This is the first time that I have waited in anticipation
for the release of a book by an independent author. Knowing that the style was
inspired by one of my favourite writers, Robert Aickman, I was very keen to
read it.
Aickman has the ability to unsettle your nerves when writing
about everyday events that at first appear normal then go slightly off
kilter. I can honestly say that I wasn’t
disappointed. These short stories are very well constructed, and the unsettling
nature of each varies in degrees as does the strangeness.
Abraham’s Bosom was one of my favourite stories as it
brought to mind how I felt on my recent visit to Rangitoto Island
Building Bridges I found to be a nice cloying story about a
father wanting to reconnect with his family however forces move against him
during a visit to a museum exhibit.
The Next Terrace is the perfect opening story and lays the
foundation to what can be expected within following the pages and Playing Tag I
thought was a beautifully written story which really evoked the grounds of an
English stately home.
La Tarasque was probably my least favourite of the
collection but mainly because I couldn't identify with any part of it, and I’m
still trying to work out the title of the last story (Fingerprinting) although
I did really enjoy the story itself. I’m
staying in some obscure small towns at the end of the year on my first ever
Aussie road trip, so I shall bear this story in mind!
This whole collection has been put together very
nicely; Some of the stories are very subtle whilst others grab at you, but what
I liked most about these stories is that they are very identifiable as being
Australian.
Read by Maxine
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