Old Wounds is a collection of Detective and Crime stories that take the reader back to the time of Dashiell Hammet and the darker noir stories.  Each story stands on its own, with some being true detective stories centered around Nick Shelby, PI, and others that are much more dark and scary. The stories cover several genres such as paranormal, horror, and science-fiction, making them that much more fun to read.  All 15 stories are well done and capture the characters quickly, thus bringing the reader into the story.

Batt has done a terrific job of creating characters that the reader immediately connects with.  Each story keeps the reader on the edge of their chair anticipating what will happen next.  From Shelby trying to find out who killed the love of his life to a prostitute that is determined to find a friend’s killer, each story is filled with suspense, tension, and foreboding.  In the end, you will be surprised at how the stories all come together, which to me is a job very well done!