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blatdriver's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this collection, it has a Joe Hill, Alfred Hitchcock feel to it.
It was well written and easy to read, but still gritty with some unexpected twists, not all the stories are about fire fighters, which for me is good, it gave the book a variety of stories my favourites being Janitor and CatchTime, but they are all excellent.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I’ve already added another of his books to my ‘to read’ list.
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.*
It was well written and easy to read, but still gritty with some unexpected twists, not all the stories are about fire fighters, which for me is good, it gave the book a variety of stories my favourites being Janitor and CatchTime, but they are all excellent.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I’ve already added another of his books to my ‘to read’ list.
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.*
chrystalclearwpg's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
This is the second book I have had the pleasure to read and again it did not disappoint. This little book of anthologies shows you the world in a supernatural way and also in a very human way. Being a firefighter has its own demons and you can see some of that through a couple of these stories. The life of a firefighter/paramedic takes its toll on a person and Douglas does a great job of dealing with that through his writing and putting that twist within his stories to show you the challenges they face. My 2 favorite shorts are A Fireman's Christmas Carol and Death Alarm. Douglas had definitely showed us that not all demons are just in the supernatural realm but also our own.
I received an ARC free from Book Sirens and this is my own unbiased opinion.
kba76's review
3.0
As is often the way with a short story collection, some are more engaging than others. Thanks to NetGalley I received a free copy of this to review in exchange for my thoughts. A somewhat haunting collection of tales that explores grief and how we live with it, while showing us some unusual scenarios.
I initially requested this because of the first story. A sucker for A Christmas Carol, I wondered how it would fare updated. It works well and, for me, this was the strongest story in the collection.
The stories focus on those who are often most closely linked to death - firefighters, paramedics and people on the edges of society. The supernatural is a recurring theme in the stories, used to examine our attitudes to death but also to offer something a little different in terms of stories.
These stories will be traumatic for some readers. While some were shorter than I’d have liked, I enjoyed the way we were often toyed with by Brown as he sets up a story only to step off in an often unexpected direction to further develop his theme.
I initially requested this because of the first story. A sucker for A Christmas Carol, I wondered how it would fare updated. It works well and, for me, this was the strongest story in the collection.
The stories focus on those who are often most closely linked to death - firefighters, paramedics and people on the edges of society. The supernatural is a recurring theme in the stories, used to examine our attitudes to death but also to offer something a little different in terms of stories.
These stories will be traumatic for some readers. While some were shorter than I’d have liked, I enjoyed the way we were often toyed with by Brown as he sets up a story only to step off in an often unexpected direction to further develop his theme.
blatdriver's review
5.0
I really enjoyed this collection, it has a Joe Hill, Alfred Hitchcock feel to it.
It was well written and easy to read, but still gritty with some unexpected twists, not all the stories are about fire fighters, which for me is good, it gave the book a variety of stories my favourites being Janitor and CatchTime, but they are all excellent.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I’ve already added another of his books to my ‘to read’ list.
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.*
It was well written and easy to read, but still gritty with some unexpected twists, not all the stories are about fire fighters, which for me is good, it gave the book a variety of stories my favourites being Janitor and CatchTime, but they are all excellent.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I’ve already added another of his books to my ‘to read’ list.
*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.*
staceybink's review
5.0
Elliot is a burned out firefighter on the verge of suicide.
This is a great book that shows many ways that first responders can get help with PTSD.
The story is written in the style of a Christmas Carol. Some of the stories are hard to read but you must get through them or you will regret it. I'm not a first responder but this book showed some of the things that can be encountered as one. I have more respect now than I ever have.
This is a great book that shows many ways that first responders can get help with PTSD.
The story is written in the style of a Christmas Carol. Some of the stories are hard to read but you must get through them or you will regret it. I'm not a first responder but this book showed some of the things that can be encountered as one. I have more respect now than I ever have.
elliereadsss's review
dark
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I didn't know what to expect going into this, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised! There were some genuinely terrifying moments throughout these stories, which I think demonstrates the author's writing skill. I thought the stories were very well thought out and unpredictable, and I liked how they all linked together through very subtle aspects. My enjoyment definitely increased as the book went on- I wasn't the biggest fan of the story where the title of the book comes from, but the later chapters more than made up for this. I'd really recommend picking this book up- it's not a Christmas book despite what the title may suggest so you can read it at any time!
ninag98's review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
First, I’d like to thank NetGalley, BookSiren, and the author for a free e-book in exchange for an honest review. 2021 was a great reading year for me and this collection was the perfect book to close the year with. All the stories have interesting plots and even though they deal with heavy topics, Brown manages to sprinkle humor throughout all of them without making light of said topics. The collection is centered around A Firefighter’s Christmas Carol, which is an adaptation of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and has as its protagonist a firefighter named Ted that has been struggling with PTSD. Brown writes a touching foreword where he explains how he has also struggled with PTSD due to his job as a firefighter and how Ted’s struggles were largely based on his own. During the foreword the author also continues to say that his intention with this story is helping others understand PTSD better, to end the stigma around it, and show to everyone that having a mental illness is not a moral failure nor does it equate to weakness. It takes a great deal of courage to be so open about your trauma, your struggles, and your downfalls as Brown does during his foreword. Another thing that I liked about these stories is that most of them have first responders as protagonists, which is something I’ve never seen before but it makes complete sense, because who sees more death and suffering than them?
Brown did an incredible job of showing the mental and emotional toll that the job has on first responders and how mental illness, in general, can turn someone’s life upside down. It’s a heavy and emotional read, but it’s one of the best short story collections out there so if it’s possible for you, I 100% recommend checking it out.
A Firefighter’s Christmas Carol – During Christmas Eve the firefighter Ted is visited by three ghosts (the past, the present, the future) who urge him to seek help before it’s too late. A heart-wrenching depiction of how struggling with PTSD and refusing to seek treatment can change someone and how that also hurts the one closest to them. It is a heavy story, I was crying by the end and had to take a break before reading the rest of the collection, please check the content warnings at the bottom of this review and practice self-care during and after your reading.
Janitor – This story has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, every single time I thought I’d figured out where it was going the author threw me for another loop. The protagonist is the night janitor and quite fond of his job, that is, until mysterious things start to happen during his shift and make him fear for his life.
Death Alarm – Ted has been having a hard time enduring the teasing of his coworkers in the fire department, but being a rookie means that he must play it cool if he wants the others to respect him. However, playing it cool becomes a lot harder when Ted starts seeing a woman that isn’t actually there. It was by far my favorite story of this collection, I loved the plot, the twist, the pace, everything except a tiny plot hole at the end. I don’t want to spoil anything, so forgive me for keeping it vague, but, during the first half of the story, there is a specific reason that the fire alarm goes off. However, in the second half, the fire alarm going off seems random and a bit like a Deus Ex Machina.
CatchTime – It goes back and forth in time as it follows two separate events that show how far some people’s anger issues go. Also, it’s a great cautionary tale about why you should always be kind to others, after all, you never know what a stranger can be capable of…
Skelwaller Lake – A fast-paced story that begins in the middle of a deadly chase and had me holding my breath all the way through. A large part of this story’s enjoyment relies on the reader not being sure of what’s happening and that’s why I won’t reveal anything else. However, like with all the other stories in this collection, it can be very triggering for some people, so I recommend checking the specific content warnings at the end of this review.
DOA - Toni gets more than she bargained for when she agrees to help a ghost solve his unfinished business and slowly remembers events from her own past. This story ties in with the first one, A Firefighter’s Christmas Carol, and it has a very open end, which makes me hope that the author writes a sequel featuring both Toni and Ted.
By Marina Garrido
Content Warnings
A Firefighter Christmas Carol - Suicide, Substance Abuse, Child Death.
Janitor - Self Flagellation, Death, Hallucinations.
Death Alarm - Murder.
CatchTime - Murder.
Skelwaller Lake - Murder, Child Kidnapping, Implied Child SA, Body Horror.
DOA - Suicide, Murder, Child Death.
Brown did an incredible job of showing the mental and emotional toll that the job has on first responders and how mental illness, in general, can turn someone’s life upside down. It’s a heavy and emotional read, but it’s one of the best short story collections out there so if it’s possible for you, I 100% recommend checking it out.
A Firefighter’s Christmas Carol – During Christmas Eve the firefighter Ted is visited by three ghosts (the past, the present, the future) who urge him to seek help before it’s too late. A heart-wrenching depiction of how struggling with PTSD and refusing to seek treatment can change someone and how that also hurts the one closest to them. It is a heavy story, I was crying by the end and had to take a break before reading the rest of the collection, please check the content warnings at the bottom of this review and practice self-care during and after your reading.
Janitor – This story has more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, every single time I thought I’d figured out where it was going the author threw me for another loop. The protagonist is the night janitor and quite fond of his job, that is, until mysterious things start to happen during his shift and make him fear for his life.
Death Alarm – Ted has been having a hard time enduring the teasing of his coworkers in the fire department, but being a rookie means that he must play it cool if he wants the others to respect him. However, playing it cool becomes a lot harder when Ted starts seeing a woman that isn’t actually there. It was by far my favorite story of this collection, I loved the plot, the twist, the pace, everything except a tiny plot hole at the end. I don’t want to spoil anything, so forgive me for keeping it vague, but, during the first half of the story, there is a specific reason that the fire alarm goes off. However, in the second half, the fire alarm going off seems random and a bit like a Deus Ex Machina.
CatchTime – It goes back and forth in time as it follows two separate events that show how far some people’s anger issues go. Also, it’s a great cautionary tale about why you should always be kind to others, after all, you never know what a stranger can be capable of…
Skelwaller Lake – A fast-paced story that begins in the middle of a deadly chase and had me holding my breath all the way through. A large part of this story’s enjoyment relies on the reader not being sure of what’s happening and that’s why I won’t reveal anything else. However, like with all the other stories in this collection, it can be very triggering for some people, so I recommend checking the specific content warnings at the end of this review.
DOA - Toni gets more than she bargained for when she agrees to help a ghost solve his unfinished business and slowly remembers events from her own past. This story ties in with the first one, A Firefighter’s Christmas Carol, and it has a very open end, which makes me hope that the author writes a sequel featuring both Toni and Ted.
By Marina Garrido
Content Warnings
A Firefighter Christmas Carol - Suicide, Substance Abuse, Child Death.
Janitor - Self Flagellation, Death, Hallucinations.
Death Alarm - Murder.
CatchTime - Murder.
Skelwaller Lake - Murder, Child Kidnapping, Implied Child SA, Body Horror.
DOA - Suicide, Murder, Child Death.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
ericarobyn's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
A Firefighter Christmas Carol and Other Stories by Douglas R. Brown is a collection of hard hitting, real-world horror stories with a wisp of the paranormal. Fitting perfectly into the category of gut-punch horror, this one will leave an impact on readers.
And a word of caution; similar to how a firefighter may touch a wall to see if there is fire roaring on the other side, readers will want to check out the content warning before diving in here. (I’ve added that below)
Right first thing, there is a content warning from the author that I really appreciate. This book covers some really heavy topics such as suicide and PTSD. Suicide is a tricky one for me, but this author handled it very well.
Each story features a first responder and centers around their struggles either with the job itself or with the aftermath of being on the job. Each one captures a different human emotion; from soul-sucking emptiness, guilt, and loneliness all the way to the burning emotions of frustration and rage. Readers will have their hearts broken over and over as we meet each character in these tales.
But looking past the emotion, there is also a ton of action, horror, and ghosts!
I loved every one of these stories!
My top two favorites from the collection were:
- Death Alarm
- DOA
Here are my thoughts on each tale:
Firefighter Christmas Carol
This tale was A Christmas Carol reimagining and oh my, what a gut punch this one is. Going on the usual trips, we see this man’s past, present, and future. Each one was so upsetting to see.
There is so much heartbreak and horror included in these scenes. Will he be able to pull back and get help before it’s too late?
Janitor
A tale about a man that sticks to routine and enjoys his job as a nighttime janitor.
This one seems so everyday, but wow the little hints that were dropped in here… they don’t add up until you know exactly what is going on. I felt so bad for this poor guy. It’s scary how the brain can betray us.
Death Alarm
When the tragic events of one fire becomes a legend for veterans to tell the new rookie, this woman heeds the warning when going into her first fire. But there’s something very sinister going on with this scene…
To begin with, basement fires sound absolutely terrifying. I cannot imagine being in these men and women’s shoes. What a great and spooky tale about getting out alive.
CatchTime
Told in two main timelines, we meet a man that is struggling with his anger issues while the other is just starting to feed into his anger after his wife receives a message from a troll.
When these two timelines merge… phew! I gotta say I love the idea of a Dexter-like vigilante that goes after people that act up on the internet! I’d certainly love to see it.
Skelwaller Lane
When a man’s daughter is kidnapped, he takes off after the man that took her. And he won’t stop until he has her back again.
Oh I love when a story begins and you just find yourself automatically rooting for one character without having any context. Turns out, I was rooting for the bad guy!
DOA
When a woman is called to a scene of a DOA, she is looped into helping the ghost cover up what he had done before he passes on. She can’t believe that she is actually helping, but what she learns next is much worse…
This poor woman! What a tale this was; I was totally hooked. I could definitely see this one as a longer novel or a film! I love this idea so much.
My Favorite Passages from Firefighter Christmas Carol and Other Stories
The effects of PTSD and the progression from PTS may come on fast or slowly over time like the proverbial frog in a pot of water. By the time the person suffering realizes there is a problem, the water might already be boiling.
Eventually, the medic truck stopped, it’s wobbly siren slowly dying like someone was strangling it. A lurching shadow swallowed him from behind and he lifted his eyes to see the cloaked figure from the driver seat hovering silently above him. The black hood shadowed a long, narrow, pale face with a gaping mouth in the throes of a silent scream. His eyes were the blackest of pits.
After deep breath, he leaped into the hallway and landed in some kind of made-up kung fu stance. He wasn’t sure what he would do if someone is actually there, but he knew he would do something. Most likely scream and run.
My Final Thoughts on Firefighter Christmas Carol and Other Stories
This is such a special collection. I’m so honored to have a copy now sitting on my shelf. The work that the author is doing here to help others understand more about PTSD is wonderful. I certainly learned a lot. Thank you, Mr. Brown!
This collection is something I would highly recommend to horror fans who enjoy horror stories that hit really close to home but also have a paranormal twist. But tread lightly with this one! I had to put this one down between stories to pull myself out of the darkness.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Mental illness
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