The Thief of Broken Toys

by Tim Lebbon

British Fantasy Society Award Finalist (2011)

Reviews - What's Being Said About Tim Lebbon & The Thief of Broken Toys

Lebbon superbly captures the thoughts and feelings of a man whose misery so unhinges him that an encounter with the uncanny is unavoidable . . .
–Publishers Weekly

A writer at the height of his powers.
–Ramsey Campbell, author of Thieving Fear and The Grin of the Dark

The Thief of Broken Toys weighs heavy on the reader’s soul. This is not an easy book, but it is a good book. It is one that, like Lebbon’s predecessor Ramsey Campbell’s best, will haunt you long after you’ve finished it, and it is also one that you’ll return to for subsequent readings.
–Brian Keene, author of The Rising

Together with his masterfully nuanced prose, the surprising twist Lebbon springs on readers at the climax make this one of his most powerful works to date.
–Carl Hays, Booklist

Lebbon has created a heartbreaking story with The Thief of Broken Toys. The loss and longing of Ray are painted so adeptly that I felt that heaviness in my chest, tears threatening to show themselves. Very subtle in its horror, but it is indeed there. One of the best, I’ve read this year.
–Shock Totem

[T]his short novel is beautifully written while at the same time unceasingly sad . . . . I’m happy to report that [Lebbon] continues to produce not just quantity, but quality as well.
–Robert Morrish, Cemetery Danse

Lebbon's novella is essentially pain on paper . . . . Haunting, atmospheric, and lyrically melancholic, this dark little gem is, simply put, unforgettable.
–Paul Goat Allen, bn.com

Once again Tim Lebbon has delivered a beautifully crafted, marvellously written and emotionally powerful novella. Highly recommend.
–The Black Abyss

[Lebbon] is a master at evoking mood and atmosphere. There is a rough-hewn yearning that permeates every sentence, a sense of foreboding that magnifies every action.
–Corey Redekop, Shelf Monkey

Tim Lebbon is one of the most exciting and original talents on the horror scene.
–Graham Joyce, author of The Limits of Enchantment