The Voice by Jordan Castillo Price
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love Price and when looking at things to re-read, she is at the top of the list. However, there are so many choices! I’m seriously considering doing a re-read of her series, are they available in audiobook?, but I found this little gem tucked away. I had rated it 5 stars without a review so I plucked it out the folder happily to indulge. To be fair, I remembered nothing about the book. I’m kind of bad like that. But if I gave it 5 stars it must be outstanding.
It’s a very short story set near Halloween. Martin is a big fan of the holiday and is excited when his best friend Dave snags tickets to an impossibly sold out haunted house. Not only that, Dave has a blind date that he swears is perfect for Martin. However, when they show up to the attraction the date is a no-show. Martin refuses to waste the tickets and encounters more than he bargained for in the shadows.
I can see why I gave the story 5 stars. In the right kind of mood, I would love this short a lot. I didn’t love it quite so much this time around but it’s a solidly written and intriguing story. The premise is fun and the characters come alive within the first few pages. Author Price knows how to make a story work, no matter the length.
Here I think the length actually helps it since it’s meant to tease. It gives a quick set up then focuses on the emotion and atmosphere of Martin and the stranger in the haunted house. It gives the emotion, the connection, the sex and need, then wraps it up with a bit of mystery and question. What will happen next? Does it even matter? I like the thought that it’s open ended and the reader can decide if the voice finds Martin or not.
This time around I’d probably give the book 3.5 to 4 stars. I enjoyed it and wanted more. It’s also a short I would read again, happily.
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