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No source of fear goes unexamined in J. Richard Jacobs’ Twisted Tails III: Pure Fear anthology. Combining 18 stories from nearly a dozen talented authors that resemble Stephen King’s Creep Show, anything Alfred Hitchcock and the Twilight Zone is no easy task but Jacobs does an excellent job of showcasing each author’s ability to bring into the light what scares us most.

There’s a story for every scary thrill seeker whether it’s the eerie heart-racing kind as in J. Richard Jacobs’ The Beast in the Basement or the psychological and existential terror that haunts all of us as in KL Nappier’s Backslide, Twisted Tails III won’t disappoint. Some of my favorites include:

· The Ghost of Korrim McKarthy by Brandon Berntson - I loved the idea of scared kids in the woods and the bully who gets his due in this story. To me this one was the scariest of the bunch!

· Day of the Dead by Marilyn Peake - I liked the idea of masks and what happens when we wear them in this story. I also liked the fact that this story made me laugh in places where I probably shouldn’t have but it was enjoyable all the same. I loved the dark vs light irony and there’s nothing scarier than creepy kids who seem normal at first.

· The Raft by Kim McDougall - The description in this story can’t be beat. I was on that raft with them and I could feel the sun scorching while we waited to be rescued.

· Divine Messenger by K.L. Nappier - While not particularly scary, I loved the wisdom and sarcasm that flowed from the old woman. Nappier makes your heart nearly explode when she plays against that ticking clock.

· Three on a Match by John Klawitter - I enjoyed this one. It made me think of Twilight Zone and those fun British humor novels rolled into one. The Mr. Know-it-All Psychiatrist’s panic was most enjoyable.

· Arachnotail by Biff Mitchell - Last on my list of favs, this one shows how our psychological fears can overtake even our most obvious mental abilities. I loved how the obvious solution couldn’t be implemented or the danger averted because of a combo of liquid courage and irrational uncontrollable fears. In the end you wonder if you’d be hanging beneath the cliff in piss-stained pants in fear of something you could normally squish with your shoe on level ground.

For finding all the ways to scare us, Twisted Tails III: Pure Fear earns 4 out of 5 Sable Seals.

Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing Inc

Format: Print or Ebook

Price: 15.99 or 5.99

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