Twisted Tales from the Desert – an anthology of short stories with twisted views and endings. In this collection you will find humor, murder, a love story involving a ghost, an inhabited ghost town, a Fairy Godmother tale unlike anything you would expect, and more. NOTE: Contains content considered unsuitable for readers 17 and under.
Twisted Tales from the Desert
By maricollier
A Gentler Twist
I’ve now read all three of Collier’s Twisted Tales, and found this one a gentler collection, perhaps a bit more traditional than the previous two. The scenarios are just as imaginative, but far less bizarre and creepy. The characters are more relatable, more like regular folk, who find themselves in extraordinary situations – but the twisty end is there: surprising, ironic, and oh, my!
Who among us hasn’t hoped to hit a big money payoff? Or felt the presence of a loved one who has passed on? Believe in ghosts? Maybe not, but how do you explain two “entities” in an eternal battle for male/female dominance shape shifting before your eyes? Conversations on either side of a radio “Portal” result in an identity switch. There are Bad Seeds, a battered wife fantasizing a way out and driven to the brink, a Fairy Godmother (be careful what you wish for). There’s a stunning reminder to always maintain “control” while driving; and watch out for that sculpture of a Desert Iguana.
I gave the book four stars because one of the stories is published in a previous collection, although it is an intriguing adventure. Pick up this final anthology and make your collection complete.
Bestselling author, Mari Collier writes amazing science fiction sagas taking place in the old west. These are contemporary stories with unique characters and desert landscapes. Her detailed, descriptive writing is well researched, showing an authentic command of language and a deep grasp about subjects most of us have only heard about, such as ham radio frequencies, shifting harmonics and cruise control. Unusual topics, only the most talented writer can make interesting. In fact, all her Twisted Tales from the Desert are mesmerizing and most will leave you breathless if not shocked. To spin a thrilling tale on a few pages complete with a suspenseful plot in each story is brilliant and in this case, truly twisted.
Whether it’s a story called Forgotten Gods about Native American folklore that had me searching on the floor for the bottom of my jaw, or simply a story about a wife wishing her husband Phil would someday return, in The Kiss, there’s a lot to love in this fascinating collection. In Ghost Town Remodel, Kim wants to refurbish a haunted bordello, in Conversations with the Unknown, Kevin is spending entirely too much time working on a broken radio while his wife Darla keeps nagging that he should stop so they can start a family. The hairs on the back of your neck will rise as Collier pulls you into A Victim of Murder which, along with many of these stories could be made into television movies or full-length novels. If I had to pick a favorite, I’d choose Rest in Peace which is a happier ghost story with a satisfying ending. The combination of ghosts, science fiction and “sweet spring desert air,” makes for some seriously great reading and since these are short stories, you can read one and put the book down until you have time to read another.
Twisted Tales from the Desert :by Mari Collier
A real mix of twisted short stories with unexpected endings. From a two way radio with a disastrous outcome for one of its users, to Native American folklore. There is something for everyone in this compilation of short stories. The endings are definitely twisted, dark, weird and occasionally funny. There is such a mix of tales here. In my opinion, this would be a good little book to take on holiday as the stories are truly diverse and short enough to read in whatever free time the reader has.
This is the fourth book I read from the Bestselling author, Mari Collier, and her ability to write beautifully written scenes, interesting characters and fast-paced plots never stop to amaze me. Her sci-fi/western stories remind me of Serenity and Firefly, which have a special place in my heart, and so do Mari’s books. I’ve enjoyed reading them as much as watching Firefly, and I hope one day they turn into TV shows too. Highly recommended.