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A Time For Violence: Stories with an Edge
Throughout the years countless wordsmiths have produced their own story collections, but the book you are now holding is a love letter to the great anthologies of yesteryear, assembling stories by a variety of talents, packaged neatly and often connected by a singular theme.
268 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2019
69 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Andy Rausch
93 books52 followersAndy Rausch is the author or editor of more than fifty books. His nonfiction (as Andrew J. Rausch) includes My Best Friend's Birthday: The Making of a Quentin Tarantino Film, The Cinematic Misadventures of Ed Wood (w/ Charles E, Pratt Jr.), and Perspectives on Stephen King.
His fiction includes Layla's Score, American Trash, and Bloody Sheets. Several of his books have been optioned for film and his work has been translated into French, Spanish, Portugese, and Chinese. He is a web editor at Diabolique magazine and the screenwriter of the film Dahmer vs. Gacy.
He has edited numerous anthologies that have featured the work of such writers as Joe R. Lansdale, Max Allan Collins, Stewart O'Nan, John A. Russo, Richard Chizmar, Peter Leonard, Wrath James White, Stephen Spignesi, Richard Christian Matheson, etc.
His fiction includes Layla's Score, American Trash, and Bloody Sheets. Several of his books have been optioned for film and his work has been translated into French, Spanish, Portugese, and Chinese. He is a web editor at Diabolique magazine and the screenwriter of the film Dahmer vs. Gacy.
He has edited numerous anthologies that have featured the work of such writers as Joe R. Lansdale, Max Allan Collins, Stewart O'Nan, John A. Russo, Richard Chizmar, Peter Leonard, Wrath James White, Stephen Spignesi, Richard Christian Matheson, etc.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
December 14, 2020
Murderous
Violence has always been and always will be, a constant product of human existence. Either as nations or individuals, we continue to excel in its machinations. Some very good authors have contributed to this anthology, A Time for Violence, and the editors have described it as “a love letter to the great anthologies of yesteryear.” I don’t really see it paying homage to any previous era as it has a uniqueness and relevance to current interpretation, although a violent love letter is a tantalising notion. I also don’t think of it as a celebration of violence but quite a diverse exploration of the range of scenarios and motivations violence can manifest itself.
The variety of stories in this collection provides an amazing array of styles, structure, subject matter, motivation, emotional investment, moral dilemma, ferocity and mystic. The variety in this mixed bag of stories is the book’s greatest attribute. Each story will take the reader into another environment, a contrasting narrative and genres that jump from crime to war, from supernatural to horror, and from family to political settings.
A great characteristic of short story compendiums, particularly around a theme, is that they can expound a particular trait, emotion or scenario which enables the reader to ingest a concentrated fix. This anthology delivers a fix!
The spark that can ignite a violent episode is explored throughout the book where dealing with a psychopath has a pretty sure outcome but the violent response from a family member or respected member of society can be fascinating, and the stories while short, manage to deliver enough background, to fully appreciate the course of action taken. Some stories are more ideological motives and there is a great story which challenges our violent response as a nation to atrocities against it. Should the response be more atrocities and greater violence? There are also supernatural forces brought into a few of the stories for those that enjoy fantasy and horror genres.
I really enjoyed this anthology and while the theme is violence this isn’t all blood, guts and gore-fuelled wickedness. If you enjoy variety, you’ll enjoy the range of styles and stories. If you enjoy crime, thrillers and horror, you’ll enjoy the anticipation and threatening undercurrent throughout. If you enjoy quick reading spurts, well that’s what anthologies are all about. There are 26 different stories in this book so there will be preferences.
I recommend this book and I would like to thank Henry Roi from Close to the Bone, for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Additional Book Ratings
Cover Design: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Proofreading Success: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quality of Book Formatting: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Status: Kindle Published
Illustrations: N/A
Number of Pages: 266
Number of Stories: 26 (approx 10 pages per story)
Violence has always been and always will be, a constant product of human existence. Either as nations or individuals, we continue to excel in its machinations. Some very good authors have contributed to this anthology, A Time for Violence, and the editors have described it as “a love letter to the great anthologies of yesteryear.” I don’t really see it paying homage to any previous era as it has a uniqueness and relevance to current interpretation, although a violent love letter is a tantalising notion. I also don’t think of it as a celebration of violence but quite a diverse exploration of the range of scenarios and motivations violence can manifest itself.
The variety of stories in this collection provides an amazing array of styles, structure, subject matter, motivation, emotional investment, moral dilemma, ferocity and mystic. The variety in this mixed bag of stories is the book’s greatest attribute. Each story will take the reader into another environment, a contrasting narrative and genres that jump from crime to war, from supernatural to horror, and from family to political settings.
A great characteristic of short story compendiums, particularly around a theme, is that they can expound a particular trait, emotion or scenario which enables the reader to ingest a concentrated fix. This anthology delivers a fix!
The spark that can ignite a violent episode is explored throughout the book where dealing with a psychopath has a pretty sure outcome but the violent response from a family member or respected member of society can be fascinating, and the stories while short, manage to deliver enough background, to fully appreciate the course of action taken. Some stories are more ideological motives and there is a great story which challenges our violent response as a nation to atrocities against it. Should the response be more atrocities and greater violence? There are also supernatural forces brought into a few of the stories for those that enjoy fantasy and horror genres.
I really enjoyed this anthology and while the theme is violence this isn’t all blood, guts and gore-fuelled wickedness. If you enjoy variety, you’ll enjoy the range of styles and stories. If you enjoy crime, thrillers and horror, you’ll enjoy the anticipation and threatening undercurrent throughout. If you enjoy quick reading spurts, well that’s what anthologies are all about. There are 26 different stories in this book so there will be preferences.
I recommend this book and I would like to thank Henry Roi from Close to the Bone, for providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
Additional Book Ratings
Cover Design: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Title: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Proofreading Success: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quality of Book Formatting: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Status: Kindle Published
Illustrations: N/A
Number of Pages: 266
Number of Stories: 26 (approx 10 pages per story)
January 13, 2021
I have never entered the world of written crime noire before and was pleased to the take this opportunity of a free download for a review. I have read all the other excellent reviews on Goodreads of this book and don't think I can surpass their quality so I will just add my own impressions.
The book consists of twenty-six short stories about crime and violence. This means twenty-six different approaches and written styles. The stories are varied and each one comes as a new surprise. If you don't like the plot you will be carried through it by the author's style. There is blood and violence, I normally don't like this in media, but I could accept it here as it was the written word in my mind and not graphic pictures seen from my eyes. The violence didn't seem real. I found it exciting to discover new ways of writing; new imagery and simile that I learnt from. I could almost taste the blood in my mouth.
The pedigree of the writers is impressive. I didn't know any of them so researched some of them out of curiosity. Andy Rausch, please forgive me! Your writing pedigree is impressive. I stand in awe.
The stories are firmly based in American culture. Words are different, things are different. Being English I didn't always understand them; I often don't understand plots of police crime, have to see a TV programme more than once to "get" the plot, sometime become lazy and don't "get" it at all, just soak in the feeling. Did this with some of the stories here, appreciating the style of
writing more.
Will finish off by talking about just one story, "Guns, Mirrors" by Richard Godwin. I found this a bit of a puzzle. Not set in America but Surrey, England, about a man fantasising about the American Cowboy Dream and living it in Old Blighty. At least, that's the way I interpreted it. Either this man really did come from Kentucky, or he was so living delusionaly that he though he came from Kentucky, I was never sure about the reality of this. I always felt the dichotomy of what was real and what wasn't. The truth blurred between the two. No one really imports a thousand bottles of Wild Turkey from Kentucky, no-one keeps one thousand buffalos in a field in Surrey. It is all a fantasy in his head. In the end I felt nothing but pity for the characters living in such a psychosis. I give credit to the author for writing so cleverly to give out this blurred image. I think he gives a clue from the title of the story.
This anthology is a collection of interesting and varied stories. I appreciate the quality and diversity. In antithesis I felt that it could sometimes approach the subject matter in a somewhat fixed way; stereotyped images of revenge, misogyny, blood, robbery and violence.
The book consists of twenty-six short stories about crime and violence. This means twenty-six different approaches and written styles. The stories are varied and each one comes as a new surprise. If you don't like the plot you will be carried through it by the author's style. There is blood and violence, I normally don't like this in media, but I could accept it here as it was the written word in my mind and not graphic pictures seen from my eyes. The violence didn't seem real. I found it exciting to discover new ways of writing; new imagery and simile that I learnt from. I could almost taste the blood in my mouth.
The pedigree of the writers is impressive. I didn't know any of them so researched some of them out of curiosity. Andy Rausch, please forgive me! Your writing pedigree is impressive. I stand in awe.
The stories are firmly based in American culture. Words are different, things are different. Being English I didn't always understand them; I often don't understand plots of police crime, have to see a TV programme more than once to "get" the plot, sometime become lazy and don't "get" it at all, just soak in the feeling. Did this with some of the stories here, appreciating the style of
writing more.
Will finish off by talking about just one story, "Guns, Mirrors" by Richard Godwin. I found this a bit of a puzzle. Not set in America but Surrey, England, about a man fantasising about the American Cowboy Dream and living it in Old Blighty. At least, that's the way I interpreted it. Either this man really did come from Kentucky, or he was so living delusionaly that he though he came from Kentucky, I was never sure about the reality of this. I always felt the dichotomy of what was real and what wasn't. The truth blurred between the two. No one really imports a thousand bottles of Wild Turkey from Kentucky, no-one keeps one thousand buffalos in a field in Surrey. It is all a fantasy in his head. In the end I felt nothing but pity for the characters living in such a psychosis. I give credit to the author for writing so cleverly to give out this blurred image. I think he gives a clue from the title of the story.
This anthology is a collection of interesting and varied stories. I appreciate the quality and diversity. In antithesis I felt that it could sometimes approach the subject matter in a somewhat fixed way; stereotyped images of revenge, misogyny, blood, robbery and violence.
June 22, 2021
Like most short story collections, some good ones, some not.
May 6, 2019
The short stories in this anthology provide stylish writing from 28 assorted authors, including some well-known names in the crime genre. They each take a different tack to interpret the central theme in unpredictable fashion. You can’t be certain that fate won’t deal any of the protagonists fatal slap in the face – that’s the fun of the short story. We’re less invested in the characters and the writer isn’t tied to a novel-length narrative. So absolutely anything might happen…
Some stories are intended simply to shock (and they certainly succeed) but others trawl deeper waters, examining the causes and consequences of cruel brutality. The opening episode of backwoods noir, Blood Brothers, brilliantly defies expectation. I also adored the cultural and personal insights offered by Scab, a tale of high-voltage tension in which black lives truly matter.
Then there’s a selection of deliriously guilty pleasures, punch-drunk, adrenalin-drenched misadventures which are light on moral high ground but saturated in red mist and premeditated mayhem. Andy Rausch, for instance, pens an extremely entertaining episode of righteous retribution in hillbilly country, while Joe R Lansdale’s contribution – a nifty heist caper – is a highly-polished gem.
Around a dozen of the stories have appeared elsewhere – but have been unavailable for ages and deserve to reach a fresh audience. It’s always a delight to read a Quarry story, and Guest Services definitely doesn’t disappoint. On the other hand, I was disappointed by one contribution which didn’t read like a self-contained standalone story. It seemed to be an excerpt from a longer offering which cheats the reader with an unsatisfying teaser.
As with any collection, a couple of these stories simply didn’t ring my bell. But that’s also the joy of an anthology. If you don’t like one writer’s style then just accelerate to the next chapter where someone new awaits to shock, surprise or sadden you. And it ain’t all grim; there’s even some unexpected laughs along the way.
8/10
There are more reviews of other crime / thrillers over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net
Some stories are intended simply to shock (and they certainly succeed) but others trawl deeper waters, examining the causes and consequences of cruel brutality. The opening episode of backwoods noir, Blood Brothers, brilliantly defies expectation. I also adored the cultural and personal insights offered by Scab, a tale of high-voltage tension in which black lives truly matter.
Then there’s a selection of deliriously guilty pleasures, punch-drunk, adrenalin-drenched misadventures which are light on moral high ground but saturated in red mist and premeditated mayhem. Andy Rausch, for instance, pens an extremely entertaining episode of righteous retribution in hillbilly country, while Joe R Lansdale’s contribution – a nifty heist caper – is a highly-polished gem.
Around a dozen of the stories have appeared elsewhere – but have been unavailable for ages and deserve to reach a fresh audience. It’s always a delight to read a Quarry story, and Guest Services definitely doesn’t disappoint. On the other hand, I was disappointed by one contribution which didn’t read like a self-contained standalone story. It seemed to be an excerpt from a longer offering which cheats the reader with an unsatisfying teaser.
As with any collection, a couple of these stories simply didn’t ring my bell. But that’s also the joy of an anthology. If you don’t like one writer’s style then just accelerate to the next chapter where someone new awaits to shock, surprise or sadden you. And it ain’t all grim; there’s even some unexpected laughs along the way.
8/10
There are more reviews of other crime / thrillers over at http://www.murdermayhemandmore.net
May 1, 2019
If you enjoy short, gritty crime fiction, you need to check out this anthology.
I thoroughly enjoyed so many of the short stories featured in here. The contributors include many of my own favorite authors. Exceptional writing from authors like Max Allan Collins, Paul D. Brazill, Andrew Nette, Joe R. Lansdale, Elka Ray, Tom Vater, and Chris Roy. (To name just a few.) And, boy, that last story! "Waste Management". The name says it all.
I don’t know about you, but I love short stories. The kind you can consume one at a time, in between reading chapters in novels. Or maybe that’s just me. :)
Do yourself a favor. Get this book!
Is every single story a hit? It’s an anthology, so … you’re mileage may vary. :)
PS: I was provided a free review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed so many of the short stories featured in here. The contributors include many of my own favorite authors. Exceptional writing from authors like Max Allan Collins, Paul D. Brazill, Andrew Nette, Joe R. Lansdale, Elka Ray, Tom Vater, and Chris Roy. (To name just a few.) And, boy, that last story! "Waste Management". The name says it all.
I don’t know about you, but I love short stories. The kind you can consume one at a time, in between reading chapters in novels. Or maybe that’s just me. :)
Do yourself a favor. Get this book!
Is every single story a hit? It’s an anthology, so … you’re mileage may vary. :)
PS: I was provided a free review copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 19, 2019
An excellent collection of crime shorts from an impressive writing crew. The standouts for me are Joe R. Lansdale’s Santa at the Cafe, Richard Chizmar’s Blood Brothers, Pail D. Brazill’s Baby’s Got a Gun, and the wild Scab by Wrath James Wright. They’re not the only excellent slices of lowlife thrills, the book is full of ripe fruit.
Full of thrills and spills.
Full of thrills and spills.
May 1, 2019
A Time of Violence: Stories with an edge by multiple authors.
Well, here we have it! I have finished this book of approximately 28 short (ish) stories. A gripping read with a variety of crime fiction. This anthology has been gathered from authors with varying degrees of success under their belts and I would say this is going to be very popular. Many of the authors have co-written some of their stories with other well-known authors and screenwriters. The authors include Max Collins, Joe Lansdale, John Russo, Richard Matheson, Bev Vincent, Stewart O'Nan, Craig Douglas and it has been edited by Chris Roy and Andy Rausch. Below is a short rundown of all the stories in this anthology to give you a little taster. It's a thumbs up from me.
Waste Management by Chris Roy.
This is a tragic tale of a hard childhood; the result being the creation of a psychopath. I would say this is definitely a psychological thriller with graphic descriptions. Put it this way, I don’t want to run into the chief character in my lifetime. Personally, I would put this in a horror category, but then I am a bit of a mush. :)
To Kill An Arab by Tom Vater.
I liked this story because the characters were planned very well. I say this because they were both American and Arabic. It had an interesting perspective and used the Aramaic language to enhance reader identification. It was a spy story told from the other side of the coin. An interesting read.
The Edge by Richard Christian Matheson.
An interesting story of how a psychopath evolves; his enjoyment with what most of us fear. The ending is open to the imagination. An intriguing short story by someone with a lot of years of experience in screenwriting.
One Hit Wonder by Elka Ray.
This has a great twist at the end. It is an enjoyable read of love and loyalty and is intriguing. The main character is married to a person he loves very much and as she goes on holiday he bumps into his old school friend. The friend ends up dead and…
Manner Of Death: Homicide By Peter Leonard.
This is a police procedural and a new homicide cop ends up meeting an older retired detective. The older one finds a body on his property; although this is a short story, it would also make an excellent first chapter.
Epiphany In The Third By David Hayes.
This is a hilarious tale of two guys digging a grave and one is elated as he has just got what he wished for! Or has he? He may end up with what he didn’t bargain for? He’s left his mate to do most of the work. They both want to leave the gang they are working for. The story is funny, has lots of humour as well as a scary tale.
James And Sallie by Stephen Spignesi.
This is a sad and graphic tale of suffering and slavery. As awful as it is, it is a reminder of how cruel human beings can be. Moreover, a reminder of how we shouldn't be. The only solace the father and child would have had is that they were laid to rest together.
Channel 666 - By John Russo.
This story is about a strange tv channel. It is an interesting tale of the darkest and how this person is deceived into committing murder. It reminded me of a tale that should have been on the programme I watched in my younger adult years. This author is known for co-authoring The Night Of The Living Dead.
Boy's Club by Tony Knighton.
An interesting story of confession, the chief character goes to church and meets up with an old friend during the service. He has guilt as he reminisces that afternoon, but it is not long-lived. You have to read on to understand what has happened. The puzzle is pieced together at the end.
Season's Don't Fear The Reaper By Billy Chizmar.
A detective inspector gets a weird confessor in his interview room and he sets off disbelieving the man willing to take responsibility for these crimes. The murders are carefully described and intriguing; until he gets deceived into meeting the person who killed his son. A classic tale of what not to do when tempted. Incidentally, this is the son of Richard Chizmar who directed the film Trapped.
The Problem With Mice by James H. Longmore.
The descriptions in this short story are graphic and I actually felt sorry for the mice, but the author also made me laugh; his style of writing is great. It really didn’t matter that the mice were in the walls, damaging the structure of his home, but when they got into his car? Well! That’s different! Ha-ha. It has an ending to make you CRAWL.
Summer of '77 by Stewart O'Nan.
This is another achieved author who has had some titles adapted to film. This one made me shudder, so if you like a thriller, this one is for you. It is about an abductor and it is written from his point of view. It is a chilling, thrilling tale and this one freaked me out.
Lacquer By Isobel Blackthorn.
This is one of my favourites so far in the book, a private investigator ends up finding a Jane doe when his drinking goes too far and he ends up in an alley. The person wasn't too far from the back entrance to the bar and a friend of his has also seen the deceased. His friend begs him to find out who this person is and he also feels compelled as it is a particularly gruesome crime.
Baby’s Got A Gun By Paul D. Brazil.
This short story is meant to seal the fate of a certain person by way of a hit man. It doesn’t quite go that way, but the victim is still dealt with. It is difficult with short stories, not to give the whole game away, so forgive my ultra short review.
Guest Service - A Quarry Story By Max Allan Collins.
Two ex-servicemen who were great buddies meet up several years later, one of them had travelled a wrong road, but wanted to be finished with all that. He ends up working for the other one, has quite a nice job, until a bully arrives. He is not fazed by this person... I will leave the remainder to your imagination or future reading. Max Collins has written several books to movies and movies to books.
Gunfight At The Golden Gator by Tyson Blue.
This review is about the Gunfight At The Golden Gator. A short story by Tyson Blue. If you like action and shootouts, this is your story. A notorious family land themselves in the deep and there is a witness. I will say no more; Action based. It’s an excellent anthology.
Gun Mirrors By Richard Godwin.
This short story I have found to be quite comical. I am not sure if it was meant to be? But it is. The Wild West comes to Surrey in the UK. It is warmer than where I come from; never-the-less, still much cooler than Kentucky. Lost in their past, two guys endeavour to play it out in western style. I am definitely a fan of Richard Godwin having just finished his Apostle Unbound. I enjoy his writing.
Mean Business By Mark Slade.
This short story Mean Business By Mark Slade is another gripping tale of crime fiction. The chief character sets out to solve a problem involving two rival gangs that usually work together. The end of the story suits the plot. The author retains your interest to the end.
Santa at the cafe by Joe R Lansdale.
This short story Santa at the cafe told by Joe R Lansdale leads you down a cleverly written path and has a couple of interesting twists. It starts in a cafe where two people get chatting and there is a hold-up. The Santa has just finished his shift on Christmas Eve. It has a good plot and the ending is good too. All the stories in this anthology grip you and compel you to read on. Moreover, as they are short stories I am limited to the amount of plot I can give you, but it's good.
The Sweetest Ass in Ozarks By Andy Rausch.
This tale is more than justice for thought crime! If you ever read George Orwell's 1984 you will know what I mean. The Sweetest Ass in Ozarks is the title and it is written by Andy Rausch. Whom I believe is one of the co-producers of this anthology. This particular story has a female twist. When this guy takes a sexual risk, he gets what he didn’t bargain for. A Thrilling Tale.
Ladies Day At The Olympia Car Wash By Andrew Nette.
Ladies day brings me visions of the races at York and Ascot but here the ladies day refers to a special offer run by a company and the Tuesday is 'Ladies Day'. The two men at the car wash have a typical friendly day at the car wash and one of them wants better things, his colleague has heard all this before. It is a thrilling tale with an unexpected ending.
The Invisible Man By Bev Vincent.
This short story called The Invisible Man by Bev Vincent is about an unknown superhero who is lonely and speaks to his counsellor about his ordeals. He debates about his 9-5 job and his evening work. The shrink doesn’t really believe him, how wrong could she be?
Disrespect By T. Fox Dunham.
This short story is called Disrespect, it is a story of loyalty and fear. What would you do faced with the same decision? I would rather not have to make the decision at all. You will have to read it and see? To tell you would be a big spoiler... But I can't resist a little (grin) There are two cousins who grew up together like brothers. One has not minded his business and has landed himself in trouble. The other one attempts to get him out of it. He is then faced with a decision set by the people his cousin upsets. Interesting twist.
Wise - By C. Courtney Joyner.
This story review is for a title named Wise. By C. Courtney Joyner. Who, incidentally, is a screenwriter of many films? This story is told in the first person from the chief character's point of view. It is a compelling, gripping and sad short story about a 15-year-olds life. I pictured him as a cowboy so a wild west kind of fiction. I think the author has specifically got you sat right there with this little boy that you definitely identify with him. Another enthralling story in this anthology.
Scab by Wrath James White.
Scab is an interesting story as the author takes you inside the mind of a psychotic schizophrenic. The author has a clever writing style. To create such an impact in a short story I think is commendable. Please note that this is an untreated Schizophrenic.
Blood Brothers By Richard Chizmar.
Blood Brothers is a short story by Richard Chizmar. Most of the story explains how one brother ends up in crime. As the story unfolds, you will see how the younger brother moves in and out of crime; as the elder stays out of it. The author has a way of absorbing you into this brotherly relationship, so you will read it in one session. You have to read on. It is written in the first person from the elder brother’s point of view. It has a twist-ending and made a good short read. This is the first story in this anthology of short stories called A Time of Violence.
Well, here we have it! I have finished this book of approximately 28 short (ish) stories. A gripping read with a variety of crime fiction. This anthology has been gathered from authors with varying degrees of success under their belts and I would say this is going to be very popular. Many of the authors have co-written some of their stories with other well-known authors and screenwriters. The authors include Max Collins, Joe Lansdale, John Russo, Richard Matheson, Bev Vincent, Stewart O'Nan, Craig Douglas and it has been edited by Chris Roy and Andy Rausch. Below is a short rundown of all the stories in this anthology to give you a little taster. It's a thumbs up from me.
Waste Management by Chris Roy.
This is a tragic tale of a hard childhood; the result being the creation of a psychopath. I would say this is definitely a psychological thriller with graphic descriptions. Put it this way, I don’t want to run into the chief character in my lifetime. Personally, I would put this in a horror category, but then I am a bit of a mush. :)
To Kill An Arab by Tom Vater.
I liked this story because the characters were planned very well. I say this because they were both American and Arabic. It had an interesting perspective and used the Aramaic language to enhance reader identification. It was a spy story told from the other side of the coin. An interesting read.
The Edge by Richard Christian Matheson.
An interesting story of how a psychopath evolves; his enjoyment with what most of us fear. The ending is open to the imagination. An intriguing short story by someone with a lot of years of experience in screenwriting.
One Hit Wonder by Elka Ray.
This has a great twist at the end. It is an enjoyable read of love and loyalty and is intriguing. The main character is married to a person he loves very much and as she goes on holiday he bumps into his old school friend. The friend ends up dead and…
Manner Of Death: Homicide By Peter Leonard.
This is a police procedural and a new homicide cop ends up meeting an older retired detective. The older one finds a body on his property; although this is a short story, it would also make an excellent first chapter.
Epiphany In The Third By David Hayes.
This is a hilarious tale of two guys digging a grave and one is elated as he has just got what he wished for! Or has he? He may end up with what he didn’t bargain for? He’s left his mate to do most of the work. They both want to leave the gang they are working for. The story is funny, has lots of humour as well as a scary tale.
James And Sallie by Stephen Spignesi.
This is a sad and graphic tale of suffering and slavery. As awful as it is, it is a reminder of how cruel human beings can be. Moreover, a reminder of how we shouldn't be. The only solace the father and child would have had is that they were laid to rest together.
Channel 666 - By John Russo.
This story is about a strange tv channel. It is an interesting tale of the darkest and how this person is deceived into committing murder. It reminded me of a tale that should have been on the programme I watched in my younger adult years. This author is known for co-authoring The Night Of The Living Dead.
Boy's Club by Tony Knighton.
An interesting story of confession, the chief character goes to church and meets up with an old friend during the service. He has guilt as he reminisces that afternoon, but it is not long-lived. You have to read on to understand what has happened. The puzzle is pieced together at the end.
Season's Don't Fear The Reaper By Billy Chizmar.
A detective inspector gets a weird confessor in his interview room and he sets off disbelieving the man willing to take responsibility for these crimes. The murders are carefully described and intriguing; until he gets deceived into meeting the person who killed his son. A classic tale of what not to do when tempted. Incidentally, this is the son of Richard Chizmar who directed the film Trapped.
The Problem With Mice by James H. Longmore.
The descriptions in this short story are graphic and I actually felt sorry for the mice, but the author also made me laugh; his style of writing is great. It really didn’t matter that the mice were in the walls, damaging the structure of his home, but when they got into his car? Well! That’s different! Ha-ha. It has an ending to make you CRAWL.
Summer of '77 by Stewart O'Nan.
This is another achieved author who has had some titles adapted to film. This one made me shudder, so if you like a thriller, this one is for you. It is about an abductor and it is written from his point of view. It is a chilling, thrilling tale and this one freaked me out.
Lacquer By Isobel Blackthorn.
This is one of my favourites so far in the book, a private investigator ends up finding a Jane doe when his drinking goes too far and he ends up in an alley. The person wasn't too far from the back entrance to the bar and a friend of his has also seen the deceased. His friend begs him to find out who this person is and he also feels compelled as it is a particularly gruesome crime.
Baby’s Got A Gun By Paul D. Brazil.
This short story is meant to seal the fate of a certain person by way of a hit man. It doesn’t quite go that way, but the victim is still dealt with. It is difficult with short stories, not to give the whole game away, so forgive my ultra short review.
Guest Service - A Quarry Story By Max Allan Collins.
Two ex-servicemen who were great buddies meet up several years later, one of them had travelled a wrong road, but wanted to be finished with all that. He ends up working for the other one, has quite a nice job, until a bully arrives. He is not fazed by this person... I will leave the remainder to your imagination or future reading. Max Collins has written several books to movies and movies to books.
Gunfight At The Golden Gator by Tyson Blue.
This review is about the Gunfight At The Golden Gator. A short story by Tyson Blue. If you like action and shootouts, this is your story. A notorious family land themselves in the deep and there is a witness. I will say no more; Action based. It’s an excellent anthology.
Gun Mirrors By Richard Godwin.
This short story I have found to be quite comical. I am not sure if it was meant to be? But it is. The Wild West comes to Surrey in the UK. It is warmer than where I come from; never-the-less, still much cooler than Kentucky. Lost in their past, two guys endeavour to play it out in western style. I am definitely a fan of Richard Godwin having just finished his Apostle Unbound. I enjoy his writing.
Mean Business By Mark Slade.
This short story Mean Business By Mark Slade is another gripping tale of crime fiction. The chief character sets out to solve a problem involving two rival gangs that usually work together. The end of the story suits the plot. The author retains your interest to the end.
Santa at the cafe by Joe R Lansdale.
This short story Santa at the cafe told by Joe R Lansdale leads you down a cleverly written path and has a couple of interesting twists. It starts in a cafe where two people get chatting and there is a hold-up. The Santa has just finished his shift on Christmas Eve. It has a good plot and the ending is good too. All the stories in this anthology grip you and compel you to read on. Moreover, as they are short stories I am limited to the amount of plot I can give you, but it's good.
The Sweetest Ass in Ozarks By Andy Rausch.
This tale is more than justice for thought crime! If you ever read George Orwell's 1984 you will know what I mean. The Sweetest Ass in Ozarks is the title and it is written by Andy Rausch. Whom I believe is one of the co-producers of this anthology. This particular story has a female twist. When this guy takes a sexual risk, he gets what he didn’t bargain for. A Thrilling Tale.
Ladies Day At The Olympia Car Wash By Andrew Nette.
Ladies day brings me visions of the races at York and Ascot but here the ladies day refers to a special offer run by a company and the Tuesday is 'Ladies Day'. The two men at the car wash have a typical friendly day at the car wash and one of them wants better things, his colleague has heard all this before. It is a thrilling tale with an unexpected ending.
The Invisible Man By Bev Vincent.
This short story called The Invisible Man by Bev Vincent is about an unknown superhero who is lonely and speaks to his counsellor about his ordeals. He debates about his 9-5 job and his evening work. The shrink doesn’t really believe him, how wrong could she be?
Disrespect By T. Fox Dunham.
This short story is called Disrespect, it is a story of loyalty and fear. What would you do faced with the same decision? I would rather not have to make the decision at all. You will have to read it and see? To tell you would be a big spoiler... But I can't resist a little (grin) There are two cousins who grew up together like brothers. One has not minded his business and has landed himself in trouble. The other one attempts to get him out of it. He is then faced with a decision set by the people his cousin upsets. Interesting twist.
Wise - By C. Courtney Joyner.
This story review is for a title named Wise. By C. Courtney Joyner. Who, incidentally, is a screenwriter of many films? This story is told in the first person from the chief character's point of view. It is a compelling, gripping and sad short story about a 15-year-olds life. I pictured him as a cowboy so a wild west kind of fiction. I think the author has specifically got you sat right there with this little boy that you definitely identify with him. Another enthralling story in this anthology.
Scab by Wrath James White.
Scab is an interesting story as the author takes you inside the mind of a psychotic schizophrenic. The author has a clever writing style. To create such an impact in a short story I think is commendable. Please note that this is an untreated Schizophrenic.
Blood Brothers By Richard Chizmar.
Blood Brothers is a short story by Richard Chizmar. Most of the story explains how one brother ends up in crime. As the story unfolds, you will see how the younger brother moves in and out of crime; as the elder stays out of it. The author has a way of absorbing you into this brotherly relationship, so you will read it in one session. You have to read on. It is written in the first person from the elder brother’s point of view. It has a twist-ending and made a good short read. This is the first story in this anthology of short stories called A Time of Violence.
July 24, 2020
As the title suggests, A Time For Violence, Stories With An Edge, by Andy Rausch and Chris Roy, has its share of violent episodes, though few are gratuitous, and most, if not all, rely on a concise and entertaining narrative. I expected as much from the stories after agreeing to review the anthology, having read and enjoyed the short stories, novels, and novellas of several of the authors, including Stewart O’Nan, Joe R. Lansdale, Max Allan Collins, Isobel Blackthorn, and T. Fox Dunham. All 26 short stories in this book are award-worthy and fast-paced, making it read more like an action novel, rather than an anthology. I suggest reading no more than four or five stories at a time to allow your brain to refresh, so that you can better comprehend and enjoy each complex tale. The anthology begins with one of the most intriguing and memorable of the 26 stories, Blood Brothers by Richard Chizmar. It’s a story of a Cain and Abel relationship between brothers that first lulls you into a comfortable read and then hits you with an O. Henry-esque ending that will surprise all. This story and several others were my favorites and will probably embed themselves into my subconscious for years to come. Stewart O’Nan’s tale, The Summer of ’77, a Ted Bundy-like thriller, is a wonderful example of mixing beautiful prose with an unusual point-of-view to let the reader's imagination run free. Disrespect, by T. Fox Dunham, seems on the surface just a chapter from a mob book, until, like Blood Brothers, the love-hate relationship between cousins, Mike and Joey, becomes the story, complex, yet fascinating. Like Puzo’s, Godfather, the narrative has you rooting for the protagonist even though he’s someone you probably wouldn't invite to your house for dinner. The last story I'll mention is, Scab, by Wrath James White. This story will stay with you long after you read it. Its shock value alone will raise your heartbeat to a level worthy of Hitchcock's, Psycho. Save this for the daytime hours. As I said earlier, all the stories in this anthology are worthy of the kudos and awards they’ve earned and will entertain any and all, regardless of the reader’s view on violence. The editors have done an excellent job in their choices for the anthology. My only complaint, and it is slight, is that the editors didn't include more of the amazing crime stories written by women authors. Perhaps they will in the next anthology. I'm looking forward to reading it.
January 29, 2021
I received this book via email in exchange for a review.
I did enjoy some of these stories so that's why I'm giving it this rating. The other ones, not so much. I thought they were lame and rather boring. The stories I did enjoy, I am glad I read them. The ones I didn't care for, I wish I wouldn't have wasted my time on them. All in all, it was a decent book.
I did enjoy some of these stories so that's why I'm giving it this rating. The other ones, not so much. I thought they were lame and rather boring. The stories I did enjoy, I am glad I read them. The ones I didn't care for, I wish I wouldn't have wasted my time on them. All in all, it was a decent book.
January 23, 2020
Dark & disturbing tales of violence.
Some excellent tales that definitely got me thinking about the world about us.
Not every one was as good as the other but that’s short stories for you, that’s why there so good, you get a mix of talent & story telling.
Some excellent tales that definitely got me thinking about the world about us.
Not every one was as good as the other but that’s short stories for you, that’s why there so good, you get a mix of talent & story telling.
May 2, 2019
In my opinion this is a very dark collection of mostly short stories from all kinds of different Horror/mystery/crime authors and if these are your genres then A Time For Violence will have you chew off your cuticles.
A lot of the stories were brilliant and I absorbed them in a whim, some of them I wasn't too excited About because the style of writing or topic were just not for me. There were a lot more great stories than bad ones though and I don't want to single out the ones I didn't like, overall it was very well balanced. I am sure some people might love all the stories I disliked and that is the beauty of anthologies. I loved getting a look at so many different authors at once, seeing their style of writing and getting to choose which ones I loved and which ones I didn’t like, BUT I hated that I always only got a little snippet of the stories, the characters and the setting that I had gotten sucked in within moments. Every time a scene or chapter ended I wished it would go on and I would be able to read the entire novel right now (that is a very personal opinion though and not the fault of this anthology)
I would not recommend this anthology for people who are a bit squeamish because some stories really gave me the shivers, but if you want to rediscover old favourite authors or get to know a few new names, then this is totally for you.
A lot of the stories were brilliant and I absorbed them in a whim, some of them I wasn't too excited About because the style of writing or topic were just not for me. There were a lot more great stories than bad ones though and I don't want to single out the ones I didn't like, overall it was very well balanced. I am sure some people might love all the stories I disliked and that is the beauty of anthologies. I loved getting a look at so many different authors at once, seeing their style of writing and getting to choose which ones I loved and which ones I didn’t like, BUT I hated that I always only got a little snippet of the stories, the characters and the setting that I had gotten sucked in within moments. Every time a scene or chapter ended I wished it would go on and I would be able to read the entire novel right now (that is a very personal opinion though and not the fault of this anthology)
I would not recommend this anthology for people who are a bit squeamish because some stories really gave me the shivers, but if you want to rediscover old favourite authors or get to know a few new names, then this is totally for you.
May 1, 2019
When I first picked up ATime for Violence: Stories with an Edge, I wasn't sure what to expect. It was hardly my genre and though I"m a fan of short stories, no matter what the genre, the theme did make me a bit hesitant. But all those apprehensions lasted only till I started reading. It is not an exaggeration to say I was sucked in. The stories were intriguing, some were frightening, some made me feel contented, some made me despair, but all kept me at the edge of my seat. Some were a bit predictable in that I felt the same thing has been touched on my several authors before, but that didn't take away from the tension that this author had successfully managed to create in his story. There was far less blood and gore than I had expected and feared, and the writing was top quality. I would like to go into the stories in detail, but I don't want to spoil the book for you. All I can say is this is a book that's worth buying and worth reading. Don't look at the title or the theme. This is a book for all adults, irrespective of favoured genres. There's something for everyone here, and all the authors have been successful in maintaining the pace in their respective stories. Go and pick it up. You won't be disappointed.
May 2, 2019
A fine and extensively varied selection of crime, horror stories that explores a multitude of people and places in time. The settings of the stories detail escalating tension between brothers; demonic possession in alternate reality; thievery with a whole lot of plot twist; real historical torture stories that dates back to the days of slavery; police gangster stories; homicide in countryside and more.
A real page turner that bring immersive experiences, the styles of writing are very diverse among the authors and some of the short stories are in fact quite emotional and brings resonance to the readers.
A real page turner that bring immersive experiences, the styles of writing are very diverse among the authors and some of the short stories are in fact quite emotional and brings resonance to the readers.
August 3, 2021
Some of the Stories Were a Little Too Gory for My Taste
Overall a very interesting collection of violent tales without any judgement. The description of the black slave’s torture and his daughter’s murder through whipping was very unsettling to me.
Overall a very interesting collection of violent tales without any judgement. The description of the black slave’s torture and his daughter’s murder through whipping was very unsettling to me.
January 21, 2021
An interesting collection of stories. Most were great, a few were weaker, that could only be expected. Well worth a read, in my opinion, tales ranked from good to brilliant.
October 23, 2019
To see my full review, click HERE to see it on my website!
I don't normally turn towards short stories or compilations of them like this, but crime stories are fun for their lack of predictability, their edge, and especially when there might be an interesting social commentary to linger in your head and overtake your thoughts after you've closed the pages. There are quite a lot of different style of stories to be told that are all included in this anthology; I'd say with the wide variety that there's got to be something that just about anyone could find within that they'd really enjoy!
I don't normally turn towards short stories or compilations of them like this, but crime stories are fun for their lack of predictability, their edge, and especially when there might be an interesting social commentary to linger in your head and overtake your thoughts after you've closed the pages. There are quite a lot of different style of stories to be told that are all included in this anthology; I'd say with the wide variety that there's got to be something that just about anyone could find within that they'd really enjoy!
June 1, 2019
An anthology for a fan of the dark and gritty. No princes and princesses here falling in love. These stories have serial killers, mobsters, cops, hitman, and plenty of death. The stories are great examples of violence. Thus, I understood the editor's choice for including each piece.
The editor's do an excellent job of hyping the stories thereafter in the introduction and most stories live of to their hype. There are some that fall below the standard they set for the story and I do understand is my subjective opinion and all readers will agree on their own standards for these stories.
I gave each story a rating out of five. To get to a five the story had to surprise me. I already knew the stories had violence in them per the editor's reasoning for selecting these stories. I wanted to find that reason. If I felt like I found that reason. I gave the story a five. Those stories I gave less than five, I felt failed in that regard.
The stories I rated five's which includes my favorite, "Season's Don't Fear the Reaper," are below. The reasons I assessed these stories as the better ones of the anthology are because these ones are going to leave the most lasting impact on the reader.
"Blood Brothers."
"To Kill an Arab."
"One Hit Wonder."
"Epiphany in the Third."
"James and Sallie."
"Channel 666."
"Seasons Don't Fear the Reaper."
"The Problem with Mice."
"Lacquer."
"The Invisible Man."
"Guest Service: A Quarry Story."
"The Sweetest Ass in the Ozark."
"Santa in the Cafe."
"Scab."
However, the twelve stories that didn't woo me may catch the attention of other readers. My problem with those stories, they missed something to pull me into the story. Or, for instance, I had trouble deciphering the imagery of "Waste Management," the writer is immensely talented but by my own failings, lacked the understanding to decipher his words a lot of the time. When I did comprehend the story I was immersed in it, however, there were too many scenes I scratched at comprehending. Regarding, "Manner of Death" the story screeched to a halt--it did not have a satisfying stopping point. The most problem-laden story was "Gunfight at the Golden Gator." The action was dull and the ending joke was punchless. It was the only story I'd take out.
Out of 26 stories, one more than half, resonated with me. If you would have asked me before I read the book, I probably would have guessed a third. It was a pleasure to read this anthology and I look forward to reading more of their compilations.
Issjah
The editor's do an excellent job of hyping the stories thereafter in the introduction and most stories live of to their hype. There are some that fall below the standard they set for the story and I do understand is my subjective opinion and all readers will agree on their own standards for these stories.
I gave each story a rating out of five. To get to a five the story had to surprise me. I already knew the stories had violence in them per the editor's reasoning for selecting these stories. I wanted to find that reason. If I felt like I found that reason. I gave the story a five. Those stories I gave less than five, I felt failed in that regard.
The stories I rated five's which includes my favorite, "Season's Don't Fear the Reaper," are below. The reasons I assessed these stories as the better ones of the anthology are because these ones are going to leave the most lasting impact on the reader.
"Blood Brothers."
"To Kill an Arab."
"One Hit Wonder."
"Epiphany in the Third."
"James and Sallie."
"Channel 666."
"Seasons Don't Fear the Reaper."
"The Problem with Mice."
"Lacquer."
"The Invisible Man."
"Guest Service: A Quarry Story."
"The Sweetest Ass in the Ozark."
"Santa in the Cafe."
"Scab."
However, the twelve stories that didn't woo me may catch the attention of other readers. My problem with those stories, they missed something to pull me into the story. Or, for instance, I had trouble deciphering the imagery of "Waste Management," the writer is immensely talented but by my own failings, lacked the understanding to decipher his words a lot of the time. When I did comprehend the story I was immersed in it, however, there were too many scenes I scratched at comprehending. Regarding, "Manner of Death" the story screeched to a halt--it did not have a satisfying stopping point. The most problem-laden story was "Gunfight at the Golden Gator." The action was dull and the ending joke was punchless. It was the only story I'd take out.
Out of 26 stories, one more than half, resonated with me. If you would have asked me before I read the book, I probably would have guessed a third. It was a pleasure to read this anthology and I look forward to reading more of their compilations.
Issjah
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2019
Great stories that’ll leave you in the edge.
Although I didn’t enjoy all the stories, it wouldn’t be fair to give less than a 5-star review to “A Time For Violence”. There are 26 short stories in this book, but in despite of the fact that I didn’t like much a few of them because they are not for me, I must say they are all quite well written by very talented authors.
My favorites in order of preference were:
“The Edge” by Richard Christian Matheson – A man bored with life, only feels pleasure when some misfortune happens, or when he sees someone suffering. But nothing is what it seems and the author gives us a totally unexpected ending.
“The Problem With Mice” by James L. Longmore – A man plays a game with himself every day upon arriving home. That goes on until he sees a mouse and the dispute takes an unexpected turn. If you are like me and don’t like mice, then you’ll fear them even more.
“One Hit Wonder” by Elka Ray –A 79-year-old English musician marries a Thai girl fifty years younger than him, and they move to Thailand. One day she goes to visit her mother, and he meets an old friend in a bar who claims he stole from him his most successful song. The two get drunk and end up in the musician’s house. The next day, a series of events shows us the true story.
“The Sweetest Ass In The Ozarks” by Andy Rausch – A stinking homeless guy is stealing in a store when he sees a beautiful young woman and is attracted to her. She leaves the store, then he follows her. When he reaches her, what happens is unimaginable.
“Lacquer” by Isobel Blackthorn – A PI get wasted and ended vomiting, as usual, in an alley near the bar. He vomits over the mutilated body of a black woman. Through his investigation we get to know the whole story behind this crime.
“Ladies Day At The Olympia Car Wash” by Andrew Nette – A car wash’s employee is listening to his co-worker talking about a plan. They’ve known each other since childhood, and his friend’s ideas always end putting him in trouble. Then, a mysterious woman arrives and asks him to wash her car.
Other great stories, in no particular order, are “Blood Brothers” by Richard Chizmar; “Santa At The Café” by Joe R. Lansdale; “Guest Service: A Quarry Story” by Max Allan Collins; “Wise” by C. Courtney Joyner; “Seasons Don’t Fear The Reaper” by Billy Chizmar; “Boy’s Club” by Tony Knighton; “Epiphany In The Third” by David. C. Hayes; and “Channel 666” by John A. Russo.
Although I didn’t enjoy all the stories, it wouldn’t be fair to give less than a 5-star review to “A Time For Violence”. There are 26 short stories in this book, but in despite of the fact that I didn’t like much a few of them because they are not for me, I must say they are all quite well written by very talented authors.
My favorites in order of preference were:
“The Edge” by Richard Christian Matheson – A man bored with life, only feels pleasure when some misfortune happens, or when he sees someone suffering. But nothing is what it seems and the author gives us a totally unexpected ending.
“The Problem With Mice” by James L. Longmore – A man plays a game with himself every day upon arriving home. That goes on until he sees a mouse and the dispute takes an unexpected turn. If you are like me and don’t like mice, then you’ll fear them even more.
“One Hit Wonder” by Elka Ray –A 79-year-old English musician marries a Thai girl fifty years younger than him, and they move to Thailand. One day she goes to visit her mother, and he meets an old friend in a bar who claims he stole from him his most successful song. The two get drunk and end up in the musician’s house. The next day, a series of events shows us the true story.
“The Sweetest Ass In The Ozarks” by Andy Rausch – A stinking homeless guy is stealing in a store when he sees a beautiful young woman and is attracted to her. She leaves the store, then he follows her. When he reaches her, what happens is unimaginable.
“Lacquer” by Isobel Blackthorn – A PI get wasted and ended vomiting, as usual, in an alley near the bar. He vomits over the mutilated body of a black woman. Through his investigation we get to know the whole story behind this crime.
“Ladies Day At The Olympia Car Wash” by Andrew Nette – A car wash’s employee is listening to his co-worker talking about a plan. They’ve known each other since childhood, and his friend’s ideas always end putting him in trouble. Then, a mysterious woman arrives and asks him to wash her car.
Other great stories, in no particular order, are “Blood Brothers” by Richard Chizmar; “Santa At The Café” by Joe R. Lansdale; “Guest Service: A Quarry Story” by Max Allan Collins; “Wise” by C. Courtney Joyner; “Seasons Don’t Fear The Reaper” by Billy Chizmar; “Boy’s Club” by Tony Knighton; “Epiphany In The Third” by David. C. Hayes; and “Channel 666” by John A. Russo.
May 5, 2019
Book Review
Basic Details:
Book Title: A Time For Violence
Subtitle: Stories with an Edge
Author: Max Collins and others
Genre: Horror/Thriller/Mystery
Part of a series? No
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series? No
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Overall score:
I scored this book 4/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
This book is a compilation of several short stories written by multiple authors. Some stories are good, others plainly to violent to my liking and others good do with some further editing. Overall, it is a nice book for those who enjoy some gory tales.
What I liked about the book:
I particularly liked the stories which had a background story and were not simply violence for the sake of violence.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I don’t tend to like violent stories on their own, however there were a few which had a good back story and the violence was secondary to the story rather than the other way around.
My favourite bits in the book:
I loved where violence was not the only aim of the story. Where the story was the important factor and the violence was a part of the story and not the story itself.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I didn’t like it when violence was the story rather than a part of the story.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
I don’t know if any further books are planned as part of a series.
What books could this be compared to and why?
This book reminded me of none as it is not a usual genre for me to read.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Doubtful
Adult Yes
If you like violent stories this book could be the book for you.
Basic Details:
Book Title: A Time For Violence
Subtitle: Stories with an Edge
Author: Max Collins and others
Genre: Horror/Thriller/Mystery
Part of a series? No
Order in series:
Best read after earlier books in series? No
Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
Overall score:
I scored this book 4/5
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Short Summary of the book:
This book is a compilation of several short stories written by multiple authors. Some stories are good, others plainly to violent to my liking and others good do with some further editing. Overall, it is a nice book for those who enjoy some gory tales.
What I liked about the book:
I particularly liked the stories which had a background story and were not simply violence for the sake of violence.
What I didn’t like about the book:
I don’t tend to like violent stories on their own, however there were a few which had a good back story and the violence was secondary to the story rather than the other way around.
My favourite bits in the book:
I loved where violence was not the only aim of the story. Where the story was the important factor and the violence was a part of the story and not the story itself.
My least favourite bits in the book:
I didn’t like it when violence was the story rather than a part of the story.
Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?
I don’t know if any further books are planned as part of a series.
What books could this be compared to and why?
This book reminded me of none as it is not a usual genre for me to read.
Recommendation:
In summary, I would recommend this book for the following readers:
Children No
Young Adult Doubtful
Adult Yes
If you like violent stories this book could be the book for you.
May 2, 2019
I love a book that gives me such an edge, just a little shiver and keeps me at the tips of my toes right to the end.
September 18, 2021
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A Time for Violence is an anthology of dark and gritty short stories, edited by Andy Rausch and Chris Roy. It is a modern version of and aims to honour the short story horror trend popular in the eighties. Readers may remember Night Visions and Shadows from that era.
The authors were asked to write a story using violence as the topic. It resulted in a collection with a variety of stories, showing the different perceptions of this topic by talented authors.
The story covers themes such as betrayal, assassins, and racism. It features stories about criminal gangs, revenge, robberies, vigilante justice, and much more. I've enjoyed the rather humorous story about the war on the mice population in the garage.
The story that stood out to me, is the submission by Stephen Spignesi, about slavery. Especially since it is based on true events.
You will enjoy this diverse collection and its many unique stories. Read the collection in one sitting, or enjoy them one at a time.
I do not recommend the book to sensitive readers, due to the graphic violence in the stories.
Trigger Warnings: Deity Swears | Profanity | Violence | Slavery | Racism | Suicide
Read the full review on my blog:
https://readorrot.com/a-time-for-viol...
A Time for Violence is an anthology of dark and gritty short stories, edited by Andy Rausch and Chris Roy. It is a modern version of and aims to honour the short story horror trend popular in the eighties. Readers may remember Night Visions and Shadows from that era.
The authors were asked to write a story using violence as the topic. It resulted in a collection with a variety of stories, showing the different perceptions of this topic by talented authors.
The story covers themes such as betrayal, assassins, and racism. It features stories about criminal gangs, revenge, robberies, vigilante justice, and much more. I've enjoyed the rather humorous story about the war on the mice population in the garage.
The story that stood out to me, is the submission by Stephen Spignesi, about slavery. Especially since it is based on true events.
You will enjoy this diverse collection and its many unique stories. Read the collection in one sitting, or enjoy them one at a time.
I do not recommend the book to sensitive readers, due to the graphic violence in the stories.
Trigger Warnings: Deity Swears | Profanity | Violence | Slavery | Racism | Suicide
Read the full review on my blog:
https://readorrot.com/a-time-for-viol...
October 10, 2020
How do you like your murder and mayhem? Served with a knife? A gun?
Do you prefer premeditated murder or crimes of passion; that instantaneous blast of emotion that can never be recalled. The one that will haunt you forever?
A Time for Violence is an anthology of twenty-five short, violently sweet, short stories especially for those who love to read violent crime. It is a collection of works that take no prisoners and make no apology for their violent themes. Whether you like your mayhem served by surprise in a back alley at gunpoint, in an explosion of violent rage, or as revenge served as cold as ice, you will find it here written by some of the best crime and suspense authors in the business.
I felt the stories in this book were short, fast-paced, and hard-hitting. They should satisfy the most demanding readers who crave action thrillers.
This book was provided free by the author in hopes of receiving an honest review. The above review represents my honest opinion of the book.
Do you prefer premeditated murder or crimes of passion; that instantaneous blast of emotion that can never be recalled. The one that will haunt you forever?
A Time for Violence is an anthology of twenty-five short, violently sweet, short stories especially for those who love to read violent crime. It is a collection of works that take no prisoners and make no apology for their violent themes. Whether you like your mayhem served by surprise in a back alley at gunpoint, in an explosion of violent rage, or as revenge served as cold as ice, you will find it here written by some of the best crime and suspense authors in the business.
I felt the stories in this book were short, fast-paced, and hard-hitting. They should satisfy the most demanding readers who crave action thrillers.
This book was provided free by the author in hopes of receiving an honest review. The above review represents my honest opinion of the book.
November 29, 2019
While I didn’t by any means enjoy every story in this anthology, the whole point of an anthology is that you don’t have to, and I have rated this work on the merits of the stories I liked the most. A genuine crime horror fan would probably have given this work more stars than I did.
It would be fair to say that this collection has something for everyone. The short stories range from the truly creepy and unsettling to the anti-climactic, however, in tune with the title, they all have a violent edge. Many had me asking myself what I would do if I were in the protagonist’s shoes. As a reader who shies away from horror and gratuitous violence, my top three picks within this anthology are “Guest Service: A Quarry Story” by Max Allan Collins, “Gunfight at the Golden Gator” by Tyson Blue, and “Blood Brothers” by Richard Chizmar.
It would be fair to say that this collection has something for everyone. The short stories range from the truly creepy and unsettling to the anti-climactic, however, in tune with the title, they all have a violent edge. Many had me asking myself what I would do if I were in the protagonist’s shoes. As a reader who shies away from horror and gratuitous violence, my top three picks within this anthology are “Guest Service: A Quarry Story” by Max Allan Collins, “Gunfight at the Golden Gator” by Tyson Blue, and “Blood Brothers” by Richard Chizmar.
August 20, 2021
If short story collections are like a box of chocolates, then "A Time For Violence: Stories with an Edge" has each chocolate spiked with shards of glass, poison, or possibly both! Each story is a real gem, with a broad range of writing styles and imaginations, all with a dark and violent edge that provided true entertainment. This is a great anthology for dark and stormy nights!
This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.
November 8, 2020
An intriguing collection of short stories. Notable mentions 'Seasons Don't Fear The Reaper' by Billy Chizmar, 'Manner Of Death: Homicide' by Peter Leonard, and 'Santa At The Cafe' by Joe R. Lansdale. The running theme being karma is a bitch and there are cases for justified homicide. An enjoyable read and a welcome introduction to some new authors.
February 6, 2022
A Hard read
I enjoyed the first stories and couldn’t wait to read the next. Then the horror level increased to the point that I was barely skimming over the words. The last story made me feel nauseated. I normally like thrillers, but this one was too dark for me.
I enjoyed the first stories and couldn’t wait to read the next. Then the horror level increased to the point that I was barely skimming over the words. The last story made me feel nauseated. I normally like thrillers, but this one was too dark for me.
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