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Nocturnal Screams #5
Unexpected Strangers
Something Strange This Way Comes!
We have been told, from the earliest days of our childhood, to be wary of strangers.
From a fear of strangers who stalk their prey in their homes as darkness descends, and one mother's valiant attempt to protect her family, to an eerie encounter of two strangers in a seemingly innocent chance meeting on a lonely rural bus stop bench, and to an awkward transient who needs to avoid eye contact with the strangers he encounters lest they fall victim to his death curse, all three stand-alone shorts in this collection involve unexpected strangers meeting.
Join Mark Leslie as he introduces you to Mary, to Rupert and to Peter; three people that he calls friends, but folks that are still strangers to you, and you should be weary of. At the end of the ficional jaunt, he also shares the inspiration and story behind each tale.
If you enjoy weird and strange Twilight Zone, Outer Limits or Black Mirror styled dark and eerie tales, then you're sure to enjoy this collection of short tales that run about 12,000 words.
Contains the short stories: FROM OUT OF THE NIGHT, CAPTIVE AUDIENCE and COLLATERAL DAMAGE
We have been told, from the earliest days of our childhood, to be wary of strangers.
From a fear of strangers who stalk their prey in their homes as darkness descends, and one mother's valiant attempt to protect her family, to an eerie encounter of two strangers in a seemingly innocent chance meeting on a lonely rural bus stop bench, and to an awkward transient who needs to avoid eye contact with the strangers he encounters lest they fall victim to his death curse, all three stand-alone shorts in this collection involve unexpected strangers meeting.
Join Mark Leslie as he introduces you to Mary, to Rupert and to Peter; three people that he calls friends, but folks that are still strangers to you, and you should be weary of. At the end of the ficional jaunt, he also shares the inspiration and story behind each tale.
If you enjoy weird and strange Twilight Zone, Outer Limits or Black Mirror styled dark and eerie tales, then you're sure to enjoy this collection of short tales that run about 12,000 words.
Contains the short stories: FROM OUT OF THE NIGHT, CAPTIVE AUDIENCE and COLLATERAL DAMAGE
50 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 2018
52 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Mark Leslie
124 books177 followersMark is a writer, editor and bookseller who was born and grew up in Sudbury, spent many years in Ottawa and Hamilton and currently lives in Waterloo, Ontario.
When he is not writing, he tacks "Lefebvre" back onto his name and works as a book industry consultant, having been a bookseller since the 1992, the same year his first short story was published.
Apart from publishing novels and non-fiction paranormal explorations under the name Mark Leslie, having works occasionally appearing on his mother's refrigerator door under the name Mark Lefebvre, and podcasting and consulting about the book industry under the name Mark Leslie Lefebvre for his Stark Publishing/Stark Reflections brand, Mark is a lover of craft beer.
When he's not enjoying craft beer or playing around with his three given names, he can usually be found wandering, awestruck through bookstores or libraries.
When he is not writing, he tacks "Lefebvre" back onto his name and works as a book industry consultant, having been a bookseller since the 1992, the same year his first short story was published.
Apart from publishing novels and non-fiction paranormal explorations under the name Mark Leslie, having works occasionally appearing on his mother's refrigerator door under the name Mark Lefebvre, and podcasting and consulting about the book industry under the name Mark Leslie Lefebvre for his Stark Publishing/Stark Reflections brand, Mark is a lover of craft beer.
When he's not enjoying craft beer or playing around with his three given names, he can usually be found wandering, awestruck through bookstores or libraries.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 18, 2025
“Even if, one day, proof is given that our fear-created beings do not actually exist, we will probably invent new ones”
Even as Shakespeare’s coven of witches knew that meeting with Macbeth would ultimately result in something evil,
“By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.
Open locks,
Whoever knocks!”
so did the mind of Canadian author and purveyor of horror shorts know that unexpected meetings between strangers might produce strange, dare I say it, twisted outcomes!
UNEXPECTED STRANGERS is a delightful, quirky, quick and easy, eyebrow raising collection of oddball shorts. I was more than pleased to see the author take a couple of quick shots at two of my favourite boogiemen - organized religion and its propensity to proselytize; and the world’s current misguided fascination with fascism and the far right!
Well done, Mr Leslie. Keep ‘em coming! I’m a big fan and I’m definitely looking forward to further anthologies like this one.
Paul Weiss
Even as Shakespeare’s coven of witches knew that meeting with Macbeth would ultimately result in something evil,
“By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes.
Open locks,
Whoever knocks!”
so did the mind of Canadian author and purveyor of horror shorts know that unexpected meetings between strangers might produce strange, dare I say it, twisted outcomes!
UNEXPECTED STRANGERS is a delightful, quirky, quick and easy, eyebrow raising collection of oddball shorts. I was more than pleased to see the author take a couple of quick shots at two of my favourite boogiemen - organized religion and its propensity to proselytize; and the world’s current misguided fascination with fascism and the far right!
Well done, Mr Leslie. Keep ‘em coming! I’m a big fan and I’m definitely looking forward to further anthologies like this one.
Paul Weiss
March 31, 2019
Loved it!
I just found this author and am so glad that I did. This collection of short stories completely held my attention. They have also stayed with me, I continue to think about the characters, especially Peter. What an I interesting premise. I will be looking into other books from Mark Leslie, especially I, Death with the ongoing story of Peter and his unusual gift. I love short stories and these do not disappoint.
I just found this author and am so glad that I did. This collection of short stories completely held my attention. They have also stayed with me, I continue to think about the characters, especially Peter. What an I interesting premise. I will be looking into other books from Mark Leslie, especially I, Death with the ongoing story of Peter and his unusual gift. I love short stories and these do not disappoint.
September 12, 2019
Perfect !
I'm new to Mark Leslie, but this was a perfect introduction for a number of reasons.. His stories took me to places I didn't even consider as settings for horror. The length of his tales was enough to see how his imagination could turn mundane activities and concepts into a story I haven't read before., and his characters were written in such a way, that even in a short story, they roped you in... As I stated earlier, my first book by Mark, but definitely the last!
I'm new to Mark Leslie, but this was a perfect introduction for a number of reasons.. His stories took me to places I didn't even consider as settings for horror. The length of his tales was enough to see how his imagination could turn mundane activities and concepts into a story I haven't read before., and his characters were written in such a way, that even in a short story, they roped you in... As I stated earlier, my first book by Mark, but definitely the last!
May 15, 2024
This was a really short book of really short stories and I thought they were fun. I am not usually a fan of books containing a bunch of short stories, but this one was pretty entertaining in a silly/dark way. I did like the first one the most and kinda wished it was longer. I may have to check out the other Nocturnal Screams volumes.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews