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Dark Tide Mysteries and Thrillers #1
Wounds to Wishes: Tales of Mystery and Melancholy
Three separate yet strangely connected novellas kick off Crystal Lake’s Dark Tide series with stories of Mystery and Suspense.
THE STRANGEST TWIST UPON HER LIPS by Chad When a suicide note is just too much to bear, an absurd celebration of life feels like the only way out. While avoiding the suicide note his fiancé left behind, a grief-stricken man tackles a bucket list the two had made together, fulfilling entries that take him out of his comfort zone and into the realm of skid-row voodoo, where truths are finally revealed. Another grief horror yarn from the author of Stirring the Sheets and Of Foster Homes and Flies .
MY ONLY SUNSHINE by Robert A grief-stricken mother has five days to solve her daughter’s murder. Caroline’s daughter was abducted and murdered over four months ago. Now, in an abandoned building, in the dead of night, she can talk with Emma’s ghost. Five days. Fourteen minutes each day. That’s all the time Caroline has to find out who murdered Emma, and say goodbye to her daughter for the very last time.
SUET by John Dark secrets and darker things are a lonely man's inheritance. Corbin is a lonely young man who finally broke the bonds of an emotional vampire of a job. He accepts the sad task of going through the estate of his dead grandparents, to discover that family can go back quite far, as can secrets and shadows. He will discover that the family he always knew kept things back and that an inheritance isn't always monetary. History has teeth and talons and often times does not let go easily.
Crystal Lake’s Dark Tide series will continue soon with more tales of Mystery Thrillers and Horror Books, including themes of Weird Western, Sherlock Holmes, Grief Horror, Body Horror, Halloween, Mystery fiction, and Psychological Thriller books.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
THE STRANGEST TWIST UPON HER LIPS by Chad When a suicide note is just too much to bear, an absurd celebration of life feels like the only way out. While avoiding the suicide note his fiancé left behind, a grief-stricken man tackles a bucket list the two had made together, fulfilling entries that take him out of his comfort zone and into the realm of skid-row voodoo, where truths are finally revealed. Another grief horror yarn from the author of Stirring the Sheets and Of Foster Homes and Flies .
MY ONLY SUNSHINE by Robert A grief-stricken mother has five days to solve her daughter’s murder. Caroline’s daughter was abducted and murdered over four months ago. Now, in an abandoned building, in the dead of night, she can talk with Emma’s ghost. Five days. Fourteen minutes each day. That’s all the time Caroline has to find out who murdered Emma, and say goodbye to her daughter for the very last time.
SUET by John Dark secrets and darker things are a lonely man's inheritance. Corbin is a lonely young man who finally broke the bonds of an emotional vampire of a job. He accepts the sad task of going through the estate of his dead grandparents, to discover that family can go back quite far, as can secrets and shadows. He will discover that the family he always knew kept things back and that an inheritance isn't always monetary. History has teeth and talons and often times does not let go easily.
Crystal Lake’s Dark Tide series will continue soon with more tales of Mystery Thrillers and Horror Books, including themes of Weird Western, Sherlock Holmes, Grief Horror, Body Horror, Halloween, Mystery fiction, and Psychological Thriller books.
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.
164 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 26, 2022
50 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Chad Lutzke
89 books743 followersChad has written for Famous Monsters of Filmland, Rue Morgue, Cemetery Dance, and Scream magazine. He's had dozens of short stories published, and some of his books include: OF FOSTER HOMES & FLIES, STIRRING THE SHEETS, SKULLFACE BOY, THE SAME DEEP WATER AS YOU, THE PALE WHITE, THE NEON OWL and OUT BEHIND THE BARN co-written with John Boden. Lutzke's work has been praised by authors Jack Ketchum, Richard Chizmar, Joe R. Lansdale, Stephen Graham Jones, Tim Waggoner and his own mother.
He can be found lurking the internet at www.chadlutzke.com
He can be found lurking the internet at www.chadlutzke.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 25, 2022
WOUNDS TO WISHES
Full review available at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
Many will tell you about the power of love – above all – but hate is not the opposite. Hate still gives you strength – the power to fight, if you will. Grief is the emotion that will destroy you. Loss, that which is completely out of your hands, the knowledge that you can never get back what is gone, that part of your soul that hurts in a way there is just no release from.
People build up walls to prevent themselves from getting hurt like this, but it is not something we can always control. You might think you are tough and keep everyone at bay, but the day your child gets born nature gives you a big, fat middle finger. I will be the first to admit that I never thought I would be a father because I would be awful at it.
The day my son was born was the proudest in my life – it beats the day I got married. I am not good with kids and I still doubt myself a lot when I am parenting, but he is more important than anybody else in the world. I can’t even imagine how any parent can go on living after they lose a child – yet it happens every day. And yes, it scares me more than anything.
Depression, to those who have never experienced it, is beyond understanding. The day someone
decides to end their own life, they are trying to escape the constant pain their soul is in. There is a part of me that gets upset when I hear people asking the question:
“How could you do this to me?”
They are the people who can’t imagine what that person was going through, what that person felt. If I were less sensitive, I would point out that the way they are feeling at that very moment was probably the way that person felt all the time.
If it sounds like I am judging, my apologies. The point I am trying to convey here is that grief, as an
emotion, can overrule all others. I respect each and everyone who manages to work their way through it, and I can only hope that those who are in the worst part of it finds their way through. I know it doesn’t help to say that there are people out there who understands and have gone through it before, but I hope it helps to say that there are people out there who you can talk to and they will not judge you because they understand.
I am a fan of all three these authors and, if the first part of my review didn’t give you a clue, this is not your typical “scare the crap out of people” horror book. It deals with heavy subjects and centers on emotion above all else. So get ready to feel with this one.
Each story is a five star story in its own right – it took me a few days to come to this conclusion.
However, I am going to give this one a 4.5 Star rating. The first two stories by Lutzke and Ford gelled so well together, I expected the third from Boden to do the same. I felt a little disappointed when it didn’t. It wasn’t bad or worse than the other two, it was just separate.
So, here is my advice:
If this is going to be your next read, treat the stories as separate entities. I would even go so far as to advise that you read the first, then the third and then the second story – if you are worried about it.
However, highly recommended to those who wants to push their emotions into that raw part.
4.5 STARS
Full review available at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
Many will tell you about the power of love – above all – but hate is not the opposite. Hate still gives you strength – the power to fight, if you will. Grief is the emotion that will destroy you. Loss, that which is completely out of your hands, the knowledge that you can never get back what is gone, that part of your soul that hurts in a way there is just no release from.
People build up walls to prevent themselves from getting hurt like this, but it is not something we can always control. You might think you are tough and keep everyone at bay, but the day your child gets born nature gives you a big, fat middle finger. I will be the first to admit that I never thought I would be a father because I would be awful at it.
The day my son was born was the proudest in my life – it beats the day I got married. I am not good with kids and I still doubt myself a lot when I am parenting, but he is more important than anybody else in the world. I can’t even imagine how any parent can go on living after they lose a child – yet it happens every day. And yes, it scares me more than anything.
Depression, to those who have never experienced it, is beyond understanding. The day someone
decides to end their own life, they are trying to escape the constant pain their soul is in. There is a part of me that gets upset when I hear people asking the question:
“How could you do this to me?”
They are the people who can’t imagine what that person was going through, what that person felt. If I were less sensitive, I would point out that the way they are feeling at that very moment was probably the way that person felt all the time.
If it sounds like I am judging, my apologies. The point I am trying to convey here is that grief, as an
emotion, can overrule all others. I respect each and everyone who manages to work their way through it, and I can only hope that those who are in the worst part of it finds their way through. I know it doesn’t help to say that there are people out there who understands and have gone through it before, but I hope it helps to say that there are people out there who you can talk to and they will not judge you because they understand.
I am a fan of all three these authors and, if the first part of my review didn’t give you a clue, this is not your typical “scare the crap out of people” horror book. It deals with heavy subjects and centers on emotion above all else. So get ready to feel with this one.
Each story is a five star story in its own right – it took me a few days to come to this conclusion.
However, I am going to give this one a 4.5 Star rating. The first two stories by Lutzke and Ford gelled so well together, I expected the third from Boden to do the same. I felt a little disappointed when it didn’t. It wasn’t bad or worse than the other two, it was just separate.
So, here is my advice:
If this is going to be your next read, treat the stories as separate entities. I would even go so far as to advise that you read the first, then the third and then the second story – if you are worried about it.
However, highly recommended to those who wants to push their emotions into that raw part.
4.5 STARS
January 10, 2024
Those three novellas were absolutely intriguing, eerie, tragic and full of horror. "The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips" is about Rita's suicide and the experiences of her boyfriend left behind. Chad Lutzke at his very best. Deeply emotional, moving and somehow very bizarre. What about the pistol used threatening a wife? The same motif is picked up in Robert Ford's "My Only Sunshine", the second novella here. A daughter is kidnapped and killed. Some other children vanished. Who did it? Will a mother find the mysterious "Birdman". Very eerie and twisty tale full of surprises. "Suet" by Joe Boden shows a different side of the peace in the valley motif. The land gives and the land takes. Corbin finds out some monstrous truths here in the notes of his deceased grandfather. What a collection. Modern horror at its very best. Highly recommended. First highlight of the year!
August 23, 2022
Chad Lutzke: THE STRANGEST TWIST UPON HER LIPS tugs at the heart strings from the get go. I personally feel it's up there with the best of his work. Might even be my favourite, and that's saying something. There's a yearning and longing running all the way through. It got me good. Each chapter swings hard and hits effortlessly, but the last chapter knocks it out of the park. Can't praise this one highly enough. Terrific work.
Robert Ford- MY ONLY SUNSHINE.
The importance of time is evident from the start, and it just sits so well with the previous story. Now, I didn't know this, going into this collection, but something special happens in this, I'm not saying what it is, but you'll appreciate it and it will draw you in even more.
Another little masterpiece here. Like Lutzke's story before, I read this in one sitting. Same day, too.
I'm a huge fan of Bob Ford's work. Again, it's up there with his very best.
This one left me drained... in a good way.
You'll rip through this story. It will blow you away.
John Boden -SUET
When we reach Boden's story there is a sudden shift in gears, and in a very appreciative way. At least for me. As much as I enjoy the swiftness in writing, I love to just sit back and appreciate the turn of a good sentence, that genuine surprise of something thought through in a different way. Anyone familiar with John's work will already know he does this time and again. It's an absolute joy.
I'd rather not repeat what is already written in a synopsis. I would just rather tell you how a book made me feel.
And this one hit a ton of emotions. It doesn't really get any better.
A hardcover buy for sure.
If you haven't read these authors before, start here. If you have, you won't be disappointed.
I guarantee it.
Truly wonderful.
Robert Ford- MY ONLY SUNSHINE.
The importance of time is evident from the start, and it just sits so well with the previous story. Now, I didn't know this, going into this collection, but something special happens in this, I'm not saying what it is, but you'll appreciate it and it will draw you in even more.
Another little masterpiece here. Like Lutzke's story before, I read this in one sitting. Same day, too.
I'm a huge fan of Bob Ford's work. Again, it's up there with his very best.
This one left me drained... in a good way.
You'll rip through this story. It will blow you away.
John Boden -SUET
When we reach Boden's story there is a sudden shift in gears, and in a very appreciative way. At least for me. As much as I enjoy the swiftness in writing, I love to just sit back and appreciate the turn of a good sentence, that genuine surprise of something thought through in a different way. Anyone familiar with John's work will already know he does this time and again. It's an absolute joy.
I'd rather not repeat what is already written in a synopsis. I would just rather tell you how a book made me feel.
And this one hit a ton of emotions. It doesn't really get any better.
A hardcover buy for sure.
If you haven't read these authors before, start here. If you have, you won't be disappointed.
I guarantee it.
Truly wonderful.
Read
August 22, 2022Available August 26th. Three novellas: Myself, John Boden, and Robert Ford. Grab the Kleenex!
August 23, 2022
Loved all three novellas in this collection! Full review to come.
August 26, 2022
WOUNDS TO WISHES: Tales of Mystery and Melancholy
is the first of several volumes of the Dark Tide series published by the amazing Crystal Lake Publishing and will contain different themes and sub-genres of horror.
This particular collection is being loosely regarded as grief horror and after reading the first novella, I can see why.
“The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips” by Chad Lutzke
Lutzke has an amazing ability to write the depths of human emotion. In this story, Brenton’s world has collapsed in a single moment - the one where he walked into the bathroom and discovered his fiancé has committed suicide.
We walk a mile in Brenton’s shoes over the initial discovery and how he processes the loss and grief over the next few days.
Can you imagine this devastating loss? What do you think you’d do?
"My Only Sunshine" by Robert Ford
This one will break your heart, make the blood rush in your veins and your pulse pound in fear, anger, uncertainty as we join Caroline Jacobson in her grief over her murdered child. She is desperate for answers as the days, weeks and months tick by.
Then a coworker offers her a business card and a recommendation that she tells Caroline saved her life when her own husband died. This leads to an unusual meeting and an interesting form of “therapy” that had me glued to every page.
This one was outstanding.
“Suet” by John Boden
I’d say of the three novellas, this one was the scariest. The first two were more focused on grief, this one was a different kind of grief that won’t make sense until you read it.
Corbin, the day after he walks out on his job at the old folks home, gets the news his grandfather has passed on. Corbin packs up and heads out to the old farm to sift through the house for what can be sold or donated.
Corbin’s rummaging leads to the discovery of some of his grandfather’s notebooks, one of which is a journal chronicling life in the valley.
And what is owed to the valley in exchange for peaceful living….
This first collection in this new Dark Tide series exceeded expectations and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next one. I've already seen the cover art and it is just as phenomenal as this one - both are ones I'd collect just for the covers.
This particular collection is being loosely regarded as grief horror and after reading the first novella, I can see why.
“The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips” by Chad Lutzke
Lutzke has an amazing ability to write the depths of human emotion. In this story, Brenton’s world has collapsed in a single moment - the one where he walked into the bathroom and discovered his fiancé has committed suicide.
We walk a mile in Brenton’s shoes over the initial discovery and how he processes the loss and grief over the next few days.
Can you imagine this devastating loss? What do you think you’d do?
"My Only Sunshine" by Robert Ford
“Death and sorrow have been lovers a long, long time. Their embrace is eternal, and they keep their secrets close to their heart.”
This one will break your heart, make the blood rush in your veins and your pulse pound in fear, anger, uncertainty as we join Caroline Jacobson in her grief over her murdered child. She is desperate for answers as the days, weeks and months tick by.
Then a coworker offers her a business card and a recommendation that she tells Caroline saved her life when her own husband died. This leads to an unusual meeting and an interesting form of “therapy” that had me glued to every page.
This one was outstanding.
“Suet” by John Boden
I’d say of the three novellas, this one was the scariest. The first two were more focused on grief, this one was a different kind of grief that won’t make sense until you read it.
Corbin, the day after he walks out on his job at the old folks home, gets the news his grandfather has passed on. Corbin packs up and heads out to the old farm to sift through the house for what can be sold or donated.
Corbin’s rummaging leads to the discovery of some of his grandfather’s notebooks, one of which is a journal chronicling life in the valley.
And what is owed to the valley in exchange for peaceful living….
This first collection in this new Dark Tide series exceeded expectations and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next one. I've already seen the cover art and it is just as phenomenal as this one - both are ones I'd collect just for the covers.
September 14, 2022
Wounds to Wishes: Tales of Mystery and Melancholy is the first book in Crystal Lake Publishing’s “Dark Tide Mysteries and Thrillers” series and boy does it set the bar for the subsequent entries.
The book contains three interconnected stories, each individually written by Chad Lutzke, John Boden, and Robert Ford. This was a brilliant decision, as this trio shares a similar voice, but the tales they tell are vastly different and work as standalones even if you notice familiar faces and places in their shared universe.
You can read Steve's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
The book contains three interconnected stories, each individually written by Chad Lutzke, John Boden, and Robert Ford. This was a brilliant decision, as this trio shares a similar voice, but the tales they tell are vastly different and work as standalones even if you notice familiar faces and places in their shared universe.
You can read Steve's full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
August 27, 2022
Keep the tissues near. And an extra box for good measure . I’ve said it before but I will say it over and over again Lutzke is Everything. Looking to cry, laugh, say wtaf??? Lutzke gives it all and more with every story he puts out. This is only my 2nd read from Ford. After initially reading Burner I knew I needed more Ford. He definitely brought it in this novella . And ofc left me now needing even More. Last but definitely not least there’s Boden. I’m fairly new to him but will certainly be rectifying that ! This book deals with suicide, death , and just complete loss itself. If you are looking to feel these authors will surely fill that need 🥺
December 27, 2023
Loss, debts paid..
I was prepared to read a different version of the same story I have been reading over the years. However,let me say I was so wrong, and very happy for it.
Dealing with the unexpected death of a loved one, by their own hand brings so many emotions to the survivors. Who needs a ghost when the spirits within haunt you?
A mother's agony upon losing her child to a predator, what lengths she will go to find the truth.
A family who has a contract with ancient beings, which must be honored or there will be hell to pay!
I was prepared to read a different version of the same story I have been reading over the years. However,let me say I was so wrong, and very happy for it.
Dealing with the unexpected death of a loved one, by their own hand brings so many emotions to the survivors. Who needs a ghost when the spirits within haunt you?
A mother's agony upon losing her child to a predator, what lengths she will go to find the truth.
A family who has a contract with ancient beings, which must be honored or there will be hell to pay!
August 24, 2022
There I am, at Scares That Care AuthorCon, and Bob Ford tells me that he’s working with Chad Lutzke, and John Boden on a new release from Crystal Lake Publishing. You would have thought he told me Christmas was coming early; I mean, three powerhouses working together?! Sign me up for a copy!
Sometime later, Joe Mynhardt reached out and asked if I want an ARC. I’m not sure what my exact words were, but it equated to, “HELL YEAH!”
And, well, this book is all I built it up in my mind to be. Talk about running the gambit of emotions! This is not to be read lightly, and most will have to put it down a number of times, just to get their head brought back to a “good place”. In fact, when I let the three know I received an ARC, Bob’s exact words were, “You’re gonna need a belt of that whiskey you have.” He wasn’t kidding.
The collection uses one of my favorite tropes - tying the three stories together in subtle, and not so subtle, ways. I like looking for the “Easter eggs” contained within each story that relates to the others. These three do a great job of it.
The book starts off with Chad’s story - “The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips”. What a way to begin! He immediately punches you in the gut; just to knock the wind out of you and let you know what you’re in for. The unexpected loss of a loved one is tough, but to lose that person to suicide without knowing - that has to be the worst pain imaginable. And that’s what Chad takes on. He then dances around the ring, toying with your emotions a bit - until you find out why the person did what they did. At that point, Chad decides to rip your heart out, throw it to the ground, and stomp on it repeatedly until there is nothing left. But, in true Lutzke fashion, his offers you a glimpse of hope… maybe. Only Chad can make a happy ending so devastatingly emotional. You will 100% need tissues next to you when reading this one.
After you recover from being a blubbering mess, Bob comes along, puts on his steel-tip work boots, and kicks you square in the face with a story about trying to see closure over the horrific abduction, and death, of a child. How far will a mother go to find answers to what happened? To what lengths? Bob doesn’t hold back with this story, until the very end.
By now, you’re numb to the pain. Your eyes are swollen shut, your stomach is in knots, and you just want to lie down - right? Sorry, John has to take his turn with you. But John takes a different approach. He doesn’t come right our swinging. No. John’s too nice to do that. His story reminded me a lot of an Appalachian Folk Tale. A cautionary tale about listening to your elders, or suffering the consequences.
This is the first in a new series from Crystal Lake, and it is a stellar way to kick off. If you’ve never read anything by these three, this is a fantastic start. If you have read these three, you’re going to want to pick this up to add to your collection.
Sometime later, Joe Mynhardt reached out and asked if I want an ARC. I’m not sure what my exact words were, but it equated to, “HELL YEAH!”
And, well, this book is all I built it up in my mind to be. Talk about running the gambit of emotions! This is not to be read lightly, and most will have to put it down a number of times, just to get their head brought back to a “good place”. In fact, when I let the three know I received an ARC, Bob’s exact words were, “You’re gonna need a belt of that whiskey you have.” He wasn’t kidding.
The collection uses one of my favorite tropes - tying the three stories together in subtle, and not so subtle, ways. I like looking for the “Easter eggs” contained within each story that relates to the others. These three do a great job of it.
The book starts off with Chad’s story - “The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips”. What a way to begin! He immediately punches you in the gut; just to knock the wind out of you and let you know what you’re in for. The unexpected loss of a loved one is tough, but to lose that person to suicide without knowing - that has to be the worst pain imaginable. And that’s what Chad takes on. He then dances around the ring, toying with your emotions a bit - until you find out why the person did what they did. At that point, Chad decides to rip your heart out, throw it to the ground, and stomp on it repeatedly until there is nothing left. But, in true Lutzke fashion, his offers you a glimpse of hope… maybe. Only Chad can make a happy ending so devastatingly emotional. You will 100% need tissues next to you when reading this one.
After you recover from being a blubbering mess, Bob comes along, puts on his steel-tip work boots, and kicks you square in the face with a story about trying to see closure over the horrific abduction, and death, of a child. How far will a mother go to find answers to what happened? To what lengths? Bob doesn’t hold back with this story, until the very end.
By now, you’re numb to the pain. Your eyes are swollen shut, your stomach is in knots, and you just want to lie down - right? Sorry, John has to take his turn with you. But John takes a different approach. He doesn’t come right our swinging. No. John’s too nice to do that. His story reminded me a lot of an Appalachian Folk Tale. A cautionary tale about listening to your elders, or suffering the consequences.
This is the first in a new series from Crystal Lake, and it is a stellar way to kick off. If you’ve never read anything by these three, this is a fantastic start. If you have read these three, you’re going to want to pick this up to add to your collection.
September 14, 2022
Wounds to Wishes: Tales of Mystery and Melancholy is the first book in Crystal Lake Publishing’s “Dark Tide Mysteries and Thrillers” series and boy does it set the bar for the subsequent entries.
The book contains three interconnected stories, each individually written by Chad Lutzke, John Boden, and Robert Ford. This was a brilliant decision, as this trio shares a similar voice, but the tales they tell are vastly different and work as standalones even if you notice familiar faces and places in their shared universe.
You can read my full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
The book contains three interconnected stories, each individually written by Chad Lutzke, John Boden, and Robert Ford. This was a brilliant decision, as this trio shares a similar voice, but the tales they tell are vastly different and work as standalones even if you notice familiar faces and places in their shared universe.
You can read my full review at Horror DNA by clicking here.
August 25, 2022
The three stories are linked by common themes — loss and processing trauma — but are different enough that it doesn’t get repetitive reading them. The first story, I thought, was really quite sweet and had some fantastic sequences and unforgettable characters. The second is a heart-pounding dark mystery that proves to be a page-turner. The third one, the most horrifying of the bunch, was probably my favorite. It’s atmospheric, imaginative and spellbinding. All three were well written and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next in this series!
August 26, 2022
What a kick a** read! I started this book and just could not put it down.
The story by Chad Lutzke was my favorite. Grief and a believable terror made this story totally creepy.
I can't wait to read the second book in this series.
The story by Chad Lutzke was my favorite. Grief and a believable terror made this story totally creepy.
I can't wait to read the second book in this series.
July 24, 2023
I picked this book because Lutzke is one of my favorite authors. I enjoyed his story but my favorite was Robert Ford's. It got into my head and invaded my dreams. Boden's was well written but just didn't work for me. Overall I have to round up my 3.5 rating to a 4.
August 23, 2022
Ok, ok, ok. I have never been so excited for an author collaboration as I was when I saw these three, Chad Lutzke, John Boden, and Bob Ford, were doing this collection together. I literally squealed with excitement 😃. Each has contributed their own novella, with overlapping themes, storylines or subtle Easter egg drops scattered about.
If you have already read anything by any of these authors, then you should know to prepare yourself to be hurt. To have your heart squeezed so hard it’s ready to burst. To have it feel like someone punched you hard enough in the gut to make you vomit. To leave you feeling alone and vulnerable….
—-
ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇꜱᴛ ᴛᴡɪꜱᴛ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ ʟɪᴘꜱ- 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙇𝙪𝙩𝙯𝙠𝙚
No one knows what grief really is until someone leaves you unexpectedly. And then when you find out why they left, that wound gets ripped wide open all over again, and with it comes a new type of pain you never knew existed.
Before you read this one, have a box of Kleenex within reach 😭.
🩹
ᴍʏ ᴏɴʟʏ ꜱᴜɴꜱʜɪɴᴇ- 𝘽𝙤𝙗 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙙
“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯’ 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴…. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵, 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘸.”
A mother seeks closure after losing her daughter. It’s a well know fact that a mothers love is nothing to fuck with. Moms are fierce creatures and are willing do anything for their child. Even if it hurts themselves.
This one has some serious poltergeist vibes to it. 👻
🩹
ꜱᴜᴇᴛ-𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣 𝘽𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙣
“𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺, 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥, 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥.”
One day Corbin Worthy gets a mysterious letter informing him his great grandfather has passed away, and an even stranger letter from his great grandfather himself. When he heads out to the family property, he finds a bunch of old notebooks that will forever change his life, containing words he may wish he had never read.
Like folktales? Then you’ll like this one 🙌.
—-
I really enjoyed this collection and I would definitely recommend giving it a read 😊. This first installment of the Dark Tide series officially comes out August 26th from Crystal Lake Publishing , with more in the Dark Tide series to come!
If you have already read anything by any of these authors, then you should know to prepare yourself to be hurt. To have your heart squeezed so hard it’s ready to burst. To have it feel like someone punched you hard enough in the gut to make you vomit. To leave you feeling alone and vulnerable….
—-
ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇꜱᴛ ᴛᴡɪꜱᴛ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ ʟɪᴘꜱ- 𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙇𝙪𝙩𝙯𝙠𝙚
No one knows what grief really is until someone leaves you unexpectedly. And then when you find out why they left, that wound gets ripped wide open all over again, and with it comes a new type of pain you never knew existed.
Before you read this one, have a box of Kleenex within reach 😭.
🩹
ᴍʏ ᴏɴʟʏ ꜱᴜɴꜱʜɪɴᴇ- 𝘽𝙤𝙗 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙙
“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯’ 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴…. 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵, 𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘸.”
A mother seeks closure after losing her daughter. It’s a well know fact that a mothers love is nothing to fuck with. Moms are fierce creatures and are willing do anything for their child. Even if it hurts themselves.
This one has some serious poltergeist vibes to it. 👻
🩹
ꜱᴜᴇᴛ-𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣 𝘽𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙣
“𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘊𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘪𝘯 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺, 𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥, 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥.”
One day Corbin Worthy gets a mysterious letter informing him his great grandfather has passed away, and an even stranger letter from his great grandfather himself. When he heads out to the family property, he finds a bunch of old notebooks that will forever change his life, containing words he may wish he had never read.
Like folktales? Then you’ll like this one 🙌.
—-
I really enjoyed this collection and I would definitely recommend giving it a read 😊. This first installment of the Dark Tide series officially comes out August 26th from Crystal Lake Publishing , with more in the Dark Tide series to come!
August 27, 2022
Got this as an ARC from pub, however the review is all mine.
First story: A man struggles with his significant other's suicide. Within the struggle he finds a bucket list that they made together, but will this list be his undoing?
Second Story: A woman tries to find her daughter's killer, but will this actually give her the peace she craves?
Third Story:. A man tries to find fulfillment in life. His Grandpa passed away and he is the last one left in his family to go back to the strange valley to get his Grandpa's house ready for sale. He unearths some journals that explain the strange rituals that this valley has held onto for centuries. Will this revelation of the past help him fulfill his future?
First story: A man struggles with his significant other's suicide. Within the struggle he finds a bucket list that they made together, but will this list be his undoing?
Second Story: A woman tries to find her daughter's killer, but will this actually give her the peace she craves?
Third Story:. A man tries to find fulfillment in life. His Grandpa passed away and he is the last one left in his family to go back to the strange valley to get his Grandpa's house ready for sale. He unearths some journals that explain the strange rituals that this valley has held onto for centuries. Will this revelation of the past help him fulfill his future?
September 15, 2022
Twenty stars! Five for each story and another five to Crystal Lake Publishing for getting this group of authors together.
September 4, 2022
This collection of three stories by three different authors, WOUNDS TO WISHES: Tales of Mystery and Melancholy (the first of several planned volumes of the Dark Tide series published by the awesome Crystal Lake Publishing), focused on the theme of grief horror, is definitely the strongest horror collection I've read this year. All three stories are gems, but the Ford story alone should be enough to make you grab the book immediately.
Chad Lutzke's “The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips”, the first story, has a lot to recommend it: deeply emotional, disturbingly realistic, with just the right notes of mystery, creepiness and horror. Well-written, feels very personal, and keeps hitting hard on the meaning of grief, right to the last line of the story. The mere idea of going on a sort of "dream-quest" by carrying out the tasks on a list you made with your loved one, now gone after commiting suicide - brilliant. This is the kind of exemplary work that belongs to any fiction collection, not just in the genre of horror.
Robert Ford's "My Only Sunshine", however - wow! Stunning. It left me speechless, kept me guessing (unsuccessfully) the end, enjoying the plot twists and the masterful writing and simply wanting more. It too is about grief (a mother's grief over her murdered child), agreed, but it was so well done on the horror part that it got me hooked on all the nasty emotional baggage. The story has great impact and should be read with caution. Go into it blindly.
John Boden's “Suet” is a slow burn; you realize what is going on only suddenly, only after everything has been properly set up. This is not so much about grief per se, as its consequences and the risks associated with (bad and ugly) past family decisions. Once you realize what you've gotten yourself into, both you the reader and the protagonist of the story, you both go down fast - there's no point denying it, this one is genuine horror: the legacy, the old farm, a grandfather’s notebooks, the horrific journal, the price for peaceful living… all the horror themes are there, surgically combined into an amazing ending, turning the significance of grief on its head.
A terrific collection. Looking forward to the next one!
Chad Lutzke's “The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips”, the first story, has a lot to recommend it: deeply emotional, disturbingly realistic, with just the right notes of mystery, creepiness and horror. Well-written, feels very personal, and keeps hitting hard on the meaning of grief, right to the last line of the story. The mere idea of going on a sort of "dream-quest" by carrying out the tasks on a list you made with your loved one, now gone after commiting suicide - brilliant. This is the kind of exemplary work that belongs to any fiction collection, not just in the genre of horror.
Robert Ford's "My Only Sunshine", however - wow! Stunning. It left me speechless, kept me guessing (unsuccessfully) the end, enjoying the plot twists and the masterful writing and simply wanting more. It too is about grief (a mother's grief over her murdered child), agreed, but it was so well done on the horror part that it got me hooked on all the nasty emotional baggage. The story has great impact and should be read with caution. Go into it blindly.
John Boden's “Suet” is a slow burn; you realize what is going on only suddenly, only after everything has been properly set up. This is not so much about grief per se, as its consequences and the risks associated with (bad and ugly) past family decisions. Once you realize what you've gotten yourself into, both you the reader and the protagonist of the story, you both go down fast - there's no point denying it, this one is genuine horror: the legacy, the old farm, a grandfather’s notebooks, the horrific journal, the price for peaceful living… all the horror themes are there, surgically combined into an amazing ending, turning the significance of grief on its head.
A terrific collection. Looking forward to the next one!
August 29, 2022
Wow, I loved all three novellas in this collection but I enjoyed them for different reasons.
The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips by Chad Lutzke takes us into the sorrow and grief of a man who has lost the love of his life. There is a bucket list that figured into this story that by novellas end, reveals such quiet desperation. It’s not secret that I love Chad’s books, this story is way up there, one of his most emotional in my opinion.
My Only Sunshine by Bob Ford tells us the story of a grieving mother who is given five opportunities to learn about her daughter’s death. The love of a parent for a child shines through this bittersweet tale. On a personal note I could see Bob making the throne sitting monarch of depravity a character at the center of multiple tales with him as the recurring character.
Suet by John Boden was truly a tale that brought to mind the harvest offering deity mixed with some Children of the Corn vibes in a truly monstrous way. I loved this story that chronicled a Valley that has quite a dark history told through a character whose family roots are tied to this horrific location. Talk about an inheritance!
You can’t go wrong with any of these novellas, what a wonderful collection. I will definitely be revisiting these stories time and time again. Highest recommendation!
The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips by Chad Lutzke takes us into the sorrow and grief of a man who has lost the love of his life. There is a bucket list that figured into this story that by novellas end, reveals such quiet desperation. It’s not secret that I love Chad’s books, this story is way up there, one of his most emotional in my opinion.
My Only Sunshine by Bob Ford tells us the story of a grieving mother who is given five opportunities to learn about her daughter’s death. The love of a parent for a child shines through this bittersweet tale. On a personal note I could see Bob making the throne sitting monarch of depravity a character at the center of multiple tales with him as the recurring character.
Suet by John Boden was truly a tale that brought to mind the harvest offering deity mixed with some Children of the Corn vibes in a truly monstrous way. I loved this story that chronicled a Valley that has quite a dark history told through a character whose family roots are tied to this horrific location. Talk about an inheritance!
You can’t go wrong with any of these novellas, what a wonderful collection. I will definitely be revisiting these stories time and time again. Highest recommendation!
September 1, 2022
Great book of three novellas, all dealing with the loss of a loved one.
Chad Lutzke - The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips - After losing his girlfriend to suicide, Brenton begins working on the bucket list that he and his girlfriend had created together.
Bob Ford - My Only Sunshine - After losing her daughter, Caroline seeks help from an unknown man to find out who killed her daughter. Over five nights, she is able to speak to her daughter each night for 14 minutes.
John Boden - Suet - After losing his grandffather, Corbin returns to his Pap's farm to settle things there. After arriving, he reads Pap's journal and finds that for generations, the people of this area have been tied to the land by something deep and dark. Something that they all gave their lives to.
Chad Lutzke - The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips - After losing his girlfriend to suicide, Brenton begins working on the bucket list that he and his girlfriend had created together.
Bob Ford - My Only Sunshine - After losing her daughter, Caroline seeks help from an unknown man to find out who killed her daughter. Over five nights, she is able to speak to her daughter each night for 14 minutes.
John Boden - Suet - After losing his grandffather, Corbin returns to his Pap's farm to settle things there. After arriving, he reads Pap's journal and finds that for generations, the people of this area have been tied to the land by something deep and dark. Something that they all gave their lives to.
August 23, 2022
A benefit of Horror is its gift in exploring the depths of emotions, often by illuminating horrific events in order to showcase the elicited emotions. The new imprint from Crystal Lake Publishing, DARK TIDE, offers 3 themed novellas in each volume, quick to read but long to forget. WOUNDS TO WISHES deals with loss, grief, and the canyons these carve into the human soul. My especial favorite in this volume is "My Only Sunshine" by Robert Ford, a story of a parent's greatest loss and of the lengths (extremes even) to which a bereaved parent will reach in order to reunite with a beloved child. Very impressive and poignant.
September 23, 2022
This was a great collection, and each story felt extremely unique. I don’t want to say a ton because each story is short, and any comments will spoil at least something. Lutzke’s story was heartbreaking, and we’ll written (as always). Ford’s was another heartbreaking one, and then there was Boden’s which actually creeped me out quite a bit which is rare nowadays when it comes to horror. All three stories were great in their own ways, and the writing was top notch.
August 26, 2022
Crystal Lake Publishing debuts Dark Tide, their new series of themed anthologies of novellas, with a stellar collection of stories sharing the theme of the loss of a beloved or family member. Each writer handles the theme differently, as reflected by their characters, and manages to produce a compelling read. These stories are very evocative, and I experienced heartbreak, apprehension, and fear while reading them.
HEARTBREAK: Book One opens with the strongest story of the three, "The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips" by Chad Lutzke. Lutzke is a powerful writer who has the ability to convey his character's point of view so clearly, which often results in readers experiencing the same emotions as the characters. This one is sorrowful and depressing, and it broke my heart. After successfully kicking a drug habit and then assisting his live-in lover to do the same, a man returns home one day to discover her dead body (an unexpected suicide). She leaves a note that he's afraid to read. He puts it off, and instead works at crossing off items from a bucket list that they compiled together. Those items are not what you might typically find on a bucket list, which leads the main character on a journey of discovery. Will he find a way to carry on? Is there a kernel of hope in this tale? You need to read this, even though it could make you cry. FIVE STARS.
APPREHENSION: Is there anything more sorrowful and devastating than a mother losing her young child? The woman in Robert Ford's "My Only Sunshine" does a better job of coping with grief than the first story's protagonist. This death is even crueler, as her daughter was brutally murdered. Not satisfied with police efforts to solve the case, she works to find the killer and utilizes a supernatural method to communicate with her daughter and obtain the information that will lead to the answers. The murderer became apparent to me before the story ended, but that did not interfere with my involvement in the story. This is particularly well-told and very suspenseful. Every scene builds on the feeling of apprehension for the grieving mother. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
FEAR: The main character in "Suet" by John Boden loses his beloved grandfather, and this leads to his questioning his middle-aged existence, and his place in the grand scheme of things. His disenchantment leads to his quitting his job as an orderly at a nursing home. When he receives an odd letter (in lieu of an actual will) from his deceased grandfather, he visits his Pap's farmhouse and finds a notebook with some disturbing family history and a weird legend about the surrounding valley. This story builds slowly before arriving at some extremely disturbing scenes and a very nasty twist of an ending. FOUR STARS.
In addition to the shared theme there is a secondary connection between these stories. The "easter egg" in the Lutzke and Ford stories is easier to find, as it relates to a similar scene in each story but presented from a different point of view. The connection in Boden's story is more challenging to spot.
HEARTBREAK: Book One opens with the strongest story of the three, "The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips" by Chad Lutzke. Lutzke is a powerful writer who has the ability to convey his character's point of view so clearly, which often results in readers experiencing the same emotions as the characters. This one is sorrowful and depressing, and it broke my heart. After successfully kicking a drug habit and then assisting his live-in lover to do the same, a man returns home one day to discover her dead body (an unexpected suicide). She leaves a note that he's afraid to read. He puts it off, and instead works at crossing off items from a bucket list that they compiled together. Those items are not what you might typically find on a bucket list, which leads the main character on a journey of discovery. Will he find a way to carry on? Is there a kernel of hope in this tale? You need to read this, even though it could make you cry. FIVE STARS.
APPREHENSION: Is there anything more sorrowful and devastating than a mother losing her young child? The woman in Robert Ford's "My Only Sunshine" does a better job of coping with grief than the first story's protagonist. This death is even crueler, as her daughter was brutally murdered. Not satisfied with police efforts to solve the case, she works to find the killer and utilizes a supernatural method to communicate with her daughter and obtain the information that will lead to the answers. The murderer became apparent to me before the story ended, but that did not interfere with my involvement in the story. This is particularly well-told and very suspenseful. Every scene builds on the feeling of apprehension for the grieving mother. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
FEAR: The main character in "Suet" by John Boden loses his beloved grandfather, and this leads to his questioning his middle-aged existence, and his place in the grand scheme of things. His disenchantment leads to his quitting his job as an orderly at a nursing home. When he receives an odd letter (in lieu of an actual will) from his deceased grandfather, he visits his Pap's farmhouse and finds a notebook with some disturbing family history and a weird legend about the surrounding valley. This story builds slowly before arriving at some extremely disturbing scenes and a very nasty twist of an ending. FOUR STARS.
In addition to the shared theme there is a secondary connection between these stories. The "easter egg" in the Lutzke and Ford stories is easier to find, as it relates to a similar scene in each story but presented from a different point of view. The connection in Boden's story is more challenging to spot.
October 12, 2022
If you are into some depressing stuff with a bit of horror then this is what you are looking for. The three stories in here hit different topics, but each one aims to make you feel something. We have a recovering addict doing a bucket list he created with his recently deceased girlfriend (via suicide), a mother trying to find the killer of her eight year old daughter, and a man checking out his dead great grandfather's house. The first two are probably the more gut punch Kleenex needing stories of the three. The third one is more horror.
I did find it interesting that the first two had a similar character while the third didn't. Maybe there was and I didn't notice. I think it could have been cool to keep something like that going through the whole book, but whatever, it didn't ruin my enjoyment or anything.
Overall, great concept to have three authors write novelettes and put them together. Definitely worth checking out.
I did find it interesting that the first two had a similar character while the third didn't. Maybe there was and I didn't notice. I think it could have been cool to keep something like that going through the whole book, but whatever, it didn't ruin my enjoyment or anything.
Overall, great concept to have three authors write novelettes and put them together. Definitely worth checking out.
September 24, 2022
Three maestros of the English language unite in this collection of novelettes from Crystal Lake Publishing.
The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips by Chad Lutzke opens with a bone chilling scene that is permanently scarred into my head. The despair just weeps off the page as life proves that tough days don’t last, tough people do.
My Only Sunshine my Bob Ford will gut you in the first paragraph, there is no easing into it. I won’t say anymore besides that $400 seems cheap and I would have paid almost anything in that situation.
Suet by John Boden suggests that the land wants from you just as much as you want from the land. Make sure you leave a worthy donation in this tense, creative story of give and take, just don’t try to escape.
The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips by Chad Lutzke opens with a bone chilling scene that is permanently scarred into my head. The despair just weeps off the page as life proves that tough days don’t last, tough people do.
My Only Sunshine my Bob Ford will gut you in the first paragraph, there is no easing into it. I won’t say anymore besides that $400 seems cheap and I would have paid almost anything in that situation.
Suet by John Boden suggests that the land wants from you just as much as you want from the land. Make sure you leave a worthy donation in this tense, creative story of give and take, just don’t try to escape.
September 10, 2022
I loved the first two stories but had a little trouble connecting to the third.
August 22, 2022
This anthology of three novellas is the first in the new 'Dark Tide' series by Crystal Lake Publishing, and I was thrilled to read them. The titles are loosely connected with the most obvious link being each story's main character suffering from the loss of a loved one. But how they deal with their grief are completely different, though always painful, stories. The first one is about a man loosing his fiancee and not knowing how to get on, the second is about a mother in need of closure over her daughter's death, and the third one is about someone coming home to clear house after their father died. My favorite story was the middle one, because it had some great twists and action in it. The third story was a very creepy kind of folktale, while the first one was a character-driven tale about despair.
I love how the cover combines a detail of each story into one strange and disturbing image and I appreciate that the stories are in novella format instead of short stories, which gives them enough room to unfold and does not overwhelm this reader with too many different approaches.
Overall, this was a promising debut in a new series and I am already curious what the next theme will be.
I love how the cover combines a detail of each story into one strange and disturbing image and I appreciate that the stories are in novella format instead of short stories, which gives them enough room to unfold and does not overwhelm this reader with too many different approaches.
Overall, this was a promising debut in a new series and I am already curious what the next theme will be.
September 1, 2024
4.5 Stars
The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips
Chad Lutzke
(4.75 Stars)
Very well written as always with Lutzke.
How to get over a broken heart, and someone's death. Pretty sad but hopeful. Some light in the cloudy sky.
My Only Sunshine
Robert Ford
(5 Stars)
This story was definitely my favorite, with a small amount of fantasy without being too much. About grief, mysteries, and very well written characters.
Suet
John Boden
(4 Stars)
The writing was fantastic, no doubt.
But this is a little bit less to my taste. Too much fantasy, too far-fetched. But it's because I like my fantasy more based in reality. I also felt like this short story didn't fit as well as the other two in this book. I would have liked it more if it was in a regular horror anthology, I think.
The Strangest Twist Upon Her Lips
Chad Lutzke
(4.75 Stars)
Very well written as always with Lutzke.
How to get over a broken heart, and someone's death. Pretty sad but hopeful. Some light in the cloudy sky.
My Only Sunshine
Robert Ford
(5 Stars)
This story was definitely my favorite, with a small amount of fantasy without being too much. About grief, mysteries, and very well written characters.
Suet
John Boden
(4 Stars)
The writing was fantastic, no doubt.
But this is a little bit less to my taste. Too much fantasy, too far-fetched. But it's because I like my fantasy more based in reality. I also felt like this short story didn't fit as well as the other two in this book. I would have liked it more if it was in a regular horror anthology, I think.
February 13, 2023
All great story !! Specialy "My only Sunshine" from Robert Ford.
April 18, 2023
This trilogy of grief horror is loosely tied together but extremely well written, carefully teasing the reader's raw emotions, one story upon the next. Excellent book!
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