I was given an advanced reading copy by Influx Press to review, and I was really pleased as I had seen Anna around Twitter and have her book with Bluemoose Books, Saving Lucia, on my birthday list.

As I’ve probably stated elsewhere many times, I love the short story format when it is done well and Anna concocts a brilliant collection of short chilling tales each as good as. the other.

There is a definite flavour of Victorian and early 20th century supernatural stories, both in content and form.

Each story is a wonderful bite of words, tantalising and just enough to digest the concept and theme. Well-balanced and complete, none left me wanting for more.

It wouldn’t be a collection where I didn’t have favourites, though in the case of this collection there were no sour tastes left in the mouth.

a tale of tripe was my personal stand out, a similar horror of tripe haunts me, both the physical and mental, trimalchio jones has a strong Poe feel to the horror that unfolds through the banquet, and shame really resonates also.

Well worth a read, and for me it’s a keeper and one I want to return to.