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Romance is Dead
She had no idea why she killed him. Frying pan to the back of his head. Repeatedly. She just finally snapped at the lack of romance in their marriage. The lack of love. Perhaps her subconscious simply thought, ‘If Romance is dead - why shouldn’t he be dead too?’ It didn’t matter why she did it. The only thing that mattered now was to hide her crime. Easier said than done with her neighbours breathing down her neck, asking awkward questions. That and the fact that, in his death, she was finally starting to realise why she loved him in the first place.
- GenresHorror
98 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 17, 2012
1 person is currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Matt Shaw
533 books2,213 followersBiography
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
MATT SHAW was born, quite by accident (his mother tripped, he shot out) September 30th 1980 in Winchester hospital where he was immediately placed on the baby ward and EBay. Some twelve years later (wandering the corridors of the hospital and playing with road kill when he was on day release), the listing closed and he remained unsold, he was booted out of the hospital to start his life as a writer and hobbit – beginning with writing screenplays and short stories for his own amusement before finally getting published when he was twenty-seven years and forty-five seconds old.
Once Published weekly in a lad's magazine with his photography work, Matt Shaw is also a published author and cartoonist. Has to be said, can be a bit of a flirt and definitely, without a shadow of a doubt, somewhat of a klutz.
Favourite books
"Roald Dahl's Collection of Short Stories"
Tim Burton's Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy
Anything, really, written by himself. Because he is that good.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 4, 2016
**** 4 Killing One Of the Good Ones Stars ****
Matt Shaw I just like you and your writing! Crazy and when you think you know what is going to happen BAM.... NO. YOU. DON'T.
Naomi is wife that is fed up with her marriage and her husband Ben.
Ben is sexist and rude. Nothing she does for Ben is any good. There is no romance left in their marriage and she can't take it any more.
As she clears the table of their supper, she does the unthinkable. She hits Ben over the head with a frying pan. But she doesn't hit him just once, she hits him twice and then three times.
Naomi can't believe she actually killed her husband. She is not a murderer, she is not crazy. What has she done. As she begins to put plans in place to cover up what she has done, Naomi starts regretting what she has done.
Her mind starts playing games with her and she starts hearing Ben's voice. The voice of the man she still loves. Ben is telling how she can fix things. The only way to hide what she has done is to kill the neighbors that Naomi is sure are suspect to what she has done.
Thinking her and Ben's plan (remember Ben is dead) is sure to work, she sets out to get Liam over to their apartment to get rid of him. Only she is about to have the shock of a lifetime.
Liam has a plan of his own!!
Well played Mr Shaw.....very well played!!
Matt Shaw I just like you and your writing! Crazy and when you think you know what is going to happen BAM.... NO. YOU. DON'T.
Naomi is wife that is fed up with her marriage and her husband Ben.
Ben is sexist and rude. Nothing she does for Ben is any good. There is no romance left in their marriage and she can't take it any more.
As she clears the table of their supper, she does the unthinkable. She hits Ben over the head with a frying pan. But she doesn't hit him just once, she hits him twice and then three times.
Naomi can't believe she actually killed her husband. She is not a murderer, she is not crazy. What has she done. As she begins to put plans in place to cover up what she has done, Naomi starts regretting what she has done.
Her mind starts playing games with her and she starts hearing Ben's voice. The voice of the man she still loves. Ben is telling how she can fix things. The only way to hide what she has done is to kill the neighbors that Naomi is sure are suspect to what she has done.
Thinking her and Ben's plan (remember Ben is dead) is sure to work, she sets out to get Liam over to their apartment to get rid of him. Only she is about to have the shock of a lifetime.
Liam has a plan of his own!!
Well played Mr Shaw.....very well played!!
March 18, 2015
**"3.5 almost 4 " STARS**
Not a bad book by any means, it's just that Matt's spoiled me with his signature gore......which is missing from this book. Yes, I own my brattiness .
....The plot twist and humorous moments are definitely present. Matt Shaw, you continue to stump me ... How the hell man ??
Not a bad book by any means, it's just that Matt's spoiled me with his signature gore......which is missing from this book. Yes, I own my brattiness .
....The plot twist and humorous moments are definitely present. Matt Shaw, you continue to stump me ... How the hell man ??
November 7, 2017
Probably one of the best transitions from prologue to chapter 1 that I have ever read!
August 19, 2012
This is the story of Naomi. Fed up with her husbands constant sniping at her, she decides one day enough is enough and takes a frying pan to his head. Now she must work out how to cover up his sudden disappearance before too many questions are asked by friends and nosy neighbours.
I enjoyed this. It was something a little different from Matt again, it's good that he is exploring new areas whilst still sticking to what he knows best. This was a love story of sorts, but more an anti love story. The slow descent into semi madness that Naomi took was engaging and the tension was drawn out well. Some bits were quite funny as she ran around trying to work out how she was going to cover up her crime. Despite having a small cast - again a trademark of Matt's - the tension was ramped up and there were plenty of twists and turns on the way to a totally unexpected ending. It was a quick read and quite dark, possibly Matt's darkest yet. Once again he has delivered a blinder and has not disappointed. This should appeal to die hard Matt fans, fans of dark and twisted horror and new fans alike. Once again I find myself eagerly awaiting the next release.
I enjoyed this. It was something a little different from Matt again, it's good that he is exploring new areas whilst still sticking to what he knows best. This was a love story of sorts, but more an anti love story. The slow descent into semi madness that Naomi took was engaging and the tension was drawn out well. Some bits were quite funny as she ran around trying to work out how she was going to cover up her crime. Despite having a small cast - again a trademark of Matt's - the tension was ramped up and there were plenty of twists and turns on the way to a totally unexpected ending. It was a quick read and quite dark, possibly Matt's darkest yet. Once again he has delivered a blinder and has not disappointed. This should appeal to die hard Matt fans, fans of dark and twisted horror and new fans alike. Once again I find myself eagerly awaiting the next release.
October 25, 2020
3.5 stars
March 25, 2013
This is an absolutely brilliant twisted little tale of murder and mayhem written and told in a most deliciously enjoyable way in which you should probably feel slightly guilty for liking so much during and after reading, but you won't. Once you start reading, you just don't want to put it down until you are completely finished with it. The authors' notes at the end are a nice touch as well. I refuse to give anything away about this story so you are getting a lot of adjectives and filler in this review because you need to read it for yourself.
This is the first I've read from this particular author but I've got a few more on my Kindle and after reading this one I am certainly looking forward to getting to them. This is a great story and I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates good storytelling, good horror with some humor laced with a bit of morbid fun, and a darn good reading experience. Rather than having me, a non-writer try to describe it here, just go read it right now. You won't regret it.
This is the first I've read from this particular author but I've got a few more on my Kindle and after reading this one I am certainly looking forward to getting to them. This is a great story and I would recommend it to anyone who appreciates good storytelling, good horror with some humor laced with a bit of morbid fun, and a darn good reading experience. Rather than having me, a non-writer try to describe it here, just go read it right now. You won't regret it.
January 3, 2015
Naomi has had enough of her husband ignoring her and treating her as if she's nobody. Once upon a time there was love and romance. After being ignored one time too many, she takes care of Ben once and for all - with the use of a frying pan. Afterward, she has a few regrets and starts to think that maybe she's losing touch with reality. I'm thinking that hearing the voice of your dead husband arguing with you might do that to a girl. *smirk*
Excellent book. I'm a big fan of dark humor and I found myself giggling during the most inappropriate times while reading this book.
Highly recommended. An easy 5 stars.
Full review can be found at -
Excellent book. I'm a big fan of dark humor and I found myself giggling during the most inappropriate times while reading this book.
Highly recommended. An easy 5 stars.
Full review can be found at -
November 13, 2015
Well this is yet another creepy little masterpiece from Matt Shaw. It's the story of a wife that just gets so fed up with her husband that she smacks him in the head with a frying pan. She's can hardly believe it when she sees that he's dead. She didn't plan to kill him. She even starts to remember all the things she loves about him. She decides she must get rid of the body because she can't go to prison but she just can't seem to get rid of him. She even starts to miss him. Then he starts talking to her but he can't be, he's dead. From there things just get more and more twisted and crazy until you reach another great shocker of an ending. I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews