Seven Tales of Horror

Review by Ronica Wahi

All the Halloweens

By William P. Mallory

First published: July 24, 2020, Independently Published.

Pages: 146.

ASIN: B08DC5W1YN

A collection of seven short horror tales – All the Halloweens by William P. Mallory – is a good option for an entertaining read, though not perhaps too suitable a choice for a late night one.

The stories are all different from one another, each with its unique plot. Mallory sure has creative ideas and the skill to stylishly put them forth. He has a knack for the development of plot – the way each tale progresses towards its respective point of climax and conclusion builds tension progressively within the reader. Each tale offers a distinct source or avenue of horror; collectively, the tales indicate that the scary or even evil can lurk or suddenly appear anywhere – in everyday things and situations, by just indulging in ordinary desires or curiosities.

Some stories are crafted better than others, achieving with greater force the objective of instilling fear and/or revulsion. Two in particular – “The Bad Apples Fall First” and “Old Movies and Rain” – do commendable jobs in gradually escalating tension and revealing the elements of the macabre.

However, the book needs serious editing. There are too many grammatical errors, usages of the wrong homophones (for instance, the use of “site” where the word should have been “sight”), and typos throughout – even the sequence in which the stories are listed in the “Contents” page and the exact titles as appear in this said page need editing. The first two stories in the collection contain many more errors than the other stories and for these two then, the presence of so many errors ends up disrupting the smooth flow of reading. Had the book been crisply edited, it would have left a far better impact.

Still, despite the errors, All the Halloweens is worth reading for the engaging storylines and for the thrills the style of progression offers.

 

Do check out All the Halloweens on Amazon India:

Kindle: https://amzn.to/3O6b4sg

Paperback (Import): https://amzn.to/3N2VtbD

 

DISCLAIMER: Ronica Wahi is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. If you make a purchase through any of the Amazon links provided by Ronica here, she may receive a small commission, without any extra cost to you.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Fifteen Stars Under the Sky!

Image
Review by Ronica Wahi We are the Champions By Rashmi Bansal and Devendra Tak First published: February 14, 2020, Bushfire. Pages: 206.  ISBN: 9788193182130 “It takes a child to raise a village.” This statement on the back cover is enough for the reader to know that encountered will be extraordinary tales. Yes, extraordinary indeed, for isn’t a child someone who needs to be raised? What the reader knows from the cover is proved as he/she moves through the pages of this interesting and inspiring chronicle of the achievements of fifteen children from across India whom the authors Rashmi Bansal and Devendra Tak rightly hail as the Champions of Change .  The book is inspiring because it shows how determination and the will to accomplish something can be truly rewarding. Raising a voice against established practices is hard enough and these children have not only raised their voices but also fought to bring real change, change that is not limited
Read more

Thorns and Roses

Image
  Review by Ronica Wahi   Melita By Gill D. Anderson First published: July 16, 2020, InHouse Publishing. Kindle Edition Pages: 165.  ASIN: B08D66WSBF While there is a plethora of written work being produced on the corona pandemic and the imagined post-COVID world, Gill D. Anderson has come up with a novel where this unprecedented challenge faced by the human race plays the role of a catalyst in resolving strained relationships by drilling home the uncertainty of life and the necessity of holding close the ones who matter the most. Melita is the story of Melita and her daughter, Emily, and as the dedication says, is written “For mothers and daughters everywhere.”. Melita and Emily have not shared a close bond and the ties have been weakened over the years, with the relationship having reached “an impossible stalemate” by February 2020. With the mounting fear and restrictions on movement, regrets over what was not done to bolster their relationship seep in. In playing an esse
Read more

An Engrossing Thriller!

Image
  Review by Ronica Wahi Shamus Dust: Hard Winter. Cold War. Cool Murder. By Janet Roger First published: October 28, 2019, Matador. Kindle Edition Pages: 295.  ASIN: B07VV4SLHP Set in London and spanning a few days during which 1947 drew to a close and 1948 just began, Shamus Dust , Janet Roger’s debut novel, is a memorable recreation of a suffering, post-war city. In the novel, the city of London is in the grips of a harsh winter, both literal and metaphorical. The war had destroyed a substantial part of the city, adversely impacted the economy, and led to shortages; such circumstances, in general, eventually lead to increased disparities and increased crimes. Additionally, this London is struggling to maintain the remnants of the crumbling Empire. The choice of such a time of turmoil, along with the dreariness and gloom of a biting winter, heightens the dark elements and deeds – for it is crime fiction – in the plot. Moreover, the fact that Roger has chosen Christmas and
Read more