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First Boy
Forrest County Sherriff’s Deputy Matthew Burroughs is having a bad day. First there was the cold winter weather, then a car accident on an icy bridge, and finally a routine stop to investigate a claim of neglected children. At an abandoned farm house in the middle of nowhere he finds a little girl and boy, and ends up dealing with far more than he ever expected.
- GenresHorrorParanormal
25 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 19, 2013
3 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Sharpe
23 books149 followersBorn and raised on the edge of the American Midwest and the South, Dennis Sharpe has been a writer as long as he can remember. His mother has told many people about the fantasy and science fiction stories he'd write on scraps of paper, and staple together as his 'books', before he'd attended his first day of formal education.
He has spent many late nights at diners and dives, drinking coffee with a tattered notebook to put a voice to his feelings of himself and the world around him, and other worlds that can exist only in fiction. The voices in his head don't ever stop talking to him, and so sooner or later he has to get out onto a page all that they've filled him up with.
Inspired by Kurt Vonnegut, Frank Miller, William Shakespeare, Chrissie Pappas, Charles Bukowski, Stephen King, Douglas Adams, Issac Asimov, and countless classic literary influences, Dennis continues with the ability to write what at a glance might seem absurd, but quickly begins to resonate with our own thoughts and emotions. He writes people we know, love we've known and lost (and found again), and places we've been in our lives and in our heads. Even his fictional characters and worlds carry enough of the grey areas we experience in day-to-day life, to let us find the truth in his words, no matter how fantastic.
These days he can be found still writing at all odd hours, drinking coffee with friends, or spending time with his children (the true joys of his life - when they have the time and inclination to visit), in Western Kentucky.
He has spent many late nights at diners and dives, drinking coffee with a tattered notebook to put a voice to his feelings of himself and the world around him, and other worlds that can exist only in fiction. The voices in his head don't ever stop talking to him, and so sooner or later he has to get out onto a page all that they've filled him up with.
Inspired by Kurt Vonnegut, Frank Miller, William Shakespeare, Chrissie Pappas, Charles Bukowski, Stephen King, Douglas Adams, Issac Asimov, and countless classic literary influences, Dennis continues with the ability to write what at a glance might seem absurd, but quickly begins to resonate with our own thoughts and emotions. He writes people we know, love we've known and lost (and found again), and places we've been in our lives and in our heads. Even his fictional characters and worlds carry enough of the grey areas we experience in day-to-day life, to let us find the truth in his words, no matter how fantastic.
These days he can be found still writing at all odd hours, drinking coffee with friends, or spending time with his children (the true joys of his life - when they have the time and inclination to visit), in Western Kentucky.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
July 6, 2013
I originally wrote this much longer. It had to be cut down to meet submissions guidelines, and I feel it lost something in the cutting. I still like the story, and the characters... I just wish I'd had been left the room to move around that I had when I first wrote this. Overall the plot remains the same, and I managed to keep the ending intact.
I like this piece, I only wish I still had the original longer version to release.
I like this piece, I only wish I still had the original longer version to release.
July 4, 2013
Short dark and a true page turner. The first boy is ironic from it's title until its last word.
The true horror of this story lies within the story the boy tells Matthew. Few shorts has the scope to be layered. This one has.
I loved to hate the stoty and kept warning Matthew to run! Quite loudly.
WaAr
The true horror of this story lies within the story the boy tells Matthew. Few shorts has the scope to be layered. This one has.
I loved to hate the stoty and kept warning Matthew to run! Quite loudly.
WaAr
March 2, 2013
“First Boy” by Dennis Sharpe is a great dark horror story, very short but nevertheless quite powerful. Deputy Matthew Burroughs is called to an old farmhouse to rescue two abandoned children. They refuse to leave and warn the deputy of their Father who might return any minute and may not take lightly to the presence of the police official in the house.
One of the kids, the boy, tells the story of ‘Father’, who was born centuries ago in Germany and who kills child abusers and takes away their children, but the deputy doesn’t take the warnings seriously.
Despite the shortness of the story the horror of the tale creeps in slowly and gradually and I found flow appropriately paced. The main focus is of course on what the story reveals and without giving anything away the horror fans will not be disappointed. The essence of this piece is the story and that has not suffered from the cuts.
This is the third of Sharpe’s works that I have read in a few days and the third that I am happy to give 5 stars to. His use of language is strong as always and in this story I admired particularly how the main characters are built up so well in such a short time.
One of the kids, the boy, tells the story of ‘Father’, who was born centuries ago in Germany and who kills child abusers and takes away their children, but the deputy doesn’t take the warnings seriously.
Despite the shortness of the story the horror of the tale creeps in slowly and gradually and I found flow appropriately paced. The main focus is of course on what the story reveals and without giving anything away the horror fans will not be disappointed. The essence of this piece is the story and that has not suffered from the cuts.
This is the third of Sharpe’s works that I have read in a few days and the third that I am happy to give 5 stars to. His use of language is strong as always and in this story I admired particularly how the main characters are built up so well in such a short time.
March 19, 2013
I received this book to give an honest review.
This was a very short horror read. You will get sucked into the story and have questions at the end or at least I know I did. I was quite disappointed that it ended so quickly!
Deputy Matthew, goes to investigate a report of children being alone in a home. But what happens next is something you would not even think would happen. Does he even make it out alive?
I found myself feeling sad for the little girl that lives in the house as she seemed so sad. I would have liked to have heard her story in this book.
I do wish that the story could have went on longer, as I really wanted to know what happened in the end. But I understand it is a short story and not a novella or a novel. So I am going to stick with giving it a 5 star rating instead of a 4.
If you would like a short horror that will leave you wanting more, then check out First Boy by Dennis Sharpe, it won't be disappointed.
This was a very short horror read. You will get sucked into the story and have questions at the end or at least I know I did. I was quite disappointed that it ended so quickly!
Deputy Matthew, goes to investigate a report of children being alone in a home. But what happens next is something you would not even think would happen. Does he even make it out alive?
I found myself feeling sad for the little girl that lives in the house as she seemed so sad. I would have liked to have heard her story in this book.
I do wish that the story could have went on longer, as I really wanted to know what happened in the end. But I understand it is a short story and not a novella or a novel. So I am going to stick with giving it a 5 star rating instead of a 4.
If you would like a short horror that will leave you wanting more, then check out First Boy by Dennis Sharpe, it won't be disappointed.
July 19, 2013
Dennis Sharpe
First Boy
Short horror story
For only 25 pages, it’s surprising how much the author has been able to fit into this story. It’s a quick read but that didn’t take anything away from the story and it felt like it was much longer. I never saw the end coming, even with the story one of the children was telling Matthew, and loved the twist. I’m sure if I read it again I would notice much more, and thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.
First Boy
Short horror story
For only 25 pages, it’s surprising how much the author has been able to fit into this story. It’s a quick read but that didn’t take anything away from the story and it felt like it was much longer. I never saw the end coming, even with the story one of the children was telling Matthew, and loved the twist. I’m sure if I read it again I would notice much more, and thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish.
March 11, 2023
Matthew is 32. He’s a deputy in the police force in Forrest County.
He’s been married to Holly for five years, but Holly is having a hard time. Though he’s been on the force for eleven years, Holly is super stressed about his safety.
Matt has one more stop before he can get back to the station and complete his paperwork. Then he can go home to Helpless Holly.
He goes to investigate a call about some children allegedly living in an abandoned house.
The kids, a girl and a boy, are creepy AF. And so is the house.
The little boy tells Matt a seemingly far-fetched story of a man who goes by the name of Father.
Solid until probably the 75% mark. This is when the narrative unravels.
Not a fan of the ending.
He’s been married to Holly for five years, but Holly is having a hard time. Though he’s been on the force for eleven years, Holly is super stressed about his safety.
Matt has one more stop before he can get back to the station and complete his paperwork. Then he can go home to Helpless Holly.
He goes to investigate a call about some children allegedly living in an abandoned house.
The kids, a girl and a boy, are creepy AF. And so is the house.
The little boy tells Matt a seemingly far-fetched story of a man who goes by the name of Father.
Solid until probably the 75% mark. This is when the narrative unravels.
Not a fan of the ending.
July 7, 2013
This is a short story so my review will be short so as not to give anything away.
First boy will chill the blood of just about anyone. The story is definitely sure to be a campfire favorite once it gets around a little more.
I would love to see perhaps a prequel short of "Father's" origin as I'm almost sure that story would top the creep o'meter more than First Boy does.
I found no errors in grammar or formatting. As usual Dennis' work is painsaking flawless. Kudos to your editor and yourself Sir!
All in all for a piece of flash fiction it contains only one "loophole" at the end that I'm sure will be dealt with when another story starring "Father" is written, keep that in mind before you scream in aggrivation at the end lol
For originality and the fact that I'll be checking the shadows in my house tonight..I give this short 5 of 5 paws
Reviewed by
S.Cu'Anam Policar
Freaky Fiction Writing Author
Cu's Ebook Giveaways Owner
Fae Books Tour Host/Reviewer
Girls <3 Books Tours Host
LadyAmber's Book Tours Host
B3 Book Tours Host
I Am A Reader Not A Writer Blog Tour Host
Shades of Rose Marketing Tour Host
GWR Tour Host
As You Wish Tour Host
First boy will chill the blood of just about anyone. The story is definitely sure to be a campfire favorite once it gets around a little more.
I would love to see perhaps a prequel short of "Father's" origin as I'm almost sure that story would top the creep o'meter more than First Boy does.
I found no errors in grammar or formatting. As usual Dennis' work is painsaking flawless. Kudos to your editor and yourself Sir!
All in all for a piece of flash fiction it contains only one "loophole" at the end that I'm sure will be dealt with when another story starring "Father" is written, keep that in mind before you scream in aggrivation at the end lol
For originality and the fact that I'll be checking the shadows in my house tonight..I give this short 5 of 5 paws
Reviewed by
S.Cu'Anam Policar
Freaky Fiction Writing Author
Cu's Ebook Giveaways Owner
Fae Books Tour Host/Reviewer
Girls <3 Books Tours Host
LadyAmber's Book Tours Host
B3 Book Tours Host
I Am A Reader Not A Writer Blog Tour Host
Shades of Rose Marketing Tour Host
GWR Tour Host
As You Wish Tour Host
February 21, 2013
Ok, we know that fiction is meant to evoke a reaction... If you haven't ever read short horror, like me before now, be prepared; it's going to leave you with many questions... you'll want to know LOTS more! (although you can't KNOW if this is for you, if you don't give it a try and I think this is a PERFECT place to check it out for the first time) However, with that said, it's all there....it's neatly packaged and short and to the point. For the first few pages I was wondering when were we getting out of there... but in reality... I think at the end of the story I'd have liked to have stayed just a little longer. I'm not used to having a VERY vivid picture painted and an ending so abrupt, but that is exactly what this style of writing is about. So, with that said... IF short horror IS your thing and you already know this... Better grab this one, because it's definitely going to evoke a response and leave you hanging. I was creeped out within the first three minutes after I began reading. I had chills a couple of times and sympathy for the "First Boy". Read it. You've been prepared... It's short and leaves you hanging WITH an end....
February 10, 2015
Entertaining & Quick Paced Read
First Boy is a well thought out and pleasantly
paced read for any horror fan anywhere! The characters, despite it being a short story have obvious depth in them that some short stories lack. --There's clearly more going on with Father and His Children than what is told, and the way one's imagination is left to roam is perfect. Not too final...but not a supremely annoying cliffhanger, either.
As always I am both impressed and pleased with Dennis Sharpe's writing.
Well worth all 5 stars. :)
First Boy is a well thought out and pleasantly
paced read for any horror fan anywhere! The characters, despite it being a short story have obvious depth in them that some short stories lack. --There's clearly more going on with Father and His Children than what is told, and the way one's imagination is left to roam is perfect. Not too final...but not a supremely annoying cliffhanger, either.
As always I am both impressed and pleased with Dennis Sharpe's writing.
Well worth all 5 stars. :)
July 12, 2013
super creepy! even though i was warned i didnt see it getting as twisted as it did. the little girl was bad but the boy was way worse and father was wow!
definately gave me the hebie-gebies.
dark and scary but not gory so it kept me reading. it helped too that it was short but it didn't really feel short while i was in it.
definately gave me the hebie-gebies.
dark and scary but not gory so it kept me reading. it helped too that it was short but it didn't really feel short while i was in it.
July 10, 2013
If you're looking for a perfect bed-time read during a dark and stormy night, this is it! For my part I'm glad I read First Boy during daylight hours so the heebies had a chance to pass before I ended up awake all night with the covers clutched up to my chin and watching the shadows. Thanks to Dennis Sharpe I may never be able to be around children without wetting myself again.
March 15, 2013
Matthew is a deputy going on his final call of the shift. Little does Matthew know the welfare concern will his downfall. Great story that keeps you entertained and begging for more. I love how the ending leaves it up to you to end the story. WaAR
February 23, 2013
Read this one in Dark Light. I loved the ending but the story felt rushed.
May 9, 2013
4.5 stars, so I rounded up. Loved the details and the creepy factor. The ending was horrifying. Really wanted to know more about the villain/creature/father/thing. Well done horror story.
October 1, 2014
Wonderful journey
An excellent short story to read on a dark,stormy night. The author weaves a tale within a tale and keeps us entrapped until the very end. A must read!
An excellent short story to read on a dark,stormy night. The author weaves a tale within a tale and keeps us entrapped until the very end. A must read!
Read
April 9, 2016Another great short story by Dennis. It was gruesome, and I found myself on the side of "Father," instead of the deputy. I also find myself wanting the story to continue!
March 9, 2013
Spooky, creepy, well told, and a great ending. Dark enough for me.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews