Review of The Blandford Fly

[Susan Ledezma]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Blandford Fly" by D.N. Moore.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

Do you enjoy reading short stories? Would you be interested in a story about an eco-conscious entomologist and his wife who are struggling to coexist with a bothersome fly? Would you be intrigued by a tale about a group of human slaves controlled by porcelain dolls? Would you be captivated by a narrative about a teenage girl who runs away from home to pursue her love of painting? Would a short story about a ghost searching for her baby, taken away before she was hanged on the gallows, keep you engaged? If you answered yes to these questions, you will be entertained by the book entitled The Blandford Fly by D. N. Moore.

In the initial tale, Danny and Ginger are introduced as seven-year-olds. Danny has a great passion for insects, and Ginger considers him to be magical. Ginger is not as carefree because of her dysfunctional family. However, she is untamed, unpredictable, and adventurous. Danny and Ginger complement each other. They grow up, get married, and live a perfect life together. However, they have an issue with a particular fly. You will have to read the story to find out why.

The second story features Davie, a five-year-old boy who lives as a slave under the oppressive rule of a porcelain doll family. Even though the dolls do not eat, Davie is forbidden to eat the food in the house that he cleans. One day, a doll named Miss Mary Alice allows him to have a bite of fresh bread. She also tells him about a special time of year when forgiveness and friendship are encouraged. Should Davie believe Miss Mary Alice? Read and find out!

The third story is about 15-year-old Georgia. Georgia runs away from home to live in the streets and pursue her love of painting her visions on canvas. Will her love of painting be enough to allow her to survive in the streets?

The fourth story is about mothers who live to love and protect their children. In this story, Jane meets a ghost named Alice. Alice’s restless soul asks Jane to help find her baby. Will Jane be able to help Alice?

Each of these stories captivated me with the suspense of not knowing how things would turn out for the main characters. Aside from the intriguing plots, the stories had a variety of thought-provoking themes running through them. The themes included dysfunctional families, grieving, eco-friendly methods of pest control, the power of human emotion, slavery, the debunking of stereotypes of Indigenous people, the importance of following one’s passion for the arts, and dementia.

The characters were sufficiently developed in each story. The plots evolved quickly. I was in suspense during each tale. All of the endings satisfied me. The book was well edited. I found nothing to dislike. For these reasons, I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

******
The Blandford Fly
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

I love short stories, I also appreciate short stories who take the time to develop the characters in each story, which is a bit rare since there's not much time to be able to do so. It seems like this would be a book that would keep me engaged and that I would love to read. I will definitely be keeping this book in mind for the future. Thank you so much for the great review!

[Sarah Zain]

The mix of short stories is interesting. Your review shows the aspects of the book beautifully. Great review Gerry!

[Priya Murugesan]

I enjoy reading short stories! I enjoyed reading your review too! A very good analysis of the book. Would love to read it.

[Ajain12]

"The Blandford Fly" by D. N. Moore offers a captivating collection of short stories that explore themes of love, loss, resilience, and the human condition. From the struggles of an eco-conscious entomologist to the eerie tale of a ghost searching for her lost child, each story grips readers with suspense and thought-provoking themes. Well-developed characters and satisfying endings make this book a compelling 5-star read.

[RJ Reviews]

I loved this book! Particularly about the artist. The author did an admirable job spinning stories that speak about love, friendship, passion and resiliency. I enjoyed reading your review and agree with you observations. Thank you.

[ZCReviews]

From your review, it seems like the collection of stories has a unique and intriguing quality to them. They come across as quite peculiar, but in a good way. Personally, I tend to enjoy longer stories that have more depth, but I can see how these types of books would be perfect for those who prefer shorter tales that offer quick entertainment.

[Rob Carr]

This sounds like a really interesting read that would be up my alley. Thanks for the fascinating review.

[Stephen Christopher 1]

Lol I answered 'yes' to all your questions. I'm a huge fan of short stories, especially those with a twist at the end, so these sound right up my alley. One more book to add to my out-of-control reading list hehe.

[revathy sw]

Short stories are always a delight to read, especially when they've been written well. That seems to be the case here. Some of the concepts seem so unique and sometimes even bizarre, and I use this latter term in the best possible way. These stories sound like they'll keep you thoroughly engaged. I'm definitely going to give this one a try. Thank you for the great review.

[Tobi Adefila]

I love short stories. This is indeed a convincing review. I would love to read this book.
Thanks for this amazing review Gerry.

[Terry Kimble]

This book goes straight to my bookshelves; do not pass go! I would love it if it appeared in my reviewing book list. Your review is a perfect introduction to this short story compilation. Well done, Gerry! Thanks!

[mark liu]

I've always been one to try to stray from the beaten path when it comes to exploring new genres. Not quite sure what genre this would be but it does sound like a certainly unusual one.

[Elizabeth-Tush4Christ]

This review shares what to expect in each story. I am not sure the story is intriguing but reading the review makes me want to find out. The questions asked aroused my curiosity. Thanks for the great review.

[Jennifer Coxon]

Thank you for your detailed review. I'm not a big fan of short stories myself. Unfortunately, I'm also not convinced by the twists / settings of some of these stories, so I don't think this will be finding its way on to my to be read pile.

[Cristiano Bellucci]

Thank you very much, Gerry, for your review. It seems a great book to read, with interesting stories. Themes around family and independence have strong emotions attached.