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Poetic Justice
Five twisted tales of murder and revenge.
Time doesn’t heal; it’s an incubator for old wounds.
Lucy’s return – No one remembers Lucy at the school reunion, but she remembers them. Especially one boy who made her life hell, and now she’s going to do the same to him.
The Tallyman – Donna is in debt, and the loan shark is making her life unbearable, with increasingly vile demands when she can’t make her payments. But her elderly neighbour, Elsie, has the perfect solution to get rid of the tallyman once and for all.
Last Orders – Jeff Tully’s wife has left him. Trying to run his pub single-handedly, he increasingly turns to his barmaid, Alyson, for help. But when Alyson tells him of her own troubles, they hatch a plan to get rid of Alyson’s violent, abusive husband. But will Jeff live to regret he ever got involved with his barmaid?
Ballad of the Unsung Hero – Retired shopkeeper Jennifer Price is at her wits end. Her husband Kenneth thinks more of his fishing than he does of her. But when she meets the man of her dreams at a spiritual church, Jennifer is hell-bent on getting her man – whatever it takes.
Private Museum – Retired nurse Mandy Rostron never thought she’d find love again after her husband died, but in Anthony Mallard she’s found the perfect gentleman. Or so she thinks. Mallard has some very dark secrets in his basement, or his Private Museum as he calls it, and Mandy is about to discover the truth about the man of her dreams.
Time doesn’t heal; it’s an incubator for old wounds.
Lucy’s return – No one remembers Lucy at the school reunion, but she remembers them. Especially one boy who made her life hell, and now she’s going to do the same to him.
The Tallyman – Donna is in debt, and the loan shark is making her life unbearable, with increasingly vile demands when she can’t make her payments. But her elderly neighbour, Elsie, has the perfect solution to get rid of the tallyman once and for all.
Last Orders – Jeff Tully’s wife has left him. Trying to run his pub single-handedly, he increasingly turns to his barmaid, Alyson, for help. But when Alyson tells him of her own troubles, they hatch a plan to get rid of Alyson’s violent, abusive husband. But will Jeff live to regret he ever got involved with his barmaid?
Ballad of the Unsung Hero – Retired shopkeeper Jennifer Price is at her wits end. Her husband Kenneth thinks more of his fishing than he does of her. But when she meets the man of her dreams at a spiritual church, Jennifer is hell-bent on getting her man – whatever it takes.
Private Museum – Retired nurse Mandy Rostron never thought she’d find love again after her husband died, but in Anthony Mallard she’s found the perfect gentleman. Or so she thinks. Mallard has some very dark secrets in his basement, or his Private Museum as he calls it, and Mandy is about to discover the truth about the man of her dreams.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 18, 2021
1 person is currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Mark Tilbury
27 books279 followersMark lives in a small village in the lovely county of Cumbria, although his books are set in Oxfordshire where he was born and raised.
He's always had a keen interest in writing and after being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and began self-publishing. Mark's writing has earned him the name #TwistedTilbury due to the dark and twisted nature of his books. He's published 12 thrillers, and his 13th novel, A Womb With A View, will be published Jan 19th 2023.
When he's not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.
Did you know that you can follow authors on Amazon? If you hit the 'follow' button on my author page, you'll be kept updated of any price reductions and new publications.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mark-Tilbury...
Thank you!
He's always had a keen interest in writing and after being widowed and raising his two daughters, Mark finally took the plunge and began self-publishing. Mark's writing has earned him the name #TwistedTilbury due to the dark and twisted nature of his books. He's published 12 thrillers, and his 13th novel, A Womb With A View, will be published Jan 19th 2023.
When he's not writing, Mark can be found playing guitar, reading and walking.
Did you know that you can follow authors on Amazon? If you hit the 'follow' button on my author page, you'll be kept updated of any price reductions and new publications.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mark-Tilbury...
Thank you!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
November 22, 2021
4.5/5
I have been reading Mark Tilbury for quite some time now, but I have never read anything that is quite like Poetic Justice. This was a bit on the tamer side for him which surprised me, but it is definitely no less twisted, and I loved that I got plenty of jaw-dropping moments throughout. There are 5 different stories, and each is preceded by a bit of poetry. I am not sure if the poems were meant to tie to the story after it or not, but if they were the connection was lost on me (I’m not a big poetry reader). That didn’t stop me from enjoying that too though, and it was a great unique aspect to the book. As with any short story collection, I did like some more than others but there wasn’t a single story that I didn’t like. My top 2 would have to be Lucy’s Return and Ballad of the Unsung Hero, and while a couple of the characters managed to drive me a little nuts in Last Orders, The Tallyman and Private Museum with their naiveté they were completely solid stories. Tilbury is great for bringing the dark and suspenseful reads, but I really liked how complete each of these stories was and the conclusions were all satisfying.
I don’t want to go into detail on what each story is about, and you can read the synopsis for a quick peek at that, but this is probably one of the best short story collections I have read so far. Each of the 5 managed to surprise me in at least one way, sometimes more than once, and Tilbury doesn’t shy away from heavy themes. There are even a couple of tearjerker moments that I wasn’t expecting at all, and I loved the route he chose with each story having a revenge/justice-seeking aspect. Each varies in how they are executed but I love a good revenge story and it’s even better to have multiple that are perfectly done. Poetic Justice was a really quick read as well and I managed to finish it in just a few short hours, so if you are looking for something quick and not *too* gruesome, this would be a great book to check out. I really hope he will choose to do something like this again in the future as it was a very enjoyable experience, and I loved the common theme but also how different each story was.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I have been reading Mark Tilbury for quite some time now, but I have never read anything that is quite like Poetic Justice. This was a bit on the tamer side for him which surprised me, but it is definitely no less twisted, and I loved that I got plenty of jaw-dropping moments throughout. There are 5 different stories, and each is preceded by a bit of poetry. I am not sure if the poems were meant to tie to the story after it or not, but if they were the connection was lost on me (I’m not a big poetry reader). That didn’t stop me from enjoying that too though, and it was a great unique aspect to the book. As with any short story collection, I did like some more than others but there wasn’t a single story that I didn’t like. My top 2 would have to be Lucy’s Return and Ballad of the Unsung Hero, and while a couple of the characters managed to drive me a little nuts in Last Orders, The Tallyman and Private Museum with their naiveté they were completely solid stories. Tilbury is great for bringing the dark and suspenseful reads, but I really liked how complete each of these stories was and the conclusions were all satisfying.
I don’t want to go into detail on what each story is about, and you can read the synopsis for a quick peek at that, but this is probably one of the best short story collections I have read so far. Each of the 5 managed to surprise me in at least one way, sometimes more than once, and Tilbury doesn’t shy away from heavy themes. There are even a couple of tearjerker moments that I wasn’t expecting at all, and I loved the route he chose with each story having a revenge/justice-seeking aspect. Each varies in how they are executed but I love a good revenge story and it’s even better to have multiple that are perfectly done. Poetic Justice was a really quick read as well and I managed to finish it in just a few short hours, so if you are looking for something quick and not *too* gruesome, this would be a great book to check out. I really hope he will choose to do something like this again in the future as it was a very enjoyable experience, and I loved the common theme but also how different each story was.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 15, 2021
I have read previous books by this author and thoroughly enjoyed them so I couldn’t resist reading this. I absolutely love that this is five different stories.
Due to some life changes and my health this came at the perfect time as I was able to dip in and out to read each of the books.
When I heard that there were poem involves I was wary but I had faith in the author and he exceeded my expectations. Each poem and short story is brilliant in their own way.
Twisted Tilbury has done it again- I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.
Due to some life changes and my health this came at the perfect time as I was able to dip in and out to read each of the books.
When I heard that there were poem involves I was wary but I had faith in the author and he exceeded my expectations. Each poem and short story is brilliant in their own way.
Twisted Tilbury has done it again- I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next.
October 31, 2021
I was curious to read this book by Mark Tilbury as it contains five short stories. I wondered if he would be able to pull off the uneasy creepy feeling that his books usually leave me with. He did just five times more.
I liked how each story was introduced, by using a poem. These themselves were creepy, but only a taster of what was to follow. All the stories feature women as the lead character, although I didn’t feel that all the men deserved the punishments that they were dealt.
The stories bring to mind that saying from playwright William Congreve, ‘Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.’ For some of these characters, their rage had bubbled for years before it was payback time. Others were impulsive, which just went to show that planning was necessary to get it right.
I, of course, have my favourite, Last Orders. I could see where this was going, but love certainly has its blinkers. Love makes you do crazy things as common sense has left the building. There will be a favourite for everyone with these short stories making them perfect bedtime reading, but don’t let them give you any ideas before you snuggle up to go to sleep.
I think the author has struck gold again with these stories. I would like to see more like these in the future.
I wish to thank the author for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.
I liked how each story was introduced, by using a poem. These themselves were creepy, but only a taster of what was to follow. All the stories feature women as the lead character, although I didn’t feel that all the men deserved the punishments that they were dealt.
The stories bring to mind that saying from playwright William Congreve, ‘Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned.’ For some of these characters, their rage had bubbled for years before it was payback time. Others were impulsive, which just went to show that planning was necessary to get it right.
I, of course, have my favourite, Last Orders. I could see where this was going, but love certainly has its blinkers. Love makes you do crazy things as common sense has left the building. There will be a favourite for everyone with these short stories making them perfect bedtime reading, but don’t let them give you any ideas before you snuggle up to go to sleep.
I think the author has struck gold again with these stories. I would like to see more like these in the future.
I wish to thank the author for an e-copy of this book, which I have reviewed honestly.
October 28, 2021
I am a huge fan of Mark's work, and have loved every single thing he's written. I was aware this was going to be a little different, and it certainly is.
However, the five stories are all brilliant in their own right. The poems at the beginning of each chapter are brilliant.
They each feature a disgruntled woman in some form or other, who, unhappy with their lot, decide to do something about it. It is quite a stark message for the men out there, make sure you dont mess with your other half in case they decide enough is enough.
The Private Museum was possibly my favourite, it was certainly the tensest. You could tell something wasnt right, and it was only a matter of time before it was revealed.
The fact that my name is used in one of the stories has no bearing on my review, but I would also like to say, if anyone knows an Elsie, please send her my way.
Mark is quite rightfully known as #twistedtilbury and although this book doesnt go as dark as his usual novels, it takes nothing away from the skill of the way the story is told, or the depth of depravity reached. To be able to cover so much about place and character.
There is something here for everyone, and due to it being short stories you can dip in and out at your leisure. Another winner for me.
However, the five stories are all brilliant in their own right. The poems at the beginning of each chapter are brilliant.
They each feature a disgruntled woman in some form or other, who, unhappy with their lot, decide to do something about it. It is quite a stark message for the men out there, make sure you dont mess with your other half in case they decide enough is enough.
The Private Museum was possibly my favourite, it was certainly the tensest. You could tell something wasnt right, and it was only a matter of time before it was revealed.
The fact that my name is used in one of the stories has no bearing on my review, but I would also like to say, if anyone knows an Elsie, please send her my way.
Mark is quite rightfully known as #twistedtilbury and although this book doesnt go as dark as his usual novels, it takes nothing away from the skill of the way the story is told, or the depth of depravity reached. To be able to cover so much about place and character.
There is something here for everyone, and due to it being short stories you can dip in and out at your leisure. Another winner for me.
November 1, 2021
3.75⭐️
Firstly I love the cover, and very fitting title.
Five stories of murder and revenge.
Featuring the names of some of the authors advanced readers affectionately known as Annies, after Annie Wilkes in misery. It was interesting to see what some of the group members have ‘been up to’
This is a very different offering to the authors usual.
Novellas and short stories aren’t my usual preferred reads, but I’m keen to see names that I recognise 😊
Each story starts with a poem, again not my bag. But they fit the title really well, so a good tool.
If I’m honest I prefer the full length books.
The stories remind me of the old tales of the unexpected, all of which have a dark twist.
My favourite story is Lucy’s returns.
Last orders (features Alyson Read and beta reader)
Lucy’s returns (featuring Lucy Sampson arc reader)
Private museum (Mandy Rostron)
Ballard of the unsung hero (Jennifer Price)
The Tallyman ( Donna Morfett)
Fav quote. ‘Don’t go looking for death it will find you soon enough’
Firstly I love the cover, and very fitting title.
Five stories of murder and revenge.
Featuring the names of some of the authors advanced readers affectionately known as Annies, after Annie Wilkes in misery. It was interesting to see what some of the group members have ‘been up to’
This is a very different offering to the authors usual.
Novellas and short stories aren’t my usual preferred reads, but I’m keen to see names that I recognise 😊
Each story starts with a poem, again not my bag. But they fit the title really well, so a good tool.
If I’m honest I prefer the full length books.
The stories remind me of the old tales of the unexpected, all of which have a dark twist.
My favourite story is Lucy’s returns.
Last orders (features Alyson Read and beta reader)
Lucy’s returns (featuring Lucy Sampson arc reader)
Private museum (Mandy Rostron)
Ballard of the unsung hero (Jennifer Price)
The Tallyman ( Donna Morfett)
Fav quote. ‘Don’t go looking for death it will find you soon enough’
November 22, 2021
Poetic Justice is a fabulous collection of short stories, each inspired by a preceding poem (which Tilbury wrote himself). A somewhat gentler introduction into the twisted mind of Tilbury, these short stories are by no means lacking in a deliciously “twisted” twist…
Tilbury establishes characters and plot at a masterful level within each story. I thoroughly enjoyed each one but if I had to pick favourites, I’d have to say Ballad of the Unsung Hero (purely for that slam dunk of a twist) and The Tallyman (Elsie… what a character). All had the ability to be full length stories too!
I love Tilbury’s evocative writing; I find it so easy to read and he always finds a superb balance of razor sharp wit and devious twists, with characters whose flaws are so raw and “human” you can’t help to be invested with each one.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves an unexpected twist and a short story.
Tilbury establishes characters and plot at a masterful level within each story. I thoroughly enjoyed each one but if I had to pick favourites, I’d have to say Ballad of the Unsung Hero (purely for that slam dunk of a twist) and The Tallyman (Elsie… what a character). All had the ability to be full length stories too!
I love Tilbury’s evocative writing; I find it so easy to read and he always finds a superb balance of razor sharp wit and devious twists, with characters whose flaws are so raw and “human” you can’t help to be invested with each one.
I would highly recommend this book for anyone who loves an unexpected twist and a short story.
November 21, 2021
Five short stories in one book and every one a winner. This is so different to other books I have read by this author. Known for his very dark and twisted stories I was expecting the same. No! although they are dark they, are much less twisted than other books of his I’ve read and I liked it. I enjoyed the short stories and the poems that preceded each story. They are all well written and every one of them enjoyable.
Each story features an unhappy woman who decides to wreak revenge on the man in her life. Probably the darkest of them was Private Museum; my favourite? I really can’t choose one. They all have facets I liked.
I genuinely didn’t think this book would be one for me but I was wrong. I whizzed through it and was sorry when I got to the end. I want more…. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Each story features an unhappy woman who decides to wreak revenge on the man in her life. Probably the darkest of them was Private Museum; my favourite? I really can’t choose one. They all have facets I liked.
I genuinely didn’t think this book would be one for me but I was wrong. I whizzed through it and was sorry when I got to the end. I want more…. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
December 5, 2021
I wanted to give it 3.5 or 3.75 but since that's not possible I gave it 4 stars.
While I'm not a fan of short stories I did enjoy this book quite a lot.
Like previous books I've read of this author, this one is also quite addictive. You just want to keep on reading to find out what will happen next.
The 5 short stories are all very enjoyable, though I do wish some of them had been a bit longer. I guess I just get too involved in the story and get disappointed when it's over too fast :)
I enjoyed "Last Orders" and "Private Museum" the most.
Whereas the book "Song of the psychopath" is very twisted and might be a bit over the top for some people, this book is accessible to everyone who enjoys suspense and nice twists.
While I'm not a fan of short stories I did enjoy this book quite a lot.
Like previous books I've read of this author, this one is also quite addictive. You just want to keep on reading to find out what will happen next.
The 5 short stories are all very enjoyable, though I do wish some of them had been a bit longer. I guess I just get too involved in the story and get disappointed when it's over too fast :)
I enjoyed "Last Orders" and "Private Museum" the most.
Whereas the book "Song of the psychopath" is very twisted and might be a bit over the top for some people, this book is accessible to everyone who enjoys suspense and nice twists.
October 23, 2021
Something a little different from the master of twisted.
5 different stories that I think most people will relate to in one way or another. I especially liked the poems accompanying each story. Beautifully written as always and showing that although a little less twisted Mark Tilbury tells tales that tempt and tantalise every reader
5 different stories that I think most people will relate to in one way or another. I especially liked the poems accompanying each story. Beautifully written as always and showing that although a little less twisted Mark Tilbury tells tales that tempt and tantalise every reader
November 14, 2021
Having read and enjoyed all of this author’s previous novels, I was very intrigued with his latest book as it is a collection of five stories. Before each story, there is a poem which I thought was a great way of highlighting yet another talent of the author’s and added a little something to these gripping stories.
I thoroughly enjoyed each of these stories. They all focus on murder and revenge so had my interest from the start. Sometimes with shorter stories I can be left feeling a bit unsatisfied as sometimes I want or expect more from them but the author writes them to perfection so each one left me feeling complete although I could happily have sat and read another five stories as they were so good!
Each story will have you feeling empathy with the characters. Even though I wouldn’t say I wholly agreed with the way that some of them did things but it makes for great reading entertainment. One story in particular had me gasping out loud at the outcome and in one respect I wanted to laugh at how ironic it was but it’s also a stark reminder of being careful of what you wish for.
Poetic Justice is a wonderfully dark and gripping collection of stories that will both thrill and delight it’s readers. Each story will hook you in and have you wondering what you would do if you were in the characters shoes. The author is renowned for how twisted his stories are and I’m delighted to say he hasn’t let that slide even in this collection of stories. If you love enthralling stories that will take you by surprise with the added bonus of some wicked twists, then you have to grab yourself a copy of this book!
I thoroughly enjoyed each of these stories. They all focus on murder and revenge so had my interest from the start. Sometimes with shorter stories I can be left feeling a bit unsatisfied as sometimes I want or expect more from them but the author writes them to perfection so each one left me feeling complete although I could happily have sat and read another five stories as they were so good!
Each story will have you feeling empathy with the characters. Even though I wouldn’t say I wholly agreed with the way that some of them did things but it makes for great reading entertainment. One story in particular had me gasping out loud at the outcome and in one respect I wanted to laugh at how ironic it was but it’s also a stark reminder of being careful of what you wish for.
Poetic Justice is a wonderfully dark and gripping collection of stories that will both thrill and delight it’s readers. Each story will hook you in and have you wondering what you would do if you were in the characters shoes. The author is renowned for how twisted his stories are and I’m delighted to say he hasn’t let that slide even in this collection of stories. If you love enthralling stories that will take you by surprise with the added bonus of some wicked twists, then you have to grab yourself a copy of this book!
November 19, 2021
A collection of short stories and poems.
Poetic Justice has all the trademark Mark Tilbury elements of grittiness, aggression, violence, humanity and a touch of the supernatural that I was expecting, but I hadn’t reckoned on the poetry that precedes each of the five stories. The poetry is intense, carefully crafted and works so well between stories, both as an indication of what’s to come and as a kind of palette cleanser, so that moving on to the next story feels as if there is a fresh discovery to be made.
The stories themselves are smashing examples of Poetic Justice so that the anthology could not have been better named. There’s a wickedly dry humour within the collection and all the twists and turns of a Mark Tilbury narrative are present. I think any one of these stories could become a full length novel and they feel like a distillation of skilful plotting and great storytelling. They would translate into a cracking television series of standalone drama too.
I loved the variety in the writing, with the italics for thoughts and internalised feelings so that the reader gets a totally clear understanding of what is going on the minds of the people created here. There’s real variety with both first and third person narratives so that although there are only five stories in Poetic Justice, there’s a kind of richness to the reading experience. I particularly enjoyed the conversational tone of Lucy’s story as it created an intimacy, making the reader almost complicit in Lucy’s actions and the ending of this one made it my favourite story but you’ll need to read the anthology to see if you agree! I found it unusual to have chapters in short stories and this added to the sense of pace and drama in Poetic Justice.
Mark Tilbury knows how to present the dark, simmering underbelly of humanity with absolute authority, but what I found most thought-provoking, however, was the author’s exploration of themes from a female perspective. At the risk of sounding sexist, I hadn’t expected a male author to provide such an insight into how marriage, revenge, passion, love, bullying and, indeed, sexism, affect women.
Poetic Justice is a collection that packs a punch. It’s quite difficult to define in many ways with crime and psychological drama as obvious genres, but the anthology seems to contain more than that too. Poetic Justice feels somehow greater than the sum of its parts. I really enjoyed it but beware. If you live near a place called Benzington you might want to think about moving!
Poetic Justice has all the trademark Mark Tilbury elements of grittiness, aggression, violence, humanity and a touch of the supernatural that I was expecting, but I hadn’t reckoned on the poetry that precedes each of the five stories. The poetry is intense, carefully crafted and works so well between stories, both as an indication of what’s to come and as a kind of palette cleanser, so that moving on to the next story feels as if there is a fresh discovery to be made.
The stories themselves are smashing examples of Poetic Justice so that the anthology could not have been better named. There’s a wickedly dry humour within the collection and all the twists and turns of a Mark Tilbury narrative are present. I think any one of these stories could become a full length novel and they feel like a distillation of skilful plotting and great storytelling. They would translate into a cracking television series of standalone drama too.
I loved the variety in the writing, with the italics for thoughts and internalised feelings so that the reader gets a totally clear understanding of what is going on the minds of the people created here. There’s real variety with both first and third person narratives so that although there are only five stories in Poetic Justice, there’s a kind of richness to the reading experience. I particularly enjoyed the conversational tone of Lucy’s story as it created an intimacy, making the reader almost complicit in Lucy’s actions and the ending of this one made it my favourite story but you’ll need to read the anthology to see if you agree! I found it unusual to have chapters in short stories and this added to the sense of pace and drama in Poetic Justice.
Mark Tilbury knows how to present the dark, simmering underbelly of humanity with absolute authority, but what I found most thought-provoking, however, was the author’s exploration of themes from a female perspective. At the risk of sounding sexist, I hadn’t expected a male author to provide such an insight into how marriage, revenge, passion, love, bullying and, indeed, sexism, affect women.
Poetic Justice is a collection that packs a punch. It’s quite difficult to define in many ways with crime and psychological drama as obvious genres, but the anthology seems to contain more than that too. Poetic Justice feels somehow greater than the sum of its parts. I really enjoyed it but beware. If you live near a place called Benzington you might want to think about moving!
November 24, 2021
I have been a fan of Mark’s work for a little while now. I haven’t caught up with everything that he has written but I am slowly getting there. I love the dark and twisted tales that he comes up with. I read the synopsis for ‘Poetic Justice’ and it certainly sounded like my kind of read. Well it was that and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Poetic Justice’ but more about that in a bit.
‘Poetic Justice’ is certainly different to the books that Mark usually writes in that ‘Poetic Justice’ is a collection of five short stories and not one story. I must admit that I don’t usually read short stories but they do say a change is as good as a rest and so I dived straight in. I am so glad that I did too. All five stories intrigued me and I found that once I started reading, I just couldn’t stop. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I developed a need to know if the stories panned out as I expected them to or if I had the completely wrong end of the stick. The pages turned increasingly quickly as I worked my way through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of the last story and therefore the end of the book. I found ‘Poetic Justice’ to be a gripping and tense read, which certainly kept me on my toes and kept me guessing.
‘Poetic Justice’ is extremely well written but then that is true of Mark’s work in general. Mark has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Mark certainly knows how to grabs the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be a compelling set of stories. For me, the stories hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. Reading ‘Poetic Justice’ felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love how Mark makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Poetic Justice’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Mark’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
‘Poetic Justice’ is certainly different to the books that Mark usually writes in that ‘Poetic Justice’ is a collection of five short stories and not one story. I must admit that I don’t usually read short stories but they do say a change is as good as a rest and so I dived straight in. I am so glad that I did too. All five stories intrigued me and I found that once I started reading, I just couldn’t stop. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I developed a need to know if the stories panned out as I expected them to or if I had the completely wrong end of the stick. The pages turned increasingly quickly as I worked my way through the book. All too quickly I reached the end of the last story and therefore the end of the book. I found ‘Poetic Justice’ to be a gripping and tense read, which certainly kept me on my toes and kept me guessing.
‘Poetic Justice’ is extremely well written but then that is true of Mark’s work in general. Mark has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Mark certainly knows how to grabs the reader’s attention and draw them into what proves to be a compelling set of stories. For me, the stories hit the ground running and maintained a fairly fast pace throughout. Reading ‘Poetic Justice’ felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I love how Mark makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of the action.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Poetic Justice’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Mark’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
December 9, 2021
In this new assortment of stories, thriller writer Mark Tilbury presents five twisted tales of murder and revenge. As with all short story collections, there are those that stand out and others that don’t quite hit the spot. For me, the first two are the best: In ‘Last Orders’ Jeff’s wife appears to have upped and left him, and with a pub to run he soon seeks moral support from his barmaid, Alyson. But as their friendship grows, it seems Alyson has problems of her own. In ‘Lucy’s Return’, a school reunion prompts a plan to get revenge on an old school bully who made Lucy’s schooldays hell. Both these stories are clever and witty, with interesting and unexpected twists that surprised me, though like all well-crafted tales, I’d like to think I could have worked out the denouements if I’d read between the lines. (Yeah, right).
Of the others, ‘Private Museum’ has its own surprises, though took a while to get going. In ‘Ballad of the Unsung Hero’ bored housewife Jenifer and her fishing-obsessed husband don’t see eye to eye, but a visit to a spiritualist gives Jennifer an idea. Finally, in ‘The Tallyman’ young mum Donna falls prey to a loan shark who turns from helpful adviser into a greedy abuser. Like the other stories, the ending is satisfyingly twisted.
Having read a couple of Mark Tilbury’s novels, I know what a great writer he is and it’s noticeable that the first two tales in this collection feel like he’s put more effort into them. Having said that, all five are great stories and the book as a whole is thoroughly entertaining, which ain’t always the case with some authors.
Of the others, ‘Private Museum’ has its own surprises, though took a while to get going. In ‘Ballad of the Unsung Hero’ bored housewife Jenifer and her fishing-obsessed husband don’t see eye to eye, but a visit to a spiritualist gives Jennifer an idea. Finally, in ‘The Tallyman’ young mum Donna falls prey to a loan shark who turns from helpful adviser into a greedy abuser. Like the other stories, the ending is satisfyingly twisted.
Having read a couple of Mark Tilbury’s novels, I know what a great writer he is and it’s noticeable that the first two tales in this collection feel like he’s put more effort into them. Having said that, all five are great stories and the book as a whole is thoroughly entertaining, which ain’t always the case with some authors.
November 17, 2021
Mark Tilbury is not known for being 'Twisted' Tilbury for nothing, so when he announced this book comprising of five tales different to his normal books, I was rather eager to see what his twisted mind had come up with now.
I am so used to Mark Tilbury writing full-length novels or novellas that these short stories made a change. It meant I could dip in and out of these Twisted tales or even read them out of order if I so chose! Actually I read one after the other non-stop...until the last page.
I like that he has brought something different with this book. Different yes, brilliant oh Yes! The Introduction to each story is a poem, a creepy one at that. This was just the beginning as I discovered as each story unfolded. What I have to mention is that every story featured women as the lead character. I am not too sure if I should be worrying about the author's life and history after reading this compilation.
Out of the set of stories, my favourite is Private Museum, a tense story in that I was just waiting for the reveal...I was almost on the edge of my seat.
A set of stories that cover so much and can appeal to a broad range of readers. Mark Tilbury has managed to pack so much into these short stories that they lack nothing for me personally and am so glad I was invited to take part in the tour.
I am so used to Mark Tilbury writing full-length novels or novellas that these short stories made a change. It meant I could dip in and out of these Twisted tales or even read them out of order if I so chose! Actually I read one after the other non-stop...until the last page.
I like that he has brought something different with this book. Different yes, brilliant oh Yes! The Introduction to each story is a poem, a creepy one at that. This was just the beginning as I discovered as each story unfolded. What I have to mention is that every story featured women as the lead character. I am not too sure if I should be worrying about the author's life and history after reading this compilation.
Out of the set of stories, my favourite is Private Museum, a tense story in that I was just waiting for the reveal...I was almost on the edge of my seat.
A set of stories that cover so much and can appeal to a broad range of readers. Mark Tilbury has managed to pack so much into these short stories that they lack nothing for me personally and am so glad I was invited to take part in the tour.
November 16, 2021
These are all quite long “short” stories, with plenty for the reader to get their teeth into and feel like they have got to know the excellently described characters within them. There is also an example of the author’s talent at writing poetry at the start of each one. It was a lovely idea by the author to show recognition for five of his loyal advance readers (known collectively as “Annies” after the character in the book “Misery” and just as scary!) by using their names in these tales – I should know, I am the Alyson in Last Orders and feel very honoured! All five main characters will have the reader rooting for them, very probably with a wry smile and a chuckle here and there.
Mark’s books carry a theme of good triumphing over evil and justice being gained in one way or another. It’s really only a short hop over to the idea of revenge and retribution in these five wonderfully dark and delicious stories. And believe me, the revenge is very sweet and definitely of the chilled variety. Twisted Tilbury has done it again!! Highly recommended, very entertaining and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. 5*
Mark’s books carry a theme of good triumphing over evil and justice being gained in one way or another. It’s really only a short hop over to the idea of revenge and retribution in these five wonderfully dark and delicious stories. And believe me, the revenge is very sweet and definitely of the chilled variety. Twisted Tilbury has done it again!! Highly recommended, very entertaining and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did. 5*
November 23, 2021
I do love Mark Tilbury's books but I was a bit unsure about this one as I am not a fan of poetry or short stories but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I did enjoy it.
There are 5 separate stories each begins with a poem that inspired the story. A very different read but that goes in its favour as it is always good to read something against the norm.
Given they are short stories it is difficult to review each one without spoilers so this is an overview of the whole book.
For each story the reader is introduced to a different aspect of psychological fiction and different characters which are developed very skilfully given the limited number of words to do so.
It really opens the reader's eyes to the evil that is out there and contrasts the difference between characters. Writing something like this highlights the talent of the author and each story is adrenaline pumping from start to finish.
I highly recommend this it is the perfect book to read over lunch or during a coffee break.
There are 5 separate stories each begins with a poem that inspired the story. A very different read but that goes in its favour as it is always good to read something against the norm.
Given they are short stories it is difficult to review each one without spoilers so this is an overview of the whole book.
For each story the reader is introduced to a different aspect of psychological fiction and different characters which are developed very skilfully given the limited number of words to do so.
It really opens the reader's eyes to the evil that is out there and contrasts the difference between characters. Writing something like this highlights the talent of the author and each story is adrenaline pumping from start to finish.
I highly recommend this it is the perfect book to read over lunch or during a coffee break.
November 19, 2021
This is Mark Tilbury's first short stories novel and he outdid himself! These are five creepy and startling little masterpieces. I love short stories because they're a break from the full novels I read. Each story is like a new gift you get to open. Each story has a poem preceding it. They are heart-wrenching and go right to your soul. Brilliant writing. Unlike his other books, this one has less graphic depictions of violence, which I think shows off his real writing talent. This is my favorite book by this author. The endings to each one are jaw-dropping moments that will stay with you. The plots were reminiscent of Stephen King, (Hating bullies and the revenge factor)
I think all humans love to read about revenge because we all fantasize about it, but could never act out on those feelings. This is one of most chilling books I've read lately.
Treat yourself to some Poetic Justice today!
Highly Recommend! 5-stars!
I think all humans love to read about revenge because we all fantasize about it, but could never act out on those feelings. This is one of most chilling books I've read lately.
Treat yourself to some Poetic Justice today!
Highly Recommend! 5-stars!
December 16, 2021
I rarely read short stories but anything from the Twisted Tilbury stable is worth a read so in I went! These five stories are nowhere near as graphic and brutal as his books but what Mark Tilbury has done is create five very real normal, human scenarios with normal people who make choices that will change their lives! The beauty here is that many of us may have been in similar positions or at least know someone who has and can appreciate the enormity of the dilemmas faced. Yes there are the trademark unlikeable characters and part of the enjoyment is wondering if, when or how they'll get their comeuppance! However as usual from this author, the sheer unpredictably will keep you guessing until the end. Five excellent stories which I thoroughly enjoyed.
November 19, 2021
Mr Twisted has done it again. Definitely different but it works.
The book consists of five shortish stories, each preceded by a related poem. Don’t worry, poetry is not really my thing either but it fits.
Just because each read is short, don’t think the twists & turns aren’t there. They are plentiful & in some cases truly shocking. A creepy, uneasy feeling loiters in the background only becoming prominent during the reveal, & this isn’t always at the conclusion.
This is a very clever idea & I hope we see more of this output style. I also enjoyed spotting some fellow Annies - I hope those aren’t really their alter egos!
Easy to dip in & out of. Recommended.
The book consists of five shortish stories, each preceded by a related poem. Don’t worry, poetry is not really my thing either but it fits.
Just because each read is short, don’t think the twists & turns aren’t there. They are plentiful & in some cases truly shocking. A creepy, uneasy feeling loiters in the background only becoming prominent during the reveal, & this isn’t always at the conclusion.
This is a very clever idea & I hope we see more of this output style. I also enjoyed spotting some fellow Annies - I hope those aren’t really their alter egos!
Easy to dip in & out of. Recommended.
October 27, 2021
Wow what an utterly fantastic book. 5 short stories in which Mark has written a poem at the beginning of each story that really reels you in and leads you into stories about revenge, poverty and dark secrets which uncover the truth. Each story is very fast paced and each very different and they made me feel I could really be reading about true events. If you like a big gasp moment then this 5 star book is definitely for you
November 20, 2021
Poetic Justice is fabulous collection of short stories, tales of revenge, failed domesticity and the brutal truth of living below the poverty line. Each one offers readers something a little different, and although perhaps not as dark as some of the author's normal offerings, each tale comes with a little sting in its tail. A small element of surprise. Something that you really won't be expecting.
Each of the stories is preceded by the poem that inspired their content. These on their own stand as a testament to the authors ability to create deep feeling and emotion from a few short sentences. Poetry is not necessarily an easy style to master but Mark Tilbury has done a superb job, and each poem really set the tone of the book up perfectly. They would work well in their own right, but certainly do add a touch of meaning to the tales that follow in their wake.
I really enjoyed the variety of stories that have been offered in this collection. Most of the tales are centred around the home, three of them, Last Orders, Ballad of the Unsung Hero and Private Museum, looking at three very different, very complicated marital relationships. The fourth story, The Tallyman takes readers on a journey with young Mum, Donna, a woman who has fallen on hard times and is struggling to make ends meet, causing her to make a very unsafe and unwise decision. The final story, Lucy's Return, is a situation that many people may relate to in some way, although I would hope that no matter how much you loved or hated school, none of us would approach the impending reunion with quite such dark intent.
I do really enjoy the way in which the author draws you into each individual story. They all vary in length and in pacing, but. Mark Tilbury is quick to establish character and circumstance, and manages to elicit a range of emotions in a short space of time, from empathy to rage to just plan disbelief at the blind stupidity of some of the characters. Mandy Rostrum especially in Private Museum is the kind of person you would probably have to question why she cannot see the blindingly obvious when her best friend and us as readers can, but then this is so reflective of real life where the abused cannot always see the wood for the trees.
It is this kind of echo of reality that permeates many of the stories. Similarly, Donna's story is quite a common tale, especially now, and could equally have been ripped from the headlines. Don't worry though - whilst there is a cautionary tale in each, and even in some a kind of social commentary, this is true Mark Tilbury fare and each story comes with a twist. A twist that left me with a smile on my face. Even if these tales are on the gentler side of Mr Tilbury's fiction, they don't call him Twisted Tilbury for nothing - it's as much about his dance with the unexpected as it is his dark prose.
If you like Mark Tilbury's work and you enjoy a good short story then I'd urge you to give these are try. It's a perfect collection to dip into over your lunch.
Each of the stories is preceded by the poem that inspired their content. These on their own stand as a testament to the authors ability to create deep feeling and emotion from a few short sentences. Poetry is not necessarily an easy style to master but Mark Tilbury has done a superb job, and each poem really set the tone of the book up perfectly. They would work well in their own right, but certainly do add a touch of meaning to the tales that follow in their wake.
I really enjoyed the variety of stories that have been offered in this collection. Most of the tales are centred around the home, three of them, Last Orders, Ballad of the Unsung Hero and Private Museum, looking at three very different, very complicated marital relationships. The fourth story, The Tallyman takes readers on a journey with young Mum, Donna, a woman who has fallen on hard times and is struggling to make ends meet, causing her to make a very unsafe and unwise decision. The final story, Lucy's Return, is a situation that many people may relate to in some way, although I would hope that no matter how much you loved or hated school, none of us would approach the impending reunion with quite such dark intent.
I do really enjoy the way in which the author draws you into each individual story. They all vary in length and in pacing, but. Mark Tilbury is quick to establish character and circumstance, and manages to elicit a range of emotions in a short space of time, from empathy to rage to just plan disbelief at the blind stupidity of some of the characters. Mandy Rostrum especially in Private Museum is the kind of person you would probably have to question why she cannot see the blindingly obvious when her best friend and us as readers can, but then this is so reflective of real life where the abused cannot always see the wood for the trees.
It is this kind of echo of reality that permeates many of the stories. Similarly, Donna's story is quite a common tale, especially now, and could equally have been ripped from the headlines. Don't worry though - whilst there is a cautionary tale in each, and even in some a kind of social commentary, this is true Mark Tilbury fare and each story comes with a twist. A twist that left me with a smile on my face. Even if these tales are on the gentler side of Mr Tilbury's fiction, they don't call him Twisted Tilbury for nothing - it's as much about his dance with the unexpected as it is his dark prose.
If you like Mark Tilbury's work and you enjoy a good short story then I'd urge you to give these are try. It's a perfect collection to dip into over your lunch.
November 18, 2021
Khalil Gibran once said..Poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder...Poetic Justice brings a lump to the throat ..with characters that are seared with scars ...Mark Tilbury is The King of Beautiful Darkness ..
November 23, 2021
Another amazing read from Mark. The short stories with the added poem at the beginning really does work! I never buy short stories as a rule but this was really good!! An amazing author who can put his pen to anything!
November 18, 2021
Anyone who knows me well will know that I am a big fan of Mark Tilbury’s. I have and read and loved everything he has published! I know I’m in for a treat when he has a new book out.
Poetic Justice is his first short story collection and a bit different to the novels we are used to from him, but just as brilliant! These stories aren’t quite as dark as some of his other books, but they’re hardly light-hearted either! I absolutely loved all five of them.
In each of these stories you will meet a character who is pretty much at their wits end. Their situations are desperate, and desperate times often call for desperate measures. You can’t help but feel for these people and I asked myself what I would do in their situations. There is literally no way of knowing unless you have faced the same problems. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t go as far as some of them, but who knows!
There are many unsavoury (to put it mildly!) characters throughout these stories. Some who made my skin crawl. I wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of some of them.
Each one of these stories hooked me in immediately and all of them shocked and surprised me. Very clever writing!
I thought ‘Last Orders’ was particularly clever, and I found ‘Private Museum’ to be extremely chilling. All are equally compelling.
The poems at the start of each story are excellent also. There is no end to Mark Tilbury's talent.
All the stars from me! I very much recommend!
http://chataboutbooks.blog/2021/11/18...
Poetic Justice is his first short story collection and a bit different to the novels we are used to from him, but just as brilliant! These stories aren’t quite as dark as some of his other books, but they’re hardly light-hearted either! I absolutely loved all five of them.
In each of these stories you will meet a character who is pretty much at their wits end. Their situations are desperate, and desperate times often call for desperate measures. You can’t help but feel for these people and I asked myself what I would do in their situations. There is literally no way of knowing unless you have faced the same problems. I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t go as far as some of them, but who knows!
There are many unsavoury (to put it mildly!) characters throughout these stories. Some who made my skin crawl. I wouldn’t like to get on the wrong side of some of them.
Each one of these stories hooked me in immediately and all of them shocked and surprised me. Very clever writing!
I thought ‘Last Orders’ was particularly clever, and I found ‘Private Museum’ to be extremely chilling. All are equally compelling.
The poems at the start of each story are excellent also. There is no end to Mark Tilbury's talent.
All the stars from me! I very much recommend!
http://chataboutbooks.blog/2021/11/18...
November 22, 2021
Top 5
No wonder Mark Tilbury is one of My very Favourite Authors. 5 great stories of Revenge, Truth and Life.. I don't think that I have a Favourite Story they are All Great.
No wonder Mark Tilbury is one of My very Favourite Authors. 5 great stories of Revenge, Truth and Life.. I don't think that I have a Favourite Story they are All Great.
November 26, 2021
5 very poignant stories
What a great mix. Some more stark than the others. People will do the strangest things when pushed hard enough
What a great mix. Some more stark than the others. People will do the strangest things when pushed hard enough
November 28, 2021
Interesting loved the poem at the beginning and I am not a person who likes poetry.
The first story started off well showing a person who didn't know what had happened to his wife just she was gone. It wasn't terrifying or twisted like I had expected very different from what I know this author normally writes like.
The first story had me in tears because of the abuse mentally that Aly was going through. It was so hard for me as I was abused by an ex mentally and it made the whole story just seebecome a terror. While I so love it I can see that those who are newer to the situation would be triggered easily by this story.
I did kind of guess the ending and figured out what happened but just getting to that point was well I won't say fun it was entertaining and still not sure that I like the story as it did trigger some of my memories that I thought were long since barried.
Lucy's Return story 2
The start was good and didn't fill me with dread. I love the premise behind this story as it just feels like death bed confessions which shows a lot of what I love in some of the stories in the past that I have watched and read.
School especially high school is a tough time for everyone but more especially when you don't fit the mold of what beauty or looks should be. The main character in this story seems to be the outcaste and one who was bullied.
I can relate to this story a lot as I was always bullied in school from young age up until I left high school and went to college. I feel for the girl as she seems to have had this impact everything she did in her life. You never truly getget over those issues you just hide them better until they don't impact you as much.
A very interesting take on the revenge trope. I alwaysalways enjoy these stories as you get to see something and maybe even contemplate what you would do if you were to be able to do as Vanessa does.
Private museum the 3rd story
This story is not what I expected at all. There was so much that was setting off alarms for me in regards to the relationship and the controlling nature of things in that marriage.
It is shocking story but it is well written just it's hard to read this as you can see the lack of confidence in the wife as well I see a lot of bad issues that would have me running for the hills.
Mandy drives me nuts as you can see that she is being abused mentally bit she refuses to do anything about it. We all know how hard it is to leave I have been through it myself. Audrey feels like the well meaning and interfering friend who just doesn't understand what Mandy needs.
Anthony didn't see him much but he is a piece of work and with him you see the side of reality that you hope to never experience.
The Ballad of the Unsung Hero story 4
This one I am really on the fence about as it had a great story but I just felt it was a bit incomplete. I wanted to find out what happened on the end to Jennifer and to see of she ever got her happily ever after.
It was a good story just I didn't feel satisfaction at the end like I normally did as there was still so much up in the air.
The Tallyman story 5
The last story was my favourite. It just had everything I look for in a story. It had a fitting ending and had memorable characters who had both good points and bad points.
All in total the book was very good not as twisted as my expectations especially from this author. It was very good despite some of the triggers it had for me. Even then I couldn't see stop reading the book.
The first story started off well showing a person who didn't know what had happened to his wife just she was gone. It wasn't terrifying or twisted like I had expected very different from what I know this author normally writes like.
The first story had me in tears because of the abuse mentally that Aly was going through. It was so hard for me as I was abused by an ex mentally and it made the whole story just seebecome a terror. While I so love it I can see that those who are newer to the situation would be triggered easily by this story.
I did kind of guess the ending and figured out what happened but just getting to that point was well I won't say fun it was entertaining and still not sure that I like the story as it did trigger some of my memories that I thought were long since barried.
Lucy's Return story 2
The start was good and didn't fill me with dread. I love the premise behind this story as it just feels like death bed confessions which shows a lot of what I love in some of the stories in the past that I have watched and read.
School especially high school is a tough time for everyone but more especially when you don't fit the mold of what beauty or looks should be. The main character in this story seems to be the outcaste and one who was bullied.
I can relate to this story a lot as I was always bullied in school from young age up until I left high school and went to college. I feel for the girl as she seems to have had this impact everything she did in her life. You never truly getget over those issues you just hide them better until they don't impact you as much.
A very interesting take on the revenge trope. I alwaysalways enjoy these stories as you get to see something and maybe even contemplate what you would do if you were to be able to do as Vanessa does.
Private museum the 3rd story
This story is not what I expected at all. There was so much that was setting off alarms for me in regards to the relationship and the controlling nature of things in that marriage.
It is shocking story but it is well written just it's hard to read this as you can see the lack of confidence in the wife as well I see a lot of bad issues that would have me running for the hills.
Mandy drives me nuts as you can see that she is being abused mentally bit she refuses to do anything about it. We all know how hard it is to leave I have been through it myself. Audrey feels like the well meaning and interfering friend who just doesn't understand what Mandy needs.
Anthony didn't see him much but he is a piece of work and with him you see the side of reality that you hope to never experience.
The Ballad of the Unsung Hero story 4
This one I am really on the fence about as it had a great story but I just felt it was a bit incomplete. I wanted to find out what happened on the end to Jennifer and to see of she ever got her happily ever after.
It was a good story just I didn't feel satisfaction at the end like I normally did as there was still so much up in the air.
The Tallyman story 5
The last story was my favourite. It just had everything I look for in a story. It had a fitting ending and had memorable characters who had both good points and bad points.
All in total the book was very good not as twisted as my expectations especially from this author. It was very good despite some of the triggers it had for me. Even then I couldn't see stop reading the book.
November 21, 2021
Great collection of short stories of revenge and murder. Not as gory as Marks usual books but still a good read
November 18, 2021
Five brilliant stories in one book, each one different, each one made me want to shout out "Come on get the scum bag" or some other sort of sweary word. It made a refreshing change to read a book with this format and took me back to the days of Pan Book of Horrors. The descriptions in the stories weren't quite as gruesome and horrific as some of the authors previous books but equally as entertaining and would be a great introduction to his work. One thing that stood out and made it completely different to anything that I have read before was the individual poems that accompanied the stories, a genius addition.
November 19, 2021
Yet another glorious offering by the marvellous Mark 'Twisted' Tilbury.
Four stories of sublime brilliance and one story of in your face, slap it around with a wet fish, brilliance.
Question is, which is which? You will only know by reading these justices of the poetic kind!
Loved it!
Four stories of sublime brilliance and one story of in your face, slap it around with a wet fish, brilliance.
Question is, which is which? You will only know by reading these justices of the poetic kind!
Loved it!
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