Devils You Know Review: Compelling Short Stories

Devils You Know
By Miles Watson

TW: Torture, war

If you’re looking for light, humorous stories to help you relax, then keep moving. These are not the stories you are looking for.

If you want complicated narrators, vivid settings, and thought-provoking dialogue, then you’re in the right place. Devils You Know by Miles Watson delivers with this series of short stories written over a twenty-six year period.

I do not usually read war stories. I’m not a big fan of vampire or werewolf stories. Watson’s short stories and novellas are a welcome exception to that rule. Watson was inspired by Ernest Hemingway, Stephen King, Michael Shaara, and other talented artists. It’s easy to see why I couldn’t breeze through these stories. Each was a unique gem that generated strong thoughts and feelings that demanded my attention even after I was done reading.

Half of those stories take place during civil or world wars, providing unique snapshots capturing war’s erosion of humanity. Other stories were even more horrific as they showed the brutality of individuals and their explosive reactions to seemingly minor moments.

Devils You Know is a literary roller coaster. It starts out with a night for supernatural creatures, then the stories drop, twist, and turn from there. Soldiers get wounded, scavenge, and see relationships changed by war. Acts of violence are triggered by trauma, seemingly innocuous actions, and keeping bad company. Current events make stories even more unsettling. By the time the Devil shows up, it’s disturbing how easy it is to buy into his drinking buddy’s arguments.

This book is not breezy entertainment. The stories are provocative and thought-provoking. They’re well-written and fascinating. Call me a Miles Watson groupie, because he makes it easy for me to leave my comfort zone with his powerful storytelling. 

Thanks to Blackthorn Book Tours for a copy of this book.