One thing lacking from this book is an index of the stories contain within the binding, other than this, the tales of the dramas that are captured for our reading pleasure are very captivating. Do I have a favourite? Well I have two, Firestorm which shows that we should listen to the advice given by the emergency services but as you can imagine the people involved in this short don’t leading to a very serious situation as a forest fire descends on them; the other short story was Murder at Midnight in which a taxi driver is witness to a murder which he duly informs the police though soon the killer comes looking for the only person that saw the crime.
All the stories in this book are a great read and should entertain everyone that loves tales of real life events.

Many many years ago while living at home and in grade school, going with my parents to buy groceries on a Friday evening was a regular ritual. The last thing added to the shopping cart before we checked out was a copy of The National Enquirer. Amongst the celebrity gossip and tabloids, there were always one page stories with black and white sketches about “real life” survival: people being attacked by sharks or bears, being held captive by robbers or murderers, and stories of people being stranded in the harsh desert or cold frigid arctic.

The headlines weren’t like those Bigfoot sightings or alien abductions on the cover of the Weekly World News. These stories, true or not, could really happen and they sent my heart racing. Reading Darren G. Burton’s book, Real Life Dramas, brought back memories of those days when I would lie in the floor and read those horrific stories over and over. I couldn’t get enough! As I got older, true crime stories and psychological thrillers continued to capture my attention.

In Real Life Dramas, Burton has written nine captivating stories that will definitely make you hold your breath, and turn your knuckles white as you grip the pages tight in your hands. The foreword of the book claims these are indeed real life events that did take place with real people, which only makes the suspense in reading this book that more intense.

We begin with a story called “Mauled” about a surfer who escapes the clutches of death during a mad shark attack. Even Peter Benchley would be afraid of the water after reading this story! Next is “Captive,” and it will definitely have you checking over your shoulder to see if anyone is watching. A teenage girl is taken hostage while walking home from work late at night. The agonizing terror and thoughts of what will happen to her overcome her mind, and the reader goes on a step by step journey with the poor girl as she tries to escape her captor.

Next is a very short story called “Shallow Grave.” It begins with a woman out for a stroll with her beloved dog. I immediately had thoughts of some sort of avalanche or mud slide happening and the lady being buried alive. I was wrong. Instead, the woman is thrown into a very traumatic situation when her dog discovers the decomposing bodies of two dead boys.

I have to admit that Burton definitely knows what strings to pull. His stories are not written in typical reporter style. They are totally unpredictable, and each will take you on a horrifying journey that will probably keep you up at night or haunt your dreams when sleep does finally come. You’ll be thinking about each of these tales long after you’ve turned the last page.

Next is the story of a couple and how they and their home survive a forest fire, followed by a man who gets attacked by thugs after leaving a club one night. These two stories may not seem as horrific as the ones mentioned earlier, but what makes them just as extreme is how the author builds up to the climactic moment. On each page, the author puts the reader right there in the real life scenario. We are with the central character as they enjoy surfing, or as they are walking home at night, or leaving a club after a game of pool. The sudden and unpredictable events that are waiting for them just a few minutes ahead are as much as a surprise to the reader as they are to the person in the story.

For those who enjoy a good true-life thrill or can appreciate or relate to an amazing tale of survival, you will definitely want to read Darren Burton’s first volume of Real Life Dramas. I certainly look forward to the next!

Read the whole review at www.lulubookreview.wordpress.com!

A great book. We tend to write from within and project our experience to imagined situations. Darren has not only found some of the exceptional, real stories that surround us, but demonstrates genuine emphathy for the people concerned in the way he portrays them and the events that turned their lives. Here is a good read and a lesson in story development.

What a great book! Very suspenseful and in tune with the fear - I love these kinds of books. Thank you so much for such a great book, my daughter will love it also, as this is also her find type of books to read!

Austrialian writer Darren G. Burton kicks off "Real Life Drama's" with a bang (or should we say bite?). The deceptively innocent and erotic-starting "Mauled", turns into sudden horror and Burton keeps it going with edge-of-your-seat excitement. Absolutely brilliant book and so discriptive that it makes you feel like you are in Australia. You should definitely purchase a copy of this today.

Absolutely brilliant, the discriptive writing really put you in the story. You could feel the fear Steve felt as he fought for his life in the first story Mauled. From the first paragraph You find yourself drawn into the story unable to stop reading till you reach the end. Great job, well done.

I took a look at this book and I must say it has been written by a very talented writer. Awesome imagery. I believe this to be a best seller and look forward to future books by this author.