Review: Great Compilation of Short Stories
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 17, 2012
*Received e-book through Read It and Reap program from the Shut Up and Read! Goodreads group from authorShades of Grey by Michael Cargill is a collection of three stories that illustrate the blurry area between right and wrong. The first story, Shades of Grey, depicts the torture of a secret operative named John, who has himself caused riots and killed others in the course of his job. The second story, There and Back Again, follows a British soldier named James who is bombarded by German attacks along the French border and must deal with the gritty reality of war. The final story, Down the Rabbit Hole, is about a boy named Tom whose toy rabbit begins talking to him, making dangerous suggestions to deal with an abusive father and a bully at school.Shades of Grey: This was my second favorite story of the compilation. Cargill did an admirable job in bringing John's character to life with his inner monologue as he was strapped to the chair. I found John engaging and multidimensional as he described his previous assignments and his failed marriage. Despite his non-ideal past, I was hoping he would survive his torture. The only thing I didn't like about this story was that it ended too soon - I think Cargill could release a full story with John and would look forward to reading this.There and Back Again: This was my least favorite story of the compilation. Although Cargill did a thorough job in describing James's ordeals in various battles, I did not connect to the character, unlike the other stories. I found myself becoming disinterested in the plot and was actually waiting for the end in order to read the next one. I think this story would be more appreciated by fans of war scenarios (which I am not).Down the Rabbit Hole: This was my favorite story of the compilation. Reminiscent of a Stephen King plot, I loved the sinister feel of the talking rabbit as he persuades Tom (unbeknownst to him) to set up "accidents" for a bully at school and a delivery driver. I thoroughly enjoyed the tension-filled buildup leading to the bloody finale involving the father. I felt that Cargill successfully wrote a complete short story with enough introductory information and a satisfying ending.Overall, Shades Of Grey was a fast and entertaining read. I would recommend this to adult readers who are fans of suspense/thrillers, such as those written by Robert Ludlum and Stephen King.