STOCKHOLM by Catherine Steadman
Publication Date: August 31, 2022
Length: 42 pages
Rating: 4 Stars

“An extravagant anniversary trip turns into a desperate scramble for survival in an unsettling short story about desire, manipulation, and revenge by a New York Times bestselling author.”

Not gonna lie, this short story gave me anxiety. It’s a quick read but packed with a lot of dread, as an abused wife plans an escape from her ghastly husband during an anniversary trip to Sweden. I enjoyed this one, from the isolated snowy setting to the intense and unexpected ending. I’ve enjoyed previous books by Catherine Steadman, and this mini thriller did not disappoint.

BIG BAD by Chandler Baker
Publication Date: September 26, 2023
Length: 59 pages
Rating: 4.5 Stars

“For a family trying to make an isolated farmhouse into a home, fear and rage are getting harder to control in a primal short story by the New York Times bestselling author of Whisper Network and Cutting Teeth.”

BIG BAD is my first taste of Chandler Baker’s writing, and I’m hooked. This is a gruesome tale of a broken marriage with two kiddos caught in the middle, plus a menacing presence lurking around and within their farmhouse walls. Who’s the real baddie? The character development was impressive, especially considering the book was under 60 pages. I greatly enjoyed this creepy and emotional family drama/horror story.

THE MOSQUITO by B.A. Paris
Publication Date: July 25, 2023
Length: 32 pages
Rating: 4 Stars

“After his marriage fails, he hopes a vacation in France will relax and restore him. But fate has something more poisonous in store in this biting tale from bestselling author B. A. Paris.”

THE MOSQUITO is a fun story about a pesty bug and an even pestier house guest named Rupert. When I first encountered Rupert, he made me think of Colin Robinson, only without Colin’s charm, lol. (Any What We Do in the Shadows fans?) I enjoyed the symbolism in this short tale, and I especially loved the satisfying ending.