What is your opinion?
No more jigsaws!
"I told my husband several years ago that I was done with moving. After reading this short story I have proof that moving may be bad for my health! Jigsaw puzzles have always been a means of relaxation, but after reading this short story I will always be wary when I open a new box and begin piecing together the puzzle. Be afraid. Lock the doors. Does that mover looks trustworthy? Does he??"
Housewarming Gift
"I was very much drawn into the story, savoring the sense of unease that crept in. As the tension grew my sense of unease went along with it. From gentle unease to outright anxiety, I was with our tale's protagonist Joan for every step, every jolt, ever shiver.. Without giving anything away, I would never want to be in her shoes! What she experienced was definitely unsettling Joseph Hagen's writing style has been a favorite of mine for several years now, as he skillfully meshes an intriguing story with a warm and friendly voice that takes you on a journey into the unknown. I look forward to reading more from Mr. Hagen."
Suspensful, but....
"I'll start of by saying you made the story suspenseful. VERY, suspenseful. At some points I was at the edge of my seat, leaning in close to the computer. I was getting so worried for Joan. When she jumped, I jumped. And the whole idea of a figure standing in the doorway like that...creppy. Now, getting down to technical aspects....this is where I feel you fell short. The sentences didn't flow all that well. At some points they were very choppy. And in one paragraph, you started every sentence with a word ending in "ing." It sort of distracted me from the story. Also, the ending didn't feel very satisfying. Bushing it all off as dream just sort of seemed...anti-climatic. It would have been okay to end it like that, had you, let's say, made the mysterious mover come back one more time. Or maybe revealed to us that the set of keys was missing. You just needed something to make the reader at the end go "Oh, that definitely couldn't have been a dream." Overall, the plot was really good. The story fell short in some areas, but I feel you have real potential as an author. Keep writing!"
