Twisted Tales from the Desert – an anthology of short stories with twisted views and endings. MARI COLLIER

 In this collection you will find humor, murder, a love story involving a ghost, an inhabited ghost town, a Fairy Godmother tale unlike anything you would expect, and more.

NOTE: Contains content considered unsuitable for readers 17 and under.

Bjonsmom4.0 out of 5 stars A Gentler TwistReviewed in the United States on April 21, 2021Verified PurchaseI’ve now read all three of Collier’s Twisted Tales, and found this one a gentler collection, perhaps a bit more traditional than the previous two. The scenarios are just as imaginative, but far less bizarre and creepy. The characters are more relatable, more like regular folk, who find themselves in extraordinary situations – but the twisty end is there: surprising, ironic, and oh, my!
Who among us hasn’t hoped to hit a big money payoff? Or felt the presence of a loved one who has passed on? Believe in ghosts? Maybe not, but how do you explain two “entities” in an eternal battle for male/female dominance shape shifting before your eyes? Conversations on either side of a radio “Portal” result in an identity switch. There are Bad Seeds, a battered wife fantasizing a way out and driven to the brink, a Fairy Godmother (be careful what you wish for). There’s a stunning reminder to always maintain “control” while driving; and watch out for that sculpture of a Desert Iguana.
I gave the book four stars because one of the stories is published in a previous collection, although it is an intriguing adventure. Pick up this final anthology and make your collection complete.