Stained cover art

Stained

A Short Chiller

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Stained

By: Kayla Krantz
Narrated by: Jessica Carusso
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About this listen

Blackouts have always been Melissa's problem, but now she has a new one. People are missing, and she isn't entirely convinced she's not responsible.

©2016 Kayla Krantz (P)2020 Kayla Krantz Genre Fiction Horror Psychological Scary Thriller & Suspense Fiction
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Kayla Krantz gave everything one looks for in a "Chiller/Thriller" and a whole lot more. For a Mini/Short Story, it was UTTERLY BRILLIANT! I'm entirely impressed by her writing style and phenomenal character development.

There was MYSTERY and SUSPENSE on top of the Thriller. The storyline was vivid and lively. I'll be on Audible watch for Book 2 to "Stained." I need 2 know how it ends. I hate Cliffhangers 😒 because you don't know when you'll get the next part to it.

I loved the narrator Jessica Carusso. It's my 1st time hearing her and she passed with flying colors.

I recommend this short story to others and I definitely I'm looking forward to the next installment.


#AudiobookObsessionReviewer

I Want More...

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We have a great, creepy experience that has you on the edge of your seat all the way until the very last sentence. A haunting, bloody scream

The narrator Jessica Carusso did a brilliant job

Short but so good

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Listener received this title free

Kayla Krants is definitely an expert in the construction of short stories, which are fast-paced with well thought out characters and a sense of intrigue, which leaves you wanting more of that world.

Stained is no exception as it hooks you from the very beginning where within just a few lines we come to care about our protagonist Melissa as she tells us about her nightmare and then the reality of a missing girl next door. We sympathise with her as she desperately reaches out to her absent parents only to be rejected, we learn from her once again by her mom, and only curt conversation from her father.

Melissa instantly paints herself as the victim in the breakdown of the relationship between herself and her mother telling us she has no idea what she ever did to her but that her mother has always been cold and distance, often making her feel as if she wasn't even her child. Her father tries to placate her, saying her mother just needs time, leaving us questioning from what, all we know is there was an 'incident' of some sort between mother and daughter that has left the mother unable to be alone with her daughter, she won't even speak to her on the phone. We are given the sense that this is a very broken family.

Melissa tells us she was only a kid and that she was sleepwalking. This sounds harmless enough, but then she asks, "Why can't she just forgive me!?' Aside from the horrific dreams she has, this is the first sense we are given that all isn't as it seems with Melissa. What did she do that she would want her mom to forgive her for it? also, if she has no idea what the 'incidental' is, why does she want forgiveness for it? There is a definite sense of resentment from Melissa towards her mother for how she's made her feel since the 'incident' or possibly even before that.

As the story progresses at an unrelenting pace we are made to wonder more and more if there isn't something darker to Melissa, the way she chooses to relay certain details feels slightly off and the narrative is skewed in her favour when perhaps there is more to it than we see.

Jessie Caruso gives a brilliant performance in the reading of this book, lending a very human aspect to the character of Melissa, even as she gives us hints at the possibility of darker intents.

I was given this audiobook for free and have left this review voluntarily.

perfect and unnerving

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what a great short story, I would love to hear more of this tale xxxxxxxxx

great

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I love that feeling when you have no idea what is going to happen and Kayla Krantz succeeds in making my heart race in just 20 minutes! This is a spine-chilling quick listen about Melissa, her dreams and the truth. I was on the edge of my seat and loved every minute. I do hope we get another look into this character, she would be very interesting! Jessica Carusso gives an thrill filled performance keeping the suspense high.

Suspenseful!

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