Recipes for Revenge

Carolyn Young

172 pages

NZ$21.95 incl.postage

US$24.95 incl.postage overseas

In 16 short stories Carloyn Young skewers love, trust and commitment – and her delineating eye leads unerringly to that vital moment in relationships when fate hangs in the balance. Her range is astonishing, her vision unique.

A collection of very wicked, clever stories... long may she produce these striking, awesome tales.                                                              

Marlborough Express

Covering topics from love and trust to murder and revenge, Young has incredible insight and the ability to capture the reader in a way that keeps you thinking right until the very end about what twist she may, or may not, surprise you with. A brilliant and clever book which plays with the mind.

Northern Advocate

Many of the stories could easily be turned into TV dramas in the style of Ray Bradbury Theatre. They are the sort of entertaining story-with-a-twist people enjoy. Carolyn Young has a talent for bizarre humour.

Dominion Post

Ever wondered how to get back at your cheating husband or the pushy real estate agent? Carolyn Young provides some creative yet sobering suggestions in this collection of short stories about revenge.  The collection is easy to read and perfect to dip into while sitting on the beach this summer.

New Zealand Womens’ Weekly

Themes in this entertaining mix include lost childhood, unfaithful spouses, cruel small-town mentality and domestic misfortune, all with a twist in the end and a common thread of payback.

Daily Telegraoph

Excerpt...

She called the bird Firpo. He declared himself Jade’s bird from the beginning. He would perch on her shoulder calmly, but shriek and become agitated at Mason’s approach. Mason had withdrawn his tentative overtures as his index finger became steadily more frayed. “Stupid bloody bird,” he exclaimed when it drew blood, after which he had totally ignored him.

Firpo was out of his cage wandering about the kitchen as Jade prepared what she had come to think of as the ‘Trial by Kitchen’. Mason’s cookbook was carefully propped up on the windowsill. She had rung her mother twice, Bethany once.

“What the hell is clarified butter, Firpo?” The bird strutted along the benchtop, stepped on lettuce she was washing in the sink and sank. She quickly fished him out and dried him off with the tea towel. He was more indignant than anything, his flapping wings scattering the chopped parsley. “Right, back into the cage you go!”

As she turned to open the cage door Firpo flew to perch on the pot of chowder she had so carefully prepared. He balanced delicately on the rim and Jade saw a large blob from beneath his tail drop into the soup with an unmistakable plop. No amount of careful dredging with a spoon could retrieve it.

“Oh Shit!” she exclaimed. Firpo screeched in sympathy, peering into the depths of the soup with her.

“You bastard!” Jade spoke more honestly to Firpo than she did to Mason. The soup was the masterpiece of her entire meal. She made her decision and stirred the pot well. It was as simple as that.