Tuxedo Junction

In this third collection of short stories by Carpe Noctem publisher, Fangoria/Dread Central contributor, and No Flesh Shall Be Spared author, Thom Carnell, presents eighteen genre-expanding tales. From a drug-induced landscape of discovery, a space station at the edge of the galaxy, or a SWAT-sieged apartment complex, TUXEDO JUNCTION continues to explore the limits of imagination where MOONLIGHT SERENADES and A STRING OF PEARLS left off.

“The supernatural mingles with blistering emotional realism in this excellent third collection from Carnell (A String of Pearls). With these 19 stories, Carnell offers an impressive variety of narratives as his characters encounter apparitions, monsters, illness, and their own humanity. The best stories include “The Children’s Hour,” about a little girl who encounters the benevolent spirit of her recently deceased father; “An Angel Cometh,” a surreal tale of a man who witnesses horrors within a cathedral; “Standing Tall,” about a young boy who watches from his wheelchair as other children play sports; and “Dancin’ Days,” which sees a female martial artist sparring with her instructor. Each story is preceded by a short introduction offering mild insights into the origins and development of the work. Moving from whimsical to brutal and back again, Carnell’s descriptive prose marks him as a standout voice in supernatural fiction. This haunting collection will linger in readers’ minds long after they’ve turned the final page.”
~ Publisher’s Weekly

“…absolutely superb. I really enjoyed Domicillary, a sf story with a really sweet ending, The Honey-Do (just leave the sink alone) and the best of the bunch – The Midas Gift. The last story about a girl and her relationship with a priest (no, not like that) and is full of emotion with a very sad ending.”
~ Ginger Nuts of Horror

TUXEDO JUNCTION includes the following stories:

The Children’s Hour
            Being tucked into bed is the best

 San Jacinto
            A journalist meets an infamous shaman and his boundaries are tested

 Making Plans
            Based on a true story, this happens more than most funeral directors would like to admit

 Conociendo al Fantasma
            A play in one act

 Domiciliary
            At the edge of the galaxy, a pilot visits a place of comfort

 An Angel Cometh
            An emissary from another world comes to claim a soul

 Please Lock Cellar When Finished
            A familiar priest rushes to give The Dead their Last Rites

 The Missive
            Partly autobiographical, this is, at its heart, a love story

 The Honey-Do
            Home repair is a monster

 The Midas Gift
            Fr. Thorpe meets a very special little girl

 Dogwatch
            Homicide Detectives working the Graveyard Shift have seen it all, but they’ve never seen this

 Torch
            Music can oftentimes act as a touchstone for our deeper emotions

 Concrete Angels
            It’s just another night on the beat for Det. John Secord

 Never My Love
            Illusion is all a part of being in Love

 Standing Tall
            A special child meets his first friend

 For Dust Thou Art
            The killer observes his canvas

 Dancin’ Days
            Back at the League’s Training Ground, Cleese and Kekoa encounter an all-too familiar evil.

 The Heart of Christmas
            An admittedly unusual holiday mashup…

Available from Crossroad Press!