The Devil's Plaything

by Matthew Tait

Idle hands are the Devil’s plaything ... After finishing high school, Liam Goodald and his friends quickly discover the meaning of freewill as a state of mind and not an abstract philosophy. With blistering heat settling into their apartment like a sickness, it’s the sanatorium across the road that captures their attention – the forbidding hospital where mental patients are routinely neglected. Sometimes, they are even given freewill to roam ... And when the Devil’s plaything arrives, anything can happen.

Genres: Horror

15 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2020

About the author

Matthew Tait is an award-winning Australian horror author whose work blends psychological intensity with uncanny, brutal atmosphere. He published his first collection of dark fiction in 2011 and has since built a catalogue of titles praised for their originality and emotional depth. His novel Deception Pass won the Australasian Shadows Award for Best Novel, an honor for which he has been nominated three times. His short story Car Crash Weather was also commended by the Australian Horror Writers Association.

A former horror columnist and lifelong devotee of the genre, Tait’s work has been described as “the sort of horror Clive Barker must read on his days off.” When not crafting unsettling narratives, he’s immersed in the gritty tones of grunge music.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three men find a new hobby: Shooting at patients at the nearby asylum for mentally insane. One day the situation changes since a befriended nurse has a surprise in stock for them. Well, disgusting characters, nasty action, a nurse of German origin... the story has some interesting ingredients but was a bit too predictable in the end. I liked the proverb expressed in the title. Overall it was okay!

[Lisa Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and cleverly done

I enjoyed this story. The writing is well done, and the story itself is brilliant. This was not what I expected. It has suspense, a touch of intrigue, an unexpected psychological depth, and it's just really dark.
A fun read.
Really, you should read this!