Second Hand Rose by D. E. Fox Published by Blossom Spring on May 10, 2023
Genres: Fiction / Crime
Pages: 146
Format: eBook
Source: Author
Short Story
Abigail Hirst, a city reporter, returns to her hometown to take over Second Hand Rose, a quintessential antique store, following the sad passing of her beloved Grandmother, Rose.
This new life seems perfect for Abigail and her trusted terrier Jake, until she starts to notice strange happenings.
Gruesome deaths and mysterious disappearances are catching up with this chocolate-box town named Friendship, asAbigail digs deeper in her investigations.
Time is quickly running out for the fate of the whole town but only facing up to her own dark past, can she truly help Friendship and the people she loves most.
My Review:
I am going to say upfront that I am not a horror reader, but when D.E. Fox reached out to me through my blog about reading her new short story, I was a bit curious. She soon told me this story was inspired by her little dog, Jake, who had recently passed away. D.E. Fox had said that writing this story helped her in her grieving process. Learning about her little dog is what sold me on giving this book a go. You see, Reader, I, too, lost my best friend (dog) not too long ago, and I understand the deep sadness it leaves in one’s heart. You might be thinking, so it involves a dog, but really, what is this short story about? Well, Reader, let me begin.
Abigail Hirst is a big-city reporter who returns home to Friendship after the death of her grandmother. She has brought her things and her trusted little dog, Jake, with her. She is ready to begin a new life in her hometown, but sadly, she has no family left. Abigail has inherited Second Hand Rose, an antique shop that was owned and operated by her grandmother, Rose. The shop is rather dark inside and cramped, but it holds memories for Abigail, and she is excited to turn it into something of her own. She can see the potential it has, but it is going to need some work, starting with bringing some more light into the space. Not everything can be accomplished in one day, however, so she ventures into the town and runs into some people from her past, including her ex-boyfriend. It isn’t long before they begin hanging out and getting to know one another again. Abigail is shocked to learn about what has happened in his past and that there has been no change in the case since his life was changed forever.
Abigail gets to work on cleaning up the shop with some help from her ex and some friends. The peculiar thing, though, is that the huge wardrobe in front of the window will not open, and it is too heavy for her to move. She has tried everything to get into it, including prying it open with tools, but still nothing; in fact, the tools just break. One day, though, she noticed a coldness in the shop with her and someone telling her to leave the wardrobe alone. Talk about spooky, right? Not to mention suspicious. This is where she discovers that Friendship is not the perfect town that she always thought it to be. In fact, there are some pretty weird things going on, and her reporter’s mind and skills get to work on discovering the truth behind this sleepy little town. The things that Abigail discovers about the town, the town folk, her grandmother, and herself completely disgust her, and frankly, it did me, too.
As I said, I am not a horror reader, so the gruesome body horror throughout the story was difficult for me to read. I will say, though, Reader, if you like twisty stories that are all about plot, then this is absolutely a book for you. I am a character-driven reader myself, and I wish that we got to know the characters better, but again, it is a short story, so there isn’t much time for that. I did love Jake and his character throughout the story, and the things you discover about him will leave you shocked; at least, it did for me. I will also say that I was shocked by one of the big reveals that Abigail discovers about herself. You should also know, Reader, that this story does take you back in time to explain the character of the Vilian in the story and also the story behind that impossible wardrobe. If you are looking for a quick horror story that is plot-driven with lots of twists and turns, then I think you will love this story. It does keep you wanting to turn the page to the very end.
I want to thank D.E. Fox for a digital copy of this book in return for an honest review. I appreciate the fact that she took a chance on me even after I told her I was not a horror reader. Like I said, I really did love Jake’s character, and I understand the grief of losing a beloved pet. My heart goes out to those who are struggling with it. Until Next Time, Reader, Happy Reading.
Trigger Warnings:
- Death of Infants and Children
- Murder
- Gore
- Body Horror
- Missing Children
- Grandparent Death
- Violence
- Cheating In A Relationship