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Four Dark Tales
Enter four dark worlds . . .
ACID RAIN: A mother and her daughter get trapped in a gas station with strangers as a storm suddenly moves in, unleashing rain that destroys everything it touches. But is there something worse waiting in the rain?
SAFE HAVEN: When the government, the Russian mob, and a drug cartel are after you, where do you go? There's a safe haven for the super-rich running from their troubles - a beautiful tropical island - but there's a heavy price to pay for safety.
HEALER: Meet a teenage boy who heals a woman at the brink of death after a car accident. When a man who witnesses the miracle abducts the boy to heal his sick wife, things go horribly wrong.
THE HAMMER MURDERS: Agent Ridley with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation is called to the horrific and baffling murder of a family at a remote farmhouse with only one survivor - the youngest son, an eight-year-old boy who may hold the key to finding the monster who killed his family.
ACID RAIN: A mother and her daughter get trapped in a gas station with strangers as a storm suddenly moves in, unleashing rain that destroys everything it touches. But is there something worse waiting in the rain?
SAFE HAVEN: When the government, the Russian mob, and a drug cartel are after you, where do you go? There's a safe haven for the super-rich running from their troubles - a beautiful tropical island - but there's a heavy price to pay for safety.
HEALER: Meet a teenage boy who heals a woman at the brink of death after a car accident. When a man who witnesses the miracle abducts the boy to heal his sick wife, things go horribly wrong.
THE HAMMER MURDERS: Agent Ridley with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation is called to the horrific and baffling murder of a family at a remote farmhouse with only one survivor - the youngest son, an eight-year-old boy who may hold the key to finding the monster who killed his family.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 8, 2023
Mark Lukens did a superb job here. "Acid Rain" is following Stephen King's "The Mist". What caused the rain and why is it so dangerous? A very depressing apocalyptic read with a terrifying twist. "Safe Haven" is about those who have to hide from police and the mob. Is there a real safe area on earth? The price might be too high to pay. "Healer" reminded me a bit on Misery. It's about a husband who tries to cure his wife from cancer. Might a mysterious healer help? "The Hammer Murders" combines elements of "The Exorcist" and "The Omen". Is Joshua the good boy or the Antichrist? Who killed his whole family? Four extremely dark tales with sinister and exciting elements. Highly recommended!
May 1, 2022
I picked this up on Kindle for 99p, I wasn't expecting much but was pleasantly surprised to find a collection of four pretty good short stories. The tales had character and substance that I wasn't expecting, and the third story, Healer had an absolutely cracking ending that took me totally by surprise, top marks for that one. There are some niggles, a bit of simple research wouldn't go amiss - you don't die quickly and peacefully of a Tylenol (paracetamol UK) overdose, it takes days and you die slowly of liver failure. Nit picky I know 🧐😬, it's a small point, but an important one I think, and only a 2 second Google away, simple mistakes like this one take me out of the story. The final story has some plot holes that are very quickly and conveniently glossed over, but other than that I really enjoyed this collection, I'll be checking out more from Mark Lukens.
October 27, 2024
I really liked the first story and then they gradually worsened. Not sure if this author just isn't for me or these short stories... They were interesting enough, so I'd probably check out something else in the future. Below are my quick thoughts after finishing each story.
Acid Rain - 3.5 stars
Very interesting. Liked how people seemed to react realistically. Can't imagine and the ending was great. Right when there seemed to possibly be hope...
Screenshot about rain
Safe Haven - 2.5 stars
Well... When something seems too good to be true... Potential here but can't help but feel like something was missing. Maybe it was because of the cast of mostly unlikable characters...
Healer - 2 stars
Meh. Nothing to really say about this one. Strongly disliked the MC but did appreciate Reilly. Sucks for the wife...
The Hammer Murders - 1.5 stars
I didn't like how it switched between different POV and it didn't really go anywhere in the end. It was gory rather than horror or suspense. It was also repetitive.
Acid Rain - 3.5 stars
Very interesting. Liked how people seemed to react realistically. Can't imagine and the ending was great. Right when there seemed to possibly be hope...
Screenshot about rain
Safe Haven - 2.5 stars
Well... When something seems too good to be true... Potential here but can't help but feel like something was missing. Maybe it was because of the cast of mostly unlikable characters...
Healer - 2 stars
Meh. Nothing to really say about this one. Strongly disliked the MC but did appreciate Reilly. Sucks for the wife...
The Hammer Murders - 1.5 stars
I didn't like how it switched between different POV and it didn't really go anywhere in the end. It was gory rather than horror or suspense. It was also repetitive.
May 30, 2022
One ending I saw coming...kind of. The other three I didn't.
I was torn here between 3 stars and 5 stars, so it made it easy to rate this collection 4 stars. After reading the first one, Acid Rain, I pretty much gave up on happy endings for the other three. Healer came across like a Hitchcock thriller or maybe Outer Limits. Very clever. Although I enjoyed all four stories, the one I enjoyed most was the Hammer Murders, which I swear should have been a Twilight Zone episode. I don't think there was a story of the four that I didn't like or liked less than the rest. I would put The Hammer Murders number one and the other three at number two. Acid Rain, Healer and Safe Haven were all solid with characters to cheer for and some to not cheer for. Some got their just desserts. Some did not. I would definitely read more by this author. It seemed like every story was well thought out and the endings logically arrived at. Unlikely, but logically arrived at.
I was torn here between 3 stars and 5 stars, so it made it easy to rate this collection 4 stars. After reading the first one, Acid Rain, I pretty much gave up on happy endings for the other three. Healer came across like a Hitchcock thriller or maybe Outer Limits. Very clever. Although I enjoyed all four stories, the one I enjoyed most was the Hammer Murders, which I swear should have been a Twilight Zone episode. I don't think there was a story of the four that I didn't like or liked less than the rest. I would put The Hammer Murders number one and the other three at number two. Acid Rain, Healer and Safe Haven were all solid with characters to cheer for and some to not cheer for. Some got their just desserts. Some did not. I would definitely read more by this author. It seemed like every story was well thought out and the endings logically arrived at. Unlikely, but logically arrived at.
October 15, 2022
Four good stories. Acid Rain was about a mother and daughter trapped in a gas station because the rain will kill them. Safe Haven is about a criminal who had to escape the mobsters and cartels that were looking for him. They go to an island to be safe, but they must sacrifice a piece of themselves to stay safe. The Healer was about a man whose wife was dying. He sees an accident and a boy saves a woman’s life. Burt’s wife is dying of cancer so he has the idea of having this boy save his wife. The Hammer Murders was about a boy whose family was killed and he was the only witness.
June 16, 2022
Nothing Predictable...
So many times you pick up a new book, but the tale is similar to 20 others you have read, with different names.,,this book was not one of those times! Fresh twists and plot lines, the scenes
described are so vivid, and original.. can't wait to read more by Mark Lukens!
So many times you pick up a new book, but the tale is similar to 20 others you have read, with different names.,,this book was not one of those times! Fresh twists and plot lines, the scenes
described are so vivid, and original.. can't wait to read more by Mark Lukens!
July 8, 2022
this was in KU. not my normal genre to read. but i really did enjoy it. different not the norm. great book cover. Dec 1, 2020. so it was not brand new. i am always amazed at how KU (Amazon) recommends books to me ...i mean it is so weird??! it is always late at night when i can't find something to read it gives me something off the wall and you are like WHAT?? loved it. good read.
May 3, 2022
Four short stories on the horror bent. These were decent -- a little predictable or ideas I had seen done previously, but interesting enough and well-written. May try something longer from this author at some point based on this work :)
June 9, 2022
No nonsense endings
Good, entertaining reading. I liked the real-life no-fairy-tale endings. All four tales are exciting and end in shocking scenes. Acid Rain is the best of the four.
Good, entertaining reading. I liked the real-life no-fairy-tale endings. All four tales are exciting and end in shocking scenes. Acid Rain is the best of the four.
October 5, 2022
Great stories!
Each of these four tales were great! Engrossing stories that were so well detailed you could almost visualize each scene. I will definitely be reading more by this author!
Each of these four tales were great! Engrossing stories that were so well detailed you could almost visualize each scene. I will definitely be reading more by this author!
November 3, 2022
The writing from this author is great. Each of the 4 stories are well written, it's easy to visualize what is happening. New story lines,not the same old, same old. Very entertaining. I really enjoyed reading each of them.
November 10, 2022
These were four pretty good short stories. Safe Haven and The Hammer Murders we’re my favorites. They had just enough gore without being overwhelming and were mysterious enough to hold my interest. I recommend these stories for anyone looking for a quick spooky read.
January 21, 2023
glad I discovered this author!
This is the second book from this author I've read now and I'm really enjoying his work!
Well thought out stories and characters that keep you wanting more!
I will defiantly be exploring more of this authors work!
This is the second book from this author I've read now and I'm really enjoying his work!
Well thought out stories and characters that keep you wanting more!
I will defiantly be exploring more of this authors work!
May 20, 2022
4 great horror stories
I wish all 4 stories had been novels. I hated when I finished the book. I wanted more! A horror fan's must read!
I wish all 4 stories had been novels. I hated when I finished the book. I wanted more! A horror fan's must read!
August 18, 2022
Did not love this but there are definitely overtones of Lovecraft
July 9, 2025
Four Dark Tales Review
This book was sooo good but to short for me. I wish some of the stories inside were longer. I was invested into them and they left me on a cliffhanger
This book was sooo good but to short for me. I wish some of the stories inside were longer. I was invested into them and they left me on a cliffhanger
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews