Review: A box of treats...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 22, 2014
This collection contains four longer than average (forty five mins appx) short stories. They generally involve some sort of violent crime taking place, and keep you hooked as the body count rises. A common theme is parents dark or unhealthy relationships with their children, albeit dislike and shame or murderous over-protectivness.The first story "Rock A Bye Baby" is about a mother who will quite literally kill for her family stability. It reminded me a lot of "American Psycho" as madness takes over and those around her cannot see the murderer that she clearly is, even when she tells them.Next is "Eenie Meanie" - inmates in a youth detention centre are being attacked in their cells, in a manner that suits the crime they committed. This story asks questions about crime and punishment as the attackers identity comes to light.The third story "Nibble Nibble Crunch" involves something usually seen as fun and pure (snow) becoming quite the opposite. It actually has the largest character status changes of all the stories, as unlikable or cold characters manage to turn it around as we get to know their history and the reasons they are how they are.The final story "Humpty Dumpty" is about a girl who is bullied at school and abused by her parents, but her protectivness towards her baby brother gives her the power to stand up to four murderous intruders. Probably the toughest read of the four which somehow offers a glimmer of hope in a world of pain and suffering.All in all a good collection of stories which show both the dark as well as thegood sides of human nature. A box of treats.