THE DEAD OF WINTER The Best Chilling Tales of William P. Robertson

Short stories are special in that they accomplish a great deal in a short period of time. The reader is introduced to the characters and the story subject early on. The right choice of adjectives, nouns, verbs and adverbs is imperative in order to craft a readable tale. The well written stories included in DEAD OF WINTER The Best Chilling Tales of William P. Robertson are perfect examples of this. Each tale is unique and they deal with a variety of elements which include shock, adventure, horror and gore. The stories are filled with messages and symbolism which include revenge, kindness, justice and evil.

In Fetters and Chains we meet Jason. "Jason came from a very unloving family". His parents hated each other and as a result he decided marriage was not for him. Because he grows into an attractive young man he is often pursued by girls. He enters into relationships whereby he uses the girls and then discards them. Suddenly, Hester appears and he is dazzled by her, so he asks her to the prom. What transpires when he comes to her home to pick her up is both shocking and satisfying. Estranged is a story of love gone wrong which continues to spiral into a tragedy. Charlie's estranged wife, Lauren, unexpectedly comes back into his life and terrorizes him and his unsuspecting mother. The author deftly describes Lauren's evil intentions which lead to shattering results. The Great Stag is a memorable tale. Blackie Grimes is a hunter who is searching for the extra doe he is entitled to legally. But, Mr. Grimes greed causes him to shoot not only a doe but her two yearlings as well. His murderous acts do not go unnoticed and the hunter becomes the hunted. He learns that there are consequences and that revenge can come from unlikely sources.

Mr. Robertson's tales include triumph and tragedy as well as humor. The characters are skillfully developed and each story draws the reader into their world. The author is a gifted story teller. In my opinion, the mark of a good story is that it is remembered by the reader. I will remember these tales. I recommend reading this collection of tales.
I received this book free of charge through Review the Book. I give this review of my own free will. ( )

There is nothing like a good story that captures a reader’s interest and imagination. A well written story, whether it is horror, suspense, adventure or drama should contain the elements that honor the genre for which it has been written. A prime example of a book that pays homage to the horror genre is The Dead of winter-The best Chilling Tales by author William P. Robertson.

Author William P. Robertson is no stranger to the literary world as he has written hundreds of short stories, poems, articles and several books. Being no stranger myself to reading this genre I have found myself enamored with this book. The Dead of Winter is an exceedingly well written book that contains a thrilling collection of short stories that both enthrall and entertain. Within its pages this book contains some of the better creative and fear inducing tales that I have read. The detailed stories capture your interest and draw you into the scare imbued world of the story. Reading William P. Robertson brings to mind remembrances of other great horror writers; his writing style is unique yet resonates with the spine tingling details that great seasoned horror writers offer. Creating an environment of fear and frights that assail the reader’s senses these stories do please and are sure to keep you reading with the lights on as your senses are assailed by the realistic and fear inducing scenes in each story.

While all the stories are great, there are several in particular that I found extra enjoyable; they are Estranged, Mary and Emmett, Bad Things Happen to Bad men and The Price of a Pint. I personally look forward to reading more by this author. I highly recommend this book to those with the desire to curl up with a good book, with lots of lights on during the Dead of Winter. ( )