Those Who Came Before by J.H. Moncrieff is a story of bloodshed and a creature of legend that brutalizes a town after a mistake is made on a seemingly innocent camping trip.

When four people go into the woods for a camping trip, tension is high and they decide to call the trip and head home the next morning rather than staying for the full weekend. But when the sun rises, only one of the campers is left alive… the others have been brutally murdered.

The survivor calls the police, who can’t believe what they’re seeing when they arrive.

While looking over the scene, the lead detective hears something being whispered to her that no one else hears. Knowing the force will think she’s losing it, she goes to other sources to get answers for the investigation.

As time passes, more people die. Can the investigators and locals work together to solve what’s going on before it’s too late?

My goodness. This story starts off tense and only gets darker from there! While the mystery is filled with twists and turns, there are also many elements of a thriller mixed in. The author slowly presents pieces of the puzzle to the readers at a pace that feels like we’re getting closer to having the full image, but not enough for us to yet see what’s going on.

For main characters, we follow the survivor, Reese Wallace, the lead detective, Detective Maria Greyeyes, and a woman from the past, Little Dove, that just may hold they key to unlocking this case. As the author rotates through the different perspectives, we also jump from the present into the past, slowly learning more about what is happening and most importantly, why.

This is a perfect example of dual timelines working well! Each one could really stand on their own legs, but they’re much more powerful together. I had a hard time putting this book down! Just when I thought I got to a good stopping place, I’d read a few sentences of the next chapter, remember where that timeline had left off, and had to keep going!

The story tackles some very heavy elements and does it in a beautiful way while still holding on to the full horror of each situation. But don’t get me wrong, this one doesn’t sugarcoat anything. Your blood is going to boil, and you’ll feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up in fear of what’s to come.

While there are some doozy content warnings for this one, I personally felt that everything was handled with care, but be careful if you’re unsure.

This way my first read from this author, and I cannot wait to pick up more very soon. The atmosphere that she created combined with the amazing characters and quickly paced storyline made this an awesome read! Even through the difficult scenes, I was sucked right in.

Why those kids had decided to spend the night here, instead of running away screaming, she’d never understand. But again, most people tended to ignore their instincts.

Creeping to the foyer like a thief, I held my breath as I stole my own keys, curling my fingers around the metal so they wouldn’t jangle. Nothing but snoring from the living room. As long as I could make it out of here before Mom got home, I was free. The idea of escaping, of getting out of this house, sent a tingle of anticipation through me. My sneakers made no sound on the carpet. The front door, recently treated with WD-40 by yours truly, warned of my betrayal with a wheeze rather than a squeak.

“…Do not let bitterness twist your heart into something unrecognizable.”

This haunting tale is one that I would highly recommend. It really sank it’s claws into me and take me on a dark and powerful trip. My heart broke for these characters as I learned more about what was actually happening.

A must-read for fans of supernatural horror with a heavy dose of gore and mystery.

You’re Mine by Somer Canon is a story about jealousy, possessiveness, and the quest for control. The story starts out light, but slowly grows darker.

Okay, I am so in love with that copyright page! I think it’s so clever when elements are added to this section of the book than many people don’t even glance at. In this case, we have a joke that answers what type of makeup goth witches wear!

Next up, I have to comment on the book cover. How eerie is it just to look at the doll? Then to notice the noose? Big yikes! The cover design is by Chris Enterline and they certainly knocked it out of the park! 

When we begin this story, we meet a group of high school friends that are seen as the “weird kids” because of their gothic style. But this group doesn’t care what others think in the slightest. Most of them are very confident in who they are, except for Ioni Davis. She’s still a bit self conscious because of her height. 

But that changes one day when a new kid walks into the cafeteria and is immediately taken by her. His interest in her comes on fast and strong, which weirds her out as she grapples with herself in trying to accept the compliments. 

These two begin a whirlwind romance, that from a distance seems wonderful, but there’s something not quite right about it. 

A few red flags pop up here and there, but Ioni isn’t deterred. Everything seems so wonderful, until it’s not. 

The two begin a journey to learn Wicca together and join a coven. But when they split off to go to different colleges, one is tempted by black magic, putting immense strain on the relationship. But things only get darker from there. 

My goodness, Somer Canon is so talented. I’m so glad that I didn’t re-read the back cover copy of this one before diving in, so a lot of the elements of the storyline came as a shock.

I absolutely adored the friend group and the Wicca elements! I wanted to be one of these characters so I could join in! 

I haven’t had a physical reaction like this caused by a book in a long time. I was a bit creeped out at some of the situations the main character was faced with and how the manipulation mirrored things I have gone through in the past while dating exes. 

There were a few moments that I shouted “red flag” out loud while reading. But one page, I was so upset I had to put the book down and go for a walk. I almost didn’t want to know what happened next I was so mad at one of the characters! But of course, I just had to know…

Bravo, Somer! This story is amazing! 

Freedom was less than a year away, and the world opened up with endless possibilities for those new graduates.

At that age, with inexperience allowing optimism to rule, people tend to think that time is limitless and all things are possible. Experience teaches which of those things is true and which is absolute soul-sucking bullshit.

“…Think of people like a deep, dark lake. You see the surface and maybe it’s reflecting its surroundings and you assume that because it is a lake with a clear and still surface you know it’s only water, but that’s not at all true, is it? No. Beneath that calm exterior things are swimming and there’s movement and darkness and life. Beneath that quaint reflection is a lot more that you can’t see. Every now and then a ripple from underneath disturbs that calm surface, but it’s usually no more than a ripple that you get to see. We’re all deep lakes. We’re all hiding things beneath the surface.”

She didn’t want to be the type of person that gave ultimatums. But standing firm in her resolve, and not letting him manipulate her into moving her lines in the sand to accommodate his whims, was something important to her as well.

I had a blast with this one. It was triggering for me in the best ways. Not only did it show me how far I’ve come personally since going through some stuff, it also acted as a bit of a therapeutic read.  I know that all sounds a bit silly, but the realness of the relationship the author created here really hit home for me.

Buckle up for this twisted ride before cracking open these pages! 

Horror fans that enjoy dark tales with sexy scenes that are more romantic than anything else (except for the few that weren’t), this is a must read! 

Haunt of Southern-Fried Fear by Ronald Kelly is another killer collection from this master of horror! Filled with spookiness and loads of gut-punch terror, these stories will bring you on quite the ride.

This book is so much fun from cover to cover!

First off, the cover art by Alex McVey sets the tone. Formatted like the cover of a magazine, that theme continues on at the back of the book, where there are two pages of ads that reference things from the stories! There are things like cabin rentals that were seen in A Scream in the Night, the perfume from Forget Me Not, and much more! What a super fun element to add in!

I also really loved that right before the table of contents, we meet the old storyteller as he introduces the stories! This reminds me of Creepshow and how The Creep introduces things, and I’m SO here for it!

Then we get to the tales! But before each story, there is wonderful interior artwork created by Ronald Kelly. The one of the woman in the corn field was my favorite!

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale!

After learning of an urban legend based on real events, this couple decides visiting the location where a horrible woman used to live would be a great family outing. Things are going well until they discover three doors. They each pick one and from there the terror kicks in! 

This was such a fun tale. Not knowing what would greet each character behind those doors was nerve wracking! 

While this town prepares for the anniversary of a mining accident, some are afraid, but some actually look forward to it. Will this be like the ten year anniversary? 

This is a quiet little tale filled with heartbreak. These poor families. I don’t know what’s worse, having to go through the original trauma or having to relive it every ten years. 

After a mean prank pulled by her classmates, this child is haunted by things that her parents are convinced are nightmares. 

What a sad and haunting tale! If only the family had listened to the girl! 

A Scream in the Night –

When a man just wants to get away, he rents a cabin that he soon learns is haunted by the previous owners. When he learns why, he’s determined to find a way to help. 

Another tale with an element of heartbreaking terror. I loved that this one also has awesome haunting elements! 

On Christmas Eve, these two boys beg for their grandfather to tell them a tale. Even though they hear it every year, they can’t get enough! But this year, there’s something extra special!

I love this one so much! The ending is wonderful. 

When a serial killer ends up in jail, he thinks he’s got it made with a bed and three meals a day. But his last victim isn’t done with him yet.

My goodness that ending was so perfect! I love the path this story took!

When two men meet up, they reminisce about something that had happened when they were kids; three boys headed to the site of a local legend, expecting the old sawmill to be super creepy. Just when they say it’s not too bad, the terror sets in.

This one had some glorious body horror! What a tragic and haunting tale. 

When a young man finds a red ear of corn, tradition says he gets to kiss the prettiest girl at the dance later. When he spots the one, he ends up getting much more than just a kiss! 

I had read this one previously in another collection. It was even more eerie the second time around!

Growing up hearing ghost stories from the horrible history of an iron foundry, this man doesn’t believe all of the stories. But one day, when he gets too close to the old foundry, that changes.

The brutal abuse the poor workers had gone through will break your heart. This one covers a wide range of emotion in a short story!

The very thought brought back childhood fears she was certain she had left behind long ago.

The candle dispelled the uncertainty of the darkness… but, unfortunately, not the uncertainty of the unknown.

It was a cold, clear night. The sky was a velvet canvas scattered with stars, with no clouds to speak of. It was frigid at that hour – thirty degrees or lower, and his breath drifted in a frosty mist from his nostrils.

When I was seven or eight, they just seemed like ghost stories to me: tales that kept you up at night, but whose impact faded with the light of day. Now I am not so sure.

I had a blast with this one! Most of the stories were new to me, but a couple I had read before.

As I typically promote snagging a copy… I do need to point out that this one is unfortunately from a publisher that is no longer around. If you would like a copy, check out Ronald Kelly’s Twitter page to see if he is still promoting selling any that he had on hand. Outside of that, you can try thrifting. When this one finds a new home, I will be grabbing a copy for sure!

Lure by Tim McGregor is a tale of fear and violence set in a small fishing village that has fresh blood in the waters.

Ready to add to your list of fears when it comes to the ocean?

Let's dive in!

When this tale begins, we meet a family in which the father, a reverend, had brought them to this desolate town years ago. 

Try as the reverend might, he can’t get the villagers to put aside their focus on “blasphemous” sea monsters. There’s even the bones of one hanging in the chapel itself! 

The creature has a strong hold over the town. But one day, the town learns that the creatures aren’t just lore of olden days; these things are real and one of them is close to their shores. 

Unable to leave the creature alone, the men go after it, determined to kill it. 

They’re headstrong and think it will be a small task to strike her down. But this creature is more intelligent than they think and she isn’t about to let them get away with their actions against her. 

PHEW! 

The atmosphere of this tale rolls in like the storms the fishermen see coming on the horizon. And once it hits, it hits hard. 

Readers won’t have to wait very long for the action to kick in. Soon after, the terror begins to crank up and it doesn’t ease!

The main character, Kaspar, is a love-stricken young man that is prone to daydreams. His empathy is obvious, and while a great trait in many instances, in this case, it may just be his downfall. 

I loved Kaspar at first and wished only for the best for him. But later on, as venom soaks into his bloodstream, he turns into a selfish person, fixated on the wrong things. There were so many times I wanted to reach through these pages and smack this kid upside the head! 

I have no doubt, that under different circumstances, this kid could have figured things out and potentially saved the whole town. 

But of course, this is a horror novella. So instead of things getting better, they just get worse. 

Another beautifully written and haunting tale from Mr. McGregor! I was hanging on to each and every word.

Halfway down the stone pier, I see Agnet coming the other way. I could no more stop the smile on my face than I could stop the sun from going down.

It is as if the sea has declared war on us and it’s barbarian horse is determined to storm our gates.  

I feel something wicked bloom inside my chest, like mold blackening an overripe apple.

The village daughters emerge from their cottages and hovels and into the streets. The tools in their hands drip with blood, the metal clotted with scraps of hairy scalp.

I was so nervous at every new situation the author threw at the reader. The darkness that took over this small town was terrifying! I mean, the sea creature alone was enough to haunt me, but add in the desperate hunger and the way people treated their neighbors among everything else? What a nightmare!

This book would be a great beach read. But I would recommend you pick it up only after you’ve finished going into the ocean for the day… 

Cool S by Die Booth is a story centering around the little doodle we all drew at one point. We thought it was so innocent, but what if there was a dark power behind it when done with a certain intent?

Intrigued? Then this is a book for you!

One quick note to begin – at the end of the book, there is a wonderful list of content warnings if you need them! A couple of the big ones that I usually point out include death of a partner and self harm.

When diving into this tale, we meet Trace, a wife and friend, who has a conversation about the little ‘S’ symbol that she and everyone she knew used to doodle as preteens. But when she starts seeing them all over the place, she decides to do some research.

The curiosity to find answers turns to obsession and takes her in over her head. But by the time she realizes she is underwater, it’s far too late…

I was so intrigued to see where her research was going to bring her! I loved her interest at the beginning, but when it was clear that she was fixated on this, I knew we were in for a bumpy ride.

What a clever concept. I mean, who didn’t draw one of these at some point?! I remember my class drawing these on every test, every homework assignment, every blank white board… all to the point where the teachers started threatening detention for students when they doodled where they shouldn’t.

And the body horror here! My goodness. From sleep paralysis to a brutal heart attack and everything in between, it’s a horror fan’s heaven! You never knew what was going to happen next!

This book also covers the topic of consent and what can happen when you don’t have it. I really appreciated the way the two characters that had things done to them without consent reacted, further hammering the point home.

I had SO much fun reading this! This is one that is definitely going to stick with me. I’m not looking forward to seeing one of these Cool S’s pop up again in the wild anytime soon though!

The rain outside pattered on the skylight set into the angled roof with a sound that was almost soothing. It cast grey afternoon shadows onto the opposite slant of the ceiling, raindrops trickling like tears.

Below the ‘phone numbers’ header on the torn page, she drew the familiar pattern, joining the vertical lines in blue ballpoint to produce the pointed outline of Cool S. Just like riding a bike: you never forget. It’s like we were all born knowing it. It coiled there on the paper like a snake, head hidden so you didn’t know where the strike would come from.

“What’s your favourite colour?”
“Red.” It wasn’t. The word just pulsed out, like blood from a cut.

A tilted moon laughed down like the sky had a mean grin, but it wasn’t enough to see by.

Cool S by Die Booth will make you think twice before doodling what you think is just a harmless S, that’s for darn sure!

Body horror fans, whether or not you know what this symbol is, this is a book you cannot miss!

The Horror Collection: Nightmare Edition presented by KJK Publishing is the twelfth amazing and brutal collection in this series. Like all of the others, once I dove in, I couldn’t stop reading!

I freaking love these collections! Each time I see that a new one is coming out, I start getting antsy to get my hands on it!

This one is one of my top favorites of the bunch! The range goes from mildly creepy to full blown extreme horror, so there’s something here for every horror fan, as always!

I had SO many favorites from this one! My favorites include:

Per usual, here are my notes on each tale –

Back in town to celebrate their 10 year reunion, this group goes on a hike rather than going to the reunion itself. But of course, they find that there is more to worry about than just the heat and the bugs.

I was SO pumped to see that this one was set in my home state, Maine! The build up to the terror was done so well. And boy, did the gore factor come in strong!

The sky is still clinging to the last shades of indigo, but the fire is lulling me into a soothing lethargy. In the distance, something large crashes through the underbrush. 

Forced to make an awful trade to try to survive, this man is immediately haunted by his decision. But that haunted feeling only gets worse as the night goes on.

Per usual with Steve’s work, this was brutal! What a dark little tale with a killer ending!

Since the age of fourteen, this poor character dips into other lives in the moments before their death. Traumatizing enough, they also feel every thing that happens. 

My god, what a terrifying idea! I cannot imagine what this would be like. That first scene alone was enough. The last one?! Straight out of my nightmares.

Grief-stricken over the loss of his wife to a monster, this man dedicates his time toward hunting them down and trying to find the leader.

This one was so unsettling! I loved that you got little teases to show you what was really going on. 

Haunted by something long ago that would have only taken three more seconds to conclude, this man is interviewed by someone claiming to be from a true crime magazine. But the interview takes quite the turn.

This was a great crime tale! The suspense in getting to the final page was so intense! 

When this army veteran goes to sleep, he thinks he has the perfect spot picked out to weather the storm. But when he wakes, he sees that there is water surrounding him. But what’s worse, is that there is something IN the water surrounding him. 

This tale really pulls on the heartstrings! I was so sad to see these two drawn to one another through their mutual suffering and loss, but the plot of finding their community was lovely! 

The scream became a roar, proclaiming his abandonment of humankind. Like some massive, prehistoric conch shell trumpeting with the breath of Poseidon, bass notes resonated from the depths of Robert’s being. The sound rushed along every nearby street and between buildings, vibrating windows and shaking doors before making its way out onto the ocean.

This group of boys are having a wonderful summer day in a park. Tempted by the ghost stories, they take turns knocking on a door. But the result of one boy’s knock is different from the rest…

This one has some lovely ghost story elements, centered around the joys of being a kid. 

That day in August was a great day to be eight. Blazing sunshine worked up a thirst for an ice cream, and there were still three glorious weeks of the summer holiday left, making school seem as far away as Timbuktu.

After a drop when she was a child, Mandi grows up not being able to see colors. Her childhood friend, Bobby, is determined to help her. First, he tries showing her foods that he relates to colors, then he decides to make her special glasses, but the glasses show the true colors of the people all around them and it scares them.

The path this one took is one I did not expect at all! I wanted that happy reunion, but I should have known better since the story was in this collection! What an intense ending!

This poor boy has a tough upbringing. The teasing is almost constant in both his life at school and at home. But one day, he finally gets fed up. 

The fat-shaming was exhausting here. I felt so bad for this poor kid. 

Thrilled about a weekend filled with old school video games, pizza, and snacks, one boy gets carried away explaining a game and accidentally punches a bigger kid. Of course, that big kid won’t let this slide as the accident that it was and goes after him…

PHEW! What a whirlwind this tale was! I was so invested from the start, and that ENDING! My goodness. Perfect as is, but I would love more to see what happened next with these two!

After moving into a house with a locked basement, this character can’t wait to see what is behind the door. Turns out it was a sealed vase. Rather than leaving it alone, he tries to open it, and then shatter is, unleashing what was inside.

This one really plays on the terror of never really knowing who someone is and what their intentions are!

When this grieving husband and father gets the chance to see his wife one more time, he takes the deal. But then his greed gets the best of him.

This one was heartbreaking! This poor grief stricken man. Faced with the same opportunity, I’m sure most people would indeed take this stranger up on his offer. 

Boys Will be Boys by Natasha Sinclair
What a dark and disturbing tale! Only a few notes on this one; prepare yourselves for the brutality and darkness! A must read for extreme horror fans!

This man has a special gift that haunts him throughout his life… He can see the devil when he appears in people. 

This tale is terrifying! How would you handle being able to see the devil in people? Would you fight back, or turn away?

While on a journey through the jungle, this family is warned to stay on the path as there were many dangers lurking in the woods. But what they didn’t realize, was that danger had already found them. The wife had gotten bitten by something and she’s going downhill quickly.

This poor family! They had such a great vacation going… 

When a teenager brings a girl to a place in town that has become legend, he tells her scary tales to try to get into her pants. But of course, urban legends all come from somewhere…

My goodness, the creepiness and brutality in this one was SO good. The ending made my stomach turn. 

When a normal sunny day turns to a day filled with screaming, Sue, the owner of a bar tries to get everyone inside quickly. But even with their best attempts, the ghouls still make it inside. Forced to flee to try to find help, the survivors pile into a car and head out. But will they make it safely?

This was an AMAZING zombie tale! Action packed and tense, I loved this one!

The two bikers got in as the door to the garage busted apart and a clown zombie – its red nose crooked and blackened, its colorful costume torn and bloody – stumbled into the garage and crashed against the SUV. Its bright wig was knocked askew.

When this young man backs out of going into the graveyard at night, his friend still heads in. Seeing something that terrifies him, the main character runs to his parents to alert them. But his parents brush it off, trying to convince him it was a nightmare. But soon, the boy enters the graveyard and quickly learns that what he had seen was real. 

WHAT A STORY TO END ON! This one was spooky from the start and filled with terror toward the end. That last sentence… Phew!

A killer collection of tales that will haunt your nightmares! This is a collection that horror fans won’t want to miss!

The Fervor by Alma Katsu is a gut-wrenching tale of violence, hatred, propaganda, and sickness. Set in the 1940s during the war in which darkness surrounds, there are also strong elements of love and bravery with the characters that we follow. 

Set as a tale that jumps between various characters, readers get to see the different perspectives and feelings about the state of the world from the main characters. 

Each individual storyline was intense in its own way and each flowed perfectly into the overall story-arc. I loved that each section slowly began to give us more information so we could start putting the puzzle pieces together. 

Even with all the hard emotions that came up by reading this, I just couldn’t put the book down. I needed to see what was going to happen with each of the primary characters! 

I don’t want to go too far into the plot, as this is a book that I think readers need to just dive into. But I will note that had no idea there were internment camps that forced Japanese Americans into them during the war. Over 120,000 people of Japanese heritage were relocated to the camps in the 1940s.

I love historical horror for exactly this reason, it shines a light on true, very real horror. It gets readers to learn more than what history lessons in school glosses over, and opens up the avenue to learn more. I certainly have a lot to learn about this, and I’m so grateful Alma Katsu opened that door for me. 

The Afterword is also not to be missed. 

Rumors flow like wasps through the camp, each story more outrageous than the last. It was impossible to know what was true with all the lies, many of them coming from the guards.

Could it have been a ghost? The thought popped into her head, unwelcome. She didn’t believe in ghosts, not while the sun shined, but it was hard to feel as certain at night. 

There were always inner demons to be fought.

Within these pages, there are so many elements that will make your skin crawl and your blood boil. The heartbreak you will feel while reading this is definitely worth the experience. It’s an especially important considering the rising tension in the US yet again recently. 

Stay safe. If you’re having a hard time with the current news cycle, you’ll want to tread lightly here. But please do give this one a read when you can! 

Sundial by Catriona Ward is a tale that pushes the question, “How far would you go for those that you love?” to the most extreme limit. Filled with family dysfunction, scientific testing, and love, this story will take readers on quite a dark trip!

Content Warnings:
Animal testing, animal death, child abuse, domestic abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, toxic relationship, miscarriage & more

How cool is that cover?!? This version, published on March 1st, 2022 by Tor Nightfire, was created by Corey Brickley and Katie Klimowicz. I’m obsessed! The colors are stunning and the illustration definitely captures some of the darkness that readers will discover within the pages.

In regard to the plot, I went into this one dark. I had heard a few reader friends raving about it, so I wanted to know as little as possible!

I will admit, the toxic relationship that we get a very heavy dose of at the beginning almost made me put this one down. It was so powerfully written to the point that it triggered me, and that came back in the trough of the waves throughout the rest story. So if you can stomach that, the crest of each wave will serve up even more heaviness as you continue reading!

If you need content warnings, I highly recommend you do some additional research from other reviewers before diving into this, as I’m sure I missed plenty with the list I provided in my opening.

I couldn’t believe how this story served up one horrific element after another… When I thought things couldn’t get more intense, the author proved me wrong. Set in two main story arcs, we see what is happened in the present, mixed with a story from the past. Each timeline twists and turns around one another until the explosive ending…

And with that, I will leave the rest of the discovery about this story and it’s plot up to you to discover!

Let’s jump to my favorite passages so you can get a taste of the wonderful writing.

When people say something is “unthinkable,” what they usually mean is that they don’t want to think it. They are resistant to an idea. But that is not what unthinkable means. I understand that, now. It means to be confronted with a thought so vast, dark, and monstrous that it will not fit into any known shapes in your mind. It is poison and madness flowering behind your eyes. I clear my throat to free it from the taste of old soda. The worst part is that I’m not as surprised as I should be.

It’s cold inside the MRI machine. Narrow, cold, and full of noise like ghosts knocking on your coffin. It’s hard to breathe in here but I always make sure I’m smiling when I come out, because Jack goes second.

Mom stops. She looks thin and empty- like the story’s been inside her, keeping her upright all this time. Now it’s coming out she’s deflating like a balloon.

You can only do three things with danger: run away from it, fight it, or make friends with it. I don’t know which one to do.

Kids are mirrors, reflecting back everything that happens to them.

While I can’t say that I liked this one, I can definitely say that the storytelling was very intense! Every time I set it down for a break, I realized that this story had left me wandering around in a bit of a daze, feeling very queasy.

Sundial is a must read for fans of stories with really twisted and dark dysfunctional families.

Hide by Kiersten White is a story about bravery, friendship, and choices made in the past that continue to haunt the current generation, all set within the bounds of an abandoned amusement part.

I do not say this lightly; This is my new favorite book of all time.

Of course, I have to start off by discussing the book cover!

The shade of yellow that was chosen is in stark contrast to the darkness of the illustration. The ferris wheel looms over the rest of the elements, at first glance, looking to be joyful. But looking further into the smaller elements at the base of the ride, you can see that there is something not quite right…

Then of course, we see the twisted black roots that spread out underneath, split by the red ivy that matches the color of the title text.

There are also birds that appear to be circling the area.

The cover is haunting, and it’s just a glimpse into what’s within the pages!

When opening the book, the next thing readers will see is a park map on the endpaper. This was such a cool thing to open up to! Complete with some typical defacing like “K+M” and “Elwira was here!” but also more ominous ones like “Hobart Keck was RIGHT” that made me anxious to learn what he was right about! This lovely map design was created by David G. Stevenson, illustration by Elwira Pawlikowska! 

Now, onto my notes about the story –

Living at a shelter after something bad happened with her family, Mack is brought into a meeting with the shelter manager where the manager discusses the risk of going stagnant with her life and not making any progress. Not very interested in the conversation, Mack can’t believe what the manager tells her about next, thinking it’s a really bad joke. But when she realizes the manager is serious, she ends up agreeing to try. After all, she doesn’t have much to lose.

The offer? To join a game of hide and seek at an abandoned amusement park for a chance to win a lot of money.

The catch? She must be the last competitor that hadn’t been caught after seven days. 

Knowing she survived the worst game of hide and seek ever once before, Mack assumes this will be easy. But once Mack sees how the contestants are being prepared, she gets a nagging feeling that this game isn’t just for fun and money. Because of this, she slips right back into survival mode.

When I first heard about this book, and that it was set in an abandoned amusement park, I was already in! Amusement part horror is my favorite, and the author certainly brought the horror here. Written as a rage-cry directed toward school shootings and the lack of action being taken, the work that the author has done here will terrify you, at times it will break your heart, but there’s also a thin layer of hope present.

I immediately felt protective of the main character, Mack, when we first met her. The more we learn about her throughout the book, the stronger I felt. She was battling some inner demons, but even when they came to the surface, she didn’t let them overtake her. She grew so much over the few days trapped in the abandoned park, and I loved seeing her open up and trust a bit more.

I don’t want to write about the other characters, as it will likely give some of the excitement of the story away. So I will just say that each character that we get to know was so intriguing. No matter which “side” they fell on, it was a blast to learn more about everyone!

The organization of the storyline was perfect. Like the park itself, readers will come to learn that things are a bit of a maze, but there’s a point to the organization! Once things start to be seen more clearly, it all falls into place like the roof of one of the rotten carnival game booths collapsing. From there, as one of the characters in the book realizes, things switch from the horror of the unknown to the terror of the known!

The floor is black marble, so polished they can see themselves in it. The walls and the furniture are pristine white. The kind of white that screams Don’t touch me to people like Mack. The kind of white that purrs You deserve me to people like Rebecca.

They both stay where they are, trapped in the prison of silence left in the wake of an unanswered scream.

If all the world is hell and evil is all around them, what else can they do but try to help each other?

People pretend things aren’t wrong, even when they can feel the truth, because they’re too afraid of what it means to look right at the horror, right at the wrongness, to face the truth in all its terrible glory. Like little kids, playing hide-and-seek. If they can’t see the monster, it can’t get them. But it can. It always can. And while you aren’t looking, it’s eating everyone around you.

He hit their mother, and he hit them, not because he was strong, but because he wasn’t. No one who is strong hits a child.

I just finished reading a few minutes ago before I started writing this review, and I already cannot wait to dive back in. This one is going to have an annual re-read. I loved every single thing about this read; the cover, the plot and organization of the storyline, the characters, the dialogue, the dark vibes, the horror, the setting, the description of even the smallest detail, the foreshadowing, everything!

Pick up your copy and “get lost in the fun” today! 

The Haunting of Henderson Close by Catherine Cavendish is a beautifully eerie tale of historic tours, lingering spirits, séances, and the bravery required to find answers to mysteries that brought danger upon those that went looking.

When the book kicks off, we meet Miss Carmichael, a wonderful woman who lives in Edinburgh and pays many visits to a place called Henderson Close where she helps the poor as much as she can. But one day, she is attacked and killed.

Many years later, after the area had been built upon, a tour company allows visitors to come in through a gift shop to go underneath to explore the old area as the guides tell them about those that used to live there. The tour is supposed to be historic, but many visitors are there hoping to see the rumored ghosts.

After Hannah joins the tour company, she sees some strange things right away. While skeptical at first, she soon realizes that her experiences aren’t just her peers pulling her leg as the newbie on the crew. These rumored ghosts have proven themselves to be very real, and they need Hannah’s help.

I picked this one up on a sunny July day and sat out on my porch to read it. Boy, am I glad it was a warm and sunny day! This book left me with quite the chill!

I was sucked in immediately! In fact, I got seventy-four pages in before realizing I hadn’t paused to look up or take any notes on my favorite passages! I was just that immersed!

The atmosphere that Catherine has created here is so striking. She really plays on all of the senses when describing a scene, you’ll feel like you’re right there with the characters.

Catherine also carefully increases the volume of horror steadily throughout the story! Beginning with a few little bursts of spookiness, we soon turned the dial up to things that gave me the chills, and then the knob was all the way at max where we saw some brutal and terrifying things! I loved every minute of it!

The plot itself was brilliant. I really enjoyed that the storyline was organized in a way that slowly gives the reader more information from various perspectives until they are able to see the full picture. While there were plenty of chapter breaks, I didn’t feel like I could set this book down at all. I needed to know more!

And that ending! PHEW. I did not see any of that coming! This was such an awesome story from start to finish!

Greyfriars Kirkyard at night. Chill. Dark. The church ghostly in the silver moonlight. Trees denuded of leaves, their branches reaching out their skeletal fingers to the heavens. It didn’t take much imagination to see ghosts walking among the gravestones of the generations of the Edinburgh dead, slumbering – or lying unquietly – beneath their granite blankets.

She forced herself to move steadily when every pore of her being screamed at her to run. The visitors had recovered and were now chatting excitedly among themselves, moving slowly. Oh, so slowly. Behind them the banging had become an incessant loud thumping. At any minute, it sounded as if the boards would give way and something would crash through and into the Close. Hannah dreaded what that something might be.

Lucky for him the night was still pitch dark and he knew the streets so well. A sudden noise nearby startled him and he melted into the shadows of a doorway. 

A sudden blast of cold air whipped past her ears, stinging them with the sharp chill. But in the trees not a leaf stirred. It was the stillest of nights.

This is a perfect read for fans of beautiful gothic horror that’s filled with twists and turns, with beauty and darkness, and which features characters with a lot of heart and some major bravery.

If you couldn’t already tell by the sheer number of exclamation points I used in this review, I had a blast reading this!