Beneath the Zoo. A Short Story Ebook

This is a gripping short story with a supernatural twist. It follows Sara Miles, a conflict photographer who thrives on capturing the raw realities of war. After a devastating explosion leaves her with severe eye injuries, Sara faces the possibility of never seeing through a camera lens again. The military offers her a cutting-edge operation to restore her sight, but the procedure comes with an unsettling price.
This tale explores themes of sacrifice, ambition, and the haunting consequences of choices.

An intense short story with a twist! Under the Zoo pulls you in quickly and holds you till the end. Creepiness included.

Beneath the Zoo by J.F. Penn is a dark and creepy story about unethical genetic experimentation to combine insect DNA with humans. Arania Web spent her childhood with her father at the Bristol Zoo. The zoo is now in ruins and is being destroyed. On her final visit to the zoo, she finds her late father’s secret lab and his journals of his dark, depraved experiments. The explosives are set to destroy the zoo, she is discovered by the site manager. She has little time to find a way to save her father’s and her own reputations.

This story has a fast-moving plot highlighting ethical dilemmas and a couple of twists that you don’t see coming. For a short story, the characters are well developed and the narrative is exciting. However, this is probably not for those with arachnophobia. I highly recommend Beneath the Zoo.

Cracker of a story. 👍👍👍

“Beneath the Zoo,” is a literary gem that left me captivated and impressed.

The plot is another highlight, as it spins a web of dark family secrets, keeping the reader hooked from start to finish.

The pacing is well-executed, maintaining a perfect rhythm that ensures the reader’s sustained interest throughout the story.

I recommend this short story to anyone in search of a captivating and thought-provoking read.

Intense. Exciting. Fast read. Interesting characters.

Penn always impresses, and this short is no exception. Her writing is creative and well-constructed, and I always enjoy her stories of any length.

Like all of the short stories I have read from Penn, this one left me wanting more. I always feel like there is so much potential in her shorts and they end too abruptly, but I sure enjoy reading them.

I can't wait for the next one!

It’s great story

I received this book from the author as an ARC member and this is my honest review. Architect Arania Webb has fond memories of her childhood spent at Bristol Zoo which was run by her father. However she had no knowledge of her father’s experiments in uniting arachnid DNA with humans. What she learns about the experiments is shocking at first but she realizes she must find a way to hide this discovery from everyone. What she decides to do on the spur of the moment was shocking to me. Yet it was the only thing she could do to protect her father and herself. You will have to read this story to learn what happened. I highly recommend this story if they enjoy Ms. Penn’s style of writing or want to get a short introduction to the type of stories written by this author.

A dark story that makes you question: what would you have done? A perfect half hour read, well paced and gripping.

Just one little comment can change your life in an instant. Powerful quick read over the top in intensity!

Although only a short story this shows what a creative mind J.F.Penn has. Having read all her other releases and never being disappointed yet, I knew this would be an interesting little tale.
Highly recommend this and all J.F. Penn's books to anyone and everyone. It would be interesting to see if Jo continues with Arania and what she makes of her father's journals

Arania has come back to where her father worked on, let's say, very unorthodox work. With the zoo to demolished to make way for a new zoo that she has designed, she has come to say goodbye to it. When the site manager, Ethan, tells her that he has found a room that is not on the plans, she has to check it out. What she finds is shocking but answers a lot of questions.
The creepy factor is amazing.
Loved it. Would love a longer story about it too. Lots of potential.

Over the past eight years I’ve read the complete ARCANE series, Brooke and Daniel books 1-3, Sin books 1-3, Mapwalkers books 1-3, and seven short stories written by J. F. Penn. To say that I’m a fan of her writing would be an understatement. What I enjoy the most is the way she can craft short stories that feel like they are full length novels – every element in a novel exists in her short stories including well developed characters who run the gamut from likeable to detestable. In the case of Beneath the Zoo we are treated to a character who is a hybrid with characteristics that are both likeable and detestable. Part of me is glad this was a short story, but another part of me would love to follow Arania as she progresses through life. I’m sure there are tales yet unexplored. If you are a fan of J.F. Penn’s writing, Beneath the Zoo is a story you don’t want to miss. I received an advance reader copy of Beneath the Zoo from the author and chose to provide this review.

Ms. Penn is an excellent storyteller who really packs a lot into each book, including this short story! It starts out innocently enough, grabs your attention, then hits you with one shock after another! You won’t want to put it down! Leaves you feeling: Did I really read what I think I just read??!!

I would love this in a longer story it was really interesting storyline. Grabs you right off the bat.

Wow another story that drags you in. Within the first page you are involved and I would have loved it to have gone on longer, I always find these totally captivating.

I really enjoyed this short story from JF Penn.

Architect Arania Webb (great name!) used to visit Bristol Zoo all the time with her father, who worked as part of the conservators. The ruins are due to be demolished very shortly (and I do mean VERY!), so she goes for a final look. The zoo finally gives up some long-held secrets. Atmospheric, creepy, great pacing, and very well written. It certainly made me think.

Personally, I think the author should follow on with Arania, I would love to hear what happens to her, and the choices she makes, as she devours her father's journals.

I chose an ARC of this work which I voluntarily and honestly read and reviewed. All opinions are my own. My thanks to the author.

J.F. Penn's short story, "Beneath the Zoo," unfolds with a visual richness that characterizes the author's storytelling prowess. The narrative is a vivid exploration of a pivotal morning when the Bristol Zoo faces demolition through controlled explosions. At the story's core is the ambitious young architect, Arania, who, for nostalgic reasons, arrives at the site in the early morning. Her late father had maintained a laboratory beneath the zoo until his passing.

The plot takes an intriguing turn when Arania stumbles upon a discovery that not only casts her father's work in an entirely new light but also shakes the foundations of her own existence. Penn skillfully weaves suspense into the narrative, leaving readers on the edge of their seats as Arania grapples with revelations that challenge her understanding of her father, his endeavors, and, perhaps most significantly, her own destiny.

As a reader, one cannot help but yearn for more of Arania's story. "Beneath the Zoo" is a short story that beckons to be expanded as Penn's evocative prose and compelling characters create a narrative that lingers in the mind, leaving readers hungry for more.

Full disclosure here: I received this book from Joanna, but these thoughts are my own. A short story that leaves a lot to the imagination - was Ariana a real person or a success of her father's experiments, as horrific as that may sound - it is up to you to decide how the story ends, leaving plenty of room for your own imagination.

This short story echoes the dreams of a scientist focused on merging species to create new and better life. It exposes the fine line between insanity and genius. A Great dark short story.

Beneath the Zoo is a lovely short story. Imagine being young again and being in that place where you're left to yourself, maybe in the yard and your imagination begins to create a story...

In the case of JF Penn, she loved the Bristol Zoo. And her fanciful imagination turned to arachnids. Yes! Spiders and a Father's devotion to studying the genetic structure.

I don't think I have to tell you anything else. I loved this little chunk of short story. I know you will too. But you might not sleep well after reading it. Hee Hee. Hee Hee.

Wow, this is a cracking short story. I loved it, from the start to the ending I definitely didn’t see coming. This author is a cracking writer that’s for sure I love all their books, cannot wait for the next one to come out. Highly recommended.