The Trade

by Andrew Cull

That summer should have been filled with laughter, with slip n’ slides in the yard, lazy afternoons lying watching ice cream clouds swirling through the blue sky, melting in slow motion. I watched a plane rising high above our house. From the ground it looked completely still, as if it hung suspended in the air, a model on a string. I wished I was on it, I wished I could escape. I was seven and that was the summer death stalked our home.

It began with the offerings...

Genres: Horror, Short Stories

22 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2016

Reviews

[Serenity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good writer

Ahhh. Love the gore. This is the second book I've read by him. Both very enjoyable. Looking forward to reading more by this author!

[AgoraphoBook Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.25 / 5

An excellent (and awesomely gory) short horror story.

[Andreu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short Story Masterpiece

Cull’s talent is unmatched. Another perfect blend of suspense, gore and terror. Absolutely cannot wait for his debut novel. An author worth following!

[Pakeeza . · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished it in one sitting. The best words to describe it would be "atmospheric" and "eerie". I enjoyed the overall setting of this book and the monster in it. I had expected a ghostly presence but the monster was fun to read about nonetheless. I mean, it was fun. Nothing extraordinary. I liked "Remains" better but I'd still recommend this if you want a quick read.

[Angela Maher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seriously creepy, and a bit gory. Well-written from the point of view of a boy.

[Simone · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending needs work.

[Roland · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started off really good, but it managed to become dragging unexpectedly fast - for me at least.
The third offering, the second mutilated dog was a "meh... again?".
Although I think the story was sort of metaphorical the offerings as materialized evidence of the building tension between the parents, which culminating in the full frontal showing of the "monster" - the voilent act of rage towards the mother , I found it bothering that it haven't felt committed to either interpretation.
--
This novella was all about the sunset in the sunroom scene for me.
That captured a pretty lively, golden yers of childhood feeling I long forgot I have - thank you for it.

[Elizabeth Gonzalez-Collazo IG - Shereadswithcoffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whoa...

Never a disappointing read. Terror gripping at every page trying to make sense of the unknown, the reason why headless animal carcasses are left at the back door. Great, creepy read!

[Alan Standsalone Bryant · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining and fun short story read.

[Jorge Castanos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Domestic abuse from the perspective of a boy. Very well done. A creepy, atmospheric and gory short story.