Peace and Disquiet

And what did Readers think?

'the work of an accomplished writer, one with true knowledge of the craft'

'an outstanding collection of short stories'

'I was left open mouthed at the sinister realism and very brave and powerful writing'

'two of the very best stories of this kind I have ever read'

'I almost felt as if the words themselves were drawing me in and binding me to each and every syllable'

'Helen Laycock writes with a deep understanding of her characters'

~Ante Mortem~

A troubled man contemplates then dismisses suicide, while in the flat below an elderly lady foils his plan.

~Lucky Jim~

When a homeless man takes on a new identity, he experiences a lifestyle he'd only ever dreamed of, but we all have to wake up eventually.

~'Til Death Do Us Part~

An elderly couple have made a pact to always be together.

~My Name is Not Simon~

From his hospital bed, although unable to communicate, he is in love.

~Silver Lining~

Jack paints pictures as reality is ugly.

~Beggars and Choosers~

A runaway meets a homeless man and understands choice.

~Dear Madeline~

Nina writes a retrospective letter to the misfit from school.

~Wish You Were Here…~

Meg revisits the beach where she lost her sister.

~Design~

The strange book in the holiday cottage seems to be telling Cathy something.

~Little Angels~

Once there were two little girls...

~From This Day Forward~

Revenge is sweet.

~Charming Viola~

A job in a museum is very Interesting, until Viola realises some of the exhibits are cursed.

'intriguing and is crafted with figurative, poetic language which flows beautifully'

'each one is a masterpiece that could only have been created by the master story teller that she undoubtedly is'

'Despite the rather grim nature of most of them, they're strangely compelling and readable. .'

'Great short stories that send you through a host of emotions'

'Each story is unique and well crafted'

'a great collection of short stories that are well written and enjoyable'

'The author has a wonderful clear-as-a-bell, way of writing with good finality to each story.'

'I found it very difficult to choose a favourite story amongst this collection.'

'I was held captive until the end'

'...stick in my mind long after reading them'

'she can certainly send shivers up the spine!'

'this author writes in such a way that you can't help but turn the page'

'Peace and Disquiet is a collection of short stories which are certainly of the more creepy and disquieting side rather than peaceful. All the stories feature death and/or demise of a curious nature often with a little twist or a feeling of all is not what it first seems. The intriguing and deadly overtones remind me very much of the televised 1970's series Tales of The Unexpected.'

'My Name is Not Simon was one of the most beautifully and poetic written stories. The descriptions and language used is bewitching and memorable. It moved me very much and left me guessing right to the end what and who it was about.'

'PEACE & DISQUIET is an impressive collection of short stories by gifted writer Helen Laycock. In many ways it's a tour de force of writing styles, genres, and points of view. Every story delivers both in terms of execution, story, and voice, with quite a bit of surprise and unpredictability.'

'A very well written and well chosen selection of short unsettling stories - much recommended.'

'I realised as soon as I started the first story that I wasn't going to put the book down until I'd finished it. And then I just had to read another, and another. Helen Laycock has a gift for drawing the reader into the lives of her characters. Shocks, sadnesses, heartfelt sympathy - and some relief - thank goodness I was reading fiction.'

'Every story starts out perfectly normal, that doesn't last long! Perfect if you enjoyed tales of the unexpected and like your stories with a creepy little twist.'

Peace and Disquiet by Helen Laycock is a collection of short stories that stretch from death to hope. The author uses vivid language, giving birth to a variety of emotions for the reader: sadness, longing, despair, tenderness, fear, rejection, hate and many more. Each story, aside from a few, left a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth

I usually read long novels and sagas, but I must admit that I liked these short stories more than any other I’ve ever read. Helen Laycock swiftly creates entire worlds, some of them fairly realistic, others out of the ordinary and on the boundary of paranormal—like in Design where improbable, weird things happen for real. The sadness of some stories is fairly balanced by the ones that make you taste hope.

I felt pulled into the lives of the characters as if felt compelled to finish each story as soon as possible, and when I finished the book I almost felt disappointed that there weren’t any more. I want more! and I’ll definitely read something else from this same author.

. If you like a quick read into an enjoyable collection, then you can’t miss this one.

'I really enjoyed this collection of short stories - some are disturbing, some have a great twist in the tale. They won't necessarily cheer you up if you're looking for a light read but they are hugely enjoyable as a reflection on life..'