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vondav's review
5.0
I am going to start off with a confession, I have not read any of the other Tales from the Lake. So what is this book about. It’s a book that holds 19 of the most weird and amazing stories that you will ever read. It caters for all types, ranging from ancient monsters, ghost and even stories that have a sci-fi element. After reading this book you will definitely find a story or stories that you loved. Each story had its own individuality and I loved them all.
So not to spoil your enjoyment of the book, I am just going to write a one-line sentence on each story:
The Owl Builder by D Morgan Ballmer: What a twist at the end
Tragedy Park by Chris Pearce: That is one water park that I would not want to go to, creepy does not give this story credit
Enclosures by Sumiko Saulson: Reginald Henry Moore III a very conscientious body squatter
Woe, Violent and Water by Lily Childs: A short story that ranged from ancient to modern times, Enid was one evil woman.
The Cruel by Harper Hall by Harper Hall: This story gave me goose bumps; I could just imagine being in the school with that noise.
Red Scream with Little Smile by Paul Edmonds: When you start this story it seems pretty normal then the author hits you, is it a happy town at the end.
Maybelle by Mere Joyce: Ancient portals and an origami bird, a great short story that had so much contents.
Rodent in the Red Room by Matt Hayward: This story about an ancient monster, this story wants me to read more about Ben and would love a series.
The Deeper I Go the Deeper I Fear Natalie Carrol: A story about a brave boy and a Kelpie, put you off swimming in the lake.
The Pigmallion Pig: by Mark Allan Gunnells: Joe is fixated on a children’s book but does not expect what where his fixation takes him.
Chemical Oasis by Tommy B Smith: An intense story about a highly addictive drug and the team sent to bring it down
Hush by Sergio Pereira: Set in the surroundings of a derelict hospital, this story is not what you expect, and your introduction to the Dutch witches.
The Reaper’s Fire by Kenneth W Cain: This author draws you in to feeling sorry for Dana, but humans can be monsters or is she a very naïve girl
Effigy by Kate Jonez: Not what I expected from a job offer, don’t accept packages from strangers.
Scents of Fear by Steve Jenner: Kept me on the edge of my seat turning the pages quicker and quicker to find out if he got his target.
A Hand from the Depths by Dave De Burgh: Manolo gets abducted, but what was the reason for the abduction.
The Bet by Amy Grech: When a hazing goes wrong, great story.
The Monster of Biscayne Bay by Roxanne Dent: An ancient Indian monster Ishtikini, Lilly and what happened in 1955.
The Song at the Edge of the Unfinished Road by Jack Bates: As you read this story you presume this is about 2 senile men, but the further you get into it, you know something is not right.
I had not read any other stories written by these authors but the way they all wrote, has left me want to read more from each of them. As these are all short stories, you have the choice either to read the book cover to cover or if you have a spare 10 minutes then pick up this book and read a story. Another great publication from Crystal Lake.
So not to spoil your enjoyment of the book, I am just going to write a one-line sentence on each story:
The Owl Builder by D Morgan Ballmer: What a twist at the end
Tragedy Park by Chris Pearce: That is one water park that I would not want to go to, creepy does not give this story credit
Enclosures by Sumiko Saulson: Reginald Henry Moore III a very conscientious body squatter
Woe, Violent and Water by Lily Childs: A short story that ranged from ancient to modern times, Enid was one evil woman.
The Cruel by Harper Hall by Harper Hall: This story gave me goose bumps; I could just imagine being in the school with that noise.
Red Scream with Little Smile by Paul Edmonds: When you start this story it seems pretty normal then the author hits you, is it a happy town at the end.
Maybelle by Mere Joyce: Ancient portals and an origami bird, a great short story that had so much contents.
Rodent in the Red Room by Matt Hayward: This story about an ancient monster, this story wants me to read more about Ben and would love a series.
The Deeper I Go the Deeper I Fear Natalie Carrol: A story about a brave boy and a Kelpie, put you off swimming in the lake.
The Pigmallion Pig: by Mark Allan Gunnells: Joe is fixated on a children’s book but does not expect what where his fixation takes him.
Chemical Oasis by Tommy B Smith: An intense story about a highly addictive drug and the team sent to bring it down
Hush by Sergio Pereira: Set in the surroundings of a derelict hospital, this story is not what you expect, and your introduction to the Dutch witches.
The Reaper’s Fire by Kenneth W Cain: This author draws you in to feeling sorry for Dana, but humans can be monsters or is she a very naïve girl
Effigy by Kate Jonez: Not what I expected from a job offer, don’t accept packages from strangers.
Scents of Fear by Steve Jenner: Kept me on the edge of my seat turning the pages quicker and quicker to find out if he got his target.
A Hand from the Depths by Dave De Burgh: Manolo gets abducted, but what was the reason for the abduction.
The Bet by Amy Grech: When a hazing goes wrong, great story.
The Monster of Biscayne Bay by Roxanne Dent: An ancient Indian monster Ishtikini, Lilly and what happened in 1955.
The Song at the Edge of the Unfinished Road by Jack Bates: As you read this story you presume this is about 2 senile men, but the further you get into it, you know something is not right.
I had not read any other stories written by these authors but the way they all wrote, has left me want to read more from each of them. As these are all short stories, you have the choice either to read the book cover to cover or if you have a spare 10 minutes then pick up this book and read a story. Another great publication from Crystal Lake.
thomaswjoyce's review
4.0
The first story, ‘The Owl Builder’, by D. Morgan Ballmer concerns two cousins, Travis and Ashlynn, discussing the whereabouts of Ashlynn’s missing mother and a local myth, the Owl Builder. As the story plays out, a sometimes-heated discussion regarding the character of the mother is interspersed with tales regarding “… That old feathered witch doctor …”. The dialogue is authentically written by Ballmer as he effectively builds the tension and draws us in until the mother’s fate and the Owl Builder’s role are revealed in one swift finale.
‘Tragedy Park’, by Chris Pearce, is a dark slice of urban horror set in a waterpark. There have been stories of kidnappings and disappearances from the park in the past, even deaths, and the main character, Finn, experiences moments of strangeness, including thinking everyone has left. The strangeness culminates in Finn taking a seemingly reluctant trip down the out-of-bounds “Black Vortex” slide with his two friends. But something weird happens halfway down … Pearce uses some delightfully dark imagery and the ending is suitably creepy.
‘Enclosures’ by Sumiko Saulson is told in the style and setting of an old-fashioned Weird tale. The narrator, Reginald Henry Moore III, regularly visits with his elderly grandfather, who resides in a large estate by a lake. The purpose of Reginald’s visits is less than admirable, as he hopes to curry favour in the hope that the old man will leave him an inheritance. What the old man leaves is his property by the lake, with the stipulation that it not be sold and he must stay there for one year. But he finds that he is not alone in the house. Saulson handles the narrator’s change of character very well, as he is forced to leave his old selfish ways in the past and fight for his very existence.
Monique Snyman has assembled stories from a diverse group of authors, some names more recognisable than others. She used an open call for submissions so that she could discover new authors and unique voices, as she explained in the foreword. While a few are still finding their feet in the world of publishing, most of the authors are accomplished wordsmiths and this is reflected in the quality of their stories. A wide range of horror, there is something here for everyone. A great addition to the Tales From The Lake series and the impressive back catalogue of one of the most well-respected publishers in the field.
To read the full review, please visit thisishorror.co.uk
‘Tragedy Park’, by Chris Pearce, is a dark slice of urban horror set in a waterpark. There have been stories of kidnappings and disappearances from the park in the past, even deaths, and the main character, Finn, experiences moments of strangeness, including thinking everyone has left. The strangeness culminates in Finn taking a seemingly reluctant trip down the out-of-bounds “Black Vortex” slide with his two friends. But something weird happens halfway down … Pearce uses some delightfully dark imagery and the ending is suitably creepy.
‘Enclosures’ by Sumiko Saulson is told in the style and setting of an old-fashioned Weird tale. The narrator, Reginald Henry Moore III, regularly visits with his elderly grandfather, who resides in a large estate by a lake. The purpose of Reginald’s visits is less than admirable, as he hopes to curry favour in the hope that the old man will leave him an inheritance. What the old man leaves is his property by the lake, with the stipulation that it not be sold and he must stay there for one year. But he finds that he is not alone in the house. Saulson handles the narrator’s change of character very well, as he is forced to leave his old selfish ways in the past and fight for his very existence.
Monique Snyman has assembled stories from a diverse group of authors, some names more recognisable than others. She used an open call for submissions so that she could discover new authors and unique voices, as she explained in the foreword. While a few are still finding their feet in the world of publishing, most of the authors are accomplished wordsmiths and this is reflected in the quality of their stories. A wide range of horror, there is something here for everyone. A great addition to the Tales From The Lake series and the impressive back catalogue of one of the most well-respected publishers in the field.
To read the full review, please visit thisishorror.co.uk
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