I have a particular taste for short stories and I have certainly enjoyed one or two of the "Best of Horror/Fantasy" collections so I was happy to give Cacek a try. Horror seems to work particularly well for short stories for some reason. I love the sense of apprehension that grows and then that final moment when you realize just exactly what is going on. Perhaps part of the reason I enjoy them so much is that it follows the style of a classic ghost story. My Dad used to tell ghost stories at night, and though it took less to scare me back then, I enjoyed the same giddy feeling of creepiness I feel now. That's why I love Dahl, and Gorey and all the rest so much. Ghost stories have the same role in my memories as mythology or family tales: they are one set of classic "spoken word".

In any case, about Leavings ... I don't want to say too much for fear of giving it away. Reading a set of short stories by one author is always interesting. It's like seeing an exhibit with all of the works of one artist. I remember seeing a Magritte exhibit, the largest yet presented, and getting the idea that, well, he really liked apples, and clouds, and bowlers. In this same way, I discovered that P.D.Cacek must find babies pretty creepy. There were dead baby dolls, anti-demon baby toys, haunted stillborn babies, baby gargoyles, etc. Or perhaps it's just that a dead child is the most horrific thing she can imagine. But aside from a slight preference for that, Cacek shows a range of settings from rural, to historical, to fantastic. Her writing is evocative without being flowery and leaves you with a lingering unease, just the way I like it!

That's all there is to say. I quite enjoyed it and you might too, if you happen to have a taste for horror.