cover image Tuxedo Junction

Tuxedo Junction

Thom Carnell. Crossroad, $16.99 trade paper (238p) ISBN 978-1-952979-79-8

The supernatural mingles with blistering emotional realism in this excellent third collection from Carnell (A String of Pearls). With these 19 stories, Carnell offers an impressive variety of narratives as his characters encounter apparitions, monsters, illness, and their own humanity. The best stories include “The Children’s Hour,” about a little girl who encounters the benevolent spirit of her recently deceased father; “An Angel Cometh,” a surreal tale of a man who witnesses horrors within a cathedral; “Standing Tall,” about a young boy who watches from his wheelchair as other children play sports; and “Dancin’ Days,” which sees a female martial artist sparring with her instructor. Each story is preceded by a short introduction offering mild insights into the origins and development of the work. Moving from whimsical to brutal and back again, Carnell’s descriptive prose marks him as a standout voice in supernatural fiction. This haunting collection will linger in readers’ minds long after they’ve turned the final page. [em](Dec.) [/em]