I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Haunted artifact collectors and bogeymen pepper author Mark Leslie’s collection of short stories and poetry, “One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years.”

The Synopsis

‘American Horror Story‘ Meets ‘Black Mirror‘ in a Collection of Supernatural and Psychological Tales

For centuries, philosophers have pondered the Zen Buddhist koan: “What is the sound of one hand clapping?” What, then, is the sound of one hand screaming? Within these pages you will become privy to that answer in tales about:

• a bookstore that keeps more than dusty old tomes on its shelves . . .
• a phantom limb that can reach into the next world . . .
• the exquisite taste of a book-aged skull . . .
• a comic that colors people’s lives with terror . . .
• graves unable to hold their wares . . .
• a collector of haunted artifacts who gets more than he bargains for . . .
• a deserted northern highway that brings back a man’s worst childhood fears . . .
• bogeymen, anthropomorphic terrors
• and more . . .

In 2004 Mark Leslie released his first collection of chilling fiction and disturbing poetry in a volume called One Hand Screaming. Twenty years later, this special anniversary edition that is more than twice the size of the original includes all the stories and poems from the first edition plus new ones published in the past twenty years along with all new pieces crafted specifically for this volume. This collection includes previously published award-nominees alongside original and never-before published works.

This haunting collection of tales are sure to bring a delicious shiver to any fan of The Twilight Zone, Amazing Stories, and Black Mirror. If, that is, you’re interested in opening your imagination to the sound of those silent screams.

THE REVIEW

This was a delightful and enthralling collection of horror short stories. The special 20-year anniversary edition of the collection is filled to the brim with haunting narratives and poignant poetry that readers will greedily consume, both unique to the original and to new stories from the years since he published the first edition. The author does an incredible job of making each story an immersive experience, creating self-contained worlds with characters that feel real and draw readers in with tension and intrigue. 

Not only does the author manage to balance humor and deeply intense horror perfectly throughout the collection, but the way the author marries supernatural terror with dark psychological insight and trauma is profoundly engaging. The author plays with themes of humanity, knowledge, the hidden worlds around us, and so much more in ways that feel fresh and unique, even twenty years after they were first published. The memorable atmospheric nature of these stories and poems will stay with readers long after the collection is finished.

THE VERDICT

Haunting, compelling, and entertaining, author Mark Leslie’s “One Hand Screaming: 20 Haunting Years” is a must-read horror thriller short story collection. The tension and atmosphere play a heavy role in each story, and the rich characters and shocking twists and turns these stories take will have readers returning to this collection time and time again. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

About the Author

Mark Leslie would be the first person to admit he’s still afraid of the monster under his bed. That might be why most of his books explore the darker side. In addition to penning a series of true ghostly tales he also writes horror and the humorous urban fantasy action/adventure ‘Canadian Werewolf” series.

His other passions include fan appreciation/trivia books about the modern classic 1980s films and sharing stupid dad jokes.

Proudly adopting the term “Book Nerd,” Mark is most comfortable with a pen in hand, fingers on keyboard or with his nose stuck in a book. He can often be seen traveling to book events with a life-sized skeleton named Barnaby Bones.

Born in Sudbury Ontario, Mark has courted with a serious addiction to reading and writing his entire life. He has called both Ottawa, ON and Hamilton, ON home for about a decade each and currently lives in Waterloo, Ontario.

MARK LESLIE