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Ruthless, the Killer
‘Ruthless, the Killer’ is a short story about grief, loss and reputation - with an added touch of humour.
When Ruth Smyth was growing up she was sure she was a ‘killer’. It was her fault that so many people close to her died - including her mother. Now, after ten years in exile, Ruth has returned home for her estranged father’s funeral and the reading of his will. She must one again face her family, her grief and her ‘curse’.
When Ruth Smyth was growing up she was sure she was a ‘killer’. It was her fault that so many people close to her died - including her mother. Now, after ten years in exile, Ruth has returned home for her estranged father’s funeral and the reading of his will. She must one again face her family, her grief and her ‘curse’.
12 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 24, 2016
Sue Jeffrey's Ruthless, the Killer short story is a quick read that leaves you thinking.
Ruth Smythe returns home after 10 years perusing her dreams to attend the reading of her father's will. She carries a lot of guilt from a series of unfortunate events in childhood and about having no contact with her father in the years she's been abroad. She faces enmity from some members of the family and unexpected support from others.
Despite it's serious subject matter (death, guilt, forgiveness, new perspectives), the story is told with a light, humourous touch with a dramatic twist at the end. There is quite a lot of backstory and introspection at the beginning, yet it kept me reading and overall I enjoyed this light-hearted yet telling wisdom. A great read for a coffee or tea break :)
Ruth Smythe returns home after 10 years perusing her dreams to attend the reading of her father's will. She carries a lot of guilt from a series of unfortunate events in childhood and about having no contact with her father in the years she's been abroad. She faces enmity from some members of the family and unexpected support from others.
Despite it's serious subject matter (death, guilt, forgiveness, new perspectives), the story is told with a light, humourous touch with a dramatic twist at the end. There is quite a lot of backstory and introspection at the beginning, yet it kept me reading and overall I enjoyed this light-hearted yet telling wisdom. A great read for a coffee or tea break :)
December 29, 2015
In this short story, Ruth returns to the family home for the reading of her father's will after a 10-year exile. Not only does she have to deal with the varied reactions of family members to her return, but her dubious 'talent' also comes back to haunt her. It's an interesting story, at times poignant as Ruth is confronted by might-have-beens, but also amusing as her 'talent' seems to have claimed another victim.
The story moves along at a good clip and the writing is vivid without getting bogged down in unnecessary description (e.g. 'An empty presence shakes hands with me as I step inside'; 'The wind has picked up and I can see the silhouette of palm trees moshing on the seashore like crazed rave dancers').
A good short read with a fun twist.
The story moves along at a good clip and the writing is vivid without getting bogged down in unnecessary description (e.g. 'An empty presence shakes hands with me as I step inside'; 'The wind has picked up and I can see the silhouette of palm trees moshing on the seashore like crazed rave dancers').
A good short read with a fun twist.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews