Accusations by Fran Lewis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The irresistible premise - the vengeful stories behind the names on the headstones - really caught my imagination!

Accusations is the fifth book of short stories in author Fran Lewis's Faces Behind the Stones series and is another interesting collection of tales from the grave. Headstone by headstone, the spirit of the person below ground narrates their life story and how they came to their final resting place. Many relate a story of a voice silenced too soon; others will need the reader to decide whether or not they deserved what happened.

There is quite a range of tales and circumstances for the reader's consideration. Although the first couple dealt with teachers and working in a public school district, the rest have few similarities or connections. Some tell of desperate situations and despair, with the speakers ending their misery themselves. Further into the collection, the stories get darker and more horrific in nature. Quite a few characters are horrible, horrible people. I couldn't stop reading.

The stories are told in an almost stream-of-consciousness fashion and, at times, are difficult to follow. Some offerings still felt like rough drafts in need of additional polish. Still, I recommend ACCUSATIONS to readers who enjoy short stories and horror fiction.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

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