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Strange Secrets
Discover the mystery of the two-headed rose and many more Strange Secrets in this new collection of extraordinary stories by Mike Russell. 'It can't be real.' 'But it is.' Strange Secrets invites you to discover the magical and the marvellous. Startlingly inventive and constantly entertaining, these unique, vital and vividly realised stories will take you to places you have never been before. Strange Secrets is Mike Russell's third short-story collection.
- GenresShort StoriesFantasy
154 pages, Paperback
Published February 8, 2018
6 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Mike Russell
11 books382 followersMike Russell is a British author renowned for his unique, surreal short story collections and novels.
Russell's books have been praised for their originality, inventive storytelling, rich imagery and the questions they raise about the nature of reality. Russell has a distinctive narrative voice that blurs the line between reality and imagination. His work is noticeable for its minimalist style that often contrasts with the complex themes he explores.
Russell's debut Nothing Is Strange (2014) is a highly imaginative collection of short stories that introduced readers to his peculiar and mesmerising work. Each tale in the collection is a blend of the bizarre and philosophical, inviting readers to explore the deeper meanings within the stories. Russell’s subsequent short story collections Strange Medicine (2016), Strange Secrets (2018), Strange Wonders (2020) and Strange Concentrate (2023) have continued to challenge storytelling norms and question reality in a way that is as entertaining as it is unusual.
In addition to these collections, Mike Russell has authored a number of novels and novellas. Like his short story collections, these surreal and enigmatic works are characterised by their absurd humour, eccentric characters, unexpected twists and questioning of conventional thought.
Strungballs (2017) is a fantastical, dystopian, science fiction novella that delves into themes of conformity, individuality, materialism and societal structures.
The Exploding Book (2019) is a complex, surreal novel full of dark humour and astonishing imagery. It encapsulates Mike Russell's talent for crafting narratives that are as mind-bending as they are entertaining. The novel takes an unconventional form in which the reader participates by having an out of body experience, entering the story and influencing the narrative.
Magic (2020) is a magical, often comical, novel filled with the imagery of the stage magician. Told from the perspective of a young man who believes that stage magicians can perform real acts of magic, it has been praised for its unique and uplifting story, its endearing protagonist and for being entertaining and accessible at the same time as profound and unusual. In Magic, Russell’s evocative storytelling and vivid imagery create a narrative that is as touching as it is strange.
The Man Whose Wife Was the Moon (2021) is a surreal novella set during the time of the first moon landing. It exemplifies Mike Russell's skill in weaving fantastical elements with deep emotional resonance.
Mike Russell continues to live and write in England, where he remains dedicated to exploring the unusual and unknown through his uniquely strange books.
Mike Russell was awarded a Bachelor of Arts from Falmouth University and a Master of Arts from the University of Central England.
Mike Russell’s books have been described as Strange Fiction, Weird Fiction, Weird Lit, Surrealism, Fantasy Fiction… but he just likes to call them Strange Books.
“Russell’s stories are humorous, engaging and poetically direct.” Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
“Simple yet wacky, funny and charming. Mike Russell seems to have mastered the art of throwing absurdities onto paper, while keeping his writing bright and interesting at the same time.” Cultured Vultures
“I always look forward to Mike Russell’s work – he’s so out-there that it’s refreshing.” Oddly Weird Fiction
Russell's books have been praised for their originality, inventive storytelling, rich imagery and the questions they raise about the nature of reality. Russell has a distinctive narrative voice that blurs the line between reality and imagination. His work is noticeable for its minimalist style that often contrasts with the complex themes he explores.
Russell's debut Nothing Is Strange (2014) is a highly imaginative collection of short stories that introduced readers to his peculiar and mesmerising work. Each tale in the collection is a blend of the bizarre and philosophical, inviting readers to explore the deeper meanings within the stories. Russell’s subsequent short story collections Strange Medicine (2016), Strange Secrets (2018), Strange Wonders (2020) and Strange Concentrate (2023) have continued to challenge storytelling norms and question reality in a way that is as entertaining as it is unusual.
In addition to these collections, Mike Russell has authored a number of novels and novellas. Like his short story collections, these surreal and enigmatic works are characterised by their absurd humour, eccentric characters, unexpected twists and questioning of conventional thought.
Strungballs (2017) is a fantastical, dystopian, science fiction novella that delves into themes of conformity, individuality, materialism and societal structures.
The Exploding Book (2019) is a complex, surreal novel full of dark humour and astonishing imagery. It encapsulates Mike Russell's talent for crafting narratives that are as mind-bending as they are entertaining. The novel takes an unconventional form in which the reader participates by having an out of body experience, entering the story and influencing the narrative.
Magic (2020) is a magical, often comical, novel filled with the imagery of the stage magician. Told from the perspective of a young man who believes that stage magicians can perform real acts of magic, it has been praised for its unique and uplifting story, its endearing protagonist and for being entertaining and accessible at the same time as profound and unusual. In Magic, Russell’s evocative storytelling and vivid imagery create a narrative that is as touching as it is strange.
The Man Whose Wife Was the Moon (2021) is a surreal novella set during the time of the first moon landing. It exemplifies Mike Russell's skill in weaving fantastical elements with deep emotional resonance.
Mike Russell continues to live and write in England, where he remains dedicated to exploring the unusual and unknown through his uniquely strange books.
Mike Russell was awarded a Bachelor of Arts from Falmouth University and a Master of Arts from the University of Central England.
Mike Russell’s books have been described as Strange Fiction, Weird Fiction, Weird Lit, Surrealism, Fantasy Fiction… but he just likes to call them Strange Books.
“Russell’s stories are humorous, engaging and poetically direct.” Beautiful Bizarre Magazine
“Simple yet wacky, funny and charming. Mike Russell seems to have mastered the art of throwing absurdities onto paper, while keeping his writing bright and interesting at the same time.” Cultured Vultures
“I always look forward to Mike Russell’s work – he’s so out-there that it’s refreshing.” Oddly Weird Fiction
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 21, 2018
I originally gave this book three stars but I knew something of this imaginative magnitude did not deserve to linger there, I just did not know how else to rate my reading experience. I have since bumped it to four stars as, weeks after finishing it, I still find my thoughts returning to the wonders contained inside this book.
What a thoroughly bizarre reading experience! This short anthology was by far the most inventive thing I have ever read and I am still puzzling out exactly how I feel about it.
The style of all seven stories collected her was truly outlandish. Each begun firmly placed in reality and followed an easy to follow story-line, before completely descending into mayhem. This unravelling was executed at such a leisurely pace so as to almost catch the reader unawares, as they journeyed, unknown, into the depths of wonderland. The truth was firmly hidden inside the bizarre, forcing a detachment from the known and accepted and a surrender to Russell's own unique version of reality.
I became marginally acclimatised to the style of narrative, as the anthology progressed, but each still managed to shock and render me speechless. I can honestly say I have never been confronted with stories quite like these and I both appreciate their innovation whilst continuing to be entirely baffled by them.
What a thoroughly bizarre reading experience! This short anthology was by far the most inventive thing I have ever read and I am still puzzling out exactly how I feel about it.
The style of all seven stories collected her was truly outlandish. Each begun firmly placed in reality and followed an easy to follow story-line, before completely descending into mayhem. This unravelling was executed at such a leisurely pace so as to almost catch the reader unawares, as they journeyed, unknown, into the depths of wonderland. The truth was firmly hidden inside the bizarre, forcing a detachment from the known and accepted and a surrender to Russell's own unique version of reality.
I became marginally acclimatised to the style of narrative, as the anthology progressed, but each still managed to shock and render me speechless. I can honestly say I have never been confronted with stories quite like these and I both appreciate their innovation whilst continuing to be entirely baffled by them.
Read
October 21, 2019
Similar to the above photo of strange marionettes, seven in number, Mike Russell's 2017 collection, Strange Secrets, likewise contains seven - seven very strange stories.
Strange Secrets, Mike's third short story collection - following Nothing is Strange (2014) and Strange Medicine (2016) - continues to expand the world of strangeness in ways most unique. To explore a number of fascinating secrets concealed in Strange Secrets, I'll share the following glimpses:
THE PUPPETEER
"An elderly man wearing a white suit was dancing a jig in the centre of town. The man had a string tied to each of the fingers and thumb of his left hand, the other ends of which were attached to the head, arms, and legs of a small, wooden marionette." So begins this bizarre snapper, a strange tale that's a perfect balance of Aleister Crowley creepiness and Lewis Carol charm. To understand what I mean, please read on.
The marionette wears a white suit and its face is carved to look exactly like the man. Someone new to town, thinking the puppeteer a busker, will drop coins at his feet. However, since he's a familiar sight on their street, the long-term residents do their best to ignore both the man and his marionette.
And so it goes - every day the man emerges from his house, dances a jig from sunrise to sunset without pause, all the while his marionette remains still. Other than forever looking exhausted, the puppeteer never displayed any pleasure or joy in all those many days, not even a single smile.
Then one day, at exactly midday, something changes: a young girl stands in front of the puppeteer and watches him non-stop. Eventually, he asks: "What do you want from me?" To that, the girl says nothing. The man tells her the marionette is the one in control, making the strings move which makes him dance which makes his heart beat. Again, the girl says nothing and continues to look into his eyes.
Hours past. At sunset, the puppeteer suddenly stops, picks up his marionette and retreats inside. Unbeknownst to him, the girl follows him through a long hallway and into a large room with but one article of furniture - a bed in the center. At the far end of the room there's a fireplace with a flat, gold isosceles triangle mounted above - the apex of the triangle points down.
Meanwhile, strings still attached, the puppeteer lays the marionette on the mattress, stands by the side of the bed and resumes his non-stop dancing until sunrise when he picks up his marionette, walks outside and once again starts dancing.
As she did the previous day, the girl stands before him and watches silently. At midday, the man looks down at his marionette and says: "Please don't make me dance any more, I can't stand it." The man proceeds to gnaw the strings. When all the strings snap, the marionette remains standing but the puppeteer collapses to the ground and his heart stops beating.
"Help me," he first asks the marionette then the girl. The marionette remains motionless but the girl walks in the house, down the long hallway, into the room and over to the fireplace whereupon she rotates the gold isosceles triangle until its apex points up. Suddenly, outside on the street, the marionette collapses, the man's heart begins beating and he stands up, amazed he's still alive.
In the tradition of Aleister Crowley occultism and contemporary tales of horror penned by authors such as Thomas Ligotti, The Puppeteer is dark and creepy; but as we read further and discover what happens next and then next, this Mike Russell story also possesses an undeniable Alice in Wonderland charm. Thus, The Puppeteer is a striking combination of creepy and charming - a fictional tour de force, a rare gem not to be missed.
REALITY
Carl walks into the living room and can see Lisa distraught bordering on hysterical. When Carl asks what's wrong, Lisa screams, "Nothing is real!" Carl presses further, asking question after question but the more questions he posses, the more frazzled Lisa becomes - she understands everything, absolutely everything in her life is fake, pure bullshit, from their marriage to the sculpture on the coffee table, even the coffee table itself along with everything else, their town, the surrounding forest and sea, all fake.
I wouldn't dare reveal the surprise ending of this Mike Russell strange tale since, after all, it's a secret left to each reader. What I will mention is such strange fiction reminds me of the concept of maya from India's Hindu and Buddhist traditions. Reality, richer than concepts and deeper than all the fake words you are reading on your fake computer. Now that I've planted a seed, put your hands on Strange Secrets and make Reality your own living reality.
THE CONSTANTLY EMPTY POOL
Mary-Lou journeys from her city to a bar in a remote desert town for a very specific reason: she needs directions to the pool containing the purest water in the world. And, of course, Mary-Lou wants to take a drink of this purist of waters.
Cecil D, the bartender, tells Mary-Lou he knows just the person that can help her - Gregory, who is pointing at the pool right now.
"Mary-Lou turned around and peered in the direction that Cecil D had shouted. There, in the corner of the room, sat behind a table, were two identical men. Both were dressed in threadbare clothes and both had an arm missing. One of the men was missing his left arm; the other man was missing his right arm. The two identical men's remaining arms were joined together by the tips of their forefingers. Consequently, the two men looked as if they were constantly pointing at one another."
Sound strange? The above is a beginning scene in this Mike Russell tale that becomes progressively stranger with each turn of the page. I'll leave you with one last hint - a white flower at either end of one green stem, the illustration on the cover of Strange Secrets, makes its appearance in The Constantly Empty Pool. Strange, you say? Absolutely!
What I've noted is only from three of the seven strange stories collected in Strange Secrets. I'll share one more secret: each Mike Russell story spins in marvelous directions well worth any reader's time.
British author Mike Russell, born 1973
May 18, 2018
3.5 STARS.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Bizarre, thought provoking, and satirical are just a few adjectives I would use to describe this collection of short stories by Mike Russell. There are 7 stories in the collection: The Constantly Empty Pool, The Puppeteer, Arnold’s Melting Foot, Missing Persons, Reality, Maps, and The Forest. My favourite had to be Missing Persons and The Forest. The best thing about this is that it forces you to think, and I love books (or anything really) that makes me do that; I thrive on content where explanations aren’t clear cut and my mind is left to decipher what just happened. The writing also kept me engaged and curious which is a must for this genre.
A longer RTC on my blog.
You can also check out the book: here.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Bizarre, thought provoking, and satirical are just a few adjectives I would use to describe this collection of short stories by Mike Russell. There are 7 stories in the collection: The Constantly Empty Pool, The Puppeteer, Arnold’s Melting Foot, Missing Persons, Reality, Maps, and The Forest. My favourite had to be Missing Persons and The Forest. The best thing about this is that it forces you to think, and I love books (or anything really) that makes me do that; I thrive on content where explanations aren’t clear cut and my mind is left to decipher what just happened. The writing also kept me engaged and curious which is a must for this genre.
A longer RTC on my blog.
You can also check out the book: here.
April 20, 2019
I finished this book 2 days ago and I am yet not sure how I feel about this book! I mean this book is STRANGE!!!
Strange Secrets is a collection of seven small stories that deals with secrets of all mankind, our fear of love, life, death, change, being someone else’s puppet, what not! Each one of the stories starts of somewhat normal and as it proceeds to its end, somewhere in between this the line between normal and madness gets blurred and makes things.. unreal.. strange and crazy.
The narration was attractive enough to keep me hooked till the end. I found the ideas behind these stories quite innovative as I’ve never read something so uniquely spooky. My personal favorite story is going to be “MAPS”. I loved the setting and was dreading what was coming next. It was ominous and sad.
I am not a fan of anthologies, but I am slowly beginning to realize, creepy stories or horror stories are best expressed in anthologies. Like tequila shots 😉
Strange Secrets is a collection of seven small stories that deals with secrets of all mankind, our fear of love, life, death, change, being someone else’s puppet, what not! Each one of the stories starts of somewhat normal and as it proceeds to its end, somewhere in between this the line between normal and madness gets blurred and makes things.. unreal.. strange and crazy.
The narration was attractive enough to keep me hooked till the end. I found the ideas behind these stories quite innovative as I’ve never read something so uniquely spooky. My personal favorite story is going to be “MAPS”. I loved the setting and was dreading what was coming next. It was ominous and sad.
I am not a fan of anthologies, but I am slowly beginning to realize, creepy stories or horror stories are best expressed in anthologies. Like tequila shots 😉
September 6, 2019
Strange Secrets is a unique collection of unusual short stories that discuss topics such as the nature of reality, the afterlife, and our individual perceptions of our world.
My favourite stories were Missing Persons, Reality, and The Forest. Each explored its theme well and had me thinking deeply about it for days after.
~Writing Style
Russell’s writing style uses simple words and paints a clear picture for the reader. He makes good use of humour to alleviate the awkward tension of certain scenes, resulting in fun and engaging, yet quirky tales.
There’s also a great use of repetition to help enhance the story’s points. I began thinking deeply about some core part of our human existence here on Earth, whether it be our reality, interpretation of love, or mental health, etc.
Rated 4 stars.
Recommended to lovers of all things strange.
My favourite stories were Missing Persons, Reality, and The Forest. Each explored its theme well and had me thinking deeply about it for days after.
~Writing Style
Russell’s writing style uses simple words and paints a clear picture for the reader. He makes good use of humour to alleviate the awkward tension of certain scenes, resulting in fun and engaging, yet quirky tales.
There’s also a great use of repetition to help enhance the story’s points. I began thinking deeply about some core part of our human existence here on Earth, whether it be our reality, interpretation of love, or mental health, etc.
Rated 4 stars.
Recommended to lovers of all things strange.
March 10, 2018
If Rene Magritte had been a writer instead of a painter, he would have been Mike Russell. These stories have the same kind of surreal, dreamlike quality as Magritte's paintings. I can compare him to Magritte, to David Lynch, maybe even to "The Twilight Zone" to some degree, but really, there is nobody quite like Mike Russell. These stories have a strange beauty and an outlandish wisdom (if that makes any sense). I really think he sees around the edges of reality.
March 10, 2019
(This book review is also on my blog.)
The Strange Books secretary gave me a copy in exchange for an honest review. Seeing the synopsis, I was intrigued right away. A collection of short stories filled with mystery and magic? Count me in!
The writing
I really liked the writing in this book. It was easy to read and to follow, yet it was eerie and disturbing. These short stories, though they seem like simple bedtime stories at first, can be awfully spooky as you read on. Apart from being mysterious, these stories were also poetic and oftentimes philosophical—it makes you think. It makes you think about the characters, it makes you think about their world, it makes you think about humanity and our world. As a reader, I applaud the author for achieving that.
The characters
The characters, what I loved about them is that they have this aura of innocence. In each of the stories included in this book, I really noticed that there are characters who hold such innocence and yet they are the ones who are different, the ones who push the story forward. I loved that.
The plot
The plot was easy to follow, and as mysterious and disturbing as they are, I really liked it. There were a couple of stories though, in which the plots were a little vague. And though there were answers to the mysteries, some were a bit confusing. The rest, I really loved.
I particularly loved the last story in this book. It was truly poetic and so real, and the plot was written well.
This was such a quick read and yet it's a book that makes you think and scratch your head. All in all, it was spooky, entertaining, and an awesome read. I give this one 4 stars!
The Strange Books secretary gave me a copy in exchange for an honest review. Seeing the synopsis, I was intrigued right away. A collection of short stories filled with mystery and magic? Count me in!
The writing
I really liked the writing in this book. It was easy to read and to follow, yet it was eerie and disturbing. These short stories, though they seem like simple bedtime stories at first, can be awfully spooky as you read on. Apart from being mysterious, these stories were also poetic and oftentimes philosophical—it makes you think. It makes you think about the characters, it makes you think about their world, it makes you think about humanity and our world. As a reader, I applaud the author for achieving that.
The characters
The characters, what I loved about them is that they have this aura of innocence. In each of the stories included in this book, I really noticed that there are characters who hold such innocence and yet they are the ones who are different, the ones who push the story forward. I loved that.
The plot
The plot was easy to follow, and as mysterious and disturbing as they are, I really liked it. There were a couple of stories though, in which the plots were a little vague. And though there were answers to the mysteries, some were a bit confusing. The rest, I really loved.
I particularly loved the last story in this book. It was truly poetic and so real, and the plot was written well.
This was such a quick read and yet it's a book that makes you think and scratch your head. All in all, it was spooky, entertaining, and an awesome read. I give this one 4 stars!
July 16, 2018
Strange Secrets by Mike Russell is a collection of seven short stories, each with a completely different development and narrative but all of which maintain a bizarre and fantastical quality that makes them hard to put down.
Strange Secrets is imaginative, magical, and bizarre in all the best ways -- each story had a different element that kept me glued to the pages. Seriously. I started reading Strange Secrets during my lunch break and I couldn't pull myself away when my break was over. This genre and style of writing is a little out of the ordinary for me but I really loved that this book confused me and made we work through the storyline myself; I was constantly having to flip back and forth through the pages trying to figure everything out.
Each chapter was so well thought out and developed that it was hard not to get caught up in the different stories. Overall, I would give Strange Secrets 5 stars! If you're looking for something interesting, unusual and thought-provoking, then I would definitely recommend this book to you!
Strange Secrets is imaginative, magical, and bizarre in all the best ways -- each story had a different element that kept me glued to the pages. Seriously. I started reading Strange Secrets during my lunch break and I couldn't pull myself away when my break was over. This genre and style of writing is a little out of the ordinary for me but I really loved that this book confused me and made we work through the storyline myself; I was constantly having to flip back and forth through the pages trying to figure everything out.
Each chapter was so well thought out and developed that it was hard not to get caught up in the different stories. Overall, I would give Strange Secrets 5 stars! If you're looking for something interesting, unusual and thought-provoking, then I would definitely recommend this book to you!
March 16, 2018
Okay! Wow. I forgot how his stories make me feel!! They truly mess with your mind, in the best way possible! Your sense of reality gets thrown out the window and all of a sudden you’re on a journey of complete and utter perfect insanity! It’s absolutely thrilling! The stories are uniquely strange and enthralling. They’re eerie and captivating. Once you start reading the stories you can’t stop! I think I shall truly forever be a Mike Russell fan, he tends to give me the same dark Tim Burton-esq feels and chills at times (and ya’ll know how much I love Tim Burton!) The book seriously makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. It was utterly amazing! And if you haven’t read these books yet, you absolutely should. Like, now.
December 13, 2021
“When a treasure chest is made of treasure, what does it contain?”
First of all I would like to spend a few moments appreciating the cover of this book, it’s very simple but at the same time very effective. The cover appears to have a secret meaning of its own. This is definitely my favourite cover out of the collection of Mike Russell’s books that I have.
This is another amazing short story collection written by the genius that is Mike Russell! This man has a mind of magic and I am thrilled to be reviewing Strange Secrets which is his third short story collection.
As usual with Mr Russell's stories we are taken away to another world of impossibilities and strange happenings, wacky characters and hidden messages!
We kick things off with a story called ‘The Constantly Empty Pool’ - this gives readers a taste of what craziness is to come! I really liked the hidden message in this one which I didn’t work out until the very end.
Other honourable mentions include ‘Maps’ and ‘The Puppeteer’ but the highlight of this collection for me was a story called ‘Missing Persons’ - I don’t even know where to start with this one, the story is an absolute masterpiece and deserves to be expanded upon!
I honestly don’t know how this author does it, his work is truly clever, unique and so well thought out, thought provoking and utterly astounding. The stories are put across in the most surreal but plausible ways, the worlds created here are enchanting and full of mystery, I enjoyed every minute of this beauty!
A very easy 5 stars!
I would like to thank the author Mike Russell and also Jay Snelling of strange books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
First of all I would like to spend a few moments appreciating the cover of this book, it’s very simple but at the same time very effective. The cover appears to have a secret meaning of its own. This is definitely my favourite cover out of the collection of Mike Russell’s books that I have.
This is another amazing short story collection written by the genius that is Mike Russell! This man has a mind of magic and I am thrilled to be reviewing Strange Secrets which is his third short story collection.
As usual with Mr Russell's stories we are taken away to another world of impossibilities and strange happenings, wacky characters and hidden messages!
We kick things off with a story called ‘The Constantly Empty Pool’ - this gives readers a taste of what craziness is to come! I really liked the hidden message in this one which I didn’t work out until the very end.
Other honourable mentions include ‘Maps’ and ‘The Puppeteer’ but the highlight of this collection for me was a story called ‘Missing Persons’ - I don’t even know where to start with this one, the story is an absolute masterpiece and deserves to be expanded upon!
I honestly don’t know how this author does it, his work is truly clever, unique and so well thought out, thought provoking and utterly astounding. The stories are put across in the most surreal but plausible ways, the worlds created here are enchanting and full of mystery, I enjoyed every minute of this beauty!
A very easy 5 stars!
I would like to thank the author Mike Russell and also Jay Snelling of strange books for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 14, 2019
Surrealism, metaphysical fiction, fatalism are classes of literary works which highly fascinate me, the reason being Haruki Murakami, the one who has made me fall in love with those genres!
When the author requested me for a review of his book- ‘Strange Secrets’, I instantly agreed to give it a try. I was very excited because after a long time I would read something out of the ordinary and the “strangeness” of ‘Strange Secrets’ indeed made it one highly entertaining read!
Let’s just take a moment to adore the absolutely eye-catching cover of the book!!
STRANGE SECRETS is a collection of seven bizarre short stories, namely- The Constantly Empty Pool; The Puppeteer; Arnold’s Melting Foot; Missing Persons; Reality; Maps and The Forest. These seven outlandish tales shall play with your mind and blear the line between reality and fantasy for you!
Initially I found it hard to follow the stories because each narrative had something so very baffling to show us that the reader is certain to question the actuality of the things happening around! Reading the stories scrupulously would reveal the immensely imaginative mind of the author!
Maps was my favorite tale! As I turned over the pages, I yearned to know what happens next! I was having this feeling of being an adventurous reader who was willing to take any risks to unravel the mysteries hidden within the strangeness of the story!
Besides Maps, I loved Missing Persons! The queerness of the stories kept me hooked to the pages of the book till the very last! It took me 3 days to complete the book!. I took frequent breaks between my reading sessions as I required time to ponder upon the absurd questions which kept on bugging my mind whilst I was reading these strange stories! It was like a journey to an overall different place, a place that is unfathomable and lies beyond our imagination!
The narrative is fast paced with a lucid language and makes sure that the reader can proceed smoothly without developing a sense of apathy.
Looking forward to reading more of the author’s works!
What would happen if Everytime you brought home a new wardrobe and concomitantly a person would go missing? Or what if everything around you was false, even your own existence?? What if you change into something dissonant, the moment you define yourself as a thing??
To find out the answers to these peculiar questions, grab your copy of Strange Secrets asap and visit a world full of incongruous and strange happenings!
Thanks for stopping by and reading my review!
If you have already enjoyed reading this book then don’t forget to drop down your thoughts in the comment section below. If you are yet to read this book then grab it up asap!
Connect to me via:
Email: devyanisen99@gmail.com
Blog: https://musingsofanepeolator.home.blog/
Twitter: @bibliosmiacDS
Instagram: _.bibliosmiacds._
When the author requested me for a review of his book- ‘Strange Secrets’, I instantly agreed to give it a try. I was very excited because after a long time I would read something out of the ordinary and the “strangeness” of ‘Strange Secrets’ indeed made it one highly entertaining read!
Let’s just take a moment to adore the absolutely eye-catching cover of the book!!
STRANGE SECRETS is a collection of seven bizarre short stories, namely- The Constantly Empty Pool; The Puppeteer; Arnold’s Melting Foot; Missing Persons; Reality; Maps and The Forest. These seven outlandish tales shall play with your mind and blear the line between reality and fantasy for you!
Initially I found it hard to follow the stories because each narrative had something so very baffling to show us that the reader is certain to question the actuality of the things happening around! Reading the stories scrupulously would reveal the immensely imaginative mind of the author!
Maps was my favorite tale! As I turned over the pages, I yearned to know what happens next! I was having this feeling of being an adventurous reader who was willing to take any risks to unravel the mysteries hidden within the strangeness of the story!
Besides Maps, I loved Missing Persons! The queerness of the stories kept me hooked to the pages of the book till the very last! It took me 3 days to complete the book!. I took frequent breaks between my reading sessions as I required time to ponder upon the absurd questions which kept on bugging my mind whilst I was reading these strange stories! It was like a journey to an overall different place, a place that is unfathomable and lies beyond our imagination!
The narrative is fast paced with a lucid language and makes sure that the reader can proceed smoothly without developing a sense of apathy.
Looking forward to reading more of the author’s works!
What would happen if Everytime you brought home a new wardrobe and concomitantly a person would go missing? Or what if everything around you was false, even your own existence?? What if you change into something dissonant, the moment you define yourself as a thing??
To find out the answers to these peculiar questions, grab your copy of Strange Secrets asap and visit a world full of incongruous and strange happenings!
Thanks for stopping by and reading my review!
If you have already enjoyed reading this book then don’t forget to drop down your thoughts in the comment section below. If you are yet to read this book then grab it up asap!
Connect to me via:
Email: devyanisen99@gmail.com
Blog: https://musingsofanepeolator.home.blog/
Twitter: @bibliosmiacDS
Instagram: _.bibliosmiacds._
April 20, 2020
Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy in exchange of an honest review.
Strange Secrets is a collection of short stories, set in a world of magical realism and filled with metaphors that deals with mysteries and secrets like human beings, life, death, change... Between fantasy and philosophy, this book lets you escape reality for a vivid but weird dream where “mystery” and “everything is possible” are the key words.
This book was by far the strangest book I have ever read in my entire life. It took me a few days to gather my thoughts about it because when I finished it, I wasn’t really sure what to think. It was definitely a bizarre adventure where I could not even guess how each story were going to end. Some stories were really interesting and despite the fact that this book was definitely outside of my reading genre, I really enjoyed the thoughts behind.
Each story began set in reality, with an easy to follow plot, before progressively falling into this vivid dream of weirdness and magic. The writing itself was fairly simple but all the mysteries and the questions around it kept me reading to the conclusion pretty fast.
“Arnold’s Melting Pot” was by far my favorite of the 7 stories, and I couldn’t stop myself agreeing to the moral of the story: you don’t have to be categorized into “something” to be someone.
Some of the stories reminded me of the TV show Black Mirror, so if you love this, I would definitely recommend this book to you.
I wasn't really sure how to rate this book because I had never read a book quite like this one before, and despite the weirdness and unusual genre, I still enjoyed some of the stories.
You can find more about the author here.
Strange Secrets is a collection of short stories, set in a world of magical realism and filled with metaphors that deals with mysteries and secrets like human beings, life, death, change... Between fantasy and philosophy, this book lets you escape reality for a vivid but weird dream where “mystery” and “everything is possible” are the key words.
This book was by far the strangest book I have ever read in my entire life. It took me a few days to gather my thoughts about it because when I finished it, I wasn’t really sure what to think. It was definitely a bizarre adventure where I could not even guess how each story were going to end. Some stories were really interesting and despite the fact that this book was definitely outside of my reading genre, I really enjoyed the thoughts behind.
"If you define yourself, you will change into something that evades your definition."
Each story began set in reality, with an easy to follow plot, before progressively falling into this vivid dream of weirdness and magic. The writing itself was fairly simple but all the mysteries and the questions around it kept me reading to the conclusion pretty fast.
“Arnold’s Melting Pot” was by far my favorite of the 7 stories, and I couldn’t stop myself agreeing to the moral of the story: you don’t have to be categorized into “something” to be someone.
Some of the stories reminded me of the TV show Black Mirror, so if you love this, I would definitely recommend this book to you.
I wasn't really sure how to rate this book because I had never read a book quite like this one before, and despite the weirdness and unusual genre, I still enjoyed some of the stories.
You can find more about the author here.
June 17, 2019
I love Mike Russell’s short stories because they are like a box of chocolates, everyone so very different and you are hard pushed to pick a favourite! Well, these seven beauties were quickly devoured leaving me just needing one more and then another which I will have to wait for. I won’t ever have my fill.
If you can imagine that period of time between beginning to drift to sleep and actually getting there then you are probably in the place that these stories belong, where you fall from a cliff you can’t remember you ever climbed. The impossible all very possible in that moment of time, in this alternate universe of neither land.
From the disturbing to the bizarre and hauntingly sad you will find a story that stays with you for me it was The Conspiracy. I am so glad I have fitted wardrobes but still give them a cautious look. Loved Tina’s inquisitiveness, her principles and her courage.
These stories waken something inside you that opens your mind so you don’t just think inside the box. There is a darkness to them that leaves you with a slight unease to find closure for some of these them but most you can’t. That is just how things are where ever they are from.
Another masterpiece of chocolate heaven for me!
If you can imagine that period of time between beginning to drift to sleep and actually getting there then you are probably in the place that these stories belong, where you fall from a cliff you can’t remember you ever climbed. The impossible all very possible in that moment of time, in this alternate universe of neither land.
From the disturbing to the bizarre and hauntingly sad you will find a story that stays with you for me it was The Conspiracy. I am so glad I have fitted wardrobes but still give them a cautious look. Loved Tina’s inquisitiveness, her principles and her courage.
These stories waken something inside you that opens your mind so you don’t just think inside the box. There is a darkness to them that leaves you with a slight unease to find closure for some of these them but most you can’t. That is just how things are where ever they are from.
Another masterpiece of chocolate heaven for me!
April 22, 2018
First, we were informed that Nothing is Strange. Next, we were prescribed Strange Medicine. After that, we were given some Strungballs. Now, we have been told some Strange Secrets.
There are so many fantastic, magical, and (yes) strange secrets to discover when you read this book. You will learn what happened to Gregory's finger and the truth behind a puppeteer. You will also learn what a Lazenby is, discover the truth behind the “Wardrobe Channel.,” all the while knowing you're living in a fake world. These are just a few of the Strange Secrets that will be uncovered when you read this new masterpiece from Mike Russell.
Like all of Mike Russell's books, Strange Secrets is simply wonderful. Regardless what the title recommends, this book should not be kept a secret. I believe these Strange Secrets should be shared with everyone.
I truly enjoyed reading this book. Mike Russell is a magician when it comes to writing fiction. I can't begin to express how happy I am that I came across this incredible genius. As always, I look forward to what Mr. Russell has planned for the future.
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
There are so many fantastic, magical, and (yes) strange secrets to discover when you read this book. You will learn what happened to Gregory's finger and the truth behind a puppeteer. You will also learn what a Lazenby is, discover the truth behind the “Wardrobe Channel.,” all the while knowing you're living in a fake world. These are just a few of the Strange Secrets that will be uncovered when you read this new masterpiece from Mike Russell.
Like all of Mike Russell's books, Strange Secrets is simply wonderful. Regardless what the title recommends, this book should not be kept a secret. I believe these Strange Secrets should be shared with everyone.
I truly enjoyed reading this book. Mike Russell is a magician when it comes to writing fiction. I can't begin to express how happy I am that I came across this incredible genius. As always, I look forward to what Mr. Russell has planned for the future.
*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2018
Like his previous work, I loved reading these short stories. The stories have crazy plotlines, for example, what if one day the puppet becomes the puppeteer or whatif you come across a pool which pulls out your reflection in flesh and bones?
You will feel like the cat in this image but in a good way. During the course of reading every story, your mind is in a state of constant wonder as to what to expect next. These stories are completely unpredictable and keep you on the edge of your seat. The stories make no sense per se but dependent on what the reader is able to derive from them. I always enjoy reading stories which have no definite ending. In a nutshell, if you want to experiment with the kind of content you read, Strange Secrets should definitely be on your TBR list.
You will feel like the cat in this image but in a good way. During the course of reading every story, your mind is in a state of constant wonder as to what to expect next. These stories are completely unpredictable and keep you on the edge of your seat. The stories make no sense per se but dependent on what the reader is able to derive from them. I always enjoy reading stories which have no definite ending. In a nutshell, if you want to experiment with the kind of content you read, Strange Secrets should definitely be on your TBR list.
October 24, 2020
Disclaimer: An e-copy of this novel has been sent to me by StrangeBooks in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are mine and mine alone.
A story that will pull you deeper and deeper into the madness of death; I believe this is a collection of the lunacies in life, of our fear of the unknown, and ultimately our fear of death.
Wonderfully poetic, this anthology is the perfect read for someone looking for something eerie.
FULL REVIEW
A story that will pull you deeper and deeper into the madness of death; I believe this is a collection of the lunacies in life, of our fear of the unknown, and ultimately our fear of death.
Wonderfully poetic, this anthology is the perfect read for someone looking for something eerie.
FULL REVIEW
April 4, 2018
The stories weren't for me in terms of content, but there is no denying they were well thought out and very well written stories. Each was the perfect length to get the author's message across and provide a thought-provoking read.
August 22, 2019
Strange secrets is definitely a strange book which I guess kind of threw me off. I guess I wasn't expecting the stories to be as strange as they were. Even though it threw me off I did like some of the stories. They are unique and make you think.
August 13, 2018
Utterly surreal and thought-provoking. Full review to come on the blog!
July 17, 2018
Strange Secrets by Mike Russell got provided to me by StrangeBooks in exchange for an honest review.
You can also read this review on my blog Blattzirkus.
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Plot
Strange Secrets is a short story collection by author Mike Russell, whose previous work Strungballs, I have read and reviewed. This story collection contains 7 stories, which appear to be unconnected to each other. The Constantly Empty Pool, The Puppeteer, Arnold’s Melting Foot, Missing Persons, Reality, Maps and The Forest give a hint what each story might be about. Some are just strange, some macabre, some scary and some make you wonder how the story possibly is going to continue.
Cover
OMG, this cover looks so much better than all the previous ones by Mike Russell. They definitely have improved and made the book look worth reading. I like the combination of the vibrant blue and the white, sans serif font with a hint of specialness given to it, not totally clean yet unique on its own. It’s also a nice extra to connect the first story with the cover, the mirrored roses. I really like it.
My Opinion
To be honest, I wasn’t too much of a fan of Mike Russell when I got to review Strungballs. Yes, it’s a very unique book with an unusual idea, yet I couldn’t warm up to the story and its writing style. Which I totally didn’t add to my Strungballs review, my bad.
The writing style of Mike Russell isn’t for me at all. It feels like it was written by a 5 year old kid, since words are being repeated so often that I noticed it. The sentence structure feels so mechanical and unexercised, as if the author just has started to write. The themes of the short stories in Strange Secrets aren’t for kids at all though, so aboard that 5 year old comparison. I have a feeling that I would like these stories far more if it was more fluently written.
Also I am aware that this might be a writing style, not bad writing. Sometimes the repeating of sentences is fitting to the story, yet so often it feels unnecessary. I was thinking about that writing style a lot while reading, trying to come up with an explanation why the writing style is as it is. That’s why I write so much about it, since it bothered me a lot and I wanted to get to the bottom of the issue.
Talking about repetition, I used a lot of write and style in it, sorry for that.
Leaving the writing style section, I liked Strange Secrets for the reason of it being a short story collection. The stories were long enough to get invested in it and short enough to not lose interest in them. Some just leave you wondering if what you just have read happened on the pages for real and some leave you scared for the sake of the protagonist (hello Maps).
I read Strange Secrets for the sake of curiosity, wanting to know if Mike Russell improved with his new book. And I’m happy to say, after all that writing style rant, that he did. I have to draw comparisons to empathize that. Mostly because of the short stories that leave you with mixed feelings, giving you the opportunity to change your mind over and over.
Each story is parted with multiple chapters, some just have one chapter. Each story had a plot, no matter how short and they gave you the feeling that it’s leading at least somewhere. Although the first story, The Constantly Empty Pool, and the last story, The Forest, made me question again why I was reading this short story collection at all in the first place. I felt like these were going nowhere and it was simply too random for me. Yes, hence that Strange Secrets title.
Taking this all aside, the short story collection takes you to a whole other place. No matter how irritating the plot or the writing style was for me, I felt completely transported to a whole other aera. To a place full of chaos and upside-downs (hello Stranger Things). To a place where nothing is right and everything is uncomfortable, colorful and simply strange. That I can give to Mike Russell – creating a whole new reading experience.
I’d recommend Strange Secrets to everyone who is open minded to fresh, short stories and want to have an otherworldly reading experience.
Conclusion
I give Strange Secrets by Mike Russell 3 out of 5 stars because the writing style still is not my cup of tea. The stories were very strange, yes, but they didn’t throw me off as much as one of his other short story, Strungballs. Personally, I saw improvement in these stories, so this is my favorite work of Mike Russell I have read by now. I leave this book with no hard feelings, yet not with utterly impressed feelings behind.
You can also read this review on my blog Blattzirkus.
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Plot
Strange Secrets is a short story collection by author Mike Russell, whose previous work Strungballs, I have read and reviewed. This story collection contains 7 stories, which appear to be unconnected to each other. The Constantly Empty Pool, The Puppeteer, Arnold’s Melting Foot, Missing Persons, Reality, Maps and The Forest give a hint what each story might be about. Some are just strange, some macabre, some scary and some make you wonder how the story possibly is going to continue.
Cover
OMG, this cover looks so much better than all the previous ones by Mike Russell. They definitely have improved and made the book look worth reading. I like the combination of the vibrant blue and the white, sans serif font with a hint of specialness given to it, not totally clean yet unique on its own. It’s also a nice extra to connect the first story with the cover, the mirrored roses. I really like it.
My Opinion
To be honest, I wasn’t too much of a fan of Mike Russell when I got to review Strungballs. Yes, it’s a very unique book with an unusual idea, yet I couldn’t warm up to the story and its writing style. Which I totally didn’t add to my Strungballs review, my bad.
The writing style of Mike Russell isn’t for me at all. It feels like it was written by a 5 year old kid, since words are being repeated so often that I noticed it. The sentence structure feels so mechanical and unexercised, as if the author just has started to write. The themes of the short stories in Strange Secrets aren’t for kids at all though, so aboard that 5 year old comparison. I have a feeling that I would like these stories far more if it was more fluently written.
Also I am aware that this might be a writing style, not bad writing. Sometimes the repeating of sentences is fitting to the story, yet so often it feels unnecessary. I was thinking about that writing style a lot while reading, trying to come up with an explanation why the writing style is as it is. That’s why I write so much about it, since it bothered me a lot and I wanted to get to the bottom of the issue.
Talking about repetition, I used a lot of write and style in it, sorry for that.
Leaving the writing style section, I liked Strange Secrets for the reason of it being a short story collection. The stories were long enough to get invested in it and short enough to not lose interest in them. Some just leave you wondering if what you just have read happened on the pages for real and some leave you scared for the sake of the protagonist (hello Maps).
I read Strange Secrets for the sake of curiosity, wanting to know if Mike Russell improved with his new book. And I’m happy to say, after all that writing style rant, that he did. I have to draw comparisons to empathize that. Mostly because of the short stories that leave you with mixed feelings, giving you the opportunity to change your mind over and over.
Each story is parted with multiple chapters, some just have one chapter. Each story had a plot, no matter how short and they gave you the feeling that it’s leading at least somewhere. Although the first story, The Constantly Empty Pool, and the last story, The Forest, made me question again why I was reading this short story collection at all in the first place. I felt like these were going nowhere and it was simply too random for me. Yes, hence that Strange Secrets title.
Taking this all aside, the short story collection takes you to a whole other place. No matter how irritating the plot or the writing style was for me, I felt completely transported to a whole other aera. To a place full of chaos and upside-downs (hello Stranger Things). To a place where nothing is right and everything is uncomfortable, colorful and simply strange. That I can give to Mike Russell – creating a whole new reading experience.
I’d recommend Strange Secrets to everyone who is open minded to fresh, short stories and want to have an otherworldly reading experience.
Conclusion
I give Strange Secrets by Mike Russell 3 out of 5 stars because the writing style still is not my cup of tea. The stories were very strange, yes, but they didn’t throw me off as much as one of his other short story, Strungballs. Personally, I saw improvement in these stories, so this is my favorite work of Mike Russell I have read by now. I leave this book with no hard feelings, yet not with utterly impressed feelings behind.
May 24, 2019
Russell adds a dash of the strange to reality, creating worlds like our own that are fantastical yet plausible.
This collection contains seven stories of everyday life with a weird or surreal edge.
‘The Constantly Empty Pool’ Rumours of the purest water in the world draw Mary Lou to a remote town in the United States. The inhabitants admit it exists, but instead of telling her where, tell her tales of impossible objects.
‘The Puppeteer’ Every day, an old man, tired but immaculately dressed, dances in the square with a puppet hanging from his left hand. To the casual observer, he seems like any other busker, but each evening when he leaves, he leaves any money passers-by have dropped on the floor.
‘Arnold’s Melting Foot’ Arnold is a nervous man, bound by rituals that stave off panic over his very existence. Doubts that seem unfounded until he attends a lecture on things that don’t exist.
‘Missing Persons’ Tina’s father and several of her relatives have disappeared, part of an ongoing series of missing persons across the town. However, her mother and neighbours seem utterly disinterested, instead obsessing over wardrobes.
‘Reality’ Lisa is filled with the certainty that her house and even her husband are actually fakes. Rushing from her home in a panic, she searches for something real; but can find only more perfect fictions.
‘Maps’ When Billy goes down to breakfast, his mother isn’t there. However, when he asks his father, his father claims she’s right there next to him and tells him to stop messing around.
‘The Forest’ Jeremy and Samantha are happy together. However, what starts as a disagreement over what species a tree is escalates as their perceptions disagree over more and more.
Russell crafts worlds unlike our own by taking a single thing to its extreme: how might water behave if it were utterly pure? If the only world we can experience is the one we sense, then can we be in the same world as someone who sees something different? This both grounds the reader in the real, making the story feel plausible, and exposes them to the fantastical, delighting or unnerving but certainly stimulating them.
Unfortunately, Russell’s prose risks deflating this embellishment of reality, at least for some readers. Rather than follow the common narrative technique of describing the critical and leaving the reader to assume the trivial, he errs in the other direction, having characters speak extensively where a real person might give a half-phrase or not at all, and mentioning the parts of an common action that people tend to think of a single thing. This over-detailing risks both ringing slightly oddly in the reader’s mind and burying the reader in information so they are unsure which things that are important; this latter risk occurs especially in ‘Missing Persons’, where Russell seeks to use obsession with the mundane for effect.
Russell’s characters have a sense of realness to them and display traits and perspectives appropriate to their nature, resulting in children and adults who present very differently but are each sympathetic.
Overall, I enjoyed this collection. I recommend it to readers who are seeking the weird or surreal free from pretension or inaccessibility.
I received a free copy via a review request service asking for a fair review.
This collection contains seven stories of everyday life with a weird or surreal edge.
‘The Constantly Empty Pool’ Rumours of the purest water in the world draw Mary Lou to a remote town in the United States. The inhabitants admit it exists, but instead of telling her where, tell her tales of impossible objects.
‘The Puppeteer’ Every day, an old man, tired but immaculately dressed, dances in the square with a puppet hanging from his left hand. To the casual observer, he seems like any other busker, but each evening when he leaves, he leaves any money passers-by have dropped on the floor.
‘Arnold’s Melting Foot’ Arnold is a nervous man, bound by rituals that stave off panic over his very existence. Doubts that seem unfounded until he attends a lecture on things that don’t exist.
‘Missing Persons’ Tina’s father and several of her relatives have disappeared, part of an ongoing series of missing persons across the town. However, her mother and neighbours seem utterly disinterested, instead obsessing over wardrobes.
‘Reality’ Lisa is filled with the certainty that her house and even her husband are actually fakes. Rushing from her home in a panic, she searches for something real; but can find only more perfect fictions.
‘Maps’ When Billy goes down to breakfast, his mother isn’t there. However, when he asks his father, his father claims she’s right there next to him and tells him to stop messing around.
‘The Forest’ Jeremy and Samantha are happy together. However, what starts as a disagreement over what species a tree is escalates as their perceptions disagree over more and more.
Russell crafts worlds unlike our own by taking a single thing to its extreme: how might water behave if it were utterly pure? If the only world we can experience is the one we sense, then can we be in the same world as someone who sees something different? This both grounds the reader in the real, making the story feel plausible, and exposes them to the fantastical, delighting or unnerving but certainly stimulating them.
Unfortunately, Russell’s prose risks deflating this embellishment of reality, at least for some readers. Rather than follow the common narrative technique of describing the critical and leaving the reader to assume the trivial, he errs in the other direction, having characters speak extensively where a real person might give a half-phrase or not at all, and mentioning the parts of an common action that people tend to think of a single thing. This over-detailing risks both ringing slightly oddly in the reader’s mind and burying the reader in information so they are unsure which things that are important; this latter risk occurs especially in ‘Missing Persons’, where Russell seeks to use obsession with the mundane for effect.
Russell’s characters have a sense of realness to them and display traits and perspectives appropriate to their nature, resulting in children and adults who present very differently but are each sympathetic.
Overall, I enjoyed this collection. I recommend it to readers who are seeking the weird or surreal free from pretension or inaccessibility.
I received a free copy via a review request service asking for a fair review.
March 22, 2021
*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
This is my third Mike Russell short story collection and, as the title clearly states, it should go without saying by now that these stories are very, very strange.
There are seven stories in this collection, and my individual notes for each of them involves lots of repetition of words like ‘surreal’ and ‘dreamlike’, and yet each of the stories has its own unique subject matter and style. Some of the situations and actions herein could also be described as falling into the realm of horror when summed up – dead people in wardrobes; a detached leg with a foot at each end; a suspiciously controlling puppet – and yet this is emphatically not a horror collection, but more a collection of different ways of thinking about reality.
For that is the overarching and underlying theme of these stories… the nature of reality. What is really real? How do we recognise reality when we see it? How do we shape our realities with words, and labels, and our perceptions? These are fascinating questions and the author poses them via such strikingly original scenarios that the reader is left simultaneously reeling and pondering, as if waking from a bizarre nightmare which contained a kernel of unexpected truth.
If I’m making this all sound very vague and odd, that is because I am loath to explain too much and ruin the experience of discovering these strange gems for yourself, and because the stories are really, genuinely, very odd in their own right.
Food for thought aplenty, plus fuel for some interestingly disturbing dreams!
'An elderly man wearing a white suit was dancing a jig in the centre of town. The man had a string tied to each of the fingers and thumb of his left hand, the other ends of which were attached to the head, arms and legs of a small, wooden marionette. The marionette was also wearing a white suit and its face was carved to look identical to that of the man. Whilst the man danced his jig, the marionette stood next to him, perfectly still.'
– Mike Russell, ‘The Puppeteer’ in Strange Secrets
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
This is my third Mike Russell short story collection and, as the title clearly states, it should go without saying by now that these stories are very, very strange.
There are seven stories in this collection, and my individual notes for each of them involves lots of repetition of words like ‘surreal’ and ‘dreamlike’, and yet each of the stories has its own unique subject matter and style. Some of the situations and actions herein could also be described as falling into the realm of horror when summed up – dead people in wardrobes; a detached leg with a foot at each end; a suspiciously controlling puppet – and yet this is emphatically not a horror collection, but more a collection of different ways of thinking about reality.
For that is the overarching and underlying theme of these stories… the nature of reality. What is really real? How do we recognise reality when we see it? How do we shape our realities with words, and labels, and our perceptions? These are fascinating questions and the author poses them via such strikingly original scenarios that the reader is left simultaneously reeling and pondering, as if waking from a bizarre nightmare which contained a kernel of unexpected truth.
If I’m making this all sound very vague and odd, that is because I am loath to explain too much and ruin the experience of discovering these strange gems for yourself, and because the stories are really, genuinely, very odd in their own right.
Food for thought aplenty, plus fuel for some interestingly disturbing dreams!
'An elderly man wearing a white suit was dancing a jig in the centre of town. The man had a string tied to each of the fingers and thumb of his left hand, the other ends of which were attached to the head, arms and legs of a small, wooden marionette. The marionette was also wearing a white suit and its face was carved to look identical to that of the man. Whilst the man danced his jig, the marionette stood next to him, perfectly still.'
– Mike Russell, ‘The Puppeteer’ in Strange Secrets
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
April 18, 2018
I’d like to thank the publisher Strange Books for a complimentary copy of Mike Russell’s short story collection Strange Secrets in exchange for an honest review.
I’m gonna be honest, I’m not entirely sure where to begin.
Mike Russell’s short story collection Strange Secrets is what I imagine René Magritte and Salvador Dali’s fever dreams might have looked like in a written format. I know the title has ‘strange’ written right in it, but I truly had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Strange Secrets contains seven short stories of varying length and theme all exploring situations with a dream-like and surreal quality. While the subject of each story changes throughout, the entire collection has a strange and disturbing air about it. I was constantly entertained while being simultaneously deeply unsettled. Russel’s very matter-of-fact dialogue and straightforward narrative structure paired with extremely odd and obscure subjects helped him achieve this impressive and enjoyable effect. I honestly felt like I had to come up for air in between each story.
A particular aspect of Strange Secrets that I wanted to highlight is Russell’s amazing ability to paint such vivid imagery in so few words. At the onset of each story, I felt completely transported into Russell’s bizarre world that appeared on the surface to be so familiar and ordinary. I’m having a difficult time thinking of another author today who can achieve the same type of discomfort and mystery in their writing.
The only reason I didn’t rate Russell’s Strange Secrets with 5 stars was the first story in the collection, The Constantly Empty Pool, felt a bit weaker than the stories that followed. The rest of the collection, however, especially Missing Persons, was an absolute (unsettling) joy to read. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an experimental and surreal read by an extremely talented and unique author. I’m looking forward to reading more from Russell in the future and seeing where his writing career takes him.
Review originally posted on my blog Ashley in Wonderland
I’m gonna be honest, I’m not entirely sure where to begin.
Mike Russell’s short story collection Strange Secrets is what I imagine René Magritte and Salvador Dali’s fever dreams might have looked like in a written format. I know the title has ‘strange’ written right in it, but I truly had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Strange Secrets contains seven short stories of varying length and theme all exploring situations with a dream-like and surreal quality. While the subject of each story changes throughout, the entire collection has a strange and disturbing air about it. I was constantly entertained while being simultaneously deeply unsettled. Russel’s very matter-of-fact dialogue and straightforward narrative structure paired with extremely odd and obscure subjects helped him achieve this impressive and enjoyable effect. I honestly felt like I had to come up for air in between each story.
A particular aspect of Strange Secrets that I wanted to highlight is Russell’s amazing ability to paint such vivid imagery in so few words. At the onset of each story, I felt completely transported into Russell’s bizarre world that appeared on the surface to be so familiar and ordinary. I’m having a difficult time thinking of another author today who can achieve the same type of discomfort and mystery in their writing.
The only reason I didn’t rate Russell’s Strange Secrets with 5 stars was the first story in the collection, The Constantly Empty Pool, felt a bit weaker than the stories that followed. The rest of the collection, however, especially Missing Persons, was an absolute (unsettling) joy to read. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an experimental and surreal read by an extremely talented and unique author. I’m looking forward to reading more from Russell in the future and seeing where his writing career takes him.
Review originally posted on my blog Ashley in Wonderland
April 7, 2018
Bizarre. Weird. Surreal. Eccentric. Odd. Curious. Peculiar.
When Mike Russell says 'strange' he really means it. After finishing the first story, The Constantly Empty Pool, I audibly shouted, "What?!" and reread the last page or so just in case I had missed something. While Maps is a tragic tale of mental illness, the ending left me, once again verbally shouting in my car.
For me, the brilliant masterpiece of Strange Secrets is Missing Persons. A world where 'death' is an outlawed word, along with 'corpse', 'die', 'dead', etc, a young girl searches after the truth of how a person goes missing and why they can't be found again. As the longest story of the collection, this one caught my attention slowly, but ended up being the best one! I could see this one as a wonderfully bizarre and mysterious film directed by Terry Gilliam.
Russell infuses his writings with outlandish and dreamlike narratives that are often masked as astute observations of the human world and sometimes, wildly poignant wisdom.
A recipe for one Mike Russell: one part Salvador Dali, a pinch of Ray Bradbury, a small dash of Aesop, and a sliver of Shel Silverstein.
my rating: 3/5
When Mike Russell says 'strange' he really means it. After finishing the first story, The Constantly Empty Pool, I audibly shouted, "What?!" and reread the last page or so just in case I had missed something. While Maps is a tragic tale of mental illness, the ending left me, once again verbally shouting in my car.
For me, the brilliant masterpiece of Strange Secrets is Missing Persons. A world where 'death' is an outlawed word, along with 'corpse', 'die', 'dead', etc, a young girl searches after the truth of how a person goes missing and why they can't be found again. As the longest story of the collection, this one caught my attention slowly, but ended up being the best one! I could see this one as a wonderfully bizarre and mysterious film directed by Terry Gilliam.
Russell infuses his writings with outlandish and dreamlike narratives that are often masked as astute observations of the human world and sometimes, wildly poignant wisdom.
A recipe for one Mike Russell: one part Salvador Dali, a pinch of Ray Bradbury, a small dash of Aesop, and a sliver of Shel Silverstein.
my rating: 3/5
March 13, 2019
I was contacted by the publishers Stranger Books, asking if I would be interested in reading and reviewing this book. After reading the synopsis that they had sent, I knew it would be something that I would be interested in reading.
This book is a collection of seven short stories, my favourite of the 7 was Missing Persons.
I thought the writing and plot was really good, it was easy to read and follow. I found the stories to be mysterious and strange but at the same time disturbing, but I this was what made the book so interesting to me.
This was a really quick read for me as it is quite a short book , in fact it’s under 200 pages. Even though it’s short it will make you think which I wasn’t expecting it to do.
Overall a strange and interesting read, that I really enjoyed. I haven’t gone into too much details about this book because I didn’t want to give anything away, but I do highly recommend you try this book, especially if you’re looking for something different and unusual.
I would like to thank Strange Books for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
This book is a collection of seven short stories, my favourite of the 7 was Missing Persons.
I thought the writing and plot was really good, it was easy to read and follow. I found the stories to be mysterious and strange but at the same time disturbing, but I this was what made the book so interesting to me.
This was a really quick read for me as it is quite a short book , in fact it’s under 200 pages. Even though it’s short it will make you think which I wasn’t expecting it to do.
Overall a strange and interesting read, that I really enjoyed. I haven’t gone into too much details about this book because I didn’t want to give anything away, but I do highly recommend you try this book, especially if you’re looking for something different and unusual.
I would like to thank Strange Books for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.
September 11, 2019
Where oh where do we start with a review for this book. It’s one of the weirdest things I have ever read – but at the same time it is completely fascinating.
Seven stories that take you from shimmering pools to wardrobes to enchanted forests – with a wonderful trip through what reality really is in between. These are tales which aim to mesmerise and, I suspect, leave you with a lot to think about.
The stories are not connected in any real way aside from being completely off the wall, but the language is clear and concise throughout, and your sense of bewilderment is in no way built through hard to understand language. This is all built by brilliantly imaginative world building. Each story starts off normal enough, before taking sharp u turns into crazy world of the authors mind. I loved each and every minute.
To finish – I am a thing, this book is a thing, and this book is a thing you should be checking out. This is the first book I have read by the author, but if this book is anything to go by, I certainly hope it won’t be my last. Recommended.
Seven stories that take you from shimmering pools to wardrobes to enchanted forests – with a wonderful trip through what reality really is in between. These are tales which aim to mesmerise and, I suspect, leave you with a lot to think about.
The stories are not connected in any real way aside from being completely off the wall, but the language is clear and concise throughout, and your sense of bewilderment is in no way built through hard to understand language. This is all built by brilliantly imaginative world building. Each story starts off normal enough, before taking sharp u turns into crazy world of the authors mind. I loved each and every minute.
To finish – I am a thing, this book is a thing, and this book is a thing you should be checking out. This is the first book I have read by the author, but if this book is anything to go by, I certainly hope it won’t be my last. Recommended.
April 21, 2018
Strange Secrets is the perfect addition to Mike Russell’s strange collection of tales. With each story, my mind wanted to decipher the meaning of the strange. Because in the center of each story there is a grain of truth; a recognized perception of society’s idea and perspective. As my mind took in double-ended roses and arguing lovers I couldn’t help but think that sometimes strange just isn’t as strange as one might think.
My favorite story was Reality. A woman realizes all of the fake things that surround her. Running in search of truth, the question is asked: can truth survive and what do we do with it if we find it? Though it was the shortest of the tales, it left me speechless in its honesty and accurateness.
Mike Russell is the author of Nothing is Strange, Strange Medicine, and Strungball.
My favorite story was Reality. A woman realizes all of the fake things that surround her. Running in search of truth, the question is asked: can truth survive and what do we do with it if we find it? Though it was the shortest of the tales, it left me speechless in its honesty and accurateness.
Mike Russell is the author of Nothing is Strange, Strange Medicine, and Strungball.
December 8, 2018
This is the first-time I have read Mike Russell work and it was a wonderfully bizarre book. This collection of short stories is by far the most imaginative thing I have ever read. In the best way possible during this book, your sense of reality gets thrown out the window and you’re on a journey to insanity and it’s a brilliant ride.
Strange Secrets contains seven short stories that begin in reality, have an easy to follow story-line, before completely descending into mayhem. Mike’s very straightforward narrative paired with extremely odd and obscure subjects helped him achieve this impressive and enjoyable world similar to Tim Burton.
Strange Secrets contains seven short stories that begin in reality, have an easy to follow story-line, before completely descending into mayhem. Mike’s very straightforward narrative paired with extremely odd and obscure subjects helped him achieve this impressive and enjoyable world similar to Tim Burton.
June 4, 2020
Thank you to strangebooks.com for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
This book is totally bonkers. Each story is so weird that it completely messes with your mind. You have basically no idea of what to expect on each page because the stories can lead you anywhere.
I still don't completely understand what I read, but I cannot deny that it was a fun and unique ride. If you're looking for a quick read that will expand your mind, I definitely recommend checking this out.
Full review here: https://jenjenreviews.wordpress.com/2...
This book is totally bonkers. Each story is so weird that it completely messes with your mind. You have basically no idea of what to expect on each page because the stories can lead you anywhere.
I still don't completely understand what I read, but I cannot deny that it was a fun and unique ride. If you're looking for a quick read that will expand your mind, I definitely recommend checking this out.
Full review here: https://jenjenreviews.wordpress.com/2...
June 11, 2018
Surreal secrets
A great collection of tales that glimpse into alternate realities that are so close to ours. They make you wonder if your perceptions and reality are real at all. He delves into the minds of the characters as they descend into madness or awakening. For lovers of strange and uncharted realms. I will be reading the next strange book this author.
A great collection of tales that glimpse into alternate realities that are so close to ours. They make you wonder if your perceptions and reality are real at all. He delves into the minds of the characters as they descend into madness or awakening. For lovers of strange and uncharted realms. I will be reading the next strange book this author.
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