Showing results by author "Owen Carlysle" in All Categories

It’s the Cherry Blossom festival in Washington, DC, and two old friends gather for a meal, but there is darkness in the night, and this gathering will end not as friends might wish. Carlysle’s brilliant handling of atmosphere, pathos, and setting bring a steady increase in an unexplainable sense of unease that explodes in the final paragraphs to a shocking and terrifying conclusion.

What happens when a man in prison finds himself facing a potential riot? In this understated story from Owen Carlysle, the day to day realities of prison life and the constant threat of violence takes center stage.

Noted mystery author Owen Carlysle's restrained approach to crime fiction has already earned him a dedicated following and this short story demonstrates his superior grasp of the psychology, opportunity, and circumstances that create criminals. Frankie Cavenash, a well-to-do salesman is arrested for a white collar crime. Frankie has a secret, though.

Noted mystery author Owen Carlysle's short fiction never fails to impress with its almost superhuman restraint and powerful emotional punch. In this collection, the focus is lockup. See how it affects normal men on the inside, how it impacts them on the outside, and even how the picture of absolute evil might be pushed to confess horrific things.

Owen Carlysle has long been known for his understated short crime fiction and this story represents a departure from his usual soft-spoken but impactful style. Enter the mind of a serial killer as he presents his chilling confession, a confession that will leave you sickened, saddened, and terrified.

A man who's lost all that matters to him seeks solace in the arms of a call girl. What happens when he realizes the solace he seeks is what life has robbed of the girl who arrives at his hotel room? This tale of post-prison consequence is at once dark, poignant, and somehow uplifting.

Owen Carlysle's profound sense of place and character pervades this story of inmates struggling to get through their days. What motivates a man whose freedom is compromised?

An addict searching for his next high instead comes upon a beautiful and mysterious woman who leads him from the darkness in his soul to the possibility of real hope. How can he hold on when he can’t even be sure she’s really human.