Fortunato will become an household name in the thriller, mystery genre. An eerie showcase of humans (all the best and worst parts) in a collection of stories that will leave the reader feeling winded and raw. From the deeply disturbing to the downright downward spiral of emotional chaos, each story contains characters that are written so well they are instantly relatable. Gritty, raw, and heart pounding...oh the secrets people keep.

3.5 stars

Deadly Guests by Chris Fortunato  is an anthology of short stories, previously published in UK or US magazines.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Close to the Bone, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
  

My Synopsis and Opinions:
Each of these stories have been previously published in magazines.  They are a collection of stories where the characters may get more than they bargained for. As always, I will review and rate each short story individually.   

The Boot Scraper... At the age of 60, a married couple go on a vacation to re-connect.  His search for an antique boot scraper may be the end of them.  This was fun.  4 stars

Straight Shooter... When her husband leaves, a woman is left with a teenage daughter who she tries to get close to, by doing whatever she has to.  This was thought-provoking.  4 stars

I’ve Come for the Cash ... A journalist who got sacked decides to make money by robbing stores in a small Vermont town, but the town has other ideas.  Another fun one.   4 stars

Money Heals All Wounds ... A husband and wife team hire a young girl to scare their business partner, but their own lives may be in trouble.  Didn't like it, too much "mob"-related. 1 star

You Will Be Very Happy Here ... An embezzler is trying to live the good life, but his fear of being caught does not allow him the peace he had anticipated.  Interesting twist  4 stars

Stalkers ... A teacher rents the apartment of a London artist for a month, figuring he will have a lot to tell his students after this summer.  Unfortunately, the artist's stalker makes himself known. This was barely okay.  3 stars

Deadly Guests ... A husband disapproves of his wife's invitation to a couple to spend the night, knowing that these guests will probably want to stay forever.  Their daughter handles that problem (somewhat).  Interesting!  4 stars

Love and Murder ... A man who stalked his ex-girlfriend on her honeymoon, saw more than he had bargained for.  Over 25 years later, he runs into her again.  Didn't like any of the characters.  2 stars

Everyone a Thief ... A woman whose divorce has proven to be detrimental to her social circle, begins to steal. Quite good.  4 stars

The Two Lilies ... A girl who started life on the wrong side of the tracks was given the opportunity to spend a year with a more affluent family, but was cast aside.  Many years later, she is trying to get back in with that crowd.   Not overly impressed.  2 stars

...

Overall, this was a fast and entertaining read....just what I needed.  The writing was quite good.  All the stories were crime-related, and all had an interesting twist.  There was at least one  despicable character in almost all of them.

 For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

This just was not a good read! The writing style was so bad and the stories were hit or miss!

Just fell flat and the writing was horrible!!!

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review

I guess two stars for the ideas? This is some of the worst writing I've ever read. Childish motivation, terrible dialogue, and the language itself -- there was one attempt at literary illusion that was so wrong I can't figure out how they even came about it.
This collection is short, though.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this ARC

Deadly Guests
Ten Stories
by Chris Fortunato
10 stories in this book. Some are good, some are just not. But, I rated by the good. Some just didn't belong.

I read a horror short story collection for Christmas so when this one came available I requested it because I was intrigued. However, it didn’t sit well with me. It’s just not an enjoyable read. I wouldn’t really recommend it.

Some guests, like fish, begin to stink after a few days. Some turn murderous. In this collection of ordinary people turning to crime, they do both. And more.
In tale after tale, well observed and wryly described situations go from perfectly mundane to otherwise. I liked the style of these stories, the casualness with which the author chose to address the rather extraordinary turns of events, the underlaying subtle absurdity of it all.
Binged, they may seem a bit one note, so I’d recommend spacing them out. Otherwise, a fun read. And a good introduction to a new author. Thanks Netgalley.

At the onset, the notion of 10 short stories seemed refreshing, but I discovered I wasn't fond of the concept. While the stories contained intriguing twists, the complex vocabulary made them challenging to read. The need for multiple rereads diminished my enjoyment, and overall, this book isn't my preferred style. I wouldn't necessarily label it a terrible read, but it's not one I'd recommend.