Weighing Fate by Chantal Boudreau

How would you live your life if you thought that every good event that happened was measured out by a bad event? This is the intriguing question asked by Chantal Boudreau in Weighing Fate. Karma would become a curse surely sucking all the joy from life and leaving only dread and unhappiness. You’d actually come to enjoy the bad events knowing that perhaps shortly things would turn upwards.

We see the story’s heroine Adella trying to regulate and balance all aspects of her life. When a colleague makes what seems to be a harmless gesture of kindness it could have disastrous consequences for Adella.

An interesting short story and a story you will be able to finish in a single sitting. I enjoyed this tale, it was a nice easy read. Boudreau left me thinking about fate and karma for a while after I finished the story. Some fiction is more than the sum of its parts and has a deeper effect on you than you might expect. This is one of those stories. An enjoyable and though provoking read.

Download Weighing Fate HERE

Impeccant (Reprisal Volume 2) by Sam Lang

Reprisal Volume 2 Impeccant starts on the morning that the town is due to be evacuated. Everyone is in a playful mood ready for a short exciting adventure/vacation. Eddie as a reporter is naturally excited for the coming of the days events and eagerly leaves his apartment camera in hand.

This volume starts of playfully with a funny scene in the cafe which has our hero blushing like a beacon. However, as the bad weather draws in the sense of foreboding returns. The carnival atmosphere evaporates as quickly as water on a hot sidewalk. Yet again the author carefully sews into the text the idea that Reprisal has more than it's share of secrets. Sam Lang hints at events to come with some considerable skill. Eddie's musings guide the reader expertly through the narrative. Eddie remains unsettled and troubled by his vision like dream from the night before.

Eddie's research into the history of the town brings some surprising discoveries and he is left wondering about the dark events in his own past. The author has me well and truly hooked now! I await the next instalment with excitement.

Download Impeccant HERE

Reprisal: Making Plans, Making Memories by Sam Lang

A small town Police Chief holds a press conference for the benefit of some reporters. The subject is the town’s evacuation during the impending transit of some dangerous prisoners through the town.

The story is told from the point of view of the town’s cub reporter, Eddie. The character of the Police Chief, Matt Canton, is drawn as a larger than life aged septuagenarian chauvinist with a love of cigars. Although cantankerous and old fashioned it is clear that he loves the town and has its best interests at heart. The Chief describes some of the inmates who will be passing through town and their crimes to the reporters and the reader gets a sense of foreboding about what might come.

The author sets the scene well with this first volume. He hints at secrets the Chief might be keeping. He describes events in Eddie’s childhood which may later turn out to be relevant. Overall it’s a great opener that made me want to read on. I found Reprisal to be well written and the author’s strength seems to be in creating good characters. I’m looking forward to the story developing further. Another great series brought to you by Trestle Press.

Download this story HERE

A Good Day by Darren Sant

A new story by yours truly. The first in my series "Tales from the Longcroft Estate."

Available for download HERE

Beat On The Brat and other stories by Nigel Bird

Beat On The Brat is the second short story collection released by Nigel Bird on kindle. The author’s first collection Dirty Old Town has been one of my reading highlights of the year. Reading a short story collection by Nigel Bird is like being stuck in an alley with Freddie Krueger, Jason from Friday the 13th and Michael Myers from the Halloween movies all at the same time.  You know you’re going to get hacked to bloody pieces but you’re not sure which direction the pain is coming from. Dark characters inhabit these stories.

Those who have read Dirty Old Town will know that in the worlds Nigel creates the unthinkable happens. The author meddles with your emotions masterfully mixing in the melancholy and toying with your emotions as a cat plays with a mouse.   There are nine stories within this collection. Tales of revenge, deceit and of nasty and violent crimes. However, within most of these stories there is a small kernel of hope. Many of those that meet a sticky end deserve it.  You reap what you sew.  Nigel doesn’t preach he spins tales and treats the reader as an intelligent entity that can decide for themselves what is right, what is wrong and where the shades of grey lie. I raced through this collection as I always do with fiction that I enjoy.  Another impressive collection from the talented Nigel Bird.

Download Beat On The Brat HERE

Download Dirty Old Town HERE

Cocooned in Darkness by Leona DeRosa Bodie

Claude Pelletier has a bitter row with his wife, A relationship that has soured. Everything he held dear has turned to poison.  He storms off to his sailboat for some peace and quiet and awakens with the cold steel of a pistol pressed to his temple. Pelletier must despatch this would-be assassin and seek revenge on whoever wants him dead.

Cocooned in Darkness is a roller coaster ride of a short story. All action from start to finish and a tale that you can read in a single sitting. The author combines fast action with interesting and atmospheric descriptive writing as Claude battles his enemies, personal demons and all that Mother Nature can throw at him.  A great read that will have me looking out for more work by this author.

Black and Blue by Ian Rankin

Detective Inspector John Rebus once more finds his back against the wall. He juggles four cases in the hope of nailing the infamous serial killer Bible John. As if that's not enough he finds himself subject to an internal inquiry headed by a man he has just accused of being of taking back handers from Glasgow’s Mr Big – Uncle Joe.  Rebus must fight for his job and his very life. Add in bent cops, environmental protestors, gangsters and you have Rankin on his finest form. Rebus's obsessive terrier like tenacity is really highlighted in Black and Blue as are all of his flaws as he battles not only his obsession but also his addictions.

I know it’s a cliché but once I started reading this book I almost could not put it down. I’ve read a few of Rankin’s novels now and Rebus only becomes a more compelling character the more I read of him. Rankin has that rare skill of blending multiple plot lines without ever confusing the reader. A thoroughly enjoyable read that has left me clamouring for the next Rebus novel.