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Twisted Little Things and Other Stories
A man accidentally receives two dangerous wooden figures in the mail...
A woman is preparing breakfast for her children when she hears a dangerous voice in her head...
Late one night, an old man meets a strange girl on a canal towpath...
Twisted Little Things and Other Stories is a collection of short horror stories. These are tales of the hidden darkness that can lurk in the modern world, threatening to lash out and destroy lives. Some of the stories are about ghosts, others are about the way evil spreads from mind to mind, and some are about vast and powerful secrets that exist on the edges of human perception. In each of the stories, a life is about to be changed forever, with terrifying results.
Twisted Little Things and Other Stories contains the new stories Twisted Little Things, The Third Voice, The Ghost of Terry Willow, Victoria and The Towpath, as well as Table 9 and a revised version of The Ferry. This book contains scenes of violence, as well as strong language.
A woman is preparing breakfast for her children when she hears a dangerous voice in her head...
Late one night, an old man meets a strange girl on a canal towpath...
Twisted Little Things and Other Stories is a collection of short horror stories. These are tales of the hidden darkness that can lurk in the modern world, threatening to lash out and destroy lives. Some of the stories are about ghosts, others are about the way evil spreads from mind to mind, and some are about vast and powerful secrets that exist on the edges of human perception. In each of the stories, a life is about to be changed forever, with terrifying results.
Twisted Little Things and Other Stories contains the new stories Twisted Little Things, The Third Voice, The Ghost of Terry Willow, Victoria and The Towpath, as well as Table 9 and a revised version of The Ferry. This book contains scenes of violence, as well as strong language.
386 pages, ebook
First published August 28, 2016
215 people are currently reading
263 people want to read
About the author
Amy Cross
664 books1,677 followersAmy Cross writes novels and short stories in a number of genres, mainly horror, paranormal and fantasy. Books include The Farm, Annie's Room, The Island, Eli's Town and Asylum.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 4, 2022
Never See it Coming.
This is a nice little book of stories that are interesting. They are suspenseful and scary and hilarious and evil all at the same time.
Amy Cross has written a collection of stories about different people and different things that are placed in the book. She shows that she can write a short story as well as a novel and novella.
Check this book out and you won’t be disappointed. Four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a nice little book of stories that are interesting. They are suspenseful and scary and hilarious and evil all at the same time.
Amy Cross has written a collection of stories about different people and different things that are placed in the book. She shows that she can write a short story as well as a novel and novella.
Check this book out and you won’t be disappointed. Four stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 30, 2017
A super read!
This was, once again, Amy Cross at her very best. Mild horror mixed with fascinating ghost stories.
I particularly enjoyed the modern twist on the Ferryman and the River Styx tale. Not to mention the final, slightly humorous, tale of two ghosts meeting and not realising that they were dead. The way they went about scaring the pants off two arrogant ghost hunters was a delight. A wonderful mix of stories - well recommended.
This was, once again, Amy Cross at her very best. Mild horror mixed with fascinating ghost stories.
I particularly enjoyed the modern twist on the Ferryman and the River Styx tale. Not to mention the final, slightly humorous, tale of two ghosts meeting and not realising that they were dead. The way they went about scaring the pants off two arrogant ghost hunters was a delight. A wonderful mix of stories - well recommended.
October 28, 2016
Twisted little things
I gave this book 4 stars . they were really good stories but a couple were a lot longer than I prefer. I would reccomend this book to people who enjoy short stories
I gave this book 4 stars . they were really good stories but a couple were a lot longer than I prefer. I would reccomend this book to people who enjoy short stories
December 18, 2018
Perfect!
Another perfect book by the prolific Amy Cross! This book is filled with great suspense and addictive ghostly horror. You won’t be able to put it down.
Another perfect book by the prolific Amy Cross! This book is filled with great suspense and addictive ghostly horror. You won’t be able to put it down.
June 6, 2018
Twisted Little Things and Other Stories by Amy Cross is a collection from one of my go-to authors of horror and weird stuff. She writes lots of novels and short stories, more than 100 publications, and still manages to surprise. If you go to her Amazon Author page, you will not find boxed sets or series. More than 100 individual works, I am impressed! I like this collection because each story surprises me in a different way. Because it is a short story collection, some stories have been published before. Cross acknowledges this in her introduction. Table 9 was originally published as a short story. The Ferry is in a revised version here, published originally as a novella. That leaves five new previously unpublished stories. I have had one minor criticism of some of her works about proofreading and editing. I do not have such a criticism about any of the stories in this collection although there is a useless table of contents that may be a result of Kindle formatting. I colored in four and a half Amazon stars for this collection. “This book contains scenes of violence, as well as strong language.” (Kindle Locations 18-20).
Twisted Little Things Michael Anderson received a package from an acquaintance who specialized in collectibles. It was a mistake. The accompanying note indicated Tom had sent the package to another person but used Michael’s address instead. Michael would forward the package but decided to show the contents, two toy soldiers to those he knew. His father threw him out of the house until he got rid of the soldiers. His best friend Jimmy threw him out also. His dog Lucas barked a lot and then ran away. A passing Medium, Allie, told him to get rid of them. But it was daughter Lucy that offered the ultimate solution of what to do with the traveling toy soldiers.
Table 9 It was Lisa’s first shift at Croussiard's. It was probably an initiation ritual that led to Lisa covering table eight for Donna. The customer complained about everything and insulted the Lisa in front of the table’s other two diners, her husband and nine-year-old daughter. Lisa found that she had to spend a lot of time at table eight. She helped clean daughter Elizabeth after an accident. It was then that Elizabeth confirmed Lisa’s feeling. There was a presence at table nine and Elizabeth had seen her. That was impossible because no one ever sat at table 9. It was one of Annette, the owner’s rule. Bad things had happened twenty years earlier because of a suicide. And bad things would happen tonight.
The Third Voice Sheila listened to the voice, bad news for her family. Meredith, Kathleen, the doctor’s sister Rose, Amanda the school teacher, and Liz Hooper all heard the voice and it ended badly. Constance heard the voice and was happy (well, most of the time). What was going on?
The Ghost of Terry Willow There was a terrible storm and some things didn’t work as they should. Gary and Annie had to abandon their car in the parking garage because the mechanism to let them out of the parking garage didn’t work. At least they could get a taxi home in the storm. And when they got home the discovered Annie’s dad had come for a visit. Annie was happy; why wasn’t everyone else.
Victoria Emma went with the flow and embraced everything life had to offer. Victoria played by the rules and had an inflexible moral compass. When twelve-year-old Victoria witnessed fourteen-year-old Emma stealing, Victoria just had to inform the adults. There would be life-changing consequences for both girls. Again and again. Over and Over.
The Ferry There is a ghost ship in this story. There is horror. There are people who do not believe in the ghost ship. Some people will change their minds after a series of events. Some won’t. The beauty of this story is in the description of multiple actions that occur in a storm at sea. This is the best story in the collection as far as a description. I felt the surprise ending was an added bonus.
The Towpath What happens when a ghost meets a ghost? What happens when a ghost meets real, present-day world people? What happens when a ghost loses his dog but later finds him? The answers to all these questions are in this story. This is more a bitter-sweet self-realization story than one of horror. But it is still good.
I have a Kindle location with only works by Amy Cross. With so many published books, I will always have a place of guaranteed reading quality where I can retreat.
Twisted Little Things Michael Anderson received a package from an acquaintance who specialized in collectibles. It was a mistake. The accompanying note indicated Tom had sent the package to another person but used Michael’s address instead. Michael would forward the package but decided to show the contents, two toy soldiers to those he knew. His father threw him out of the house until he got rid of the soldiers. His best friend Jimmy threw him out also. His dog Lucas barked a lot and then ran away. A passing Medium, Allie, told him to get rid of them. But it was daughter Lucy that offered the ultimate solution of what to do with the traveling toy soldiers.
Table 9 It was Lisa’s first shift at Croussiard's. It was probably an initiation ritual that led to Lisa covering table eight for Donna. The customer complained about everything and insulted the Lisa in front of the table’s other two diners, her husband and nine-year-old daughter. Lisa found that she had to spend a lot of time at table eight. She helped clean daughter Elizabeth after an accident. It was then that Elizabeth confirmed Lisa’s feeling. There was a presence at table nine and Elizabeth had seen her. That was impossible because no one ever sat at table 9. It was one of Annette, the owner’s rule. Bad things had happened twenty years earlier because of a suicide. And bad things would happen tonight.
The Third Voice Sheila listened to the voice, bad news for her family. Meredith, Kathleen, the doctor’s sister Rose, Amanda the school teacher, and Liz Hooper all heard the voice and it ended badly. Constance heard the voice and was happy (well, most of the time). What was going on?
The Ghost of Terry Willow There was a terrible storm and some things didn’t work as they should. Gary and Annie had to abandon their car in the parking garage because the mechanism to let them out of the parking garage didn’t work. At least they could get a taxi home in the storm. And when they got home the discovered Annie’s dad had come for a visit. Annie was happy; why wasn’t everyone else.
Victoria Emma went with the flow and embraced everything life had to offer. Victoria played by the rules and had an inflexible moral compass. When twelve-year-old Victoria witnessed fourteen-year-old Emma stealing, Victoria just had to inform the adults. There would be life-changing consequences for both girls. Again and again. Over and Over.
The Ferry There is a ghost ship in this story. There is horror. There are people who do not believe in the ghost ship. Some people will change their minds after a series of events. Some won’t. The beauty of this story is in the description of multiple actions that occur in a storm at sea. This is the best story in the collection as far as a description. I felt the surprise ending was an added bonus.
The Towpath What happens when a ghost meets a ghost? What happens when a ghost meets real, present-day world people? What happens when a ghost loses his dog but later finds him? The answers to all these questions are in this story. This is more a bitter-sweet self-realization story than one of horror. But it is still good.
I have a Kindle location with only works by Amy Cross. With so many published books, I will always have a place of guaranteed reading quality where I can retreat.
October 10, 2016
Read this review and more on my blog at [Roxie Writes].
'Twisted Little Things and Other Stories' by Amy Cross
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Finished on October 9, 2016
Read with Kindle Unlimited Subscription
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $.99 on Kindle
Twisted Little Things and Other Stories is a collection of short horror stories. These are tales of the hidden darkness that can lurk in the modern world, threatening to lash out and destroy lives. Some of the stories are about ghosts, others are about the way evil spreads from mind to mind, and some are about vast and powerful secrets that exist on the edges of human perception. In each of the stories, a life is about to be changed forever, with terrifying results.
This collection contains:
Twisted Little Things
Table 9
The Third Voice
The Ghost of Terry Willow
Victoria
The Ferry
The Towpath
I read this book as part of my #yearofindiewomen.
I know I said I wanted to avoid reviewing the same ladies multiple times over this year if I could avoid it, but after I enjoyed 'Perfect Little Monsters' so much, and when I saw Amy Cross had another short story collection, I simply couldn't resist. Can you blame me? I'm glad I did because I enjoyed this collection just as much. I particularly enjoyed how some of these stories were subtly tied together with one another. Nice touch. I couldn't put this collection down. I finished it in two sittings, and that was only because I had to put it down to do adult things, otherwise I would have finished it in one.
Now, let's get to the breakdown.
"Twisted Little Things"
This story is about a man who accidentally gets sent a package containing two wooden soldiers who once belonged to a serial killer. Can objects absorb the energy of their surroundings? Or is that just idle superstition?
-- This is a great story. It's eerie and disturbing and leaves you feeling a little disgusted. Just what I like in a good horror short.
"Table 9"
In this story, we meet the vengeful ghost of Vivian Carradine who haunts table nine and a waitress named Lisa on her first night, twenty years after Vivian's death, who works at the restaurant Vivian's ghost lingers in. Lisa doesn't believe in ghosts, but after tonight, she will. And Vivian just might get the revenge she's finally sought for so many years.
-- I loved this story. I didn't see the ending coming until the last second, and then I dang near whooped with it. It's a fantastic ghost story. Excellently, done, really, and we all know how much I love a good ghost story. Kudos, Amy, truly.
"The Third Voice"
This story tells the tale of Constance, whose daughter was brutally murdered in the woods by a madman, and she makes a deal with a dark force to take away her grief. As with all dark deals, the price is a heavy one to pay.
-- Another fabulous tale. This story ties in with an earlier one, "Twisted Little Things", and I don't know about you, but that sort of thing always pleases me. This story is scary and heartbreaking. The things people will do in times of grief are unbounded, and this is a good testament to that.
"The Ghost of Terry Willow"
Terry Willow died six months ago, but then one night, he shows up again in his bedroom in his daughter's house, just sitting on his bed, with a crazy story about where he's been and what he's been through leaving his daughter and son-in-law in shock.
-- This story is just heartbreaking. As an orphan, I can't imagine what I would do if I came home to find one of my parents back from the dead. Still, as with the others, I loved it.
"Victoria"
When Victoria was a little girl, her mother forced her to help Emma clean the silver after church. Emma was a "bad girl" who bullied Victoria, and Victoria snitched. This sets them both on a course for a lifetime of chance meetings that spiral into dark and chaotic events.
-- I liked this story, but it was probably my least favorite. Just because there was a little bit I didn't understand. I don't want to spoil anything here, but I will just say I didn't get why Victoria's birthday visits were suddenly welcomed after she ran/was scared for so long. Hopefully, that makes sense to Amy Cross without spoiling it for future readers.
"The Ferry"
Sophie and Mark have been chasing a ghost ferry for years in the English Channel. When it shows up again one night during a storm, Sophie comes out of retirement to hopefully finally get some answers. Well, she'll get more than she bargained for.
-- This story is fabulous, honestly. This might be your ultimate ghost ship story. Normally, I start reading anything ship-related, and my brain starts playing the clown song from The Simpsons, but this kept my attention. I could be wrong about this, but I think this story ties in with “The Ghost of Terry Willow”. A unique and chilling take on the River Styx, this story might be the one worth picking up this entire collection for.
"The Towpath"
Robert Wade is a curmudgeonly, forgetful old man who just wants to live a solitary life on his boat, drifting along the canal when he meets Angela, a teenage ghost hunter one night. Are they both more than they seem?
-- I definitely don't want to give anything at all away about this rather sweet and sad story. This is rather different than anything I've read from Amy Cross before, and I absolutely loved it. She's excellent at writing the gruesome and disturbing, but clearly, she's good at writing stories that pull at the heartstrings and leave you wondering, too.
This collection is phenomenal. I hope you'll pick it up if you're in the mood for some good spooky stories, especially since it's the Halloween season. You certainly won't regret it. Amy Cross has hit it out of the park again.
'Twisted Little Things and Other Stories' by Amy Cross
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Finished on October 9, 2016
Read with Kindle Unlimited Subscription
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $.99 on Kindle
Twisted Little Things and Other Stories is a collection of short horror stories. These are tales of the hidden darkness that can lurk in the modern world, threatening to lash out and destroy lives. Some of the stories are about ghosts, others are about the way evil spreads from mind to mind, and some are about vast and powerful secrets that exist on the edges of human perception. In each of the stories, a life is about to be changed forever, with terrifying results.
This collection contains:
Twisted Little Things
Table 9
The Third Voice
The Ghost of Terry Willow
Victoria
The Ferry
The Towpath
I read this book as part of my #yearofindiewomen.
I know I said I wanted to avoid reviewing the same ladies multiple times over this year if I could avoid it, but after I enjoyed 'Perfect Little Monsters' so much, and when I saw Amy Cross had another short story collection, I simply couldn't resist. Can you blame me? I'm glad I did because I enjoyed this collection just as much. I particularly enjoyed how some of these stories were subtly tied together with one another. Nice touch. I couldn't put this collection down. I finished it in two sittings, and that was only because I had to put it down to do adult things, otherwise I would have finished it in one.
Now, let's get to the breakdown.
"Twisted Little Things"
This story is about a man who accidentally gets sent a package containing two wooden soldiers who once belonged to a serial killer. Can objects absorb the energy of their surroundings? Or is that just idle superstition?
-- This is a great story. It's eerie and disturbing and leaves you feeling a little disgusted. Just what I like in a good horror short.
"Table 9"
In this story, we meet the vengeful ghost of Vivian Carradine who haunts table nine and a waitress named Lisa on her first night, twenty years after Vivian's death, who works at the restaurant Vivian's ghost lingers in. Lisa doesn't believe in ghosts, but after tonight, she will. And Vivian just might get the revenge she's finally sought for so many years.
-- I loved this story. I didn't see the ending coming until the last second, and then I dang near whooped with it. It's a fantastic ghost story. Excellently, done, really, and we all know how much I love a good ghost story. Kudos, Amy, truly.
"The Third Voice"
This story tells the tale of Constance, whose daughter was brutally murdered in the woods by a madman, and she makes a deal with a dark force to take away her grief. As with all dark deals, the price is a heavy one to pay.
-- Another fabulous tale. This story ties in with an earlier one, "Twisted Little Things", and I don't know about you, but that sort of thing always pleases me. This story is scary and heartbreaking. The things people will do in times of grief are unbounded, and this is a good testament to that.
"The Ghost of Terry Willow"
Terry Willow died six months ago, but then one night, he shows up again in his bedroom in his daughter's house, just sitting on his bed, with a crazy story about where he's been and what he's been through leaving his daughter and son-in-law in shock.
-- This story is just heartbreaking. As an orphan, I can't imagine what I would do if I came home to find one of my parents back from the dead. Still, as with the others, I loved it.
"Victoria"
When Victoria was a little girl, her mother forced her to help Emma clean the silver after church. Emma was a "bad girl" who bullied Victoria, and Victoria snitched. This sets them both on a course for a lifetime of chance meetings that spiral into dark and chaotic events.
-- I liked this story, but it was probably my least favorite. Just because there was a little bit I didn't understand. I don't want to spoil anything here, but I will just say I didn't get why Victoria's birthday visits were suddenly welcomed after she ran/was scared for so long. Hopefully, that makes sense to Amy Cross without spoiling it for future readers.
"The Ferry"
Sophie and Mark have been chasing a ghost ferry for years in the English Channel. When it shows up again one night during a storm, Sophie comes out of retirement to hopefully finally get some answers. Well, she'll get more than she bargained for.
-- This story is fabulous, honestly. This might be your ultimate ghost ship story. Normally, I start reading anything ship-related, and my brain starts playing the clown song from The Simpsons, but this kept my attention. I could be wrong about this, but I think this story ties in with “The Ghost of Terry Willow”. A unique and chilling take on the River Styx, this story might be the one worth picking up this entire collection for.
"The Towpath"
Robert Wade is a curmudgeonly, forgetful old man who just wants to live a solitary life on his boat, drifting along the canal when he meets Angela, a teenage ghost hunter one night. Are they both more than they seem?
-- I definitely don't want to give anything at all away about this rather sweet and sad story. This is rather different than anything I've read from Amy Cross before, and I absolutely loved it. She's excellent at writing the gruesome and disturbing, but clearly, she's good at writing stories that pull at the heartstrings and leave you wondering, too.
This collection is phenomenal. I hope you'll pick it up if you're in the mood for some good spooky stories, especially since it's the Halloween season. You certainly won't regret it. Amy Cross has hit it out of the park again.
August 7, 2017
A nice little collection of stories. All had incredibly different ideas and characters which made them interesting. Most of them however had a theme in common Overall a nice collection of short stories - I personally enjoyed the final story the most.
It could however do with some proof reading becuase
It could however do with some proof reading becuase
February 27, 2019
Apesar de a autora trabalhar com ideias originais em alguns dos contos contidos nos livros, senti que alguns se estenderam demais, chegando até mesmo a serem repetitivos em alguns momentos. Além disso, os personagens por vezes tomaram decisões questionáveis, e determinados acontecimentos nas histórias quebraram a suspensão da descrença.
Destaque para Table 9, sobre um restaurante com uma mesa assombrada por um espírito vingativo.
Destaque para Table 9, sobre um restaurante com uma mesa assombrada por um espírito vingativo.
May 29, 2017
Horror collection
Decent collection of horror short stories; one of my favorite genres. These were fairly well written except for a reference to eBay in one story in a chapter that took place in 1963. Don't think eBay was a thing back then. Oops. Still. Good stories. Not too gory; just good stories.
Decent collection of horror short stories; one of my favorite genres. These were fairly well written except for a reference to eBay in one story in a chapter that took place in 1963. Don't think eBay was a thing back then. Oops. Still. Good stories. Not too gory; just good stories.
August 3, 2017
Definitely an author to check out
I'd not heard of Amy Cross prior to purchasing this collection, but these extremely well written horror tales make me want to pick up more prose by the author. I would highly recommend Twisted Little Things and Other Stories as a place to begin. I guarantee you'll be hooked.
I'd not heard of Amy Cross prior to purchasing this collection, but these extremely well written horror tales make me want to pick up more prose by the author. I would highly recommend Twisted Little Things and Other Stories as a place to begin. I guarantee you'll be hooked.
August 8, 2019
Great stories
Personally I think that the art of the short story is is becoming a thing of the past. If u love short story anthologies you should pick this up ASAP. This is not a collection with just a few good ones sprinkled thru-out, every story is not just good, they are fabulous. I am buying the next two anthologies immediately. Loved!
Personally I think that the art of the short story is is becoming a thing of the past. If u love short story anthologies you should pick this up ASAP. This is not a collection with just a few good ones sprinkled thru-out, every story is not just good, they are fabulous. I am buying the next two anthologies immediately. Loved!
July 28, 2021
5 out of 10.
While I enjoyed the stories, I've never really felt content with them. That is not to say that I wanted more, just that there's always something missing with them; whenever I reach the end of a story, the first thing that comes to mind is, "That's it?" and that's never a good description.
While I enjoyed the stories, I've never really felt content with them. That is not to say that I wanted more, just that there's always something missing with them; whenever I reach the end of a story, the first thing that comes to mind is, "That's it?" and that's never a good description.
June 3, 2017
Frightening
Terrific horror stories. Some that scare you graphically. Others are terrifying suspenseful and most importantly there is a twist that you as the reader don't even see coming your way. Will be reading more of Amy's horrifying tales in the future!
Terrific horror stories. Some that scare you graphically. Others are terrifying suspenseful and most importantly there is a twist that you as the reader don't even see coming your way. Will be reading more of Amy's horrifying tales in the future!
April 14, 2018
Nicely done
Interesting tales. A nice variety of settings and characters.
Some made you think.
Some smile.
Some fringe in disgust.
All well done.
The final story was a great chance meeting.
Interesting tales. A nice variety of settings and characters.
Some made you think.
Some smile.
Some fringe in disgust.
All well done.
The final story was a great chance meeting.
April 8, 2019
Another Amazon freebie & another Amy masterpiece. Loved the stories in this book especially 'The ferry'. Hectic day today, so these shorter stories were perfect. Just the right amount of thrill & chill with a few unexpected twists thrown in for good measure.
October 28, 2024
I really liked only two stories from this collection - The Third Voice and Victoria both 5 stars, the others were okay, but the last two I dnf-ed because they were too long and the premise was not that interesting to me.
June 27, 2017
I liked a number of the stories in this book. Although "The Ferry" really bored me, it was the longest one and I just couldn't get into it.
May 29, 2017
A very good collection of short stories from Amy Cross
Really liked all these stories although I thought The Ferry was a bit too long. The rest I really enjoyed though!
Really liked all these stories although I thought The Ferry was a bit too long. The rest I really enjoyed though!
September 19, 2017
I had really high hopes for this collection of horror shorts as it is after all Amy Cross, and she did not disappoint. An excellent chest of treasures sure to creep, scare and enthrall you.
August 17, 2019
Decent
I remember the stories being pretty decent, though not memorable enough to really remember anything about them after finishing the last story.
I remember the stories being pretty decent, though not memorable enough to really remember anything about them after finishing the last story.
September 25, 2019
Some stories better than others, but there's a few chill-giving stories in there.
April 4, 2020
collection of tales. The Towpath (final Story) is outstanding
July 22, 2020
Kept me turning the pages, thoroughly enjoyed it.
February 19, 2022
I really thought that I would like this, but unfortunately I didn't.
September 9, 2022
Some great stories, nice twists, spoiled slightly by odd mistakes, poor proof reading
January 13, 2020
Twisted Little Things and Other Stories is a perfect title for this book, because twisted is exactly how I would describe the things that go on in the mind of Amy Cross. This collection of short stories is not for the faint of heart. From psychological mind-fuckery to unapologetic gore, there are things in these pages that will make the average man's stomach turn.
Tellings of the dead returned, the Devil's power, and one sad tale from the eyes of the lost and forgotten, come together to form this collection that is perfect for curling up with on a dark, stormy night. Miss Cross has done a fantastic job of filling my lust for a spine tingling story.
As with all collections, I do have my favourites. At the very top of my list is "The Ferry." As an avid horror fan, not much can really give me the creeps, but this one managed to do it. There was a moment that my heart stopped. As we explored more of the mysterious ferry I began to cringe with every page. It has a cold ending that fans of the dark and dismal yearn for. It's just. Plain. Creepy. And easily my favourite out of the whole book.
"Victoria" was another favourite. I love psychological thrillers. A good thinker, an unexpected twist. This fits that bill. Victoria is a twelve year old girl, and through the story we watch her live her life. Repeatedly she turns away from the darkness that keeps returning to her in the form of a girl named Emma. But eventually, we see the true power the Devil can have, even over someone as pure as a child.
Despite quite enjoying reading the collection, I just couldn't bring myself to give it any more than 3 stars. Twisted Little Things and Other Stories was a bit all over the place. Sometimes it seemed like they were just short stories with nothing in common other than their genre, other times it seemed like they were all going to connect somehow with a massive epiphany. So many of the stories(mostly the ones relating to the devil) felt like they were all a part of the same bigger story, and by the end I was left feeling as though I was missing parts. Others were clearly standalone works, some of which were excellent, some which left just a little more to be desired. The ones I didn't favour would be enjoyed much more by someone who just wants a good read and cares less about a psychological thrill.
Even with my criticisms on the collection, it would have easily gotten 4 stars if not for the numerous grammatical and spelling errors. I will note that I read this collection on Kindle, so it could just be errors with the digital copy, but I would expect the works of such a well-published author to be cleanly edited before being released. The errors caused no trouble with comprehension, but there were enough to become an annoyance.
Overall, I do recommend this book to anyone looking for short, scary reads. I really enjoyed reading it while I was at work as I could read most of them in my down time between tasks. They were fun, truly horrific stories and they without question made my sadistic little heart happy. There could be improvements, but it was well worth my time and money. I have zero regrets and no doubt I will be reading more of Amy Cross in the future.
Tellings of the dead returned, the Devil's power, and one sad tale from the eyes of the lost and forgotten, come together to form this collection that is perfect for curling up with on a dark, stormy night. Miss Cross has done a fantastic job of filling my lust for a spine tingling story.
As with all collections, I do have my favourites. At the very top of my list is "The Ferry." As an avid horror fan, not much can really give me the creeps, but this one managed to do it. There was a moment that my heart stopped. As we explored more of the mysterious ferry I began to cringe with every page. It has a cold ending that fans of the dark and dismal yearn for. It's just. Plain. Creepy. And easily my favourite out of the whole book.
"Victoria" was another favourite. I love psychological thrillers. A good thinker, an unexpected twist. This fits that bill. Victoria is a twelve year old girl, and through the story we watch her live her life. Repeatedly she turns away from the darkness that keeps returning to her in the form of a girl named Emma. But eventually, we see the true power the Devil can have, even over someone as pure as a child.
Despite quite enjoying reading the collection, I just couldn't bring myself to give it any more than 3 stars. Twisted Little Things and Other Stories was a bit all over the place. Sometimes it seemed like they were just short stories with nothing in common other than their genre, other times it seemed like they were all going to connect somehow with a massive epiphany. So many of the stories(mostly the ones relating to the devil) felt like they were all a part of the same bigger story, and by the end I was left feeling as though I was missing parts. Others were clearly standalone works, some of which were excellent, some which left just a little more to be desired. The ones I didn't favour would be enjoyed much more by someone who just wants a good read and cares less about a psychological thrill.
Even with my criticisms on the collection, it would have easily gotten 4 stars if not for the numerous grammatical and spelling errors. I will note that I read this collection on Kindle, so it could just be errors with the digital copy, but I would expect the works of such a well-published author to be cleanly edited before being released. The errors caused no trouble with comprehension, but there were enough to become an annoyance.
Overall, I do recommend this book to anyone looking for short, scary reads. I really enjoyed reading it while I was at work as I could read most of them in my down time between tasks. They were fun, truly horrific stories and they without question made my sadistic little heart happy. There could be improvements, but it was well worth my time and money. I have zero regrets and no doubt I will be reading more of Amy Cross in the future.
January 6, 2017
I
I enjoyed the stories. They held the reader in suspense. I like the writers style of writing. Easy reading but really interesting
I enjoyed the stories. They held the reader in suspense. I like the writers style of writing. Easy reading but really interesting
February 16, 2017
Ok
The first and the third stories I liked the second and fourth just skipped over just had a hard time getting threw them
The first and the third stories I liked the second and fourth just skipped over just had a hard time getting threw them
October 28, 2016
Twisted Little Things and Other Stories
I suppose every writer has short stories and some even have short stories that are made longer and reprinted. Sometimes the characters only want to go so far, then stop. Characters do that. And only writers understand. I enjoyed this series by Amy Cross. And some of the stories were really not resolved or rather left to the reader to surmise. It's the characters again. In some instances they said all there was to say,thus leaving the readers trying to guess what might happen next. Not all these stories are that way. Some reach a conclusion and guided by Amy Cross they end in ways you didn't see coming. This makes the fourth book I've enjoyed by Ms. Cross.
I suppose every writer has short stories and some even have short stories that are made longer and reprinted. Sometimes the characters only want to go so far, then stop. Characters do that. And only writers understand. I enjoyed this series by Amy Cross. And some of the stories were really not resolved or rather left to the reader to surmise. It's the characters again. In some instances they said all there was to say,thus leaving the readers trying to guess what might happen next. Not all these stories are that way. Some reach a conclusion and guided by Amy Cross they end in ways you didn't see coming. This makes the fourth book I've enjoyed by Ms. Cross.
November 25, 2016
This was a total break away choice for me, and actually I found it to be interestingly and thoughtfully written. The author does a really great job of constructing short story narratives - in this collection they sit together in a really nicely curated whole.
I didn't find any of the subject matter truly disturbing, but rather very thought provoking. Amy's work has a very 'Tales of the Unexpected' feel to it, and would probably work well in a TV episode format.
Read as part of my Kindle Unlimited package. Details on production values, etc., can be found on my blog.
I didn't find any of the subject matter truly disturbing, but rather very thought provoking. Amy's work has a very 'Tales of the Unexpected' feel to it, and would probably work well in a TV episode format.
Read as part of my Kindle Unlimited package. Details on production values, etc., can be found on my blog.
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