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Sliced and Diced
Sliced and Diced
Embark on a thrilling journey through the dark and twisted imagination of author Joan De La Haye as she presents a captivating collection of tales that will both fascinate and disturb you.
Within these pages, Joan De La Haye invites you to explore a sinister world where the line between reality and nightmare blurs. Join a relentless serial killer as he hunts for his next trophy, feeling the chill of his calculated pursuit. Witness the chilling reunion of vengeful ghosts driven by an insatiable hunger for vengeance that transcends death itself. Feel the raw intensity of jealousy as a girlfriend takes a sinister turn, extinguishing her lover's beloved pet. Encounter a ghost bride and a tormenting demon whose presence sends shivers down the spines of even the most resilient.
While some of these gripping narratives have been previously celebrated in acclaimed anthologies, others are unveiled here for the very first time. Joan De La Haye's mastery of storytelling guarantees a mesmerizing experience that will thrill, shock, and disturb you. Just remember to keep the lights on as you immerse yourself in these chilling tales that will leave an indelible mark on your psyche.
Within these pages, Joan De La Haye invites you to explore a sinister world where the line between reality and nightmare blurs. Join a relentless serial killer as he hunts for his next trophy, feeling the chill of his calculated pursuit. Witness the chilling reunion of vengeful ghosts driven by an insatiable hunger for vengeance that transcends death itself. Feel the raw intensity of jealousy as a girlfriend takes a sinister turn, extinguishing her lover's beloved pet. Encounter a ghost bride and a tormenting demon whose presence sends shivers down the spines of even the most resilient.
While some of these gripping narratives have been previously celebrated in acclaimed anthologies, others are unveiled here for the very first time. Joan De La Haye's mastery of storytelling guarantees a mesmerizing experience that will thrill, shock, and disturb you. Just remember to keep the lights on as you immerse yourself in these chilling tales that will leave an indelible mark on your psyche.
- GenresHorrorAnthologiesAmazon
128 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 21, 2017
136 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Joan De La Haye
63 books131 followersI write dark and twisted thrillers featuring dangerous women, cold-blooded assassins, and survivors who turn the tables—violently. If you like fiction that pushes boundaries and heroines who don’t play nice, you’re in the right place.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 2, 2022
A good short story collection with dark and twisted stories. Won't keep me up at night but very scare-entertaining for October
December 8, 2017
This collection was so creative each story a totally unique scare from the last. I enjoyed each and every one.
March 26, 2018
3.5/5
An entertaining collection of 17 dark, twisted tales. I enjoyed reading them.
Black Shuck 3.5/5
Death of a Parrot 3.5/5
Fat werewolf in the city 3/5
Firelight 4/5
Impundulu 3/5
Jack's Lament 3.5/5
My Life as a Peeping Tom 3.5/5
Slice 3.5/5
The Bride 3.5/5
The English soldier 2.5/5
The head of Anubis 4/5
The Reunion 4/5
The Trial 3.5/5
The violin 2.5/5
Trapped 3.5/5
You can read my detailed views here:
Sliced and diced
An entertaining collection of 17 dark, twisted tales. I enjoyed reading them.
Black Shuck 3.5/5
Death of a Parrot 3.5/5
Fat werewolf in the city 3/5
Firelight 4/5
Impundulu 3/5
Jack's Lament 3.5/5
My Life as a Peeping Tom 3.5/5
Slice 3.5/5
The Bride 3.5/5
The English soldier 2.5/5
The head of Anubis 4/5
The Reunion 4/5
The Trial 3.5/5
The violin 2.5/5
Trapped 3.5/5
You can read my detailed views here:
Sliced and diced
February 2, 2018
Actually 3.5 stars....
So hard to review a short story collection. There are some little treasures in here and some real duds. Definetly something for everyone though so I do recommend giving it a go.
So hard to review a short story collection. There are some little treasures in here and some real duds. Definetly something for everyone though so I do recommend giving it a go.
March 26, 2018
Very twisted!
Each short leaves you with a feeling that there's more behind the scenes that could be expanded upon, but at the same time, the unexpectedness of the endings closes the deal
Each short leaves you with a feeling that there's more behind the scenes that could be expanded upon, but at the same time, the unexpectedness of the endings closes the deal
August 5, 2018
"A mixed bag"
There was plenty to chose from and they all presented a different facet of the horror genre. I couldn't pick one that really worked for me more than the rest, but I'm no expert. At times, it felt tame. I was waiting to be shocked, but nothing happened.
There was plenty to chose from and they all presented a different facet of the horror genre. I couldn't pick one that really worked for me more than the rest, but I'm no expert. At times, it felt tame. I was waiting to be shocked, but nothing happened.
May 13, 2021
A good selection of diverse dark & some what twisted tales! A good book to dip in & out of when you have 10 minutes. So far all I have read by this writer has been good & I will look forward to reading more of her stories!
March 9, 2024
Sliced and Diced is a collection that consists of seventeen dark and twisted stories.
Each chapter is a new story and is completely unique from the others in the collection. I thought this was fantastic and was the perfect middle ground. It wasn’t too spooky and wouldn’t keep me up at night but still maintained that eerie and scary vibe with each story.
This was an easy read to fly through and I was able to finish it in one sitting.
Each chapter is a new story and is completely unique from the others in the collection. I thought this was fantastic and was the perfect middle ground. It wasn’t too spooky and wouldn’t keep me up at night but still maintained that eerie and scary vibe with each story.
This was an easy read to fly through and I was able to finish it in one sitting.
July 2, 2017
Spooky....it was a very good read. I am looking forward to reading more. Thanks for the nightmares.
Great read! I would love to get on with my life now I don't want to have to write a novel as a rating so don't ask me for another review I WON'T DO IT. Just go with 1-5 stars and a couple of words!!!!
Great read! I would love to get on with my life now I don't want to have to write a novel as a rating so don't ask me for another review I WON'T DO IT. Just go with 1-5 stars and a couple of words!!!!
July 4, 2020
Dark tales
I love to read short stories and these were some of the best stories I have read in a long time.
I love to read short stories and these were some of the best stories I have read in a long time.
July 15, 2019
Sliced and Diced by Joan De La Haye has a title that implies horror, gore, violence, and material not suitable for a general audience. That is not true for this novel. The language is sedate and non-offensive. I would think its style is British except that the setting for several stories is South Africa. Other countries are represented, but South Africa is the setting for many accounts. With its seventeen short stories, the novel offers a few hours of pleasant reading. As with any collection, the quality of stories varies. Although there are many stories I rate four, there are several others I rate at 3.5. This review will appear on Amazon with four stars.
Black Shuck ***** Thomas, Richard, and her father went out on the moor to hunt the legendary, almost thousand-year-old demon dog, Black Shuck. Sandy had lost many of her family to the demon, and tonight she might lose more. Sandy had identified the Black Shuck as a bitch. Tonight, the Black Shuck would identify Sandy.
Death Express ***** The Death Ride at the amusement park was unique in that all the travels took part in one’s mind. A rider saw their death experience played out. Sandy didn’t believe it until David told her about the experience he had on the ride. There is a moral here somewhere.
Death of a Parrot ***** She hated the African Gray Parrot, but Pierre loved it. He had bought it for her as a pet. Therefore, she had to clean after and take care of it. Tensions rose daily, and the parrot had to go. But how could she separate Pierre from his parrot? The perfect solution arrived as an avocado.
Fat Werewolf in the City ***** Jim never wanted to be a werewolf. He had planned to sell the butcher shop and move out of the city. Too late. Jim hadn’t expected the large dog to be so aggressive. After the bite healed, changes followed. There were good things and bad things about being a werewolf. Eyesight and hearing improved. His hair was thicker. He still had a beer gut. He was doomed to be a fat werewolf. And oh, there were werewolf hunters.
Firelight ***** Sister Mary Margaret should never have taken the shortcut through the woods, but she had lived in the village all her life, and it had never been a problem. She didn’t know what or who she met, but “it” had all the signs of being the devil. She had escaped from the entity after only one horrible kiss and was now in the local inn telling Father Peter what had happened. A new guest arrived. What the hell?
Impundulu ***** The power was around forever carried by the Impundulu acting as a familiar for the human host. The older woman was the current host, but physical aging had taken its toll, and it was time to pass the power on to her daughter, Miriam. The older woman wanted to exact one last act of revenge for a rape that had taken place a few years earlier. She visited the house of the rapist and channeling fire through the bird form of the Impundulu; she destroyed the home of the rapist. Suddenly, the Impundulu acted on its initiative and killed the rapist’s wife and son. The familiar’s power was becoming challenging to manage. Maybe Miriam could manage the familiar better. After revenge, the older woman went to Miriam’s house trailed by the familiar and an unexpected village girl. Miriam should not have killed the village girl. Miriam was getting as tricky to manage as the familiar.
Jack's Lament ***** Jack had made money, built a plantation, and lived the good life out of profits from slave trading. He was returning home from a collection mission and was looking forward to home and pregnant wife. But the house was burned down, his foreman and pregnant wife dead. Philip, formerly one of his slaves and now in charge, was said to possess dark arts. The potion he gave Jack opened an all-new world.
My Life as a Peeping Tom ***** Unnamed narrator of this story not only had no name; he had no life. Everything he experienced was through the binoculars he used to spy on a neighbor. He never saw the neighbor eat or rise from a table where he appeared to be writing. Weeks went by, and one night, the neighbor visited. The mystery was solved.
Slice ***** After reading this, readers may not want to go into secluded, forested areas for covert liaisons. Something lives in the woods. It is fast, deadly, and it takes trophies.
The Bride ***** The older man and his wife needed a bride for their son. He had died unmarried weeks before. A ceremony allowing him passage into the afterworld could not be done without a bride to accompany him. The marriage broker knew just the girl.
The English Soldier ***** This story is about resting in peace. After death, the body that is buried in a grave must retain its bones to prevent a ghostly presence looking for completion. In this story, a government agency had removed some bones from a military burial. The occupant wanted his bones back. Substitutions of the bones of others was possible, but there had to be bones to go with the rest of the corpse.
The Forest ***** She and her friends were extras on a TV shoot in Johannesburg. This session was better than most because there were a few well-known actors; there might be possibilities for networking leading to work further. Who would have thought the shoot would turn into a morality lesson?
The Head of Anubis ***** Gloria had long wanted to visit Egypt to have and photograph an adventure. She had no intention of being the adventure. This story had graphic descriptions of the disassembling of a body.
The Reunion ***** This story does not end well for anyone. There will be another ending in the future that will also not be good for the participants.
The Trial ***** For readers contemplating a career in writing, this story might give them pause. In a world of overcrowding, governments have begun to cull (kill) unimportant people. Like writers. The judicial process leading to execution is brief, perhaps one day, and soon Marin Brown will find an answer to questions she posed in her writings.
The Violin ***** The spirits gave Magda a gift that would only last seven years. At the end of seven years, she was to give back the gift that allowed her to play superior violin music. Magda spent a part of the seven years thinking of plans to extend the offering forever successfully.
Trapped ***** Josephine was looking for fun when she and her friends went to Dark Carnival. Toward the end of the evening, they arrived at a tent occupied by Madame Zinzi. All her friends treated fortune telling as a joke, but all were terrified when she predicted imminent death for all of them, except Josephine. For Josephine, there was a very different and unique event coming soon.
Sliced and Diced is available as a free purchase on Amazon.
Black Shuck ***** Thomas, Richard, and her father went out on the moor to hunt the legendary, almost thousand-year-old demon dog, Black Shuck. Sandy had lost many of her family to the demon, and tonight she might lose more. Sandy had identified the Black Shuck as a bitch. Tonight, the Black Shuck would identify Sandy.
Death Express ***** The Death Ride at the amusement park was unique in that all the travels took part in one’s mind. A rider saw their death experience played out. Sandy didn’t believe it until David told her about the experience he had on the ride. There is a moral here somewhere.
Death of a Parrot ***** She hated the African Gray Parrot, but Pierre loved it. He had bought it for her as a pet. Therefore, she had to clean after and take care of it. Tensions rose daily, and the parrot had to go. But how could she separate Pierre from his parrot? The perfect solution arrived as an avocado.
Fat Werewolf in the City ***** Jim never wanted to be a werewolf. He had planned to sell the butcher shop and move out of the city. Too late. Jim hadn’t expected the large dog to be so aggressive. After the bite healed, changes followed. There were good things and bad things about being a werewolf. Eyesight and hearing improved. His hair was thicker. He still had a beer gut. He was doomed to be a fat werewolf. And oh, there were werewolf hunters.
Firelight ***** Sister Mary Margaret should never have taken the shortcut through the woods, but she had lived in the village all her life, and it had never been a problem. She didn’t know what or who she met, but “it” had all the signs of being the devil. She had escaped from the entity after only one horrible kiss and was now in the local inn telling Father Peter what had happened. A new guest arrived. What the hell?
Impundulu ***** The power was around forever carried by the Impundulu acting as a familiar for the human host. The older woman was the current host, but physical aging had taken its toll, and it was time to pass the power on to her daughter, Miriam. The older woman wanted to exact one last act of revenge for a rape that had taken place a few years earlier. She visited the house of the rapist and channeling fire through the bird form of the Impundulu; she destroyed the home of the rapist. Suddenly, the Impundulu acted on its initiative and killed the rapist’s wife and son. The familiar’s power was becoming challenging to manage. Maybe Miriam could manage the familiar better. After revenge, the older woman went to Miriam’s house trailed by the familiar and an unexpected village girl. Miriam should not have killed the village girl. Miriam was getting as tricky to manage as the familiar.
Jack's Lament ***** Jack had made money, built a plantation, and lived the good life out of profits from slave trading. He was returning home from a collection mission and was looking forward to home and pregnant wife. But the house was burned down, his foreman and pregnant wife dead. Philip, formerly one of his slaves and now in charge, was said to possess dark arts. The potion he gave Jack opened an all-new world.
My Life as a Peeping Tom ***** Unnamed narrator of this story not only had no name; he had no life. Everything he experienced was through the binoculars he used to spy on a neighbor. He never saw the neighbor eat or rise from a table where he appeared to be writing. Weeks went by, and one night, the neighbor visited. The mystery was solved.
Slice ***** After reading this, readers may not want to go into secluded, forested areas for covert liaisons. Something lives in the woods. It is fast, deadly, and it takes trophies.
The Bride ***** The older man and his wife needed a bride for their son. He had died unmarried weeks before. A ceremony allowing him passage into the afterworld could not be done without a bride to accompany him. The marriage broker knew just the girl.
The English Soldier ***** This story is about resting in peace. After death, the body that is buried in a grave must retain its bones to prevent a ghostly presence looking for completion. In this story, a government agency had removed some bones from a military burial. The occupant wanted his bones back. Substitutions of the bones of others was possible, but there had to be bones to go with the rest of the corpse.
The Forest ***** She and her friends were extras on a TV shoot in Johannesburg. This session was better than most because there were a few well-known actors; there might be possibilities for networking leading to work further. Who would have thought the shoot would turn into a morality lesson?
The Head of Anubis ***** Gloria had long wanted to visit Egypt to have and photograph an adventure. She had no intention of being the adventure. This story had graphic descriptions of the disassembling of a body.
The Reunion ***** This story does not end well for anyone. There will be another ending in the future that will also not be good for the participants.
The Trial ***** For readers contemplating a career in writing, this story might give them pause. In a world of overcrowding, governments have begun to cull (kill) unimportant people. Like writers. The judicial process leading to execution is brief, perhaps one day, and soon Marin Brown will find an answer to questions she posed in her writings.
The Violin ***** The spirits gave Magda a gift that would only last seven years. At the end of seven years, she was to give back the gift that allowed her to play superior violin music. Magda spent a part of the seven years thinking of plans to extend the offering forever successfully.
Trapped ***** Josephine was looking for fun when she and her friends went to Dark Carnival. Toward the end of the evening, they arrived at a tent occupied by Madame Zinzi. All her friends treated fortune telling as a joke, but all were terrified when she predicted imminent death for all of them, except Josephine. For Josephine, there was a very different and unique event coming soon.
Sliced and Diced is available as a free purchase on Amazon.
April 12, 2018
Loved it!
These short stories are twisted. Reminds me a bit of the old Twilight Zone show. Our minds are a mysterious vessel.
These short stories are twisted. Reminds me a bit of the old Twilight Zone show. Our minds are a mysterious vessel.
April 12, 2018
This was a good read! I enjoyed the short stories. Actually, I wish some were not short stories, but rather full books! And some stories were funny to me, but that might be my sick sense of humor.
May 18, 2020
Twisted Sister!
I found this gem for free on Amazon. Didn’t know what to expect. Wow! Great stories, short, sweet, sinister and funny. A must read and looking forward to more.
I found this gem for free on Amazon. Didn’t know what to expect. Wow! Great stories, short, sweet, sinister and funny. A must read and looking forward to more.
June 29, 2020
This is a collection of nicely written short stories. They are more mildly creepy than scary. Some ended rather abruptly. They run the gamut from vampires, ghosts, voodoo, Chinese ghost marriage, premonitions, parroticide, hell hounds and murder. Not Poe but not bad.
June 30, 2017
A good collection of scary stories that I enjoyed reading.
January 14, 2018
This is a pretty mixed bag of stories. Some good, some... not so good. Thankfully, there are plenty more good than not.
Most of these stories are set in South Africa, and it was those that I enjoyed the best. Some are set in unspecified locations; I found those to be quite "meh".
My two favourites, by far, were Sliced, a ghost story set against the backdrop of farm killings in rural South Africa, and Forest, set in Johannesburg and about an actress filming an advertisement.
Both those stories were beautifully described, and I could really feel the forests of Johannesburg and the ice cold 100-year-old farmhouse in the dead of winter.
As a South African, it's great to read about locations that I can identify with, with characters using language that's familiar to me. The author doesn't try to be something she's not, so everything feels authentic, the way I would speak to my buddies.
Ms De La Haye clearly loves her beautiful country, and it shines through in her writing. Having said that, she doesn't stray away from problems we have in this country, so you do read references to security guards (where one of the characters wonders what they would do if there was actually a robbery), or the high walls we build around our properties, or the aforementioned farm killings.
In general, this book is an honest reflection on daily life in South Africa (notwithstanding ghosts, monsters, and other paranormal weirdness), and will make you feel at home!
Most of these stories are set in South Africa, and it was those that I enjoyed the best. Some are set in unspecified locations; I found those to be quite "meh".
My two favourites, by far, were Sliced, a ghost story set against the backdrop of farm killings in rural South Africa, and Forest, set in Johannesburg and about an actress filming an advertisement.
Both those stories were beautifully described, and I could really feel the forests of Johannesburg and the ice cold 100-year-old farmhouse in the dead of winter.
As a South African, it's great to read about locations that I can identify with, with characters using language that's familiar to me. The author doesn't try to be something she's not, so everything feels authentic, the way I would speak to my buddies.
Ms De La Haye clearly loves her beautiful country, and it shines through in her writing. Having said that, she doesn't stray away from problems we have in this country, so you do read references to security guards (where one of the characters wonders what they would do if there was actually a robbery), or the high walls we build around our properties, or the aforementioned farm killings.
In general, this book is an honest reflection on daily life in South Africa (notwithstanding ghosts, monsters, and other paranormal weirdness), and will make you feel at home!
February 16, 2022
This is book 1 . I loved the short stories in this book. The stories are great reading if you like thrillers and horror. Some stories you think you have the answers and when the story ends you are like totally wrong. Joan Dr La Hate had me sitting on the edge of my seat with each story. Another thing I loved about this book....she makes you think you are the person who all this happens to.. She can really get into your psyche. Cannot wait to read more of her books.
June 22, 2021
Some of these had a decent premise, but we're far too short to be developed to their potential. It felt as though each was the idea for a story rather than a story itself. They all ended abruptly, and in an almost perfunctory manner. By the end, I just skimmed the last two and was ready to move on to another book.
July 11, 2020
I really enjoy this book
Had trouble putting it down. I love all the different stories. If you like stories that make you really think about what you just read you will love this book.
Had trouble putting it down. I love all the different stories. If you like stories that make you really think about what you just read you will love this book.
October 18, 2023
Great short story collection for mood setting in preparation for Halloween (eerie music playing). I enjoyed all of these little packets of scary stuff and I hope you do too.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
Disclaimer: I received this ebook from the author and this is my honest and freely given opinion.
March 17, 2019
A few of these stories were ok but none of them really grabbed me. I've read far scarier.
May 1, 2019
I really enjoyed this collection of creepy stories. Some stories felt a bit rushed, even for short stories but overall it was a great collection of very different and strange tales.
July 28, 2020
Spooky and Fun
I liked this book with the short stories, some I was so into that I didn't want them to end.
I liked this book with the short stories, some I was so into that I didn't want them to end.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews