Book Review: IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE by various authors
As with many small U.S. towns, Elliott City, MD is home to a disturbing yet captivating urban legend of Peeping Tom, a.k.a. The Blink Man. Legend has it that Peeping Tom, or Thom, depending on the story, was a miner killed in a mine explosion decades ago and now straddles this world and the next as The Blink Man. Anyone who stares into the Ilchester Tunnel for an hour without blinking will cause Peeping Tom to follow them home and forever be seen out of the corner of their eye, haunting them, and in some cases, killing them so that they can be dragged into this limbo state along with the infamous flimmergeist.
In this collection of short stories surrounding appearances of The Blink Man, a diverse set of characters share their run-ins with the legend via fictional documents, diary entries, and interviews. A husband plans to kill his wife so that he can run away with his girlfriend and the insurance money. A stranger in town encounters the seemingly-friendly local shop owner who isn’t as he appears. A young girl tries to solve the mystery surrounding the apparent suicide of her teacher. These are just a few of the tales concocted by a string of talented writers who each add their own twist to the legend.
Based on the movie, BUTTERFLY KISSES, In the Blink Of An Eye is an imaginative horror story collection whose central premise is a classic yet unique idea that makes for a suspenseful and, in some cases, terrifying read.
Review by Laura Smith
