Silverweed Road by Simon Crook - Book Review

Silverweed Road by Simon Crook

Publication Date: 15th Sep 2022

Genre: Short Story Anthology, Horror 

4 Stars 

One Liner: Atmospheric and entertaining 

Silverweed Road is a spooky, strange, and chilling area with creepy activities and weird people. Everyone on the road is a stranger to the other and has secrets to hide. From spine-chilling sounds to unexplainable disappearances, Silverweed Road is where no outsider wants to go. 

But what happened to the people living along the road? Detective Chief Inspector Jim Heath goes through his notes to talk about the cases he encountered. 

The book is a collection of horror stories with a common setting and multiple themes like greed, human failings, mad brilliance, etc. 

The Jackdaw- 4.5 Stars

Victor Hagman is obsessed with his garden. His wife Patricia realizes that Victor is no longer who he was, and the garden is the only thing that matters. So when the Jackdaw pair thaws Victor’s attempts to protect his late-season raspberries, it unleashes a series of incidents that changes their lives forever. 

This is totally my kinda story! It is atmospheric, creepy, and dark. I knew what would happen but was still curious to see if that’s how the story would progress. The ending is poetic (not the verses one) and concludes the story with perfection. 

The Plot- 3.8 Stars 

Cleo Marsh is a young artist, a reclusive painter who shot to fame with her bold paintings. The demand to interact with the buyers pushes her into a void. Meeting Margaret Prowler seems like a good thing. What happens when Cleo goes to Margaret’s retreat on Silverweed Road? 

The story takes time to get to the point, but the buildup is necessary to understand Cleo and her actions. This, too, is an atmospheric setting where we know something will happen. The concept is great, but I didn’t feel the ending hit me as it should. 

Caught Red-Handed- 4.2 Stars 

Augustus Fry needs a deal to stay afloat. After all, shady antique business doesn’t run without artifacts and gullible sellers. When some Mr. Butterworth from a tiny place calls about a ring, Augustus knows what he has to do. The deal goes better than he expected. But what’s with those strange occurrences in his house? 

This one ups the horror quotient as the story progresses. While the house in Silverweed Road isn’t the focus, that’s where the action takes place. I expected the final twist, but there’s a teeny one that made me smile (sinister types). I do love paranormal entities with ethics. Very important, I say! 

Cuttlefish, Cuttlefish- 4.5 Stars  

Dr. Eric Akoto is all set for the experiment of his lifetime on cuttlefish. It seems to progress well until things take a turn for worse. Can Dr. Eric uncover the secret? What happens to him? 

This is the best story in the book until now. It’s sci-fi horror written in the diary format where Dr. Eric records his thoughts and observations each day. The story is fascinating and eww (depending on how active your imagination is). I enjoyed this one a lot. 

Crash Flowers- 3.7 Stars 

Shanta Kapoor wakes up to an accident outside her home. The crash site is filled with flowers from people in the street. The pink orchids grab Shanta’s attention and start yet another cycle. Where will this lead her? 

The story went really well till the end. It was atmospheric and oppressive as it should be. But I didn’t like the reveal, though it does have some merit. I’d have preferred something more connected with the story itself. 

Darts with the Devil- 3.7 Stars 

Terry Slater has dartritis (a psychological disorder that locks his elbow and prevents him from throwing darts). Nothing he does helps him overcome his humiliating loss in the past and his current inability to throw the darts. What happens when he shakes hands with the Devil? 

You can guess the plot from the title and the blurb. Yep, it goes exactly the way you think it would. The writing was gripping and kept me invested till the end despite the predictability. It is good, but not the best. 

The Vanslow Fox- 4 Stars 

Vanslow Lee’s life is no longer his. He turns into a fox every Sunday night. He meets the ruler of the Woods during one such period. Will this give him a chance to live again, or will it push him into an abyss? 

The story is pretty much in constant action from start to finish. As with the ones, a few elements from the earlier stories are woven into the narrative. The ending was interesting (including the Chief Inspector’s notes). 

The Mogon- 3.7 Stars 

Geppetto Savini comes out of retirement to create his masterpiece, The Mongon, for a movie. His metal costumes have been famous before, but the latest is his best work ever. However, a sudden change of plans ruins things for him. Or will he take control of the situation? 

This is a character-based story where Geppetto is the hero, villain, and victim. While I enjoyed the decline into madness and the subsequent actions, I felt the story was a little rushed and focused more on graphical description (gore) than horror. 

Dust- 4.5 Stars 

Leo Harbinger and his wife Pippa are on their special trip to Scotland for their tenth wedding anniversary? However, one of them has ulterior motives, and it could unleash something they cannot control. 

Yet another story where we know what is likely to happen but want to read it to ensure that’s how the plot goes. Though it is graphic (like other stories), it keeps you hooked, especially in the second half. I love the ending of this one. 

Behind the Curtain- 4 Stars 

Roy and his daughter Lois live in No. 22 and track the goings of the street from behind the curtains. The forever empty house on No. 27 catches their attention. One thing leads to another and could very well end everything. 

The last story in the book works as a standalone and a way to tie up the loose ends. It progresses steadily and has a few moments but doesn’t give that final punch. However, what comes after and the history of the place makes up for it. 

***

To summarize, Silverweed Road is an atmospheric and creepy collection of stories with an interconnected theme. I didn’t find any Brit humor in the stories (maybe it was too subtle for m to notice). But I did find loads of horror and enjoyed reading the collection. 

Thank you, NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and HarperVoyager, for the eARC.  

#NetGalley #Silverweed Road 

*****

There are quite a few trigger warnings, so pick it up if you’re comfortable with dark themes and graphic descriptions.