There's Something Wrong with Aunty Beth - Deranged Joys
I loved this collection of short stories by Mark Towse. Each one was unrelated to the next. They abounded in creativity and highlighted prime cuts of horror.
There were some stories that I would have loved to see get turned into a novella, such as The Fruits of Labour, which was a visceral and creepy story about strange fruit providing inspiration for a writer at a disturbing price.
My favorite stories were:
The Fruits of Labour - As mentioned above.
Mother Dearest - A freaky scenario that involved a haunted house and a family evolving into turpitude.
Bucket of Chicken - A greasy jaunt into the world of a man whose past has come to claim its due.
Time for a Change - A feminist story about banding together and reclaiming the self after abuse.
Old Times - This fun tale reminded me of the movie Mr. Brooks in the best way.
The Candle Maker - A fantastic finale for this book that will make you think twice about immersing yourself in memories prompted by well-crafted scented candles.
It was a whirlwind collection that touched on various topics, with only the author being the common denominator. I reveled in that experience because it brought surprise with each new tale and kept me on my toes, eager for what fresh hell came next. Like a bouquet of feral babies, I whole-heartedly recommend this bundle of deranged joys.
