I recently read two short stories that I wanted to do quick reviews for, so I thought instead of creating two short separate posts I would just combine them!

In the Tall Grass – Stephen King & Joe Hill

Synopsis

Mile 81 meets N. in this e-book collaboration between Stephen King and Joe Hill.

In the Tall Grass begins with a sister and brother who pull off to the side of the road after hearing a young boy crying for help from beyond the tall grass. Within minutes they are disoriented, in deeper than seems possible, and they’ve lost one another. The boy’s cries are more and more desperate. What follows is a terrifying, entertaining, and masterfully told tale, as only Stephen King and Joe Hill can deliver.

Review

I had never heard of In the Tall Grass until I came across the Netflix adaptation one evening and ending up watching it. Strange and eerie, it was full of King’s trademark weirdness. I found that the novella that inspired the adaptation was available on the Esquire Magazine website and decided to give it a go. It’s a very short and quick read (around sixty pages) and follows a brother and sister who attempt to help a young boy trapped in a field of tall grass. After a few minutes they become lost and unable to find their way out – but they aren’t the only ones trapped there, and why has the grass trapped them?

The story is creepy and has plenty of ‘what is going on’ moments. It has lots of really atmospheric scenes with the grass rustling around the unsuspecting siblings. As it was so short you don’t get a chance to get to know the characters, but it’s a fun read. If you’re looking for a quick read with a touch of the sinister, this is definitely what you’re looking for.

The Lodger – C. L. Taylor

Review

The Lodger is a short novella by C. L. Taylor available to those subscribed to the C. L. Taylor Book Club. The story follows a young woman struggling with the death of her partner. When a friend is looking for a place to stay she allows him to room with her, but will that put them in danger? Full of suspense, this short story has everything I love about C. L. Taylor’s writing. It was really short and I would have loved for it to be a bit longer, to get to know the characters a bit more and understand what was going on. There was still a surprising twist that I didn’t see coming, and it was an enjoyable read. If you’re a fan of C. L. Taylor’s reading this is the perfect quick read to tide you over until her next release.