Jack of all Trades by Jack Wells was received directly from the publisher and I chose to review it. I had never read this author before and I will search out some of his others works. This book rarely had any slow moments (there were a few though). The seven stories kind of worked around one central story, with short stories about a Victorian novella of death, intrigue, and forbidden experiments, a short story of seduction in the heartland of post-WWII America, a short story of mass murder in the City of Angels, a short story of addiction and regret in the Appalachian Mountains. There were also stories about savagery on the high seas, a story of dark discovery in the snowy peaks of Norway, and a novelette of spirits and six-shooters in the Wild West. If you, or someone you buy gifts for enjoys reading shorter stories, give this book a read.

4 Stars

★★

Jack of All Trades is a collection of short stories with dark themes and twists, as well as a healthy dose of mystery and intrigue.

I really wanted to love this collection, but I really struggled to get into any of the stories. I don’t think this is any fault of the author’s— considering I fell in love with the way he uses words and melody so beautifully— I just think I’m not made for this material / story structure. I really did like the idea of an overarching story that connects the book together, but I just struggled to be invested due to its being chopped into parts.

Despite this review, I would totally recommend it to anyone whose reading tastes shift toward darker and more bizarre subjects, and I would be interested in checking out this author’s other works myself.


Thank you NetGalley and Last Waltz Publishing for the arc!

Absolutely loved this! Well written and probably one of the most comedic titles you can give this subject.

An interesting collection of short stories set around a main story. The stories are intriguing and will hold your interest. The only criticism I have is the ending to the main story felt rushed. Overall, I found the book enjoyable.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion .