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Jack Of All Trades
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something... grue?
Welcome to a different kind of marriage, a morbid union of strange stories with evocative narratives-where bizarre is beautiful, death is an old friend, and twisted creatures skulk in the shadows. An engagement over a year in the making, Jack of all Trades is a collection of dark fiction with a more literary bent, a celebration of the eerie and eloquent tales of yesteryear. A wedding of words.
From Victorian England to the Wild West frontier; from familial strife to a nationwide threat; from the innocence of youth to the cynicism of experience-the seven stories contained herein span concepts, continents, and centuries.
Jack of all Trades features the following fictions:
See No Evil
A Victorian novel of death, intrigue, and forbidden experiments.
Her First Time
A short story of seduction in the heartland of post-WWII America.
Psycho Killer
A short story of mass murder in the City of Angels.
Riding the Ghost Train
A short story of addiction and regret in the Appalachian Mountains.
The Stowaway
An alliterative drabble of savagery on the high seas.
The Sentimental Ending
A short story of dark discovery in the snowy peaks of Norway.
A Frontier Haunting
A novelette of spirits and six-shooters in the Wild West.
Welcome to a different kind of marriage, a morbid union of strange stories with evocative narratives-where bizarre is beautiful, death is an old friend, and twisted creatures skulk in the shadows. An engagement over a year in the making, Jack of all Trades is a collection of dark fiction with a more literary bent, a celebration of the eerie and eloquent tales of yesteryear. A wedding of words.
From Victorian England to the Wild West frontier; from familial strife to a nationwide threat; from the innocence of youth to the cynicism of experience-the seven stories contained herein span concepts, continents, and centuries.
Jack of all Trades features the following fictions:
See No Evil
A Victorian novel of death, intrigue, and forbidden experiments.
Her First Time
A short story of seduction in the heartland of post-WWII America.
Psycho Killer
A short story of mass murder in the City of Angels.
Riding the Ghost Train
A short story of addiction and regret in the Appalachian Mountains.
The Stowaway
An alliterative drabble of savagery on the high seas.
The Sentimental Ending
A short story of dark discovery in the snowy peaks of Norway.
A Frontier Haunting
A novelette of spirits and six-shooters in the Wild West.
356 pages, Paperback
Published October 10, 2023
4 people want to read
About the author
Jack Wells
6 books151 followersJack Wells is a burgeoning author located in Northern Utah. He has been writing on and off since grade school, though most of his early works are comprised of bad poetry and even worse song lyrics. Some of his more serious writing experience includes penning amateur reviews of movies, novels (multiple genres), and video games for various websites.
The chapter excerpt from "Monochrome Noir" in "Strange Stories: Vol. 1" marks his first physical publication of an original tale. "Monochrome Noir" started out as a short story, in answer to a publishing call, but is currently being expanded into a full-blown novel. It will be released in four parts, with the first part having been published in September of 2021.
When not putting pen to paper, Jack can be found spending time with his sweet but quirky family, hiking, kayaking, and sipping whiskey by his fire pit. One can often catch Jack taking spontaneous late night road trips throughout northern Utah with the latest retro synth music providing a surreal soundtrack.
Outside of all the fun activities, Jack spends much of his time herding cats as a beleaguered government employee.
The chapter excerpt from "Monochrome Noir" in "Strange Stories: Vol. 1" marks his first physical publication of an original tale. "Monochrome Noir" started out as a short story, in answer to a publishing call, but is currently being expanded into a full-blown novel. It will be released in four parts, with the first part having been published in September of 2021.
When not putting pen to paper, Jack can be found spending time with his sweet but quirky family, hiking, kayaking, and sipping whiskey by his fire pit. One can often catch Jack taking spontaneous late night road trips throughout northern Utah with the latest retro synth music providing a surreal soundtrack.
Outside of all the fun activities, Jack spends much of his time herding cats as a beleaguered government employee.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 30, 2023
A series of short stories broken up into parts. Everything flows together really well.
It made for an excellent read and really kept my attention. Think No Evil is one of my fav a Victorian era monster roams Chaplewaite.Reminiscent of detective novels. Sherlock Holmes meets Frankenstein
Her First Time-revenge, love, legacy and a blind mc makes this one of my favs
If you are a gothic, British fictional detective novels, monster lover there is something for you.
I was overjoyed to discover an me who is blind. Representation matters
It made for an excellent read and really kept my attention. Think No Evil is one of my fav a Victorian era monster roams Chaplewaite.Reminiscent of detective novels. Sherlock Holmes meets Frankenstein
Her First Time-revenge, love, legacy and a blind mc makes this one of my favs
If you are a gothic, British fictional detective novels, monster lover there is something for you.
I was overjoyed to discover an me who is blind. Representation matters
November 3, 2023
Jack put together a fantastic compilation of short work, plus a novella in "Jack of All Trades". This book takes readers on a journey through the dark and mysterious realms of human imagination and reality.
Lanza sets the tone for the book with a thought-provoking foreword, reminding us that monsters are not just creatures of fiction but can exist within our minds and our world.
The standout piece in this collection for me is "See No Evil," a Victorian crime novella that brings Sherlock Holmes vibes. Wells weaves a web of mystery and suspense. The characters are well-drawn, and the plot is cleverly constructed.
I loved "Psycho Killer" which drops you in a small diner where a mass murder has taken place.
"Riding the Ghost Train" is a short story that explores themes of addiction and regret set in a secluded cabin. Wells delves into the human psyche, exposing the vulnerabilities that lie beneath the surface. This story serves as a reminder of the consequences of our choices, and it lingers in the mind long after reading.
Lanza sets the tone for the book with a thought-provoking foreword, reminding us that monsters are not just creatures of fiction but can exist within our minds and our world.
The standout piece in this collection for me is "See No Evil," a Victorian crime novella that brings Sherlock Holmes vibes. Wells weaves a web of mystery and suspense. The characters are well-drawn, and the plot is cleverly constructed.
I loved "Psycho Killer" which drops you in a small diner where a mass murder has taken place.
"Riding the Ghost Train" is a short story that explores themes of addiction and regret set in a secluded cabin. Wells delves into the human psyche, exposing the vulnerabilities that lie beneath the surface. This story serves as a reminder of the consequences of our choices, and it lingers in the mind long after reading.
July 28, 2024
★★
Jack of All Trades is a collection of short stories with dark themes and twists, as well as a healthy dose of mystery and intrigue.
I really wanted to love this collection, but I really struggled to get into any of the stories. I don’t think this is any fault of the author’s— considering I fell in love with the way he uses words and melody so beautifully— I just think I’m not made for this material / story structure. I really did like the idea of an overarching story that connects the book together, but I just struggled to be invested due to its being chopped into parts.
Despite this review, I would totally recommend it to anyone whose reading tastes shift toward darker and more bizarre subjects, and I would be interested in checking out this author’s other works myself.
Thank you NetGalley and Last Waltz Publishing for the arc!
Jack of All Trades is a collection of short stories with dark themes and twists, as well as a healthy dose of mystery and intrigue.
I really wanted to love this collection, but I really struggled to get into any of the stories. I don’t think this is any fault of the author’s— considering I fell in love with the way he uses words and melody so beautifully— I just think I’m not made for this material / story structure. I really did like the idea of an overarching story that connects the book together, but I just struggled to be invested due to its being chopped into parts.
Despite this review, I would totally recommend it to anyone whose reading tastes shift toward darker and more bizarre subjects, and I would be interested in checking out this author’s other works myself.
Thank you NetGalley and Last Waltz Publishing for the arc!
January 9, 2024
Jack of all Trades skillfully weaves several short stories into an overall story of a dark 1892 London and a mysterious creation. Throughout the book, the stories pull back more and more layers, while the endings still leave many things to the imagination. As tidbits were dropped through the story I always felt like I was on the brink of discovery and eager to keep reading.
I always feel smarter after reading a book by Jack Wells (and looking up words along the way!) and I think it says much about his writing that he can get you as interested and invested in his stories and the characters in them in 500 words as in 5000. Although dark fiction is not my normal go-to (I am much more of a light reader) this collection was excellent and well worth the read.
I always feel smarter after reading a book by Jack Wells (and looking up words along the way!) and I think it says much about his writing that he can get you as interested and invested in his stories and the characters in them in 500 words as in 5000. Although dark fiction is not my normal go-to (I am much more of a light reader) this collection was excellent and well worth the read.
October 31, 2023
Curling up with Jack Of All Trades was very much like popping open a box of assorted candy, only with bits of beloved horror tropes/monsters instead of nougat. Wells does a wonderful job setting up atmospheric horror throughout the stories, setting up flavors reminiscent of Frankenstein and Jack the Ripper.
But it doesn't stop there. Wells' human characters as just as interesting and relatable as his darker creations. Each one made me want to know more about the character, made me think about them long after I had turned the page.
Jack of All Trades is a refreshing collection of horror tropes that have been neglected for far too long.
But it doesn't stop there. Wells' human characters as just as interesting and relatable as his darker creations. Each one made me want to know more about the character, made me think about them long after I had turned the page.
Jack of All Trades is a refreshing collection of horror tropes that have been neglected for far too long.
November 21, 2023
I just finished Jack of all Trades by Jack Wells, and I don't know if I can adequately state how good this book is. Jack knows some words. This book is so satisfying to read from a "wordy's" perspective. Wells really shows off his skill at crafting a masterpiece of the written word. It is nearly flawless in its execution of storyline and composition. And yes, the story...it is written with scenes like a play, interspersed with short stories between. It's conjoins several well-known horror stories into an exciting new yarn. I loved it! It was fantastic, original, and HWA award worthy. I can't recommend this highly enough! You will love this book!
June 22, 2024
An interesting collection of short stories set around a main story. The stories are intriguing and will hold your interest. The only criticism I have is the ending to the main story felt rushed. Overall, I found the book enjoyable.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews