Suburban Terrors

by Pauline Montagna

[Cameron Trost]

I had read one of these short stories (The Dognappers) before and remembered that I had really liked it. So, when I won a copy of this book as part of an Australia Day Competition (yes, some Aussies actually spend the national day reading), I was chuffed indeed.
It didn't take long to discover that The Dognappers was by no means the only memorable tale in this collection. As a fan and fellow writer of suburban suspense and as a current resident of the fine city of Melbourne, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection. A couple of the tales were predictable, particularly Jim-from-Next-Door and The Hostage Situation, but that didn't bother me as the rides were still full of suspense. Martha and May was a very bizarre piece that was full of twisted imagination. My favourites were In the Loop, a strange train trip, and Last Fare... an even stranger taxi trip.
If you love tales of suburban terror, you'll love this collection. Well done, Pauline!