Jessica Barratt

Suck It, Miss Bea.

There’s a lady already on about her damn therapeutic hairless cats when I get in. Trying to catch my breath, I make it almost to the back row, but of course all 10 or 12 of them are drawn to the smell of what snuck in with me—the lovely, sultry, slightly burned aroma of aContinue reading “Suck It, Miss Bea.”

Mutiny Point

3 AM, downtown’s deserted. Just my truck and the road. I shouldn’t have come this way, too high profile for carrying valuable cargo. Hitting every red light, besides. Good thing the cops are all busy with them murderers and ruddy fucks causing shit where they shouldn’t. I don’t plan on meeting any trouble. Not tonight,Continue reading “Mutiny Point”

Valley View’s Dead

“Think that one looks fresher than the others?” I flick my cigarette at a grave to my left. Both of us watch as the cherry fades into the yellowing sod. “What’s the name?” “Hughes, 1943 to 1987,” I say. Nicholas gives the stone angel a kick. The priest at the bottom of the hill stopsContinue reading “Valley View’s Dead”

Exploring Liam Leroux’s “Ostrich MgQuarck is the Worst Detective in the World”

A while back I had the honour of having both a short story and a small book review published in the inaugural issue of The Bolo Tie Collective’s annual anthology. While the short story casts a dark shadow on Edmonton’s 104th Avenue, the book review below takes a lighter approach to local author Liam Leroux’sContinue reading “Exploring Liam Leroux’s “Ostrich MgQuarck is the Worst Detective in the World””

Diving for Lilies: A Personal Account of Tracey Lindberg’s “Birdie”

This review is a personal perspective on Tracey Lindberg’s Birdie, and outlines my own impressions regarding this narrative. There are no spoilers, so if you haven’t read it yet, don’t worry! If you have, I would love to hear your own reflections in the comments below!