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pause_theframe's review
5.0
This book is a collection of short stories, based in seedy backgrounds, all round Asia. The author uses each to highlight one of the more gritty areas, with a theme based loosely round one of the seven deadly sins, essentially. You choose a seemingly idyllic town, with a few dark corners and lurking people, who have one dirty thing in mind, and this book had a wee tale for it, to show you just how dark it can go.
Whilst they are Horror and dark tales, they aren't too rough. However, they do contain triggers and one should be prepared if this before thwarting the book at all. If you are a lover of horror and depravity reads though, you need to get your hands on this book.
The collection contains an array of characters, all based in their own settings, and with characteristics and personalities to match those settings. The author does very well to describe each setting and person, to really place you at the scene, enough that you may want to check you didn't leave any DNA.
The pace of each story is different, which I was impressed by, some collections end up having reads that all seem to fall into a similar pace. This set has a pace to suit each background and the means by which the darkness is shown. I liked that and it really drew me in to the stories even more.
Finally, I loved that it was a series of short stories, as it meant I could come home and gobble up one or two, leaving me time for anything else I needed to do, but still getting to look forward to my read each night, no matter what amount of time. Ok, fine, I read a good deal of it in one night...but I couldn't help it.
Overall, a very brilliant collection of stories and one I highly recommend.
**I received this book for free and voluntarily provided my honest and unbiased review.
Whilst they are Horror and dark tales, they aren't too rough. However, they do contain triggers and one should be prepared if this before thwarting the book at all. If you are a lover of horror and depravity reads though, you need to get your hands on this book.
The collection contains an array of characters, all based in their own settings, and with characteristics and personalities to match those settings. The author does very well to describe each setting and person, to really place you at the scene, enough that you may want to check you didn't leave any DNA.
The pace of each story is different, which I was impressed by, some collections end up having reads that all seem to fall into a similar pace. This set has a pace to suit each background and the means by which the darkness is shown. I liked that and it really drew me in to the stories even more.
Finally, I loved that it was a series of short stories, as it meant I could come home and gobble up one or two, leaving me time for anything else I needed to do, but still getting to look forward to my read each night, no matter what amount of time. Ok, fine, I read a good deal of it in one night...but I couldn't help it.
Overall, a very brilliant collection of stories and one I highly recommend.
**I received this book for free and voluntarily provided my honest and unbiased review.
lyndajdickson's review
4.0
What You Don't Know is a collection of ten short stories set in Southeast Asia.
In "Payback" Martin and Candice are on holiday in Thailand, where a lot of tourists seem to be dying. This gives Martin an idea.
In "The Yellow River" a young man patrolling the Yellow River hears a ghost story. But could it be true?
In "Cleaning Up" Hong, a maid for a Western ex-pat in Vietnam, meets up with her ex-husband a few years after their divorce. He presents her with an interesting proposition.
In "Burning Bright" Felicity and Gary are on a holiday in Cambodia when an opportunity presents itself.
In "Hot Flashes" Miriam goes on holiday in Bali to meet her online date Wayan. Things don't turn out quite as she planned.
In "Hit and Run" Dr Scott and his wife are questioned over the disappearance of their son's girlfriend in Singapore.
In "The Secret Admirer" Maddie and Moira visits a fortune teller in Vietnam, with unexpected results.
In "Killing Me Softly" Jimmy McGee is on holiday in Thailand and can't seem to get enough of the ladies. Will he ever learn?
In "What You Don't Know" Meredith in on her annual trip to Indonesia, where her son Andrew disappeared six years ago.
Set in Vietnam, in "Jungle" Nguyet has a disturbing meeting with her boss, leading to the most original murder plan yet.
The stories in this collection revolve around the themes of ghosts, revenge, adultery, and murder, with their exotic Asian settings making them truly unique. The copy I read contained numerous editing errors, especially considering the length of the book. While all of the stories held my attention, some seemed to finish a bit abruptly. Nevertheless, this collection is certainly worth your while, especially if you like suspense, ghost stories, and exotic locations. My favorite story: "The Yellow River".
Warnings: adultery, sexual references, violence.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (19 January): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2017/01/what-you-dont-know-by-elka-ray.html
In "Payback" Martin and Candice are on holiday in Thailand, where a lot of tourists seem to be dying. This gives Martin an idea.
In "The Yellow River" a young man patrolling the Yellow River hears a ghost story. But could it be true?
In "Cleaning Up" Hong, a maid for a Western ex-pat in Vietnam, meets up with her ex-husband a few years after their divorce. He presents her with an interesting proposition.
In "Burning Bright" Felicity and Gary are on a holiday in Cambodia when an opportunity presents itself.
In "Hot Flashes" Miriam goes on holiday in Bali to meet her online date Wayan. Things don't turn out quite as she planned.
In "Hit and Run" Dr Scott and his wife are questioned over the disappearance of their son's girlfriend in Singapore.
In "The Secret Admirer" Maddie and Moira visits a fortune teller in Vietnam, with unexpected results.
In "Killing Me Softly" Jimmy McGee is on holiday in Thailand and can't seem to get enough of the ladies. Will he ever learn?
In "What You Don't Know" Meredith in on her annual trip to Indonesia, where her son Andrew disappeared six years ago.
Set in Vietnam, in "Jungle" Nguyet has a disturbing meeting with her boss, leading to the most original murder plan yet.
The stories in this collection revolve around the themes of ghosts, revenge, adultery, and murder, with their exotic Asian settings making them truly unique. The copy I read contained numerous editing errors, especially considering the length of the book. While all of the stories held my attention, some seemed to finish a bit abruptly. Nevertheless, this collection is certainly worth your while, especially if you like suspense, ghost stories, and exotic locations. My favorite story: "The Yellow River".
Warnings: adultery, sexual references, violence.
I received this book in return for an honest review.
Full blog post (19 January): https://booksdirectonline.blogspot.com/2017/01/what-you-dont-know-by-elka-ray.html
sapuche's review
5.0
I just finished this collection of imaginative, well-executed stories, which were on the whole entertaining and full of surprises. The author clearly knows Southeast Asia very well and captures perfectly the spirit and atmosphere of all her stories’ settings. What will stick with me the most, however, is the author’s voice, which is compelling and distinctive throughout. Highly recommended!
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