Michael Cargill

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

This anthology contains three fictional tales of suspense and nail-biting. Each is very different from the other, but they all kept me on the edge of my seat. Should you pick up this book be prepared for tension build-up.

Shades of Grey ~
John is some kind of British secret agent who gets caught and is tortured.

I was a bit confused at the beginning of this one, but it soon came together. Pretty good read and it left me wondering, but in a good way.

There and Back Again~
James is a British soldier in WWII and this story has nothing to do with Hobbits, Dwarves or a certain adventure.

This was my least favorite story of the three. It’s well-written, but history isn’t really my thing. It is interesting though.

Down the Rabbit Hole ~
This is about a boy named Tom and his stuffed rabbit named Borger, who does not carry a watch or proclaim he’s late.

Poor Tom! I hate his dad and I have to say he got what was coming to him though the school counselor got a bad deal. That stuffed rabbit of his is way creepy. What the hell?… (más)

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads:
"Look at the person sitting just across from you. It doesn't matter whether they’re a loved one, a friend, or a complete stranger.

Now look at their face. Are they happy? Are they sad? Or are they angry? Can you even tell?

How well do you actually know the people closest to you?

Have you ever seen the real person that lies just underneath what you see...?"

This is a pretty strange story. Hugh, the main dude, is totally unlikeable. I mean, he’s really an asshole. Yikes. There is absolutely nothing to like about him. I’m serious. He is interesting though. Weird, I know.

Robert and Clare are two police officers who are unintentionally following Hugh around. They’re answering disturbance calls about Hugh, but they don’t know who he is or even that these calls are all about the same guy.

The parallel stories are what’s interesting about this tale. As much as I hate Hugh, I kept reading to see if Clare and Robert ever catch up to him. And I have to say the ending is…wow!… (más)

*Book source ~ A review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

From Goodreads:
"Michael Cargill has established himself as the world's leading authority on all things sarcastic, irreverent, and nonsensical. He first appeared in 2012 with a satirical news item about a stray car tyre causing chaos on the streets of Cambridge and since then his efforts have brought forth hundreds of hilarious observations and witticisms about the world we inhabit.

From Justin Bieber's diary, to Vladimir Putin reviewing a glass of Coke, to Steve Jobs and Princess Diana speaking from heaven, and living proof that vegetarians are the real hunters, this isn't something anyone should miss out on."

From the ho-hum to snorts & snickers and onward to laugh out loud moments, there’s a bit of something for everyone in this humorous anthology. Culled from Cargill’s website it’s all here for your entertainment in case you don’t want to troll through his medicine cabinet, um, I mean site in search of amusing tidbits to keep you occupied while you’re waiting in line, stuck in traffic or ruling from your throne.… (más)

*Received e-book through Read It and Reap program from the Shut Up and Read! Goodreads group from author;
**Also posted on Amazon.com under Leanne

Shades of Grey by Michael Cargill is a collection of three stories that illustrate the blurry area between right and wrong. The first story, Shades of Grey, depicts the torture of a secret operative named John, who has himself caused riots and killed others in the course of his job. The second story, There and Back Again, follows a British soldier named James who is bombarded by German attacks along the French border and must deal with the gritty reality of war. The final story, Down the Rabbit Hole, is about a boy named Tom whose toy rabbit begins talking to him, making dangerous suggestions to deal with an abusive father and a bully at school.

Shades of Grey: This was my second favorite story of the compilation. Cargill did an admirable job in bringing John’s character to life with his inner monologue as he was strapped to the chair. I found John engaging and multidimensional as he described his previous assignments and his failed marriage. Despite his non-ideal past, I was hoping he would survive his torture. The only thing I didn’t like about this story was that it ended too soon – I think Cargill could release a full story with John and would look forward to reading this.

There and Back Again: This was my least favorite story of the compilation. Although Cargill did a thorough job in describing James’s ordeals in various battles, I did not connect to the character, unlike the other stories. I found myself becoming disinterested in the plot and was actually waiting for the end in order to read the next one. I think this story would be more appreciated by fans of war scenarios (which I am not).

Down the Rabbit Hole: This was my favorite story of the compilation. Reminiscent of a Stephen King plot, I loved the sinister feel of the talking rabbit as he persuades Tom (unbeknownst to him) to set up “accidents” for a bully at school and a delivery driver. I thoroughly enjoyed the tension-filled buildup leading to the bloody finale involving the father. I felt that Cargill successfully wrote a complete short story with enough introductory information and a satisfying ending.

Overall, Shades Of Grey was a fast and entertaining read. I would recommend this to adult readers who are fans of suspense/thrillers, such as those written by Robert Ludlum and Stephen King.… (más)