The Darkest Shade of Grey [Kindle Edition]

Alan Baxter (Author)

Book Description

David Johanssen's drinking problem goes beyond the usual need for self-medication. He sees things he shouldn’t be able to see, things no one could handle seeing. And he has no one but himself to blame.

When a chance encounter offers the possibility of answers, he follows the bloody trail in spite of his own fears. It could be the big story he needs to keep his job. It could be the meaning of life. Or it could be the end of his world.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The story has a strong tidal flow that drags the reader through to its imaginative climax... As good pulp fiction should be, Baxter's story is fast-paced, yet the author maintains a noir atmosphere effectively, not simply via plot maneuvers and archetypal characters, but through snatches of effective description and a dark sensibility that is integrated into the details. He's not afraid to stop and smell the waste run-off occasionally... it is fascinating to watch Baxter transform Sydney into a noir hell... an enjoyable and engaging pulp-inspired read that fulfills the promise of its evocative cover and its effective title, with some ideas that linger in the mind long after the lights go out." - Robert Hood, for Thirteen O'Clock

Product Details

• File Size: 161 KB
• Print Length: 58 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: The Red Penny Papers (March 20, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007N9B7F8
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #813,102 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A good story, made even better by the author's style. February 7, 2013

By Steve Bonsey

Format:Kindle Edition

Having read both RealmShift and MageSign, I had a good idea of the likely themes of this novella in advance. This is a good story, made even better by the author's style. In The Darkest Shade Of Grey, Baxter, as anticipated, effortlessly segues between real-life issues and his own brand of powerful, supernatural murkiness. The plot is fine, but the author's economy with words is what makes this (and his other works) such a good read. We are drawn in by the protagonist's daily problems, only to be thrown into an alternative world where both he and the reader are demanding answers that only Baxter can supply. As with all good stories we are provided with some closure, yet still left wanting more.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Short and anything but sweet January 17, 2013

By Tamara Rodgers

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

When I discover a new author I like, I tend to devour everything I can get my hands on by them. That's how I came across The Darkest Shade Of Grey. I love the economy of words Baxter writes with. He creates rich characters with a surprising depth in this quick bite. A great quick read which will stick with you long after you get to the end.

4.0 out of 5 stars Short, dark and nasty - but I like that sort of thing August 7, 2012

By Patrick O'Duffy

Format:Kindle Edition

Dark fantasy author Alan Baxter seems to move from his dark fantasy novels to a more classical horror story in this novella, exploring the world of a washed-up journalist who can see auras and whose minor brush with the supernatural has ruined his life and his family. But the move is smaller and less clear than one might think.

This story attempts to explore that grey area between horror and dark fantasy (hence the title), shifting between the two halfway to shine a light on how the fantastical trickles down to terror at the street level. That shift is a bit jarring and sudden, and I kind of wish there had been more love for the classic occult level of the story, but the change will make the story all the more appealing for fans of Baxter's novels.

Baxter is at his best when evoking the grubby streets of Sydney and the damaged folk that take shelter there, with a visceral strength to his depictions of that world. If you like your fantasy dark and your horror bleak, there may be plenty to like here. Check it out.

More About the Author

Alan Baxter is a Ditmar Award-nominated British-Australian author living on the south coast of NSW, Australia. He writes dark fantasy, sci-fi and horror, rides a motorcycle and loves his dog. He also teaches Kung Fu. His contemporary dark fantasy novels, RealmShift and MageSign, are out through Gryphonwood Press, and his short fiction has appeared in a variety of journals and anthologies in Australia, the US, the UK and France, including the Year's Best Australian Fantasy & Horror. Alan is also a freelance writer, penning reviews, feature articles and opinion. He's a contributing editor and co-founder at Thirteen O'Clock, Australian Dark Fiction News & Reviews, and co-hosts Thrillercast, a thriller and genre fiction podcast. Read extracts from his novels, a novella and short stories at his website - www.alanbaxteronline.com - and feel free to tell him what you think. About anything.