Spin a Black Yarn: Five Short Novels

Spin a Black Yarn by Josh Malerman is a hard one to review... The stories are dark, with themes that center around trauma, guilt, regret, revenge, pride, and greed. And the characters are more than just flawed - they are damaged.

I didn't dislike the book, but only two of the stories truly left an impression.

“Argyle” was disturbing (in a fun way) that still has me wondering how many Shawn Hasbros there are in the world, living with the constant struggle to deny their true nature.

“Doug and Judy Buy the House Washer™” felt like being on a rollercoaster, going back and forth, trying to decide if the characters deserved redemption. I'm still not sure.

These two stories alone still make the book a worthwhile read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Del Ray for the opportunity to review this advanced reader copy of the book.