First published back in December of 2021, Welsh author David Owain Hughes’ short story collection ‘In Search Of Madness’ compiled many of Hughes’ previously published short stories along with a handful of previously unpublished pieces.
The collection is split into three sections: the first of which is a collection of short stories along with a reprint of the ‘The Patriotic Prowler’ (2020) novella; the second section is a collection of thirty-three drabbles; and the final section is a reprint of the entirety of the ‘Choice Cuts’ (2015) short story collection which has been out of print for a while.
Foreword – Natasha Sinclair – 3 Pages
Scottish author Natasha Sinclair opens up the collection with a short foreword introducing Hughes’ work, his bold, don’t-give-a-shit style, along with his affinity with the darkest of gallows humour, and how the two authors ended up collaborating. The foreword is an excellent introductory piece, laced with praise for the ‘dirty Welshman’ and respect for his uncompromising approach to writing.
Bastard Bunny – 8 Pages
Henry was sick and tired of how his family and the community in general were to him. He was the vicar, yet they treated him like the village idiot rather than a man of the cloth. This Easter they were putting on their usual Easter gathering. Twelve of them were downstairs waiting for him to get into the outsized Easter bunny costume his wife made him wear every Easter without fail. But this year would be different. This Easter Mr Winkle Whiskers would be the only one laughing. With his bolt-action shotgun hidden within his costume, Henry made his way downstairs to his gleefully waiting guests…
Hahahaha! What an opening story! This is pretty much David Owain Hughes does an Easter version of ‘Falling Down’ (1993). A vicar who’s been pushed too damn far by his family and the rest of the village. You know what’s coming. Although the degree of sadistic, unrestrained violence and resulting bloodshed is probably a heck of a lot more extreme than you were anticipating. Oh yeah, Hughes absolutely lets loose on this one. It’s only short, but the story packs in the visceral nastiness with such a maniacal glee it’ll leave you shellshocked. I kid you not, the carnage that follows is on another level. But it's all delivered with a pitch-black comical wit. It’s a brutal and gruesomely spectacular opening story.
The short story was first published within Matt Shaw’s ‘Easter Eggs & Bunny Boilers’ (2016) Easter themed anthology.
Cadair Idris – 29 Pages
The whole trip had been Dylan Jones’ idea. They’d come up from Cardiff to The National Park of Snowdonia to camp on the Welsh mountain – Cadair Idris. For the rest of the group, it was all a bit of fun. An adventure out in the wild with a little booze to liven things up. However, for Dylan their excursion was something else. If the legends were true, he could come down from the mountain a legendary poet.
However, if the legends surrounding Cadair Idris were true, then Dylan knew he’d need to keep his wits about him. It was said that once a year, mythical creatures would gather with their dogs and hunt through the wintry night skies around the mountain, searching for souls to take back to the Otherworld. A hell awaited, guarded by ferocious white dogs called the Cwn Annwn – the Hounds of Annwn. It was the stuff of legends, although the myth might just have some truth to it…
In case you’d somehow missed it, David Owain Hughes is a proud Welshman through and through. His love and undying affection for his country is evident in each and every book he’s penned. Here we have another fine example of the man’s unrelenting devotion for his home country. A short tale born from one of many legends about the beautiful Welsh mountains.
Early in the short, Hughes throws down a high-level overview about the myths surrounding the mountain. Legend has it that anyone who sleeps on the mountain’s slopes alone will awaken either a madman or a poet. Hughes uses this idea for his overarching plot along with weaving in the Welsh mythology about it being the hunting grounds for Arawn and his white hounds from Hell. You also have Mallt-Y-Nos, who’s a fearsome old hag who hunts through the night skies.
The end result of this Frankenstein’s monster of myths and legends – all of which I might add have been given the David Owain Hughes’ corruptive touch – is a story which, after the scene has been set, launches into a wild and utterly over-the-top horror, with a bunch of Uni students being picked off by these mythological figures and their ferocious two-headed hounds. It’s got all the bloodshed and mayhem of a 1980s campfire slasher, only with the stalking antagonists being weird Welsh Celtic hags and colossal warriors. It’s every bit the blood-frenzy it sounds, with the hapless students ripped to shreds one after the other. Oh, the bloody fun of it all.
So yeah, the Welsh are a weird lot!
The Patriotic Prowler – 51 Pages
Simone had met Henrietta at a somewhat mediocre horror, sci-fi and fantasy convention. During their meeting, the girl announced herself as a huge fan of Simone’s work before asking him to sign a copy of his novel ‘Wind-Up Toy’. A twisted story of debauchery, sadism and perversion, which Simone had penned a little over a decade ago.
Three weeks later, after numerous dates, Simone invited Henrietta to his cabin in the woods. A remote and isolated spot surrounded by tall trees, away from any prying eyes. There he’d drugged the girl and subsequently tied her up, keeping her chained to the walls in his playroom below the cabin. He would use Henry as his sex toy until her body could take no more and she became another of Simone’s many victims to be lost and forgotten.
However, even as he was finishing up with the disposal of Henrietta’s broken an overused body, the urge for another plaything was taking over Simone once again. St David’s Day was almost upon them, which meant only one thing for Simone – it was time for his annual contest. The star prize this year was to spend an unforgettable weekend with him at his cabin.
All he had to do now was pick a winner from his fanbase. Someone feisty. A woman who would fight for survival, although not someone he couldn’t handle. A name instantly caught his eye. The delicious, Neen Long.
Then he noticed the interactions Neen was having on the competition thread with another sexy-slutty fan – Chriss Sandoval. Two ladies could be troublesome! Nevertheless, the prospect of having both women at the cabin was mind-numbing. Simone couldn’t say no to that. He’d just need to be careful. Play his cards close to his chest, until they got to the cabin, and then he’d have two new playthings to use and abuse to his heart’s content…
Back in 2017, Hughes released the ‘All Wound-Up’ (2017) omnibus, and at the time we thought his sordid series of perversion and murder was pretty much set to bed. Then in 2020 Hughes released this story as a short as a novella titled ‘Wind-Up Toy: Patriotic Prowler’ (2020), expanding upon the ‘Wind-Up Toy’ series further.
However, instead of another slice of classic Simone action continuing on from where ‘Into The Playpen’ left off, what we have here instead is a whole new angle for the series. A nifty self-insertion, whereby Simone himself is written in as the author who’s been penning these deviously perverted titles. Of course, we all have instantly assumed that Hughes has simply projected himself as the sleazy, sordid Simone. Enacting his own perverted fantasies within this whole setting. Yeah, we’re all on the same page here, right?!
Then we’ve got the plot for this next instalment. Here, Simone is champing-at-the-bit to get underway with another bout of sexual domination within the isolated confines of his cabin – or more precisely, within the playroom located in its cellar.
For this, we’re introduced to a cheerful trio of entirely new characters – two hardcore groupie-style fans of Simone’s literary output (ala Neen Long and Chrissy Sandoval), along with Simone’s cleaning lady and general maid – Mary. Now, for those who’ve read Hughes’ previous offerings, we know fully well that he likes to insert fans of his work into these stories (in fact, this very reviewer has appeared in a couple of his ‘Wind-Up Toy’ books). Here, all three female characters are also real-life friends/fans of Hughes’ – further breaking down that fourth.
Only, in doing so, within the premise and plot of this piece, writing in these three fans feels almost like a sordid fantasy is being played out. Akin to us wadding through Hughes’ sexually charged fantasies.
It’s a strange situation to be reading. Knowing full well that Hughes is barely even trying to conceal the fact that he’s written himself into the story under the paper-thin guise of Simone. Then we have Simone openly lusting over these real-life fans. Describing their bodies in sordid detail. Stripping them down, appraising their flesh and finally succumbing to his sexual cravings.
Honestly, it feels sleazy as hell. Voyeuristically grubby to the point of being utterly indecent. In fact, I actually found myself checking the Facebook comments on the novella, to thankfully see they were all aware and fully consenting to this open display of lustfulness! Which was a fucking relief!
Anyway, as you’ve no doubt gathered by now, this short little soiree back into Simone’s world, is one of absolute sexual depravity once again. It’s basically an author’s fantasy piece, which soon escalates back into the serial-killer territory we’ve come to expect from our pal, Simone.
Unlike the majority of other instalments, there’s actually little else to this novella other than just a bout of non-consenting bondage and some hardcore sexual antics, followed by (small spoiler here) a spiralling sequence of escape, capture and murder.
As such, the novella doesn’t feel like one of Hughes’ most accomplished pieces. In fact, not by a long shot. Nevertheless, it’s fun, fast-paced and entertaining, with all its unashamed sordidness. That voyeuristic feel to the whole thing – as if we’re spying on Hughes wanking away at his laptop, as he fantasises over his fans – is a tad unnerving. Furthermore, I can imagine the bearded bastard getting a kick out of knowing he’s messed with my head in such a way.
For fans of Hughes’ ‘Wind-Up Toy’ series, this is again one you’ll not want to miss out on. If you’re new to Hughes’ work, or the ‘Wind-Up Toy’ series, then I’d recommend checking out one or two of his other books, before venturing onto this literary version of a cum-stain.
Honestly, the novella feels like it’s one that’s been penned for the hardcore fans. But it’s still a story to make you grin, laugh and squirm. If you manage to get hard or wet when reading this shit, then hats off to you. I’m sure such an admission of such would quite frankly, make Hughes’ day!
Sordid as holy hell, in such a monumentally voyeuristic way. Oh Dave…the things you’ll do for…and to…your fans, huh?!
The novella was first published as the stand-alone release ‘Wind-Up Toy: Patriotic Prowler’ (2020).
Clubhouse Of The Dead – 28 Pages
Speculation regarding Sue ‘The Injun’ Yazzie was rife along the Old Tamp Bay strip. He’d worked hard at building a nasty reputation (despite his feminine sounding name), which kept him and his Bar ‘n’ Grill free of trouble. That and his affiliation with the Boa biker gang who hung out at the Grill daily, having turned Sue’s Grill into their clubhouse of sorts.
Although when the shit well-and-truly hits the fan, and Sue’s faced with hordes of the undead streaming across the strip towards his bar, the colossal West Indian has a moment of panic. Now was the time to live up to the reputation he’d established through rumour alone. With baseball bat in hand, it was now or never for him to step up and show the world what sort of man Sue was…
Here we have Hughes delivering his version of ‘From Dusk Til Dawn’ (1996) meets ‘Feast’ (2005), with a whole ‘Sons Of Anarchy’ (2008 – 2014) vibe thrown in to boot. Essentially, we’ve got a bunch of bikers holed up in an American Bar, with the marauding dead hammering at the doors. Interestingly, the lead character in the story, a brute of a fella named Sue, is made the principal focus for much of story, rather than the zombie apocalypse itself. In fact, the character’s backstory takes up a good third of the entire tale.
Outside of who Sue is, what we have left is admittedly a relatively run-of-the-mill zombie piece that reads like a zillion zombie apocalypse tales of this nature (i.e. a group hole up somewhere, fight their way out, escape, run into the military, question whether the army’s true motives, and then when you think you’re safe you find out you’re infected). It’s nevertheless an engaging read, with plenty of action in the run up to the grisly end.
The short story was later published within the KRK Publishing’s ‘The Horror Collection: Nightmare Edition’ (2022) anthology.
Horny Dead Fucks [Co-Written With Natasha Sinclair] – 8 Pages
Ruby Anya was a punk. For her it was more than just fashion, more than just a statement, it was a way of life. Horror too. She loved it. Which led Ruby to the Glaring Graffiti tattoo parlour, where she planned to get a creepy horror tattoo for her luscious olive-coloured thigh. It took her a while to choose, but when she found the right picture – a graveyard with zombies spilling forth from the loose soil – she knew it was the one.
However, Ruby’s choice in the tattoo will lead to dark and unexpected consequences. The most notable consequence being the undead fuck of Ruby’s life…
This is the first of a few shorts which were co-written by Hughes and Scottish author Natasha Sinclair. When reading the short, the dual authorship is incredibly obvious. In essence, we have Hughes (who’s clearly written the first half), with his Laymon-esque unpretentious style, and that underlying horniness he struggles to supress. Then when Hughes lays down his proverbial pen, Sinclair takes over with a dramatically different direction to the plot, accompanied by a completely different style of writing. The end result is a piece which doesn’t necessarily glue together all that well.
That said, the two separate halves to the tale are both incredibly compelling in their own right. Hughes’ story has that whole ‘Wind-Up Toy’ vibe going for it. A colourful rebelliousness to the character which eventually leads Hughes’ onto setting up the foundations for a tantalising slice of erotic-horror. This is where Sinclair takes over with a very different take on the story. Every inch of what Sinclair delivers is hot-blooded erotic horror, with a bestial rape fantasy performed by the undead in graphic sexualised detail. Sinclair throws some voyeuristic fantasies into the mix before her cream-inducing slab of eroticism comes to a panting end.
As a final note, Hughes penned a barebones alternative version of his half of the story in the drabble ‘Flesh-Eaters’ which also appears later in this collection.
The short story first appeared as a free read on the ‘Horror Sleaze Trash’ website in July of 2021.
Milked [Co-Written With Natasha Sinclair] – 9 Pages
Horace Parker had been told that all his fantasies would be fulfilled if he went to the sex shop and spoke with Mr DeVile. The shop itself was a landmark of a history long forgotten. Although for those who knew of DeVile’s reputation, the services provided were like nowhere else. Which is exactly what Horace needed. He couldn’t hide from his desires any longer. He needed to fulfil his deepest fantasy. He needed DeVile to relive him of his terrible burden…
Hughes and Sinclair are back with another co-written story of (you guessed it!) erotic perversion. As with the previous story, this one is again written in two distinct halves, with the first clearly written by Hughes, with Sinclair going in for the erotically-charged kill for the second half.
Interestingly, there’s no horror in this short per se, but rather it’s akin to an episode of ‘The Twilight Zone’ having been written by the crew at Porn Hub’s ‘Private Society’. Furthermore, the whole ‘pleasure seeking’ drive to the tale feels close to the early elements of ‘Hellraiser: Bloodline’ (1997). Throughout this Hughes manages to set the scene, piling up the intrigue to quite how far the sexual perversion will be pushed once he passes on the gauntlet. Sinclair doesn’t disappoint with her half, taking the story to a more supernatural place, before bringing the whole thing back to supposed reality with purposefully sexualised wording for a cock-stiffening conclusion.
The short story first appeared as a free read on the ‘Horror Sleaze Trash’ website in July of 2021.
The Covert Kinkster And The Embryonic Eunuch – 14 Pages
Trevor had to be careful with keeping his sessions with Madam Christine hidden from his wife, Sheila. If she found out about them, his marriage and career as a politician would be over. He knew it was wrong visiting a dominatrix behind his wife’s back, but Sheila didn’t offer what he needed any longer. Admittedly, she still took his cock when he pushed it upon her, nevertheless ever since they’d been married, it was fair to say she’d let herself go.
Although of late Trevor also hadn’t been looking quite as trim as he used to. In fact, it’d gotten to the point where Madam Christine had commented. She’d pointed out his shrinking genitalia and the beginnings of some bitch tits. Trevor couldn’t quite understand it. Had he really let himself go that much?...
This one’s classic David Owain Hughes. A dominatrix, a feisty pissed off wife, and a man in a position of authority being well-and truly emasculated. The unfolding story is also written exceptionally well, with each piece of the puzzle masterfully slotted into the delivery at just the right time. The result is a savage piece of fiction that puts dominating and abusive men in their place, with another dose of that humiliating sadism we became so familiar with throughout the author’s ‘Wing Up Toy’ series.
Finders Keepers, Perverts Weepers – 11 Pages
Bobby Gerald was a pervert. He knew it and embraced it. In fact, the only thing that made him happy was immersing himself in filth, fantasies and porn. His therapist had tried to calm him down, tried to keep Bobby’s sexual urges to a minimum. Unfortunately for Bobby, his good doctor’s attempts had all fallen by the wayside.
Now Bobby was desperate for a for a piece of filthy action. He needed something to satisfy his relentless sex drive. Then he remembered his cleaner. Tilly, would be arriving soon. He decided to handcuff himself naked to his bed and await her arrival. Perfect! Hopefully Tilly would then turn out to be a kinky bitch and take advantage of Bobby’s prone position…
Here we have Hughes’ take on the premise behind Stephen King’s novel ‘Gerald’s Name’ (1992). From reading the short, it immediately feels like more of an inspired homage, rather than a blatant stealing an idea. Giving the lead character the surname ‘Gerald’ pretty much confirmed this position. Anyway, the story is one of those classic pervy offerings from Hughes; immersed in a character’s perversion from which a decidedly grim turn of events is invariably on the cards. The pacing and delivery are again spot on, and the ending is every bit as grim as you’d expect from the man. Yeah, this one’s textbook Hughes.
The Winner Is…? – 14 Pages
Clayton woke to find he was lying on a bed of sand in the middle of a crowded coliseum. All around the sides, crowds of people cheered and jeered at him. Ahead of him, dark tunnels yawned a black menacing void. Then from out of the gloom came a girl of maybe seven or eight, clasping a club spiked with nails.
Clayton was an experienced riot cop, but he’d never had to contend with a situation like this. All of a sudden, the frenzied child raced towards him, swinging the lethal weapon back and forth. Despite the madness of the situation, Clayton had no choice. Fight or die, it was as simple as that…
Ha! This is a weird short which focusses purely on a hefty dose of violence and bloodshed in favour of any real explanation for what the fuck’s going on! It’s essentially ‘Gladiator’ (2000), only with frenzied kids and teens launching wave after wave of attacks on this stocky riot cop.
For a short, action-packed tale, it crams in the ferocious violence, seeing our protagonist fighting almost non-stop until the bloodthirsty conclusion. It’s all basically unashamed lowbrow action and little else. But honestly, it’s entertaining!
The short story was first published within the ‘Crossroads In The Dark’ (2015) anthology.
Drabbles – 33 Pages
For this section we have a total of thirty-three drabbles (one per page) which consist of reprints of the author’s previously published drabbles, as well as a handful of unpublished drabbles.
If you’re not already familiar, a drabble is a piece of short fiction of exactly one-hundred words in length. Basically, short, snappy, straight-to-the-point flash fiction with a very specific word count.
The collection contains the following drabbles:
- The Rich Get Richer
- Urination Damnation
- Tribal Beard
- Knight Of The Road
- Road Rage
- VHS: The Future Of Home Entertainment In The 22nd Century
- Inheritance
- Timothy Button: The Vampire
- The Runner
- Death In Paradise
- Donor
- Preaching The Perverted
- Outnumbered [with Natasha Sinclair]
- Eaten Alive [with Natasha Sinclair]
- The Last Freakshow On Earth Presents: Diablo (The Dagger) Dynamo [with Natasha Sinclair]
- Unsuspecting Victim
- World War Three
- The Stick Up
- Assassins
- The Last Freakshow On Earth Presents: The Ventriloquist
- The Last Freakshow On Earth Presents: Balloon Man
- The Last Freakshow On Earth Presents: Alligator Alice
- The Invitation [with Natasha Sinclair]
- Out Of Body, Out Of Mind [with Natasha Sinclair]
- Death Of Paradise [Note: Shares the same title as the earlier drabble only]
- Gambling With Death
- Furloughed
- Flesh-Eaters
- Flat Mate
- Fight Or Flight
- Drawing Blood [with Natasha Sinclair]
- The Last Freakshow On Earth Presents: Pestilence Boy [with Natasha Sinclair]
- Miss Pestilence 2021 [with Natasha Sinclair]
Within these drabbles we’re treated to an eclectic mix of stories. Aristocrat cannibals eating a gang of burglars. A swimmer who gets a nasty surprise when she urinates in the pool. A miracle beard growth serum that has an unusual way of providing manly facial hair. A terrible twist in fate when a man attempts to rescue of a lone female. A spot of late-night road rage that sees the speeding bullies receiving instant karma.
Then we have a VHS experience that makes video nasties all too real. A wealthy serial killer whose son inherits more than just his father’s wealth. A vampiric rollercoaster ride that does more than just scare its riders. A runner whose attempt at exercising his demons becomes far too literal. And a man facing his own suicide.
We also have a sperm donor who ends up donating more fluid than he anticipated. A female vicar who gets a sexual thrill from her young choir. A pair desperately fighting off hordes of the undead during their last stand. And a man forced into cannibalism.
Then there’s Diablo Dynamo throwing nine razor-sharp blades (with deadly precision) at his glamourous assistant on the spinning Wheel of Death. A vampire getting more than he bargained for when entering the bedroom of his intended next victim. A landowner uncovering a horde of WWI zombies whilst digging up some historical ground. A vampire finding a cunning way around her allergy to skin. And a mad scientist whose ‘serum of life’ proves to be an effective defence against a gun-wielding goon.
There’s also a ventriloquist whose dummy causes bloody mayhem for the audience. A circus Balloon Man who ensures no living soul will see his act twice. A half-woman half-alligator freakshow attraction that pulls in the punters for the show of their lives. And a young girl who’s unlikely invitation to a masquerade has an altogether sinister intent behind it.
Then there’s a man being tortured by gangsters, who witnesses the moment his time is finally up. We see what happens when Death takes a much-needed holiday break to Florida. A man experiencing the unfortunate consequences of playing Russian Roulette. And Death finding he’s furloughed during the covid pandemic.
Then we have a young girl finding out her new Hammer Horror tattoo is a tad more realistic than she bargained for. A man who uncovers a hidden doorway in his olde-worlde apartment, leading to a terrifying demise. A vampire-killer who finds he’s under-equipped for taking on the hordes of vampire bats in an old disused cinema. A vampire who learns the hard way you shouldn’t try for more than the legally served pig’s blood in a nightclub. A ghoulish imp-boy who’s laser-like eyes burn a lasting impression upon the freakshow’s audience. And finally, a deadly strain of pestilence at the Miss Globe competition which leads to an unfortunate hungering for forbidden flesh.
Phew! As you can see from those brief synopsis of each, the collection offers up a varied mix of wild, pulpy, and downright bizarre horror-infused drabbles. Within them, ‘Donor’ and ‘Preaching The Perverted’ are pure David Owain Hughes horror filth, which have been slimmed down to the grubby bare essentials. You also have a series of five connected drabbles all based on ‘The Last Freakshow On Earth’ which offer up a diabolical series of freakshow acts akin to Hughes’ own version of Clive Barker’s ‘The Infernal Parade’ (2017).
There’s also a trilogy of oddly unconnected drabbles, which see the recurring character of Timothy Button faced with three differing situations. There’s also a series of four drabbles involving the figure of Death in particularly imaginative scenarios.
It has to be said that the freakshow drabbles are some of the best offerings here. Although notably, ‘The Invitation’ is a swift slice of sinister horror delivered with an absolute stripped-back effectiveness. Finally of note is the drabble ‘Flesh-Eaters’, which returns to the short story ‘Horny Dead Fucks’ (which appeared earlier in this collection), which offers up an alternative take on what happens to Raven after getting her new Hammer Horror style tattoo.
Ultimately, what you have are thirty-three pages of slimmed-down, swiftly delivered one-hundred-word micro stories, that will have you chuckling along at the sheer lunacy of the fast-paced horror served up on each page.
The following section contains the stories from Hughes’ now out of print ‘Choice Cuts’ (2015) collection which has been reprinted in full within this collection.
Bank Holiday – 7 Pages
Bank Holiday – 7 Pages
When Jane happened upon a particularly secluded spot amongst the trees, she knew it’d make the perfect spot for spending the Bank Holiday at, for relaxing and reading her book. It was just off the playing fields and the Ystrad train station, but because of the trees, the spot was hidden away from view. Furthermore, the river that ran alongside provided the perfect tranquillity for a day of pure relaxation.
However, by midday the peacefulness was broken by a distressed duck being dragged under by something seemingly submerged below the waterline. Seconds later a figure in a horrific, mutilated state erupted from the water. A figure which began to clamber towards Jane…
Oh, this really is a grisly slab of horror. Hughes sets the scene masterfully, effortlessly painting a picturesque vision of idyllic tranquillity. A gorgeous summer’s day, where this young girl can simply relax without a care in the world. It’s almost Laymon-esque in laying down the tranquil setting. You can almost picture Jane there, absorbed in her Jack Ketchum book. And then suddenly, it’s like a scene right out of ‘Zombie Flesh Eaters’ (1979) at complete juxtaposition to the calmness that preceded.
The abruptness of the attack upon Jane is delivered with skill. Then the brutality that ensues is like something out of a nightmare. Horrific and uncompromising horror. That’s the game Hughes plays. An absolute assault on the senses. Well played, good sir. Well played.
One More Night – 4 Pages
Abigail promised herself tonight was the last night. Just one more night, then she’d do something. But not yet. Not now. Since her husband, James, had passed away, she’d not been able to find the motivation to do anything but exist. It was a cold and lonely life without James. Still, she had one more night. One last night before she really had to do something…
Here we have a quiet, unnerving horror that chills you with unease rather than splitting your skull in two with brutality. I’ll be honest, the big reveal of the chilling twist ending was somewhat anticipated. However, that didn’t ruin the coldness of the piece. It’s more in the way Hughes delivers the human element to it. The emotional bond and touching sentiments that cling to this revelation of chilling horror. Utterly captivating and beautifully unsettling.
Term Break – 7 Pages
They were entering their second year studying creative writing at university. For Lisa, however, for the moment her mind wasn’t on her studies, but rather the dilemma in front of her. She’d agreed to meet Carl at the student union bar that evening. It was then that she’d tell him it was over between them. That her heart had been stolen by someone else.
Although, that ‘someone else’ wasn’t aware of Lisa’s plans to leave Carl. In fact, they thought it had gone the other way…and he wasn’t happy about losing Lisa one bit…
This is a relatively simple but nonetheless effective short. Essentially the age-old problems that are inherent within a love-triangle, with the fallout from the broken relationships spiralling out of control. Yeah, it’s not exactly new turf that’s being trodden here. Although the suspense with where Hughes is going with the story successfully carries you along.
Additionally, for those who went to uni, this whole backdrop is so well crafted that it’s difficult not to be sent back to those days. Honestly, I found myself pausing and briefly reminiscing about my time at uni, when I’d pop into the student union bar, more concerned with socialising than with my studies. I guess this is a testament to Hughes’ writing, how he’s captured an atmosphere that connects with the reader so wonderfully.
So yeah, the story works. Perhaps not in a groundbreaking way, but the suspense and the setting make for a read which effortlessly connects with the reader and delivers a solid punch at the end.
The Guardian – 4 Pages
Gary had gotten home from work in time to read a bedtime story to their ten-month old baby boy, James. Cathy had decided to take a bath, so it was prime time for Gary to spend a little time with his son before he drifted off to sleep. Or at least it should have been. However, when Gary approached James’ bedroom door, a faint whispering could be heard emanating from the other side of the door.
Upon opening the door, Gary was presented with a sight beyond comprehension. The once aqua/green walls of the nursey, with their jungle theme border, were now replaced with the real thing! James’ room was no longer a bedroom but instead a thick forest alive with the sounds of life and the distant echo of a tribe…
Well, this is a weird one. Not exactly horror, but more a weird fantasy piece, which perhaps sits more at home in a child’s or YA book. In fact, the closest to a threat, or indeed any escalating danger, is from the stuffed toy of Gary’s young son – a cuddly toy named Alice the Alligator – which comes to life as James’ protector. The ending does wrap the story up to some degree, but maybe in a too friendly way for a Hughes story?! Nevertheless, for a short-fire piece it’s still an intriguing and captivating read.
Date Night – 6 Pages
Vincent was ready to take his relationship with Judith to the next level. He’d almost given up hope on ever finding love, and then Judith arrived into his life. Now he was ready to make that declaration of love which would bring them together forever. He just needed to wash and clean, then he’d meet Judith for their date, during which he’d pop the question. Just a quick soak in the bath and he’d be ready.
The next thing Vincent knows he’s wakes submerged in a bath of cold water. His tiredness had gotten the better of him. He’d fallen asleep and was going to be late for his date. Leaping from the bath, Vincent rushes out of the bathroom to find Judith there, at a table with candles and wine waiting for him. Silently waiting. Not uttering a single word…
Oh man, is this a good one. I’m going to be limited in what I can say about the story without giving away the clever, jaw-dropping twist. What I will say is that it’s delivered to perfection. Properly caught me off guard, sending me pouring back through the pages to find the clues were all there. Yeah, Hughes absolutely nailed it! A spectacular piece of chilling, psychological horror with a sharp and effective twist.
Brain Decay – 5 Pages
Trix had bought a second-hand dream machine from the flea market. The device enabled her to control her dreams and roam wherever her heart desired. It gave her the chance to play out her sick fantasies, to spy on the dying, or visit the insane. She could see anything her depraved mind wished for. However, for Trix, it was now too late to try for good places. She’d decayed her brain a long time ago. She’d made her bed, and now Trix had to rest in it…
For a short stab of horror this is an imaginative one. A device where you get to do what you want in your dreams, with full control. Of course, Hughes takes this idea and brings it to a character who’s fundamentally damaged. She’s suffered in the past and because of that, now only immerses herself in such suffering. The end result isn’t pretty. Actually, it’s psychologically horrific. Although only brief, Hughes manages to capture this psychological self-destruction quite effectively.
Homes From Hell – 9 Pages
It was Archie’s job to go into rented homes and inspect them for any damage or negligence. It was done so the rightful owner could take action in removing bad tenants and hopefully find more appropriate occupants. Archie took his position very seriously, wanting nothing but the best tenants for the owners.
So often he’d find the homes to be in complete disarray. Damage and grime making many of them veritable homes from hell. Not that he didn’t enjoy his job. In fact, he positively thrived on the power it gave him when reporting back on these lowly tenants. And the house he’d just pulled up outside inspect looked to be just that…another home from hell…
I’m not sure Hughes thinks very highly of home inspectors! Ha! Here we have a short which fits somewhere between Graham Greene’s ‘The Destructors’ (1954) and ‘American Psycho’ (1991). It’s a quirky, singular threaded story, with one goal – make the home inspector look like a complete cunt. Job well and truly done, Mr Hughes! It’s not horror per se, but more a black comedy, which feels without any tangible reasoning for the psychotic actions on display. But it’s a fun read.
Hello, You’re Through To Charlie… - 11 Pages
Charlie’s job at the call centre was never meant to be permanent. It had simply been a means to an end while he paid for university. Six years later and he was still there. Still answering the phones and listening to their customers whinge, whine and complain. But now it looked like that was coming to an end. It seemed his misuse of customer details from over the past few years had finally caught up with him. Charlie had even surprised himself with how disturbed he could be. How he’d unwittingly tapped into his dark side and let it run rampant. The meeting with his bosses was scheduled for later on that day. It felt like Charlie’s own personal judgement day…
This is a good one. A fella in a call centre who’s privy to all sorts of personal information about customers, who then uses that information for a variety of psychotic actions. In some ways you can see a link to Hughes’ novel ‘Wind-Up Toy’ (2016), utilising the faceless engagement with a call handler, and the potential repercussions this might lead to. The story here is delivered with a colourful wit, siding with the darkest of comedies to counter the escalation of the heinous crimes committed. The end result is an utterly compelling read, bursting with nastiness and truly dark humour.
Diet – 5 Pages
Greg wanted his fit, slender wife back. The one he’d married five years ago. Since losing her job, Gloria had become a full-time couch potato. Six months and three stone later, Greg had finally had enough. Gloria clearly wasn’t willing to help herself, so it was time for Greg to take actions into his own hands. Gloria would lose weight if it was the last thing she did…
Again, another superb short story! Here we have what I assume is a doctor or pharmacist, who’s fed up with his lethargic wife’s loss of motivation and drive, and her increasing weight. How he deals with this is classic David Owain Hughes stuff. Psychotic and downright disturbing. But delivered in such a cold and practical voice, making the short tale all the more chilling. Brilliant!
Remembrance – 8 Pages
Kathrin looked out of the kitchen window at the roses in the garden and thought of John. He’d had been an exceptional lover. Everything a woman could ever ask for in a man. Things had been perfect. Then they’d lost the baby. A miscarriage. After that, things started to fall to pieces. Then one day John had said he’d had enough. That he was leaving her. It had all come to a terrible, terrible end. That was a year ago. Now Kathrin reflected back upon their time together. No regrets. It was all just the rich tapestry of life. Although, on that day John’s had of course needed to come to an abrupt end. After all, if Kathrin couldn’t have him, then no one would…
What we have here is another dark psychological horror, with a classic plot set up, which soon shifts gears somewhat, to eventually resemble something that’s almost akin to a ‘Tales From The Crypt’ story. It’s one of those shorts that toys around with a calm, tranquil setting for the reminiscing section. This is then at complete juxtaposition with the brutally cold ending of John’s life. This in turn, is then at odds with how the story ends up, in a horror comic-esque style of delivering horror-fuelled comeuppance. It’s good fun!
Signed, Sealed And Delivered – 9 Pages
Jimmy had been a delivery man for Parcel Brigade UK for the last thirty years. Although he loathed the job, he had to admit it had its perks. He’d steal the odd parcel, mess with others, and when he wasn’t doing that, he’d be screwing the wife and daughter of his supervisor.
Now however, he was being accused of tampering with a parcel and purposefully ruining a customer’s expensive football top. Of course he’d play the innocent party. The company’s owner, Mr Clyde, was a walkover. After all, they clearly had no idea of the mayhem Jimmy got up to…
This one’s brilliant! Another absolute psychopath who goes around causing mayhem for the sheer thrill of it. This time it’s a delivery man who likes to mess with customers’ parcels, often in particularly sadistic ways. However, what makes it such an entertaining read is Jimmy’s absolute gift of the gab. How he plays the innocent confused victim so perfectly. But at the same time, we hear his internal dialogue. The stuff this lunatic does for kicks. That and the threesomes he has with his supervisor’s wife and daughter. Oh Yeah, Hughes is at it again.
Another aspect worth mentioned that comes out of the short is the way it links with the other shorts in the collection. Almost like little Easter Eggs, we have a newspaper headline about Archie Dreadbank (from ‘Homes From Hell’), then there’s Charlie (from ‘Hello, You’re Through To Charlie…’) who followed up on a complaint about Jimmy. These links with the other stories are classic Hughes, and will inevitably bring out a smile of recognition on the reader.
Level 13A – 31 Pages
Millie-Jane had fallen asleep on the top floor of the car park. No doubt the effects of a tad too much alcohol. Upon waking she found the carpark deserted, or at least as far as she could see. It was then that she heard the first dull clanging sounds emanating from the level below.
Something was making its way up the levels towards her. Something that from a distance looked strange, disfigured, almost reptilian. In its hands it dragged an axe. Suddenly Millie-Jane was in a very dangerous situation. There was only one way out of this concrete prison. She had to get down to the ground floor which meant working her way through a hell of a lot of levels. It was probably her only chance of making it out alive…
This one feels just like a 1980s horror B-Movie. A sort of combination of ‘Creep’ (2004) mixed with ‘Xtro’ (1982), only with Hughes pushing up the levels of gore. And gore we have-a-plenty! Essentially, we have this Millie-Jane lass desperately trying to work her way down through the carpark levels, but it seems each time she descends another floor, there’s more fucked up shit waiting for her. Additionally, it’s a David Owain Hughes story, so you probably won’t be surprised to learn that her denim shorts don’t stay on her all that long.
Anyway, despite the reasoning for this reptilian lunatic never being fully explained, its still one heck of an entertaining read. It’s basically a lowbrow sci-fi slasher, with Richard Laymon vibes thrown in for good measure. But you know what, that’s all pretty fucking cool if you ask me! Fun times!
Bad Apple – 1 Page
John was after the Golden Apple Award. And he’d do anything to get the prize. In fact, he’d kill for it…
Here we have a quick-fire drabble about the lengths someone will go to win a highly coveted award in cooking. If like me, you’re not much of a botanist, nor indeed a pâtissier, then you might find yourself googling ‘Ho Hos’ along with ‘deadly nightshade’ to fully appreciate the sinister punchline. Hughes – the pastry chef from hell!
Buried Treasure – 1 Page
Martin was onto his next find. Another grave meant another hoard of buried treasure…
A final slice of drabble fun here. Basically, a graverobber who gets the shock of his life when he opens up his next grave. In essence, the swiftest example of the tables turning ever put to paper! A hilarious conclusion to a wacky little drabble.
The collection runs for a total of 328 pages.
© DLS Reviews
