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Flowers in a Dumpster
Seventeen tales frighten and enlighten in this collection of horror short stories.The world is full of beauty and mystery. In these 17 tales, Gunnells will take you on a journey through landscapes of light and darkness, rapture and agony, hope and fear. A post-apocalyptic landscape where it is safer to forget who you once were... An unusual support group comprised of cities dying of a common illness... A porn star that has opened himself up to demonic forces... Two men battling each other to the death who discover they have much in common... A woman whose masochistic tendencies may be her boyfriend's ruin... A writer whose new friendship proves a danger to his marriage and his sanity.Let Gunnells guide you through these landscapes where magnificence and decay co-exist side by side.Come pick a bouquet from these Flowers in a Dumpster.Flowers in a Dumpster is perfect for fans of Supernatural thrillers, suspense short stories, and thriller books, as well as readers who want to read LGBT fiction. Carrying on the proud tradition of Clive Barker, Stephen King, Joe R. Lansdale, and James Newman.Proudly brought to you by Crystal Lake Publishing - Tales from the Darkest Depths.Interview with the So what makes Flowers in a Dumpster so special?Mark Allan It is a collection that spans a wide range of my work, including stories I wrote back in my college years all the way up to what I'm doing now. There are supernatural pieces, psychological pieces, emotional pieces. Longer tales and flash fiction. I think it is an eclectic mix that really gives people a comprehensive view of what I can do as a Who is your favorite character in the book and why?Mark Allan I have two answers to that one. Probably the character I'd most like to hang out with in real life is Topher from “The Bonadventure.” He's just the kind of funny, goofy guy that appeals to me. However, Lily in “What She Needs” is a favorite, despite being one hell of a nasty person, because I feel she is a unique character and it was fascinating to create Why should readers give this short story collection a try?Mark Allan Because it’s a lot of bang for your buck. Seventeen fictional worlds for the price of one. Do you have other books featuring these characters?Mark Allan Actually I've written stories that feature the characters from “Welcome” and “Welcome Back” as well as a follow up with Dru and Lowell from “Survival of the Fittest.” I plan to include these in the next collection I submit to Crystal Lake How did you come up with such an interesting title?Mark Allan I was struggling to find a title, and my husband actually helped me out here. He was walking at a local cemetery and saw a dumpster overflowing with flowers that had been removed from the graves. He took a photo and sent it to me with the caption, “Flowers in a dumpster...what a great title for a book.” He was right.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 4, 2015
2 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 4, 2016
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I've found myself reading more and more anthologies and collections these days. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy story-telling in the long form, but there's something about anthologies that allow you to get to know a lot of new authors quickly and then there are the collections for a single author which permit a more in-depth look into what makes a particular author tick.
Prior to reading Flowers In a Dumpster, I had not read anything by Mark Allan Gunnells'. Now that I've gotten to know his work, I'm pretty sure I'll be returning for more.
While not every story was Grade A, enough of them were to make this volume a worthwhile read for all horror fans.
Past Lives - A strong story to begin the collection. Features a nice twist with a traveler in a post apocalyptic world.
The Support Group - An interesting exercise in writing, Each character in the support group was a major city. Strange, but as I said, interesting.
Welcome - A car breaks down, but at least it's in a nice neighborhood, not some crazy remote backwoods location. What could possibly go wrong? One of my favorite stories in the collection.
Transformations - Conjuring a demon, for any reason, is never a good idea. Seems the little devils just can't be trusted.
The Bonadventure - Another of my favorite stories in the collection is this tale of the Savannah College of Art and Design Paranormal Investigative Team. That's right, S.C.A.D.P.I.T. What they discover in an old cemetery, in America's most haunted city, is much more frightening than ghosts.
A Helping Hand - A short, but nasty story of a writer's mother-in-law who moves in to help with her grandchild when her daughter dies during childbirth.
The Possession - There is a lesson to be learned here. Finding spells on the internet and playing around with them rarely works out for the best. A killer opening line, too. "Okay, let's get one thing straight. I did not murder Dirk Vandercock."
The Locked Tower - This is a top-notch story. Just what is the mystery of the tower of Winnie Davis Hall at Limestone College?
Expectant - A delightfully twisted tale of an unexpected pregnancy.
The Last Men On Earth - After a plague kills off nearly everyone on the planet. Only two men remain. Adam and Adam, as it were, or at least until Eve shows up.
Similar Interests - I absolutely loved the concept for this story. My wife and I were just discussing the dangers of hitchhiking a few days ago. Creepy.
Walking Talking Jesus - The title says it all. As I read the stories in this collection, it's interesting to see how Mark Allan Gunnells will take a simple notion and flesh it out into a story.
Survival of the Fittest - Even after a plague, the old prejudices still exist.
Land of Plenty - A land of plenty, but only for 75 villagers. A thought-provoking little story.
What She Needs - Another twisted little tale. This one about abusive relationships.
Welcome Back - A nice little follow-up to the earlier story, "Welcome."
Kindred Spirit (Co-authored by Shane Nelson) - An excellent little novellette to close out the collection. All about a writer finding his voice with the help of a kindred spirit.
Seventeen stories and when I was done reading, I found myself wanting more.
Flowers In a Dumpster is from Crystal Lake Publishing and is available in both e-book and paperback formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for no additional charge and if you are a member of Amazon Prime, you can borrow this one for FREE from the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Mark Allan Gunnells loves to tell stories. He has since he was a kid, penning one-page tales that were Twilight Zone knockoffs. He likes to think he has gotten a little better since then. He loves reader feedback, and above all he loves telling stories. He lives in Greer, SC, with his fiance Craig A. Metcalf.
Recommended.
I've found myself reading more and more anthologies and collections these days. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy story-telling in the long form, but there's something about anthologies that allow you to get to know a lot of new authors quickly and then there are the collections for a single author which permit a more in-depth look into what makes a particular author tick.
Prior to reading Flowers In a Dumpster, I had not read anything by Mark Allan Gunnells'. Now that I've gotten to know his work, I'm pretty sure I'll be returning for more.
While not every story was Grade A, enough of them were to make this volume a worthwhile read for all horror fans.
Past Lives - A strong story to begin the collection. Features a nice twist with a traveler in a post apocalyptic world.
The Support Group - An interesting exercise in writing, Each character in the support group was a major city. Strange, but as I said, interesting.
Welcome - A car breaks down, but at least it's in a nice neighborhood, not some crazy remote backwoods location. What could possibly go wrong? One of my favorite stories in the collection.
Transformations - Conjuring a demon, for any reason, is never a good idea. Seems the little devils just can't be trusted.
The Bonadventure - Another of my favorite stories in the collection is this tale of the Savannah College of Art and Design Paranormal Investigative Team. That's right, S.C.A.D.P.I.T. What they discover in an old cemetery, in America's most haunted city, is much more frightening than ghosts.
A Helping Hand - A short, but nasty story of a writer's mother-in-law who moves in to help with her grandchild when her daughter dies during childbirth.
The Possession - There is a lesson to be learned here. Finding spells on the internet and playing around with them rarely works out for the best. A killer opening line, too. "Okay, let's get one thing straight. I did not murder Dirk Vandercock."
The Locked Tower - This is a top-notch story. Just what is the mystery of the tower of Winnie Davis Hall at Limestone College?
Expectant - A delightfully twisted tale of an unexpected pregnancy.
The Last Men On Earth - After a plague kills off nearly everyone on the planet. Only two men remain. Adam and Adam, as it were, or at least until Eve shows up.
Similar Interests - I absolutely loved the concept for this story. My wife and I were just discussing the dangers of hitchhiking a few days ago. Creepy.
Walking Talking Jesus - The title says it all. As I read the stories in this collection, it's interesting to see how Mark Allan Gunnells will take a simple notion and flesh it out into a story.
Survival of the Fittest - Even after a plague, the old prejudices still exist.
Land of Plenty - A land of plenty, but only for 75 villagers. A thought-provoking little story.
What She Needs - Another twisted little tale. This one about abusive relationships.
Welcome Back - A nice little follow-up to the earlier story, "Welcome."
Kindred Spirit (Co-authored by Shane Nelson) - An excellent little novellette to close out the collection. All about a writer finding his voice with the help of a kindred spirit.
Seventeen stories and when I was done reading, I found myself wanting more.
Flowers In a Dumpster is from Crystal Lake Publishing and is available in both e-book and paperback formats. If you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited, you can read it for no additional charge and if you are a member of Amazon Prime, you can borrow this one for FREE from the Kindle Owners Lending Library.
Mark Allan Gunnells loves to tell stories. He has since he was a kid, penning one-page tales that were Twilight Zone knockoffs. He likes to think he has gotten a little better since then. He loves reader feedback, and above all he loves telling stories. He lives in Greer, SC, with his fiance Craig A. Metcalf.
Recommended.
September 30, 2018
I breezed through this one!
Loads of fun, highly entertaining social commentary and ethical dilemmas, with twists aplenty. Surely an accessible and enjoyable read for any contemporary horror fans!
I thought the title was gonna refer to a story but I think it's more like a declaration of the book's aesthetic!! :P
"Transformations" was my favourite story, about a confused young man who tries to sacrifice the gay away. I think it would make an excellent porn film that could make the body as horny as this story makes the head.
The fifth star is reserved for more complex ethical dilemmas and characters. Unlike several horny protagonists in this collection, I suspect Mr Gunnells can go even deeper ;) (Maybe he already has—I don't know when this came out I just thought its cover looked pretty/title was cool when I saw it on Twitter!)
Check it out!
Loads of fun, highly entertaining social commentary and ethical dilemmas, with twists aplenty. Surely an accessible and enjoyable read for any contemporary horror fans!
I thought the title was gonna refer to a story but I think it's more like a declaration of the book's aesthetic!! :P
"Transformations" was my favourite story, about a confused young man who tries to sacrifice the gay away. I think it would make an excellent porn film that could make the body as horny as this story makes the head.
The fifth star is reserved for more complex ethical dilemmas and characters. Unlike several horny protagonists in this collection, I suspect Mr Gunnells can go even deeper ;) (Maybe he already has—I don't know when this came out I just thought its cover looked pretty/title was cool when I saw it on Twitter!)
Check it out!
February 28, 2020
A solid collection of contemporary horror stories. Impressive range and depth, with a lateral perspective on what could be familiar horror territory. Economic and effective style, with some inventive use of twist. Skilful balance of traditional themes with a grittier, unorthodox approach. Consistent, pacy and entertaining.
November 30, 2015
I received an ARC of this eBook in exchange for an honest review. This is in no way reflected in my opinion of this novel.
Flowers In A Dumpster is my first book by Mark Allan Gunnells. Based on the quality of the stories in this book it won't be my last. Flowers In A Dumpster has a much higher number of great stories than you usually find in a collection. There were a few that I didn't enjoy as much as others but all were well written and fast paced. Some of my favorites were Past Lives, which has a delightfully twisted ending. Welcome and Welcome Back were both fun yet disturbing.The Bonadventure, a trio of ghost hunters find way more than they expected, and Similar Interests, serial killers meet while out hunting, were both fantastic. And Kindred Spirit, which was the perfect close to this collection, will hit home for a lot of writers. A fast and deliciously dark 4 star read.
Flowers In A Dumpster is my first book by Mark Allan Gunnells. Based on the quality of the stories in this book it won't be my last. Flowers In A Dumpster has a much higher number of great stories than you usually find in a collection. There were a few that I didn't enjoy as much as others but all were well written and fast paced. Some of my favorites were Past Lives, which has a delightfully twisted ending. Welcome and Welcome Back were both fun yet disturbing.The Bonadventure, a trio of ghost hunters find way more than they expected, and Similar Interests, serial killers meet while out hunting, were both fantastic. And Kindred Spirit, which was the perfect close to this collection, will hit home for a lot of writers. A fast and deliciously dark 4 star read.
December 20, 2015
Perfectly Titled ... Gems in a sea of horror ...
And what else would readers expect from Mark Allan Gunnells and Crystal Lake Publishing? I'm a fan of short stories and collections that deliver diversity. This one does that ... and leaves you begging for more. Some of these tales may come back around as longer pieces ... or not. Whatever this author has in store next ... I eagerly await.
And what else would readers expect from Mark Allan Gunnells and Crystal Lake Publishing? I'm a fan of short stories and collections that deliver diversity. This one does that ... and leaves you begging for more. Some of these tales may come back around as longer pieces ... or not. Whatever this author has in store next ... I eagerly await.
February 17, 2016
I read a lot of horror and it took me awhile to actually get into single author compilations from new authors. A lot of them seemed to consist of one or two good stories and the rest would be filler that was just thrown in to boost a word count. It happens a lot more than you would think and it makes it extremely difficult to invest in a full length novel. A shorty story collection is a great way to show off your range and depth unless you suck and then you have nothing going for you except for a book full of short stories that are mediocre at best. These collections are a crap shoot at best and not too many writers can pull this off.
As I began to read Dumpster I could tell that I was reading something unique. This is a guy that knows how tell a great story and style wise he's all over the place. He's a horror writer that you can't pin down. He has a style all his own and he has this ability to drag you into the stories he's writing. This is a horror writer that takes risks and doesn't care about rules or what subject you shouldn't write about. The guy has balls and in horror that's important. Each of these stories is unique and there's nothing that can prepare you for the onslaught that is Flowers In A Dumpster.
This is one collection that truly delivers. It's dark, it's a bit grungy and there were a few places I couldn't help but laugh but when you're reading a story about freeing Jesus from the cross and you realize that he's not coming back you can't help but chuckle. As I always do I'm judging this on the strength of each story. These are well written and there's no filler. Some do end quite abruptly but they're supposed to. This is a horror writer that I plan to read more of. If you're looking for something dark and different this is one that you should definitely pick up.
As I began to read Dumpster I could tell that I was reading something unique. This is a guy that knows how tell a great story and style wise he's all over the place. He's a horror writer that you can't pin down. He has a style all his own and he has this ability to drag you into the stories he's writing. This is a horror writer that takes risks and doesn't care about rules or what subject you shouldn't write about. The guy has balls and in horror that's important. Each of these stories is unique and there's nothing that can prepare you for the onslaught that is Flowers In A Dumpster.
This is one collection that truly delivers. It's dark, it's a bit grungy and there were a few places I couldn't help but laugh but when you're reading a story about freeing Jesus from the cross and you realize that he's not coming back you can't help but chuckle. As I always do I'm judging this on the strength of each story. These are well written and there's no filler. Some do end quite abruptly but they're supposed to. This is a horror writer that I plan to read more of. If you're looking for something dark and different this is one that you should definitely pick up.
May 21, 2019
A decent collection of modern weird tales. The stories are not too memorable, yet impossible to put down. Each one is slightly better than the other, and I think "Welcome" and "Kindred Spirit" (my favourite) took the cake.
Not essential for horror junkies, but the premises of each story alone should really be enough for some interesting read.
This is the first book I read by the author and I'll make sure it won't be my last.
Not essential for horror junkies, but the premises of each story alone should really be enough for some interesting read.
This is the first book I read by the author and I'll make sure it won't be my last.
January 8, 2016
Excellent read
Great collection, really went fast and thoroughly enjoyed it. Ready for more by this author. Recommend to all fans of modern horror!
Great collection, really went fast and thoroughly enjoyed it. Ready for more by this author. Recommend to all fans of modern horror!
October 8, 2017
A solid collection of short horror that goes from the everyday to the end of the world with ease. Gunnells is definitely a writer I will add to my future books list.
May 3, 2017
To start with I would like to say I am a huge fan of this author and especially his short stories. I first met him in a dean Koontz fan forum and read a couple of his short stories in a creative writing thread. I loved them so much that I printed them out and kept them. At the time I don't know if he was published yet or not but I read them in a thread that was mostly non authors just wanting to share something they wrote and so I didn't look him up. Fast forward to a few years later when I see him leave a comment on Facebook to another author I follow and instantly recognize his name and remember those first stories of his like I just read them yesterday. It takes real talent to write something that will stick with the reader like that and mark has a lot of real talent, I have since read all his available work except for one that is outside his usual genre and loved them all but his short stories are what he does best. That being said though, I was disapointed with this collection. There where some great stories but most of them where not the original creative stories I have come to expect from him. They where fun to read and still a solid collection this just wouldn't be the first book I recommended to someone I was trying to introduce this author to. Here is a breakdown of what I thought of the stories.
Past lives: a decent but forgettable story, I have never really enjoyed post apocalyptic tales though.
The support group: this one I loved! It's short, but very original with a great concept for a story and the perfect amount of humor.
Welcome: a fun story that is little more than a premise. It's one of those stories that asks "what if?" And gives you something to think about all day. Yea I would like to know what the characters do next but it's just as much fun to think about what I would do next instead.
Transformations: I loved the ending of this one, I imagined a couple diffrent endings while reading it and I wasn't even close.
The bonadventures: a little more action in this one, I don't want to spoil anything but it was a good story.
A helping hand: I didn't like this one. It's the first truly unoriginal tale I have read of marks and his version didn't offer any improvement over the other stories I have read with this premise.
The possession: not an original idea for a story, but the characters and setting sure where unique.
The locked tower: this is probably my favorite in the collection so far one question though,
Expectant: an unoriginal idea, a woman gets pregnant but didn't have sex and after reading it I am very confused. The end didn't make sense to me.
The last men on earth: a previously published short story that is one of my favorites from this author and I didn't at all mind reading it again
Simile interests: another unoriginal story, I have read short stories, one novel, and seen a movie (based on another novel) all with this same premise. It was a good story but nothing original at all.
Walking talking Jesus:good story, kind of Twilight zone ish
Survival of the fitist: I don't like this one, it's more like a single scene from a larger story and don't really tell a story itself
Land of plenty: a distopian tale where they kill the elderly to prevent overpopulation. Unoriginal and I didn't like it.
What she needs: not only a story I have read other versions of but sadly know a couple real life versions of myself. It wasn't bad though.
Welcome back: I'm very happy he came back to this one and hope he does again. I enjoy these stories but they leave me unsatisfied and wanting more. This one was better than the first mainly because you could learn Everything that happened in the first from this story plus it gos further. I'm curious about the whole "bad things will happen if you try to help" part from the first story. I seriously hope it is (at the very least) a trilogy.
Kindred spirit: this is a longer one and it started out great, it is an emotionally charged character driven tale of a marriage falling apart, unfortunate I hated the ending.
January 18, 2016
GRADE: A-
Having published a new collection almost every year now for the past few years, I’ve come to look forward to new Gunnells collections the way I do a favorite tv show—every year I get new “episodes”, and every year they improve. Flowers In the Dumpster, Gunnells’…fifth? Seventh collection? He has quite a few now, and they’re all good—but there’s something special about this one. Gunnells’ definition of horror has always run the gamut, and expect the same kind of free-wheeling storytelling here—from darker, brutal tales to lighter, almost tender ones, Flowers is filled with the kind of ideas only a pure storyteller like Gunnells could’ve conjured up. The stories here are even more spread out though; there’s a horror flavor for all tastes here. Like Hautala before him, Gunnells specializes in the kind of plot-driven, wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am storytelling perfect for campfire stories and cold nights; breezy prose will keep you reading past the midnight hour as you glide through each story eager to see where Gunnells will take you next.
Highlights include “What She Needs”, an unflinching, morally ambiguous look at a twisted relationship, “The Support Group”, of which won personal recommendation from Clive Barker himself, and “The Bonadventure”, a throwback-like pulp piece that put several smiles on this jaded horror reader’s face. “Expectant” is a classic “I’m pregnant…but the baby’s not normal” story, but it’s a cool new take on what is practically a sub-genre now. Gunnells does this often, taking old tropes and making them new again, also evident in post-apocalyptic “The Last Men On Earth” and deal-with-the-devil “Transformations”. Creativity abounds here, and I frequently found myself grinning at the new ideas each story presented. (If you’re the kind of reader always bemoaning the redundancy of horror, look no further than this book.)
If there’s any complaint to be had, it’s that several stories do suffer from a lack of subtlety—where a deft hand was needed, Gunnells instead uses the broadest of strokes. This makes the twists to several plots obvious much earlier than they should be, and though nearly every twist is still great, more ambiguity is needed throughout. This kind of plotting also leads to several characters giving exposition to the reader instead if another character—the kind of exposition the reader knows is really for them, and not the other person in the plot’s room. For example, “A Helping Hand” has a grandmother re-explaining to her son-in-law why she moved in—information that the son-in-law obviously already knows. This kind of “for the reader” exposition is handled clumsily in a few stories, and though it’s not a major distraction, it should be noted.
Still, I could live with a little less subtlety when the ideas are this fun—the book is just a blast to read, and it’s impossible to finish without at least a handful of tales jumping out as favorites. I can always count on Gunnells to surprise me, and Flowers is his best collection in a good while. With each collection his writing improves, (looking back at earlier works, there’s a stark difference in quality) and looking at the incredible blurbs this book is getting, all I can say is “It’s about goddamn time”—Gunnells has long been a stalwart small press writer, but with this, he’s poised to earn some more serious attention. He deserves it—and may his mind never stop spinning.
NOTE: To prove how eclectic this collection is, I noticed my least-favorite story in the bunch, “The Locked Tower”, is another reviewers favorite. Reader mileage will definitely vary!
Having published a new collection almost every year now for the past few years, I’ve come to look forward to new Gunnells collections the way I do a favorite tv show—every year I get new “episodes”, and every year they improve. Flowers In the Dumpster, Gunnells’…fifth? Seventh collection? He has quite a few now, and they’re all good—but there’s something special about this one. Gunnells’ definition of horror has always run the gamut, and expect the same kind of free-wheeling storytelling here—from darker, brutal tales to lighter, almost tender ones, Flowers is filled with the kind of ideas only a pure storyteller like Gunnells could’ve conjured up. The stories here are even more spread out though; there’s a horror flavor for all tastes here. Like Hautala before him, Gunnells specializes in the kind of plot-driven, wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am storytelling perfect for campfire stories and cold nights; breezy prose will keep you reading past the midnight hour as you glide through each story eager to see where Gunnells will take you next.
Highlights include “What She Needs”, an unflinching, morally ambiguous look at a twisted relationship, “The Support Group”, of which won personal recommendation from Clive Barker himself, and “The Bonadventure”, a throwback-like pulp piece that put several smiles on this jaded horror reader’s face. “Expectant” is a classic “I’m pregnant…but the baby’s not normal” story, but it’s a cool new take on what is practically a sub-genre now. Gunnells does this often, taking old tropes and making them new again, also evident in post-apocalyptic “The Last Men On Earth” and deal-with-the-devil “Transformations”. Creativity abounds here, and I frequently found myself grinning at the new ideas each story presented. (If you’re the kind of reader always bemoaning the redundancy of horror, look no further than this book.)
If there’s any complaint to be had, it’s that several stories do suffer from a lack of subtlety—where a deft hand was needed, Gunnells instead uses the broadest of strokes. This makes the twists to several plots obvious much earlier than they should be, and though nearly every twist is still great, more ambiguity is needed throughout. This kind of plotting also leads to several characters giving exposition to the reader instead if another character—the kind of exposition the reader knows is really for them, and not the other person in the plot’s room. For example, “A Helping Hand” has a grandmother re-explaining to her son-in-law why she moved in—information that the son-in-law obviously already knows. This kind of “for the reader” exposition is handled clumsily in a few stories, and though it’s not a major distraction, it should be noted.
Still, I could live with a little less subtlety when the ideas are this fun—the book is just a blast to read, and it’s impossible to finish without at least a handful of tales jumping out as favorites. I can always count on Gunnells to surprise me, and Flowers is his best collection in a good while. With each collection his writing improves, (looking back at earlier works, there’s a stark difference in quality) and looking at the incredible blurbs this book is getting, all I can say is “It’s about goddamn time”—Gunnells has long been a stalwart small press writer, but with this, he’s poised to earn some more serious attention. He deserves it—and may his mind never stop spinning.
NOTE: To prove how eclectic this collection is, I noticed my least-favorite story in the bunch, “The Locked Tower”, is another reviewers favorite. Reader mileage will definitely vary!
January 2, 2016
Flowers In A Dumpster is my first experience with Mark Allan Gunnells. Since Crystal Lake Publishing has proven itself to be a pretty reliable source of new and original horror, and with that cover looking all posterific, I could not resist.
Mr. Gunnells exceeds expectations with his tales of disturbing menaces cohabitating with a sense of humanity that compels you to keep reading. His characters seem real; some are quite likable. Others... not so much. His stories will take you down dark paths where you will encounter post-apocalyptic madness, dark humor in a support group you'll need therapy for after reading, a house too bad to be true, and a bit of pregnancy horror.
Not to mention all of the other stories that will surprise and shock. Mark leads the reader through a bit of familiar territory but still manages to captivate as you realize that Rod Serling could be narrating these very stories in a perfect alternate universe where the Twilight Zone is still being produced. If that is a bad thing, I don't know what to tell you. You can't account for taste all the time, and I don't want to argue with someone who could be anti-TZ.
If I have to pick a favorite story in this addictive collection, I would say The Locked Tower. Don't you know you always want to go where you're not allowed...
If you like some weirdness and fun, the hype is real. If you don't want to take my word for it, go see what Clive Barker has to say.
Mr. Gunnells exceeds expectations with his tales of disturbing menaces cohabitating with a sense of humanity that compels you to keep reading. His characters seem real; some are quite likable. Others... not so much. His stories will take you down dark paths where you will encounter post-apocalyptic madness, dark humor in a support group you'll need therapy for after reading, a house too bad to be true, and a bit of pregnancy horror.
Not to mention all of the other stories that will surprise and shock. Mark leads the reader through a bit of familiar territory but still manages to captivate as you realize that Rod Serling could be narrating these very stories in a perfect alternate universe where the Twilight Zone is still being produced. If that is a bad thing, I don't know what to tell you. You can't account for taste all the time, and I don't want to argue with someone who could be anti-TZ.
If I have to pick a favorite story in this addictive collection, I would say The Locked Tower. Don't you know you always want to go where you're not allowed...
If you like some weirdness and fun, the hype is real. If you don't want to take my word for it, go see what Clive Barker has to say.
October 8, 2019
Finished Flower in a Dumpster this morning over my cup of coffee. The books I have read by Gunnells in the past have been the three to four-page quick flash fiction stories that immediately get to the point then twist your mind with an ending that leaves you sitting there reliving the whole tale on a shocking loop inside your head. A few of my favorite of his shorter stories in this book were A Helping Hand, Support Group, Welcome and Welcome Back (which was a clever story that linked back and continued from where its origin story left off. Although, I love his short stories, I was pleased to find there were also some much longer tales that I thoroughly enjoyed. A few of my favorite of his longer tales were: Past Lives, Transformations, What She Needs and Similar Interests. The longest story in this book and by far my favorite was Kindred Spirit. This story had me desperately trying to figure out the ending as I read along. You had me going on that one; I didn’t see that ending coming but it was a very satisfying conclusion. The stories within these pages run the gamut of many topics such as nuclear fallout, summoning spirits, split personalities, cannibalism, possession and portals to other dimensions (just to name a few). Gunnels really knows how to spin a tale and engage the reader. I always enjoy my reading/coffee time when I grab one of his books. Thank you for your stories.
February 25, 2016
Flowers in a Dumpster (great title by the way) is a collection of 17 horror short stories from Mark Gunnells. This is my first time reading Gunnell and color me impressed. This is a solid collection. Sometimes, stories in a collection blend together because the author's voice is the same in each story. This isn't the case with Flowers in a Dumpster. Gunnells' strong storytelling skills and unique look at the darker side of humanity kept me reading till the end. Each story had its own voice. And many of them left a lasting impression. I also liked the varying story lengths. The stories told in just a few pages was just as satisfying as a longer ones.
If you enjoy walking (you should probably be running though) on the dark side, check this collection out. Most of the horror is psychological, but there are a few slice and dice and eat'em stories.
4.5 "Flower picking" Sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2016/02/bo...
If you enjoy walking (you should probably be running though) on the dark side, check this collection out. Most of the horror is psychological, but there are a few slice and dice and eat'em stories.
4.5 "Flower picking" Sheep
http://www.ismellsheep.com/2016/02/bo...
December 4, 2015
"Flowers in a dumpster" is a good metaphor for this collection of stories. This is horror, so much of what happens is ugly, but there is a beauty and humanity that shines through in Mark Allan Gunnells' writing. As I was reading I thought some of these stories would work well as episodes of the Twilight Zone - and if TV producers ever reboot that series, they would do well to hire Gunnells as a writer. This new collection is a worthy addition to a fine body of work from a talented author.
January 19, 2018
The second or third book I've read from Crystal Lake, this one had several stories where I wish I could read another chapter (or two, or five . . .). There's humor amidst the horror, and gore. I'll be checking out this author again. My favorites:
THE SUPPORT GROUP
WELCOME
TRANSFORMATIONS
THE LOCKED TOWER
SIMILAR INTERESTS
WHAT SHE NEEDS
WELCOME BACK
THE SUPPORT GROUP
WELCOME
TRANSFORMATIONS
THE LOCKED TOWER
SIMILAR INTERESTS
WHAT SHE NEEDS
WELCOME BACK
December 14, 2015
Review coming soon! Definitely recommended.
September 21, 2019
I’m not typically a big anthology person but this had some real gems in it. I can get hooked on short stories if they pack a good punch, almost like episodes of The Twilight Zone. Lots of different themes throughout and different story styles.
March 13, 2025
I have enjoyed every novel I have read by this author, but this collection of short stories really fell short. The stories were OK but not particularly good, in fact, I found them quite unmemorable. I was quite disappointed by this collection and will stick to his novels in future.
December 28, 2016
My review for Monster Librarian can be found at http://www.monsterlibrarian.com/TheCi....
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