Richard Chizmar and Brian James Freeman serve up a great appetizer of creeps and chills in this collection of shorts that will surely leave you waiting for the next in the series.
I was a tad disappointed that the Stephen King short, Weeds, was a reprint. I soon forgot my disappointment after rereading this classic tale that, come to find out, has not been reprinted since his early Cavalier days. You will be looking for your copy of Creepshow when you are done reading this one, just to warn you! This story is a great treat for the hardcore King fans and a great way for new fans to get acquainted with his mastery of the short form.
Kelly Armstrong follows with a dark and gritty revenge thriller that doesn't just go out with a bang, it goes out with some Michael Bay explosions so make sure your seat is in the upright position and please wear your seatbelts! Ms. Armstrong is always a delight to read, and this story will leave you squirming in your seat.
Magic Eye's, Bill Pronzini's psychotic window into a madhouse is another solid entry that will not disappoint. Psychological horror by a master of suspense who captures the essence of madness and unleashes it in torrents, Magic Eye's reminds us that the eye's are the window to the soul.
Simon Clark's Murder In Chains is the best and the worst of the stories. Simon Clark has created such a wonderfully horrific place that I can't believe this is all there is to it. I want more... correction, I need more. This should be one of those books that you could use as a doorstop if needed, or to bludgeon an intruder with, not a short story. I am crossing my fingers that Mr. Clark has realized this and is working on providing the necessary completion to this dark world.
Ramsey Campbell brings this collection to an end with The Watched, a creepy tale that is far from my favorite of Campbell's but nonetheless a solid story that will make you pay a bit more attention to what may be lurking in the shadows outside your window at night.
This collection, while a bit short in length, makes up for that with quality stories that will leave you anticipating the next installment in this dark series. Richard Chizmar and Brian James Freeman who are as capable of churning out tales as good as any of the authors in this collection, have begun a great endeavor that will wet any horror fan's appetite.
I received this ARC from Penguin Group via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Get Dark Screams Volume 1 here...
-Cory Cline
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