Short Story Review: “The Waiting Room” by Philip Brian Hall from Flame Tree Publishing

There are plenty of reviews on novels and longer works, but who’s reviewing short stories? Isn’t that where most of us are expected to start nowadays? My favorite shelf collection of short stories comes from Flame Tree Publishing’s Gothic Fantasy series, Chilling Ghost Short Stories. At first, I was drawn to the physical book itself. It’s beautifully made, with tiny type and thick pages that make it feel like a classic. It’s the kind of book you keep near the couch or in the bathroom, easy to flip open for just a few minutes and still walk away with something new. A story in a single sitting. That’s the appeal.

Lately, I’ve found myself reaching for short stories more often. Full-length novels have been falling victim to my reading slump, but I still crave the experience of being pulled into a world, even briefly. So, I’ve committed to picking up this collection a few times a week. I’ve owned this collection for years but never really read it, as I was drawn to the design more than the content at first. The Waiting Room by Philip Brian Hall is the first story I’ve actually cracked open in a long while.

Short stories deserve the same investment we give longer works. They hit all the same notes: character, setting, and theme—but because the space is smaller, the impact has to come faster. That means I tend to judge short stories by two main things: the opening line, and how much growth I see in the characters. I’m less concerned with scenic detail unless it’s necessary to ground the reader. If you're writing a ghost story, clarity of place can sometimes take a backseat to clarity of feeling.

I won’t spoil anything boldly, but let’s be honest…it’s a ghost story collection. Someone’s dead. The mystery is in who, and how.

In The Waiting Room, a man named Harold finds himself in darkness, wandering endlessly until he arrives at a strange waiting room. There, he joins others who have no idea why they’re there, only that a train is coming. One that’s either going up or down, and that they’ve already “paid for.”

The opening line of the story was gripping both bringing us into the shoes of Harold but also giving words to an otherwise lonely and inexplicable feeling, “To a man utterly lost, walking forward seems preferable to standing still; somehow movement gives purpose to a stateless existence” (Hall 189). Not only is it poetic but it makes you as a reader think about your life or someone’s life that you know, as it speaks of a deeper feeling of drifting through life, of moving just to avoid the weight of stillness.

If I had to name a central theme, I’d say this story explores forgiveness of others, but especially of oneself. It specifically touches on guilt among soldiers and victims of war. You don’t need a deep understanding of history to get it, but if you do, it adds layers. The story wrestles with a timeless question: Who takes the blame in war? Who is held accountable, not just in life, but in whatever comes after?

That question plays out through a conversation between Harold and a younger man. Their brief but meaningful exchange pushes Harold toward growth. The younger man challenges Harold’s assumptions and invites a broader view of guilt and responsibility. It’s a fast arc, but it feels earned, especially for the short form.

The ending is surprisingly tender. When the train finally arrives, Harold is shown why he belongs on the “up” train—despite his belief and acceptance that he might be headed down. It’s a subtle, satisfying conclusion that leaves just enough room for interpretation.

What struck me most is how relevant this story feels in today’s climate. It raises ethical questions about the cost of war, the burden of guilt, and whether anyone can truly judge themselves fairly. I imagine readers could land on very different interpretations of Harold’s journey, depending on what they bring to the story.

If you have access to the story, I’d love to know: What do you think?

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Philip Brian Hall

Ratings:

Author Writing Style: 4.5/5

Plot Development: 4.5/5

Character Authenticity/Attachment: 4/5

Theme: 4.5/5

World Building: 4.5/5

Overall Enjoyability: 4.5/5

Works Cited: Hall, Philip Brian. “The Waiting Room.” Chilling Ghost Short Stories, edited by Dale Townshend, Flame Tree Publishing, 2015, pp. 189–195.