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3:05 am
A short paranormal mystery to unsettle the reader.
Mark should be happy, what with a promotion and impending fatherhood in the offing, and yet not all is well. His nerves shredded by a succession of nocturnal images that flicker across the screen of his portable television set, his sense of self is beginning to disintegrate. He may be left perplexed and confused, yet that irritant of a colleague of his – Mike Pearce – seems to know something that he doesn’t. Could there be a hint of the supernatural in the mix? If so, what, if anything, does Pearce have to do with it, and what does it mean for his future?
This novelette is a standalone work in the West Country Tales series, also available in paperback, or Kindle ebook format, alongside four other tales in Anthology: Wry Out West.
Mark should be happy, what with a promotion and impending fatherhood in the offing, and yet not all is well. His nerves shredded by a succession of nocturnal images that flicker across the screen of his portable television set, his sense of self is beginning to disintegrate. He may be left perplexed and confused, yet that irritant of a colleague of his – Mike Pearce – seems to know something that he doesn’t. Could there be a hint of the supernatural in the mix? If so, what, if anything, does Pearce have to do with it, and what does it mean for his future?
This novelette is a standalone work in the West Country Tales series, also available in paperback, or Kindle ebook format, alongside four other tales in Anthology: Wry Out West.
27 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2018
1 person is currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
H.E. Bulstrode
40 books31 followersThe author's childhood and formative years were spent in the English West Country, a region in which reality and fantasy are frequently confused, and where what elsewhere would be taken as peculiar, regarded as nothing more than an everyday occurrence. Soaked in myth, folklore and cider, his imagination eventually whirred into life and prompted him to pen, or at least type, a number of understated tales of the uncanny, drawing upon his wry observations of esoteric subcultures and beliefs, and the rich store of lore that seems locked into the land itself.
From the mist, the frost, and the wind, comes something ambling through the murk, seeking to ensnare the unwary: a village cunning man; a malignant Jacobean mannequin; a psychedelic Crowley wannabe; the sickle-wielding spirit of old Dorset; a pious guide who emerges from the fabric of a venerable minster; a mediaeval animalistic heretic with a still beating heart. Ghost stories, bizarre rites, and mental disintegration populate a world in which the living and the dead meet in an eternal present, and the author dares - the most horrific thing of all - to use adverbs where appropriate.
His tales have frequently been compared to the likes of those encountered in Tales of the Unexpected and The Twilight Zone, but the Bulstrodian world, as you will discover, is a realm unto itself, and quite distinct from either.
He is currently working on a number of future publications, including a 1970s ghost story set in the Somerset Levels, a novel set in 17th-century Cornwall in which the reader will encounter a heady mix of superstition, piracy and religious fanaticism, and a third anthology of supernatural fiction.
From the mist, the frost, and the wind, comes something ambling through the murk, seeking to ensnare the unwary: a village cunning man; a malignant Jacobean mannequin; a psychedelic Crowley wannabe; the sickle-wielding spirit of old Dorset; a pious guide who emerges from the fabric of a venerable minster; a mediaeval animalistic heretic with a still beating heart. Ghost stories, bizarre rites, and mental disintegration populate a world in which the living and the dead meet in an eternal present, and the author dares - the most horrific thing of all - to use adverbs where appropriate.
His tales have frequently been compared to the likes of those encountered in Tales of the Unexpected and The Twilight Zone, but the Bulstrodian world, as you will discover, is a realm unto itself, and quite distinct from either.
He is currently working on a number of future publications, including a 1970s ghost story set in the Somerset Levels, a novel set in 17th-century Cornwall in which the reader will encounter a heady mix of superstition, piracy and religious fanaticism, and a third anthology of supernatural fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 16, 2017
This is a curious little tale, reminiscent of a Twilight Zone episode in its use of bizarre and unexplained events. I'm a big fan the concept of something mundane (a portable television in this instance) suddenly becoming something sinister. I also like that there are unanswered questions, but I really would like to know what was happening.
September 27, 2017
Disappointed by the ending
3:05am started out as an interesting short story where you knew there was going to be some sort of psychological twist coming. A man is haunted nightly by unexplained images streaming through his TV late at night... while the TV is powered off. In all, the story had a feel reminiscent of Twilight Zone. However, the ending left me very unsatisfied. Rather than being surprised or shocked, I was left feeling totally clueless as to what was going on. The ending spoiled a story that was progressing nicely otherwise.
3:05am started out as an interesting short story where you knew there was going to be some sort of psychological twist coming. A man is haunted nightly by unexplained images streaming through his TV late at night... while the TV is powered off. In all, the story had a feel reminiscent of Twilight Zone. However, the ending left me very unsatisfied. Rather than being surprised or shocked, I was left feeling totally clueless as to what was going on. The ending spoiled a story that was progressing nicely otherwise.
February 3, 2018
I kinda get it
I kind of get what is going on but not really. I mean it doesn’t make sense really. I wish that it continued and explained what was going on.
I kind of get what is going on but not really. I mean it doesn’t make sense really. I wish that it continued and explained what was going on.
July 31, 2016
This is an intriguing story; a mystery laced with a liberal dose of humour, topped off with twists and turns that keep the reader guessing right up to the end!
April 14, 2017
Fun short story in the likes of Twilight Zone..
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February 8, 2018The review below is not my own, but one left by a reader on the Amazon UK site.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great short.
By Malcolm D. on 6 August 2017
Format: Kindle Edition
My second book by this author having just read the first in the West Country Tales.
Again it's a short story with a clever plot line. The characters, though few, are again well crafted and easy to relate to. The story basically involves a husband and wife, a disgruntled work colleague and a remarkable, but creepy, old television. Not much to base a story on but this author manages to.
It's a clever build up to a very strange ending. It's as though the story has been truncated and leaving the reader wanting more. Well it did me. However, it is a surprising ending exactly as it should be for a mystery. It's annoying but also satisfying.
If you insist on stories having all the questions answered and a happy ending this is definitely not for you. If you want a creepy ending that leaves you wanting to throttle the author then this is definitely for you.
For me, I can't wait to read the next in the series.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great short.
By Malcolm D. on 6 August 2017
Format: Kindle Edition
My second book by this author having just read the first in the West Country Tales.
Again it's a short story with a clever plot line. The characters, though few, are again well crafted and easy to relate to. The story basically involves a husband and wife, a disgruntled work colleague and a remarkable, but creepy, old television. Not much to base a story on but this author manages to.
It's a clever build up to a very strange ending. It's as though the story has been truncated and leaving the reader wanting more. Well it did me. However, it is a surprising ending exactly as it should be for a mystery. It's annoying but also satisfying.
If you insist on stories having all the questions answered and a happy ending this is definitely not for you. If you want a creepy ending that leaves you wanting to throttle the author then this is definitely for you.
For me, I can't wait to read the next in the series.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews