Bloodstains on the Wall

by Mike Dennis

[Kim Deister]

Bloodstains on the Wall is a collection of three short stories, each following a different, completely amoral character. Each short story was beautifully written, and deliciously dark. It is difficult to discuss each individual story too much in depth without giving spoilers, and these stories are far too good to spoil.

What I like the most about this collection is the character development of the sociopath in each story. While completely amoral in nature and having committed some rather horrible acts, there were things about the characters that the average person could still relate to, making the reading of their stories somewhat uncomfortable at times as you could see little bits of yourself in these otherwise awful people. In the second story, The Devil Drives a Big Mercedes, I even found myself sympathetic to the bad guy, feeling his childhood pain that changed him as an adult and made him the way he was.

I picked this book up last night and did not put it down again until I was finished. The stories grabbed you and wouldn't let go!