Matt McAvoy Book Review

I really enjoy short stories, the chillier and darker the better – and they don’t get much more atmospheric than this superb collection by A.I. Johnson.  Whilst not strictly horror or thriller genres, there is enough in most of these stories to add an air of ominous mystery; some are genuinely pretty creepy, others a little more brooding drama.  I admit, the last story in this baker’s dozen wasn’t to my liking, with rather more an air of abstract, sci-fi political satire, but the rest of them, I have to say, were probably right up my street.

I think the real appeal of some these shorts is their mundaneness – the ordinariness of their subject matter, from car-boot sales to pints in the local, a cup of tea and boy racers.  There is something particularly contemporary about this collection, despite the fact that there are one or two period pieces there – or perhaps they are simply nostalgic, old-fashioned chintz; either way, the anthology is quintessentially British, something I appreciate immensely.  If I’m to be critical, it is that sometimes I find the crassness of British vernacular a little off-putting, particularly the swearing; don’t get me wrong, I swear like a squaddie, in appropriate settings, but sometimes it feels a little out of context on the page, and I always think identifies British writing immediately.  Though, I admit, that may be my own snobbish tastes.  Other than this, it was a wonderful book, with some genuinely creative stories; I’d love to read more from Johnson.  As for choosing a favourite, well, that’s quite difficult because they’re all pretty good, though there is something quite tasty about the dark, shameful undertones of “The Smooth Interior of Hell”, and a particularly satisfying arc to “Tea in the Parlour”.  But it actually feels a little unfair to single some out more than others, because, whilst I have no idea how many stories this author has written, this collection certainly contains a great selection from them.

I highly recommend this volume, if you like short stories.  These, at only around 10-12 pages each, can very easily be slotted into a coffee break or a commute, if that is your habit – personally, I think that is a real waste of the atmospheric power of these stories, and would much more firmly suggest shutting yourself in of an evening, with ambient sound and lighting, or maybe curled up under the covers, with the rain pouring outside.  These stories aren’t going to scare you, but they will entertain, provoke thought and, I think, satisfy your need for ominous and chilly entertainment.  A great book, which you’ll definitely have a good time with – I did.