Kindle Unlimited
Unlimited reading. Over 4 million titles. Learn more
Read for Free
OR
$3.99 with 71 percent savings
Print List Price: $13.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Paul Blake
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

A Few Hours After This: Short Story Collection Kindle Edition

by Paul Blake (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 out of 5 stars 9 ratings
Paul Blake, the author of A Young Man’s Game, brings you twenty-seven short stories in this extraordinary collection of thriller, historical fiction, and sci-fi tales.

A small taste of some of the stories you’ll devour…

Hazy Shade of Winter - Stephen Kemp of MI6 is recuperating in Lake District when he hears of twenty nuclear bombs detonating in cities across the UK.

At Night – A grown-up story about the monsters under the bed finding their child has been taken. Meet Spider, Blade, Rot, and Murk the Night Terror.

(Nothing But) Flowers - 'I see the body on the ground and it takes me a moment to realise it is mine. I look around for my head.' A story about death and what happens next.

Out of Space - Major Pitman wakes up to a damaged spacecraft and a dead co-pilot…

The Rezal Principle - Stoddy Rezal is a custodian aboard the space freighter HXN8435, day-dreaming about improving his situation in life until he accidentally presses the button for the airlock.

Set Fire to the Rain -Ichabod Kilton is the lamplighter in Blowing Rock. The town with unending rain. He must light the lamps before they come.

The Evil That Men Do - A painting appears overnight in the National Portrait Gallery. How did it get there and is it what it appears to be?

Mob Justice - An assassin lies in wait for the Judge in the Al Capone trial in 1930s Chicago.

The Battle at Kilburn High Road Station - A battle on top of a moving train and a commuter looking for a date. It makes for an explosive ending.

Thoughts and Prayers - This story follows the first responders to an active shooter situation in a school. It takes them far beyond their fears.

Settle down, put your feet up, with a glass of your favourite drink beside you (alcoholic or otherwise), and leap into this collection of exciting and suspenseful stories.

What readers have said about some of the stories in this collection

"Reads like a movie script forcing vivid imagery into your head." Hazy Shade of Winter

"This was intense. Intense is good, intense is great. Highly descriptive." At Night

"The imagery and descriptions were all fantastic, with particular kudos to the post-death opening scene." (Nothing But) Flowers

"I thought this was a very visual piece throughout, and I got a good sense of claustrophobia. That feeling definitely added to the sense of panic and suffocation as the story unfolded." Out of Space
Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    269 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    April 26, 2019
  5. File size
    5.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07PZC67JW
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 26, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 5.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 269 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 9 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Paul Blake

Paul Blake

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Paul Blake started writing in 2016 when he took a creative writing module to complete his Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree after failing far too many programming modules. He discovered a passion and has been writing since.

His first novel, A Young Man’s Game was published in 2018. He released a short story collection called A Few Hours After This in April 2019. He is currently outlining the sequel to A Young Man’s Game and also working on a ninja based novel.

His favourite authors are (in no particular order): David Morrell, Neal Stephenson, Nick Harkaway, Cory Doctorow, Sean McMahon, Peter Clines, Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton, Michael Marshall Smith, Tom Rob Smith, Ernest Cline

Paul is 44 and lives in London, England with his wife and three boys.

He has a blog at https://paulblakeauthor.com and can be found on Twitter @paulblakeauthor, feel free to say hi.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
9 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers praise the author's writing style, with one describing him as a master craftsman with the pen. The storytelling quality receives positive feedback, with one customer noting the varied genres and pacing of the stories.

Select to learn more

Writing qualityStorytelling quality
4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the author, with one describing him as a master craftsman with the pen.

"Paul Blake is such a great author. I've loved reading all of his stuff." Read more

"...I enjoy Blake's creativity, and the thoughtfulness he puts into his writing. This book checks all of my boxes...." Read more

"...A strongly written and a great representation of the authors abilities. Well done Mr. Blake...I look forward to your next work!" Read more

"A master craftsman with the pen (keyboard), as with his first work "A Young Man's Game" Paul's works grab the reader from the start, and forces you..." Read more

3 customers mention "Storytelling quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the storytelling quality of the book, with one customer noting the varied genres and pacing, while another mentions the abundance of tales and talent.

"...The stories are unique, stylish, and well-plotted. Each story, because of Blake's imagination, holds your interest to the end. "..." Read more

"...He tackles several different genres, at varied speeds of storytelling and not once does he abandon the notion that he is writing a novel...." Read more

"...each story with a refreshingly unique voice, The stories are varied in genres and pace but not one failed to deliver it's brilliance from start to..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Jordan Strickler
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Writing
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Paul Blake is such a great author. I've loved reading all of his stuff.
    Helpful
     Report
  • K.D. McNiven
    5.0 out of 5 stars Blake knows how to spin a yarn
    Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2022
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A Few Hours After This, Short Story Collection, by Paul Blake. From a hitman, to a lamplighter, to a fashion designer, and more. Blake knows how to spin a yarn. I read Blake's A Young Man's Game a time back and absolutely loved it. The stories are unique, stylish, and well-plotted. Each story, because of Blake's imagination, holds your interest to the end.
    "The sight of her brought flashes of romantic lust, and wild proclamations of love, which I struggled to contain."
    "I see the body on the ground and it takes me a moment to realize it is mine. I looked for my head. There it is, on the bonnet of that blue and now, very red Toyota Qashqai ..."
    I enjoy Blake's creativity, and the thoughtfulness he puts into his writing. This book checks all of my boxes. A five-star read that I highly recommend!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Gil Diaz
    5.0 out of 5 stars No shortage of tales or talent
    Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Having previously read Blake's debut novel (A Young Man's Game) I knew that attention to detail would not be lacking in this book. What Paul Blake does with these short stories is nothing short of spectacular. He tackles several different genres, at varied speeds of storytelling and not once does he abandon the notion that he is writing a novel. Each story comes to life in its own way, whether it's a mob tale, spy games (a welcomed cameo) or the vicious heartbreaking reality that even children are mortal...his talent, tone and love of storytelling is on full display. No matter the time you can spare, each story demands your attention and investment...and each comes through with a proper payoff. A strongly written and a great representation of the authors abilities. Well done Mr. Blake...I look forward to your next work!
    Helpful
     Report
  • Dzintra Sullivan
    5.0 out of 5 stars A breath of fresh air.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Wow, what a ride. When it comes to telling amazing short stories I would place bets on Paul Blake being one of the best. He delivers each story with a refreshingly unique voice, The stories are varied in genres and pace but not one failed to deliver it's brilliance from start to finish. I am a now and forever Paul Blake groupie. This author is one to follow.
    Helpful
     Report
  • K. Lynch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Paul is at it Again..
    Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A master craftsman with the pen (keyboard), as with his first work "A Young Man's Game" Paul's works grab the reader from the start, and forces you to keep turning the pages. Stealthy, just like many of his characters, just when you think you've got it all figured out - you don't. Enjoy the ride.
    Helpful
     Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report