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Tess Monaghan #11.8
Seasonal Work: Acclaimed Literary Mysteries and Thrillers with Tess Monaghan
New York Times bestseller Laura Lippman showcases why she is one of today’s top crime writers in this acclaimed collection of suspenseful stories featuring fierce women—including one never-before-published novella. “A first-rate collection, an obvious must for the legions of Lippman fans, but also great reading for anyone who savors short crime fiction.” — Booklist (starred review)
The award-winning master of psychological suspense is in top form in this collection of diverse and diabolically clever stories. In the never-before-published “Just One More,” a married couple—longing for that old romantic spark—creates a playful diversion that comes with unexpected consequences. Lippman’s beloved Baltimore PI Tess Monaghan keeps a watchful eye on a criminally resourceful single father in “Seasonal Work,” while her mother, Judith, realizes that the life of “The Everyday Housewife” is an excellent cover for all kinds of secrets. In “Slow Burner,” a husband’s secret cell phone proves to be a dicey temptation for a suspicious wife. A father’s hidden past piques the curiosity of a young snoop in “The Last of Sheila-Locke Holmes.” Plus seven other brilliantly crafted stories of deception, murder, dangerous games, and love gone wrong—irrefutable evidence that Laura Lippman’s riveting fiction will more than satisfy any crime reader.
The award-winning master of psychological suspense is in top form in this collection of diverse and diabolically clever stories. In the never-before-published “Just One More,” a married couple—longing for that old romantic spark—creates a playful diversion that comes with unexpected consequences. Lippman’s beloved Baltimore PI Tess Monaghan keeps a watchful eye on a criminally resourceful single father in “Seasonal Work,” while her mother, Judith, realizes that the life of “The Everyday Housewife” is an excellent cover for all kinds of secrets. In “Slow Burner,” a husband’s secret cell phone proves to be a dicey temptation for a suspicious wife. A father’s hidden past piques the curiosity of a young snoop in “The Last of Sheila-Locke Holmes.” Plus seven other brilliantly crafted stories of deception, murder, dangerous games, and love gone wrong—irrefutable evidence that Laura Lippman’s riveting fiction will more than satisfy any crime reader.
336 pages, Paperback
First published January 4, 2022
465 people are currently reading
8846 people want to read
About the author
Laura Lippman
114 books6,373 followersSince Laura Lippman’s debut, she has been recognized as a distinctive voice in mystery fiction and named one of the “essential” crime writers of the last 100 years. Stephen King called her “special, even extraordinary,” and Gillian Flynn wrote, “She is simply a brilliant novelist.” Her books have won most of the major awards in her field and been translated into more than twenty-five languages. She lives in Baltimore and New Orleans with her teenager.
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January 24, 2024
A Collection of Short Stories
Seasonal Work is a collection of 12 short stories by Laura Lippman, author of Dream Girl.
The short story genre is one of the most difficult. The author has a very limited number of pages to deliver a karate chop, making an abrupt impact and then fades out. This author is still in the process of fine tuning the storytelling involved in the short story genre. The stories themselves were okay (for the most part), but the pacing was really off.
After reading the first story, I thought, "Well, the pacing should pick up from here." That was when I realized that this was a collection of short stories, and I wouldn't be hearing anymore of the first story. There was also a very boring story about a housewife, and all of the exciting occurrences happened in the very last page. It was essentially a novel boiled down to a short story. Another story involved a mystery but even that didn't capture of the feeling of excitement.
The last story contained some mention of COVID. The characters in short stories usually have very limited backstories, and the author has to rely on some character traits that will make characters likeable or not in a relatively short period of time. These characters had very little depth, and Lippman overly simplified very complex relationships. Lipmann wrote in her afterword about how woke she is. However, I would challenge her to spend some time reading Esther Perel who said something about how we should stop defining relationships by their exclusivity and rather by their uniqueness and quality.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.
2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities
Connect With Me!
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Seasonal Work is a collection of 12 short stories by Laura Lippman, author of Dream Girl.
The short story genre is one of the most difficult. The author has a very limited number of pages to deliver a karate chop, making an abrupt impact and then fades out. This author is still in the process of fine tuning the storytelling involved in the short story genre. The stories themselves were okay (for the most part), but the pacing was really off.
After reading the first story, I thought, "Well, the pacing should pick up from here." That was when I realized that this was a collection of short stories, and I wouldn't be hearing anymore of the first story. There was also a very boring story about a housewife, and all of the exciting occurrences happened in the very last page. It was essentially a novel boiled down to a short story. Another story involved a mystery but even that didn't capture of the feeling of excitement.
The last story contained some mention of COVID. The characters in short stories usually have very limited backstories, and the author has to rely on some character traits that will make characters likeable or not in a relatively short period of time. These characters had very little depth, and Lippman overly simplified very complex relationships. Lipmann wrote in her afterword about how woke she is. However, I would challenge her to spend some time reading Esther Perel who said something about how we should stop defining relationships by their exclusivity and rather by their uniqueness and quality.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion.
2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta
January 11, 2022
I normally don't care for short story collections, but I'm a big fan of Laura Lippman so I decided to give this one a try and I'm glad I did!
The stories are all really fascinating in their own ways, a bit of mystery in most and very dark twists in others. Don't get thrown by the title, this isn't a collection of work stories, these are more intense and, as I said, dark at times.
My favorite stories in the collection are "Five Fires"--which was gut wrenching and shiver-inducing, "Just One More"--married couple decide to join a dating app during Covid lockdown to see if they are actually compatible and "Slow Burner"--wife finds the burner phone her husband is using to contact a potential love interest. One of the most overarching themes of these stories are strong women characters, even if they are strong in a bad way.
Overall, a collection well worth reading.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
The stories are all really fascinating in their own ways, a bit of mystery in most and very dark twists in others. Don't get thrown by the title, this isn't a collection of work stories, these are more intense and, as I said, dark at times.
My favorite stories in the collection are "Five Fires"--which was gut wrenching and shiver-inducing, "Just One More"--married couple decide to join a dating app during Covid lockdown to see if they are actually compatible and "Slow Burner"--wife finds the burner phone her husband is using to contact a potential love interest. One of the most overarching themes of these stories are strong women characters, even if they are strong in a bad way.
Overall, a collection well worth reading.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
February 23, 2022
4.5 stars
This is a delightful collection of fun, twisty stories, and Lippman’s talent in writing psychological mysteries particularly shines. There’s something for everyone, highlighting the talent of the author. I’m not a big fan of short stories as most tend to end abruptly, leaving the reader hanging. That’s not the case here, as each stands alone and the endings are satisfying.
A few of my favorites:
Snowflake Time: the funniest of the collection, about a cozy mystery writer who broke an unspoken “rule”, resulting in the wrath of irate readers. The author good-naturedly pokes fun at Goodreads reviewers, which I found hilarious. The book is worth reading just for this story alone.
Just One More: A married couple who grow bored during lockdown, play a very dangerous game that turns deadly in a way that was a complete surprise. One of my favorites
Seasonal Work: a teenager navigates a life on the run with a con man.
Five Fires: the brilliant ending was a shocker that I didn’t see coming and made me want to go back to the beginning and read it again.
Slow Burner: can any good come of finding your husband’s burner phone?
The Book Thing: what is better for a reader than to read about a bookstore? Fans of Tess Monaghan will be pleased to find her starring in this one
I skipped only one story, the one narrated by Xe Sands, whose tone and voice always sounds bored and listless, trailing off at the end of sentences, which grates on my nerves.
I read this slowly over the course of a week, which I think is the best way to read collections. Each story of the audiobook is narrated by someone different, which worked beautifully to differentiate the chapters.
This is a delightful collection of fun, twisty stories, and Lippman’s talent in writing psychological mysteries particularly shines. There’s something for everyone, highlighting the talent of the author. I’m not a big fan of short stories as most tend to end abruptly, leaving the reader hanging. That’s not the case here, as each stands alone and the endings are satisfying.
A few of my favorites:
Snowflake Time: the funniest of the collection, about a cozy mystery writer who broke an unspoken “rule”, resulting in the wrath of irate readers. The author good-naturedly pokes fun at Goodreads reviewers, which I found hilarious. The book is worth reading just for this story alone.
Just One More: A married couple who grow bored during lockdown, play a very dangerous game that turns deadly in a way that was a complete surprise. One of my favorites
Seasonal Work: a teenager navigates a life on the run with a con man.
Five Fires: the brilliant ending was a shocker that I didn’t see coming and made me want to go back to the beginning and read it again.
Slow Burner: can any good come of finding your husband’s burner phone?
The Book Thing: what is better for a reader than to read about a bookstore? Fans of Tess Monaghan will be pleased to find her starring in this one
I skipped only one story, the one narrated by Xe Sands, whose tone and voice always sounds bored and listless, trailing off at the end of sentences, which grates on my nerves.
I read this slowly over the course of a week, which I think is the best way to read collections. Each story of the audiobook is narrated by someone different, which worked beautifully to differentiate the chapters.
November 12, 2021
Laura Lippman has crafted a collection of short stories full of strong, shrewd characters, where very little is as it seems. The stories are separated into four parts, with each part containing three stories that muse on different variations of the part's overarching theme.
This was one of those rare collections of short stories where there isn't much unevenness. Most were winners here, with a few that were standouts. Five Fires in particular was heartbreaking and difficult to read, but had so much depth. And Snowflake Time had me laughing out loud. Don't worry Ms. Lippman, no offense taken by this Goodreads reviewer ;)
I would recommend picking this up for just a story or two at a time, as some of the themes and story progressions tend to echo each other. They'd benefit from some space between readings and will be perfect short breaks to sneak in between lengthier reads. Despite sometimes seeing where stories were going, I quite enjoyed the journey and effortless feel of Lippman's writing.
Fans of the author will be excited to see that Tess Monaghan pops up in a few stories here, and for those newer to her work like me, it will definitely pique your interest. I'll absolutely be checking out the Tess Monaghan series after this.
Expected Publication Date: January 4, 2022.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Custom House for an advanced copy of this collection for review.
This was one of those rare collections of short stories where there isn't much unevenness. Most were winners here, with a few that were standouts. Five Fires in particular was heartbreaking and difficult to read, but had so much depth. And Snowflake Time had me laughing out loud. Don't worry Ms. Lippman, no offense taken by this Goodreads reviewer ;)
I would recommend picking this up for just a story or two at a time, as some of the themes and story progressions tend to echo each other. They'd benefit from some space between readings and will be perfect short breaks to sneak in between lengthier reads. Despite sometimes seeing where stories were going, I quite enjoyed the journey and effortless feel of Lippman's writing.
Fans of the author will be excited to see that Tess Monaghan pops up in a few stories here, and for those newer to her work like me, it will definitely pique your interest. I'll absolutely be checking out the Tess Monaghan series after this.
Expected Publication Date: January 4, 2022.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Custom House for an advanced copy of this collection for review.
August 19, 2021
A stunning, compelling, expertly written collection of mysteries from a modern master.
What do you do when you have a nice orderly tall pile of books TBR, and you receive an early copy of the new Laura Lippman collection of short stories? Place it neatly on the bottom of the pile? Hahaha, NO. It’s Laura Lippman. You tear into it immediately. And I’m so glad I did, because this book of short stories far exceeded my highest expectations.
The first thing that impressed me about this collection is that, unlike most short story collections, there is no weak link or filler. Some of the stories are very good, others are great, and still others are excellent. That’s the range you’re afforded here. I also loved the way this collection was organized - the first section, a set of stories with a Baltimore theme; the second, with a focus on deadly women; the third, about little girls, and the fourth focused on the bonds of marriage. Each section of the book introduces each topic with a perfect quote.
The book is replete with the beautiful writing and sly sense of humor for which Lippman is well-known. I had already read and loved “Slow Burner” on Amazon, but it was a pleasure to read again - a story about a wife discovering her husband’s affair through a series of messages on an unfamiliar flip phone. I also really enjoyed the humorous “Snowflake Time,” a politically flavored story about a cantankerous news anchor turned cozy mystery writer that also features the Mysterious Bookshop and makes fun of Goodreads reviewers. (I am interested to read what other Goodreads reviewers think of this story. I took it in good fun.) The titular story, “Seasonal Work,” is best to go into blind and is a reading experience that is both tragic and funny. Readers who love Lippmann will also enjoy Tess Monaghan’s appearance in that story. And that last story! A pandemic romantic mystery for the ages that was totally unexpected and fantastic.
But I think my favorite story of the bunch was “Five Fires.” Not unlike its subject, it begins with a slow-burning ember, lulling you along, and then all of a sudden, with a single shocking sentence, the whole thing sets ablaze. This is one of those stories that starts off a little slow because you don’t know all the facts. But suddenly something happens and you realize you’re reading a totally different story then you thought. After the shocking end to this story I went back and reread it a second time, knowing what I now knew, and it was an absolutely fantastic and totally different second read. These are some of my favorite kinds of stories - the ones you can read again in a whole new light. This story really demonstrated what a limber and compelling writer Laura Lippman is.
So, to sum up, I’ve found my favorite short story collection of the year. This will definitely be on my list of best reads of 2021. If you love mysteries and great writing, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to this book. 5+ stars and my highest recommendation.
Thanks to William Morrow, NetGalley and Laura Lippman for the ARC of one of my favorite books of the year.
What do you do when you have a nice orderly tall pile of books TBR, and you receive an early copy of the new Laura Lippman collection of short stories? Place it neatly on the bottom of the pile? Hahaha, NO. It’s Laura Lippman. You tear into it immediately. And I’m so glad I did, because this book of short stories far exceeded my highest expectations.
The first thing that impressed me about this collection is that, unlike most short story collections, there is no weak link or filler. Some of the stories are very good, others are great, and still others are excellent. That’s the range you’re afforded here. I also loved the way this collection was organized - the first section, a set of stories with a Baltimore theme; the second, with a focus on deadly women; the third, about little girls, and the fourth focused on the bonds of marriage. Each section of the book introduces each topic with a perfect quote.
The book is replete with the beautiful writing and sly sense of humor for which Lippman is well-known. I had already read and loved “Slow Burner” on Amazon, but it was a pleasure to read again - a story about a wife discovering her husband’s affair through a series of messages on an unfamiliar flip phone. I also really enjoyed the humorous “Snowflake Time,” a politically flavored story about a cantankerous news anchor turned cozy mystery writer that also features the Mysterious Bookshop and makes fun of Goodreads reviewers. (I am interested to read what other Goodreads reviewers think of this story. I took it in good fun.) The titular story, “Seasonal Work,” is best to go into blind and is a reading experience that is both tragic and funny. Readers who love Lippmann will also enjoy Tess Monaghan’s appearance in that story. And that last story! A pandemic romantic mystery for the ages that was totally unexpected and fantastic.
But I think my favorite story of the bunch was “Five Fires.” Not unlike its subject, it begins with a slow-burning ember, lulling you along, and then all of a sudden, with a single shocking sentence, the whole thing sets ablaze. This is one of those stories that starts off a little slow because you don’t know all the facts. But suddenly something happens and you realize you’re reading a totally different story then you thought. After the shocking end to this story I went back and reread it a second time, knowing what I now knew, and it was an absolutely fantastic and totally different second read. These are some of my favorite kinds of stories - the ones you can read again in a whole new light. This story really demonstrated what a limber and compelling writer Laura Lippman is.
So, to sum up, I’ve found my favorite short story collection of the year. This will definitely be on my list of best reads of 2021. If you love mysteries and great writing, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to this book. 5+ stars and my highest recommendation.
Thanks to William Morrow, NetGalley and Laura Lippman for the ARC of one of my favorite books of the year.
March 22, 2022
Twelve short stories in this collection. Not sure what label I would use to describe. Several of the stories were unusual, but not in a quirky sort of way. A little bit of suspense, a murder here and there, the odd mystery to solve. Some good points are made about today's instant availability and gratification. My favorite stories were The Book Thing and Snowflake Time. In the former, what could make you feel more melancholy than unwanted books, unopened, with the words on the pages inside the covers fading away, dying in a sense? In the latter, high hilarium is almost guaranteed to ensue.
December 23, 2021
I have been reading Laura Lippman ever since I met her at ALA when her book Baltimore Blues was going to be published. I adored Tess Moynihan and have been reading her ever since. This is a book of shorts but this being Lippman the stories include cons, assorted bits of mayhem and of course what is a murder or two between friends?
First story, set during the Christmas season features Tess herself, a detective story with a twist. The second is set during earlier years and showcases Tess's mother Judith and may show how Tess came about her vocation. The longest story in the set is based on a couple, bored by the Covid quarantine, well aren't we all sick of Covid restrictions? This takes a dangerous turn when the wife decides on a game and deception to add entertainment to their life.
Easy to read, entertaining and although I didn't adore all the stories, they all showcase the talent Lippman has in displaying all the slings and arrows that make up the human condition.
ARC from Edelweiss.
First story, set during the Christmas season features Tess herself, a detective story with a twist. The second is set during earlier years and showcases Tess's mother Judith and may show how Tess came about her vocation. The longest story in the set is based on a couple, bored by the Covid quarantine, well aren't we all sick of Covid restrictions? This takes a dangerous turn when the wife decides on a game and deception to add entertainment to their life.
Easy to read, entertaining and although I didn't adore all the stories, they all showcase the talent Lippman has in displaying all the slings and arrows that make up the human condition.
ARC from Edelweiss.
May 9, 2022
3.5 stars, rounded down
I always have trouble with short story collections for the exact problem I had here. They tend to be uneven. Some of the stories were interesting. Others, not so much. It’s hard to believe a short story could benefit from being shortened, but “The Everyday Housewife” meandered too much before getting to its climax. They’re not all mysteries. “Tricks” worked for me purely because I’ve had a parent involved in a romance scam and I appreciated the way the story played out. “The Burner” was probably my favorite as it went deeper, bringing in the Greek gods.
I did find it interesting that various things pop up repeatedly. Lippman seems to have a thing for older tv shows, especially The Newlywed Game.
It does help that several of the stories feature Tess Monaghan, a PI well known to fans of Laura Lippman. So, she doesn’t have to waste a lot of time giving us a sense of Tess. I figure if you read these stories, you’re already a fan of Lippman. The stories with young girls as the main characters worked less well for me and one I even DNF.
I listened to this and the book uses a variety of narrators. All did fine jobs and their voices matched the characters.
I always have trouble with short story collections for the exact problem I had here. They tend to be uneven. Some of the stories were interesting. Others, not so much. It’s hard to believe a short story could benefit from being shortened, but “The Everyday Housewife” meandered too much before getting to its climax. They’re not all mysteries. “Tricks” worked for me purely because I’ve had a parent involved in a romance scam and I appreciated the way the story played out. “The Burner” was probably my favorite as it went deeper, bringing in the Greek gods.
I did find it interesting that various things pop up repeatedly. Lippman seems to have a thing for older tv shows, especially The Newlywed Game.
It does help that several of the stories feature Tess Monaghan, a PI well known to fans of Laura Lippman. So, she doesn’t have to waste a lot of time giving us a sense of Tess. I figure if you read these stories, you’re already a fan of Lippman. The stories with young girls as the main characters worked less well for me and one I even DNF.
I listened to this and the book uses a variety of narrators. All did fine jobs and their voices matched the characters.
January 1, 2020
WELCOME TO DECEMBER PROJECT!
this explanation/intro will be posted before each day’s short story. scroll down to get to the story-review.
this is the FOURTH year of me doing a short story advent calendar as my december project. for those of you new to me or this endeavor, here’s the skinny: every day in december, i will be reading a short story that is 1) available free somewhere on internet, and 2) listed on goodreads as its own discrete entity. there will be links provided for those of you who like to read (or listen to) short stories for free, and also for those of you who have wildly overestimated how many books you can read in a year and are freaking out about not meeting your 2019 reading-challenge goals. i have been gathering links all year when tasty little tales have popped into my feed, but i will also accept additional suggestions, as long as they meet my aforementioned 1), 2) standards.
if you scroll to the end of the reviews linked here, you will find links to all the previous years’ stories, which means NINETY-THREE FREEBIES FOR YOU!
2016: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2017: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2018: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
reviews of these will vary in length/quality depending on my available time/brain power.
so, let’s begin
DECEMBER 23
reminds self (not for the first time) to read more laura lippman ASAP.
laura lippman is so good. this story is so good.
it's a baltimore christmas story featuring tess monaghan—lippman's much-beloved/acclaimed PI and it is a perfect antidote to all that feel-good holiday fare bing-bonging around that's been making me feel extra grinchy lately.
it's absorbing and engaging and you're deep into it; engrossed in the situation, feeling the characters, loving the voice and then it bites your head off just because it can.
holidays are exhausting and emotional. my feet hurt, my time is spoken for, my wallet is empty; the days are all unreasonable to do lists and the nights are all stress dreams. but carving out a little time each day to read a short story, especially when they are good, has given me an oasis in the glittery sugarstorm of panic and despair and double-sided tape. i am grateful for these moments.
give yourself a stocking stuffer of me-time and read this one!
read it for yourself here:
https://therumpus.net/2017/12/rumpus-...
*******************************************
DECEMBER 1
DECEMBER 2
DECEMBER 3
DECEMBER 4
DECEMBER 5
DECEMBER 6
DECEMBER 7
DECEMBER 8
DECEMBER 9
DECEMBER 10
DECEMBER 11
DECEMBER 12
DECEMBER 13
DECEMBER 14 GOODREADS ERASED THIS STORY AND MY REVIEW FROM THE SITE, SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO READ IT, IT IS HERE. THANKS.
DECEMBER 15
DECEMBER 16
DECEMBER 17
DECEMBER 18
DECEMBER 19
DECEMBER 20
DECEMBER 21
DECEMBER 22
DECEMBER 24
DECEMBER 25
DECEMBER 26
DECEMBER 27
DECEMBER 28
DECEMBER 29
DECEMBER 30
DECEMBER 31
come to my blog!
this explanation/intro will be posted before each day’s short story. scroll down to get to the story-review.
this is the FOURTH year of me doing a short story advent calendar as my december project. for those of you new to me or this endeavor, here’s the skinny: every day in december, i will be reading a short story that is 1) available free somewhere on internet, and 2) listed on goodreads as its own discrete entity. there will be links provided for those of you who like to read (or listen to) short stories for free, and also for those of you who have wildly overestimated how many books you can read in a year and are freaking out about not meeting your 2019 reading-challenge goals. i have been gathering links all year when tasty little tales have popped into my feed, but i will also accept additional suggestions, as long as they meet my aforementioned 1), 2) standards.
if you scroll to the end of the reviews linked here, you will find links to all the previous years’ stories, which means NINETY-THREE FREEBIES FOR YOU!
2016: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2017: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
2018: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
reviews of these will vary in length/quality depending on my available time/brain power.
so, let’s begin
DECEMBER 23
It was hard to pick between the books and the locket, but the locket was forever whereas a book gets used up after a while. I was worried Gary was going to say that the locket was too valuable to keep, but he inspected it, nodding, and said: “Filigree.” I didn’t know what that meant, but I knew it was something that wasn’t quite good enough. I could imagine him looking at me one day and saying just that. “Filigree.” I was filigree and Barrett was pure gold. I didn’t mind. She was his real daughter, after all. I wanted him to treat her good, to think of her as something far more precious than me.
reminds self (not for the first time) to read more laura lippman ASAP.
laura lippman is so good. this story is so good.
it's a baltimore christmas story featuring tess monaghan—lippman's much-beloved/acclaimed PI and it is a perfect antidote to all that feel-good holiday fare bing-bonging around that's been making me feel extra grinchy lately.
it's absorbing and engaging and you're deep into it; engrossed in the situation, feeling the characters, loving the voice and then it bites your head off just because it can.
holidays are exhausting and emotional. my feet hurt, my time is spoken for, my wallet is empty; the days are all unreasonable to do lists and the nights are all stress dreams. but carving out a little time each day to read a short story, especially when they are good, has given me an oasis in the glittery sugarstorm of panic and despair and double-sided tape. i am grateful for these moments.
give yourself a stocking stuffer of me-time and read this one!
read it for yourself here:
https://therumpus.net/2017/12/rumpus-...
*******************************************
DECEMBER 1
DECEMBER 2
DECEMBER 3
DECEMBER 4
DECEMBER 5
DECEMBER 6
DECEMBER 7
DECEMBER 8
DECEMBER 9
DECEMBER 10
DECEMBER 11
DECEMBER 12
DECEMBER 13
DECEMBER 14 GOODREADS ERASED THIS STORY AND MY REVIEW FROM THE SITE, SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO READ IT, IT IS HERE. THANKS.
DECEMBER 15
DECEMBER 16
DECEMBER 17
DECEMBER 18
DECEMBER 19
DECEMBER 20
DECEMBER 21
DECEMBER 22
DECEMBER 24
DECEMBER 25
DECEMBER 26
DECEMBER 27
DECEMBER 28
DECEMBER 29
DECEMBER 30
DECEMBER 31
come to my blog!
March 29, 2023
4 Stars for Seasonal Work (audiobook) by Laura Lippman read by a long list of great narrators.
I really enjoyed these short stories. Some of them had some really surprising twists. And the narrators did a wonderful job. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.
I really enjoyed these short stories. Some of them had some really surprising twists. And the narrators did a wonderful job. I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.
February 22, 2022
3.5 stars
Seasonal Work is a collection of intriguing, thought-provoking short stories, some with a tinge of mystery. But they're not about seasonal work, lol.
Do you enjoy when authors you like take a bit of a departure from their usual stuff? I’ve read a lot of Laura Lippman’s mysteries, but in this, her latest book, she focuses more on fiction than on crime, although one of her most well-known protagonists, Tess Monaghan, makes an appearance in two stories.
The collection includes 12 stories. Some blew me away, some were really good, and a few didn’t quite click for me. There’s some element of deviousness or deception in each of the stories, which brings some added depth. Among my favorites in the collection: “Just One More,” in which a couple quarantining during COVID decide to join a dating app to see how compatible they really are; “Slow Burner,” about a woman who finds her husband’s burner phone; “Five Fires,” in which a spate of fires rock a small town; “Cougar,” about a woman whose no-good son moves back in and brings his girlfriend; and “Seasonal Work,” the title story, in which a scheming single father might have met his match.
As I’ve discussed a few times recently, I’m a fan of short stories but at times they leave me wanting more. And while that was the case with some stories, I love the way Lippman writes and some of the stories in this collection just hit that sweet spot for me.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Seasonal Work is a collection of intriguing, thought-provoking short stories, some with a tinge of mystery. But they're not about seasonal work, lol.
Do you enjoy when authors you like take a bit of a departure from their usual stuff? I’ve read a lot of Laura Lippman’s mysteries, but in this, her latest book, she focuses more on fiction than on crime, although one of her most well-known protagonists, Tess Monaghan, makes an appearance in two stories.
The collection includes 12 stories. Some blew me away, some were really good, and a few didn’t quite click for me. There’s some element of deviousness or deception in each of the stories, which brings some added depth. Among my favorites in the collection: “Just One More,” in which a couple quarantining during COVID decide to join a dating app to see how compatible they really are; “Slow Burner,” about a woman who finds her husband’s burner phone; “Five Fires,” in which a spate of fires rock a small town; “Cougar,” about a woman whose no-good son moves back in and brings his girlfriend; and “Seasonal Work,” the title story, in which a scheming single father might have met his match.
As I’ve discussed a few times recently, I’m a fan of short stories but at times they leave me wanting more. And while that was the case with some stories, I love the way Lippman writes and some of the stories in this collection just hit that sweet spot for me.
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2021 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2022/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2021.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
December 31, 2021
As with most short story collections, there were some highs and lows for me in this collection, but overall, I'm totally excited to try more from this author in the future! The writing was great, and the stories were very character driven, which is my jam
February 21, 2022
Seasonal Work is a collection of 12 short stories from beloved noir writer Laura Lippman.
Baltimore PI Tess Monaghan looks into a resourceful single father scamming a city in “Seasonal Work” while her mother Judith realizes “The Everyday Housewife” is a fantastic cover for a secret life. A young girl searches through her father’s past in “The Last of Sheila-Locke Holmes” (my absolute favorite!)
I enjoyed most of these stories; they’re an interesting mix, but all include the slow burn flirtation of deception!
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
Baltimore PI Tess Monaghan looks into a resourceful single father scamming a city in “Seasonal Work” while her mother Judith realizes “The Everyday Housewife” is a fantastic cover for a secret life. A young girl searches through her father’s past in “The Last of Sheila-Locke Holmes” (my absolute favorite!)
I enjoyed most of these stories; they’re an interesting mix, but all include the slow burn flirtation of deception!
For more reviews, visit www.rootsandreads.wordpress.com
March 12, 2022
4.5 stars. 99% of these stories are just so good I didn't want them to end. But end they did, usually with quite a big, surprising twist. I couldn't pick a favorite as there were several. Lippmann is just so clever and cunning. Highly recommended!
The audio version had different narrators for each story and all but one (too many variations in her volume/pitch) delivered.
The audio version had different narrators for each story and all but one (too many variations in her volume/pitch) delivered.
January 13, 2022
WOW!! This book of 12 short stories is so amazing!! I really enjoyed all 12 stories. Each story has very unique storyline and well built. It's short stories, but it's contained lots of taste. Some are very mysterious, some are eerie, some are humorous.
My most favorite story is "Five Fires" as well.
I've read few books by this author. And I didn't know that Tess Monaghan is the character of series by Laura Lippman until I read my GR friend's review.
I definitely follow Laura Lippman.
My most favorite story is "Five Fires" as well.
I've read few books by this author. And I didn't know that Tess Monaghan is the character of series by Laura Lippman until I read my GR friend's review.
I definitely follow Laura Lippman.
April 5, 2022
SEASONAL WORK is a collection of short stories written by Laura Lippman.
At one time, Laura Lippman was one of my favourite writers. But her last few books have been disappointing, not because her writing skills have deteriorated, but because she no longer seems to care about pleasing her audience. In any book of short stories, there are always a few that will not resonate with a reader, but in SEASONAL WORK, I found more than a few that disappointed me.
Here is my summary on this collection:
Seasonal Work: A story told by a 14-year-old girl whose stepfather runs an annual Christmas con that supports him, her, and her three young half-siblings for the rest of the year. Tess Monaghan makes a brief appearance but this isn’t a Monaghan story. This one has a nice kicker in the final few sentences. When Lippman is good, she is deadly.
The Book Thing: A Tess Monaghan story that I’ve read in another anthology. Nothing special, certainly not special enough to appear in two anthologies.
The Everyday Housewife: A story about Judith Monaghan, Tess’s mother, soon after she married and before she had Tess. Ostensibly, it is about a Russian defector and his wife, the Monaghan’s neighbours, and Judith’s observations concerning them as well as others living in the neighbourhood. A murder takes place but it is not as important overall as the depiction of a housewife’s life in the early fifties. An atmosphere piece. Wouldn’t resonate with the majority of readers, although I enjoyed it, given that I was a teenager then and it brought back memories of how the majority of women lived at that time (and why I ran away from it).
Cougar: Fairly good, about a mother who is afraid of her own drug-dealing son.
Snowflake Time: A good one. Lippman’s protagonist, John Doyle, is a traditional male with conventional values who (of course) must get his comeuppance — in a most unusual way. Strangely enough, I emphasized (a bit) with Doyle, felt his discomfort at being misunderstood in terms of today’s cultural values. Also, a bit of a satire on authors who outline but don’t write their own books. An excellent ending line.
Tricks: C- rating. About hoodwinking a con man. I didn’t care for either of the characters.
Ice: Another C-. A ghost story that appears written to amuse a young girl.
The Last of Sheila Locke-Holmes: Rating F — a complete failure. Lippman is trying to channel her own life into a story and it doesn’t work. (If you read her memoir “My Life as a Villainess”, which I have, your would see the connection between the author’s life and this story.)
Five Fires: B rating. A stream of consciousness narrative. The narrator is a teenager living in a small town who is obviously unhinged. Closer in tone to Lippman’s earlier short stories, although this doesn’t rank among her very best.
Waco 1982: Again fairly good. It mixes Lippman’s real past (she worked as a journalist for years in Texas) with her imagination and creates a story about a strangler who gets away with murder because a wife doesn’t want to expose her husband’s indiscretion. Most of Lippman’s stories combine events that really happened with imagined consequences.
Slow Burner: A-. What appears to be a boring story of a wife eavesdropping on her husband’s secret text messages to another woman, flips into a surprise ending. Can’t say anything more without spoiling the plot.
Just One More: C-. Too long and boring, and although there is a twist at the end, I had guessed much of what was actually taking place before this twist took place.
I think “Seasonal Work”, “Snowflake Time”, and “Slow Burner” are good short stories. I also personally liked “The Everyday Housewife” because it evoked so well the world I ran away from. Was worth borrowing from the library for those four stories.
At one time, Laura Lippman was one of my favourite writers. But her last few books have been disappointing, not because her writing skills have deteriorated, but because she no longer seems to care about pleasing her audience. In any book of short stories, there are always a few that will not resonate with a reader, but in SEASONAL WORK, I found more than a few that disappointed me.
Here is my summary on this collection:
Seasonal Work: A story told by a 14-year-old girl whose stepfather runs an annual Christmas con that supports him, her, and her three young half-siblings for the rest of the year. Tess Monaghan makes a brief appearance but this isn’t a Monaghan story. This one has a nice kicker in the final few sentences. When Lippman is good, she is deadly.
The Book Thing: A Tess Monaghan story that I’ve read in another anthology. Nothing special, certainly not special enough to appear in two anthologies.
The Everyday Housewife: A story about Judith Monaghan, Tess’s mother, soon after she married and before she had Tess. Ostensibly, it is about a Russian defector and his wife, the Monaghan’s neighbours, and Judith’s observations concerning them as well as others living in the neighbourhood. A murder takes place but it is not as important overall as the depiction of a housewife’s life in the early fifties. An atmosphere piece. Wouldn’t resonate with the majority of readers, although I enjoyed it, given that I was a teenager then and it brought back memories of how the majority of women lived at that time (and why I ran away from it).
Cougar: Fairly good, about a mother who is afraid of her own drug-dealing son.
Snowflake Time: A good one. Lippman’s protagonist, John Doyle, is a traditional male with conventional values who (of course) must get his comeuppance — in a most unusual way. Strangely enough, I emphasized (a bit) with Doyle, felt his discomfort at being misunderstood in terms of today’s cultural values. Also, a bit of a satire on authors who outline but don’t write their own books. An excellent ending line.
Tricks: C- rating. About hoodwinking a con man. I didn’t care for either of the characters.
Ice: Another C-. A ghost story that appears written to amuse a young girl.
The Last of Sheila Locke-Holmes: Rating F — a complete failure. Lippman is trying to channel her own life into a story and it doesn’t work. (If you read her memoir “My Life as a Villainess”, which I have, your would see the connection between the author’s life and this story.)
Five Fires: B rating. A stream of consciousness narrative. The narrator is a teenager living in a small town who is obviously unhinged. Closer in tone to Lippman’s earlier short stories, although this doesn’t rank among her very best.
Waco 1982: Again fairly good. It mixes Lippman’s real past (she worked as a journalist for years in Texas) with her imagination and creates a story about a strangler who gets away with murder because a wife doesn’t want to expose her husband’s indiscretion. Most of Lippman’s stories combine events that really happened with imagined consequences.
Slow Burner: A-. What appears to be a boring story of a wife eavesdropping on her husband’s secret text messages to another woman, flips into a surprise ending. Can’t say anything more without spoiling the plot.
Just One More: C-. Too long and boring, and although there is a twist at the end, I had guessed much of what was actually taking place before this twist took place.
I think “Seasonal Work”, “Snowflake Time”, and “Slow Burner” are good short stories. I also personally liked “The Everyday Housewife” because it evoked so well the world I ran away from. Was worth borrowing from the library for those four stories.
March 7, 2024
A series of short story mysteries with interesting twists and flawed characters with ulterior motives. Sometimes they are caught at their own game, sometimes not, but each time there is a sense of closure for the reader.
January 17, 2022
“Seasonal Work” tells the story of a struggling single father who has found a unique way to keep his four children happy during the holidays. Told from the perspective of the oldest child – fourteen-year-old Kyle Carpenter, this story hardly goes where one would expect for a holiday tale. As with the majority of Laura Lippman’s female characters, this young girl is not to be meddled with. Fans of Lippman’s work will delight in knowing that our favorite Baltimore private eye, Tess Monaghan, makes an appearance in “Seasonal Work.” In ‘Seasonal Work,’ author Laura Lippman presents her readers with 12 short stories. They are very clever, extremely well written, and without any pretense, keep you entwined to your armchair, bed, or whatever place you snuggle up to read. It is exceptionally wide-ranging in its content and I found myself walking along the edge of the world, taking snapshots of people in various situations from the young to the old. The stories are divided up into four parts and you will get an inkling of the subjects by the titles themselves. Laura Lippman is a great writer. I enjoyed each short story. Highly recommend.
February 5, 2022
These stories are very well written, often with a twist at the end. Yet, they didn't really grab my interest as much as I had hoped.
February 16, 2022
The two standouts in this collection are "Five Fires" and "Slow Burner." Unfortunately, these were also the two stories I had already bought and read. But they're so superb that it was fun to read them again and get a better sense of how Lippman works. While the other stories aren't quite as good, all of them held my attention.
December 24, 2021
This collection of short stories, most published prior to this book, is divided into four parts with the stories very loosely connected thematically. We have book lovers, young girls, haunting ghostly stories, marriages (some troubled, some one-sided, mostly sad), eavesdropping, cats and technology.
I sped through these stories, fascinated by the depth and sadness and the slow reveals. I loved the humor, with several laugh out loud moments (Lippman even manages to squeezes in A Confederacy of Dunes reference) in the middle of the darkness. There's a lot of darkness as our protagonists navigate through their repressed lives.
"She could have stayed in and watched soap operas, but she was more interested in the soap operas playing out in the neighborhood. In plain sight, once one knew where to look."
Lippman makes everyday life interesting, stories taking off in various directions, some foreshadowed, some twisted, some predictable (in a good way).
Last observation - there's a covid story that does not feel tacked on, or forced, or pandering. Finally. It just felt real and true to the time.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House for this ARC which I received in exchange for my honest review.
I sped through these stories, fascinated by the depth and sadness and the slow reveals. I loved the humor, with several laugh out loud moments (Lippman even manages to squeezes in A Confederacy of Dunes reference) in the middle of the darkness. There's a lot of darkness as our protagonists navigate through their repressed lives.
"She could have stayed in and watched soap operas, but she was more interested in the soap operas playing out in the neighborhood. In plain sight, once one knew where to look."
Lippman makes everyday life interesting, stories taking off in various directions, some foreshadowed, some twisted, some predictable (in a good way).
Last observation - there's a covid story that does not feel tacked on, or forced, or pandering. Finally. It just felt real and true to the time.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House for this ARC which I received in exchange for my honest review.
April 6, 2022
In Seasonal Work, Laura Lippman has crafted a collection of outstanding short stories divided into four sections, with each portion containing three stories focusing on a central theme. Unlike most short-story collections that include at least one or two misses, this compilation contains 12 strong stories full of surprises, contemporary issues, and occasionally humor. Fans of the author’s Tess Monaghan series will be pleased to see Tess’s presence in a couple of the stories, including the titular and clever tale “Seasonal Work,” which kicks off the book. Another standout is “Snowflake Time,” which pokes harmless fun at Goodreads reviewers and its protagonist, a cranky news anchor turned cozy mystery writer. You do not want to miss out on this entertaining and imaginative collection of short stories.
For more reading recommendations and author interviews check out my podcast and blog: https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com and follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....
For more reading recommendations and author interviews check out my podcast and blog: https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com and follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfro....
August 29, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of
Seasonal Work.
I'm a big fan of the author's Tess Monaghan series so I was excited to receive an ARC and to see Tess and her family pop up in some of the stories.
I enjoyed all of the short stories; they're trademark Ms. Lippman with subtle twists in the end, complete with formidable, strong female characters.
You know you liked some of the stories when you wished they were longer.
I think any fan of the author's would enjoy this collection of stories.
I'm a big fan of the author's Tess Monaghan series so I was excited to receive an ARC and to see Tess and her family pop up in some of the stories.
I enjoyed all of the short stories; they're trademark Ms. Lippman with subtle twists in the end, complete with formidable, strong female characters.
You know you liked some of the stories when you wished they were longer.
I think any fan of the author's would enjoy this collection of stories.
February 24, 2022
SEASONAL WORK
Laura Lippman
I am not usually a big fan of short stories... but this one was fairly good and I enjoyed them for the most part.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
Laura Lippman
I am not usually a big fan of short stories... but this one was fairly good and I enjoyed them for the most part.
3 stars
Happy Reading!
March 23, 2022
*Big thank you to Faber for sending me a copy of this book to review!*
This is a collection of short crime/thriller-esque stories, which I haven't really delved into before. Overall they were very hit and miss, but well written. Some I absolutely adored and despite the limited word count, had twists that shook me. I couldn’t believe these weren’t made into fully fleshed out novels as the concepts were brilliant. Some were just really boring and I didn’t understand or see the point of them.
I rated each short story and ended up with an average of 3.4*, which I’ve rounded down to 3. Mini reviews of each are below for anyone interested!
Seasonal Work - 4*
Quite sinister and dark but still a pretty easy and quick read. I like how it felt kind of full circle and open ended. It was fun, I would’ve read a whole book about it.
The Book Thing - 3*
Well written but ultimately boring and cryptic in a way that wasn’t clear to me in any satisfying manor.
The Everyday Housewife - 3*
I didn’t really see the point of this one it was really anticlimactic and a bit confusing.
Cougar - 4*
I liked this one though it was so short it was full of juicy drama, could’ve been great as a full piece as well. Characters felt fleshed out and interesting. It had a bit more depth to it than the others with the subject matter and how it discussed things.
Snowflake Time - 4*
The twist at the end was really morbid. The main character was extremely delusional and he reminded me of Gerry from Lippman’s ‘Dream Girl’. Very weird and wonderful.
Tricks - 2*
This one was kinda boring and bland. I didn't care about the end twist. Getting a bit tired of the overly misogynistic male characters again and again.
Ice - 3*
Okay storytelling but the buildup felt like a bit much for the end result. It could’ve been so much creepier and tense given the story and what happens in it.
The Last of Sheila Locke-Holmes - 4*
Okay but ultimately depressing. Family dynamics were interesting though and I think I’d read a book about the mom she was intriguing.
Five Fires - 5*
I loved the writing style of this one, the narrator had an interesting voice. The plot twist wow that unreliable narrator was crazy. I’d 100% read a whole book of this.
Waco 1982 - 2*
I didn’t really understand this at all, boring.
Slow Burner - 3*
Predictable, no element of surprise at all. Kind of mopey and depressing, didn’t really like it.
Just One More - 4*
That plot twist kind of made my stomach drop I wasn’t expecting that. Fun and fast paced, again would read a whole novel if this was the story.
This is a collection of short crime/thriller-esque stories, which I haven't really delved into before. Overall they were very hit and miss, but well written. Some I absolutely adored and despite the limited word count, had twists that shook me. I couldn’t believe these weren’t made into fully fleshed out novels as the concepts were brilliant. Some were just really boring and I didn’t understand or see the point of them.
I rated each short story and ended up with an average of 3.4*, which I’ve rounded down to 3. Mini reviews of each are below for anyone interested!
Seasonal Work - 4*
Quite sinister and dark but still a pretty easy and quick read. I like how it felt kind of full circle and open ended. It was fun, I would’ve read a whole book about it.
The Book Thing - 3*
Well written but ultimately boring and cryptic in a way that wasn’t clear to me in any satisfying manor.
The Everyday Housewife - 3*
I didn’t really see the point of this one it was really anticlimactic and a bit confusing.
Cougar - 4*
I liked this one though it was so short it was full of juicy drama, could’ve been great as a full piece as well. Characters felt fleshed out and interesting. It had a bit more depth to it than the others with the subject matter and how it discussed things.
Snowflake Time - 4*
The twist at the end was really morbid. The main character was extremely delusional and he reminded me of Gerry from Lippman’s ‘Dream Girl’. Very weird and wonderful.
Tricks - 2*
This one was kinda boring and bland. I didn't care about the end twist. Getting a bit tired of the overly misogynistic male characters again and again.
Ice - 3*
Okay storytelling but the buildup felt like a bit much for the end result. It could’ve been so much creepier and tense given the story and what happens in it.
The Last of Sheila Locke-Holmes - 4*
Okay but ultimately depressing. Family dynamics were interesting though and I think I’d read a book about the mom she was intriguing.
Five Fires - 5*
I loved the writing style of this one, the narrator had an interesting voice. The plot twist wow that unreliable narrator was crazy. I’d 100% read a whole book of this.
Waco 1982 - 2*
I didn’t really understand this at all, boring.
Slow Burner - 3*
Predictable, no element of surprise at all. Kind of mopey and depressing, didn’t really like it.
Just One More - 4*
That plot twist kind of made my stomach drop I wasn’t expecting that. Fun and fast paced, again would read a whole novel if this was the story.
February 23, 2022
As a lucky recipient of an ARC of Seasonal Work: Stories by Laura Lippman, my love for the short story genre was reignited in the best possible way. In college, my writing and reading consisted of a steady diet of short stories. However for no particular reason, I haven't read or written one in many years. This is my first time reading Lippman, and she far exceeded my expectations with her gift for storytelling and creating original, offbeat characters. The arc of her stories is perfectly paced, beginning with exposition that really creates a picture of the narrator or main character. Then, as with any great story, things go awry, assumptions fall apart and nothing is what it seems. Each story is a neatly wrapped present, complete with layers and bows, just waiting to be torn open.
I highly recommend this story collection for its organization, memorable characters and unexpected endings. I can't even say I had favorites; I really enjoyed them all.
I highly recommend this story collection for its organization, memorable characters and unexpected endings. I can't even say I had favorites; I really enjoyed them all.
February 5, 2022
Where have you been all my life, Laura Lippman? I picked up this book at random at the library, realized it was all short stories, and really enjoyed each one of them. Lippman engaged me right from the beginning, held my attention, and usually ended with a little twist. I just picked up a couple of her novels yesterday and started one last night. I look forward to a long association with this author.
October 2, 2021
Laura Lippman is a QUEEN. This book of short stories is amazing, honest, and such a work of art. She can really do no wrong and I know I am getting a work of art whenever I pick something up that has her name on it. This book is a mix of everything and my only disappointment is that it was over too soon. I received an advanced copy for free and am leaving a review voluntarily.
August 28, 2023
Dull, simple and predictable stories about cardboard characters, and the overall tone ranged from silly to downright misogynistic. I took the book with me on a lakeside vacation and not even sitting on the floating dock in the sun improved my reading. How could someone who wrote Sunburn have written this? 1 1/2 stars.
August 11, 2022
This was an excellent collection of short stories. They start out normal enough but each has a sinister twist. They are unsettling in the best way because you can see many of these situations as almost ordinary-until they're not- but still its within the realm of possibilities.
I love the style of writing. Some of the longer ones paced a bit slow and could have been edited down, but were worth reading and still very good. The shorter amd medium length ones were the most successful.
I think the last one -with the couple that decided to sign up for a dating site with slightly altered versions of themselves yo see if they would still find each other- struck a big chord for me. However, t might be because it was last since I felt caught in each one as I read them.
I started this in April, but had to return it. I borrowed it again and am so glad I got to read this wonderful collection.
I love the style of writing. Some of the longer ones paced a bit slow and could have been edited down, but were worth reading and still very good. The shorter amd medium length ones were the most successful.
I think the last one -with the couple that decided to sign up for a dating site with slightly altered versions of themselves yo see if they would still find each other- struck a big chord for me. However, t might be because it was last since I felt caught in each one as I read them.
I started this in April, but had to return it. I borrowed it again and am so glad I got to read this wonderful collection.
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