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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read!, September 12, 2007
Voyeurs of Death is possibly one of the best collections of horror/dark fiction short fiction to hit the shelves in the last couple of years. Any fan of creepy, chilling tales, stories of supernatural beings and ordinary people with evil intent, and glimpses into the unknown that lies beyond our world will love this book.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyably eerie, September 24, 2007
Jeffrey presents a dozen-plus short stories of the supernatural and macabre. Each one offers a brief but imaginative glimpse of death and what lies beyond, often narrated in the decedent's own voice. None of the stories exceeds ten pages. As a results, each scene builds quickly, often with some strange feature that suddenly resolves in a startling phrase at the very end.
Each story stands by itself, so this works well for the busy reader with just a few minutes at a time. For me, it works partly because it reminds me of those deliciously spooky campfire stories that sent us back to our tents a bit less ready for sleep, but with a bit more of an edge than those stories ever had. This kind of reading won't suit everyone - if it's the kind of thing you read, though, you're sure to enjoy it.
-- wiredweird, reviewing a complimentary copy
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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Graphic Tales of Chilling Horror and Terror, October 21, 2007
This collection of fifteen short stories by Shaun Jeffries brings both old and new to the horror genre. Some of the stories are reminiscent of stories that Alfred Hitchcock selected for his collections. Others reminded me of Clive Barker's "Books of Blood." However, other stories are clever twists on themes that extend to the beginning of story-telling history.
Jeffries brings us the tale of "The Flibbertigibbet" to start the mood off right. Getting through this little tale is a sort of right-of-passage to read the rest of the book. If you enjoy this gruesome little tale of old places and creatures best left undisturbed, then most assuredly you will enjoy the other fourteen stories.
In a completely different vein, so to speak, is "The Watchers." I could say all sorts of things about this story, but then there would be no fun remaining. It plays on our fascination with voyeurism and the fine line between being adventurous and being foolish.
Moving on, Jeffries gives us a new take on an old custom in "Paranoid." I must allow a reader to discover the twist and irony of this clever little tale, because to say anything would give away all the fun.
"The Tunnel" is one of those stories that remind me of old Hitchcock collections. I was surprised by the ending, a good thing, but I was a little let down by the simple phrase that put the story in perspective. I thought Jeffries could have been a little more subtle in revealing the ending.
We learn from "The Quilters of Thurmond" that having a concerned parent can be a good thing when you head off to the big city from your isolated island.
Authors and directors have described sin eaters a number of times. Jeffries brings another perspective to this profession in his story titled "Sin Eater."
The short story that provides the title for the book is a rather clever little story. Jeffries allows us the satisfaction of guessing the ending and yet we are unable to avoid reaching it.
I was not expecting the ending to "Life Cycle." I had several thoughts about how this story about a mutant ended, and none were correct. Perhaps you will do better.
There have been stories similar to "Dark Inside," and yet this one seems fresh. I enjoyed the creeping chill I got from reading the final sentences in this story.
Similar to the previous story, "Clockwork" is another fresh variation of a theme that horror movies, stories and games have used many times. Jeffries takes the opportunity to put a spin on this horror subgenre that will bring fans of the reanimated dead pleasure.
I thought "Venetian Kiss" was subtle and scary. Here is another look at the denizens of an old city, denizens that a typical tourist would probably not want to meet.
The implications of "The Peacock Lawn" provide a chilling ending to this story. Once again Jeffries surprised me and then provided me with a feeling of creeping horror as I contemplated the possibilities of the end of this story.
I enjoy science fiction in addition to horror and fantasy. "Envy" is a clever little tale that takes an element of science fiction or possibly fantasy and shows how what many might consider a benefit could backfire, a lot.
It took me a little while to understand the meaning of the title, "Snake Charmer." You will be quite uncomfortable once you discover the meaning. Incidentally, this story is quite good reading for husbands who abuse their wives and the wives of those husbands.
Jeffries closes out his collection with a simple short story that would be sunk by its own implausibility had Jeffries tried to expand the story further. However, Jeffries sets up the scene, provides the twist, and rapidly exits so that you get the chill from his closing before you have time to think too much about the story.
Good collections of short horror are in short supply. There are probably several reasons. Perhaps fans think they have seen and read it all. Short horror story collections by a single author are unusual. These collections rarely sell unless authored by Stephen King. However, horror fans will do themselves a disservice if they pass this collection by. I enjoyed all these stories, with only one or two having any weakness. I suspect that even the most jaded of horror story fans will find something in this collection to chill their blood and warm their heart.
Enjoy!
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