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Asking for Trouble
The road to crime begins with a single decision—the wrong one. Not every decision belongs to the criminally minded. Some belong to the ill-informed, the weak and the plain unlucky. In these tales, trouble isn't an indiscriminate force of nature. It's a manmade occurrence that comes when called upon.
In Making Ends Meet, Richard is so tired of supporting his deadbeat in-laws that he decides he's going to cut them out of his life—for good. Jamie Lassen is just Protecting The Innocent when he tells Chris Forbes to stop dating his sister. A Fender Bender with a drug dealer’s car puts Todd in hock with the mob and a kingpin makes Todd responsible for a much larger debt. The Taskmasters picked Matt out just at the right time. Tired of his dead-end life, he was looking for someone to help him turn his life around.
These tales and others prove that ASKING FOR TROUBLE is a case of good intentions gone bad and bad intentions gone worse.
Praise for Simon
“He writes like a dark demented angel.”
— Ken Bruen, author of PRIEST
“Simon Wood packs his books with suspense, surprises & superb storytelling.”
— Ed Gorman, author of SLEEPING DOGS
"Wood's ability to spin the commonplace into the quirky and then into the deadly puts me in mind of Roald Dahl's gift for the same.”
— The Drowning Machine
“Simon Wood offers a literary roller coaster ride that thrills and terrifies on every page.”
— Sean Chercover, author of TRIGGER CITY
“When Simon Wood is at the wheel, hang on for a page turner.”
—Chris Grabenstein, author of HELL HOLE
“A supremely gifted writer.”
— Jason Pinter, author of THE MARK
“Simon Wood is the 'Gary Oldman' of mystery fiction.”
—Tony Broadbent, author of THE SMOKE
In Making Ends Meet, Richard is so tired of supporting his deadbeat in-laws that he decides he's going to cut them out of his life—for good. Jamie Lassen is just Protecting The Innocent when he tells Chris Forbes to stop dating his sister. A Fender Bender with a drug dealer’s car puts Todd in hock with the mob and a kingpin makes Todd responsible for a much larger debt. The Taskmasters picked Matt out just at the right time. Tired of his dead-end life, he was looking for someone to help him turn his life around.
These tales and others prove that ASKING FOR TROUBLE is a case of good intentions gone bad and bad intentions gone worse.
Praise for Simon
“He writes like a dark demented angel.”
— Ken Bruen, author of PRIEST
“Simon Wood packs his books with suspense, surprises & superb storytelling.”
— Ed Gorman, author of SLEEPING DOGS
"Wood's ability to spin the commonplace into the quirky and then into the deadly puts me in mind of Roald Dahl's gift for the same.”
— The Drowning Machine
“Simon Wood offers a literary roller coaster ride that thrills and terrifies on every page.”
— Sean Chercover, author of TRIGGER CITY
“When Simon Wood is at the wheel, hang on for a page turner.”
—Chris Grabenstein, author of HELL HOLE
“A supremely gifted writer.”
— Jason Pinter, author of THE MARK
“Simon Wood is the 'Gary Oldman' of mystery fiction.”
—Tony Broadbent, author of THE SMOKE
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2010
120 people are currently reading
147 people want to read
About the author
Simon Wood
91 books519 followersSimon Wood is a California transplant from England. He's an ex-competitive racecar driver, a licensed pilot and an occasional private investigator. He shares his world with his American wife, Julie. Their lives are dominated by a longhaired dachshund and five cats. In the last ten years, he's had over 150 stories and articles published. His stories have been included in “Best of” anthologies and he's a frequent contributor to Writer’s Digest. He's the Anthony Award winner and a Crime Writers Dagger Award finalist. He's the author of Working Stiffs, Accidents Waiting to Happen, Paying the Piper, Terminated, We All Fall Down, Deceptive Practices, The Fall Guy, Hot Seat and Did Not Finish. His latest thriller is, Saving Grace. He also writes horror under the pen name of Simon Janus. Those titles include The Scrubs and Road Rash.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
November 29, 2018
All it takes is one bad decision to send a person down the wrong path. And, as the introduction to this anthology points out "[n:]ot every decision belongs to the criminally minded. Some belong to the ill-informed, the weak and the plain unlucky. In these tales, trouble isn't an indiscriminate force of nature. It's a manmade occurrence that comes when called upon."
As indicated, the people in Simon Wood's ASKING FOR TROUBLE aren't (for the most part) particularly evil. They're under some form of duress or simply duped into thinking they're doing the right thing. Unfortunately, they fail to think their actions through and end up in trouble over their heads.
This collection of ten stories explores just how wrong things can go based on one simple misstep or dark impulse.
The stories include a wide range of protagonists and scenarios, from the beleaguered Richard in "Making Ends Meet," who makes a fateful decision about his mooching in-laws, to the even-more-beleaguered Todd (appearing in a partial reprise of "Fender Bender" from Wood's WORKING STIFFS anthology), who earns a drug kingpin's ire when he leaves a dent in the wrong car. Wood has an extraordinary talent for ending his stories with a dark twist. He writes clean, vivid prose that not only creates suspense, but paints an entire picture.
For instance, in "Big Sky Kill," Wood depicts a barren, snowy landscape across which a man is driving to deliver a ransom for his girlfriend, as follows: "The countryside slipped by. The change was stunning. ... Under the full plate moon and clear skies, a dinner-plate flat landscape stretched beyond the horizon. The fields either side of the two-lane highway would be chest high in crops come summer, but in the dead of winter, they were apocalyptically barren under a blanket of uninterrupted white."
With these sentences, Wood clearly conveys a feeling of isolation and almost gives one a chill. The story twists tend toward noir resolutions, like Richard's unenviable fate in "Making Ends Meet" and the unhappy situation Gill of "For Medicinal Purposes Only" finds herself in after proving the maxim that no good deed goes unpunished. Despite the bleak and unhappy scenarios depicted, Wood writes with a devilishly clever wit. He employs a dark humor that both underscores the desperation of the characters and leavens the material.
Among the most remarkable aspects of the stories is that the protagonists are essentially so ordinary. They're not evil. They're (by and large) not criminals. They're simply people dealing with difficult situations who've made bad decisions. As a result, these people are doing as the title states. The basic theme of ASKING FOR TROUBLE would seem to be: don't let this happen to you.
As indicated, the people in Simon Wood's ASKING FOR TROUBLE aren't (for the most part) particularly evil. They're under some form of duress or simply duped into thinking they're doing the right thing. Unfortunately, they fail to think their actions through and end up in trouble over their heads.
This collection of ten stories explores just how wrong things can go based on one simple misstep or dark impulse.
The stories include a wide range of protagonists and scenarios, from the beleaguered Richard in "Making Ends Meet," who makes a fateful decision about his mooching in-laws, to the even-more-beleaguered Todd (appearing in a partial reprise of "Fender Bender" from Wood's WORKING STIFFS anthology), who earns a drug kingpin's ire when he leaves a dent in the wrong car. Wood has an extraordinary talent for ending his stories with a dark twist. He writes clean, vivid prose that not only creates suspense, but paints an entire picture.
For instance, in "Big Sky Kill," Wood depicts a barren, snowy landscape across which a man is driving to deliver a ransom for his girlfriend, as follows: "The countryside slipped by. The change was stunning. ... Under the full plate moon and clear skies, a dinner-plate flat landscape stretched beyond the horizon. The fields either side of the two-lane highway would be chest high in crops come summer, but in the dead of winter, they were apocalyptically barren under a blanket of uninterrupted white."
With these sentences, Wood clearly conveys a feeling of isolation and almost gives one a chill. The story twists tend toward noir resolutions, like Richard's unenviable fate in "Making Ends Meet" and the unhappy situation Gill of "For Medicinal Purposes Only" finds herself in after proving the maxim that no good deed goes unpunished. Despite the bleak and unhappy scenarios depicted, Wood writes with a devilishly clever wit. He employs a dark humor that both underscores the desperation of the characters and leavens the material.
Among the most remarkable aspects of the stories is that the protagonists are essentially so ordinary. They're not evil. They're (by and large) not criminals. They're simply people dealing with difficult situations who've made bad decisions. As a result, these people are doing as the title states. The basic theme of ASKING FOR TROUBLE would seem to be: don't let this happen to you.
July 25, 2020
10 story stories.
Thought this will be a good way to get to know this author's writing.
Suspenseful stories mixed with some murder and more.
Some were okay some stories were predictable at times.
Enjoyed overall.
Thought this will be a good way to get to know this author's writing.
Suspenseful stories mixed with some murder and more.
Some were okay some stories were predictable at times.
Enjoyed overall.
Read
January 31, 2013Asking for Trouble, by Simon Wood, b-plus, Narrated by Luke Daniels and Amy McFadden, Produced by Brilliance Audio, downloaded from audible.com.
This is a group of short stories. I normally don’t read short stories, so if I had realized in advance that these were short stories I probably wouldn’t have read “Asking for Trouble” and I would have missed out on ten short but effective thrillers.
Publisher’s note:
Not every crime is committed with intent, but each has one thing in common: The guilty party was asking for trouble. In "Making Ends Meet", Richard can't
stand the idea of supporting his deadbeat in-laws anymore, so he decides to remove them from his life - permanently. Matt is ready to reform his brawling
ways, but the group he joins doesn't turn out to be a typical 12-step program, in "The Taskmasters". "Protecting the Innocent" features Nick, who fails
to heed the warnings of his girlfriend's possessive brother. And with "A Gun in the House", Leah refuses to move from her beloved home, leading to protective
measures with disastrous results. These and six others send out the invitation for disaster - one that's gladly accepted. The 10 taut tales in this collection
from award-winning crime-fiction author Simon Wood are rife with good intentions gone bad - and bad intentions gone worse. Filled with jaw-dropping twists
and turns, Asking for Trouble is a wild ride that will leave listeners clamoring for more.
This is a group of short stories. I normally don’t read short stories, so if I had realized in advance that these were short stories I probably wouldn’t have read “Asking for Trouble” and I would have missed out on ten short but effective thrillers.
Publisher’s note:
Not every crime is committed with intent, but each has one thing in common: The guilty party was asking for trouble. In "Making Ends Meet", Richard can't
stand the idea of supporting his deadbeat in-laws anymore, so he decides to remove them from his life - permanently. Matt is ready to reform his brawling
ways, but the group he joins doesn't turn out to be a typical 12-step program, in "The Taskmasters". "Protecting the Innocent" features Nick, who fails
to heed the warnings of his girlfriend's possessive brother. And with "A Gun in the House", Leah refuses to move from her beloved home, leading to protective
measures with disastrous results. These and six others send out the invitation for disaster - one that's gladly accepted. The 10 taut tales in this collection
from award-winning crime-fiction author Simon Wood are rife with good intentions gone bad - and bad intentions gone worse. Filled with jaw-dropping twists
and turns, Asking for Trouble is a wild ride that will leave listeners clamoring for more.
February 25, 2018
awesome book of short stories! loved it with some unexpected twists along the way! well worth a read! Great job Simon!
March 17, 2014
One of the best short story collections I have ever read! I enjoy short stories now and then, as a break from full-length novels, but I find many anthologies to be hit-and-miss, with some of the stories being kinda lame. Even those by my favorite authors rarely satisfy with every single story. This is a pleasing exception. Wood has put together 10 well-written, creative stories, with absolutely no filler. All 10 are brilliant. A few made me smile, and one even made me shout "Yes!" out loud. Luckily, I was not reading that one in a public waiting room. I give it 5 stars without hesitation, and if you check my other reviews, you may note that I give 1 to 3 stars far more than I give 5, so this is high praise. Well done, Simon! Do you have another collection of stories published? If so, I must read it!
January 11, 2011
I grew up reading short stories by Alfred Hitchcock and I still read AH!!! Simon’s short stories are reminds me of AH. Scary, page turners and gets the hair standing up on the back of your neck. The first book I read by Simon was Working Stiffs and I was hooked. I have read all of his books and I recommend them if you like suspense and action.
My favorite way to describe him is Ken Bruen’s comment “Simon writes like a dark, demented Angel”. He is correct!!
Asking for Trouble will give you that page turning, edge of the seat action.
My favorite way to describe him is Ken Bruen’s comment “Simon writes like a dark, demented Angel”. He is correct!!
Asking for Trouble will give you that page turning, edge of the seat action.
June 11, 2010
An excellent set of crime stories with great twist endings!
October 17, 2017
Entertaining and twisted
A compilation of short stories that highlight bad judgment in the extreme. For those with a dark side, this is a highly entertaining book. It was train wreck after train wreck, and I couldn't look away! Quick stories that will leave you shaking your head.
A compilation of short stories that highlight bad judgment in the extreme. For those with a dark side, this is a highly entertaining book. It was train wreck after train wreck, and I couldn't look away! Quick stories that will leave you shaking your head.
May 10, 2019
A twist in every tale
A fun collection of short stories that each hold a curveball you won't see coming. Twisted, suspenseful and darkly thrilling.
A fun collection of short stories that each hold a curveball you won't see coming. Twisted, suspenseful and darkly thrilling.
December 28, 2019
This is a book of short stories and a little more graffic than I like. Doesn't seem like his normal style. Not my favorite book by far.
May 13, 2020
Very interesting short stories
A couple of the short stories in the middle were as little light but for the most part I enjoyed them.
A couple of the short stories in the middle were as little light but for the most part I enjoyed them.
January 7, 2017
"Great Stories Full of Surprises"
This is a collection of 10 heart-throbbing stories written by award winning author Simon Wood. His stories are always thrilling, fast-paced, and well written. These stories are crime thrillers with twists and turns which will surprise you.. Simon really knows how to captivate his readers. Highly recommend.
This is a collection of 10 heart-throbbing stories written by award winning author Simon Wood. His stories are always thrilling, fast-paced, and well written. These stories are crime thrillers with twists and turns which will surprise you.. Simon really knows how to captivate his readers. Highly recommend.
June 14, 2016
Originally written July 11, 2011.
I read Asking For Trouble today in the "Jury Lounge" while waiting for my name to be called for my civic duties. Fortunately, I was not selected because no case could possibly be as interesting as the crimes Mr. Wood presents here. This is the first time I have read any of his work and I was very impressed by his ability to write in the short story format. Wood strips down these tales to the bare essentials, with each word carrying lots of weight. My greatest complaint, which in retrospect is probably my own fault, is that the stories seemed a bit similar when read back-to-back. By about the halfway point, I had come to expect the eventual plot twists, immoral character actions, and bleak endings. I wish I had spaced these stories out a little more so I could fully enjoy the dark tales without already being in that dark, seedy frame of mind. Overall, this is a fantastic selection well worth the bargain price tag. Recommended.
I read Asking For Trouble today in the "Jury Lounge" while waiting for my name to be called for my civic duties. Fortunately, I was not selected because no case could possibly be as interesting as the crimes Mr. Wood presents here. This is the first time I have read any of his work and I was very impressed by his ability to write in the short story format. Wood strips down these tales to the bare essentials, with each word carrying lots of weight. My greatest complaint, which in retrospect is probably my own fault, is that the stories seemed a bit similar when read back-to-back. By about the halfway point, I had come to expect the eventual plot twists, immoral character actions, and bleak endings. I wish I had spaced these stories out a little more so I could fully enjoy the dark tales without already being in that dark, seedy frame of mind. Overall, this is a fantastic selection well worth the bargain price tag. Recommended.
Currently reading
April 5, 2016This turned out to be short stories which I don't like that much; I want more involvement with the story and characters I am reading about. That being said, the first 2 stories are very good, well crafted and satisfying members of the short story genre. I'll continue reading when the mood hits me.
January 3, 2015
A great selection of short stories with humorous and macabre twists. Reads like Tales From the Crypt. Great job. I hardly EVER like every short story in a collection.
April 14, 2015
Simon Wood is a master story teller. His short story collections are up there with Stephen King. Great, Great, Great
August 23, 2022
OK but nothing special.Many of the stories were predictable.
October 3, 2015
This is a collection of short stories. I didn't realise until I started reading it. I got this via Kindle Unlimited so it didn't matter and they will be ideal for reading during breaks at work.
March 3, 2016
Interesting short stories, but I do prefer his novels, as there is more time to get to know the characters. I listed to an audible version and enjoyed the reader, too.
December 1, 2014
I enjoyed most of the stories.
July 15, 2016
Did this on CD. A collection of dark short stories. Pretty good. Good twists.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews