Sometimes things are not as they seem. “Paraskavedekatriaphobia: A Collection of Short Stories” takes you to surprising places … unexpected places that nonetheless are perfectly right and poetic in their justness. In this collection of short tales, author James Driscoll's spins riveting short stories that revolve around shocking inciting incidents, each one wending its way to unanticipated conclusions: • an innocent trapped in a murder investigation by a cunning criminal • a domineering wife and a husband who turns up dead • an elderly woman bent on revenge • two career outlaws in a deadly clash • a heartbroken man driven to suicide Like literary optical illusions, Driscoll's tales trick the mind's eye with clever plot twists and focus shifts, ones the reader will savor in new ways with each reading. Go along for the ride, but brace yourself … Your destination may shock you.