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Drunkface: 5 Deliciously Dark Short Stories
If you dig too deep, you may find more than you can handle
A desperate youngster toys with the cord on a window blind.
A pensioner’s son loses his grasp on reality.
A troubled mother’s crippled by relentless conflict.
A cat-and-mouse game of revenge with needles.
A slick, cockney gangster receives magical karma.
Praise for Drunkface
A breath of fresh air
‘So many story collections fall short and are forgotten after your eyes pass over the last period. Not with Drunkface.’
Almost Kafkaesque
‘Goodness! What a full-on read. This book would be ideal to dip into - I read it in one sitting (because I just couldn’t put it down) and I struggled to re-adjust the voice in my head, between stories. Absolutely not a criticism of the book.’
Compelling prose
‘This is the second compilation of stories I have read from this author and I was certainly glad I did. Each one is written with absolute skill, the narrative drawing the reader into each scene while leaving no choice than to keep turning the pages.’
Gripping fantastically written fiction that is too close to the truth
‘This is the second book of short stories I've read by this author. In some way, I would frame these in a horror genre, in that they are pieces of fiction that are a slither from reality but contain malevolent undertones.’
Star Quality
‘Wow! This author is some talent, it is actually very hard to write short stories and put so much description and soul into it. The first story is fantastic, so sad and heroic how the boy deals with so many issues, it nearly had me in tears.’
Lots of raw emotions in one short book
‘I saw this book and bought because I have read Behaving Badly by the same author. I found both books good but different in style. Behaving Badly was very raw and aggressive, which I enjoyed, but the writing in this book is much smoother.’
An image that stuck in my head long after I had finished reading
‘This book has five separate short stories, with varying themes and perspectives. I found that the first story was the most harrowing, and stuck with me throughout the book, although all are strong and unique. The "Drunkface" story was so well written though, I have not seen many short stories so quickly and fully immerse the reader, nor be as personal and hard hitting.’
Five stories of abuse, paranoia, delusion, phobias, and much more.
If you love thrills, then you’ll love this collection. Pick up this page turner today!
A desperate youngster toys with the cord on a window blind.
A pensioner’s son loses his grasp on reality.
A troubled mother’s crippled by relentless conflict.
A cat-and-mouse game of revenge with needles.
A slick, cockney gangster receives magical karma.
Praise for Drunkface
A breath of fresh air
‘So many story collections fall short and are forgotten after your eyes pass over the last period. Not with Drunkface.’
Almost Kafkaesque
‘Goodness! What a full-on read. This book would be ideal to dip into - I read it in one sitting (because I just couldn’t put it down) and I struggled to re-adjust the voice in my head, between stories. Absolutely not a criticism of the book.’
Compelling prose
‘This is the second compilation of stories I have read from this author and I was certainly glad I did. Each one is written with absolute skill, the narrative drawing the reader into each scene while leaving no choice than to keep turning the pages.’
Gripping fantastically written fiction that is too close to the truth
‘This is the second book of short stories I've read by this author. In some way, I would frame these in a horror genre, in that they are pieces of fiction that are a slither from reality but contain malevolent undertones.’
Star Quality
‘Wow! This author is some talent, it is actually very hard to write short stories and put so much description and soul into it. The first story is fantastic, so sad and heroic how the boy deals with so many issues, it nearly had me in tears.’
Lots of raw emotions in one short book
‘I saw this book and bought because I have read Behaving Badly by the same author. I found both books good but different in style. Behaving Badly was very raw and aggressive, which I enjoyed, but the writing in this book is much smoother.’
An image that stuck in my head long after I had finished reading
‘This book has five separate short stories, with varying themes and perspectives. I found that the first story was the most harrowing, and stuck with me throughout the book, although all are strong and unique. The "Drunkface" story was so well written though, I have not seen many short stories so quickly and fully immerse the reader, nor be as personal and hard hitting.’
Five stories of abuse, paranoia, delusion, phobias, and much more.
If you love thrills, then you’ll love this collection. Pick up this page turner today!
Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2020
1 person is currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
M. Henningham
2 books5 followersM. Henningham is a published author who won the 2014 Bonnie Greer OBE Stories to Read Aloud Competition. Her work has been featured in 'What Lies Beneath — A Collection of Short Stories from the Kingston Writing School,' a selection curated by Hilary Mantel and Bonnie Greer, OBE. Notably, Kingston University produced 'Off the Page,' which includes her story titled 'Unscrupulous Pigs.' She has participated in workshops at the Kingston Writing School and has performed readings at Kingston University, the Rose Theatre, and Ram Jam in Kingston. Henningham's talent has been recognised with a highly commended award for a short story in Writers' Forum and a listing for the Fish Short Story Prize in 2015. Michele is a visionary wordsmith in the realm of edgy thrillers that explores the shadows where suspense and intrigue dance. She creates stories that linger, leaving a mark on the psyche—a cinematic rollercoaster that refuses to slow down until the final, heart-stopping frame.
www.lethalliterati.com
www.lethalliterati.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
February 4, 2021
I loved these five cleverly crafted stand alone stories. The tales are chilling, evil and macabre. They remind me of Tales of the Unexpected with their eerie twists and often evil undertones.. They are guaranteed to stay with you for a while! Horror meets supernatural meets psychological thriller! Overall a fantastic read!
October 8, 2020
Goodness! What a full-on read.
This book would be ideal to dip into - I read it in one sitting (because I just couldn’t put it down) and I struggled to re-adjust the voice in my head, between stories. Absolutely not a criticism of the book.
Each story is completely separate and stand alone - all quite dark as the body count increases.
There is something quite Kafkaesque about the style, especially Blood Moon and The Needling (my favourites).
Glad I picked up this book, but should have read one story per day!
This book would be ideal to dip into - I read it in one sitting (because I just couldn’t put it down) and I struggled to re-adjust the voice in my head, between stories. Absolutely not a criticism of the book.
Each story is completely separate and stand alone - all quite dark as the body count increases.
There is something quite Kafkaesque about the style, especially Blood Moon and The Needling (my favourites).
Glad I picked up this book, but should have read one story per day!
October 9, 2020
By the second paragraph you know that this isn't like most other books. Hard hitting and gritty this collection of short stories doesn't pull any punches. With each story we are dropped into a dark world of characters we wouldn't want to meet, but who, at the same time feel vaguely familiar.
October 5, 2020
This is the second book of short stories I've read by this author. In some way, I would frame these in a horror genre, in that they are pieces of fiction that are a slither from reality but contain malevolent undertones. The writing style drops you into disturbing social settings occupied by believable characters that are victims and perpetrators, wittingly or unwittingly, of unfolding dark events. I particularly liked the ending of one story that had one of the most subtle, almost undetectable twists that required considerable thought to interpret. For anyone who likes short stories that are gritty and absorbing, I totally recommend you to read this great collection of dark shorts.
October 3, 2020
I saw this book and bought because I have read Behaving Badly by the same author. I found both books good but different in style. Behaving Badly was very raw and aggressive, which I enjoyed, but the writing in this book is much smoother. A short read where the author sometimes directs the story and sometimes leaves the reader to make their own minds up. It is always raw with deep human emotions. Good read and easy to recommend.
October 1, 2020
Wow! This author is some talent, it is actually very hard to write short stories and put so much description and soul into it. The first story is fantastic, so sad and heroic how the boy deals with so many issues, it nearly had me in tears. But the second story wow, this story gave me the creeps in a good way, it pulled me right in. And the third was so emotional, and the way she wrote this was beautiful. All the stories in this book are a must read. Brilliant
October 2, 2020
Outstanding!! Michele have a way with words that is raw and brilliant. I can tell she is passionate about her work and put a lot of thought about every word she write. I'm a big fan of her work and this book definitely didn't disappoint. I highly recommend this book and any of her work ,She is talented with the pen!!!!!
October 1, 2020
DRUNKFACE by MICHELE HENNINGHAM is the second book of short stories I’ve read and I love her writing style. Her settings feel real and her characters are well sketched out as victims and perpetrators. So if you love short, gritty, brilliantly written stories, this book won’t disappoint you. 5 stars. Posted by Elijah, son of Michael S.
September 30, 2020
Easy read that captures the reader
The author describes scenes that clearly paints a picture for the reader. Each story pulls the reader in quickly and always leaves you wanting more. I enjoyed her other short stories book and this one did not disappoint. I will definitely read more from this author.
The author describes scenes that clearly paints a picture for the reader. Each story pulls the reader in quickly and always leaves you wanting more. I enjoyed her other short stories book and this one did not disappoint. I will definitely read more from this author.
October 16, 2020
Gritty and compelling. These short stories hit the spot! I love me some dark and absorbing shorts to relax with after a long day. The writing style was impeccable, with just the right amount of character development and twists. I haven’t checked to see how many books this author has written, but I can tell there is experience. Blood Moon was probably my favorite, and right after was Drunkface. I recommend this book.
October 12, 2020
The first story "Drunkface" is about a kid forced to live with his grandma and his childish eyes view her face as 'Drunkface'. There's a set of peripheral characters here that are important for the child's fragile emotional balance. This one has dark fingers seeping in with it's unexpected take on sibling rivalry. I was really thankful at the end when the (sorry, won't give away spoilers). "Blood Moon" is about a mother and her hyperactive kid. The exact nature of problems the kid is challenged with is not touched upon. But as a mother, I relate with this. That's what this collection does: examines family relationships: adults and children for the hidden darkness within them and how their lives are made or marred (mostly the latter). Highly Recommended!
October 3, 2020
This author is no surprise. Reading some of her work before this was awesome, and an enjoyable read for sure! Reading books with short stories have started to become a liking of mine. Being able to read this, and picture what was happening in my mind. Being able to do that for the reader is such a major thumbs up for me. The first story in this book happened to be my favorite. On how so much was happening in it only being a short story alone. The main character dealt with so much and being able to figure out what to do next. It was well written and easy to follow. Loved the story. If readers out there LOVE reading books with short stories, this is the right one! Bravo to the author.
December 14, 2020
A breath of fresh air
So many story collections fall short and are forgotten after your eyes pass over the last period. Not with Drunkface.
Without spoiling, I will say each story gets better, more twisted, and grabs you by the eyeballs the further you read. The uniquely created metaphors are a breath of fresh air.
If you're a fan of boring cliches, then there's about a million other books you can choose from. Not gonna get 'em here!
I will worn you, once you read Drunkface, you'll want to read whatever M. Henningham publishes. Next up for me: Behaving Badly, and then all the rest.
So many story collections fall short and are forgotten after your eyes pass over the last period. Not with Drunkface.
Without spoiling, I will say each story gets better, more twisted, and grabs you by the eyeballs the further you read. The uniquely created metaphors are a breath of fresh air.
If you're a fan of boring cliches, then there's about a million other books you can choose from. Not gonna get 'em here!
I will worn you, once you read Drunkface, you'll want to read whatever M. Henningham publishes. Next up for me: Behaving Badly, and then all the rest.
December 14, 2020
This collection of five stories are as the author advertises: Thought-provoking and Chilling. In the first story, the author skillfully mingles sadness and humor on each page. In the other stories, she shows her diversity in writing skills. The stories are vivid from the writing and very intense. The end of each story had me expecting to read more until the last story, which was very emotional and chilling.
I am still thinking about these stories because each one is thought-provoking, which fits with my own writing style. This book is highly recommended for those who like writing that pauses them to think, and writing that makes them feel the moment.
I am still thinking about these stories because each one is thought-provoking, which fits with my own writing style. This book is highly recommended for those who like writing that pauses them to think, and writing that makes them feel the moment.
October 19, 2020
This book has five separate short stories, with varying themes and perspectives. I found that the first story was the most harrowing, and stuck with me throughout the book, although all are strong and unique. The "Drunkface" story was so well written though, I have not seen many short stories so quickly and fully immerse the reader, nor be as personal and hard hitting.
The author seamlessly transitions from first to third person perspectives, demonstrating great descriptive imagery from both styles of writing, making for a compelling collection of stories which have a genuine impact.
The author seamlessly transitions from first to third person perspectives, demonstrating great descriptive imagery from both styles of writing, making for a compelling collection of stories which have a genuine impact.
October 29, 2020
I enjoyed reading this collection of short stories, though saying enjoyed feels a little wrong as the stories are pretty dark! They range from sad to revengeful to even paranormal horror, a little like The Twilight Zone. Very cleverly told by the author and though they are short, they are complete stories. She managed to make you care for the characters very quickly and I did feel I wanted to know what the rest of the poor little boy's life would bring in the first story! My favorite was The Needling, a chilling revenge story, but all stories have something unique so all in all a great read!
November 23, 2020
An Amazingly Gripping Story.
These five dark stories were so wonderfully written. they all shared a dark aspect in them. Watching the argonies, the pains, and the suffering of the victims is makes the reader want to walk with them through their journeysand see how it all ends.The tragic ending of each storyline is an amazing twist what i really admired and I love the way that the author stylishly writes, which keeps you glued to each page. I am recommending this book to all those who love shortstories.
These five dark stories were so wonderfully written. they all shared a dark aspect in them. Watching the argonies, the pains, and the suffering of the victims is makes the reader want to walk with them through their journeysand see how it all ends.The tragic ending of each storyline is an amazing twist what i really admired and I love the way that the author stylishly writes, which keeps you glued to each page. I am recommending this book to all those who love shortstories.
December 10, 2020
Atmospheric and dark, this is the second book I have picked up by this author, and I was not disappointed at all. Once again I enjoyed the alternating styles of narrative that perfectly capture the setting of each unique tale. These are perfectly dark reads ideal for late nights, but I just couldn’t wait for that, I devoured this book in a single sitting, gripped and enthralled by the descriptive writing and realistic characters that create a sad, dark, and disturbing glimpse into the human psyche.
October 14, 2020
This was my first book by this author and I was very pleased with her work. This short story collection touched me and stuck with me even after I was done reading. Great writing does this to me. I loved how each story had its own unique style in how it was told. I don’t know if it was just because it was first, or how it was written, but the first story, ‘Drunkface’ had the most effect on me. Dark and emotional, but so satisfying. There is real talent in this book. I recommend.
December 5, 2020
This book gives a look at the darker side of humanity and society through five short stories. I'll admit, I did have a hard time with the grammatical style in the first story, but once I got used to it, it didn't bother me as much. The first story in this book will definitely resonate with anyone who's family has been touched by alcoholism and gives outsiders an in depth look at what can go on behind closed doors in such cases.
October 27, 2020
This book contains five dark and disturbing short stories that are best not read while alone in the dark. On a stormy night at the end of October.
The author’s descriptive powers are amazing and each standalone story is rich with setting and believable characters.
I honestly cannot say which one was my favourite. I loved each one
The author’s descriptive powers are amazing and each standalone story is rich with setting and believable characters.
I honestly cannot say which one was my favourite. I loved each one
October 27, 2020
This is the second book full of short stories that I have read from this Author and I can certainly say they lived up to the high expectation she set with the first amazing book. These short stories yet again grip me from start to finish and she manages to fit so much into these short stories. I certainly recommend!
October 29, 2020
Deep stories by an accomplished author.
This accomplished author has a unique writing style that brings us through different short stories in a n interesting way. It's not a very long book ,but it is deep!
Depiction of alcoholic family scenes are engrossing dark fiction.
As I write short stories, I learned some technique, in addition to being entertained.
This accomplished author has a unique writing style that brings us through different short stories in a n interesting way. It's not a very long book ,but it is deep!
Depiction of alcoholic family scenes are engrossing dark fiction.
As I write short stories, I learned some technique, in addition to being entertained.
October 31, 2020
Amazing
So enjoyed these short stories based around drinking perhaps too much! I was on the edge of my seat with each story and sometimes relating to how life could easily push us over the edge if we didn't show restraint. Hooked until the end. Highly recommend this read. Well done!
So enjoyed these short stories based around drinking perhaps too much! I was on the edge of my seat with each story and sometimes relating to how life could easily push us over the edge if we didn't show restraint. Hooked until the end. Highly recommend this read. Well done!
November 17, 2020
Amazing short stories!
This book was incredibly well written with fantastic descriptions and character development. There are five separate, dark short stories dealing with people who are in difficult situations or who have questionable characters. I really enjoyed the clever endings of each story. The author is very talented and I would highly recommend this book.
This book was incredibly well written with fantastic descriptions and character development. There are five separate, dark short stories dealing with people who are in difficult situations or who have questionable characters. I really enjoyed the clever endings of each story. The author is very talented and I would highly recommend this book.
December 5, 2020
Wow
I wasn't sure what to expect. This macabre collection would make a great gift for a couple people I know. If you're into razor sharp wit and spooky stories around the campfire, get this book. It is very well written and woven with humor. It appealed to my dark side. It was a nice surprise!
I wasn't sure what to expect. This macabre collection would make a great gift for a couple people I know. If you're into razor sharp wit and spooky stories around the campfire, get this book. It is very well written and woven with humor. It appealed to my dark side. It was a nice surprise!
October 18, 2020
Enter the Dark, creepy world of the human psyche. These five tales delve deep into human minds on the brink (or well over the edge) of madness. The tales reminded me of Poe’s short stories, with a very raw, real writing style. Excellent read for the Halloween season!
October 20, 2020
Selection of Dark stories
The dark stories in this book were disturbing as they were life like, scary and sad. It reflects how people's circumstances can ruin lives through the choices made. Worth a read for your own reflections.
The dark stories in this book were disturbing as they were life like, scary and sad. It reflects how people's circumstances can ruin lives through the choices made. Worth a read for your own reflections.
November 14, 2020
Thank you Michele for writing Drunkface. Your stories transported me into situations and experiences that I would never have had. Realism, evocative prose and stories that raged with alsorts of emotions from start to finish.
December 9, 2020
Short stories that made me wanting to read more and more. Each story was completely separated and stood alone.
It will be good for someone who wants to have a break and read smth short.
I'm glad that I've found this book
It will be good for someone who wants to have a break and read smth short.
I'm glad that I've found this book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews