Amy Grech takes readers into the heart of true horror, offering up a variety of stories that range from disturbingly realistic to the more traditional ghost stories to the more modern form of gore. Each story is short in length but packs a powerful punch, as this is not the kind of collection you can read in one sitting. Rather, each story leaves the reader with a sense of wonder at the clever twists and turns.

The title story, “Blanket of White”, is a heartbreaking story of a father’s surprise for his daughter who has cerebral palsy. “Ashes to Ashes” is a ghostly journey down memory lane between a wife and husband. “Come and Gone” focuses on one man’s obsession over his sexual prowess. “Rampart” is a haunted house story, with a twist of course! “Prevention” chronicles the worst optician’s visit a mother could endure. “Raven’s Revenge” is an aptly titled ghost story with a nod to Edgar Allan Poe. “Perishables” is perhaps the goriest tale, focusing on survival after a bomb detonates. “Cold Comfort” is a twisted tale of adultery. “Damp Wind and Leaves” centers around two shy teens on Halloween. “Initiation Day” shows just how far a gang initiation can go. “Russian Roulette” combines adultery with Russian Roulette for a horrifying conclusion. “Crosshairs” shows just how far one can go with target shooting. “Apple of My Eye” is a bizarre story about a one night stand and just how wrong it can go.  “EV 2000” takes a bit of a science fiction twist as it focuses on computerized blood donations.

BLANKET OF WHITE is an interesting collection of tales, as each one explores a different type of horror. Amy Grech uses the short story format to full effect as she evokes emotions in the reader, sometimes surprising emotions, making many of the tales all the more horrific. The seeming simplicity of the stories draws the reader in only to meet with the unexpected twist. The brilliance of the stories lies in the atmosphere, rather than the characters. BLANKET OF WHITE is sheer genius in its construct. Bravo!

Publisher: Damnation Books (September 2009)