Review of The Haunting of Towne Point Mall

[Stephen Christopher 1]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Haunting of Towne Point Mall" by Jason Fischer.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Short story compendiums make for enjoyable reading. For starters, they’re short, so you can often complete one story in a single sitting. Short stories come from all genres, but ones linked to horror/paranormal activity with a twist or a shock reveal at the end make for particularly exciting reading. If this sounds like your kind of book, read on.

Jason Fischer's The Haunting of Towne Point Mall contains ten short stories centered around the mysterious Towne Point Mall.

This compendium was a delight. Typically, a couple of stories might not quite resonate in a collection of ten. But not here. Each one had me spellbound.

Here’s a quick synopsis of each story:

Story 1—Birth: This story is where it all begins; Nancy gives birth to a child that only a mother can love, or maybe not.

Story 2—The Bookkeeper: Martin’s life takes a turn for the worse when a mysterious stranger buys a book at his store in the mall.

Story 3—Fashionation: This is another story set in a shop in the mall. This time, Munir receives some unexpected luck, but at a price that he may not be able to afford.

Story 4—The Game of Love: Sarah agrees to go on a paid blind date at an old arcade game venue. The date does not go as planned; can she escape?

Story 5—Tangled Web: Robert works in the mall's service department. He hasn’t had a call for over a year until now. Should he accept the job or run for his life?

Story 6—The Expanding Room: Every Tuesday night, a group of people gathers in a therapy session to discuss their fears. Why do more people enter the room than leave? Richard is determined to find out.

Story 7—Presence from the Mall: Vincent has locked himself away from the world to finalize his novel. Even though it’s July, why does everything in his house suddenly remind him of Christmas with his mother?

Story 8—The Film: A massacre in the cinema at Town Point Mall is eerily the same as one decades ago. Could they somehow be linked?

Story 9—Fan’s Fiction: Steven is signing copies of his latest book when a fan plops his own book in front of him and asks him to read it. Not wanting to offend, Steven agrees. He should never have opened that first page.

Story 10—Are You Real?: Years later, Towne Point Mall has been converted into a prestigious sleep clinic. James is there, posing as a patient, to investigate a murder/suicide. The truth is something he’ll never believe, nor will you, the reader.

There you have it—ten stories that could quite literally chill you to the bone. Which one are you most excited to read?

Towne Point Mall isn’t the only thing connecting all stories; see if you can spot the characters who pop up from here to there.

There’s nothing for me to fault about The Haunting of Towne Point Mall. It’s professionally edited; I spotted no mistakes. Every story was a page-turner, and even though some were a little lengthy, I couldn’t put the book down until I reached the end.

Due to the adult themes in the book, it’s best suited for a mature audience, especially those with a vivid imagination who enjoy the paranormal. I’m rating The Haunting of Towne Point Mall 5 out of 5 stars.

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The Haunting of Towne Point Mall
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[Priya Murugesan]

I have sampled this book and found it quite interesting. Your review piqued my interest further. Will surely try this book!

[Terry Kimble]

Story #4-- Someone will PAY you to go on a blind date? That is creepy enough, but then--at an old arcade venue? What could go wrong? I'm already screaming, "Noooooo, Sarah!" and slapping her silly! All of these stories sound enthralling; thanks, Stephen! I am adding this one to my shelves.

[Marvelly]

I'm thoroughly impressed with The Haunting of Towne Point Mall! The book is expertly edited, with no errors or mistakes to be found. Each story is a gripping page-turner, and while some may be a bit longer than others, they're all so engaging that I couldn't put the book down until I'd finished every last one. The author has done a fantastic job of crafting a compelling and chilling collection that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Highly recommended.

[Stephen Christopher 1]

I have sampled this book and found it quite interesting. Your review piqued my interest further. Will surely try this book!

Thanks Priya, I hope you enjoy it.

[Stephen Christopher 1]

Story #4-- Someone will PAY you to go on a blind date? That is creepy enough, but then--at an old arcade venue? What could go wrong? I'm already screaming, "Noooooo, Sarah!" and slapping her silly! All of these stories sound enthralling; thanks, Stephen! I am adding this one to my shelves.

Hi Terry, yes, she needed a slap for even going, but she (and you) had no idea what she was getting into. I hope you enjoy!

[Cristina-Ioana Toader]

What a great review! You struck a perfect balance between offering a sneak peek and expressing your appreciation for the book. Consider me definitely intrigued.

[Stephen Christopher 1]

What a great review! You struck a perfect balance between offering a sneak peek and expressing your appreciation for the book. Consider me definitely intrigued.

Thanks Cristina for stopping by, I hope you decide to read this one.

[Anu Anand]

This sounds like my kind of book. I think I have sampled it before. The story of a mother and her child seems familiar. It was dark and had something related to the absence of skin. I totally didn't expect the ending to turn out as it did. Anyway, from your review, I'm more than sure that I should definitely read the whole book. Thank you, Stephen. Great review as always!

[Stephen Christopher 1]

This sounds like my kind of book. I think I have sampled it before. The story of a mother and her child seems familiar. It was dark and had something related to the absence of skin. I totally didn't expect the ending to turn out as it did. Anyway, from your review, I'm more than sure that I should definitely read the whole book. Thank you, Stephen. Great review as always!

Hi Anu, yes that's the first story alright. The 'baby' becomes more important to the story arc as you read more of them

[Alissa Nesson]

Thanks for quite an intriguing review! This sounds like a perfect book for me. I’m not usually into short stories, but I love when all the stories are connected. I love the sound of those stories too!

[Stephen Christopher 1]

Thanks for quite an intriguing review! This sounds like a perfect book for me. I’m not usually into short stories, but I love when all the stories are connected. I love the sound of those stories too!

Hi Alissa, I hope you enjoy it. See if you can spot the other characters who appear in more than one story.

[David Awunor]

These review really make me curious about the books being discussed. Each story shares you shared sounds. I am looking forward to the books and storytelling!

[Stephen Christopher 1]

These review really make me curious about the books being discussed. Each story shares you shared sounds. I am looking forward to the books and storytelling!

Hi David, I hope you enjoy the stories as much as I did.

[Chinazo Anozie]

I'm so intrigued by the plot from your awesome review. I love scary books, so this one will be right up my alley. I wonder how the characters are connected and what the connection to the mall is. I'll definitely check this book out.