Reviews from

~Arsenic & Cold Grace~

It's so lonely at the top...

65 total reviews 
Comment from Muffins
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

When Grace told wanna be killer Bruce that a publisher wanted to speak to him, I knew it was a set-up and was forming at the mouth on how badly it would end for Bruce. Both of your character need to be thrown in the Elizabeth River. A fun read on Writers Gone Wild. Let's just hope our Fan story family is a bit more sane.

 Comment Written 18-Mar-2014


reply by the author on 18-Mar-2014
    Hah, yeah, I hope so too, Muffins. No murders or poisonings thus far that I'm aware of. I truly appreciate you digging this one up, dusting it off, and taking a look at it for me. What a pleasant surprise. Thank you!
Comment from daeneam
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I gave your "suspense-thriller" 6 stars although it only pays one point and two member cents. Who cares for a payment when you have enjoyed reading? Nice! Very clever, I love the evil plot, LOL! This is the very reason why I never put to actuality the evil plot I planned for my enemy - too afraid of KARMA! hahaha

 Comment Written 24-Nov-2013


reply by the author on 24-Nov-2013
    Ha, great, now you've gone and got me worried, bulletski, LOL...

    I wish you could have caught this when I had it promoted to 1.38, for your sake. However, the fact that you read it at such a low cost makes me appreciate the fact that you did read it all the more.

    Thanks again, bulletski, I truly appreciate the fabulous review!
Comment from babylonia
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Dean,
Ice cream and potato soup are the best things to spike with the white powder. If you do it slowly enough, people never know they are dying. LOL Great job with this one. I smiggled the whole time I was reading. Probably a good thing I've never been the number one writer. LOL
Love,
Barbara

 Comment Written 24-Nov-2013


reply by the author on 24-Nov-2013
    Hah, same here, Barbara! Thanks a bunch for reading and reviewing this one for me. I know it is rather long, but I really appreciate it!
reply by babylonia on 24-Nov-2013
    It read very smoothly otherwise the length would have been an issue. Nicely done.
    Love,
    Barbara
Comment from Spitfire
Good
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

A story of particular interest to us on FS. I was put off when you introduced the background of this father. I know you wanted us to see where he got the arsenic, but it interrupted the flow. A brief reference would have done the trick. i.e. How perfect that his deceased father had kept lethal chemicals needed for his ... you get the idea. Although the plot is predictable, it is an exaggerated way to show the lengths members will go to keep their rank. LOL

 Comment Written 18-Nov-2013


reply by the author on 18-Nov-2013
    Hah, you've got that right, Spit. Some people, not necessarily those on this website, take their lofty status a bit too seriously. I'll revise the part about Bruce's Dad, then you can tell me what you think about it later, whether or not it's a better read. Thanks!
Comment from Eleanor Buron
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Background, characters and conflict, are all well written and integrated perfectly in this story. Dialog moves the action nicely. Bruce and Grace are believable characters; I like the surprise ending! I really enjoyed reading "Arsenic and Cold Grace" - Smile. Love the title which has a familiar ring ("Arsenic and Old Lace") Clever, you are.

 Comment Written 17-Nov-2013


reply by the author on 18-Nov-2013
    Hah, you picked up on that, huh, Eleanor? A lot of readers didn't. Or, they did, and simply didn't say anything. Anyhow, I am really glad you enjoyed it, and I appreciate your fantastic review!
reply by Eleanor Buron on 19-Nov-2013
    I also picked up on the fact that you are an excellent writer! ;)
reply by the author on 19-Nov-2013
    That
    s a very nice thing to say, thank you! I try...
Comment from ravenblack
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

The scary thing is, I think some on this site might do the same to protect their rank. Also just goes to show, who you communicate with on the web could be poison in real life.

 Comment Written 17-Nov-2013


reply by the author on 18-Nov-2013
    Hah, yeah, some folks take the rankings way-y-y-y too seriously, ravenblack.

    I very glad you liked this one, and thanks for the read and review!
Comment from Father Flaps
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hi Dean
Superb presentation! Nifty idea to incorporate the actual sounds from a busy bar. It made me feel like I was at a nearby table. Grace isn't as stupid as Bruce thought she was. She was two steps ahead of him the whole way.
How interesting to bring the writers race to top spot for the year. I had no idea until recently that there was such intensive competition among top performers.
I liked the reference to the 1944 comedy "Arsenic and Old Lace", Frank Capra-directed, and starring Cary Grant and Priscilla Lane. "Arsenic and Cold Grace" was brilliant.
The big mistake Bruce made was to turn his back from the coffee cups after he had plopped the pill of poison. But his ego was sparked when Grace told him that,
"Mr. Burgenstein, the owner and operator of Cemetery Gates Publishing, wants to publish your anthology of horror stories."
I ID'd you as Bruce because of the "horror stories". And I like the titles you used,
"Cemetery Gates Publishing"
"Apocalyptic Annoyance"
Just a couple of very minor things,

"C'mon, lighten up, Brucie-boy! Grace cut in once more, "We're old friends here, you and I, right? Besides, do you see that guy over there in the corner stall? The distinguished-looking white-haired gentleman wearing the white fedora?"
"C'mon, lighten up, Brucie-boy!" Grace cut in once more, "We're old friends here, you and I, right? Besides, do you see that guy over there in the corner stall? The distinguished-looking, white-haired gentleman wearing the white fedora?"

"Arsenic, wasn't it? You are a very bad boy, Brucie baby. Glenn told me what you'd done just after you dropped it into my coffee.
"Arsenic, wasn't it? You are a very bad boy, Brucie baby. Glenn told me what you'd done just after you dropped it into my coffee."

Every syllable resonated in his throbbing head like a gong.
Every syllable resonated like a gong in his throbbing head.

Nicely penned!
cheers
Kimbob

 Comment Written 17-Nov-2013


reply by the author on 18-Nov-2013
    Hah, yes, old Bruce really underestimated the lovely Grace, didn't he. She was far more shrewd and cool a customer than he'd ever imagined. It just goes to show ya, you should never judge a book by it's cover.

    Thanks for the detailed and fabulous review, Kimbob. And for those great suggestions. I'll make some edits in the story just as soon as I can!
Comment from TOMORAL
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Wow, remind me never to meet you for a drink! lol. This was fascinating to read. I had a feeling she was going to do him in, but never dreamed the story would turn out this way. Just an excellent read!

 Comment Written 17-Nov-2013


reply by the author on 18-Nov-2013
    Hah, you don't have to worry about me, TOMORAL. I'm nowhere near number one, LOL!
    Thanks for the read and funny review. I really appreciate it!
Comment from shanamave
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

GREAT story -- had me enthralled the entire time. Few corrections:
The lady he was supposed to meet was a fox. She was far more stunning than he could have imagined, (r)Rich olive skin, long slender legs with muscular calves.
Bruce bolted(,) erect from inadvertently leaning in closer to the cup, just to see if he could detect anything out of the ordinary, then looked into the puzzled face of his lunch date.

 Comment Written 17-Nov-2013


reply by the author on 18-Nov-2013
    Thanks, shanamave, I am very glad you liked it. I'll get on those errors right away!
Comment from michaelcahill
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Had to read this. This grabbed me after about two lines and then I was hooked. I suspected that she was gonna do the switcheroo but you kept it in doubt all the way through. Damn this was a great story. Adewpearl invited me for coffee to discuss the site. Should I be worried? mikey

 Comment Written 16-Nov-2013


reply by the author on 16-Nov-2013
    Hah, uh...yeah, Mikey, I'd probably be a bit worried, LOL!
    Many thanks for the funny review, my friend.