Book Review for Footsteps in the Dark by Carlo Armenise

Footsteps in the Dark, by Carlo Armenise, is a collection of short stories that deal with the twisted notions of justice, all the while mocking remorseless individuals who decide to remove themselves from society’s ethics.

Each of these stories have an overall theme of lawfulness and perceived order. Whether it be killing a rapist that’d already destroyed the lives of three people, or brutally slaughtering a bigot, each story caresses the morbid and macabre with bloody endings and haunting last words. The punishments Armenise indulges in illustrates a solid boundary between good and evil, with absolutely no room for compromise.

Armenise also utilizes a common theme in the mystery genre, interestingly enough, and that is that whomever breaks societal traditions is viewed as abnormal, and therefore, should effectively be punished. Normally, whatever values we have, we must comply with and change accordingly. If we do not, we will be outed. While the consequences might not be as disastrous as getting mauled or suffering from the effects of a potion, the results are just the same. It’s why people will go to great lengths to hide their differences, however harmless they may be. This idea is something that Armenise executes beautifully.

Overall, I would give this book a rating of a 4 out of 5 stars. I enjoyed how the characters flirted with the thin veil of morality, as well as how Armenise reflects upon people’s perceptions today. Thus, I would recommend this collection to fans of the Saw film series and Stephen King’s Carrie.