William Meikle is a multifaceted writer. You just can’t pigeon-hole him as this or that type. He writes classic monster romps like Night of the Wendigo or Crustaceans, historical re-imaginings like Abominable, retro style sci-fi horror like The Hole. He writes extremely thoughtful and deep character driven pieces that are very fine examples of where dark (literary) fiction is all about today---like Clockwork Dolls and this most recent novella Broken Sigil.

This ghost story one had a 40’s crime noir style feel to it. Maybe because this is part homage to The Maltese Falcon, a movie lover’s dream pic staring Humphrey Bogart (my favorite actor), I was destined in advance to really enjoy this one. Drawing on the complex and layered movie as a background, Broken Sigil tells the story of a disappearing man.

Called to investigate the violent death of an ex-friend, he is drawn to a mysterious house with a very peculiar set of residents. In a place where the needful living commune with the ghosts of their respective pasts, through channels of their own creation, Detective Connors dives deeper and deeper into its secrets as the real world recedes.

Extremely well done and another example of the fine dark fiction being published by Darkfuse.
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4.5 stars!

The Darkfuse Kindle Club has once again introduced us to a fantastic story by the wonderfully imaginative William Meikle. If you aren't familiar with his previous Darkfuse works check out my (spoiler free) reviews for Clockwork Dolls and/or The Hole.

This tale begins with internal affairs cop Joe Connors investigating a police shootout in which is former partner was shot. That's all I will say about the plot, because it's so unique you should discover it on your own.

I will say that this cop is no pansy. As an internal affairs officer he is not particularly liked by the other cops, (think Serpico), and he pretty much doesn't care. He drinks and smokes so much I thought I saw smoke rising from my Kindle. I was so completely sucked into his story and the story of his ex-partner that I came back from lunch late and got in trouble. (I'm just joking, but I would have been willing to get in trouble just so I could finish this story.)

To sum it up, this story is wildly creative while at the same time very sad. We all lose people in this life and there are times when we would do almost anything to see them again. Up to and including the carving of sigils.

Highly recommended! ( )