What do you think?
Rate this book
Worth: Short Fiction Collection
Short Story/ Literary Fiction Collection: Worth
These stories range from micro fiction to twenty-page literary short stories. Influences include Post-Post-Modernism, Realism, Imaginative Fiction, French Experimentalists, Historical Fiction, Shakespeare revisionist play scenes and other revisionism, revisionist Journalistic Fiction, revisionist Testimonial Fiction, Modernist meta-narratives, with word play like James Joyce, Absurdism, Post-Modernist Horatian and Menippean satire, and The Twilight Zone. Ethics and the worth of a human being within complicated scenarios are explored.
These stories range from micro fiction to twenty-page literary short stories. Influences include Post-Post-Modernism, Realism, Imaginative Fiction, French Experimentalists, Historical Fiction, Shakespeare revisionist play scenes and other revisionism, revisionist Journalistic Fiction, revisionist Testimonial Fiction, Modernist meta-narratives, with word play like James Joyce, Absurdism, Post-Modernist Horatian and Menippean satire, and The Twilight Zone. Ethics and the worth of a human being within complicated scenarios are explored.
132 pages, ebook
First published February 25, 2022
13 people are currently reading
1859 people want to read
About the author
Sheila Bitts
7 books53 followersSheila Bitts, MFA, MPH is the author of Roses (2018, poetry). Her flash fiction is in Beyond Words Literary Magazine (2021). Worth (2022) is her collection of short stories. She wrote the novel, The Diamond Escape (2017) and its screenplay (2020). Entanglement (2022) is the second book in the Falloy Private Detective Novels.
BlueCat Review of Screenplay, "The Diamond Escape"--"This script is entertaining and is clearly inspired by many classic movies. It’s both a heist story and a detective story and the writer draws deftly from both genres to create a breakneck pursuit of the titular diamonds. In this expansive chase.. The diversity of place and the speed with which we move between settings create an exciting and, on the whole, original piece within two genres that crave originality."
"Falloy is a newly minted private-eye who I can root for."
"The piece appears to be well-researched and raises many important questions regarding the theft of jewels and artifacts from around the world on behalf of colonial interests." "There is a richness within the setting, especially the scenes set in the museum; the writer is familiar with all the characters we might encounter within these academic circles and creates a power around them, specifically with Etienne and Leon. This mix of the characters’ wealth and intellectualism make Etienne and Leon particularly formidable and interesting." "On the whole, an exciting piece that grapples with many important questions and draws us through a heist while keeping our interest, certainly no small feat... (There is a)...nice touch at the end, which ties the story in a circle and is thematically very satisfying..."
* * * * *
The Diamond Escape (novel) by Sheila Bitts
5/5 Stars
Review by Alma Boucher for Readers’ Favorite
"The Diamond Escape is engaging and exciting. The events are described in detail, and it was easy to visualize the people and events. The plot…kept me on the edge of my seat. The story was fast-paced and jam-packed with action. There was never a dull moment. Sheila Bitts builds the background for a wide number of characters. It was a wild roller coaster ride with participants that were authentic and relatable...The story was well written, and mystery and suspense were blended. The twists and turns unraveled toward an excellent ending. It was unexpected and surpassed my expectations."
* * * * *
Entanglement (novel) by Sheila Mae Bitts
5/5 Stars
Review by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite
"Entanglement continues the Falloy detective series. Sheila Bitts took me on a rollercoaster ride of mystery, murder, and suspense. The author's imagination had me hooked from the start. The plot was intriguing and complicated, and I could not put it down. It was a page-turner and full of action. The character development was brilliant. There were many players, and it was exciting to get to know them. My favorite characters were Falloy and Snow. The energy between them was fun and lightened the seriousness of the circumstances precipitated by the danger and murders. The story was well-written and exceeded my expectations by far."
* * * * *
Entanglement (novel) by Sheila Bitts
5/5 Stars
Review by: Essien Asian of Readers' Favorite.
"Sheila Bitts employs creative conversations between her characters…maintains our curiosity right up to the final chapters...Bitts' inclusion of time-altering scientific concepts in a story equally heavy on drama and old-school espionage activity creates an immersive atmosphere that sucks in even the most reluctant reader with a subtlety that should be applauded. An even balance between the physical tussling and the deduction-related activity guarantees that the avid action junkie’s essential diet is satisfied in a delicious potpourri of spine-tingling suspense. An impressive novel by my standards. It will surely hold its own in the genre."
BlueCat Review of Screenplay, "The Diamond Escape"--"This script is entertaining and is clearly inspired by many classic movies. It’s both a heist story and a detective story and the writer draws deftly from both genres to create a breakneck pursuit of the titular diamonds. In this expansive chase.. The diversity of place and the speed with which we move between settings create an exciting and, on the whole, original piece within two genres that crave originality."
"Falloy is a newly minted private-eye who I can root for."
"The piece appears to be well-researched and raises many important questions regarding the theft of jewels and artifacts from around the world on behalf of colonial interests." "There is a richness within the setting, especially the scenes set in the museum; the writer is familiar with all the characters we might encounter within these academic circles and creates a power around them, specifically with Etienne and Leon. This mix of the characters’ wealth and intellectualism make Etienne and Leon particularly formidable and interesting." "On the whole, an exciting piece that grapples with many important questions and draws us through a heist while keeping our interest, certainly no small feat... (There is a)...nice touch at the end, which ties the story in a circle and is thematically very satisfying..."
* * * * *
The Diamond Escape (novel) by Sheila Bitts
5/5 Stars
Review by Alma Boucher for Readers’ Favorite
"The Diamond Escape is engaging and exciting. The events are described in detail, and it was easy to visualize the people and events. The plot…kept me on the edge of my seat. The story was fast-paced and jam-packed with action. There was never a dull moment. Sheila Bitts builds the background for a wide number of characters. It was a wild roller coaster ride with participants that were authentic and relatable...The story was well written, and mystery and suspense were blended. The twists and turns unraveled toward an excellent ending. It was unexpected and surpassed my expectations."
* * * * *
Entanglement (novel) by Sheila Mae Bitts
5/5 Stars
Review by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite
"Entanglement continues the Falloy detective series. Sheila Bitts took me on a rollercoaster ride of mystery, murder, and suspense. The author's imagination had me hooked from the start. The plot was intriguing and complicated, and I could not put it down. It was a page-turner and full of action. The character development was brilliant. There were many players, and it was exciting to get to know them. My favorite characters were Falloy and Snow. The energy between them was fun and lightened the seriousness of the circumstances precipitated by the danger and murders. The story was well-written and exceeded my expectations by far."
* * * * *
Entanglement (novel) by Sheila Bitts
5/5 Stars
Review by: Essien Asian of Readers' Favorite.
"Sheila Bitts employs creative conversations between her characters…maintains our curiosity right up to the final chapters...Bitts' inclusion of time-altering scientific concepts in a story equally heavy on drama and old-school espionage activity creates an immersive atmosphere that sucks in even the most reluctant reader with a subtlety that should be applauded. An even balance between the physical tussling and the deduction-related activity guarantees that the avid action junkie’s essential diet is satisfied in a delicious potpourri of spine-tingling suspense. An impressive novel by my standards. It will surely hold its own in the genre."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
November 10, 2022
Thanks for the kindle copy.
April 1, 2022
Held my interest throughout
February 1, 2024
I liked these stories. Honestly, I like the Frederick Falloy books, better, but these are worthwhile reading, too.
I’d like to thank the publisher for making this book available in a Goodreads giveaway.
I’d like to thank the publisher for making this book available in a Goodreads giveaway.
February 19, 2023
Goodreads win review
It was ok. Overall an interesting read, some stories were better than others. Glad I won and read it.
It was ok. Overall an interesting read, some stories were better than others. Glad I won and read it.
March 5, 2023
I have no idea what I read
This read was very slow for a short story collection. Many of the stories I did not really get the point of. The story would start with some form of a thought, but then randomly break down into conscious stream.
I had emergency surgery this week and found it to be easier to read when on pain killers, which is understandable as my head hurts from reading and finishing this.
If I weren't so stubborn, I wouldn't have doneso
This read was very slow for a short story collection. Many of the stories I did not really get the point of. The story would start with some form of a thought, but then randomly break down into conscious stream.
I had emergency surgery this week and found it to be easier to read when on pain killers, which is understandable as my head hurts from reading and finishing this.
If I weren't so stubborn, I wouldn't have doneso
January 13, 2025
I received a copy of this book of short stories in a Goodreads Giveaway. The stories are short with some I enjoyed more than others. I never really picked up on a running theme tying the stories together and none really stuck with me after the initial reading. A quick read, but not a group of stories I will return for another read.
October 1, 2023
It was ok.
January 14, 2024
The first story was wonderful and I was hoping for more like it and the other stories just didn’t deliver.
June 24, 2024
Great mix of stories.
All kinds of short stories. I really liked the Tom Thumb one. I was able to visualize Tom going through the cows stomach.
All kinds of short stories. I really liked the Tom Thumb one. I was able to visualize Tom going through the cows stomach.
March 9, 2025
I received a free copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway.
This is a short story collection with a variety of different genres all focused on how we find and make meaning in our humanity.
I liked the first story the best. I thought that it worked very well as a short story with a very clear narrative.
However, I really struggled with this collection for a variety of reasons. Many of the stories were incredibly difficult to follow, referencing Plato, Latin, Chemistry, Art History, and more. But it seems like the author just included them to include them.
Overall, this short story collection left me dissatisfied.
#GoodreadsGiveaway
This is a short story collection with a variety of different genres all focused on how we find and make meaning in our humanity.
I liked the first story the best. I thought that it worked very well as a short story with a very clear narrative.
However, I really struggled with this collection for a variety of reasons. Many of the stories were incredibly difficult to follow, referencing Plato, Latin, Chemistry, Art History, and more. But it seems like the author just included them to include them.
Overall, this short story collection left me dissatisfied.
#GoodreadsGiveaway
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews