#Bookreview – More Glimpses by Hugh W. Roberts

What Amazon says

Do you believe in fairies at the bottom of the garden? Or know the real truth about what lurks inside every mobile phone? Would you steal items from a blind person, or send your neighbours on a time travelling adventure fraught with danger and menace to save the human race from a bug? How about staying in a sleepy village where many murders have taken place or coming to the aid of royalty while out shopping?

These are just some of the subjects covered in the second collection of short stories and flash fiction from author and writer, Hugh W. Roberts.

‘More Glimpses’ gives the reader an opportunity to take a peek into the lives of normal, everyday people whose lives are all on a path full of twists, turns and unexpected endings. However, it’s not only about the humans; nothing escapes the extraordinary journeys Hugh has planned for you. If you are a lover of shows such as ‘Black Mirror’ or ‘The Twilight Zone’ then you’re in for another exciting trip in this second collection from Hugh. Come and meet the characters who had no idea their lives were about to be turned upside-down. Enjoy the ride!

“Hugh W. Roberts is back with More…Glimpses, that is! This is his second collection of short stories showcasing the dark and somewhat twisted mind of humankind. Roberts’ witty imagination, coupled with his love of stories from The Twilight Zone and Outer Limits, crafts 32 more tales of dark humour and hair-raising tales in a variety of genres, some a short read, others a little longer to get your heart racing! In every case, just when you think you’ve got the tale figured out, Roberts drops in a completely unexpected ending that may make you jump, laugh or even ponder your use of technology! The Tunnel, Baby Talk, Floral Hall and The Right Choice were my favourites!” – Terri Webster Schrandt, Writer and Blogger.

My review

I reviewed this book in my capacity as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team. If you would like your book reviewed, you can contact Rosie Amber here: http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/.

Hugh Roberts has produced another collection of unusual and interesting short stories which inspire a variety of reactions from amusement to disbelief to horror. The author depicts the thoughts, motivations and reactions of his characters to their varying circumstances in an accurate and thought provoking way. He likens his book to The Twilight Zone and as I read each story I though this comparison was very apt as there is a creepy eeriness about the stories that makes you feel as if the characters might have wandered into a parallel universe where everything looks the same but isn’t.

My two favourite stories in the collection are as follows:

The Whistle is a story set in the trenches in France during World War 1. A group of soldiers are sitting waiting for the whistle to blow. When it does, they will crawl out of the trenches and hurl themselves into the line of fire resulting in an almost certain death. One soldier reflects on his life as he waits, knowing this is likely to be the end. His thoughts revolve around the important relationships and loves of his life. When the whistle blows he launches himself into the fray and we discover some interesting aspects to his character and life. The authors descriptions of the horror of waiting in the cold and mud of the trenches as well as the psychology of war are deeply disturbing.

Murder in Evershot is a story about how an inquisitive and perceptive person can be manipulated down an incorrect path and end up missing the obvious. The main character and his partner and two dogs arrive in a small English town for a 5-day break. The town is strongly reminiscent of the movie set for the television series about Agatha Christie’s famous character, Miss Marple. A series of strange events start to unfold and the hero becomes more and more convinced that he is in the middle of a murder mystery. When he investigates certain leads, the evidence seems to point to a certain conclusion and he even comes across a Miss Marple look alike although she adamantly refuses to have any similarities to Miss Marple. The story has an expected ending which is most satisfying.

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