Caged Canary

Story 7 in the “Tales of Suspense” Series

Set in the wild and unpredictable world of the 1960’s college campus life, a young and quite hip professor falls for a carefree student and they take off for a summer road trip to enjoy nature and explore untouched worlds by following the “The Appalachian Trail” as it winds through several states. Their attempt to “discover themselves,” however, takes some wicked turns as they encounter odd and indecipherable strangers along the way—some of which introduce new terrors to their relatively tranquil lives. 

Interspersed with the writings of Edgar Allan Poe, the couple descend into a rabbit hole of terror as they try to sort out the world around them with the help—or the horror—of unexpected guests. The ending, as they say, is a shocker.

Each book in the “Tales of Suspense” Series is a standalone story and not connected to the others. Readers can jump in at any point.

Story 14 in the “Tales of Suspense” Series

Victoria Halloran was the heir of the great Whitcomb legacy which came with an estate beyond value situated on a private island called Belle Isle outside of Detroit. With her kind and attentive husband Herbert at her side, from there she reigned as queen on her throne. Unfortunately her throne was her bed—she was a hypochondriac invalid that had not escaped her world of pillows and linens for more than a dozen years.

Imperious, entitled, and bitter, she only found happiness when the world revolved around her. Other than through her overworked telephone, she had no contact with the outside world. But when she eavesdrops on another party’s call and discovers a murder plot, she is desperate to convince others that something must be done to prevent it.

The entire story takes place over a few hours largely with her alone in her bed, but the action and tension are larger than life and, as the clock ticks down to the appointed time of the killing, the scene is almost unbearable.

Each book in the “Tales of Suspense” Series is a standalone story and not connected to the others. Readers can jump in at any point.

What lurks in the recesses of the mind of a child? Those angelic faces that bring holiday cheer to Christmas productions, that beam with pride in their Cub Scouts’ and Brownies’ uniforms, and dance across the stage in recitals or pound out ear-cringing trumpet solos.

Henry Allen Carruthers had just celebrated his sixth birthday eleven days after he started first grade in 1955 and for him life was simply grand. But his idyllic existence would inexplicably grow dark with an unexpected life turn and the impact would slowly begin to change the sweet and lovable child.

Feeling that his one-eyed teddy bear—a gift from his missing mother—was his only friend in an increasingly unfamiliar and frightening world, dark thoughts begin to enter his young mind when his father remarries. A heart-pounding, page-turning entry in the “Tales of Suspense” Series.

Each book in the “Tales of Suspense” Series is a standalone story and not connected to the others. Readers can jump in at any point.