Friction: Dark Tales of Suspense by
Paul Michael Kane
My rating:
5 of 5 stars
Friction: Dark Tales of Suspense is a fantastic collection of ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ dark tales by
Paul Michael Kane. While each of the 9 stories are quite different from each other, they share common threads of fascinating characters, dark humor and suspenseful plots that will leave you thinking of them long after you've turned the final page.
Available
directly from the author. =====
Kane has described
CASK as "a futuristic take on Poe's tale of revenge" and it is absolutely all of that... a wonderful homage without being a copy. Taking place on a space station orbiting Neptune, CASK goes beyond Poe's work by providing more depth to the main character's motivation and in the detailed setting, which almost becomes a character itself. This story will draw you in and grab hold of you in all the right ways.
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REST ASSURED"And the living, as always, were looking for someone to make a promise they could afford."
Who knows how to deal with death better than an underworld boss and his men? But Don Angelo Moretti knows it's going to be bad for business if the dead won't stay dead...
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THE DEVIL'S MARTINI"The first bargain is always the easiest. No paper, no witnesses. Just desperation.”
With THE DEVIL'S MARTINI you'll learn that the deals made with whispered promises in the night count... and when payment is due, payment IS due. You'll feel like you've walked right into a local bar and pulled up a seat alongside a mysterious stranger as he gives the bartender a choice - make the perfect martini, or lose his soul.
This story serves up a fantastic blend of confusion, fear and desperation as Eddie Carver attempts to meet his guest's demands, knowing what is at stake if he fails.
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THE PURPLE DOOR"...they were two unfortunate souls plagued by relentless bad luck, volatile tempers, and an uncanny ability to stumble into chaos."
Kane delivers a short, but eerie tale of two would-be thieves who decide to break into a decrepit house in search of anything valuable to steal, and find far more than they bargained for.
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IN TENT CITY"Death is a loud guest."
In most places, the homeless population is often ignored, and usually invisible... unless there's a problem. In King's Alley, there's a problem: the homeless are being targeted in what appear to be ritual killings, and the police aren't motivated to investigate the cause.
Stephen King Constant Readers should keep an eye out for some subtle nods to the master.
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THE FORGIVEN is a fantastic tale, told from an interesting and unusual point of view. The characters may seem familiar at first, but are surprising in unexpected ways. The accompanying illustrations are not only beautiful but they fit the story well.
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THE HOLLOW CHOIR is a superb, atmospheric tale that delivers tension, dread and hope as private investigator Vic Everstone tries to free a client's sister from the grip of a horrific cult. Echoes of THE HOLLOW CHOIR will stay with you long after the last page is turned.
There is a connection to another story in this collection which makes this all the more fun to read.
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FOLLOW, SHARE, SUMMON"Blood was honest. Blood was a signature nobody could forge."
In the internet era, keeping your audience engaged demands commitment. Passion. Sacrifice. And sometimes, when you pour yourself into your work, you get more out of it than you expected ... much more.
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19 WAYS TO MURDER YOUR HUSBAND"Because leaving required hope, and hope felt like a language she no longer spoke."
For years Mara struggled with insomnia as her husband Grant slept peacefully beside her. Some people count clouds or sheep to try to relax... she found something darker.
Who knew the simple act of trying to go to sleep could be filled with so much ... possibility?
View all my reviews
Night Soldiers by Paul Michael Kane
