what a beautifully sinister “Steven King”-ish take on the challenge.

Very original – a pretty unusual reaction to the question ‘What do you like most about summertime?’ I have to say :P Still, that makes it better :)

Wow, that’s a different twist on what I was expecting. You took it to a whole new level. Nice work.

Nicely written, and as the first entry in this challenge, and immediate invitation to ramp things up. I would consider fixing unanounced, havok and far to busy. I’d consider as well dropping the first two sentences (then revising as necessary). The first sentence seems kind of a klunky way to start things off, and I think that that conclusion comes across well enough through the remainder of the story. The second sentence refers to the untimely demise of the wife, but the remainder of the story goes on to emphasize how timely it was. In the 3rd sentence, ‘will have been most likely to drop by’ sounds convoluted: would ‘are most likely to drop by’ be better? The ‘witch’ metaphor in the first paragraph is especially effective. Now, I need to make a phone call. Anyone remember the number for 9-1-1?

“Murder is more practical in summer than in any other season. Take the untimely demise of my late wife Marsha for example.”

These two sentences set the tone for the piece. They proffer a cynical attitude and one of self-justification by the narrator.

I corrected the spelling of unannounced but (obtuse as I am in my old age) failed to see the objection to “havok.” “Far to busy” has been corrected to read “Far too busy” a sin of omission that drives me nuts when other people do it (hangs head, prepares for flogging).

“Will have been most likely to drop by” I thought supports the tense in which the pice was written, whereas, I believed that “are most likely” changed the tense. I had originally written it with “are” and the shift of tense bothered me.

My lack of college level English training sometimes creates conflict. I tend to write in an “older” style.

Your suggestions helped enormously and I am grateful for the detail to which you went.

Grammar is not my friend ;)

Ah yes, summertime, the perfect season to be nefarious, or devious, or sinister. This guy has one twisted view of love!

That’s how flash fiction is supposed to be done! thanks!

Nicely written! Dark and sinister! Just the way I like ’em.

Wonderfully horrible. Great job.

Fantastic! I love the closing line.

I loved how you went outside the box, yet, kept it truthful.
Winter IS a horrible season for murder!
Great story and job!