A Firefighter Christmas Carol and Other Stories

by Douglas R. Brown

Firefighters, serial killers, ghosts, and the mentally ill.

The title story-a modern-day reimagining of Charles Dickens' wonderful A Christmas Carol-finds Elliot's PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) from working the front lines of a large urban fire department replacing Scrooge's greed as our protagonist's personal demon. Elliot has seen plenty of horrors in his career and is at a dangerous breaking point. Can ghostly, late-night visitors to the firehouse one Christmas Eve pull him from the brink of suicide? Written from the heart of a firefighter/paramedic who has seen his own struggles, A Firefighter Christmas Carol is an emotional rollercoaster from beginning to end.

Joining the title novella are five additional short stories. In Janitor, a nightshift worker quickly realizes he's not alone. Who is the man in black? And will Jeb keep his sanity long enough to find out?

Death Alarm uses real-life firefighting knowledge to explore other-worldly consequences when pure evil battles the noblest of professions.

In CatchTime, a nasty comment on a fictional social media platform is all it takes to really get under a guy's skin.

Skelwaller Lane is a brutal tale exploring how even the most horrible behavior can sometimes be justified only if the entire story is told.

Closing out the collection is DOA, a spooky little story about a paramedic with an unwanted skill that really comes back to haunt her.

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Horror

246 pages, Paperback

Published September 13, 2021

About the author

Douglas R. Brown is a fantasy and horror writer who lives in Pataskala, Ohio. He began writing as a cathartic way of dealing with the day-to-day stresses of life as a firefighter/paramedic for the Columbus, Ohio Division of Fire. Now he focuses his writing on fantasy and horror, where he draws on his lifelong love of the genres. He has been married since 1996 and has a son and some dogs.

Reviews

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an exceptional book of short stories written by an author who is an experienced firefighter/paramedic. He understands the emotional stress that these first responders encounter in their line of duty. He discusses the effects of PTSD, how to recognize it, and the necessity to get help.

The stories can be classified as horror/supernatural on top of realistic situations and believable, well-developed characters. They involve medics and firefighters and others experiencing extreme stress. They contain grief, mental illness, violence, murder, and suicide along with ghostly and angelic visitations. These subjects could be triggering for some readers but should appeal to fans of horror and suspense. All are engrossing psychological suspense thrillers, powerfully presented, gritty, disturbing, and thought-provoking. The cover art is beautiful and eye-catching.

Readers will differ in their response to these 6 short stories. Here are my personal reactions:
Firefighter Christmas Carol. 5 stars
Janitor. 3
Death Alarm. 5
Catch Time. 4.5
Skelwaller Lane. 4
DOA. 3

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley Co-op. Epertase Publishing in return for my honest review and thank them for the ARC. My review will be posted on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon. ca on Nov. 2nd.

[Jane Shambler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never read this author before but I'll definitely be looking out for him in the futre.

The author is also an experienced fire fighter and paramedic. His short stories deal with PTSD and the stresses of first responders. The stories I feel have a super natural maybe horror theme. But all of them have a sense of realism about them. You should be aware they contain grief, suicide, and some mental illness. But all are handled very well.

All the stories are different and gritty. They are most definitely thought provoking. Each story will affect everyone differently. My favourite has to A Fire Fighters Christmas Carol. But I'm guessing everyone will have a favourite.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firefighters, serial killers, ghosts, and the mentally ill. It’s all here in this collection of psychological and supernatural suspense.

A Firefighter Christmas Carol
Elliot was once a good medic, but since the untimely death of his partner, Carl, Elliot has become depressed and could care less about the job, his family or himself. When Carl visits him on Christmas, along with 3 other ghosts, Elliott starts to find his purpose in life again.

I have worked as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher for just over 9 years and the crews at EMS have become my family. I have had to deal with the suicide of one and our community has lost 2 firefighters to suicide. I have seen what it does to the others in the field. This story really made me think about things and reminded me to keep an eye on my “peeps”. Some suffer in silence while some strike out. This was an excellent retelling and the ended warmed my heart.

Janitor
Oh my….this one freaked me out. Mental illness is not something to joke about and this story took it to a new level for me. It showed a side of the illness that I, thankfully, have never had to deal with. It was truly heartbreaking and terrifying.

Death Alarm
A rookie firefighter makes a mistake and pays dearly for it. His mistake saves another life years later. An interesting story that makes one wonder just what is going on behind the scenes at the calls we go on.

Catchtime
A happily married man spirals into obsession over a comment by an internet troll. How many times have we all gotten mad at a stupid comment online? Well, Daniel takes his anger a bit far. The story alternates between then and now, JD and Daniel with a surprising ending.

Skelwaller Lane
Why is Billy running for his life and who is the man chasing him? Why is the man chasing him? He’s a stranger to Billy, but the man knows what Billy has done and plans on righting that wrong. A terrifying story of love and revenge.

DOA
Toni and her partner, Steve, catch a DOA call first thing Christmas morning. Most DOA calls are fairly routine, but this one takes a turn when the deceased visits Toni in the truck. She has a rare ability to see ghosts and he needs her help. He does not give her a choice in the matter and what she does goes against everything she believes in.

This collection of stories was intense, interesting, and terrifying. The author has other books out and I look forward to reading more of his work.

[Marion Over · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've known firefighters and paramedics. I've heard stories about things that I believe would break most people. I've seen it break these defenders of ours.
That's what made me the most curious about this book of short stories about such people written by a Firefighter. With a touch of the supernatural I hold so dearly.

A Firefighter under stress, loosing his will to live under all the horrors of his job . The ghost's of Christmas are there to help him find his way. This was a unique way to retell the story. To share with us the mental horror true life can be to the brave souls trying to save people every day.

Firefighters helping ghosts.
A lost soul.
A father doing violence to protect his daughter from the ultimate defilement, the way this one's told is awesome and brutal.
Being led astray by ghosts.
Internet trolls paying their own toll.

Brutal (and I have to say honest) storytelling. These are great stories. Not for the faint of heart. This author has a fantastic way of leading you on a path that seems sound and then pulling the rug from under your feet. Douglas R. Brown has a Wonderful writing style also. Definitely a recommend read.

I received this ARC free from #booksirens. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Karen Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

As is often the way with a short story collection, some are more engaging than others. Thanks to NetGalley I received a free copy of this to review in exchange for my thoughts. A somewhat haunting collection of tales that explores grief and how we live with it, while showing us some unusual scenarios.
I initially requested this because of the first story. A sucker for A Christmas Carol, I wondered how it would fare updated. It works well and, for me, this was the strongest story in the collection.
The stories focus on those who are often most closely linked to death - firefighters, paramedics and people on the edges of society. The supernatural is a recurring theme in the stories, used to examine our attitudes to death but also to offer something a little different in terms of stories.
These stories will be traumatic for some readers. While some were shorter than I’d have liked, I enjoyed the way we were often toyed with by Brown as he sets up a story only to step off in an often unexpected direction to further develop his theme.

[Crystalclearwpg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book I have had the pleasure to read and again it did not disappoint. This little book of anthologies shows you the world in a supernatural way and also in a very human way. Being a firefighter has its own demons and you can see some of that through a couple of these stories. The life of a firefighter/paramedic takes its toll on a person and Douglas does a great job of dealing with that through his writing and putting that twist within his stories to show you the challenges they face. My 2 favorite shorts are A Fireman's Christmas Carol and Death Alarm. Douglas had definitely showed us that not all demons are just in the supernatural realm but also our own.
I received an ARC free from Book Sirens and this is my own unbiased opinion.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This creative and well-written collection of spooky short stories will definitely appeal to fans of horror and suspense. The first story (a novella, really, as it’s 74 pages long) is centered on Christmas but all the other stories could be classified as supernatural or horror.

The book contains six stories. Of them, I think A Firefighter Christmas Carol was my favorite, followed by Death Alarm and DOA. I think fans of horror/supernatural and anyone who has a firefighter in their life would enjoy this book. I think I'll be thinking about some of these characters for quite a while!

For more reviews follow on Instagram @jills_bookish_life

[BlueFalkon95 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just from the title of the book, it brings to my mind the original Charles Dickens story of A Christmas Story which the author rewrites the story A Firefighter Christmas Carol. Elliot suffering from work overload and stress which some will call burn-out. Elliot not receiving help for his mental health issues begins to see the ghost of his friend Jimmy who took his own life. Jimmy doesn’t want Elliot to go down the same pathway as himself sends three ghosts from Christmas past, future and present to enforce Elliot to view on where he came from and how his actions has caused situations and how his life might end. The following stories Janitor, Death Alarm, CatchTime, Skelwaller and DOA are mostly psychological suspense thrillers and connected to Elliot and others are haunting ghostly visitations.
A firefighter Christmas Carol is recommended for readers who love books about the supernatural and psychologist suspense thrillers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Epertase Publishing via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own thoughts, feelings and viewpoints of the book.
#AFirefighterChristmasCarol #NetGalley. Review run date 13 Sep 2021 for Netgalley, my review will be posted on my WordPress blog, Facebook blog, Amazon.com.au, goodreads, kobo, googlebooks and iBooks. My WordPress blog is http://bluefalkon95adorationofallgenr... My Facebook reader blog page link, is https://www.facebook.com/BlueFalkon95...

[Dion Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection, it has a Joe Hill, Alfred Hitchcock feel to it.

It was well written and easy to read, but still gritty with some unexpected twists, not all the stories are about fire fighters, which for me is good, it gave the book a variety of stories my favourites being Janitor and CatchTime, but they are all excellent.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I’ve already added another of his books to my ‘to read’ list.


*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.*

[Marina Garrido · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

2021 was a great reading year for me and this collection was the perfect book to close the year with. All the stories have interesting plots and even though they deal with heavy topics, Brown manages to sprinkle humor throughout all of them without making light of said topics. The collection is centered around A Firefighter’s Christmas Carol, which is an adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and has as its protagonist a firefighter named Ted that has been struggling with PTSD. Brown writes a touching foreword where he explains how he has also struggled with PTSD due to his job as a firefighter and how Ted’s struggles were largely based on his own. During the foreword the author also continues to say that his intention with this story is helping others understand PTSD better, to end the stigma around it, and show to everyone that having a mental illness is not a moral failure nor does it equate to weakness. It takes a great deal of courage to be so open about your trauma, your struggles, and your downfalls as Brown does during his foreword. Another thing that I liked about these stories is that most of them have first responders as protagonists, which is something I’ve never seen before but it makes complete sense, because who sees more death and suffering than them?

Brown did an incredible job of showing the mental and emotional toll that the job has on first responders and how mental illness, in general, can turn someone’s life upside down. It’s a heavy and emotional read, but it’s one of the best short story collections out there so if it’s possible for you, I 100% recommend checking it out.

A Firefighter’s Christmas Carol – During Christmas Eve the firefighter Ted is visited by three ghosts (the past, the present, the future) who urge him to seek help before it’s too late. A heart-wrenching depiction of how struggling with PTSD and refusing to seek treatment can change someone and how that also hurts the one closest to them. It is a heavy story, I was crying by the end and had to take a break before reading the rest of the collection, please check the content warnings at the bottom of this review and practice self-care during and after your reading.

Janitor – This story has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, every single time I thought I’d figured out where it was going the author threw me for another loop. The protagonist is the night janitor and quite fond of his job, that is, until mysterious things start to happen during his shift and make him fear for his life.

Death Alarm – Ted has been having a hard time enduring the teasing of his coworkers in the fire department, but being a rookie means that he must play it cool if he wants the others to respect him. However, playing it cool becomes a lot harder when Ted starts seeing a woman that isn’t actually there. It was by far my favorite story of this collection, I loved the plot, the twist, the pace, everything except a tiny plot hole at the end. I don’t want to spoil anything, so forgive me for keeping it vague, but, during the first half of the story, there is a specific reason that the fire alarm goes off. However, in the second half, the fire alarm going off seems random and a bit like a Deus Ex Machina.

CatchTime – It goes back and forth in time as it follows two separate events that show how far some people’s anger issues go. Also, it’s a great cautionary tale about why you should always be kind to others, after all, you never know what a stranger can be capable of…

Skelwaller Lake – A fast-paced story that begins in the middle of a deadly chase and had me holding my breath all the way through. A large part of this story’s enjoyment relies on the reader not being sure of what’s happening and that’s why I won’t reveal anything else. However, like with all the other stories in this collection, it can be very triggering for some people, so I recommend checking the specific content warnings at the end of this review.

DOA - Toni gets more than she bargained for when she agrees to help a ghost solve his unfinished business and slowly remembers events from her own past. This story ties in with the first one, A Firefighter’s Christmas Carol, and it has a very open end, which makes me hope that the author writes a sequel featuring both Toni and Ted.

By Marina Garrido



Content Warnings
A Firefighter Christmas Carol - Suicide, Substance Abuse, Child Death.
Janitor - Self Flagellation, Death, Hallucinations.
Death Alarm - Murder.
CatchTime - Murder.
Skelwaller Lake - Murder, Child Kidnapping, Implied Child SA, Body Horror.
DOA - Suicide, Murder, Child Death.

[Cat B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new author to me and this is the second of his books I have read. This one is an anthology and there are some excellent stories in the pages of this book. Some focus on the supernatural, and some remind us that not all horror hides in the shadows or in the basement. Some true bringers of horror walk on two feet. Sometimes I raced through a story, hoping for the conclusion to be as I wished. That did not always happen. As in life, we do not always get what we want. That being said, I found this book a very good read indeed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and unbiased opinion of the tales.

[Lois Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent !!

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

From the title of this book I was under the impression that this was going to be a book of Christmas short stories. This is actually a book of short stories about Firefighters and Parsmedics. The themes of PTSD and ghosts. I just wanted to point that out incase anyone just decides to read this without reading the description properly.

Some of the stories are better than others although I have to say I enjoyed nearly all the stories. The title story is exactly what it says, A Christmas Carol retelling. I think that my most favourite story was the last one. I would happily read more short story collections from this author.

[Marina Garrido · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I’d like to thank NetGalley, BookSiren, and the author for a free e-book in exchange for an honest review. 2021 was a great reading year for me and this collection was the perfect book to close the year with. All the stories have interesting plots and even though they deal with heavy topics, Brown manages to sprinkle humor throughout all of them without making light of said topics. The collection is centered around A Firefighter’s Christmas Carol, which is an adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and has as its protagonist a firefighter named Ted that has been struggling with PTSD. Brown writes a touching foreword where he explains how he has also struggled with PTSD due to his job as a firefighter and how Ted’s struggles were largely based on his own. During the foreword the author also continues to say that his intention with this story is helping others understand PTSD better, to end the stigma around it, and show to everyone that having a mental illness is not a moral failure nor does it equate to weakness. It takes a great deal of courage to be so open about your trauma, your struggles, and your downfalls as Brown does during his foreword. Another thing that I liked about these stories is that most of them have first responders as protagonists, which is something I’ve never seen before but it makes complete sense, because who sees more death and suffering than them?

Brown did an incredible job of showing the mental and emotional toll that the job has on first responders and how mental illness, in general, can turn someone’s life upside down. It’s a heavy and emotional read, but it’s one of the best short story collections out there so if it’s possible for you, I 100% recommend checking it out.

A Firefighter’s Christmas Carol – During Christmas Eve the firefighter Ted is visited by three ghosts (the past, the present, the future) who urge him to seek help before it’s too late. A heart-wrenching depiction of how struggling with PTSD and refusing to seek treatment can change someone and how that also hurts the one closest to them. It is a heavy story, I was crying by the end and had to take a break before reading the rest of the collection, please check the content warnings at the bottom of this review and practice self-care during and after your reading.

Janitor – This story has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, every single time I thought I’d figured out where it was going the author threw me for another loop. The protagonist is the night janitor and quite fond of his job, that is, until mysterious things start to happen during his shift and make him fear for his life.

Death Alarm – Ted has been having a hard time enduring the teasing of his coworkers in the fire department, but being a rookie means that he must play it cool if he wants the others to respect him. However, playing it cool becomes a lot harder when Ted starts seeing a woman that isn’t actually there. It was by far my favorite story of this collection, I loved the plot, the twist, the pace, everything except a tiny plot hole at the end. I don’t want to spoil anything, so forgive me for keeping it vague, but, during the first half of the story, there is a specific reason that the fire alarm goes off. However, in the second half, the fire alarm going off seems random and a bit like a Deus Ex Machina.

CatchTime – It goes back and forth in time as it follows two separate events that show how far some people’s anger issues go. Also, it’s a great cautionary tale about why you should always be kind to others, after all, you never know what a stranger can be capable of…

Skelwaller Lake – A fast-paced story that begins in the middle of a deadly chase and had me holding my breath all the way through. A large part of this story’s enjoyment relies on the reader not being sure of what’s happening and that’s why I won’t reveal anything else. However, like with all the other stories in this collection, it can be very triggering for some people, so I recommend checking the specific content warnings at the end of this review.

DOA - Toni gets more than she bargained for when she agrees to help a ghost solve his unfinished business and slowly remembers events from her own past. This story ties in with the first one, A Firefighter’s Christmas Carol, and it has a very open end, which makes me hope that the author writes a sequel featuring both Toni and Ted.

By Marina Garrido



Content Warnings
A Firefighter Christmas Carol - Suicide, Substance Abuse, Child Death.
Janitor - Self Flagellation, Death, Hallucinations.
Death Alarm - Murder.
CatchTime - Murder.
Skelwaller Lake - Murder, Child Kidnapping, Implied Child SA, Body Horror.
DOA - Suicide, Murder, Child Death.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moved me to tears.....

This is a wonderful and imaginative collection of short stories. I enjoyed each and every one for very different reasons and each one had a good mixture of intrigue, wonder and surprise.

I waited a little while before reading this book, due to some of the themes, including suicide, depression and life and death. When I came across this book, something about its cover and book description resonated with me , although I am not a firefighter or an emergency responder of any kind.

The first story especially, "A Firefighter's Christmas Carol" really moved me to tears. This was a re-telling of the famous and iconic novel "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens. In this version a firefighter who is struggling with life is visited by the various ghosts. How the story was told was very moving and tender with a fantastic splash of imagination. This story tackled a very difficult topic, that of suicide and depression, in a very sensitive way and is one that will stay with me for a very long time to come. I absolutely loved this re-telling and it could definitely be a stand alone novella or book.

The author's notes at the start of the book about his own experiences added another layer of meaning to this tale for me and his encouragement to reaching out for help was also inspiring and important.

The other stories in the book were also all very well written and had me guessing how the story would unfold. Some of my favourites included: "Death Alarm" and "CatchTime".

In all the stories I found the characters to be all very believable and some of the characters surprised me by their personas and personalities. The touch of some supernatural elements was also brilliant alongside the weaving in of references from other stories in the collection. For example Elliot from the first story mentioned in the last.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and curious to read other works by the author. I have been profoundly moved by this book and will definitely recommend it to others. It has provided me with a hint of hope and a shining light after a difficult year.

Thank you to the author, Douglas R Brown, and Book Sirens for the opportunity of reading this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you know anyone who has PTSD? The first story is the title of the book. A firefighter is having trouble with his life. Work seems impossible and going home is only good for sitting in his chair and drinking. One night he is visited by his best friend and former partner at work. He is told that he will be visited by three ghosts and that he must listen to them. Elliot (the firefighter) isn’t too happy about this but decides it won’t happen. It does happen! What will Elliot do?

The author has written a personal and vulnerable story about himself. While we think often that PTSD is a soldier’s problem, it isn’t. Police and firefighters often get it. The first story was written with the Charles Dickens story “A Christmas Carol” structure in mind. It’s an excellent story to read. The other stories in this book include mental health and supernatural effects. I enjoyed reading them all though the first one is my favorite. It’s so easy to forget what can happens to people in our society especially now. It is much too easy to judge rather than looking and listening first to someone who is having a problem. I am so fortunate to have read this book!

Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author and/or publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review or any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.

[Christina Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A firefighter Christmas Carol and other stories by, Douglas R. Brown.

I do enjoy short horror stories and this is one of them. Many of the stories were thrilling, chilling and even sadness included. The first story will get you on a whole new level.

I appreciate the author for sincerely putting about deeply personal issues such as depression, suicide, and PTSD, as I'm one of them that suffers from all three due to a personal experience that occurred in my life. By placing a note beforehand, expressing his love and compassion and how he still wants anyone around, meant a lot.

Each story was creepy, especially The Janitor. As the stories move forward, you do get the chills, the fright, the horror along with many others. I had so much fun reading them. I had to pause here and there just to handle household stuff because it is hard to set down when you want to continue reading. Shoot, I even dreamt about one of the stories. LOL.

Overall, the book is hugely fantastic and a must-have in anyone's horror collection. I proud to even have read it and enjoyed the scares. If you are a horror fan such as I am, you definitely need to get this one. I highly recommend it! 🙂

[Christina Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A firefighter Christmas Carol and other stories by, Douglas R. Brown.

I do enjoy short horror stories and this is one of them. Many of the stories were thrilling, chilling and even sadness included. The first story will get you on a whole new level.

I appreciate the author for sincerely putting about deeply personal issues such as depression, suicide, and PTSD, as I'm one of them that suffers from all three due to a personal experience that occurred in my life. By placing a note beforehand, expressing his love and compassion and how he still wants anyone around, meant a lot.

Each story was creepy, especially The Janitor. As the stories move forward, you do get the chills, the fright, the horror along with many others. I had so much fun reading them. I had to pause here and there just to handle household stuff because it is hard to set down when you want to continue reading. Shoot, I even dreamt about one of the stories. LOL.

Overall, the book is hugely fantastic and a must-have in anyone's horror collection. I am proud to even have read it and enjoyed the scares. If you are a horror fan such as I am, you definitely need to get this one. I highly recommend it! 🙂

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really did not expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I really do love it when an author not only meets expectations but soars above and beyond and surpasses them. Not even a case of under promise and over deliver in this case as I was not really expecting to be wowed!

Loved the way the author tied up the stories, and the way the stories weaved in the firefighter, paramedic, police element was really a nice touch.

Being short stories, but not that short, gave the author time to do some character development and also to make the reader stop and think. These stories will stick with me for a while I think, well done to the author for that.

Well thought out, good plot elements, yet quite simple and thought provoking, plus had me on the edge of my seat a few times.

Highly recommended, well worth the read, especially if you feel like a quick read, that still has depth and easily holds the attention.

[Linda Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has 6 short stories that are great to read before going to sleep, or anywhere!

The first story is like the Christmas classic movie A Christmas Carol, but more up to date, modern than the original story. In this one, has firemen instead of Scrooge characters.

Second story is is about an over night janitor who suffers from mental illness. He has to face his own demons while working overnight, alone.

Do you believe in ghosts? Or angels? You will after you read the third story.

Do some murderers, murder again if they are released prison?

Even the smallest thing can trigger them to kill again.

What would be willing to do if someone snatched your child? How far are you willing to go to get them back?

Very good book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Beverly Laude · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title story was a well-written rewrite of "A Christmas Carol" from a firefighter's perspective. Very engaging and thought provoking look into the mental health of first responders. As a former volunteer EMT and firefighter, I could totally relate to Elliott's story.

The other stories were entertaining as well, full of ghostly happenings and creepy characters. I enjoyed the way the author wove the stories together with some of the same characters appearing in several of them.

The narrator did a great job and added a lot to my listening pleasure. My only complaint is that he mispronounced several words and I found that to be distracting. All in all, if you enjoy stories that make you think at the same time that they entertain, you will enjoy this book. I was given the chance to listen to this book by the author/narrator/publisher and chose to review it.

[Christina Gizzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the thoughts of someone that knows a lot about paramedics and firefighters, this short book gives the reader an understanding of what life can be like from different perspectives. I loved the first story and how all of the stories were related to each other. I wanted more cohesion though and I went through some of the stories not knowing what was going on or how they were relevant until I got to the end of the story. It was smart to have both male and female perspectives to show that not everyone that works for the fire department is male. I think that the stories were very unique and played into each other well to tell stories and warn others of what can happen on the job. I just wish there was more of an explanation as to what was going on.

[Carol Werner Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you #NetGalley for giving me a digital copy of #AFirefighterChristmasCarol for my honest review.

It is a very good book but it is hard to read if you struggle with PTSD and or depression.. My heart aches for the author for what he has seen and been through to write as he does.

The first story is my favorite. Elliot is a burned-out firefighter with PTSD on the verge of suicide in a modern reimagining of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Can a succession of ghostly visitors one Christmas Eve help Elliot face his demons before it’s too late?

After the feature story are five additional tales of supernatural and psychological suspense. All are very good and I highly recommend them.

This author writes from his soul, I look forward to reading more of his books.

[ARTowle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stories...

I enjoyed all of the stories in this book, even the ones that took a dark turn. A Firefighter Christmas Carol was my favorite, it's a modern-day take on Dicken's classic with firefighters as the main characters as the name implies. It takes a deep dive into the psychological impact of suicide on those left behind. I worked in psych units most of my life and I think it's subject that's not talked about enough. Of course the story has some paranormal aspects, both expected and unexpected, and a happy ending. It is a Christmas Carol afterall. I enjoyed the author's style of writing throughout the book and look forward to reading more of his work.

[Raju Chacko · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men." (Quote by Minot Judson Savage.) This book is a collection of six short-stories based on the lives of firefighters (including those who fall to stress-induced disorders like PTSD in the line of duty). It enables us to appreciate the lives of the brave, sacrificial men and women who serve as our first responders (like police, firefighters, and emergency services staff) and who deserve our deepest respect.

[Denice Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a dedicated fan of short stories and anthologies. In fewer words than most chapters, an author must build a storyline and the characters, tell the story, then bring readers to a close that will have them checking out a skillful author's back titles. Not every writer has the skills needed to meet that challenge. Douglas Brown uses his experience as a firefighter to weave magic into his stories. He makes the story come alive, taking this reader into the tales as the characters face challenges and solve life's problems. 5 easy stars.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredibly emotional read. A wonderful blend of realism with supernatural horror. Each short story features some type of trauma; grief, violence, suicide. The opening story was the best remake of a Christmas Carol that I have even run across. If you are unable to read about these topics stay away! But they are delivered in a respectful and creative way that brings meaning and understanding. I would recommend this to almost anyone. Thank you for the ARC.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed these Christmas stories centering on firefighters and their trials and tribulations. Each story is taken from Charles Dickens' Christmas stories and deals with different issues firefighters face with a touch of the paranormal. They are short reads and can be read anywhere but some of the topics can be triggers. I would recommend this book. I received a free advance copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Kara Bookdragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this collection of stories. The first one of course is the authors take on the classic “A Christmas Carol”. The rest is a mix of ghost stories and stories involving death. They all have a twist in the tale which was suspenseful and some were so much of a twist it’s like whoa! I highly recommend the book and hope to read more by this author.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elliot is a burned out firefighter on the verge of suicide.

This is a great book that shows many ways that first responders can get help with PTSD.

The story is written in the style of a Christmas Carol. Some of the stories are hard to read but you must get through them or you will regret it. I'm not a first responder but this book showed some of the things that can be encountered as one. I have more respect now than I ever have.