An engrossing bittersweet collection…
Newell delivers a dark, moody collection of fifteen short stories marked by themes of lost love, obsession, betrayal, violence, murder, and remorse in her captivating latest. In the title story “Espoused,” the young protagonist finds love only to lose it again to unexpected tragic circumstances. “Happy Hour” is the quintessential examination of love, longing, lost chances, regret, and grief. In “Dashboard,” the troubled memories of the traumatic past resurface for a police detective after he is called to the scene of the brutal murder of a young woman at the hands of a sexual predator. Bleakness and intrigue abound in “The Cataclysm,” a grim sci-fi tale. Newell examines intricacies of relationships in “Shooting Stars,” in which the protagonist falls for a woman who is already dating someone else. Though some stories rely too much on explication (Prince of Passion), there are stellar moments of clarity in others (Happy Hour). This catalog of intimate, occasionally erotic experiences makes for a gripping collection.
Tales of Half Truths
A Collection of Short Stories
By Ruth Newell
Pub date December 2, 2018
ISBN 978-1790615230
Price $7.99 (USD) Paperback
