Review: Dark Light by Carl Hose

Title: Dark Light
Author: Carl Hose
Series: Standalone
Genre: Horror
Format: E-book
Source:  Online Innovative Book Tours
Pub. Year: 2012
Purchase: Amz/ B&N
I received this novel free of charge from OIBT in exchange for an honest review.

Blurb from Amazon:
Dark Light is the light that shines through when some of the finest writers in horror use the power of their words for good. That’s the case with this anthology—42 writers coming together to help support the Ronald McDonald House Charities and all the good the organization does for families every year round. Make no mistake, though. These are horror writers and the stories they’ve written are not pretty. Traditional and non-traditional horror, dark humor, ghosts, serial killers, alternate universes, magic, zombies, and other creatures of the night hide between these pages. Shadows move and dead fingers stroke unsuspecting flesh, razor sharp knives shimmer in the moonlight, and unknown things hide in closets and under the bed. The stories here are as varied as the writers themselves. If you’re a fan of horror, you will not be let down. Despite the horrific nature of these tales, however, their very existence in Dark Light stands as proof there will always be a light at the end of every tunnel. Dark Light is published by MARLvision Publishing and edited by Carl Hose.

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Random: So many stories to choose from, so little to describe them all.

It is a great collection of horror short stories. Some are psychological horror, dystopias, ghosts, murder, whatever terrifies a reader, there is a story for that. There is also a variety of writing styles. There are diary entries, first person narrative, the rare second person point of view, and the third person point of view. With 42 short stories to read, I only have time to showcase a few of them.

“A Sight for Sore Eyes” by Deborah LeBlanc. I like this one because it threw me off balance. I was sure that I knew what was happening but the ending, damn, was I wrong. That is fantastic that it could maintain the suspense at a high level.

“ Death Comes Calling” by Randy Chandler. One of my favorite stories because it remind of “Because I could not stop for Death” by Emily Dickinson. A dead man, Reggie, is having a debate with the personification of Death and it is an interesting conversation. Death is an intriguing character. It slows down a little in the middle with Reggie and his wife conversing but when Reggie meets a man with AIDS, the story becomes as interesting as the conversation with Death. Even though it has a slow part in the middle, it is still a very good short story that tugs at the heart.

“ After the Fall” by Paul Fry. Not my favorite story but one that I read through. It is a diary entry style story. The main character is less than compelling and he is a bastard. He is out there raping and killing women after a nuclear disaster. Hopefully, he earns what he deserves. It is pretty gruesome story because it just lacks empathy. It is a well-written story but it just not a story that is going to bring positive emotions to a reader.

“The Long Wait”  by Christopher Shearer. I’m showcasing this one because of a very specific scene with a little girl. Children in horror movies and stories tend to a be a little creepy. Sorry, it is true; just remember The Innocents (1961). I love the first film scene where she is asking for donations and she just pulls a creepy stunt. Perfect horror. The overall story is sad though.

5 BB- Total Keeper

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54th in the 150+ Reading Challenge
Also qualifies for: E-book