James Dain
Cover of Leaving Venice by James Dain — Twisted book 1
Free short story

Read Leaving Venice — Free

A Hitchcock-style short story. Love and death in the city of canals.

A lover vanishes. The streets close in. The clock is running out.

Wealthy businessman William Slocum has a plane to catch, and no mere transit strike is going to keep him in Venice. But as he drags his bags through the city’s moonlit back alleys, every turn seems to lead him further from the train station—and deeper into the shadows of his own mistakes.

His lover is gone without explanation. His phone is dead. And the only people he meets seem to vanish as quickly as they appear. Somewhere between the labyrinthine canals and the echo of his own footsteps, Slocum begins to suspect that Venice itself doesn’t want him to leave.

Why you’ll love this story:

  • A taut, atmospheric thriller set against the haunting beauty of Venice
  • A suspenseful blend of romance, mystery, and psychological tension
  • A protagonist whose flaws make him as compelling as his predicament
  • Twists and turns that keep the pages turning until the final reveal

Perfect for fans of Alfred Hitchcock’s The Man Who Knew Too Much and Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley.

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“Original, deftly crafted, and a riveting read from start to finish.”
—Midwest Book Review
“Dain is skilled at exploring the inner thoughts and emotions of a wide range of characters.”
—The BookLife Prize
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