Blood Sacrifices: Three Horror Novellas by Brian Moreland

 

THE WITCHING HOUSE
In 1972, twenty-five people were brutally murdered in one of the bloodiest massacres in Texas history. The mystery of who committed the killings remains unsolved. Over forty years later, Sarah Donovan is scared of just about everything, but today she must confront her fears as she joins her boyfriend and another couple on an exploring adventure. The old abandoned Blevins House, the scene of the gruesome massacre, is rumored to be haunted. The two couples are about to discover the mysterious house has been waiting all these years, craving fresh prey… Includes the short story prequel, “The Girl from the Blood Coven.”

THE SEEKERS
While living under a bridge with the homeless for six months, journalist Daniel Finley witnessed something terrifying. Something that nearly cost him his sanity. Now, two years later, he’s published a book that exposes a deadly underground cult and its charismatic leader who preaches a dark prophecy. Down in the abandoned subway tunnels exist unimaginable horrors that hunger for human flesh. And in a church of darkness, the cult’s numbers are growing. Soon Daniel’s worst nightmares are coming true. A fanatical army is rising to shed blood on the streets of Boston. *The Seekers is a re-release that was originally titled The Vagrants.*

DARKNESS RISING
Marty Weaver, an emotionally scarred poet, has been bullied his entire life. When he drives out to the lake to tell an old friend that he’s fallen in love with a girl named Jennifer, Marty encounters three sadistic killers who have some twisted games in store for him. But Marty has dark secrets of his own buried deep inside him. And tonight, when all the pain from the past is triggered, when those secrets are revealed, blood will flow and hell will rise.

When this gorgeous cover passed through my feed it grabbed hold of me like a magnet. I have previously read one novel and a short story by Brian Moreland and enjoyed them both, so I knew I could settle into Blood Sacrifices for a good gory time. I didn't even stop to read the synopsis, I just looked at the cover and dove right in.

The book opens with a prequel to The Witching House and sets the stage perfectly for the blood-soaked tale to follow. When urban explorers arrive to the old Blevins house they will learn the hard way that just because a building is abandoned does not mean there isn't something that still lives there.

Some of the language was a bit cringe worthy but it still managed to be my favorite. 

The Seekers is about Daniel, an undercover journalist who lives with the homeless while gathering material for a book, and the aftermath when he has written it. To be honest this one was just not for me. I was into it at first but I lost interest in the parts about the mafia.

Darkness Rising is an ugly and ultra violent story of abuse, torture, and revenge. Poor Marty just wants a friend or someone to love, any bit of kindness would be welcome. Instead, his one chance at love is ruined by three maniacs who kill for fun and profit, and they will be very sorry that they ever crossed his path. Marty is a character that I felt a lot of sympathy for even when he went from sweet to psycho. You'll need a strong stomach for this one.

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Best Horror of 2022

So many great books were published this year but these are my 12 picks for the best horror of 2022. Once again I did not say novels this year because I just had to include some short stories that were way too good to be left out. The title links will take you to the book synopsis, review, author info if available, and Amazon page. These are books that in my humble opinion you will definitely want to add to your TBR if you love horror as much as I do.  5 stars to all.

Road of Bones by Christopher Golden     The Wakening by J.G. Faherty   

 

The Man in the Field by James Cooper    The Beyond by Ken Brosky   Horror Library Volume 7

Dancing With Tombstones by Michael Aronovitz

                                  

Black Mouth by Ronald Malfi            Sallow Bend by Alan Baxter          

Nightmare Abbey 1 Edited by Tom English  

It Calls From the Veil- An Eerie River Publishing Anthology  Just Like Mother by Anne Heltzel

Below by Laurel Hightower

The Nightmare Man by J.H. Markert

 

Blackwood mansion looms, surrounded by nightmare pines, atop the hill over the small town of New Haven. Ben Bookman, bestselling novelist and heir to the Blackwood estate, spent a weekend at the ancestral home to finish writing his latest horror novel, The Scarecrow. Now, on the eve of the book’s release, the terrible story within begins to unfold in real life.

Detective Mills arrives at the scene of a gruesome murder: a family butchered and bundled inside cocoons stitched from corn husks, and hung from the rafters of a barn, eerily mirroring the opening of Bookman’s latest novel. When another family is killed in a similar manner, Mills, along with his daughter, rookie detective Samantha Blue, is determined to find the link to the book—and the killer—before the story reaches its chilling climax.

As the series of “Scarecrow crimes” continues to mirror the book, Ben quickly becomes the prime suspect. He can’t remember much from the night he finished writing the novel, but he knows he wrote it in The Atrium, his grandfather’s forbidden room full of numbered books. Thousands of books. Books without words.

As Ben digs deep into Blackwood’s history he learns he may have triggered a release of something trapped long ago—and it won’t stop with the horrors buried within the pages of his book.

I was first attracted to this cover since I can not resist a creepy scarecrow. The synopsis further piqued my interest even though I thought it may not be all that original. This is not the first time in horror that strange murders have seemed to copy an author's book. However, this is not the same old hat.

This is a story that spans generations. Ben and his sister grew up in a dysfunctional family and suffered the tragic loss of their younger brother who has been presumed dead. Not long after this, their parents were killed in a car crash. Years have passed but Ben has kept secrets, including the fact that he still looks for his brother. His sister Emily has also kept secrets concerning what really happened to her in their grandfather's forbidden room. There is much I could tell you about grandfather but I don't want to spoil anything for you. Suffice it to say that although this may sound more like a psychological thriller it is grandpa that brings about the supernatural horror.

As a child, Ben already knew he wanted to be a writer. Now he has grown up to be a best selling author. He has written a gruesome novel full of grisly murders. Unfortunately, he is struggling to complete the sequel, his marriage is falling apart, and the police have lots of questions for him about the dead bodies that are turning up in real life exactly the way he wrote them in his novel.

Detective Mills is trying to unravel this mystery but he has secrets and demons of his own that have burdened him for most of his life. His daughter Sam has followed in his footsteps of police work and their dysfunctional relationship further complicates matters.

The Nightmare Man is full of unexpected surprises and twisty paths that I didn't see coming. The relationship between Detective Mills and his daughter and the relationship between Ben and his wife feels genuine.  It is dark, and original, and cleverly written. Each character, even those who play a minor role have their own creepy backstory. The chills are many and the fear runs rampant especially if like me you have ever been plagued with nightmares.

4 out of 5 stars

My thanks to Crooked Lane Books

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Eden's Children (1) (The Eden Series) by Andrew Neiderman as V.C. Andrews

 

Mother doesn’t always know best in this atmospheric and twisty novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Flowers in the Attic series and Landry series—now popular Lifetime movies.

When former teacher Paula Eden adopts Faith and Trevor, she is astounded by their natural intelligence and decides to homeschool them to nurture their brilliance. But as the years go on, Faith and Trevor itch for more independence.

When Faith sets her sights on a handsome young man visiting from out of town, Paula grows increasingly desperate to preserve her small family and her plans for the children to carry on her legacy. Luckily, she has a cohort in loyal Trevor, who will do anything to please his mother, even at the risk of hurting his sister and potentially changing their lives forever.

Trevor age 15 and Faith age 14 know next to nothing about their biological parents. As far as they are concerned they never had parents until they were taken from the foster home and adopted together. They lead very sheltered lives, having no interaction with other children or with anyone other than their adoptive parents. Their mother tells them this is to keep them safe from the evils out there but in reality, it is to protect herself from others finding out about her own evils. The children's adoptive father is conveniently on the road most of the time, and looking the other way when he is home.

I must say I really hated Trevor and his mannerisms. The smirking and shrugging made me want to smack him even though I couldn't actually see him doing it I could picture it in my mind. The father could have been a likable character if not for being so weak-willed and always kowtowing to his wife's demands.

The story is told from Faith's point of view and is at times only what is going on in her thoughts, which gets a bit draggy. It's also fairly predictable but I will probably tune in for the next installment to see how it ends.

My thanks to Gallery Books.

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A Sliver of Darkness by C.J. Tudor

 

The debut short story collection from the acclaimed author of The Chalk Man, featuring ten bone-chilling and mind-bending tales

Timeslips. Doomsday scenarios. Killer butterflies. C. J. Tudor's novels are widely acclaimed for their dark, twisty suspense plots, but with A Sliver of Darkness, she pulls us even further into her dizzying imagination.
In Final Course, the world has descended into darkness, but a group of old friends make time for one last dinner party. In Runaway Blues, thwarted love, revenge, and something very nasty stowed in a hat box converge. In Gloria, a strange girl at a service station endears herself to a cold-hearted killer, but can a leopard really change its spots? And in I'm Not Ted, a case of mistaken identity has unforeseen, fatal consequences.

Riveting and explosively original, A Sliver of Darkness is C. J. Tudor at her most wicked and uninhibited.

It's no secret that I have been a fan of C.J. Tudor ever since The Chalk Man was released. I also have a great love for, and addiction to short horror stories.  I had high expectations for A Sliver Of Darkness, and I was not disappointed.

I was hooked from the first story, End of the Liner which incidentally is how I've always pictured a Disney Cruise. (sorry not sorry) Much like reality, this suspenseful little story is all about your own perception of good and bad.

The subsequent stories kept up the pace and maybe even gained momentum. I also enjoyed the author's introduction to each story which told how these tales came to be.

Normally at this point, I would tell you a bit about my favorites in the book but I enjoyed them all. If you are looking for a shivery, chilling, thought-provoking, good time check out this collection.

My thanks to Random House Publishing Group -Ballantine Books

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Sebastian by P.D. Cacek

 

The son of a world-renowned photographer, Morgan Riley is familiar with his mother’s creative eccentricities. Having been the subject of one of her photographic series, he knows all too well how focused she can become with a new project. So he’s not overly concerned when his mother shows him her newest series that spotlights a small, featureless white plastic manikin the size of a two-year-old child that his mother has named Sebastian. However, as Morgan watches his mother’s obsession with the manikin grow, he begins to question her sanity and fear for her safety…

Morgan has always had a complicated relationship with his famous photographer mom. There is love there, but there is also the camera, always present and intruding on personal events and what should have been private moments.

Now suddenly, there is Sebastian, the manikin his mother claims is just for a series of photos but has become another intrusive presence in Morgan's life.

This was more of a psychological/family drama than the actual horror I was expecting.  Not to say it wasn't a good story although it did move a little slowly in the middle. It kind of bothered me every time the word manikin was used since it was specifically mentioned that it had been purchased at a children's clothing store that was going out of business, and to me that would be a mannequin which is what department stores use to display clothing and not a manikin which is what you get from a medical supply company to practice CPR and such. But that could just be my OCD kicking in. 

Anyway, it was a decent story in which an obsession leads to an unexpected outcome, but there are no scares involved.

3 out of 5 stars

I received an advance copy for review.

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Close to Midnight Edited by Mark Morris

 

An exceptional third book in the horror anthology series which Publishers Weekly highlighted as “Beautifully written pieces that lean into the intuitive and fantastic.”

Close to Midnight is the third volume in an annual, non-themed horror series of entirely original stories, showcasing the very best short fiction that the genre has to offer, and edited by Mark Morris. This new anthology contains 20 original horror stories, 16 of which have been commissioned from some of the top names in the genre, and 4 of which have been selected from the 100s of stories sent to Flame Tree during a 2-week open submissions window.

This is the first time I have had a chance to sit down and read since before we moved to our new home. I'm so glad I picked this anthology to start with. I'm going to keep this short and sweet because we are still getting settled in here.

           This book contains stories by some of my favorite writers as well as some authors I was not familiar with. There are tales of the strange and spooky, darkly humorous stories, a bit of body horror, and even a thriller about revenge thrown in for good measure.

You will read about an easy cure for whatever ails you, A woman who just wants a break from her heavy load of responsibilities, A son caring for his father as the end of his life quickly approaches, bizarre neighbors, a remarkably affordable and effective home security system, and more. A few of the endings were more vague than I'd like but that is my only complaint.

Close to Midnight is an entertaining read for anyone who enjoys short horror stories.

4 out of 5 stars

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My thanks to Flame Tree Press.

Ghosts of Gannaway by Stuart R. West

 

Evil lives deep within the mines of Gannaway.

Born of hate, it preys on the miners, feeds off their superstitions. It gathers strength from the dead and drives the living insane. And it has survived for decades.

It's up to one man to put an end to the evil and lay the ghosts of Gannaway to rest, but can he allay his own fears and conquer his own demons long enough to get the job done?

Horror is and has always been my favorite genre, closely followed by historical fiction, particularly set in or around the Great Depression. Stuart R. West combines them both in Ghosts of Gannaway. Two great tastes that taste great together if you will.

Told on two timelines, this historical horror is set in a small mining town, where in the 1930s you could basically work in the mine or go hungry. Not that Gannaway paid well, greedy selfish man that he was. Tommy, the well respected boss of the mine wants safer working conditions for his crew, but there is more to fear than gas explosions or cave ins. There is the curse of the yellow eyed fever to contend with. Not all will believe in it but Tommy's wife Claire discovers the origin and hopes to put an end to it. The second timeline is in the late 60's when a scientist comes to test samples for pollution and contaminants. The mine is supposed to have been shut down by then, but something strange is still going on deep in the earth.

There are some genuine scares in this book, and I believe the dangers not only of mining but of attempting to start a union in those days was accurately portrayed. Another main attraction for me was the fierce love that Claire and Tommy share. Claire was portrayed as such a strong woman in a time when women's opinions did not count for much she was not afraid to speak up when she needed to. 

I loved these characters so much.

The ending was beyond perfect, I wouldn't change a thing!

If you are looking for a great story, not just scares but horror with some heart and soul this is it.

5 out of 5 stars

My thanks to Grinning Skull Press.

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Devil's Creek by Todd Keisling

 

GIVE US THAT OLD-TIME RELIGION

About fifteen miles west of Stauford, Kentucky lies Devil’s Creek. According to local legend, there used to be a church out there, home to the Lord’s Church of Holy Voices—a death cult where Jacob Masters preached the gospel of a nameless god.
And like most legends, there’s truth buried among the roots and bones.

In 1983, the church burned to the ground following a mass suicide. Among the survivors were Jacob’s six children and their grandparents, who banded together to defy their former minister. Dubbed the “Stauford Six,” these children grew up amid scrutiny and ridicule, but their infamy has faded over the last thirty years.

Now their ordeal is all but forgotten, and Jacob Masters is nothing more than a scary story told around campfires.

For Jack Tremly, one of the Six, memories of that fateful night have fueled a successful art career—and a lifetime of nightmares. When his grandmother Imogene dies, Jack returns to Stauford to settle her estate. What he finds waiting for him are secrets Imogene kept in his youth, secrets about his father and the church. Secrets that can no longer stay buried.
The roots of Jacob’s buried god run deep, and within the heart of Devil’s Creek, something is beginning to stir…



Jacob Masters was a child molesting cult leader who demanded human sacrifice in worship of his nameless god. Fire may be cleansing, but when the Church Of Holy Voices burned after the dramatic rescue of 6 children, the evil did not die. The 6 children grew up, and as children do, some flourished and some flailed. These days, some people think the old stories of Jacob Masters and his church are just  empty tales of the boogie man to scare each other with over s'mores around the campfire. Now that Jack Tremly has come home the town is about to find out there's more truth than legend to the old stories. I love small town horror, and Devil's Creek delivers it's share of villains among the few brave heroes. It's graphic and gory with huge helpings of anxiety inducing suspense, and supernatural terror. I would recommend it to all horror fans.

I received an advance copy for review


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TODD KEISLING is the author of Devil’s Creek, The Final Reconciliation, and Ugly Little Things: Collected Horrors, among other shorter works. He lives somewhere in the wilds of Pennsylvania with his family where he is at work on his next novel.

Effects Vary by Michael Harris Cohen

 

Effects Vary features 22 stories of dark fiction and literary horror that explore the shadow side of love, loss, and family. From an aging TV star’s murderous plan to rekindle her glory days, to a father who returns from war forever changed, from human lab rats who die again and again, to a farmer who obeys the dreadful commands of the sky, these stories, four of them award winners, blur the thin line between reality and the darkest reaches of the imagination.

I first became acquainted with the author's style when I read his short story in Horror Library Volume 7 (which I also recommend!)  so I was thrilled to be offered a chance to read this collection.

This book contains 22 short stories to unnerve and unsettle all who enjoy dark fiction, weird tales, and horror. There is something for everyone in this sinister collection.

You will meet a daughter who is unsure of how she feels about the return of her father from the war, sisters of a sort, who are part of a freak show exhibit, A boy who meets his mother at long last, and more in these pages that overflow with intriguing characters. Michael Harris Cohen is a gifted storyteller, able to craft tales that not only send shivers up your spine but put you through the whole gamut of emotion.

Effects Vary will be released on October 4 in plenty of time to kick off your spooky season. You can Pre-order a copy now.

My thanks to Michael Harris Cohen for the ARC

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Ghostwritten by Ronald Malfi

 

From the bestselling author of Come with Me, four standalone horror novellas set in a shared universe!

In The Skin of Her Teeth, a cursed novel drives people to their deaths.

 The Dark Brothers’ Last Ride.

In This Book Belongs to Olo, a lonely child has dangerous control over an unusual pop-up book.

A choose-your-own-adventure game spirals into an uncanny reality in The Story.

Full of creepy, page-turning suspense, these collected novellas are perfect for fans of Paul Tremblay, Stephen King and Joe Hill.

At the time of receiving this book, I had never read a Ronald Malfi that I did not enjoy. That winning streak continues with Ghostwritten.

These four novellas share a theme, a story about a story if you will...but they are each complete standalone works even though they are connected in a way.

In the first Novella a writer sets out to turn a successful book into a screenplay, but there are disturbing reasons that his is not the first attempt at it. When he seemingly drops off the grid without meeting his deadline it is suspected he may have fallen off the wagon. If only that were the case! I loved this one and thought it would have made for a great episode of American Horror Stories or Creepshow.

The Dark Brothers' Last Ride tells the story of a very strange delivery in which a road trip to drop off an unknown package that is not meant to be opened has dire consequences when one of the brothers is too curious for his own good. This was my favorite story, there were so many freaky happenings and the relationship between the brothers was riveting.

I'm not sure why I was not as engaged in the third novella, This Book Belongs to Olo. Anything to do with creepy children is usually a big hit with me. Olo is certainly creepy enough as he shows up on the playground with his weird mannerisms to pass out invitations to kids who most obviously do not want to befriend him. I expected to love this story and at first, I did, but the longer it went on the less I enjoyed this one.

In the final tale, The Story begins with a suicide and a warning not to read, before it delves into the mystery of the powers of the written word, something this author is quite skilled at.

Ghostwritten will be published on Oct 11 and is available for preorder

My thanks to Titan books for the review copy.

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The House at Phantom Park by Graham Masterton

 

Those who walk their dogs along the Sussex coastline in the morning might wander past St Rosalia's Hospital, and wonder what happens inside the large, mysterious Victorian building that overlooks the sea.

Until recently, the hospital was run by one doctor with a total of 15 patients, all of whom were terminally ill. The epidemiologist Dr. Vincent Grayling was a pioneering practitioner for his radical belief that old medicinal practices should not be so readily dismissed. But the doctor recently passed away, and so the building was sold to John and Petulia Pearson, hoteliers from Dorset.

At first, the couple are brimming with excitement for their seaside hotel. But before long, they start to hear coughs and groans in the middle of the night. And when they discover Grayling's medical notes, it becomes clear that the noises are not in their head...

The House At Phantom Park was an interesting twist on the haunted house trope. Renovating an old hospital into a luxurious building may sound familiar and ghosts that wander the forgotten rooms are not unheard of. However, there is something quite unusual going on when people working in the building are taken over by excruciating pain along with vivid memories of catastrophic injuries they are positive they suffered even though it would have been impossible.

I can't say there were many scares involved since it seemed like more of a mystery than a horror, as people attempted to figure out the hows and whys of this bizarre situation.

The pacing could have been a bit faster for my taste. After a spectacular start things slowed way down or maybe it's just me not having a lot of interest in police work in horror novels. I almost always tend to skim once detectives appear in a plot. 

Overall a very creative story that was definitely worth a read.

My thanks to Aria and Aries /Head of Zeus

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It Calls From the Veil- An Eerie River Publishing Anthology

 

Delve into the darkness and discover the world of your nightmares.

Eighteen terrifying tales of what lurks behind the veil.
A make-believe monster becomes all too real, a mother's hate doesn't stop at death, a late-night work call becomes a fight between life and death, and an urban legend becomes all too real.

Filled with supernatural and paranormal thrills and chills. These are not your mother's bedtime stories.
You have been warned.

First off this book is gorgeous. From the creepy cover to the gravestones stamped across the bottom of the pages, to the white text with black background on the first page of each story that makes the titles pop, kudos to whoever designed it.

As for the stories, the quick synopsis does not do justice to the terrifying tales and talented writers who created them.

As I settled in to read this anthology, I noticed that although the authors' names are new to me, they write like seasoned pros so I am surprised that I am not familiar with their previous works. By the time I was several stories deep, I had already steeled myself for the clunkers that I was sure must be coming up. I read, and I read, expecting that there would have to be a swing and a miss eventually, but it never arrived. Whether you are looking for a book to get you in the mood for spooky season, or whether you are like me, enjoying scary stories all year round, this is the anthology for you. Full of suspense and ever-increasing dread each story was a gleefully gruesome experience.

Some of my favorites were Little Feet by RB Kelly in which a cozy family Christmas vacation is interrupted by a creepy doll.

Done Deal by Colin Leonard may make you think twice about bargain hunting for top of the line furniture as one dad comes to regret his purchase.

Hide and Seek by Nu Yang is a creepy story about a scarecrow and the boy who doesn't want him to be replaced.

A girl tells her brother about a monster from a nursery rhyme in Mr. Chew by Angela Sylvane I enjoyed not only the creepy story but the rhyme itself was great too.

A divorced dad spends some quality time with his daughter at Playland by C.M. Forest

A plumber in need of extra cash takes a night job in Midnight Visit by Constantine E. Kiousis

Young lovers hope that the ghost of Shrieking Willow by Amanda Cecelia Lang will bless their union. 

There is something for every horror lover in this book whether you are looking for stories of strange creatures, the undead, or angry spirits. 

5 out of 5 stars

My Thanks to Eerie River Publishing for the invitation to read this book.

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The Matchmaker's Gift by Lynda Cohen Loigman

 

From Lynda Cohen Loigman, the bestselling author of The Two-Family House and The Wartime Sisters, comes a heartwarming story of two extraordinary women from two different eras who defy expectations to utilize their unique gift of seeing soulmates in the most unexpected places in The Matchmaker's Gift.

Is finding true love a calling or a curse?

Even as a child in 1910, Sara Glikman knows her gift: she is a maker of matches and a seeker of soulmates. But among the pushcart-crowded streets of New York’s Lower East Side, Sara’s vocation is dominated by devout older men—men who see a talented female matchmaker as a dangerous threat to their traditions and livelihood. After making matches in secret for more than a decade, Sara must fight to take her rightful place among her peers, and to demand the recognition she deserves.

Two generations later, Sara’s granddaughter, Abby, is a successful Manhattan divorce attorney, representing the city’s wealthiest clients. When her beloved Grandma Sara dies, Abby inherits her collection of handwritten journals recording the details of Sara’s matches. But among the faded volumes, Abby finds more questions than answers. Why did Abby’s grandmother leave this library to her and what did she hope Abby would discover within its pages? Why does the work Abby once found so compelling suddenly feel inconsequential and flawed? Is Abby willing to sacrifice the career she’s worked so hard for in order to keep her grandmother’s mysterious promise to a stranger? And is there really such a thing as love at first sight?

Sometimes I take a break from reading my usual genres and enjoy a good historical fiction. Having fallen in love with two previous novels by Lynda Cohen Loigman I assumed The Matchmaker's Gift was a sure bet and I was right.

Told on two timelines, 1910 when a young Sara Gilkman discovers her gift, and the 1990s after her death when we meet her granddaughter Abby who is mourning her loss.

Abby has become a divorce lawyer after having watched her mother go through a messy divorce in which her father basically dumped the entire family, leaving them to struggle to meet basic needs while he flourished in his new footloose and fancy-free life.

Sara never backed down and grew into a strong woman who "sees what she sees and knows what she knows" and never let anyone change that.

After Sara's passing, Abby inherits her journals and seemingly her gift of seeing which couples will make a perfect love match. Will she ever find her own soul mate?

I feel like I learned quite a bit about Jewish tradition from this novel. It was such a heartwarming story that this surely must be what is meant when someone says to expect the feel-good hit of the year. Loigman creates the kind of characters that make me wish I was part of their family. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction/women's fiction and anyone who just wants something lighthearted, high-spirited, and fun to read.

My thanks to St. Martins Press for the invitation to read a review copy.

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Lucky Girl, How I Became A Horror Writer: A Krampus Story by M. Rickert

 

Ro, a struggling writer, knows all too well the pain and solitude that holiday festivities can awaken. When she meets four people at the local diner—all of them strangers and as lonely as Ro is—she invites them to an impromptu Christmas dinner. And when that party seems in danger of an early end, she suggests they each tell a ghost story. One that’s seasonally appropriate.

But Ro will come to learn that the horrors hidden in a Christmas tale—or one’s past—can never be tamed once unleashed.

Ro has had a difficult life and faced more tragedy than most people at a young age.

She meets a group of strangers at a diner and they form a bond over their shared loneliness that spans several Christmases. 

As the years pass the bond never deepens enough to reveal dangerous secrets until it's too late.

This is a tough one to review, I feel like Ro is the only character I really got to know but I suppose there are reasons for that since we can't be let in on the secrets before she is. The pace was a little slow for such a short book but the payoff at the end was worth it. I would recommend it to readers who like holiday horror but Krampus doesn't make much of an appearance here.

3 out of 5 stars

My thanks to Tor for the invitation to read an advance copy.

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Every House is Haunted by Ian Rogers

 

"There are haunted places in the world, all existing in reality and every bit as tangible and accessible as the house next door. Sometimes it is the house next door."

In this brilliant debut collection, Ian Rogers explores the border-places between our world and the dark reaches of the supernatural. A mysterious double murder draws the attention of an insurance company with a special interest in the paranormal. A honeymoon cabin with an unspeakable appetite finally meets its match. A suburban home is transformed into the hunting ground for a new breed of spider. A nightmarish jazz club at the crossroads of reality plays host to those who can break a deal with the devil...for a price. With remarkable deftness, Rogers draws together the deadly and the disturbing in twenty-two showcase stories that will guide you through terrain at once familiar and startlingly fresh. 

Every house is haunted, but not literally in this debut collection of strange and unexpected tales.

These are not the ghost stories or typical horror you might expect from the title. These hauntings do not necessarily involve spirits, although some do, There are many ways to be haunted, by the past, by missed chances, and regrets. It is not always a house or even a place that is haunted, sometimes under the right circumstances, it can be a person who is haunted no matter where they go.

I enjoyed most of the stories but there were a couple that were too sci-fi for my taste, though you may like those better than I do. Sci-fi is just rarely my thing. Some had ambiguous endings. I know there are readers who enjoy being able to decide for themselves how a story ends but I prefer a more definitive beginning middle and end.

A few of my favorites were Aces- about a young girl who seems to be not of this world.

The Currents- about a family who finds a man that seems to have drowned,

and The House On Ashley Avenue- which was more along the lines of what I was expecting from the title, a haunted house story.

All in all a decent collection even though it was not what I expected. If you like fantasy/sci-fi/dark fiction, give this one a read.

My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications for the review copy.

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Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates

 

The Hull family has owned the Gallows Hill Winery for generations, living and working on the beautiful grounds where they grow their famous grapes. Until the night Mr. and Mrs. Hull settle down for the evening...and are dead by morning.

When their daughter, Margot, inherits the family business, she wants nothing to do with it. The winery is valued for its unparalleled produce, but it's built on a field where hundreds of convicts were once hanged, and the locals whisper morbid rumors. They say the ground is cursed.

It's been more than a decade since Margot last saw her childhood home. But now that she's alone in the sprawling, dilapidated building, she begins to believe the curse is more than real―and that she may be the next victim of the house that never rests...

Margo's ancestors have owned Gallows Hill Winery since long before she was born. She has never been part of the business and seems to have very little memory of ever having been part of the family. She was sent away at a  young age and doesn't know why. She has had no contact with her parents since then, which seemed a bit odd to me since she knew where they were and could have easily reached out at any time to ask why she had been sent away. 

Now both of her parents have died, under unusual circumstances and she has inherited the winery.

She returns to attend the funeral, and settle the estate and learns that her family was cursed. It seems that Gallows Hill once held a real gallows and the angry spirits of those who were put to death there are not at rest. Now the winery has become famous for a very special vintage of wine that is carefully aged in barrels carved from the very hanging tree that saw so much death. 

Gallows Hill aims to be a slow-burn supernatural gothic that may have been better as a novella. 

Lots of confusing details and several repetitions slow the pace. The reason for the curse may have shocked Margot but it was too easy to figure out what was going on with those wine barrels. There were some creepy moments with the restless and angry spirits but the repetition took away some of the enjoyment. Some things just didn't add up. If Margot's parents were so intent on keeping her away from the winery why leave it to her in their will? Why does Margot not know how to charge her phone once in a while? I could go on but it would lead to spoilers. 

I'm going to give this 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 out of 5 where half stars are not allowed.

You may enjoy it more than I did but this one was just not for me.

I received an advance copy for review.

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About the author

Darcy is the USA Today Bestselling author of Hunted, The Haunting of Ashburn House, Craven Manor, and more than a dozen horror and suspense titles.
She lives on the Central Coast of Australia with her family, cats, and a garden full of herbs and vegetables.
Darcy loves forests, especially old-growth forests where the trees dwarf anyone who steps between them. Wherever she lives, she tries to have a mountain range close by.
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