Tainted Towns by Victoria Williamson

Three unnerving tales of the weird and uncanny from award-winning author Victoria Williamson.

Forced to leave her cosy suburban home for the desolate city outskirts, Helen is chased each night through a dark underpass by a malevolent force.

What does it want?

Terry and Janet take matters into their own hands to tame their neighbour’s overgrown garden when it threatens the order of their perfect suburban life.

But the garden fights back…

And can Tom keep the secrets of the past buried when his crew is assigned to repair the very road he knows he must avoid at all costs?

Dare you visit these Tainted Towns to discover their dark secrets?

This is the second story collection I have read by Victoria Williamson and I loved this one even more than the first! 

In the first story, Tunnel Vision, Helen has given up her old life to start fresh after a breakup. Her new life is lonely and isolated, but she could handle that if only she didn't need to walk through the tunnel to get home from work. I was so sad for her entire situation but most of all, I shared the creeping dread of what may be lurking in that tunnel.

Next up, The Garden Of Friedan finds Terry and Janet Dixon bemoaning the state of their neighbor's garden. Of course, whining about it to Mr. Friedan will be of no use; he stopped doing any yard work once he passed away. Now, the beautiful cherry tree and flowers that were all he had left in memory of his wife, that he so lovingly tended, are overgrown and withered. Terry may be willing to overlook it but Janet finds it unbearable as the plants begin to encroach on her property. To her, it is an unforgivable offense, and Terry will not hear the end of it. Unfortunately for the Dixon's there will be severe consequences for their interference. I hated Janet, but loved the story. I'm glad she's not my neighbor!

Last but not least was The Red, Red Road. Tom is a happily married family man with a dark past and a terrible secret that he has managed to hide for all these years. He has gone out of his way to avoid the Red Road ever since that long-ago night, but there is no way out of it this time. His crew will be working there and he can't escape it any longer. What will happen when the truth comes out?

This novella-length tale was more gruesome than the previous two, and it was my favorite part of the book. 

5 out of 5 stars

My thanks to Silver Thistle Press for the gifted paperback.

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