Saturday Shorts

Book source ~ Purchased at Amazon.

Title ~ Cruelty

Series ~ Cruelty, Episode 1

Author ~ Edward Lorn

Publisher ~ Edward Lorn

Published ~ 4 October 2013

Genre ~ Horror/Serial

Pages ~ 53

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

There’s a serial killer out there and it’s name is Cruelty. But Cruelty is just the tool for the true serial killer. Who else is out there waiting for some unsuspecting stranger to cross paths with Cruelty?

This is Episode One of a 10-part serial and it starts out with a prostitute and a deaf guy walking down the road. No, really. I was like…wtf is going on here? But having read Lorn’s work before I knew this was only the benign beginning and everything was about to go to shit for the characters. I hate when I’m right.

Poor 19-yr-old Will only wants to get laid. His friend Kirk sets him up with a prostitute he happens to know to get the job done, but Will has no idea this one little decision by his small head is going to be the absolute worst one in his entire life. I’m sure there are many guys who have made those same kinds of decisions at one point or another, but for Will it means his decision puts him in the path of Cruelty.

Then there’s Innis who catches her skunk of a boyfriend cheating on her. Her heat of the moment decision to grab her dog Merlo and take off is another such bad decision that certainly didn’t seem bad at the time.

Texas State Trooper Tom Morgan is on his routine nightly patrol when the B&E call comes in. He probably figured it would be a typical call, teens causing trouble or drug addicts trying to score some cash. Little does he know…

This story is well-written and the different POVs come together to dovetail very nicely. The creepiest POV is Cruelty’s. Who wants to be in the mind of a giant baby doll serial killer? Not me. My only complaint about this story is Cruelty’s physical self. I just can’t seem to get scared enough of a giant baby doll. Yes, it is a serial killer. That part of Cruelty is definitely Depends-worthy, but maybe I’m not appropriately scared of Cruelty because baby dolls don’t creep me out. I’m not sure, but the rest of this story is creeptastic and horrifying in a Holy Shit! kind of way and don’t get me started on Cruelty’s Master. Gah! I’m hooked and can’t wait to see what happens next.

Book source ~ Purchased at Amazon.

Title ~ Cruelty

Series ~ Cruelty, Episode 2

Author ~ Edward Lorn

Publisher ~ Edward Lorn

Published ~ 9 November 2013

Genre ~ Horror/Serial

Pages ~ 48

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

Cruelty Episode Two picks up right after Episode One left off. This is a serial after all. This episode contains more about the people who have been forced into Cruelty’s path either directly or indirectly, so we revisit old friends and gain some new ones.

Turtle is the meth addicted boyfriend of Jennifer the prostitute of Episode One. The description of his addiction is…frightening. But he is only a stepping stone for more characters, Twon and Ollie who are the ones behind the meth operation in the area.

Kirk is Will’s roomie and seriously addicted to working out. He can thank Turtle for sending Twon and Ollie his way.

Will has so many questions to answer when the police show up at the gas station where he dialed 911. The investigation of the seriously fucked up shit that has gone down this night is only beginning and we’re introduced to Sheriff Randy Miser, Deputy Nick Wuncell, Trooper Natalie Holden and State Investigator Frank Markum.

Innis is in a nightmare, both waking and sleeping. Sweet Baby Jane! And we get Cruelty’s skin crawling POV as well. *shudders*

The book ends on Merlo’s POV and I’m beginning to wonder what role the dog is going to play in this tale.

Another well-written episode and Lorn is really layering an excellent story here. Having several POVs to follow gives me a chance to see and hear how other characters/players are connected in this seriously fucked up story about a baby doll serial killer. Again, I’m not very freaked out about Cruelty’s appearance, but being in its mind? Oh yeah…makes my skin crawl. Bring on Episode Three!

Book source ~ Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

Title ~ Cruelty

Series ~ Cruelty, Episode 3

Author ~ Edward Lorn

Publisher ~ Edward Lorn

Published ~ 25 February 2014

Genre ~ Horror/Serial

Pages ~ 50

My Rating ~ 4 bites out of 5

Episode Three takes us back a bit to give us an idea of who John Landover is and how he’s connected. I’m glad because that loose end was bugging me a bit.

The investigation proceeds with Trooper Holden and SI Markum leading the charge.

Trooper Morgan is still in surgery and his wife, Nell is introduced.

Innis is still in Hell. I can’t revisit that, so I’m not gonna.

Will is in danger from more than Cruelty, but he doesn’t know it yet. He heads out to see what is up with Kirk and why he’s in the hospital.

Ending this episode with Cruelty’s POV was diabolical. All I can do is shudder and shudder some more.

Layer upon layer this picture is growing like a giant painting being laid out on a once white canvas, the creepy spine-tingling-lose-bladder-control kind of picture that can’t be unseen. I’m not sure I want to see the next layer, yet I know I won’t be able to resist continuing. I will want to know what happens even if it means running the risk of nightmares. Bring it!