Remaking

by Blake Crouch

From the author of DESERT PLACES, ABANDON, and “Serial,” comes this short story which is an excellent and affordable introduction to the author’s work. In “Remaking,” tragic events unfold in a snowy, sleepy Colorado town. From the first scene, in which a man sits alone in the cold, watching a father and son in a diner, you know something is about to go horribly wrong. You may think you know what’s happening, but in this thrilling, heartbreaking story, nothing is as it seems. * This story is collected with others in the eBook, FOUR LIVE ROUNDS, which also contains a Foreword by J.A. Konrath and introductions to each story by Blake Crouch.About the CROUCH was born near the piedmont town of Statesville, North Carolina in 1978. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated in 2000 with degrees in English and Creative Writing. Blake is the author of four novels and numerous short stories, including “Serial” which he co-wrote with J.A. Konrath and has been downloaded more than 250,000 times. He lives with his family in southwest Colorado, where he is at work on a new book. Praise for Blake Crouch’s would make an excellent movie, switching back and forth between the plain-but-sturdy homes, saloon and church in 1893 and the same structures rotting to dust in 2009...a clever dual story. CHARLOTTE OBSERVERABANDON [is] two separate works of past and present seamlessly melded together into a single novel that demands to be read in one sitting, so you can better appreciate the beauty of Crouch’s storytelling…[O]ne of those books that almost instantly puts you in the mind of a classic.BOOKREPORTER Haunting, fast-paced, and thoroughly engrossing... ABANDON is one of the most original tales of ghosts, greed and gold I've come across. Crouch aligns both eras so perfectly, it's as if the characters are occupying the same breath within the space/time continuum. ABANDON will be one of the most talked-about books of the summer.THE MADISON COUNTY HERALD Ambitious…the palpable suspense just keeps building, and many thriller fans—especially those who like a touch of horror—will lose sleep to find out how it all ends.BOOKLISTABANDON is terrific…a great storyteller hitting his stride.LEE CHILD

Genres: Thriller, Short Stories, Fiction, Horror, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Ebooks

16 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 3, 2010

About the author

Blake Crouch is a bestselling novelist and screenwriter. He is the author of the forthcoming novel, Dark Matter, for which he is writing the screenplay for Sony Pictures. His international-bestselling Wayward Pines trilogy was adapted into a television series for FOX, executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan, that was Summer 2015’s #1 show. With Chad Hodge, Crouch also created Good Behavior, the TNT television show starring Michelle Dockery based on his Letty Dobesh novellas. He has written more than a dozen novels that have been translated into over thirty languages and his short fiction has appeared in numerous publications including Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine. Crouch lives in Colorado with his family.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Crouch's Remaking, nothing is quite as it seems, especially in small communities. Mitchell has an eye for odd situations. A young boy sits in a small-town diner with a man purported to be his father, but something feels off. Mitchell follows them at a distance and soon approaches the boy and poses as a police officer, promising to help young Joe. When the boy obliges, worried that he might upset the authorities, Mitchell begins acting on a scene he's scripted for months. Unfortunately, Mitchell's story may not have a happy ending, at least for the entire case of players.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
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[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
Really good story

[D. Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked up this short story by Blake Crouch and... Holy shit! Where have I been that I have missed this author and his writing? Where have you been all my life, Blake Crouch? I love this guy's style.
Right... back to the review. This is a short story so it's quick but it is excellent! It has a subtle menace that uncoils itself right in the opening scene. When things escalate and the protagonist does what you are afraid he is going to do, it is chilling. Before I knew it, the story was over and I was just sitting there thinking, "Damn!"
So, just to re-cap, here are the three stages of this little number from Blake Crouch: Menacing. Chilling. Damn!
I want badly to delve into his latest novel "Pines" but might go the route of trying out "Abandon" first. As in now. Right now. It's downloading as I type this. What is taking so dang long?

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story with incredible impact! Every word counts here, and the author's considerable talent is on full display.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story follows a man that recently lost his son in an automobile accident and what he does to deal with the grief.

I found this story creepy, scary and sad at the same time. I can't really go into detail of why without giving spoilers but it is well worth reading.

[Jaycee · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

That one packed quite a punch with brevity and suspense.

[Tanner Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

what!? you not make sense this story. I lost. so please redo your story.

[Kimberly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short fell flat for me. Just about the time a little tension was built, the author released it too quickly.

Thankfully, this experience is an anomaly for me with this author and I'll continue to read his works. Hey, they can't all be winners.

Some of my favorite short stories include Late Returns from Full Throttle, Pop Art from 20th Century Ghosts and F is for Farewell (A Sexy Sendoff) from F is for Five Sapphic Tales.

[Kat (Katlovesbooks) Dietrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remaking by Blake Crouch is a short story.

WOW. It’s over.

It starts in a snowy Colorado town with a man watching a father and son in a diner. It ends in a death. In between it goes between tense, and creepy and sad.

Crouch has an amazing way of telling a story. In a very short time, he reels the reader in, making you feel so many emotions, and then drops you. The suspense is real, and the grief is palpable.

Loved it!

[Piku Sonali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read plenty of Blake Crouch's books before, I was excited to read this novella. But it fell short of my high expectations.

Crouch's writing is as good as ever but story-wise, the book disappoints. It is more of a drama than a thriller and ultimately predictable.

If you have never read Crouch, I'd be happy to recommend better books. If you have, I'd recommend this in case you are on a mission to go through everything he has ever written. Can be skipped.

[Viva · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a terrible short story. I disliked it from beginning to end. It had no meaning, did not convey anything.

Spoilers ahead.

Basically a guy lost his son a year ago. He tried to re-make the scene by kidnapping someone else's kid. The end.

The author tries too hard with short abrupt writing to convey atmosphere but it doesn't work. It feels unfriendly and abrupt.

[Donny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t read short stories often, but I finished “Dark Matter” today (and LOVED it) and wanted to consume more of Blake Crouch’s writing. This story was enthralling, unsettling and heartbreaking. I’m excited to read more of his work.

[Hank Helstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story that punches right in the heart. I finished it and looked up at my family with tears in my eyes. Blake Crouch’s versatility once again makes me wonder why I ever spend time doing anything other than reading his stuff.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well this was a shock. I expected something far different. It was short but deep and I ended it with a huge sob. This is a story mainly about love and about loss. How would you handle the loss of the dearest thing in your life. Would you do something awful or would you simply sit and weep.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read that this is a short story. Boy oh boy, was it short! Good story.......... VERY short and to the point. I'm still reeling over the fact that I actually paid money for this story.

[Christa Maurice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very quick read and gripping.

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick introduction to Crouch’s work, albeit a tad predictable to readers familiar with his style.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sad story but good writing .

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the Crouch i'm used to reading but was a fast and fun read

[Nolan · Rating 2 out of 5]

WOW!! Shortest story I have ever read. Except for when I was six years old. Got it on my wife's tablet. Thirty six pages. What's the point of even writing this story?

[Kristin Lansdown · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of this author’s tamer stories. Almost touching.

[Patsy Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's very very short

[Michele Letourneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last sentence really got me and I’m not even a parent

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh for me. Not much of a fan of short stories.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A page turner that leaves your skin crawling and your heart broken.

[Dennis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Short story

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

good short story

[morus alba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Оповідання на початку трохи незрозуміле і бентежне, але наскільки ж потім печальне... до сліз...

[Nina Braden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story