Friday, the magical black cat with a devilish sense of justice, returns in a second collection of macabre and darkly humorous stories. Set at significant times of the year, these stories celebrate key events while Friday delivers his own brand of feline justice to people who fully deserve what’s coming to them. If you have ever wished for revenge, or taken pleasure in seeing horrible people get … horrible people get their just desserts, this book is for you.
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A Black Cat Named Friday—Karma’s Mascot!
Having previously immersed myself in Joanne Van Leerdam’s first book, ‘Curious Things,’ which introduces the reader to a black cat named Friday with special powers for meting out justice, it was a no-brainer for me to acquire the sequel, ‘Curious Times,’ which also works as a standalone.
Like the first book, ‘Curious Times’ straddles good and evil through eloquent storytelling infused with macabre details so those in “need” get what is coming to them. When Friday gives a villain the stink eye, emits a low growl, and swishes his tail—look out! It’s also gratifying to keep company with the nicest neighbors you’ll ever meet: Trixie, Tom, Kathleen, Rose, and Trevor—and newcomer, Daisy, Friday’s gal pal.
Subdivisions in this book include: “A Curious Friday Afternoon,” A Curious Christmas Eve,” “A Curious New Year’s Eve,” “A Curious Valentine’s Day, and “A Curious Halloween”. In each segment, karma has a way of boomeranging ten-fold in meting out justice for bullying, mean-spiritedness, pretention, or self-centeredness. For those who lack remorse and the sincerity for redemption—well…
I highly recommend this book for the author’s impeccable writing, storytelling prowess, and the immense satisfaction one gets when Friday has his way.
Macabre Humor Dominates This Brilliant Horror Collection!
Friday, Van Leerdam’s beloved black cat who is the very representation of cosmic Karma, is back for more dark magic in the macabre, and oftentimes hilarious, short horror story collection, “Curious Times”. This new round of tales focuses on teen-bullying and peer pressure, and—depending whether one’s eyes are opened to the truth or not, if bullies can ever truly change.
Van Leerdam’s characters from “Curious Things”—the first book in what I hope will be a long-run continuing series—are well-defined and familiar. The author adeptly provides brief flashbacks of character descriptions, names, places, and events from her first book, giving the reader a sense of homecoming, even as she smoothly injects several new characters into the mix—including a possible love interest for a certain mischievous feline who always seems to be at the right place at the right time.
Not once did it feel as though “Curious Times” was dependent on the prior book, “Curious Things” to provide readers with a sense of direction or satisfaction. Although I found this particular story collection to be a great stand-alone read, I highly recommend both books as your next favorite horror reads.
By the way… Benjamin Harris Hardy Heathcote III—one of the many recipients of Friday’s special brand of inspiration and motivation to live a better life—personally recommends “Curious Times”.
Friday is back!
The little ball of karmic bliss finds himself in the midst of all new adventures in this newest book by Joanne Van Leerdam. This book has a particular focus on peer pressure and bullying, and I love the way the author wrote it so that it both sends a powerful message and gives an immense feeling of satisfaction when Friday deals with the bullies. I love the cast of characters in this story, especially Friday’s new friend, Daisy.
Even though this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a standalone and fully enjoyed.
Friday, the magical black cat, is pure luck for some and definitely bad luck for others. I love the way the short stories in Curious Times are organized around the holidays, making them plausible and timely to the season. Each story has a moral – perhaps it’s that I’ve been mistreated or taunted by more than one “ugly” teenager, but I loved seeing justice served for bad behavior right along with the other holiday goodies. Curious Times is a fun, satisfying read, well-written and full of layer just waiting to be peeled away. Highly recommended!