The Familiar Stranger

by Brett McBean

Seth is a worker angel - one of many whose job it is to clean old souls, those soiled and broken and in need of cleaning in order to be recycled. But when Seth starts to doubt the veracity of his work, starts to wonder if old souls can truly be cleansed of their past evils, he decides to travel down to Earth and see what has become of one of the old souls..

Cassius 'Corey' Willis is living a colourless existence; stuck in a rut, he dreams of living a different life, of being somebody else. But when a mysterious stranger offers him the answer to his dreams, Cassius will learn the truth of his past. A past so stained with violence and bloodlust it refuses to be wiped clean . . . and a secret so horrific that it may shatter his very soul.

Genres: Horror

65 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Brett McBean is an award-winning horror and thriller author. His books, which include 'The Mother', 'The Last Motel' 'The Awakening', and 'Desolation Game: Wolf Creek Book 2' have been published in Australia, the US, and Germany, and he’s been nominated for the Aurealis, Ditmar, and Ned Kelly awards. He won the 2011 Australian Shadows Award for his collection, 'Tales of Sin and Madness'. Along with a strong interest in music (he has an Advanced Diploma in Music Performance from Box Hill College) he is an avid film-buff and owns a vast (and ever-growing) movie collection. He lives in Melbourne with his wife, daughter and German shepherd.

Reviews

[Jakob J. 🎃 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique story of a rogue angel on soul-purifying and recycling duty who finds a bug in the system.

Review pending…

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another unique work from author Brett McBean! I honestly can't say much about this one without giving away the entire novella. However, it starts out with a sadistic BANG, and takes a turn that I would never have predicted--including the ultimate end.

This is one author that I will be hunting down books from in the immediate future!

Highly recommended!

[Karl]

Copy 207 of 275 Signed by Bret McBean.

[Chuck McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastical, creepy and often horrific novella from one of Australia's premier authors of the genre. Like much of McBean's work, 'The Familiar Stranger' is guaranteed to stay with you long after the final page is turned...and not in a comforting way! A great read for those who like their horror firmly on the dark and gritty side.