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Shining Rock
From the author of DESERT PLACES, ABANDON, and “Serial,” comes this short story which is an excellent and affordable introduction to the author’s work.
In “Shining Rock,” an older couple encounter a strange and menacing visitor during a camping trip in the North Carolina mountains. Friendly at first, this stranger seems to know them, seems to know their secrets, and as things escalate, they become convinced that they may never leave these mountains alive.
*Note: This story is collected with others in the eBook, FOUR LIVE ROUNDS, which also contains a Foreword by J.A. Konrath and introductions to each story by Blake Crouch.
In “Shining Rock,” an older couple encounter a strange and menacing visitor during a camping trip in the North Carolina mountains. Friendly at first, this stranger seems to know them, seems to know their secrets, and as things escalate, they become convinced that they may never leave these mountains alive.
*Note: This story is collected with others in the eBook, FOUR LIVE ROUNDS, which also contains a Foreword by J.A. Konrath and introductions to each story by Blake Crouch.
20 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 3, 2010
About the author
Blake Crouch
86 books62.6k followersBlake Crouch is a bestselling novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of the forthcoming novel, Dark Matter, for which he is writing the screenplay for Sony Pictures. His international-bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy was adapted into a television series for FOX, executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan, that was Summer 2015’s #1 show. With Chad Hodge, Crouch also created Good Behavior, the TNT television show starring Michelle Dockery based on his Letty Dobesh novellas. He has written more than a dozen novels that have been translated into over thirty languages and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Crouch lives in Colorado with his family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
July 14, 2015
During their annual camping trip, Roger and Sue are finally living the empty nest life. As they set up camp and enjoy the solitude, a mysterious man appears and tries to befriend them. Donald seems affable enough and joins them for an evening of cards and storytelling. When the conversation turns to family, Donald admits he lost his daughter to a hit and run car accident six years earlier. The further the story progresses, the more Roger remembers that fateful day and how he sat behind the wheel. What follows is a panic as Roger waits for Donald to leave and admits his secret to Sue. To what lengths will Roger go to ensure his crime is kept under wraps?
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Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 13, 2015
Excellent short that was recommended to me by a friend and was just what the doctor ordered for a quick bedtime read.
My only disappointment is that I didn't go ahead and buy the whole collection that contains it instead of the individual short. (Edit: I just returned it to Amazon and bought his complete short story collection, FULLY LOADED, which also contains this short along with quite a few others for only $3.99)
Recommended!
My only disappointment is that I didn't go ahead and buy the whole collection that contains it instead of the individual short. (Edit: I just returned it to Amazon and bought his complete short story collection, FULLY LOADED, which also contains this short along with quite a few others for only $3.99)
Recommended!
October 10, 2021
“This is my first trip to Shining Rock.”
“Donald’s planning to kill us tonight.”
“If you knew who the man was who’d killed your daughter, what would you do?”
Short stories, for me, are often more miss than hit. But this one was good. Even though I figured out one of the big reveals a little before the reveal, it’s what happens after that brings the story to its satisfying conclusion. Not a scary or creepy story but one that will find you putting yourself in the shoes of Roger and Donald (and Sue).
“Donald’s planning to kill us tonight.”
“If you knew who the man was who’d killed your daughter, what would you do?”
Short stories, for me, are often more miss than hit. But this one was good. Even though I figured out one of the big reveals a little before the reveal, it’s what happens after that brings the story to its satisfying conclusion. Not a scary or creepy story but one that will find you putting yourself in the shoes of Roger and Donald (and Sue).
February 14, 2015
Shining Rock will kick you in the heart and make you rethink everything you've read from page one. A heck of a story that's not only poignant and beautifully written but also complex in a very nice way. Crouch has done it again, the man is a true story teller with a purpose. This was gripping and intense with chilling buildup and not at all what I expected, nicely done.
- Kasia S.
- Kasia S.
March 1, 2017
Lovely short', great twist too.
March 25, 2017
I listened to this with my husband. We needed a nice short story to listen to on our short drive. This was perfect. I thought the ending was great. I was kind of worried at first thinking the ending was going in a different direction. I'm so glad it didn't end the way I thought it was going to.
His Rating: 3 stars
My Rating: 4 stars
His Rating: 3 stars
My Rating: 4 stars
January 31, 2023
Opowiadanie 2 z 3
February 4, 2019
Great short, good twist
May 7, 2015
Well written and emblematic of his signature style and clever endings.
November 19, 2017
Scarey campfire story
Blake Crouch is an incredible story teller, author of thrillers, and king of terror. This one kept me on the edge and holding my breath.
Blake Crouch is an incredible story teller, author of thrillers, and king of terror. This one kept me on the edge and holding my breath.
August 30, 2026
🇺🇸2010
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ GREAT
Blake Crouch has become one of those authors where I know I’m going to have a good time.
Shining Rock is a short, tense thriller that manages to pack a surprising amount into just thirty pages. Crouch wastes very little time getting the story moving, and there’s a growing sense that something is not quite right beneath the surface.
I loved the contrast between the tension and the setting. Warm mornings, afternoon storms, cool evenings, books, grass, clouds and a kite. It sounds like a dream come true. And yet Crouch manages to make even this idyllic little existence feel uneasy.
As always, Crouch is cinematic and incredibly economical with his writing. There’s no wasted space, and the story moves with exactly the kind of momentum I love.
Four stars.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ GREAT
Blake Crouch has become one of those authors where I know I’m going to have a good time.
Shining Rock is a short, tense thriller that manages to pack a surprising amount into just thirty pages. Crouch wastes very little time getting the story moving, and there’s a growing sense that something is not quite right beneath the surface.
I loved the contrast between the tension and the setting. Warm mornings, afternoon storms, cool evenings, books, grass, clouds and a kite. It sounds like a dream come true. And yet Crouch manages to make even this idyllic little existence feel uneasy.
As always, Crouch is cinematic and incredibly economical with his writing. There’s no wasted space, and the story moves with exactly the kind of momentum I love.
Four stars.
June 24, 2018
From the author of DESERT PLACES, ABANDON, and “Serial,” comes this short story which is an excellent and affordable introduction to the author’s work.
In “Shining Rock,” an older couple encounter a strange and menacing visitor during a camping trip in the North Carolina mountains. Friendly at first, this stranger seems to know them, seems to know their secrets, and as things escalate, they become convinced that they may never leave these mountains alive.
In “Shining Rock,” an older couple encounter a strange and menacing visitor during a camping trip in the North Carolina mountains. Friendly at first, this stranger seems to know them, seems to know their secrets, and as things escalate, they become convinced that they may never leave these mountains alive.
May 4, 2017
It seemed like a happy couple with a life that was perfect. Then a camping trip they had taken every year turned out not so perfect. In the traditional Blake Crouch style, things are not always what they seem to be. He builds the story and characters into very meaningful images. Look for a twist at the end that will leave you in a jaw dropping moment.
August 29, 2017
Wow....wow....wow
The short story Shining Rock crom Blake Crouch was nothing short of amazing! The story just ends and leaves you sitting there like WOW. That was all I could say when I read the last page. A must read it will only take a short period of time. Great when waiting on an appointment like sitting in the reception area at a DR office.....
The short story Shining Rock crom Blake Crouch was nothing short of amazing! The story just ends and leaves you sitting there like WOW. That was all I could say when I read the last page. A must read it will only take a short period of time. Great when waiting on an appointment like sitting in the reception area at a DR office.....
September 2, 2025
UA(audio): мені подобаються короткі історії, цю можна охарактеризувати як «нормальна». Приємно було її слухати за роботою у саду. Залюбки прочитала б збірку такого штибу від автора.
EN(audio): I like short stories, this one can be described as "normal". It was nice to listen to it while working in the garden. I would love to read a collection of this kind from the author.
EN(audio): I like short stories, this one can be described as "normal". It was nice to listen to it while working in the garden. I would love to read a collection of this kind from the author.
March 1, 2018
Excellent!
Great quick read (or listen). One of those stories that makes you want to talk about it and also causes you to pause and think about the repercussions of all your decisions. Including the ones you think no one will ever know about.
Great quick read (or listen). One of those stories that makes you want to talk about it and also causes you to pause and think about the repercussions of all your decisions. Including the ones you think no one will ever know about.
April 8, 2022
What a great short story by the master storyteller, Blake Crouch.
It’s not easy to pack so much feeling along with a great twist, into such a short read but this has it all.
Have a few spare minutes? Give this a go.
It’s not easy to pack so much feeling along with a great twist, into such a short read but this has it all.
Have a few spare minutes? Give this a go.
January 11, 2023
I can see how this short story helped propel Blake Crouch into becoming a popular author. Though not a very well-written short story, it still contained twists and turns that Crouch is well known for. I've wanted to read this for years and am glad I finally could!
February 27, 2017
Only bad thing about this was I wanted it to be longer. Hoped the end of the book was only the end of the chapter.
May 9, 2017
So interesting
Short story but everything needed to be said was written in this story. I like books like this and I always love Blake Crouch's books.
Short story but everything needed to be said was written in this story. I like books like this and I always love Blake Crouch's books.
January 4, 2018
Very short story I found on Kindle Unlimited. Twist at the end. Interesting and fun if a bit of a stretch in the imagination
March 6, 2018
Solid
This is proof that nothing good comes from camping.
Honestly it's a sad, short story. It's few pages are heartbreaking for all three characters.
This is proof that nothing good comes from camping.
Honestly it's a sad, short story. It's few pages are heartbreaking for all three characters.
December 21, 2018
A true horror expert!!
January 13, 2019
Great twist!
Another fabulous short story from Blake Crouch! Fantastic author and I would encourage any book lover to check out his other books and short stories.
Another fabulous short story from Blake Crouch! Fantastic author and I would encourage any book lover to check out his other books and short stories.
January 5, 2020
A great short story with a nice twist at the end. Careful who you friend in the forest
May 17, 2020
Very short story. It was not bad but not great either. Hence the 3 stars.
September 5, 2021
This short story did not go the direction I thought it would. Great writing.
March 8, 2022
Great story. I would have scored it 5* but for it being very short.
August 19, 2022
Such a wake up call.
I can see that happening to me!!!
How do I act when I think I won't be found out? Chilling comment on human nature.
I can see that happening to me!!!
How do I act when I think I won't be found out? Chilling comment on human nature.
November 17, 2024
God this story was incredible!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews