Lickety Split

by Marlin Williams

Coaly Banks finds a new way to battle the bulge and get in shape, but she'll have to murder someone to do it. With the help of Mr. Simon, a representative of the Lickety Split company, she sheds her excess weight. But now what does she do with the dead body? Lickety Split is madness and mayhem with a twist of humor.

35 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 11, 2017

About the author

Marlin Williams is a storyteller who spends most of his time in conversation—with his characters, his muse, and the quiet voice that still believes in light. He writes metaphysical fantasy where courage and faith meet shadow, blending myth and human emotion into worlds that feel both ancient and familiar.
When he’s not writing, Marlin enjoys the simple rhythm of everyday life in Texas: long walks, working out, a good film, and reading anything that stirs wonder. His stories often begin as a whisper, a question about fear, hope, or what it means to remember who we truly are.
Through his novels and reflections, he invites readers to slow down, listen, and find a spark of their own.
The light remembers.

Reviews

[Mary Van Everbroeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lickety Split is a great read! Marlin Williams has created a Short Story that is a roller coaster thrill ride of human emotions and dreams. I wanted the ride to continue!

[Terry Ludwig · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lickety Split is a standalone, 35-page short story concerning Miss Coaly Banks, who at best can be described as "very full-figured". Marlin Williams blends a number of genres into the story - some terror, some suspense, and even some humor - but at its heart, this is a situational ethics story, examining what a person will do to gain, and keep, his/her fondest wish.

Coaly is, of course, the primary character, but it's fun to meet the couple other ones as well. They're all "gray" in character, and I liked that. I thought Mr. Simon was a hoot, I wouldn't mind meeting him again in some future story by the author. Structurally, the fun starts immediately, the pace is fast, and it has a Marlin Williams trademark "double-twist" ending, with a nice moral-to-the-story thrown in as a bonus.

4½ stars, and we'll round it up to 5 stars since Lickety Split does everything a short story should, including keeping me entertained from beginning to end.