Grim Secrets: Tales of Murder, Manipulation, and Loss by Nannette Kreitzman

Grim Secrets: Tales of Murder, Manipulation, and Loss Reviews

• 
  Leah Tyler

  "She had seen such beings before, those ahead of their time. They came about on every planet when it was time for a boost in progress."
  
  A collection of 5 short stories told from the POV of, and primarily about, women.
  1) the victim of a crime who has amnesia remembers everything.
  2) survivors of a post-pandemic society struggle to make life whole after imprisonment by a breeding sex gang.
  3) a young mother faces her future after losing her officer husband.
  4) when the perfect man isn't so perfect...
  5) fantasy about a healing goddess who struggles with similar gender biases as we do on Earth.
  
  I really enjoyed this collection! Kreitzman's writing style is direct, unambiguous, and kept me engaged. The stories explored a variety of themes that are topical and relevant today. One had me sobbing like a baby and another furiously turning the page to find out what happens next! It was a quick and enjoyable read so if you get a chance, check out Grim Secrets.
• 
  Felix Dimaro

  How many books do you have to read by a particular author before you’ve become a fan of their work? This is the second short story collection of Nannette Kreitzman’s (@netts_shorts) that I’ve read, and it’s safe to say that I’m officially a fan of hers.
  
  The stories in “Grim Secrets: Tales of Murder, Manipulation, and Loss”, much like Kreitzman’s other stories, are all different from one another, ranging from Romance to Horror. And she often, if not always, leaves me questioning things or having learned something new after reading her work. I think that’s the mark of a great storyteller.
  
  My favourite stories from this collection are “Discovering Me,” a fun and dark mystery involving a person with amnesia being the key piece toward finding a young woman who has recently disappeared, and “When the Third Sun Rises,” a story about an alien being who visits war torn civilizations in an effort to help heal those who have been wounded.
  
  These tales are versatile, very well-written and, most importantly, meaningful. I’m looking forward to reading more of Kreitzman’s work in the future.
• 
  T.L. Brown

  Readers Get Ready for a Broad Range of Emotions
  
  I’ve not sought out many books of short stories in the past, but I heard so many good things about
  Grim Secrets: Tales of Murder, Manipulation, and Loss by
  Nannette Kreitzman, so I ordered the ebook. I’m very glad that I did! I hope I can do the author – and her stories – justice in this review while avoiding spoilers.
  
  Nannette Kreitzman is a master of taking the reader through a broad range of feelings in such a short amount of time. In fact, I’ve read so few short stories because I don’t usually have much of an emotional connection to them. Reading Grim Secrets taught me that there ARE exceptions to this belief. The author not only led me to experiences of fear, sadness, disbelief, guilt, anger, desire, and hope, she also skillfully surprised me with endings and outcomes I could not have imagined.
  
  The book contains five short stories: Discovering Me, Willow’s Secret, When A Good Man Dies, Fire and Ice, and When the Third Sun Rises.
  
  Of the first three, for me Willow’s Secret is the standout. The author explores the reality faced and the choices made by women in a dystopian tale. It’s difficult to think about a world in which staying alive and making it through the day is the best one can hope for when powerless. Hard choices must be made, and afterward, the consequences of those choices are forever a part of one’s soul. There are elements of guilt and confusion over one’s feelings about those who keep others captive. And all this is experienced in “the afterward.” There’s a marvelous twist following the arrival of a stranger that I didn’t expect. Sometimes fate intertwines lives in the most remarkable of ways. And maybe, just maybe, there are true “wins” even in the darkest of days.
  
  The story When a Good Man Dies broke my heart! Oh, I was so sad for Sarah who lost her “good man.” The way she processed her grief throughout the arc of the story is heart-wrenching but fascinating. The “conversation” she carries on with Steven after his death is poignant, but you can see her healing progressing through the words she types. I certainly shed a few tears during this story. It’s hard to watch someone grieve. But there is a bright possibility at the end of the story. There is hope – and a decision to be made.
  
  I read When the Third Sun Rises and Fire and Ice back-to-back. When the Third Sun Rises was – for me – an unexpected gem. The author provides a delightful selection of genres in Grim Secrets, and I was surprised to find a bit of sci-fi at the end. However, Kreitzman blends fantasy into this one as well, sending a goddess (or a witch?) to a planet suffering under the weight of war. Main character Brigid walks battlefields, and in this story, finds a lone survivor in Orphikin. The dynamics that play out between the two as Brigid endeavors to heal his wounds are compelling, and a lasting impression is made on both characters. A changed mind and a new life wrap up this tale nicely.
  
  I thought Willow’s Secret would remain my favorite, but Fire and Ice blew my mind.
  
  Fire and Ice was so carefully crafted, and the tension so meticulously built, I could not anticipate how the relationship between Theona and Will would play out. I’m reminded of the expression “boiling the frog” – if you put a frog in a pot of hot water, it will jump out and live. But if the frog is put in tepid water and the pot is slowly heated, the frog is clueless about what is happening and will die.
  
  As the “writing on the wall” became apparent in this story, I was shocked. Some monsters look like a dream come true – until the dream turns into a nightmare. Fire and Ice completely unsettled me. I was a little shell-shocked as I finished reading. I think this one is going to stick with me for a long time.
  
  Discovering Me is the creepy tale in this book. After reading it, you might look at the average, everyday people around you and wonder which one is the psychopath! Fans of scary stories and horror will like this one.
  
  A huge applause to Nannette Kreitzman for teaching me that short stories can make a powerful impact on a reader. I’m excited to explore this author’s body of work and highly recommend that you do the same! Five stars to Grim Secrets!
• 
  Sherry Ross

  Nannette Kreitzman has written five splendid stories to be found in her collection: GRIM SECRETS, Tales of Murder, Manipulation and Loss. I happen to enjoy the short story genre, having read plenty of Chekov, Algernon Blackwood and Poe since a teen. So I am prepared for the short read. But these stories, I believe, will even grab the interest of those who usually are only inclined to read novels.
  What makes these stories so remarkable is the intense satisfaction that each tale offers. They are short stories, but they are so focused, well-conceived and crafted that each feels somehow larger and longer, possessing greater depth than what you might expect. Each piece has a strong main character, a definitive setting and a condensed sense of plot, enough to give structure; also a climax, a main character who changes in some integral way by the story’s end, and a good ending. So they are fulfilling and gratifying to read. In some strange way, despite the fact that they are short stories, you have a sense of having read much more: a novella perhaps.
  What’s more, each tale is completely unique. So there is great variety. All five do indeed hold at their core a grim secret; so the stories work well together as a collection. Some of these secrets are revealed to the other characters in the story, some not, with different consequences and outcomes. Discovering Me is a murder mystery. The story, When a Good Man Dies, is a powerful portrayal of loss and grief. Fire and Ice focuses on the psychology of an abusive relationship. In Willow’s Secret, Willow suffers with her secret, after escaping enslavement in an apocalyptic future. When the Third Sun Rises is a fantastic sci-fi tale. I loved these stories. Each seems to hold a core of truth, a spark of wisdom and yes, secrets. I read them straight through in one sitting and then again more leisurely, to study them better. You will not be disappointed in these five wonderful tales.
  
• 
  Bruce Hanson

  I have read the previous 2 collections of short stories by Nannette Kreitzman, so you know I am a fan. Each has contained 5 stories and each has a story that seriously tugged at my heart strings. In Grim Secrets it was When a Good Man Dies. My next favourite of the collection was Fire and Ice, a book about relationships, both between lovers and a woman and her father. It is touching and scary.
  Discovering Me, a twisted murder mystery, starts the book off. A woman is accosted and her friend killed. She has amnesia. I'll leave it there. Willow is a sequel to a story in one of Nannette's earlier collections. Although well written with good characters, it didn't grip me the way the others did. I still enjoyed it. But, that's the way with a collection of short stories, not every open is going to have the same emotional impact on the reader, or pull the reader in the same way, especially when the author mixes genres within a collection. The last story in the book, When the Third Sun Rises, (I love that title) is particularly poignant with the invasion of the Ukraine. This sci-fi story looks at war through the eyes of a special healer. It is within her that hope for a better future is created. All the stories have satisfying endings, and yet all leave room for thoughts of "what next?". If you enjoy short stories, especially if you do not limit yourself to one or two genres, this collection is worth reading.
• 
  Rachel Stanley

  Grim Secrets is a collection of short stories, some of which I've read already, however my thoughts on each story are below.
  
  Discovering me - brilliant! The ending was perfect. I’d guessed it, but only just before the big reveal. 5 stars.
  
  Willows secret - beautiful and heart rending in one! 5 stars.
  
  When a good man dies - A beautifully written short story. I started crying in the first paragraph and didn't stop until the very end. You can find my full review on the individual book. 4 stars.
  
  Fire and ice - Cleverly written, pacey and the characters are believable. My only fault with it was that it wasn't long enough. You can find my full review on the individual book. 4 stars.
  
  When the third sun rises - Loved it! You can find my full review on the individual book. 5 stars.
• 
  Kimmey Fitts

  Five Satisfying Short Stories
  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  FIVE STAR RATING!
  I love the idea that Nannette Kreitzman came up with in choosing to put short stories together in one book. I wish I had done this myself. In fact, I may do something similar in the future. I am inspired. Within this book are five stories. They are as follows... (1) Discovering Me (2) Willow's Secret (3) When a Good Man Dies (4) Fire and Ice (5) When the Third Sun Rises. My favorite story was Willow's Secret, simply because of the dystopian feel to it. The stories are all unique. Yet, they are somehow tied together because of secrets. Nannette Kreitzman is brilliant at character and plot development. She is a true storyteller. Bravo Nannette Kreitzman!
• 
  Jennifer

  This is my third short story anthology by Nannette Kreitzman and I will keep coming back for more! While the majority of these stories did not have the same "GASP!" ending I've come to expect from Kreitzman, they were each very satisfying, and even touching at times. The author writes beautifully and makes each word a pleasure to read. You don't even feel like you're reading, more like watching an episode of Ray Bradbury theater unfold before your eyes.
  
  From post-apocalyptic worlds to domestic partnerships and even space travel, there's no pinning the author down to a certain genre, and I love that about these stories. You never know what you're in for, but you know it's going to be good!
• 
  Michele Packard

  This varied collection of short stories is superbly written. Each story is descriptive and will leave you wanting more while being thoroughly satisfied. The clever endings will put a smile on your face and make you glad you took a short reprieve to recharge and indulge in the great writings of this incredible author. Looking forward to reading her next project(s)!
• 
  Rowan MacKemsley

  Really enjoyed the writing style and especially the first of the stories, which kept me guessing and captured my attention immediately. One of the stories wasn't for me, but it didn't detract from appreciating the collection as a whole.
  
  Would happily purchase more from this author.
• 
  Sandy EggO

  Some is adult only. It is well written otherwise.
  
  Some is adult only and very graphic.
  Most of the stories are well written and makes me ask what happened next
• 
  Lena Berchielli

  I was stuck between 4 and 5 stars,so I went with the 5. These are fantastic quick short stories that leave you thinking. I will definitely be reading more of Kreitzman's books.