I've been a fan of Gemma Amor since I heard her work read on the NoSleep Podcast. I can't remember which story of hers I heard first, but afterward, I eagerly snapped up every short story collection of hers that I could get my hands on. Since then, I've read everything she's published. Hell, she even blurbed my book Unboxed. How did I get so lucky?
I was also lucky enough to get a copy of her upcoming book Six Rooms. Since I blurbed that one, that should give you a good idea of how I feel about it. I'll also be discussing it in an upcoming weekly review. For now, though, let's focus on Dear Laura.
Published in the summer of 2019, Dear Laura offers a fresh take on the horror genre's traditional stalker trope. While the stalker could easily be a bigger part of this story, Amor instead lays out a woman's life interrupted once a year instead by a twisted man's notes. Dear Laura is a speedy, chilling read that will stick in your mind long after you read it. If you're looking for more short horror reads, this one won't let you down.
Anyway, here's a Goodreads overview of the book:
Every year, on her birthday, Laura gets a letter from a stranger. That stranger claims to know the whereabouts of her missing friend Bobby, but there’s a catch: he’ll only tell her what he knows in exchange for something... personal.
So begins Laura’s sordid relationship with her new penpal, built on a foundation of quid pro quo. Her quest for closure will push her to bizarre acts of humiliation and harm, yet no matter how hard she tries, she cannot escape her correspondent’s demands. The letters keep coming, and as time passes, they have a profound effect on Laura.
From the author of Cruel Works of Nature comes a dark and twisted tale about obsession, guilt, and how far a person will go to put her ghosts to bed.
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Though this book is small, it packs a mighty punch. As Laura strives to get to the bottom of her friend Bobby's disappearance, she goes to lengths she never imagined in exchange for information. Warning: there's a scene with self-performed dental surgery in this one, so if teeth aren't your thing, you might want to tap out. I won't say much else about the scene because it's one of the most jarring in the novella. Teeth and eye injuries tend to squick me out, but Amor balances emotional turmoil and physical anguish admirably here. Although the worst scene was hard to read, I'm glad I put the work in.
It's also worth noting that Dear Laura earned Amor a Bram Stoker Award
Nomination. That's certainly nothing to scoff at.
Author, Gemma Amor
Gemma Amor's Dear Laura earns five stars from me. If you're interested in reading this one, pick it up on Amazon. You can also hear it read as a NoSleep Podcast serial. For more of Amor's work, visit her website, and keep up with her on Twitter and Instagram. Her upcoming projects include Six Rooms from Cemetery Gates Publishing, as well as her traditionally published debut, Full Immersion, from Angry Robot Books. I plan on reviewing both of them once they're out, so prepare for that.
See you all next week!
Briana Morgan (she/her) is a horror author and playwright of books such as THE TRICKER-TREATER AND OTHER STORIES, UNBOXED, and BLOOD AND WATER. She is also a proud member of the Horror Writers Association. Briana lives with her partner and two cats in Atlanta, GA.
