Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Book review - Dark Steps a collection of short stories by Martin Pond

"As the stocking flutters to the floor, I finally get what's wrong with everyone."

The title of this short story collection prepares you for tales that are dark and leave you with some lingering thoughts that remain in the mind long after you have finished reading it.

The collection starts with Waiting Room, a story where the reader grasps what is happening to the main character thereby making it even more tragic.

It then goes into stories about strange voices, strange events and the sort of things that disturb. There are ghostly tales and with The Inheritance a clever twist on the idea of a father passing down his talents to the son.

As well as delivering stories that are dark, sometimes with an almost horror like style, the other main theme running trough the collection is of stories with a twist. Leaving the reader to fill the end of the sentence by completing the picture in their minds is something that has to be well delivered.

It is here time and time again and there is also a certain enjoyment that comes from sharing in reading a writer that is starting on his journey and perfecting his craft.

A good read that deserves to get wide circulation.