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REVIEW
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"Stirring speculative fiction anthology"
REVIEW
"Stirring speculative fiction anthology"
SUBTERRANEAN HEARTBEATS consists of seventeen stories of
mystery and coincidence. Most stories are contemporary in
setting, with the notable exception of the opening story
entitled ARCADE, which is set in a post-apocalyptic future.
The anthology shows us sides of our everyday lives that we
may not see. Whether it be learning about a father's
revenge (BAKER'S DOZEN), an apartment that is much more
than it seems (THE DEVIL'S GARDEN) or a woman who must
combat her disturbed ex-husband's claim on their daughter's
soul (WHITE SANDS) Kemp-Jones delivers her stirring stories
with loving detail. Though none of them are precisely
romantic, Kemp-Jones' explorations into her characters
touch that depth that lovers of romance novels come to
expect from their favorite characters. She enables us to
root for the man who has lost his family as well as the man
who has lost his mind. Reminiscent of "The Twilight Zone,"
and in some ways the television show "Tales from the
Crypt," SUBTERRANEAN HEARTBEATS is a fun, quirky collection
that anyone who enjoys short speculative fiction would
appreciate. ParaNormal Romance Reviews © Copyright 2002 Reviewed by Ann Leveille
Posted July 8, 2002
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted November 19, 2006
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Subterranean Heartbeats is a collection of sixteen Twilight
Zone-type stories. They are compelling tales which delve
into our most haunting nightmares.
While some of the stories are suitable for older children,
others graphically depict the seamy side of adult life.
Dialogue is realistic, gritty at times. From richly
described settings to the heartfelt yearnings that run deep
in her characters, Ms. Kemp-Jones packs a lot into each
story. Common to all the stories are plots which twist into
unthought-of endings, each giving me cause to reevaluate
what I thought I had been reading. Ms. Kemp-Jones is a
master of luring you into the plot until it is beyond your
ability to retreat, often times leaving you dangling from a
craggy precipice, left to wonder with awe, When had the
road taken this turn? At what point did I begin to lose
solid footing?
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