Breaking Eggs

by Kurt Newton, L.L. Soares

When eight damaged Romanian orphans run afoul of a disturbed hitman and a ruthless mafia family in the secluded Vermont countryside . . . heads will roll.

135 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Kurt Newton sold his first story, "The Promise of the Sea," in 1993. Since then he's had over 400 poems and 250 short stories published in a wide variety of magazines, anthologies and webzines in the U.S., Canada, England, Ireland, Australia, Germany and Poland. To date, he has received sixteen honorable mentions from the editors of The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, and has been seven times nominated for the Rhysling Award for his poetry.

Among his favorite authors are Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Flannery O'Conner, Harlan Ellison, J.G. Ballard, Joyce Carol Oates, John Shirley, Lucius Shepard, Jonathan Carroll, Christopher Conlon and Paul Tremblay.

He lives in the northeast corner of Connecticut.

Reviews

[Colleen Wanglund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Martin and Big Phil have a job to do. They are in the mountains of Vermont disposing of some people. They have gone to the mountain cabin of their boss (and mafia boss) Arturo Vanducci because who would look there? While on their way back to the city they pass a group of children walking along the road. What they don’t know is that those children will end up creating a huge problem for Martin, Big Phil, and Mr. Vanducci.

The children are eight Romanian orphans all adopted by Karl and Edna who are raising them on a farm not far from Arturo Vanducci’s cabin. Edna died a year ago and Karl just died recently, leaving the children alone. They decide to leave the farm and find somewhere else to live. After watching Martin and Big Phil pass them by they come to the cabin and decide to stay at least the night. Meanwhile Vanducci has decided to take his girlfriend to the cabin for the weekend, but he didn’t count on finding anyone there. After the kids dispose of their unwanted visitors, they decide to stay in the cabin permanently. Unfortunately Arturo Vanducci wouldn’t be their only visitor. Martin and Big Phil have been given another disposal job to do and go back to the cabin to do their dirty work.

With Arturo missing his son Anthony, a real hothead, has taken control, grabbed his goons and gone to the cabin to look for his father. By the time he gets there the cabin is empty and Anthony is pissed. While looking for information, Anthony and his goons discover Martin with the children and make their way to the farm. They certainly don’t expect the reception they get.

Breaking Eggs is a seamless collaboration between Kurt Newton and L.L. Soares. Bloody and visceral this is a story about survival—for the children, Martin, and the mob. It’s a bit of a bizarre mafia tale but fantastic, nonetheless. The children are surprising experts in the use of close-killing weapons and adding Martin to the mix makes this odd little family a force to be reckoned with. The unpredictable and oddly happy ending fit well with this very dark story. I would love to read more from Newton and Soares.

[Monster]

Martin and Big Phil are in the mountains of Vermont disposing of some people at the cabin of their boss, mafia boss Arturo Vanducci. On their way back to the city they pass a group of children walking along the road. Those children will end up creating a huge problem for Martin, Big Phil, and Mr. Vanducci.
A couple raising eight Romanian orphans on a nearby farm has recently died, leaving the children alone. The children have decided to leave the farm and find somewhere else to live, and after watching Martin and Big Phil pass them by, they come to the cabin and decide to stay the night.

Meanwhile, Vanducci, unaware that he has guests, has made the unfortunate decision to take his girlfriend to the cabin for the weekend. After the kids dispose of their unwanted visitors, they decide to stay in the cabin permanently. Arturo Vanducci won’t be their only visitor, though.. Martin and Big Phil have been given another disposal job to do, and go back to the cabin to do their dirty work.

With Arturo missing, his son Anthony, a real hothead, takes control, grabs his goons, and goes to the cabin to look for his father. By the time he gets there, the cabin is empty. Durng their search, Anthony and his goons discover Martin with the children and make their way to the farm. They certainly don’t expect the reception they get. Breaking Eggs is a seamless collaboration between Kurt Newton and L.L. Soares. Bloody and visceral this is a story about survival—for the children, Martin, and the mob. It’s a bit of a bizarre mafia tale but fantastic, nonetheless. The children are surprising experts in the use of close-killing weapons and adding Martin to the mix makes this odd little family a force to be reckoned with. The unpredictable and oddly happy ending fit well with this very dark story. I would love to read more from Newton and Soares. Recommended.

Contains: violence, sexual situations and adult language Reviewed by: Colleen Wanglund

[K. Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great little novella by two very cool cats. Brutal yet, at times, heartwarming. Highly recommended.