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

About the author

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.

About the author

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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About the author

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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