What do you think?
Rate this book
Troll
Eighteen years ago, a lone killer committed a series of shocking murders.
His crimes took place across the country, but the setting was always the same:
A foggy night. A remote bridge.
A victim unaware of the danger that lurked beneath the lonely clop-clop-clop of her heels on the rickety boards.
Eighteen years ago the killer known as the Troll was caught and convicted.
But tonight he walks free.
Tonight, the only survivor of the Troll’s attacks returns to the scene of the crime. To confront her demons.
To put her nightmares behind her. To wash away the memory of the Troll beneath the bridge once and for all.
On this dark, foggy night, will the past be buried forever—
—or will the history of horror repeat?
His crimes took place across the country, but the setting was always the same:
A foggy night. A remote bridge.
A victim unaware of the danger that lurked beneath the lonely clop-clop-clop of her heels on the rickety boards.
Eighteen years ago the killer known as the Troll was caught and convicted.
But tonight he walks free.
Tonight, the only survivor of the Troll’s attacks returns to the scene of the crime. To confront her demons.
To put her nightmares behind her. To wash away the memory of the Troll beneath the bridge once and for all.
On this dark, foggy night, will the past be buried forever—
—or will the history of horror repeat?
25 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2010
2 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 15, 2013
I got this one due to the author, who I knew wrote funny and very entertaining stories. Under the Bridge is definitely not what I was expecting as it’s a tense, gripping, and possibly surprising story. It’s not romance nor is there a happy ending. It’s more of a brief glimpse into a tense situation. The writing is incredible though and I’d consider this one an easy recommendation for fans of interesting literature. It goes beyond the typical m/m genre in the best ways.
The plot is pretty simplistic though more depth is added as the story develops. Ten years ago Dylan and his then boyfriend Kayne were attacked and Dylan emerged as the only survivor. Plagued by the events of that night all this time, Dylan attempts to put the night behind him once and for all. However the convicted killer is also back at the same place ten years later. Only one will emerge with the truth.
The story uses numerous flashbacks from present time to the night of the murder and subsequent events such as the trial and attempting to move on. Dylan is now with Mitch, the local police chief and man who saved Dylan from death. Together they’re trying to put this fateful night behind them. The flashbacks are well used and the writing is elegant and clean. The simplicity of words evokes the perfect atmosphere for this creepy tale while giving just enough insight into the characters to make you interested.
The ending does have a surprise twist, though it was one I figured out earlier on with the help of many clues. There are enough clues to pick up on the ending but they can also be easily missed giving a nice jolt to readers at the end. I do think this story could easily have been expanded to a much longer and more involved tale. At the same time I’m not going to hold that against the story as I walked away satisfied, interested, and happy to have read it.
While I usually equate Knight with more comedic and light-hearted writing from my experience, I’m impressed with the quality of this short and how close to pitch perfect it is. There could have been more characterization in general and more depth to the insanity of the killer, along with a more concrete ending for the main character but overall I feel these are minor qualms in the face of a solidly written and engaging short story. I can easily recommend this to those fans that like a quick, creepy little who-dun-it.
The plot is pretty simplistic though more depth is added as the story develops. Ten years ago Dylan and his then boyfriend Kayne were attacked and Dylan emerged as the only survivor. Plagued by the events of that night all this time, Dylan attempts to put the night behind him once and for all. However the convicted killer is also back at the same place ten years later. Only one will emerge with the truth.
The story uses numerous flashbacks from present time to the night of the murder and subsequent events such as the trial and attempting to move on. Dylan is now with Mitch, the local police chief and man who saved Dylan from death. Together they’re trying to put this fateful night behind them. The flashbacks are well used and the writing is elegant and clean. The simplicity of words evokes the perfect atmosphere for this creepy tale while giving just enough insight into the characters to make you interested.
The ending does have a surprise twist, though it was one I figured out earlier on with the help of many clues. There are enough clues to pick up on the ending but they can also be easily missed giving a nice jolt to readers at the end. I do think this story could easily have been expanded to a much longer and more involved tale. At the same time I’m not going to hold that against the story as I walked away satisfied, interested, and happy to have read it.
While I usually equate Knight with more comedic and light-hearted writing from my experience, I’m impressed with the quality of this short and how close to pitch perfect it is. There could have been more characterization in general and more depth to the insanity of the killer, along with a more concrete ending for the main character but overall I feel these are minor qualms in the face of a solidly written and engaging short story. I can easily recommend this to those fans that like a quick, creepy little who-dun-it.
December 9, 2012
This review can be found at Brief Encounters Reviews
I will first put a notice, that this falls more into the category of gay literature and not romance, as there is no traditional HEA.
The story uses flashbacks, combined with present day action, to let us know how we got to the present point. While out at a party ten years ago, Dylan and Kayne were out in the woods, when a serial murderer known as “The Troll” killed Kayne and nearly killed Dylan. A local police deputy stopped him and rescued Kayne. Eventually it came out that Kayne and Dylan had been lovers and Dylan was shunned by the town, but the deputy took him in and they soon became lovers.
Dylan’s therapist believes that he needs to face the bridge to get over his past, and while his lover is not keen, he agrees. While they are out there, they find out the murderer has been released and skipped out on parole and is near them. Dylan’s worst nightmare comes true, when he is once again attacked by the murderer. I’m not going to reveal what happens next. Dylan is not killed, but he doesn’t get a HEA either. It’s hard to discuss the story without revealing the plot.
I was entirely caught up in Dylan’s story and his stress and the trauma from not only the original attack, but how everyone behaved toward him. He was treated so badly by the town. Even ten years later no one wanted to believe that the football star could have been gay and been the one who was killed rather than Dylan, who was just a guy. The ending surprised me, although I probably should have figured given the amount of TV I watch, but it met its intended result of taking me off guard.
I would like to see the next step for Dylan and how his life changes and if he can move on after this last experience. If you are looking for something rather creepy and suspenseful and don’t mind that it’s not a traditional romance, I would recommend this.
I will first put a notice, that this falls more into the category of gay literature and not romance, as there is no traditional HEA.
The story uses flashbacks, combined with present day action, to let us know how we got to the present point. While out at a party ten years ago, Dylan and Kayne were out in the woods, when a serial murderer known as “The Troll” killed Kayne and nearly killed Dylan. A local police deputy stopped him and rescued Kayne. Eventually it came out that Kayne and Dylan had been lovers and Dylan was shunned by the town, but the deputy took him in and they soon became lovers.
Dylan’s therapist believes that he needs to face the bridge to get over his past, and while his lover is not keen, he agrees. While they are out there, they find out the murderer has been released and skipped out on parole and is near them. Dylan’s worst nightmare comes true, when he is once again attacked by the murderer. I’m not going to reveal what happens next. Dylan is not killed, but he doesn’t get a HEA either. It’s hard to discuss the story without revealing the plot.
I was entirely caught up in Dylan’s story and his stress and the trauma from not only the original attack, but how everyone behaved toward him. He was treated so badly by the town. Even ten years later no one wanted to believe that the football star could have been gay and been the one who was killed rather than Dylan, who was just a guy. The ending surprised me, although I probably should have figured given the amount of TV I watch, but it met its intended result of taking me off guard.
I would like to see the next step for Dylan and how his life changes and if he can move on after this last experience. If you are looking for something rather creepy and suspenseful and don’t mind that it’s not a traditional romance, I would recommend this.
January 17, 2011
Oh, how I love Sam Cross thrillers!
One night two happy young women make their way home from a party. They're carefree, laughing and discussing what sort of lovely man candy had attended the shindig, but only one woman makes it home alive that night.
Eighteen years later the survivor, Alsion Shaw, is back at the scene of the crime, an old decrepit bridge. She's there to put her demons to rest. The thing about demons though, is that some just refuse to die.
This was a short, fast-paced, brilliant read, that had me squirming in my seat!
One night two happy young women make their way home from a party. They're carefree, laughing and discussing what sort of lovely man candy had attended the shindig, but only one woman makes it home alive that night.
Eighteen years later the survivor, Alsion Shaw, is back at the scene of the crime, an old decrepit bridge. She's there to put her demons to rest. The thing about demons though, is that some just refuse to die.
This was a short, fast-paced, brilliant read, that had me squirming in my seat!
August 12, 2016
The story was to short for my taste and to undeveloped. With deeper longer plot I'm sure it would have been really, really good. But with this short intense story it was to short. I have to admit, the ending wasn't expected, at least not this way.
February 15, 2012
3.5 Stars
July 1, 2016
A quick, enjoyable suspenseful read; Under The Bridge held my attention through one sitting.
February 11, 2012
For a shortie, this is one of the most intriguing tales I read.
Never did expect the ending
Never did expect the ending
February 13, 2012
Very intense short story with an unexpected twist. Creepy and suspenseful!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews