Dark and In-Depth

An incredible collection of novellas that search the darkest corners of our desires. . .and the terrible consequences.

1922: A vulgar woman, through the perspective of the plotting husband, has no idea that her husband is about to murder her over the plot of land that she's inherited. And their teenage son is an unwilling accomplice. King's story is reminiscent of Shelley's Frankenstein in some ways, with a bitter self-righteous man who forces his son into a horrifying situation, thus creating another monster. This is an exploration of man's sick heart, the lengths he will go to out of greed, and the cost of selfish motives. The writing, as always, proves intriguing and captivating.

Big Driver: A successful author is raped and fakes her death in order to escape the beast and seek revenge. The story does not get graphic at all, believe it or not. We are simply told that she is being raped. Where the focus lies is on her escape and her changed self who does what she can to uncover who this man is and how she can end him. This is more of a self-defense tale than a revenge tale, and I really like how King plays it out. There is a lot of mystery and surprise involved.

Fair Extension: A story much like Something Wicked This Way Comes combined with King's Thinner. King reaches down into the hate of man and reveals its cruel heart who will bargain an extension of his life in exchange for making the one he hates suffer. The story is sad as a man watches his best friend (who he secretly despises) lose everything, including his joy. This is the only story that doesn't fully explore the "sinner's" consequences.

A Good Marriage: What a true takeaway message: you don't ever 100% know someone. In what seems to be a 'good marriage' going on 30 years, a wife discovers that her husband has been harboring a dark secret--he's a rapist and a serial killer. This is a chilling plot that places us into that knowledge at the beginning and has us experiencing the wife's dilemma over what to do with this new information while keeping herself safe. We feel all of her indecision, anxiety and trepidation over confronting the truth. This one is more of a realistic (rather than supernatural/horror) story, one that touches on the worst kind of monster you could marry.