In the movie The Dark Knight, the Joker has a conversation with Harvey Dent in which he calls himself “an agent of chaos.” Well, if the Joker were to ever write a book of short stories, it might closely resemble the work of author Tommy B. Smith and his collection of dark tales in Pieces of Chaos.

That’s not to say that Smith is a maniacal killer. I’m sure he is quite a nice guy. However, his stories are delightfully twisted, with sharp prose and unexpected turns that make this a tome that should not be missed. The stories are as varied as our own chaotic universe, including a couple living in a seemingly haunted house, a boy trapped in an insane world, and a town that falls victim to mass hysteria.

The writing is crisp and the characters are well developed. The intriguing plots play out smoothly and with vivid imagery. There is even a touch of dark humor, particularly in my favorite entry, Alligator Death Roll, which examines the hazardous consequences of greed.

If you want to lose yourself in a superior collection of dark fiction, this is the book for you. ( )