History That Never Was

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Review of Unfinished Business by Catherine Lundoff

Catherine Lundoff’s collection, Unfinished Business (Queen of Swords Press, 2019) is a beautifully dark bunch of short stories. Within the pages, you’ll find historical horror, literary horror, dark sci-fi, and more.

My favorite stories of the bunch were ones in conversation with works of literature. “The Mask and the Amontillado” lets you know the twist pretty close to the beginning, and it’s a delightful look at another possible reason why you might brick someone up in your cellar. And “Miss Lucy’s Glass” takes a minor, unnamed character who could have been operating behind the scenes in Dracula and gives her the leading role as she looks after her mistress. But I also loved “Bluebeard’s Wife,” which took a little bit to get my attention, but then really nailed the ending. Several other stories share this sort of pacing where once they really get going, there’s no way to stop, and the entire ride is worth it!

If you enjoy darker short stories, Unfinished Business is a great place to find them! There’s blood and violence and terror aplenty, but it’s all so deliciously written that it’s hard to put down!


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