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BOX OF LIES Mark LaFlamme 9781609105693 Books

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BOX OF LIES Mark LaFlamme 9781609105693 Books

I've read Mark LaFlamme's work before, so I thought I knew what I was in for with his BOX OF LIES. Shivers at the back of my neck, furtive glances over my shoulder, a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach... delicious! But I didn't bargain on the cumulative effect of more than two dozen stories, each with its own chilling atmosphere. LaFlamme is like a graffiti artist sliding around a corner in the dark with his collar turned up, a few bold strokes and he's moved on--but the territory of your mind has been tagged with his distinctive images.

If you're about to say that short stories aren't your thing, put that opinion on hold for a day or two and peek under the cover here. See if you really can resist. Each story opens with a line that yanks you in: "Trevor Garbo liked dead things." "My name is Rudy Weather and I can read your mind." "It was two days after the world ended when the old van rumbled up Route 4." "'Do you ever worry,' Randall Albee asked him, 'That they might come for you?'"

I wouldn't know where to start, telling you about these stories. Read a few here, a few there, put the book down and think about them for a while, go back and read a few more. One thing you know for sure is that, whether you're reading about a band of murdering fourth-graders, a shopkeeper defending his territory after the apocalyse, or a man who made a very poor bargain for eternal life, the characters are so real you can reach out and touch them, if you only dare.

Many of these stories spoke to me of some truth I don't quite dare to believe. For example, if you were moving into a new house as I am this week, what would you think of a story like "Our House," about a home that nurtures one of its new tenants while abusing the other? And do you hope that we'll adopt a gentle new paradigm when the oil is gone but fear that, instead, as it does in "The Neighborhood," it will come out of our hides? And perhaps creepiest of all, do you ever think about what could happen--or not happen--because you stopped to pick up a penny (or, perhaps, didn't)?

If you've let your imagination get a little rusty, prepare to be challenged by Box of Lies. Stylish writing, great characters and some wildly skewed concepts; it's a whole lot of entertainment with the mind-bending thrown in for free.

Linda Bulger, 2010


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BOX OF LIES Mark LaFlamme 9781609105693 Books Reviews

I actually read this book when it first came out a couple of months back and planned to review it right away. Why didn't I? Because I've been having trouble finding the right words to describe it and I wanted to do it justice. I have always loved LaFlamme's work so I figured I'd like this one, too, but I was still taken by surprise. It is as good as and better than his previous novels with great pacing and skillful dialogue that pulls you right in and moves you along but the collection is also full of new elements. The stories have constant twists and turns of emotions. While reading these carefully crafted and highly varied stories I not only experienced the expected don't-look-over-your-shoulder moments but I also felt sadness, satisfaction and amusement among other emotions. It certainly has chills and thrills but with more depth and thoughtful theories than most macabre narratives do. I think the stories that got to me the most were the ones that were not so far-fetched and left me (even now) thinking and worrying, "You know, that could really happen. What if it does?" But I think that probably the highest praise I can give "Box of Lies" is to tell you that I will be re-reading it at least once, not only to re-experience the stories but also to re-examine the subtle nuances. On a side note, because LaFlamme's work will now all be available on , I finally broke down and purchased one. (I'm very glad I did,too!)
I said it before and I'll say it again Mark LaFlamme is the best horror writer I've ever read. I've read all his books and will put him at the top of his game--right up there with Steven King, Dean Koontz, John Saul and Shirley Jackson...who are consistently the very best!

No need to remind you seasoned readers about how original his stories are or how well-paced and -written. Keeping it simple, each and every one of the short stories in Box of Lies is blood-curdling, spine-tingling, "horrorific" art. I do confess that Mark's fellow horror writers (mentioned above) have all managed to keep me reading until two or three a.m, but he's the first to keep me awake all night long. All I can say is "Thanks, Mark! I enjoyed each frightening second of the creepy experience."

Reading makes strange bedfellows, so move over Koontz, King, Saul and Shirley... LaFlamme is here to stay! But be careful lest his Midnight Madness become your Daylight Desire... To keep your sanity, you must keep in mind that it's only fiction. As the author himself says "What is fiction but a lie?" This unusual book contains twenty-eight mysterious, unique, spine-chilling stories by a self-described "liar." (But with all due respect, I still prefer storyteller.)

Many more books like this, The Pink Room,DIRT An American Campaign and Vegetation and I'll have to start a Facebook campaign to have the Attorney General label these books "dangerous to the readers' health." After all, how much sleep can a person lose and still function?

ENDNOTE Not that it matters because all of Mark's "lies" are spooky and special, but my favorites are "Pepper," "Honey," and the title story "Box of Lies."

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, March 30, 2011
Author of "Dream Reachers" (with Chase Von) and other novels
I've read Mark LaFlamme's work before, so I thought I knew what I was in for with his BOX OF LIES. Shivers at the back of my neck, furtive glances over my shoulder, a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach... delicious! But I didn't bargain on the cumulative effect of more than two dozen stories, each with its own chilling atmosphere. LaFlamme is like a graffiti artist sliding around a corner in the dark with his collar turned up, a few bold strokes and he's moved on--but the territory of your mind has been tagged with his distinctive images.

If you're about to say that short stories aren't your thing, put that opinion on hold for a day or two and peek under the cover here. See if you really can resist. Each story opens with a line that yanks you in "Trevor Garbo liked dead things." "My name is Rudy Weather and I can read your mind." "It was two days after the world ended when the old van rumbled up Route 4." "'Do you ever worry,' Randall Albee asked him, 'That they might come for you?'"

I wouldn't know where to start, telling you about these stories. Read a few here, a few there, put the book down and think about them for a while, go back and read a few more. One thing you know for sure is that, whether you're reading about a band of murdering fourth-graders, a shopkeeper defending his territory after the apocalyse, or a man who made a very poor bargain for eternal life, the characters are so real you can reach out and touch them, if you only dare.

Many of these stories spoke to me of some truth I don't quite dare to believe. For example, if you were moving into a new house as I am this week, what would you think of a story like "Our House," about a home that nurtures one of its new tenants while abusing the other? And do you hope that we'll adopt a gentle new paradigm when the oil is gone but fear that, instead, as it does in "The Neighborhood," it will come out of our hides? And perhaps creepiest of all, do you ever think about what could happen--or not happen--because you stopped to pick up a penny (or, perhaps, didn't)?

If you've let your imagination get a little rusty, prepare to be challenged by Box of Lies. Stylish writing, great characters and some wildly skewed concepts; it's a whole lot of entertainment with the mind-bending thrown in for free.

Linda Bulger, 2010