The Darkest Veil by Catherine Cavendish

We are The Thirteen. We are One
4 Yarborough Drive looked like any other late 19th century English townhouse. Alice Lorrimer feels safe and welcomed there, but soon discovers all is not as it appears to be. One of her housemates flees the house in terror. Another disappears and never returns. Then there are the sounds of a woman wailing, strange shadows and mists, and the appearance of the long-dead Josiah Underwood who founded a coven there many years earlier. The house is infested with his evil, and Alice and her friends are about to discover who The Thirteen really are.


As this story does not take place in the United States I may be a bit off on the terminology. A small group of young women are renting what is referred to as a bed sit which I believe is some type of rooming house, or perhaps what we would call studio apartments in a spooky old house with a dark past.
There already seems to be some supernatural activity going on, but after the girls hold a seance with a make shift Ouija board things begin to escalate. One young woman is so upset that she moves out immediately and one just disappears...leaving nothing but a dress behind. It's hard for me to say more without giving too much away, but there was a creepy atmosphere throughout the story and I never saw that ending coming.
4 out of 5 stars
I received a complimentary copy for review.






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And a Dark Horse Dreamt of Nightmares by Keith Anthony Baird

A collection of strange tales for those who like horror, the supernatural, and science fiction. These six short stories explore some classic themes in contemporary settings. All have a dark vibe which creates the overall tone of the collection.

The book opens with 'The Sable Lane Catering Company' which puts blood, gore, and terror immediately on the menu with a snapshot of a serial killer serving up something special for his sadistic clientele.

Next up is a pure 80s horror homage, with 'John: Carpenter' giving a direct nod to the movie director's catalogue of work.

'Skullcherry Orchard' sees a paranormal investigation take a turn for the worst in rural North West England. It's a traditional ghost story given a contemporary flavour.

Story number four is rooted in the occult practices of the Nazi regime circa WWII and proves a terrifying and tragic turn of events for those who want to know just 'What's In The Box?'

No book of dark tales could be complete without a reworking of the time-honoured vampire saga, and 'Mother Rain and Father Wolf' does just that. Presented as a warning to those who would meddle in the truth which lies behind a mythology, it chronicles age-old revenge on the Church.

Lastly, 'Floor 9' is a sci-fi piece which is quite simply designed to mess with your head. It has a split narrative and is a tad on the trippy side, and hopefully just good fun.

If you purchase and enjoy this book of shorts, then please consider my full-length novels: The Jesus Man & Nexilexicon, both available in ebook, audio, and paperback via Amazon. Thank you! KAB

Full disclosure, I did not read the last story in this collection, partly because I am so far behind in reviews and partly because Sci-fi is something I need to be in the mood for and my current mood is OMG the holidays are coming and I have a million things to do. That being said, I did enjoy the 5 stories I read. They are dark and deeply disturbing. I will just touch briefly on my favorites. "Skullcherry Orchard" was a spectacular read for me probably because I love all those paranormal investigation shows and this story has a lot more to offer than people whispering WHAT WAS THAT. I would definitely avoid eating the cherries though. I also loved the first story "The Sable Lane Catering Company' though at times I had to peek at it through my fingers for fear of what I might see next. It is extremely gruesome and if you like to snack while you read you may not want to eat while reading this one. Also it's not nice to play with your food!

I received a complimentary copy for review.

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Off The Grid by John Hunt

Graham Richards was shopping with his family at an outlet mall when an active shooter began indiscriminately murdering people with a rifle. Graham was shot in the face and when he woke up in the hospital, his family was dead. And now, all he wants is to be left alone. Living out in the woods, growing his own food, and using solar power for his energy needs, he hopes to live the rest of his life in obscurity. But when a little girl goes missing in the nearby town, the strange, scarred man in the lonely cabin is the first suspect and Graham finds himself being pulled back into the world he wanted to leave behind.



This story begins like any ordinary day in America, which unfortunately means a mass shooting at a shopping mall. From there the twists are anything but typical after shooting survivor Graham, becomes a suspect in the disappearance of a child. Graham has been living off the grid ever since recovering from his injuries, and his loner status along with living out in the woods as far from prying eyes as possible causes some suspicion. Graham has reasons for wanting solitude. Aside from the emotional trauma of losing his family, and the physical deformity, there is the pain of his injuries, and a deeper darker pain. The shooting didn't just rob him of his family, it also left something behind. Graham is changed in inexplicable ways and Detective Jodie Reyes is determined to get to the truth.
This was a fast paced, action packed, twisty thriller.

I received a complimentary copy for review.

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The Pineys by Tony DiGerolamo

From the creator of the Jersey Devil comic book comes a story about four cousins cursed by their ancestors, brought together by destiny and trying to keep South Jersey from going to Hell.

In 1732, Mother Leeds gave birth to the infamous Jersey Devil, which has roamed the Pine Barrens ever since.

Or so the story goes…

The truth is, Mother Leeds was a witch and opened the portals to Hell unleashing hundreds of devils into woods. But the villagers next door in Abe’s Hat noticed and formed a secret hunting society to track down the fiends and send them back to the Abyss. Their descendants continue the Hunt in secret to this day.

So grab your pork roll, put on your Piney Power hat and join the hunt, because the Galloway cousins are coming to save you whether you like it or not.

If only Lewis hadn't stopped to look for a gas station.. what an escapade he would have missed! The village is over run with shape shifting devil spawn who can take on the appearance of those they bite.This is a darkly comedic/horror adventure featuring undead stripper ghouls, the corpse of a witch, and a visit to hell. It was a quick read with lots of action. Though not my usual type of read I found it quite entertaining.
I received a complimentary copy for review.
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About the author
Tony DiGerolamo is a New Jersey screenwriter, novelist, comic book writer, game designer and comedian. He is best known for his work on The Simpsons and Bart Simpson comic books. He has also been a joke writer for Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, a scriptwriter for Space Ghost: Coast to Coast and a blogger for Comedy Central’s Indecision website. He has written the screenplays including Mafioso: The Father, The Son starring Leo Rossi.