Drop Shock by Ally Wilkes: The Black Crow Book of Best New Horror Volume 1

The Black Crow Book of Best New Horror Volume 1 is a collection of 13 weird and wonderful tales to leave you a little more disturbed than you probably are already. Authors include Adrian Tchaikovsky, Lisa Tuttle, Clay McLeod Chapman, Tim Lebbon and more.

Today, I’m looking at one story in particular, Drop Shock by Ally Wilkes.

 

Drop Shock by Ally Wilkes summary

Tom is immediately nervous when the helicopter leaves him alone on the island hilltop. As part of the One Hundred Days survival reality TV show, he’s volunteered to be there, but maybe he’s out of his depth. Then again, women had done the show, so of course he’d be fine.

Even though the forest’s silence is unnerving and he gets the impression he’s not alone, Tom scrapes through the first few days. During his first well-being check, he breaks one of the rules and looks at some of the footage already on the camera. There, he sees himself violently tucking into a squirrel carcass. However, he hasn’t been able to catch any squirrels; they’re far too quick for him. But if that’s not him on the camera, who is it?

 

Drop Shock by Ally Wilkes quotes

“Don’t you worry about me. Everyone comes back. Even the girls.”

“‘No,’ he said aloud, putting the grouse down and wiping his gloves in the snow. ‘I’m not like that.’ Anyone could tell you – he wasn’t like that. His wife was always saying: You’re one of the good ones.”

“He’d seen it on camera, hadn’t he? The thing which looked like him and acted like him. Something from out of the trees.”

“She used the same phrases she had when she’d been filming herself in mud and grime: Gotta keep keeping on. It is what it is. It was oddly soothing, the way she repeated them. As if she didn’t have enough words to elaborate.”

 

Drop Shock by Ally Wilkes review

Drop Shock by Ally Wilkes is an absolutely captivating 18-page short story that really gets under your skin.

Firstly, Tom’s a misogynistic asshole, but that is the point. There’s no warming to your lead character here. Thankfully, that’s not required, because this story is all about the intrigue. I’ve no idea how Ally Wilkes manages to pack a great setting, a clear character, a shocking twist and a ton of ‘what the hell is going on?’ into such a short timeframe, but she smashes it.

I really can’t go into the plot much more without creating spoilers (which I’m not into), but this story of one man’s reality show experience will definitely keep you entertained.

 

Is Drop Shock by Ally Wilkes worth reading?

My hell yes, won’t be any surprise at this point, as Drop Shock is a great short story that’s well worth reading. It’s a true masterclass in creepy storytelling, and I really loved it. Now I’m off to check out Ally Wilkes other work.

 

 

If you liked this, you’ll love The Troop by Nick Cutter.

Buy your copy of The Black Crow Book of Best New Horror Volume 1 now

Thank you to Black Crow Books for providing me with this story.