Review: Excellent Short!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 02 8, 2012
Taken from my blog:  [...]Today is a first, as I am reviewing three books at one time!  LOL!  Zombie Tales: Primrose Court Series is a collection of three short stories by author Robert DeCoteau.  All three stories were based on Decoteau's novel Don of the Living Dead.  I have yet to read this novel, but I must say that I enjoyed all of the Primrose Court "shorts!"In the first book, Primrose Court Apt. 205, we read about Theodore Granger - a man who suffers from Agoraphobia and OCD, has an irrational fear that he is cursed, and that his presence has caused many deaths.  In the story, Theodore has decided  he is going to take his first step out into the world after ten years of being a recluse.  It is an important day for him!  He only has to walk one block and cross the street to get to the coffee house where he is supposed to meet his doctor.  Unfortunately, there are more deaths along the way.In the second book, Primrose Court Apt. 305, we read about Charles Grimly and his wife, Mariana.  Charles definitely has a "Norman Bates" complex, as he, too, cannot let go of his mother's apron strings.  His wife is a stripper at a local club and Charles has a problem with this.  He is an over-weight guy who lives with a a woman who cannot stand the sight of him and treats him like dirt.  As I read the story, I often wondered why Mariana married Charles if she despised him so.  Everyone has a breaking point and Charles finally reaches his.  With the help of his dead mother, it looks like Charles may be onto a better life - minus his pushy wife.  However, even the best laid plans go awry.  There are some things which cannot be foreseen - he is about to find that out.In the last book, Primrose Court Apt. 502, we learn Tommy's story.  I actually felt sorry for this young man.  He is a druggie who lives with his mother who suffers from Alzheimer's.  He has just lost his job and learned that his girlfriend is sleeping with his drug dealer.  Figuring that things can't get much worse, Tommy goes out the window and sits on the building's ledge, contemplating his life and if maybe suicide is the answer for him.  Then, something happens that assures him there are things much worse than death.I loved several things about these short stories, but my favorite is how all the characters are tied together (they all live in the same apartment building) and make appearances in each other's tales.  I am often displeased with short stories because there isn't enough time to get to know the characters and relate to them on a personal level.  Decoteau gives just enough information for the reader to understand the protagonist, their problems, and why they take the steps they do to resolve them.  I do hope that maybe the author will take these characters and go a bit farther with their adventures.  I would love to know what happens next!