Review | The Passengers You Cannot See by The Behrg

Though seemingly ordinary, the difference between this woman and you or me are the passengers she’s picked up along the way, the ones you cannot see.

The Passengers You Cannot See is a strong collection of short stories filled with characters who are entirely human, flawed and trying their best to live in a world that doesn’t accommodate them. They don’t realise the weight of others that they carry, and in turn the devastation they leave behind, unknowing and unmoving. This is illuminated in the first story, Driven, and it’s a theme that flows throughout the book.

In The Trophy Thief, a man plots to add another trophy to his collection. Both One Star and Kill Your Darlings deal with the dark side of book publishing. Parenthood at its most devastating appears in Still Born, and a horrifying version is shown in the gory fest Reborn. Every House Is Haunted is a unique take on the haunted house trope, and An Ugly Resurrection is a dark comedic look on an innocent being. What sets this collection apart is the way it deals with mental illness as part of its stories. The horror of not knowing what’s real is evident in These Concrete Walls and Patterns; and the search for a light at the end of the tunnel is illustrated in The Lines and Happiness Is A Commodity.

A few of the stories are standouts for me. Scabs is set during a plague invasion, and is a timely and beautiful love story. Amado is a straight up nasty creature horror that leaves me wanting more. Reluctance is about a person making a tough decision, and its hopeful feeling makes it the perfect story to end the collection.

I have to admit that I wouldn’t describe this book as entertaining, as the stories are really bleak and raw, and I found myself not wanting to return to them. It’s more like an exploration of mental health and the horrors of trying to survive in this world. This is purely my personal preference though. I do appreciate the Author’s Notes at the end, it’s always nice to get a look at the original ideas behind the stories.

Overall, The Passengers You Cannot See is gritty, sharp, and definitely leaves a mark. Proceed with caution!

CW: mental illness, suicide attempts, infant loss, graphic violence

I received a digital copy for review purposes from the publisher and Netgalley.

About the author: The Behrg

Photo by Courtney Corlew