Afraid of the Light

by Alex North (Foreword)

Some people are scared of the dark. But it’s the light that exposes the secrets.

A young boy with nightmares faces up to his demons. A deathbed confession turns the world on its axis. A five-year-old watches his parents bury a body in the garden. A soldier returns from the war to find the horror isn’t yet over.

Afraid Of The Light brings the imagination of fourteen bestselling crime writers together in a collection that will keep you up all night. From a deadly campfire game to a holiday gone wrong, to an AI assistant with a motive and a love affair that can only end in murder, this is a gripping, twisty set of stories to send a shiver down your spine.

Genres: Short Stories, Anthologies, Mystery, Horror, Thriller, Crime, Fiction

140 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 2020

About the author

Alex North was born in Leeds, England, where he now lives with his wife and son. The Whisper Man was inspired by North's own little boy, who mentioned one day that he was playing with "the boy in the floor." Alex North is a British crime writer who has previously published under another name.

Reviews

[Kelly Van Damme · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an anthology of crime fiction and most importantly: it is a collection of short stories done right! Each story is a mini novel, a full-blown, fleshed-out yet succinct tale and each one hit that sweet spot. I chose this anthology because it has a mix of authors whose work I’ve enjoyed and new to me authors, AND the proceeds go the Samaritans, so you can enjoy yourself and help others, bloody fantastic! I discovered it on Twitter when Meggy was promoting it and she later reviewed it, do check that out here. It’s hard to pick a favourite, they’re all really good, but one that stuck with me is Sausage Fingers by Victoria Selman. Other contributors are Dominic Nolan, James Delargy, Claire Empton, Phoebe Morgan and Niki Mackay. I would definitely recommend this one to crime anthology lovers!

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 because all authors' royalties are donated to a charity. This is an anthology of creepy short stories by best selling writers of thrillers. The authors' novels are mentioned at the end of each story and the Kindle version gives a link to their web pages. The anthology contains 14 short stories by various authors of predominately psychological thrillers, and I must confess only one was known to me. I liked about half the stories and may seek out some of their work in the future. This collection is compiled by Alex North, the author of The Whisper Man, but he doesn't have a story of his own included.

[Ali Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic collection of short stories. One of the best I have read in a long time.

Short stories are difficult collections to review as you can have some truly brilliant and some truly awful. Thankfully, this anthology is all great.

I particularly loved the penultimate story by James Delargy as it was dark and twisty, like the others, but oh so funny too! Dark dark humour, which I love.

Also of note are the stories by Phoebe Morgan, about a son suffering night terrors; NJ Mackay, about a bereaved brother; Victoria Selman, about a strange series of murders; Dominic Nolan, about a lifelong criminal (Dominic also wins the award for best twist!); and Robert Scragg, which essentially looks at cat-fishing (and comes a close second with best twist).

The length of the stories is perfect too - I often find short stories can be too long but these are generally bite sized and super tasty.

What is even better about this is that royalties from this anthology go to the Samaritans. A worthy cause and great reading material so there's nothing to lose!

Thanks so much to The Pigeonhole for bringing this great anthology to my attention and letting me read along with a fabulous community of readers.

[Meggy Chocolate'n'Waffles · Rating 5 out of 5]

What are you afraid of? Fourteen crime fiction authors explore some of our deepest fears and put them into words.

I find the words anthology and short stories daunting. An anthology means you are going to get a taste of different settings, writing styles, characters. What if the flow of stories doesn’t work? What if I get so invested in an author’s particular story and then get frustrated? Short stories mean writers have so few pages to convince the reader. Even if I usually give a book fifty pages to hook me, short stories get even less, so what happens if the magic isn’t immediate?

Yet, when I was asked to read Afraid of the Light, I didn’t hesitate. I hear you. “How?!? She just said she wasn’t sure about both anthologies and short stories! This woman is crazy!” I am not! Well, I am, in a good way. So why I did I say yes to this project?

Two reasons.

One. The authors themselves. I have known most of them and have read some or most of their work. I know, I am a chicken, but when it comes to satisfying my criminal thirst in a short amount of time, it is difficult for me to take risks. Still, there were a few names I had yet to discover, and let’s be honest, we readers are generally curious. I wanted the thrill of a blend of familiarity and novelty. I wanted the unknown. Guess what, I got it!

Two. The reason behind the anthology. All royalties are donated to Samaritans. Mental health is precious, and we need to take care of it more than ever. I am grateful fourteen talented authors took from their time and evil minds to help in their own way.

Now that you know why this anthology found itself on my reading list, let me tell a little more about its content.

Fourteen short stories. Fourteen different kind of shivers. I know, I didn’t know it was possible, but they did it! Let’s have a look! I have decided not to say much about the stories themselves. I prefer to focus on how they made me feel in the hope it sparks an irrepressible urge to buy Afraid of the Light as soon as you’re done reading my review!

Are You Listening by Adam Southward

New author to me! I was excited as a kid on their birthday when I realized Adam had chosen and nailed a subject I’m particularly close to. They say we control technology, we own it… Do we? I have so much love for this entrée!!!

Daddy Dearest by Dominic Nolan

This author has the best lines. And his very own definition of evil. I’m still shivering. It’s not fear, it’s… deeper. Stronger. Darker.

Deathbed, Beth Dead by Elle Croft

Life’s gifts can be a curse. How my heart broke and filled with a bitterness I never knew I had in me! Efficient, heartbreaking, and bound to leave a trace.

Loveable Alan Atcliffe by S R Masters

This one really disturbed me. Oh loveable Alan… Don’t we all have skeletons in the closet?

Sleep Time by Phoebe Morgan

Phoebe Morgan, thank you. I had to leave my little electric candles on after reading your story right before bedtime!

Coming Home by N J Mackay

A different kind of fear. Life after a nightmare. The coldness and the loneliness oozed from the pages and my fingers gripped the Kindle a little tighter. Can the light find you in the dark?

Sausage Fingers by Victoria Selman

I owe Victoria Selman a newly found distrust for sausage fingers and those I love the most. They say parents have the answer to everything. They are here to show us the way. Never has it been so true!

Just a Game by Rachael Blok

Probably the story which felt the ‘scariest’ to me. Scary in the purest form. Just detailed enough to tickle the part of your brain that is fascinated by how things can go wrong in the blink of an eye.

Drowning in Debt by Heather Critchlow

The best plans always have a flaw! How I loved this domestic nightmare, the passion and the strength behind it!

To Evil or Not to Evil by Jo Furniss

First, brilliant title! Second, my nightmare come true. Imagine having a constantly updated feed telling others what you feel! How do relationship evolve from this when you can’t hide what’s inside, get time to think? I felt like the character in the story, a real prisoner in a free world. No privacy, nowhere to hide, and robots to take over… I was furious, frightened, with a feeling of unease filling my lungs and limbs! Brrr!

Sheep’s Clothing by Robert Scragg

Beautiful, cunning, absolutely devastating. I loved being tricked by the author, getting the hint, and taking a second to ask myself where I stood at the end of the story.

Frantic by Clare Empson

Domestic bliss pushed to the edge. Probably one of my favorite stories, if I was able to choose a favorite.

Planting Nan by James Delargy

Family love always blossoms… Another favorite! See, I am unable to pick one. Disturbing doesn’t even cover this one. James uses the most innocent thing on earth – a child (not my saying, I find kids to be little monsters) and puts him in the middle of a very special gardening lesson.

Shadow by Kate Simants

A real punch to the stomach! A narrative that just seeped into my mind, giving me a rush of adrenaline, until I reached the end and my mind went Boom.

There is such diversity in those stories that I couldn’t stop reading. Minutes flew by while I jumped from one nightmare to the next, printing Polaroid pictures of each monster in my mind, the power of the different writing sealing the evil behind my eyes.

Afraid of the Light is the perfect example of what an anthology is about – forces coming together to create a universe with doors to worlds all ready to make the reader feel. Every word in each short story is perfect, the balance between each author is pure, the result is an entertaining and engaging read. But this team has done more than just throw crazy ideas around. They address difficult matters, they force you to look in the mirror and see what is lurking in the shadows. They hold your hand while you visit unsettling truths and discover more than fear – justice, guilt, unconditional love. All those emotions and notions that can lead us to take a step back from the light and meet the shadows. We all have a shadow. What is yours?

Thank you to Alex North of a fantastic foreword!

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I’m not usually a fan of anthologies but these strange times that we find ourselves in mean that I find myself needing something to read that doesn’t require me to concentrate for too long. I love some of the authors who have contributed to this anthology (and the cause that it is raising money for is one that is close to my heart and much in need of support, especially at the moment) so I knew I had to read it. And it was just as good as I expected it to be!

These short stories are very different in style but they all share a common theme-uncovering those fears we all have that often come out when we aren’t in as safe an environment mentally as we could be. So, in other words, perfect for now! I’ve always read books that have concentrated on my worst fears as living them out in the safety of my own home helps me to work through those worries. My children used to ask why so many books on my bookcase were about missing or murdered children as they thought it was a strange contrast to my usual over protective nature but by living through every parents worse scenario, it seemed to bring me a comfort of some sort!! Which was why I was instantly attracted to this anthology the minute I heard about it and really wanted to be involved in raising awareness for it.

There are 14 great crime writers involved in the writing of Afraid of The Light-some you may know and some you will be desperate to seek out once you have read their contribution. As a big crime fan, I had read 9 of the 14 authors before so I already knew this was going to be a book I would love. Of the 9 I had already been aware of, my favourite stories were those by Dominic Nolan, Jo Furniss, Clare Empson, N.J. Mackay and Phoebe Morgan. Daddy Dearest by Dominic Nolan had a shocking twist that I really hadn’t seen coming after a slowly built upon narrative, Sleep Time by Phoebe Morgan was so incredibly creepy with a brilliant ending, Coming Home by N.J Mackay was a perfectly plotted journey of self discovery, To Evil or Not to Evil by Jo Furniss was truly chilling in its predictions of our future and Frantic by Clare Empson confirmed her place on my favourite author list as she slowly revealed the secrets behind a married woman’s thoughts and actions. As you can see it’s like working your way through a box of Hero’s where you eat and love all your favourite chocolates but it depends on your mood which one you prefer on that day-even though you enjoy them all! And then you have those new flavours to try, some you will find okay but others will lead you to seek them out again in a larger version! Lovable Alan Atcliffe by S.R Masters and Just a Game by Rachel Blok both grabbed my attention enough for me to seek out their other books so this is a brilliant way to discover authors who are new to you without spending lots of money. At the time of writing this review Afraid of The Light is only 99p for the kindle version and that’s an absolute bargain especially as those author royalties are all going to The Samaritans.

Afraid of The Light was gripping and heartbreaking but also full of hope for the future that will hopefully feed your need for an understanding of the surreal world we are currently living in. Things may never be the same again for us but we can at least learn from our own reactions to situations and hopefully the light will come again but without the fear…

So please help support those who are struggling and buy this book now!

[Mandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading anthologies as they a great way to get a flavour of a group of different authors that you may not have read before. Add in the fact that this one is to support the Samaritans in a time when a lot of people are struggling and it’s a win win in my eyes. When Jen emailed me to say she had agreed for us to do a joint review I was more than happy to drop everything and get reading, in fact I was enjoying it so much I devoured it in a day…taking myself off to my room to read it undisturbed.
Each story is different, some a little creepier than others. After reading the first story I am now eternally grateful I am not a big fan of all the gadgets and gizmos out there designed to help us with our day to day lives with a quick voice command. I also would love to know if Victoria Selman has met my mother as she describes the mother in her story in the exact same way Jen and I used to describe ours which brought a smile to my face despite everything. In fact, the opening of her story brought an involuntary chuckle too... clearly I have a very warped sense of humour
This book is packed full of brilliant short stories by authors I had never read before but will now certainly be going in search of and adding them to my ever increasing book purchases.

[Veronika Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally read many short stories (odd really because I write them) but as this was offered on Pigeonhole and I recognised a few of the authors, I took the opportunity to dive in. Oh they were brilliant! I am not going to attempt to review them all - there are too many but I will mention a couple I particularly enjoyed. Having a penchant for dark humour - both reading it and writing it -my favourite had to be Sausage Fingers by Victoria Selman. Now I know some people found it distasteful - no pun intended - but I found it hilarious. The line: 'I found her finger. Frozen in a veggie sausage box,' was my favourite. Like being veggie made a difference. And her mum's response: 'Tesco delivers the wrong things to us all the time.' ....fingers in with the sausages? Ha ha!

I also loved The Burial by James Delargy. Any story that begins: 'We planted my Nan today. In the back garden....I hope the plastic Dad wrapped her in keeps her warm this winter.' Told from the point of view of the young daughter of one of the most ludicrously dysfunctional families I have ever read about, it's also very funny in a macabre sort of way.

Having said that I can't think of one I didn't enjoy though some were more serious and very dark.
Well done and thanks to The Pigeonhole for giving me the opportunity to read along with my fellow Pigeons and sometimes even with the authors.

[Jacob Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Afraid of the Light is a brilliant collection of short stories that you could quite happily lose an afternoon too; it is an excellent way to pass the time. Each writer brings their own unique flair to this collection. What you will get with each tale is an utterly gripping narrative that will draw you into each story and the characters who inhabit them. I’m certain that I’ll be returning to these stories again. I’ve also found some new authors by reading them who I’ll definitely be checking out soon, so this is also the perfect opportunity to get to explore new talent.

What these stories do so well is that they expertly transport you to different locations. To the heart of the Bolivian rainforest in Drowning in Debt by Helen Critchlow, I’m sure many readers will agree with me that one of the characters gets their just deserves in this story. Dominic Nolan takes us inside prison walls in, Daddy Dearest and completes his story with an utterly chilling revelation. Then we’re taken to a future very much within humanity’s grasp in Are You Listening by Adam Southwold and To Evil or not to Evil by Jo Furniss. In these two gripping stories, the authors explore the dangers of advancing technology. Is it inevitable that machines will become smarter than humans, and what will they do when that becomes an eventuality? A strong voice narrates Sausage Fingers by Victoria Selman, and it pulls you into a disturbing story of a girl’s jealousy for another who always steals the spotlight. In Rachel Blok’s Just a Game, a group of girls are camping when the body of a young boy is discovered one morning outside their tent. They are forced to make a devastating decision. Phoebe Morgan’s Sleep Time is a devastating read as a desperate mother tries to work out what is happening inside her son’s head, but is too late to stop him from carrying out an awful act.

But Coming Home by Nikki McKay takes on a slightly different tone as the story is told from the perspective of a man who has recently returned home from war. And the tension is turned up a notch in Sheep’s Clothing by Robert Scragg, which is a tense story about one man’s quest for revenge.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this collection. I think it’s quite hard to become attached to a character in a short story, but the authors definitely achieved this here. In Elle Croft’s Deathbed, Beth dead I became so wrapped up in the character’s tale that I’m still thinking about her even now. S R Masters Loveable Alan Atcliffe will make you think twice about who you should put your trust in. In Frantic Clare Empson manages to convey the terrifying thoughts one woman has in only a few short pages, as a secret she has been carrying threatens to destroy her family. In James Delargy’s Planting Nan, he looks at childhood innocence, but he gives it a chilling twist. It makes for quite a disturbing read as his character tries to make sense of what is going on in her environment. Shadow by Kate Simants ends this anthology on a very chilling note.

What this anthology does so well is that it gives you a taste of each writer’s style and their writing. You’ll definitely want to find out more about the author’s work when you have finished this. This is a gripping collection of short stories that will chill you and provide you with several hours of entertainment. Highly recommended!

[Catherine Rickard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic anthology of short stories! It is unusual to like every story in a collection like this but I can honestly say that I enjoyed every single one. I found each story to be very well written and each author brought their own unique style to this entertaining book. Highly recommended

[Sue Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great selection of short stories! I read this book thanks to Pigeonhole and enjoyed them all! All different but well worth a read!

[G.X. Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Only 99p for the ebook and it goes to a great cause - The Samaritans. It features some fantastic writers, too.

[Gail Wylde · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think that this is one of the only book of short stories by different authors that I have like every story. Some are a bit dark and some leave you wanting more and some have added more authors to my TBR list.
If you like your stories dark and thrilling this is the anthology for you.
Thanks to Pigeonhole and all the authors for the chance to read this.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Afraid Of The Light is an excellent collection of short stories written by some extremely talented authors who have donated their talent in aid of The Samaritans.
Many thanks to Jo Furniss who invited me onto the blog tour and to Dominic Nolan for providing all the necessary information. A big thank you also to the authors and publisher for my ARC.
Afraid Of The Light starts with a meaningful, from the heart forward by Alex North which highlights the invaluable work of The Samaritans during these unprecedented times, and always. A lovely introduction.
As I often do with short story collections, I will be sharing my thoughts on the individual stories which I wrote as soon as I had finished each one. I read them all over the course of today and thoroughly enjoyed the entire collection.

Are You Listening?
Adam Southward
Wow! What an excellent start!
Are You Listening tells the terrifying story of seven year old Ava. Ava begins to behave very oddly. Her parents are understandably disturbed, as I would be. Ava insists her behaviour is due to instructions from the home’s listening device, which highlights many people’s concerns about such devices. However, there is much more to this story than meets the eye. It made my blood run cold!

Daddy Dearest
Dominic Nolan
A seemingly tragic tale with a short, sharp, shock at the end which made me free quite queasy, and not much shocks me these days.
Very clever writing.

Deathbed, Beth Dead
Elle Croft
So much emotion and grief in so few words. Talk about having your life turned upside down in more than one devastating way. I can’t even begin to imagine how I would react. My heart went out to Miss Peters.

Loveable Alan Atcliffe
SR Masters
The saying “if it seems too good to be true, it probably is” sprung to mind when I read this story. I think it can also be applied to people. Some are not at all who they seem to be and you never know what sinister secrets they might be hiding behind closed doors.

Sleep Time
Phoebe Morgan
Oooo, this is a terrifying tale. It made my heart race and gave me serious goosebumps! I’m giving nothing else away!

Coming Home
N J Mackay
A heart-breaking story of grief and PTSD but also one of hope. It brought a tear to my eye.

Sausage Fingers
Victoria Selman
Woah! Deliciously dark and disturbing. I have no other words!!

Just A Game
Rachael Blok
A chilling tale of a sinister game with murderous consequences.

Drowning in Debt
Heather Critchlow
Lucy and Paul are desperate. They have years of mounting debt and seemingly no long-term escape from the bailiffs.
Desperate times lead to desperate measures.
They devise an elaborate plan which seems foolproof to Paul but Lucy has her reservations. Paul is a controlling influence though and Lucy gives in. When she gets cold feet along the way Paul forces her into a split second decision that will change her life forever. Possibly for the better!

To Evil Or Not To Evil
Jo Furniss
Well, this was just terrifying!
Anything involving robots freaks me out. It scares me how easily AI could dominate our lives if allowed.
This story certainly left me with the chills and panicking about what the future could look like!

Sheeps Clothing
Robert Scragg
My heart was almost hammering out of my chest throughout this story!
I felt quite disturbed by the deceit and secrecy. The insinuations made me feel quite sick, but all is not as it seems. The conclusion was quite a relief despite the heart-breaking circumstances. Very clever writing. For such a short story it certainly packs an emotional punch.

Frantic
Clare Empson
This is indeed a frantic tale and I found myself easily swept along. Thinking the grass might be greener is a common mistake made by many. It rarely ends well. One woman’s lustful lapse in judgement threatens to collapse the life she knows around her. The ending was not at all what I expected.

Planting Nan
James Delargy
This is a sinister story which is oddly amusing as we see it through the innocent eyes of a child.
Very entertaining!

Shadow
Kate Simants
A truly chilling tale of obsession and revenge.

These stories set a very high standard. All are coffee break length and each one is unique, similar only in quality. I think any reader will appreciate such clever, often hard-hitting and compelling writing.
Why not treat yourself to a copy and help to raise funds for The Samaritans at the same time as enjoying a good read.
This collection has introduced me to some new-to-me authors. I have many more books on my TBR list now! 😊

https://chataboutbooks.blog/2020/04/2...

[Nicola Mackenzie-Smaller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent anthology of short stories. As with all anthologies, some stories draw you in and make you think more deeply than others, but this collection is unusual because all the stories are well- written and often very creepy. I’ve discovered some new writers, this is a bargain price on the kindle and proceeds go to the Samaritans. Got to be worth a read.

[Emma Standbrook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection. The stories are well written and most of them kept you guessing until the end. Some of them ended with me wanting to know more which I think is impressive in such a short story.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection of short stories some by authors who were new to me. They were very entertaining, some quite dark and creepy and others made me laugh out loud even though the subject matter was quite dark. Thanks to the Pigeonhole for the opportunity of reading this book.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of my reviews can be found at https://damppebbles.com/

his is a gripping collection of shorts from some of the best writers out there and I couldn’t put it down. I received a free eARC of Afraid Of The Light but that has in no way influenced my review. (But I’ve since purchased a copy because it’s only 99p at the moment and all proceeds go to the Samaritans.)

I do enjoy a short story collection. They’re easy to read alongside a full length novel, and rarely do I finish one in one sitting. That was my plan when reading Afraid Of The Light. To dip in and out of the book over the course of a week or so. That was the plan. The plan was deeply flawed. Little did I know, when I picked this book up on a lazy Saturday afternoon during lockdown, that it was absolutely impossible to put down and I’d have it read in a few hours. This is an absolutely brilliant and engaging collection of devilish stories from some of the best crime writers out there. Some I’ve read before, some whose books are on my TBR and some I’ve wanted to read for a while.

I won’t pick a favourite as that’s actually really hard to do (because they’re all excellent) but standout reads for me were Adam Southward’s ARE YOU LISTENING?, which is the first story in the book and sets a high benchmark along with the tone for the rest of the collection. Dominic Nolan’s DADDY DEAREST, which had me wondering where the story was going only to drop a pretty hefty bombshell. And Heather Critchlow’s DROWNING IN DEBT, which has the most wonderfully satisfying ending. Other firm favourites include; SHEEP’S CLOTHING by Robert Scragg, which leads the reader down one path only to provide the most beautiful and well written twist. This one left me reeling a little! Jo Furniss’s TO EVIL OR NOT TO EVIL shows us a futuristic world where your thoughts and feelings are on display to all and it’s not only the people in your life you need to watch.

Would I recommend this book? Most definitely. I thoroughly enjoyed Afraid Of The Light and will be recommending it to everyone. There’s not a single dud in the collection and I couldn’t help but lose myself in this wonderful book. All of the stories offer something new and if you haven’t read any of the contributing authors work before, then here’s a perfect opportunity to get a sampler AND make a small donation to a wonderful charity which does so much for so many. Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review an eARC of Afraid Of The Light. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, so imagine this, I set up the kindle and I'm about to dive into the first story of this anthology in the dark - a bit of soothing country playing on the Alexa in the background. From the first story written by Adam Southward I was hooked and knew that my promise of just one short was going to be broken. The intoxicating darkness of the stories that came were all chilling, yet completely distinctive of one another, with each tale possessing its own warpness written from the brilliant twisted minds of the crime writers involved. I loved every single contribution towards this exceptional anthology, with it's delving into the dark side of humanity, playing on fears and in some cases subtly creeping underneath your skin leaving you with that deliciously stygian feeling.

Afraid of the Light is a gripping an collection that played on a lot of my fears, in the sinisterly psychological way that superbly written tales do. Although the contents is chilling, the penmanship of each story was both individual and beautifully executed with each author unravelling events that are punchy and satisfying! I found myself chewing my nails (I know ewww right) and holding my breath while reading - I'm an animated reader, so you can imagine the *gasp* moments! I enjoyed the flecks of dark humour that were sprinkled into some of the shorts, but you're always left with stuffed with chilling goodness. I made notes on the kindle throughout, here are some of my notes:

"Sinister and psychological. Gives you the shivers as it plays on that people aren't always who they seem. The impeccable way the stories are written look into the true nature of individuals who wear a mask in society. An absolute must read for every thriller / crime fiction reader."

"I love the writing. Beautifully executed, with warped unravelling that leaves you shook. The author's writing blows me away ever single time."

"Filled with stories that could be 'Goosebumps for adults' territory. Ones that captivate you, holding you within the world of thrill and chill."

"Uncomfortable, nail-biting and fearsome"

"F***ing creepy"

"Atmospheric, clever!"

"Excellent, brilliant and definitely the medicine we all need right now. Every single short stories was perfectly crafted for the most thrilling of punches. Each one is psychologically reeling and quite spine-chilling."

[Catherine Pinkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent collection of short stories. Rate for me to enjoy every one and give it 5*

[Caroline Kerdouci · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great compilation of crime short stories featuring some well known authors. I’m not usually a fan of short stories but with the exception of one, I thoroughly enjoyed all of these. They are all very well written and crafted making this an ideal book to pick up and put down depending on your mood or time constraints. It’s also a fantastic way to introduce lovers of crime fiction to authors you might have yet to discover. I’m a book addict as opposed to a writer but you can tell there’s a huge difference between being able to write a good short story rather than a full length novel but in my opinion all the authors have made it look easy! My favourite was The Burial by James Delargy which combines humour with the crime element and had me laughing out loud! Overall these stories are full of intrigue creepiness, evil and retribution with some very unpleasant characters. This collection is an ideal bite sized treat for those of who like reading in bed but maybe struggle to keep our eyes open as you’re unlikely to doze off mid sentence! Thanks to Pigeonhole for giving me the opportunity to read.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a collection of stories and what a way to spend an afternoon. A nice distraction from pour current situation - the time simply flew. From the rise of the machines, to the very fickle, and seemingly deadly, nature of friendships, there was a little bit of something for everyone. I'm not sure I would go as far as the friends in Rachel Blok's story, Just a Game, no matter how much I thought I might like them. And I must admit a little bit of a smile while reading James Delargy's Planting Nan, partly because it reminded me of my mother who used to say I should just get a chair box from work and chuck her in a hole when she went. (We didn't ... we honoured her other request of playing Ding Dong the Witch is Dead at her funeral instead, but I digress...)

There is a such a fine mixture of stories here that it really is a book I would highly recommend. Perfect for a lazy day in the garden, or even for just dipping into when you have a spare five or ten minutes in your day, and perhaps need a little peace and quiet away from the family. From stories with slow building tension, to tales that will make you think long and hard about the rise of technology, even to stories that will just make you smile, in a devilish kind of way of course, it really is a perfect way to get a taster of a real variety of authors, and I have, regrettably, only read one of their full length books before, something I plan to remedy in the not too distant future. PLus you get to make a donation to a very worthy charity. Definitely recommended.

[Kirstie Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book full of short stories from well known Authors that write crime.
I brought this because I saw that for every sale of this book, a percentage was donated to a domestic violence charity.
I had heard of the authors, but a lot of them I hadn't read any of their work, with then sent me checking on Amazon so now have a lot more books on my wants list.
Great collection of books - some were really good, and there were a couple I didn't really enjoy but overall I thought the book was great. I have the other 2 to read as well which I will do ASAP.

[Kath Middleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of short stories contains some really creepy tales, with little twists at the end. The sort that unsettle you and then give you a mental kicking. Very enjoyable and each story doesn't take too long to read. Profits go to charity. With tighter editing it would have gained five stars.

[Alison Alice-May · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this anthology. Fourteen brilliant short stories, all coming from authors I had not heard of apart from one. It was a delight to read such scary stories up close and personal, or that was how it felt. Getting to know each character was not necessary, you were just thrust into a situation which needed a lot of breath holding before you found your way out. Astonishing.

[Alison Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved reading this. Very short but satisfying stories, just right for lockdown. Read with pigeonhole but would certainly buy it for a gift

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection preceded the volume of Christmas stories I recently read. And it was much better. A variety of plots, and not all murders. Each of these short stories was a winner, and I am likely to investigate longer works by many of these authors.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come!

[Christine Kayser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some stories were great, some were just okay. All of them are dark. It was a super fast read, and I found some new authors to check out!

[christine arlott-clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing collection, leaves you wanting more

Fabulous short stories, each one compelling you to turn the pages. Lots of twists and surprises. I will look out for these author's and full stories

[Gail Danks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of short stories, mostly good, short and sweet.
A couple feel like they have no meaning
Over all it’s a good read