Bad Dolls

A talented ensemble conveys the horror, occasional humor, and bizarre behavior of contemporary humanity. These short stories examine modern life with all its contradictions, regrets, and frightening realities. Standouts are Helen Laser's "Reply Hazy, Try Again," about a flea market Magic 8-Ball that takes over the life of an endearing but gullible woman. Her voice alters as her obsession with the ball grows, making listeners fear for her. In "Bachelorette," Suehyla Young's descriptions are so convincing that listeners feel as if they are present as partygoers find themselves at an ancient pre-wedding blood sacrifice. Young compellingly portrays an appalled Natalie, the only sensible and sober one there. Audio is optimal for these stories, which are intended to be spoken and to scare--or surprise--an eager audience. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

December 1, 2022

Harrison's (Cackle) latest is a collection that demonstrates her myriad talents as a fiction writer. This collection consists of four stories: a magic 8-ball helps a woman make all her life decisions; a bachelorette party gets out of hand when a sacrifice proves too much; a woman uses a dieting app that helps its users lose weight by any means necessary; and a woman who loses her sister finds a doll that could carry a message from the other side. These stories all hearken back to speculative stories where reality clashes with the supernatural. They are unsettling, but the smatterings of magical realism--cursed items and brushes with the fourth dimension--rarely chill the blood. Rather, these stories demonstrate that Harrison understands the short story form, regardless of genre. Add in the vocal talents of Helen Laser, Suehyla El-Attar Young, Frankie Corzo, and Phoebe Strole, who offer distinct voices for each female protagonist, and the result is an exploration of universal issues affecting women, like frayed relationships, faded friendships, and working through grief. VERDICT With whip-smart dialogue and many awkwardly compelling situations, this collection delivers. Recommend to listeners looking for eerie, rather than gory, horror.--James Gardner

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