Anthologies are soon becoming my favorite type of reads, why? They are the perfect books to pick up and get lost in if ever you are having a busy day. I adore anthologies and short stories but only if they are written flawlessly with each story being supremely well developed with a wealth of information. Creek Bait is just this; a perfect anthology book that has flawlessly written stories written throughout it that will compel, intrigue and excite you from beginning to end! Richard Lutman, the talented author of Creek Bait, is an incredible writer whose work needs to be recognized and read by all readers so, please book lovers, if you adore anthologies and books with brilliant stories then you will love this! If you are not entirely convinced just yet then read the rest of my review to learn more about this exceptional book!

Creek Bait is a dramatic, thrilling and exciting novel that will keep readers entertained, captivated and engrossed from the very first page. Never before have I been so captivated by a collection of short stories and this is thanks to the exceptional author Richard Lutman and his talented literature and so if you are a reader who loves books that will compel as well as thrill you then Creek Bait is for you!

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Creek Bait is a collection of fourteen stories, and each one is different from the last. The book consists of fourteen short stories, and they all fall under different genres so there really is something for everyone in the magnificent Creek Bait. Each story explores human nature and follows many different characters from all walks of life and I loved every one of them because they were so transfixing thanks to the author’s exceptional words!

 

Richard Lutman is an incredibly talented author; there is no doubt about this as he has proved this in his different short stories. I adored how he managed to set the scene up for the story quickly and make me able to invest in the characters in the matter of a few pages. Lutman’s stories may be short, but each tale is well-developed with an excellent plot, rich characterization and compelling components that will make you fall madly in love with Creek Bait!

 

Overall Creek Bait is an impressive collection of short stories, and so I have no choice but to award Creek Bait a dazzling five stars! It is a unique, compelling, exceptional book that will have you turning the pages with haste. The stunning literature courtesy of Richard Lutman will excite as well as enthrall you from the first page with his well-formed stories. So please book lovers, read this excellent book, you will not be disappointed!

RED HEADED BOOK LOVER *****

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Intense and heartrending…
Lutman brings forth a collection of fourteen short stories that throws readers into the emotional lives of people escaping from life. Each story reveals the world of characters who have almost given up on life. Some of them succeed, others face heartbreak, and a few lucky ones find redemption. Frequently caught between hopeless despair and passing pragmatism, Lutman’s characters are as susceptible as they are intriguing. The stories vary in tone. In CREEK BAIT, the protagonist struggles to decide a life path. Corporal Miller fights delusions and despair as he meets his end in THE GREAT CAUSE. In A PRETTY HAND, Cass Franklin struggles to come to term with his newfound freedom and his wife’s death after his release from jail. IN CROSSING THE GREAT DIVIDE, a husband has given up on his marriage while the wife refuses to acknowledge the failure of their relationship. In THE CALF, the protagonist holds onto a dim hope and is unable to let go of the past. Colonel Hidalgo of the Ninth Regiment in THE BLUE LADYmeets a shocking end on a train journey. The Padre is unable to see a ray of hope despite being a believer in LAUGHTER FOR A PADRE. But it is Lutman’s characterization especially of beautiful, intense, and impossible female protagonists in stories that drive this book. Passionate and tragic, these stories chronicle the fragile characters’ inner agonised attempts to find a fraction of meaning in life. Despair, dejection, reminiscence, and a little hope run deep throughout the collection.

THE PRAIRIES REVIEW *****
 

I found "Creek Bait" to be exciting; the kind of book you read over a cup of coffee. Each story is well crafted with a powerful conflict, each fast paced, moving swiftly towards a satisfying climax. I enjoyed the way the author captures the worlds of the characters through dialogue and narrative.

READER’S FAVORITE *****

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Fourteen stories in all, "Creek Bait" is everything a short story collection ought to be: it’s impressively varied; compulsively readable; and displays a natural writer’s talent for capturing plot, tone, and character quickly, as short fiction requires.

RED CITY REVIEW *****

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Each story unfolds like a butterfly's wing: delicate, observational, and ultimately thought-provoking. Even those which are whimsical in nature contain a depth of experience that leads readers to reflect on accidental meetings, marriage and aging, journeys begun and concluded, and the nature of existence between life and death.

MID WEST REVIEW *****

Diane Donovan Editorial Services