Book Review: Grisly Deeds: Mini Edition (TM Ellis)

Another set of Grisly Deeds? Yes, please and even though this is a condensed experience, it is still thoroughly satisfying. From the husband and wife writing team of Tommy and Margot Ellis (TM Ellis), Grisly Deeds: Mini Edition features ten short stories filled with terror, violence, gore, and black humour.

Grisly Deeds Review
Grisly Deeds 2 Review

A varied read, the anthology features some of my favourite stories of the Grisly Deeds series to date. One of which is Line of Duty, which has one of the most delightfully warped twists that the duo has put to paper. The kind of story that you don’t want spoiled for you.

Shave and A Haircut isn’t quite as compelling, but it does tell a story that I couldn’t help but believe to have some truth to it. Whereas No Strings Attached reimagines the Pinocchio tale as something much darker and much more horrible. I particularly like the final line in this story as a policeman incredulously points out the madness of the main character/villain.

Tommy and Margot always like to include some more traditional ghost stories in their anthologies, often with a ‘revenge from beyond the grave’ motif and Scarecrow Billy delivers on that front. A suitably chilling tale. Whereas the absurdity of King of the Lab and the madness of the ending makes it another personal favourite. The writing can often be grossly descriptive and that is what we get here.

Like most anthologies, there are one or two misses (although with stories this short, it really will be down to the individual) and for me the big miss of this book is Too Much Monkey Business. Proving to be a mostly forgettable tale. Whereas the sinister nature of Daddy Dearest and the gleefully dark ending is one that stays and Loyalty and Honour tells a compelling tale of condensed survival with a trademark level of wickedness when it comes to the ending.

For me, Soul 2 Soul is on par with the best this book has to offer, even though its twist ending is one that can be seen coming. Here, the fun comes from the main character getting his comeuppance in deliciously dark fashion.

Finally, and in an interesting turn, The Bruton Street Murders is based on a true story.

I had to look it up, but in 18th-century London a woman named Sarah Metyard and her daughter starved, tortured, and murdered parish apprentices entrusted to their care. They were eventually caught, tried, and executed for their crime’s years later when Sarah Metyard’s daughter confessed to her new master.

This horrible tale is what TM Ellis reimagines here, adding a theatrical twist to things, and delivering a more satisfying ending. One that sees the evil pair get their comeuppance much earlier, but not quite early enough to save lives. It’s a very good final story, and a really satisfying way to wrap up another great set of Grisly Deeds.

Once again, I’m left craving more and can’t wait to read what comes next.

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