gritty, interesting characters.
This is a great debut, I’m already looking forward to seeing what he writes next.
What makes Friction so good is the variety. Kane doesn’t just stick to one style; he covers everything from a sci-fi revenge story to an occult murder mystery. One of the best parts is a character who feels like a mix of The Walking Dead’s Rick Grimes and The Godfather’s Vito Corleone, it’s a perfect example of how he creates gritty, interesting characters.
This is a great debut, I’m already looking forward to seeing what he writes next.
February 27, 2026
All of the stories in this book are so good that I wish they were full on novels. My favorite was Follow, Share, Summon. This was a great take on social media. I'm proud to have this book in my collection and would love to read more.
March 29, 2026
Paul is a talented photographer, graphic designer, bookbinder, case maker and a champion of indi authors. So of course he would write as well.
Fantastic read!
Some are:
Cask is a nod to Edgar Allen Poe The Cask of Amontillado
Rest Assured..the dead rise, the mob creates a business to keep them dead. St Lazarus Security & Burial.
The Devil's Martini - a deal with the devil all you have to do is craft the perfect martini
Follow, Share, Summon - a dark look at social media
Fantastic read!
Some are:
Cask is a nod to Edgar Allen Poe The Cask of Amontillado
Rest Assured..the dead rise, the mob creates a business to keep them dead. St Lazarus Security & Burial.
The Devil's Martini - a deal with the devil all you have to do is craft the perfect martini
Follow, Share, Summon - a dark look at social media
March 11, 2026
Loved these stories!! They were all so different. Rest Assured made me smile the entire time, guess my brain works differently. Guaranteed to find something that becomes your favorite. The final story got me. I can say something great about each story. I wish I was as talented with words as Paul so I could l leave the review this book deserves.
March 24, 2026
Paul Michael Kane has a cinematic way of telling his stories. It is easy to imagine each story as a short film. Get on this Netflix!! The Tent City, The Devil’s Martini and Follow, Share, Summon and highlights for sure. Find a copy and read this!
April 4, 2026
A strong new voice is breaking onto the horror scene and Paul knows horror! The short stories are creative, engaging and well written. The book only had one down fall, it needed more stories!!
March 16, 2026
Love these stories!!
February 22, 2026
Friction: Dark Tales of Suspense is a fantastic collection of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ dark tales by Paul Michael Kane. While each of the 9 stories are quite different from each other, they share common threads of fascinating characters, dark humor and suspenseful plots that will leave you thinking of them long after you've turned the final page.
Available directly from the author at https://lightbox-photography-cards.my...
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Kane has described CASK as "a futuristic take on Poe's tale of revenge" and it is absolutely all of that... a wonderful homage without being a copy. Taking place on a space station orbiting Neptune, CASK goes beyond Poe's work by providing more depth to the main character's motivation and in the detailed setting, which almost becomes a character itself. This story will draw you in and grab hold of you in all the right ways.
======
REST ASSURED
"And the living, as always, were looking for someone to make a promise they could afford."
Who knows how to deal with death better than an underworld boss and his men? But Don Angelo Moretti knows it's going to be bad for business if the dead won't stay dead...
======
THE DEVIL'S MARTINI
"The first bargain is always the easiest. No paper, no witnesses. Just desperation.”
With THE DEVIL'S MARTINI you'll learn that the deals made with whispered promises in the night count... and when payment is due, payment IS due. You'll feel like you've walked right into a local bar and pulled up a seat alongside a mysterious stranger as he gives the bartender a choice - make the perfect martini, or lose his soul.
This story serves up a fantastic blend of confusion, fear and desperation as Eddie Carver attempts to meet his guest's demands, knowing what is at stake if he fails.
======
THE PURPLE DOOR
"...they were two unfortunate souls plagued by relentless bad luck, volatile tempers, and an uncanny ability to stumble into chaos."
Kane delivers a short, but eerie tale of two would-be thieves who decide to break into a decrepit house in search of anything valuable to steal, and find far more than they bargained for.
=====
IN TENT CITY
"Death is a loud guest."
In most places, the homeless population is often ignored, and usually invisible... unless there's a problem. In King's Alley, there's a problem: the homeless are being targeted in what appear to be ritual killings, and the police aren't motivated to investigate the cause.
Stephen King Constant Readers should keep an eye out for some subtle nods to the master.
=====
THE FORGIVEN is a fantastic tale, told from an interesting and unusual point of view. The characters may seem familiar at first, but are surprising in unexpected ways. The accompanying illustrations are not only beautiful but they fit the story well.
=====
THE HOLLOW CHOIR is a superb, atmospheric tale that delivers tension, dread and hope as private investigator Vic Everstone tries to free a client's sister from the grip of a horrific cult. Echoes of THE HOLLOW CHOIR will stay with you long after the last page is turned.
There is a connection to another story in this collection which makes this all the more fun to read.
=====
FOLLOW, SHARE, SUMMON
"Blood was honest. Blood was a signature nobody could forge."
In the internet era, keeping your audience engaged demands commitment. Passion. Sacrifice. And sometimes, when you pour yourself into your work, you get more out of it than you expected ... much more.
=====
19 WAYS TO MURDER YOUR HUSBAND
"Because leaving required hope, and hope felt like a language she no longer spoke."
For years Mara struggled with insomnia as her husband Grant slept peacefully beside her. Some people count clouds or sheep to try to relax... she found something darker.
Who knew the simple act of trying to go to sleep could be filled with so much ... possibility?
Available directly from the author at https://lightbox-photography-cards.my...
=====
Kane has described CASK as "a futuristic take on Poe's tale of revenge" and it is absolutely all of that... a wonderful homage without being a copy. Taking place on a space station orbiting Neptune, CASK goes beyond Poe's work by providing more depth to the main character's motivation and in the detailed setting, which almost becomes a character itself. This story will draw you in and grab hold of you in all the right ways.
======
REST ASSURED
"And the living, as always, were looking for someone to make a promise they could afford."
Who knows how to deal with death better than an underworld boss and his men? But Don Angelo Moretti knows it's going to be bad for business if the dead won't stay dead...
======
THE DEVIL'S MARTINI
"The first bargain is always the easiest. No paper, no witnesses. Just desperation.”
With THE DEVIL'S MARTINI you'll learn that the deals made with whispered promises in the night count... and when payment is due, payment IS due. You'll feel like you've walked right into a local bar and pulled up a seat alongside a mysterious stranger as he gives the bartender a choice - make the perfect martini, or lose his soul.
This story serves up a fantastic blend of confusion, fear and desperation as Eddie Carver attempts to meet his guest's demands, knowing what is at stake if he fails.
======
THE PURPLE DOOR
"...they were two unfortunate souls plagued by relentless bad luck, volatile tempers, and an uncanny ability to stumble into chaos."
Kane delivers a short, but eerie tale of two would-be thieves who decide to break into a decrepit house in search of anything valuable to steal, and find far more than they bargained for.
=====
IN TENT CITY
"Death is a loud guest."
In most places, the homeless population is often ignored, and usually invisible... unless there's a problem. In King's Alley, there's a problem: the homeless are being targeted in what appear to be ritual killings, and the police aren't motivated to investigate the cause.
Stephen King Constant Readers should keep an eye out for some subtle nods to the master.
=====
THE FORGIVEN is a fantastic tale, told from an interesting and unusual point of view. The characters may seem familiar at first, but are surprising in unexpected ways. The accompanying illustrations are not only beautiful but they fit the story well.
=====
THE HOLLOW CHOIR is a superb, atmospheric tale that delivers tension, dread and hope as private investigator Vic Everstone tries to free a client's sister from the grip of a horrific cult. Echoes of THE HOLLOW CHOIR will stay with you long after the last page is turned.
There is a connection to another story in this collection which makes this all the more fun to read.
=====
FOLLOW, SHARE, SUMMON
"Blood was honest. Blood was a signature nobody could forge."
In the internet era, keeping your audience engaged demands commitment. Passion. Sacrifice. And sometimes, when you pour yourself into your work, you get more out of it than you expected ... much more.
=====
19 WAYS TO MURDER YOUR HUSBAND
"Because leaving required hope, and hope felt like a language she no longer spoke."
For years Mara struggled with insomnia as her husband Grant slept peacefully beside her. Some people count clouds or sheep to try to relax... she found something darker.
Who knew the simple act of trying to go to sleep could be filled with so much ... possibility?
March 1, 2026
I was pulled in the minute I started reading. Paul Michael Kane is a fantastic photographer, but his stories will have you taking mental pictures so clearly. The descriptions of each scene make for fascinating reading, as each scenario is so clearly written that I couldn't put it down. Even the dialog between characters and their descriptions were distinct and lucid. My favorite tale was "Cask" set in the Space Station Lenore, eliciting Poe's "Cask of Amontillado", masterfully done! I also loved "19 Ways to Murder Your Husband" - I personally related to it because I use a CPAP machine nightly!!
I highly recommend this book of 9 short horror stories for all fans of this genre. The writing is exquisite and the stories so original and creative. Enjoy!
I highly recommend this book of 9 short horror stories for all fans of this genre. The writing is exquisite and the stories so original and creative. Enjoy!
March 1, 2026
I'm a huge fan of both horror and short stories, and this is one of the best collections I have ever read.
It's hard to make a reader care about the characters when a story is short, but Paul Michael Kane does it with apparent ease.
He draws you into the worlds he has created, he plants you firmly into the middle of his tales, and when he lets you back out you are changed...in the best way possible.
Do yourself a favor and get this book. You'll be glad you did
It's hard to make a reader care about the characters when a story is short, but Paul Michael Kane does it with apparent ease.
He draws you into the worlds he has created, he plants you firmly into the middle of his tales, and when he lets you back out you are changed...in the best way possible.
Do yourself a favor and get this book. You'll be glad you did
May 1, 2026
Congratulations to Paul Michael Kane on writing an excellent book of short stories. I very much enjoyed reading them and was pleasantly impressed by Paul’s imagination and creativity with the genre.
If you are looking for a book that can tickle your nerves for a while, by all means check it out!
If you are looking for a book that can tickle your nerves for a while, by all means check it out!
April 9, 2026
What a wonderful collection of short stories!
Paul knows how to pull the reader in and activate all of the senses. It feels like you are in the room, watching and waiting for whatever may be next.
I cant wait to read more from this author.
Paul knows how to pull the reader in and activate all of the senses. It feels like you are in the room, watching and waiting for whatever may be next.
I cant wait to read more from this author.
February 25, 2026
An absolutely fantastic book filled with amazing short stories. The Poe and King references are fantastic! I highly recommend to any lover of horror.
March 7, 2026
Excellent stories! Loved all of the short stories but my favorites were, Cask, In the Tent City, and The Devil’s Martini. Those stories really grabbed me and left me thinking.
March 8, 2026
One of the best short story books I've read! These stories keep you wanting more! :)
April 11, 2026
Keep me intrigued all the way through ! I loved all the the stores , really made me emotional a must read
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews