Review of Twin Lakes Vortex

[Theresa Moffitt]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Twin Lakes Vortex" by Ken Morris.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Twin Lakes Vortex by Ken Morris is a captivating collection of short stories. Each story is unique and can be read as a stand-alone tale. “Beating the Devil” is the first story in the book. It examines the complexity of making a deal with the devil. Your dreams may come true, but at what price? The story is told from the point of view of a fifteen-year-old boy named Jim. Jim was the catcher on his baseball team. When approached by the devil to make a deal for his soul, Jim decided he wanted to be able to excel at hitting anything with accuracy. This included swinging a bat, swinging a golf club, or throwing a baseball. He did not know for certain that the deal was authentic. However, when he switched positions from catcher to pitcher, his life changed. College coaches began looking at him for scholarships. When he decided to try golf, he was able to make money with his new skills in the game. It is a fascinating story about the choices this young man made to improve his life and the consequences of those choices.

“Twin Lakes Vortex” is told through the eyes of Ken, a retired widower who lives with his devoted dog, Ping. His best friend, Chucky, has just retired and moved to a house on a lake with his wife. Chucky and Ken have been friends since they were children. They enjoy fishing on the lake together as often as possible. When Ping brings back an old shoe from the lake, a mystery begins to unfold. The shoe is incredibly old, and the dog is frightened by it. Read this story to find out if Ken can unravel the mystery of the shoe and the strange occurrences at the lake house.

The author has a casual writing style similar to a friend telling you a story. I enjoyed reading every short story in the book. However, my favorite short stories were “Beating the Devil” and “Twin Lakes Vortex.” The main character in “Beating the Devil” was realistic and seemed like a normal teenager. His encounter with the devil was described expertly through the eyes of a fifteen-year-old boy. The characters in “Twin Lakes Vortex” were also realistic. Ken's jaded demeanor was consistent with his age and experience. It was interesting to read his reactions to the unusual occurrences at the lake.

What I like most about this book is the uniqueness of each story. The topic and the characters vary with each tale. Readers will enjoy the unpredictable storylines. I liked the supernatural elements in the stories. It was difficult to predict the outcome of the stories, so I was always unsuspecting until the end. Morris has a gift for narrating the story from different points of view. Whether it was a story told from the perspective of a teenager or a retiree, the dialogue and thoughts conveyed the age and experience of the character. The younger characters are more naïve or innocent. The older characters are more jaded. The way they interact with their friends and relatives also conveys a realistic element.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy short stories with supernatural elements. It will also appeal to readers who enjoy reading fictional stories with realistic characters. However, there were over ten errors in the book. This was the only negative aspect of the book. So, I do not believe it was professionally edited. With additional editing, the book is worthy of a perfect score. However, due to the number of errors, I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. I would not rate the book any less because each story is unique and creative.

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Twin Lakes Vortex
View: on Bookshelves

[Amy Luman]

I don’t particularly enjoy short stories. They don’t seem to provide enough time for proper development, character or otherwise. The number of errors in this one was also a turn-off for me.

[Djidé Akambi]

I hope I'll like this book. Based on your review, I'm definitely going to read it.

[King Nyebuchi]

A short story with supernatural elements as you said this one is could be a really cool one to listen to, thanks for the review.

[NetMassimo]

Short fiction based on supernatural elements is always intriguing for me to see an author develop different faces of fantasy/horror elements. Thank you for your great review!

[Kebun Bunga]

The review of "Twin Lakes Vortex" provides a comprehensive overview of the captivating collection of short stories by Ken Morris. The reviewer highlights the uniqueness of each story, emphasizing that they can be read as standalone tales. They particularly enjoyed the stories "Beating the Devil" and "Twin Lakes Vortex," commending the realistic portrayal of characters and the expert narration from different perspectives.

The reviewer appreciates the casual writing style of the author, which adds a personal touch to the storytelling. They also praise the unpredictable storylines and the incorporation of supernatural elements, noting that the outcomes kept them engaged until the end. The ability of the author to convey the age and experience of the characters through their dialogue and interactions is acknowledged as a strength of the book.

While the reviewer found the book highly enjoyable, they note that there were several errors present, indicating a lack of professional editing. However, they emphasize that the unique and creative nature of each story warrants a high rating. With additional editing, the book would be deserving of a perfect score. The reviewer rates "Twin Lakes Vortex" four out of five stars and recommends it to readers who appreciate short stories with supernatural elements and realistic characters.