Title : Headland Click to read story

Read Feed: "There were hunting trophies on the walls and another large bay window giving onto an orange sky. “My goodness,” I said. “What a fine room.” “It was my husband’s room,” replied Daphne"

Author : Alex Black

Genre : Short Story, Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Review:

Creepy and concise- a winner

I really enjoyed this piece. The pace was excellent and the short sentence structure created a constant creepy tension throughout the story.

Likewise, the characters were engaging and the dialogue flowed well, never seeming forced or as if they were speaking for the benefit of a reader.

I particularly enjoyed how you threw in so hints at what might be going on in the house to keep the reader guessing. When I first reader about the dead husband, the painting of his mother and the travelling to the Balkans I thought- here comes a clichéd vampire story. Thankfully I was proved wrong. I'm glad that you left everything unexplained at the end- really adds to the atmosphere of unease about the whole story.

If I had to make one criticism it is on the setting. The old manor/castle by the cliffs has been done to death (no pun intended)- I’d be interested to see if you could pull off the same sense menace in a more modern setting- a soulless penthouse apartment perhaps.

But apart from that I thought it was great and I wish you all the best of luck.

Synopsis
A remote house, unfinished business and an unwitting participant.