Review: Good but not great -- and also published elsewhere
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 02 1, 2014
I'm kind of hoping that this short story is secretly a preview for a new series, because as a stand-alone it's good but not great. It's well-written, sure, and makes me want to see what happens to the characters next, but - how do I put this? - it's not remotely as original as it thinks it is. Taking the "ghost passenger" urban legend and trying to add a fresh spin is all well and good and this story does it as well as any, I suppose. Eh. (Other reviewers have compared it to a particular episode of Supernatural, and that's apt for me, as well.) Also, it wasn't as atmospheric as I'd anticipated, and could have taken place in Anytown, USA. There was nothing really to tie it to its supposed Bayou location.This next bit doesn't color my review, but I feel the need to mention the fact that I bought this on Amazon - for my Kindle - and nowhere on the Amazon listing is it indicated that the story was previously published in the collection "Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions" - a collection which I purchased in hardcover upon its original 2011 publication, but had not yet read. I just happened to pull it off the shelf immediately after reading "Red Run", while looking for more short stories, only to roll my eyes at the ToC when, lo and behold, I saw "Red Run" there.So basically, I paid for this so-so story twice. It's not like I paid a lot, but I feel kind of PO'd that the Amazon listing trades on the impression that it's an e-Exclusive. I'm very happy to have this story in Enthralled; it actually sits more comfortably in that context than it does as a Kindle Single.