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Behind a Broken Smile
Behind a Broken Smile brings together 21 uncanny stories of the beauty and horror that lie at the heart of everyday life. From the childish pleasure of clowns and dolls, to the simple scent of flowers or the tang of the sea drifting on the breeze, what brings joy to one can bring terror to another. Penny Jones brings her own unique voice to this collection of harrowing tales.
200 pages, Paperback
Published September 29, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 5, 2022
Penny Jones is a gifted writer who can evoke so much through her words – dread, sympathy, the odd touch of gallows’ humour. If you’ve never read any of her stories, ‘Behind a Broken Smile’ is the perfect introduction to her work – 21 tales and there isn’t one bad one in the bunch. It’s a brilliant collection.
Deeply evocative of time and place, and sympathetic to the main characters (abuse, mental health and past traumas are a regular theme, but handled with a sensitive hand), Jones tales take you to dense, dark places, but they are funny at times. The thought processes of the protagonist in ‘Slipping’ had me laughing, as did the wry narration of ‘The Lepidopterist’.
But in the end, Jones’ does know how to grab you and subtly disturb. ‘To See Sweet Cate Cry’‘ is terrifying; an ominous, cruel twist on playground games. ‘In and Out the Dusty Bluebells’ is a perfect example of Jones’ ability to evoke whimsical beauty while dread creeps around the edges of the frame.
‘Behind a Broken Smile’, like the final story bearing its name, is quietly devastating, dripping with unease, and set to leave a lasting impression. Recommended.
Deeply evocative of time and place, and sympathetic to the main characters (abuse, mental health and past traumas are a regular theme, but handled with a sensitive hand), Jones tales take you to dense, dark places, but they are funny at times. The thought processes of the protagonist in ‘Slipping’ had me laughing, as did the wry narration of ‘The Lepidopterist’.
But in the end, Jones’ does know how to grab you and subtly disturb. ‘To See Sweet Cate Cry’‘ is terrifying; an ominous, cruel twist on playground games. ‘In and Out the Dusty Bluebells’ is a perfect example of Jones’ ability to evoke whimsical beauty while dread creeps around the edges of the frame.
‘Behind a Broken Smile’, like the final story bearing its name, is quietly devastating, dripping with unease, and set to leave a lasting impression. Recommended.
October 19, 2022
Jones' latest collection features reprints and original material, combined to create a discordant, poignant, and eerie read. There is always a nuanced interplay between the psychology of horror and the very real affects of mental illness in Jones' work, and it is seen here in all its maligned and heart-rending glory.
There are many highlights to be found in Behind a Broken Smile, but one story, for this reviewer at least, is quite possibly a classic piece of dystopian fiction in the making, as reflective and thought-provoking as Shirley Jackson's The Lottery. The tale To See Sweet Cate Cry is, quite simply, brilliant and deserves to be showered with accolades and praise in the years to come
A potent blend of skin-crawling horror, achingly beautiful character studies of trauma, abuse and mental illness, and laced with sharp, dark humour, Behind a Broken Smile showcases one of the best writers the UK has to offer.
Highly recommended.
There are many highlights to be found in Behind a Broken Smile, but one story, for this reviewer at least, is quite possibly a classic piece of dystopian fiction in the making, as reflective and thought-provoking as Shirley Jackson's The Lottery. The tale To See Sweet Cate Cry is, quite simply, brilliant and deserves to be showered with accolades and praise in the years to come
A potent blend of skin-crawling horror, achingly beautiful character studies of trauma, abuse and mental illness, and laced with sharp, dark humour, Behind a Broken Smile showcases one of the best writers the UK has to offer.
Highly recommended.
October 4, 2022
Penny Jones’ collection of 21 stories, Behind a Broken Smile, is a collection full of harrowing moments, complex characters, and touches of humour. There’s always so much more going on that what’s on the page. That’s Jones’s real skill, giving you enough so you understand what’s going on, and allowing the further level of horror to develop off the page. Some of these stories are like splinters that give an instant prick, but then they unknowingly worm their way deeper, and by the time the infection sets in you understand how powerful they are. The collection does go to some dark places. The stories tackling abuse were particularly difficult, but written with sensitivity. There’s no dwelling on the horrific events, but Jones’ delivers the lasting horror of a survivor in a deeply affecting way. The two stories that bookend this are a perfect example. It does mean those stories with a touch of humour are all the more welcome. They raise a smile when most needed – though those smiles are often coming from some pretty dark places too!
The stories (Beware, may contain minor spoilers):
Waxing:
There’s this creepy mirroring between this troubled first-person narrator and this doll. We get what seems like paranoia, but as the story develops we come to understand the truly horrific suffering of the character. It’s not an easy opening story, but one that showcases Jones’ talent for exploring these dark places with sensitivity. Yes it’s horrible, but it made me feel I could trust Jones with these topics, and as such, a very good choice to start the collection.
The Deer:
Man hits deer, and the damn smell won’t go away. This one builds and builds until it unravels in a satisfying way that makes the earlier part make so much more sense.
A New Life:
Another story that unravels slowly as we come to see Sarah moving on to cope without her husband. Another story which has more than meets the eye. The pacing is very good. I felt it was all coming together (or falling apart) for the character and me at the same time
Along the Road:
Poor old Beth’s dragged along on a double date. While parts of this story go where you expect them to, there’s another layer as you come to understand the stress Beth is under with what else is going on in here life. It’s a story that demonstrates Jones’s skill for creating complex characters with great efficiency.
Slipping:
The sense of humour in this story really worked for me. I love that there is something incredibly distressing going on, but the narrator is fixated on the bloody sock. There’s so much we don’t know in this story. Soe will be frustrated. It worked for me.
The Farm:
Another story where a character is well developed so we better understand the horror that takes places. It uses flashbacks, which can be tough to do well in a short piece, but it works well here. Again, another story in which everything unfolds in a really controlled way. I don’t want to say too much, but I love the use of the farm cliché, and where Jones goes with this.
Non-Standard Construction:
And then things get weird(er). A loved the way the strangeness of this story unfolds. Jones creates characters you can’t entirely trust.
Origami:
A very short piece, but a satisfying example of flash fiction.
In and Out the Dusty Bluebells:
Sinister narrator. While I understand the situation some of the other characters were in and why they may have been led to do what they do, this one, not so much. He’s a chilling character.
Piggies:
The narrative voice in this story is great. The escalation throughout is done well. It’s one of the more humorous stories, but nevertheless, completely sick.
To See Sweet Cate Cry:
This is an interesting one. It uses a children’s nursery rhyme/game in a sinister way.
Places to Run, Places to Hide:
This place uses a first-person voice really well. I felt we got inside the character, and it’s a much more gentle piece.
The Flood:
Rising water, and rising horror. We get to know Steve well as his house floods .The elements of horror are hinted at, very subtly. Another story that leaves the worst of it off the page, but you just know. Borrowing from Lovecraft with a reference to Innsmouth is enough. The rest is teased.
The Final Cut:
A story that unfolds over years. The mirroring is very well done between the lives of the neighbours, so similar in so many ways. Until they’re not.
Warpaint:
Again, Jones shows how to use different timelines to develop a character and show where their fear comes from. Lots of the stories tackle the lasting effects of trauma. Again, very well done.
To Pray at Your Temple:
Another very short one, but again we see this idea developed very quickly. A shift from third to third person helps bring this to a satisfying conclusion.
The Lepidopterist:
Another potentially horrible concept delivered in an interesting way. Using the sequential ‘lessons’ introduces us to the concept, and with each it becomes more unsettling. From the start, it’s clear what’s going on is horrific, but by the time we get to the ‘blancmange’ it’s so much worse. The end again tells us there’s more going on, and we’ve no choice but to imagine it.
Dendrochronology:
This is a sad story. I don’t want to say too much. I think it’s really effective how the idea of trees rings which show the greatest trauma in their lives in used to tell a live of suffering here.
On the Island:
Another short, but effective tale, this one with some Halloween strangeness.
Flowers:
Another story that unravels really well, the strangeness growing from early on, coupled with isolation, until we get to realisation.
Behind A Broken Smile:
Possibly the longest story in the collection, we have a really creepy doll, and a fifteen year-old girl staying with her grandmother, whose house has some terrible memories. This is a story about trauma, and the unavoidable past. What happened in the past is not graphic, but it’s very present, and actually it’s some of the more subtle, but lingering reminders that are all the more horrific for the narrator. Horror is not always about scaring the reader. Sometimes, it’s about creating a real character, and putting them in a position where they’re living a horror. You may not be frightened yourself, but you’re going through that experience with them, seeing their pain, and feeling the demon bite you too.
A satisfying, but sometimes difficult read, Behind a Broken Smile is a success. Beyond the stories, the collection looks great. A lot of care has been taken in putting this work together.
The stories (Beware, may contain minor spoilers):
Waxing:
There’s this creepy mirroring between this troubled first-person narrator and this doll. We get what seems like paranoia, but as the story develops we come to understand the truly horrific suffering of the character. It’s not an easy opening story, but one that showcases Jones’ talent for exploring these dark places with sensitivity. Yes it’s horrible, but it made me feel I could trust Jones with these topics, and as such, a very good choice to start the collection.
The Deer:
Man hits deer, and the damn smell won’t go away. This one builds and builds until it unravels in a satisfying way that makes the earlier part make so much more sense.
A New Life:
Another story that unravels slowly as we come to see Sarah moving on to cope without her husband. Another story which has more than meets the eye. The pacing is very good. I felt it was all coming together (or falling apart) for the character and me at the same time
Along the Road:
Poor old Beth’s dragged along on a double date. While parts of this story go where you expect them to, there’s another layer as you come to understand the stress Beth is under with what else is going on in here life. It’s a story that demonstrates Jones’s skill for creating complex characters with great efficiency.
Slipping:
The sense of humour in this story really worked for me. I love that there is something incredibly distressing going on, but the narrator is fixated on the bloody sock. There’s so much we don’t know in this story. Soe will be frustrated. It worked for me.
The Farm:
Another story where a character is well developed so we better understand the horror that takes places. It uses flashbacks, which can be tough to do well in a short piece, but it works well here. Again, another story in which everything unfolds in a really controlled way. I don’t want to say too much, but I love the use of the farm cliché, and where Jones goes with this.
Non-Standard Construction:
And then things get weird(er). A loved the way the strangeness of this story unfolds. Jones creates characters you can’t entirely trust.
Origami:
A very short piece, but a satisfying example of flash fiction.
In and Out the Dusty Bluebells:
Sinister narrator. While I understand the situation some of the other characters were in and why they may have been led to do what they do, this one, not so much. He’s a chilling character.
Piggies:
The narrative voice in this story is great. The escalation throughout is done well. It’s one of the more humorous stories, but nevertheless, completely sick.
To See Sweet Cate Cry:
This is an interesting one. It uses a children’s nursery rhyme/game in a sinister way.
Places to Run, Places to Hide:
This place uses a first-person voice really well. I felt we got inside the character, and it’s a much more gentle piece.
The Flood:
Rising water, and rising horror. We get to know Steve well as his house floods .The elements of horror are hinted at, very subtly. Another story that leaves the worst of it off the page, but you just know. Borrowing from Lovecraft with a reference to Innsmouth is enough. The rest is teased.
The Final Cut:
A story that unfolds over years. The mirroring is very well done between the lives of the neighbours, so similar in so many ways. Until they’re not.
Warpaint:
Again, Jones shows how to use different timelines to develop a character and show where their fear comes from. Lots of the stories tackle the lasting effects of trauma. Again, very well done.
To Pray at Your Temple:
Another very short one, but again we see this idea developed very quickly. A shift from third to third person helps bring this to a satisfying conclusion.
The Lepidopterist:
Another potentially horrible concept delivered in an interesting way. Using the sequential ‘lessons’ introduces us to the concept, and with each it becomes more unsettling. From the start, it’s clear what’s going on is horrific, but by the time we get to the ‘blancmange’ it’s so much worse. The end again tells us there’s more going on, and we’ve no choice but to imagine it.
Dendrochronology:
This is a sad story. I don’t want to say too much. I think it’s really effective how the idea of trees rings which show the greatest trauma in their lives in used to tell a live of suffering here.
On the Island:
Another short, but effective tale, this one with some Halloween strangeness.
Flowers:
Another story that unravels really well, the strangeness growing from early on, coupled with isolation, until we get to realisation.
Behind A Broken Smile:
Possibly the longest story in the collection, we have a really creepy doll, and a fifteen year-old girl staying with her grandmother, whose house has some terrible memories. This is a story about trauma, and the unavoidable past. What happened in the past is not graphic, but it’s very present, and actually it’s some of the more subtle, but lingering reminders that are all the more horrific for the narrator. Horror is not always about scaring the reader. Sometimes, it’s about creating a real character, and putting them in a position where they’re living a horror. You may not be frightened yourself, but you’re going through that experience with them, seeing their pain, and feeling the demon bite you too.
A satisfying, but sometimes difficult read, Behind a Broken Smile is a success. Beyond the stories, the collection looks great. A lot of care has been taken in putting this work together.
October 1, 2022
A stunning collection of tales where we se e the world from our character’s viewpoints and only just start to see their reality is not ours. Tales that remind me in all the best ways of Shirley Jackson’s work. Strongly recommended
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
Full review - https://www.runalongtheshelves.net/bl...
November 6, 2022
A collection of brutal and sometimes dark humor short stories. Penny's writings leave an lingering eeriness.
November 17, 2024
Wonderful collection! Sharp and thought provoking! Loved it!
December 29, 2024
Wow. What a brutally beautiful collection. I adored this book. Thank you so much for writing it, PJ!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews