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carolynvc's review
2.0
Good very short stories but not really scary. I adore Stephen King and have all his books but had expected more from this.
malicebooks127's review
4.0
wild swimming - 4
eau-de-eric - 3
the spots - 1.5
the unpicking - 4
la mort de l’amant - 2.5
the bear trap - 4
eau-de-eric - 3
the spots - 1.5
the unpicking - 4
la mort de l’amant - 2.5
the bear trap - 4
dmferragamo's review
2.0
Meh....this is a collection of 6 so-so stories that aren't particularly scary and terribly predictable.
andyshute's review
4.0
A generally very enjoyable though brief collection of short scary stories picked by Stephen King from a competition. A variable bunch but some quality too.
Wild Swimming was a nicely set up tale though felt a little obvious in resolution
Eau-de-Eric didn't really work for me, unlikeable protagonist and all though I get where it was going.
The Spots - yeah, I couldn't even remember this one and had to look it back up afterwards to remind myself. Not that great, more comedic if anything.
The Unpicking is an unsettling tale and while I wasn't that sold on it, it was quite creepy and effective.
La mort de L'Armant was ok.
The Bear Trap was entertaining and again, while obvious it had a nice set up and a good sense of humour to it all.
Wild Swimming was a nicely set up tale though felt a little obvious in resolution
Eau-de-Eric didn't really work for me, unlikeable protagonist and all though I get where it was going.
The Spots - yeah, I couldn't even remember this one and had to look it back up afterwards to remind myself. Not that great, more comedic if anything.
The Unpicking is an unsettling tale and while I wasn't that sold on it, it was quite creepy and effective.
La mort de L'Armant was ok.
The Bear Trap was entertaining and again, while obvious it had a nice set up and a good sense of humour to it all.
granolagina's review
1.0
I will read anything Stephen King recommends and usually I am quite satisfied. This book however was terrible. The stories were not very scary.
crystalbeth's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I would like to preface this with the fact that I have had a bad run in with short stories but horror short stories in general.
I do know that going into this, you should know absolutely nothing about any of the stories if you want to get the full effect from them. So no spoilers at all here!
'Wild Swimming' by Elodie Harper
This was creepy, I loved the format of the story and it was original.
4 Stars
'Eau-de-Eric' by Manuela Saragosa
This reminded me a lot of other horrors I have, albeit this was better written in my opinion. Not super orignal and would of done better as a longer story.
4 Stars
'Spots' by Paul Bassett Davies
Original, felt realistic but also what did I just read? Wasn't scary at all.
2 Stars
'The Unpicking' by Michael Button
Literally loved this. Very creepy and a bit scary and a theme commonly used but still original.
5 Stars
'La Mort de l'Ament' by Stuart Johnstone
Somehow didn't feel like a horror but a completely different genre.
2 Stars
‘The Bear Trap’ by Neil Hudson
My enjoyment of this one had nothing to do with it being a great horror and instead was because it was just a great short story
4 Stars
I do know that going into this, you should know absolutely nothing about any of the stories if you want to get the full effect from them. So no spoilers at all here!
'Wild Swimming' by Elodie Harper
This was creepy, I loved the format of the story and it was original.
4 Stars
'Eau-de-Eric' by Manuela Saragosa
This reminded me a lot of other horrors I have, albeit this was better written in my opinion. Not super orignal and would of done better as a longer story.
4 Stars
'Spots' by Paul Bassett Davies
Original, felt realistic but also what did I just read? Wasn't scary at all.
2 Stars
'The Unpicking' by Michael Button
Literally loved this. Very creepy and a bit scary and a theme commonly used but still original.
5 Stars
'La Mort de l'Ament' by Stuart Johnstone
Somehow didn't feel like a horror but a completely different genre.
2 Stars
‘The Bear Trap’ by Neil Hudson
My enjoyment of this one had nothing to do with it being a great horror and instead was because it was just a great short story
4 Stars
mraimo106's review
5.0
Six short stories collected in this one small book from relatively unknown author, at least stateside. Curated by Stephen King these British authors pen some great left-of-center horror shorts. If you’re a fan you should read this book.
somuchsong's review
3.0
Three of these were great (1, 2 and 4) and three were so dull that I lost interest after a few paragraphs. Averaged out, it'd be about three stars.