Subterranean Heartbeats

Diana Kemp-Jones
Zumaya Publications (2002)
ISBN 1591090709
Reviewed by Cathy Yanda for Reader Views (9/06)

“Subterranean Heartbeats” is seventeen short stories, each bringing you its own kind of late-night thrills. If you become frightened when you hear things-that-go-bump in the night, see shadows and believe they could be spirits, or close your eyes while watching the grisly news broadcasts, maybe this book is not for you. However, if you are the type of person, as I am, who loves riding in the front seat of the roller coaster, eagerly awaits the newest horror story to hit the bookshelves, and who watches mostly scary movies, you are going to enjoy these short stories.

“Arcade” is the first story in the collection, and my favorite. Diana Kemp-Jones tells the story of a young boy who, forbidden by the Keepers to go into an area of the woods, spends hours playing in what appears to be an old amusement park left abandoned by people of “the old country.” The games come to life when Noah enters and engages him in play. There is the Dragon Lord video game where Noah grips an old, well-worn joystick and battles the evil Dragon Lord’s fleet and “Bumper Car Bonanza” that smashes bumper cars into each other and tosses Noah from side to side. Noah spends hours playing the games in the forbidden place. When he invites a new friend to come with him, his sister chases after and the three of them are soon inside the arcade. As the games come to life, Noah is unable to control them and things go from bad to worse.

Diana Kemp-Jones’ stories may have you rooting for the underdog or cheering for the awakened horror. Either way, you will not be able to predict their ending. In “Remote Control,” Maggie, a young married woman whose husband is out of town on business, is haunted by the television and VCR clicking on of the own volition. Soon she is watching her husband enjoying the company of two beautiful women when she sees something on the screen that transforms her astonishment into delight and she calls a friend of hers whose husband is also out of town. The twist at the end will leave you smiling.

“Subterranean Heartbeats” is a treasure that you will want to share with others, perhaps taking turns reading the stories aloud late at night. Just don’t forget to leave a light on when you fall asleep. You never know what evil is lurking out there.

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