Flint Kill Creek Stories of Mystery and Suspense

Flint Kill Creek Stories of Mystery and Suspense cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Technical
  • ID: 440
  • Added: 2025-09-11
  • Updated: 2025-10-01
  • Formats: 47
  • Reviews: 2
Reviews
publishersweekly.com · Unknown · 2025-09-25
excellent 4.50

The reviewer praises Joyce Carol Oates' collection of short stories, highlighting its exceptional quality and suspenseful elements. They particularly enjoyed stories like 'The Nice Girl' and 'The Heiress. The Hireling', finding the collection to be a must-read for fans of the author.

The reviewer expresses great enthusiasm for Joyce Carol Oates' new collection of short stories, 'Flint Kill Creek: Stories of Mystery and Suspense'. They describe it as a must-read for fans of the author, noting that every story lives up to the promise of mystery and suspense. The reviewer particularly enjoyed 'The Nice Girl' and 'The Heiress. The Hireling', which they found to be standout stories. They appreciate Oates' writing style, which they describe as captivating, and mention that many of the stories could easily be expanded into full-length novels. The abrupt endings of most stories left them wanting more, but overall, they found the collection to be exceptional.


Quick quotes

    Much, much needed 5-star read! Of course: it’s Joyce Carol Oates, my literary north star. Still, this collection is quite exceptional — even for her.

    If you’re a fan of this author this is one book you NEED to read. It’s fabulous!

    Being a fan of mystery and suspense, I anticipated that this collection of short stories would be engaging. Indeed, I found her writing style captivating, with many stories serving as intriguing introductions to what could unfold into fully-fledged novels.

netgalley.com · Unknown · 2024-11-05
mixed 3.50

The collection features a variety of stories, with some being more enjoyable and poignant than others. Some stories left the reviewer wondering about their conclusions or themes.

This collection of 12 short stories by Joyce Carol Oates offers a range of mystery and suspense. The reviewer found that some stories were more engaging and thought-provoking, while others felt incomplete or unclear. One standout story, titled with three asterisks, follows an older man trying to recall the significance of a marked day, highlighting Oates' ability to create poignant narratives. Overall, the collection showcases Oates' versatility but also indicates that not every story will resonate equally with readers.


Quick quotes

    There is a variety of stories, most aren't the classic mystery or crime fiction story.

    Some left me wondering what happened as it ended without a satisfying conclusion or I wasn't sure what the story was about.

    But then there were the poignant ones like "***" (yes that is the title of the story).