Twisted Tales [Paperback]

Brandon Massey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2006

Fourteen harrowing tales from the award-winning author of WITHIN THE SHADOWS.

A man driving home from a Halloween costume party suddenly comes face to face with pure evil...An elderly woman, obsessed with obituaries, becomes intimately connected with the dead in the most unlikely of ways...A hardworking single mother is plunged into her ultimate nightmare...An unfaithful husband discovers to his horror that his attractive new neighbor has much more than seduction in mind...

This chilling collection by Brandon Massey, winner of the Black Writers Alliance's Gold Pen Award for Best Thriller, is certain to send you groping for the light switch, spiraling deeper and deeper into a dark realm of imagination where the once-familiar becomes menacingly twisted...

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Award-winning horror writer Massey (Within the Shadows) offers an uneven but spirited collection of short fiction that largely concerns bad guys getting their comeuppance. Massey is best when giving himself the time to flesh out his characters, as he does in "The Sting," the story of an arrogant lawyer and his phobias; the lawyer's a jerk, but he's got authentic, identifiable motives that make the firecracker ending really pop. "The Secret Door," about a smart high school grad forced to work as a janitor in a building with a mysterious room, conversely features a likable, believable narrator with a hopeful fate. And when he's on a roll, Massey uses small details to infuse even minor players with life: "Mr. Green had an annoying habit of explaining matters with which his employees were already familiar." However, the book is rife with drunk, abusive stepfathers, grandmotherly doppelgängers, and victimized women getting their due. Massey plunges into his characters with gusto, but the repetition of themes and characters eventually starts to feel stale rather than cohesive. (June)
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About the Author

Brandon Massey is the award-winning author of WITHIN THE SHADOWS, DARK CORNER, THUNDERLAND, and his newest, THE OTHER BROTHER. He lives near Atlanta, where he is at work on his next thriller.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kensington (June 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0758213530
• ISBN-13: 978-0758213532
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,067,853 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born June 9, 1973, in Waukegan, Illinois. I grew up in Zion, a suburb north of Chicago.

I originally self-published THUNDERLAND, my first novel, in 1999. After managing to sell a few thousand copies on my own, Kensington Publishing Corp. in New York offered me a two-book contract. Kensington published a new, revised edition of THUNDERLAND in December 2002.

My second book, DARK CORNER, a vampire novel that takes place in rural Mississippi, hit stores nationwide in January 2004.

I've also served as an editor. My first anthology is entitled DARK DREAMS: A Collection of Horror and Suspense by Black Writers; it was published in August 2004. The collection features tales by popular writers such as Zane, Tananarive Due, and Steven Barnes, in addition to stories by rising stars and talented newcomers.

My new thriller, WITHIN THE SHADOWS, was published by Kensington in June 2005. My new anthology, VOICES FROM THE OTHER SIDE, will be published in April 2006.

Other forthcoming books include a collection of my short stories, entitled TWISTED TALES (June 2006), and my new thriller, THE OTHER BROTHER (July 2006).

I currently reside with my family near Atlanta, GA.

To stay posted on my latest book news, be sure to visit my website at www.brandonmassey.com and sign up for my free newsletter, The Talespinner.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not what I originally expected...but still very pleased., June 23, 2006

By 

Ms. Francoise "Certified Book Groupie!" (Columbus, GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twisted Tales (Paperback)

I really enjoyed Twisted Tales. It was somewhat of a detour from Brandon Massey's usual writing because every story does not involve outright horror, but the suspense is present throughout. Each tale is clearly and effectively woven to leave the reader in a state of awe. Even though the stories are short the characters leave an impression on the reader. Overall, a great read for a great price from an excellent author.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I Like, August 2, 2006

By 

Alison Knight "Kerkusta the Kreative" (In my self created twisted dimention) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twisted Tales (Paperback)

I love to read sci-fi, and recently I've been trying to open up my doors to new authors. I was at Wal-Mart when I came across Twisted Tales by Brandon Massey. I was skeptical at first but upon reading halfway through the book I was in love. I do believe he should have started the novel with a stronger Story because Daddy's Little Girl wasn't enough to make me want to read more. I can't abondon a book, and in this case I'm glad that I didn't. It was a good bood and Brandon is Awesome. So, people, if you are planning to purchase this novel PLEASE DO! It is well worth the money! And the stories get nothing but better throughout the book. I love Brandon and cannot wait to read The Other Brother.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TWISTED TALES, November 5, 2006

By 

Paula Harris "love books love to read" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Twisted Tales (Paperback)

A GOOD MIX OF TALES. YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE END. VERY ENJOYABLE. AS A HORROR FAN I AM VERY PLEASED TO READ GOOD HORROR FROM AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE.