‘Sweet Revenge and other Stories’ by Di Shelley

Published by Create Space Independent,
11 September 2014.
ISBN 978-1502358066

These stories are different! A lovely mixture of revenge, betrayal and murder with some unpleasant characters (often closely related to the heroine) getting their comeuppance. There is a genuinely light-hearted atmosphere to these tales of mayhem. The first story is called Sweet Revenge and it features a group of successful middle aged ladies at a meal in a fashionable Italian restaurant on the invitation of an ex-school friend whom they had bullied at school.  Hers is the revenge! 

The variety of topics is bewildering with many stories hitting the readers' memories of family disputes, school bullying or clashes with friends. The allusions in other stories to traditional images of Heaven and Hell or fairy tales are equally redolent of childhood memories. The satisfaction of justice being served, if in rather twisted ways, is most pleasing.  The supernatural element is cleverly incorporated in some stories.   

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Reviewer: Jennifer S. Palmer 

This is Di Shelley's first published collection of stories.  Another collection has just been published in February 2017. All Shorts…..of Revenge

Diane Shelley (nee George) was born in Buckinghamshire, and brought up in a house surrounded by books. She was taught to read at an early age, (for which she is eternally grateful to both her mum and dad). Prior to winning a scholarship to Aylesbury Grammar School she attended Waddesdon Church of England School where, at the age of 9, her first piece of fiction was published in the school magazine. Later, she honed her craft both as a freelance columnist for the Bristol Evening Post and as a freelance broadcaster and producer with the BBC. She now resides in the West Country and can usually be found at her computer with a glass of wine to hand!

 

Jennifer Palmer Throughout my reading life crime fiction has been a constant interest; I really enjoyed my 15 years as an expatriate in the Far East, the Netherlands & the USA but occasionally the solace of closing my door to the outside world and sitting reading was highly therapeutic. I now lecture to adults on historical topics including Famous Historical Mysteries.