Book Review: ‘Last Light’ by Chris Coppel

Title: Last Light

Author: Chris Coppel

Publisher: Cranthorpe Millner Publishers

Publication Date: 2023

WARNING: The short story ‘Labour Shortage’ contains scenes of sexual harassment and attempted rape which some readers may find distressing.

Last Light by Chris Coppel is a collection of nine short stories. Each story explores the realms of the unexplained and the paranormal.

Although almost of the stories deal with death in some way, before I started reading, I was expecting the collection to be more of a horror-fest than it actually was. This is in no way a bad thing. Apart from one well deserved macabre comeuppance and a couple of ghostly inclusions, many of the short stories are more cerebral and thought-provoking than outright spooky or ghoulish.

Last Light starts off with Living Water. The story focuses on a man trying to cheat death through the use of a sacred Native American pool where those who have performed enough good deeds in life can regain their youth. However the man is greedy and tries to buy his immortality rather than earn it. Although the mystery of the pool is an important plot point it is the life lesson showing the importance of having a good heart over impossible wealth that is the focus of Living Water. For me this first story definitely set the stage for what to expect in terms of the tone of the stories yet to come.

Coppel makes sure that all of his stories are uniquely different from each other. Some stories deal with ethical and moral choices, some stories explore magic and madness, while other stories delve into science and spirits. This variety ensures that there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

It is difficult to pick a favourite out of the set but the stories that stood out the most to me were Last Touch and Lasting Memories.

Last Touch is the shortest of the nine stories yet it still manages to convey a lot of detail. A boy has the ability to know if a person will die within 24 hours simply by touching them. One day the boy realises that everyone he encounters is supposed to die. The story poses the question of: if we knew someone’s death was inevitable would we tell that person or let them live their last day in happy ignorance? This interesting dilemma together with the reveal at the end meant that this story stayed with me long after I’d finished reading.

Last Memories was memorable for a different reason. It focuses on a man recently released from prison for a crime he shouldn’t have been convicted for. He struggles to make a living until he is befriended by an elderly lady in his apartment block. The paranormal aspect of the story is only introduced in the second half once the two characters are established. But Last Memories ends on a surprisingly heart-warming note as Coppel demonstrates that just because a story features ‘the unexplained’ it doesn’t mean that the story can’t also have a positive theme running through it.

Last Light is a great collection of short stories for anyone who enjoys elements of paranormal mysteries and suspense mixed in with interesting scenarios and situations.

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