Edge of Twilight by Matt Wildasin is a collection of four short stories that will leave you sitting there, trying to recover after turning the last page of this emotional horror trip. My goodness, the range this collection has is incredible!

I went into this one totally dark. Just knowing it was from Matt, and I was sold. I cannot believe this was his first collection!

The stories here are truly haunting and wonderfully written. With each story, I was drawn right in and had very strong emotional reactions. I love that Matt can go from one beautiful passage one minute, but then he dials up the terror in the next!

Per usual, here are my thoughts on each tale –

The Stairs –

Taking on a new role, this rookie is ready to get out into the field to try to find a missing person. But when his curiosity ramps up over the sudden change in mood of the woman training him, he starts to pester her for answers. Once she shows him what is lurking in the woods, he regrets that he ever asked.  

This was so spooky! Stairs that lead to nowhere freak me out! Back in Maine, there was a spiral staircase builder who had multiple examples of his work sitting outside on the lawn, and whenever I drove by, I’d get the chills. I can’t imagine seeing a staircase out in the woods!

Silent Cove –

Thrilled to have a date with a girl he’s been dreaming about for years, nothing can deter him from going to Silent Cove. Not the jock that hassles him, not even the principal that warns him away. But what the principal says does get under his skin a bit… but of course, his hormones win and he goes on the date. 

I spent so many summer nights at the beach as a teen. Living on an island, that’s about all we could do. This tale brought me right back there, but then added in some wild terror! Noooo thank you.

It Dwells –

Sent on a job to survey land to build ranger stations, this man who loves to be alone, suddenly doesn’t want to be that alone as he can’t hear a single living creature after entering the woods. But soon enough, he’s going to learn that he’s not actually the only one out there. 

The red flags that were popping up left and right from the start were so anxiety inducing! My goodness. I was taking the most shallow breaths while reading this one! I was so stressed for this guy! 

A Walk On A Winter’s Night –

When a man still haunted by his drug addiction and violent past is forced to leave the halfway house, he goes to get a coffee. Mulling over what to do next, his plans come crashing down. 

This tale was heartbreaking real-world horror. This poor man! 

Martin, who instinctively clung to the seat for dear life, froze in his chair not moving a muscle, as if it would render him invisible to her. A little trick that he picked up from Alan Grant in Jurassic Park.

The smell of pine and coastal flowers permeated the air along with the faint scent of salt water as they made their way along the path. The sun was just starting to meet with the horizon as it radiated a pallet of purples, oranges and yellows. The distant trees silhouetted against the canvas of the sky as a slight chill approached on the tails of a gentle breeze. It was picturesque and non-threatening to say the least, but that made it all the more eerie to Justin.

Dylan felt the sound resonate in his chest, like the booming blow of nearby fireworks.

Stephen meant to splash his face with some water to help him snap out of it, but all he could do was stare into his own reflection and ponder the memories he had of home; the memories that were happy. Sadly, much like steaming hot water near a mirror, the reflections of his memories grew foggy and nearly unrecognizable.

In just four short stories, Matt has served up some serious horror!

This is a must read for horror fans! You’ll love this trip where you will get to experience some unsettling spookiness, a creature gore-fest, some anxiety filled terror, and real world horror!

Trust me, you cannot miss this one if you haven’t picked it up yet!

Try Again by Wesley Southard is an action-packed tale of mustering up the sheer determination and strength to do what needs to be done in order to save a loved one.

First things first, how amazing is the cover as created by Scott Cole!? I couldn’t wait to dive into the tale to learn more about why there are X’s over the windows and doors! I also really loved the overall texture laid above and below the house. And the slashes through the author’s name and the title text!! All such awesome touches.

When the story kicks off, we meet a woman named Robin who is fuming over a confrontation that she had at the gym. When she arrives home, she is shocked to see all the lights in the house on and that more than one shadow is moving around inside. But what happens next shocks her even more!

Robin is forced to try to get into the home undetected by those that shouldn’t be there. But as she tries time and time again, she realizes that she must choose exactly the right path, otherwise she will be forced to start over.

Tense from the beginning, the action picks up very quickly! The deeper things go, the more the events turn into something from a nightmare!

This quick read packs an amazing punch! And major bonus points for having a strong female lead that kicks some major butt!

But people like him, people who yearn to wound and steal would always find a way to flatten the world around them so they could stand taller. 

If you were a fan of the choose-your-own-adventure books when you were a kid and wanted to know what it would be like to have one that was horror based, but even more terrifying as we can’t just flip back to the last option to help the main character carefully navigate through… then this will be a hit for you!

I got totally sucked in and couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next! I cannot recommend this one highly enough!

Shades of the Black Stone by Wile E. Young is a tale of ghosts, bloodshed, and a small town that gets caught in the crosshairs.

When a large black monument that appears to be made from stone suddenly appears in this small tourist town, emotions begin to rise. Some are excited, some are afraid, and some are angry… but everyone is curious. How couldn’t they see it’s arrival? Did the town commission this? Was it aliens?! No one can explain it.

Not long after the monument appears, strange things begin to happen in the town. At first, people see things that they can’t explain… But when these visions begin to end in bloodshed, they realize that they’re up against something they never could have imagined.

The storyline jumps between scenes featuring various characters so readers can see how each handle the situations they find themselves in while under the shadow of the black stone. Some make it out alive, but some don’t.

Can they fight back before everyone in town falls?

This tale is wonderfully fast paced from the moment the monument arrives right through the end! I was so nervous for each of these characters, and while many had their flaws, I loved to see their journeys develop over a short period of time.

While dark and haunting, I had so much fun with this story! Many of the scenes played out like a slasher film in my mind while reading, so of course, I can’t help but hope for a brutal adaptation one day! A mini-series would be amazing!

It was like the air itself took on the quality of a long winter night, frigid and unmoving, a silence that had no business occupying the summer air filling the gap.

Turning tail, Buck ran, his breath coming quick as the carpet slid under him in his haste to flee. He barely had time to grunt in alarm before he went ass over end, crashing into a display of chairs. His nose bouncing off them, Buck felt something crack, and everything doubled in his blurred sight. Wood crunched behind him and his vision came back as his insides clenched.

Quite frankly, as soon as he was able, he

was going to leave town. He was just a bartender; nothing was tying him to this town other than the fact he had grown up in it, but that didn’t mean he had the intention of dying for it.

“Life throws you curveballs all the time; it’s up to you whether you’re going to be tough enough to hit them.”

I got so caught up in this tale! Every step of the way, I was hoping things wouldn’t get worse, but they did time and time again.

Just like the Black Stone itself, this plot will put a hold over readers, drawing them deeper and deeper into the terror.

This author is so darn talented with creating plots that will totally suck you in! Go pick up a copy today!

The Razorblades in my Head by Donnie Goodman is a collection of horror short stories that you need rattling around in your brain immediately! Ho-ly the nightmares these tales gave me. Bravo, Donnie!

This collection is SO MUCH FUN! Each story is so creative and just a blast from start to finish. There’s so much terror, heartbreak, and blood!

This isn’t a collection you want to read through too fast. Take your time to let each story really sink in!

Or… if you just can’t help yourself, cruise through, and then start over right away! 

Major shout out to Donnie for including the content warning at the beginning on the copyright page. I love to see this! I also really enjoyed the author notes at the back of the book. Learning more about each tale and how they came to be is always so interesting!

This is another collection that is just impossible to choose a few favorites. They were all 5-star tales!

Here are my thoughts on each –

Dreading a new acne outbreak, this character tries to avoid picking at a sore. But as it grows rapidly, he can’t help it. He picks and he’s shocked to find that it’s a razor blade. 

What a tale of horrific body horror with a nice splash of revenge! 

Written as a stream of consciousness from a third grader, this tale is so innocent, but so shocking! 

When I got to a certain point in this story, I paused and did a slow blink, thinking, “what did I just read?!” I should have been able to see that coming with the foreshadowing! 

When awoken from a nightmare to a slew of strange texts, the night just gets more and more strange as it goes on. 

What a sad baseline theme; my heart hurt for this woman. She had already been through a horrific situation, and now she was put in another. 

This year, the turkeys won’t be led to slaughter so easily.

What a fun and gory tale! 

When three teenage boys who secretly get up to no good in their community set their next game plan, all of the snowmen that had just been built after the storm don’t stand a chance. That is, until they do.

I’m obsessed with winter horror! This one took some fun teen angst and added in plenty of terror! 

Sent on a mission, this girl can’t help but keep wondering why. But soon enough, she will learn she should have been asking a different question.

This one got me. The horror of a baby being stolen, the horror of what sounds like a cult, and the horror of that ending! Phew! 

Promising the biggest fight they’ve ever had, this fighter is brought in for one more fight before he’s off to his next adventure. Though he knows something is very wrong, he’s pulled into the fight anyway and nothing will be the same after the sound of the bell.

This was such a fun plot! The scene in the windstream really spooked me! Total nightmare fuel right there. And that ending!! So good!

A short tale with a plot that will leave you with a wicked uneasy feeling! My goodness the line about walking on packing peanuts made my teeth ache! I hate styrofoam! And the title… couldn’t have picked a better title for this one. Amazing all around!

When a man begins working at a crematorium, he soon learns about the second job the owner has. Interested rather than afraid, he learns more and helps out. But when the business is handed over to him, he lets his guard down just once. 

My goodness. I’ve never been so glad to NOT have any teddy bears in our house as I am after reading this. 

A very clever and brutal heist results in smiles all around for this crew. 

Phew, what an action packed one! I was at the edge of my seat with this read! I couldn’t wait to see what was coming next. 

Set on a sacrifice, this group begins, but before the deed can be done, they get distracted. 

This one had me chuckling! 

Two men head out on a crabbing trip to either catch enough or come back lacking and face the consequences. But on the trip, a strange storm rolls in, and they soon have much more to fear than the man they owe money.

This one was so unsettling! I love horror set on the ocean, and this one really brought the terror in many different ways!

Denial is a hell of a tool and mine is wicked sharp.

I hadn’t run from much in my life and didn’t plan on starting anytime soon, so I talked the old man into learning me his second trade, one where I’d be helping rid the world of evil things. 

Horror fans, if this one isn’t on your physical or digital shelf, go change that ASAP. You’re going to love this!

H is for Hell is an anthology edited by P.J. Blakey-Novis that contains nightmare after nightmare! Buckle up before taking a trip to these hellscapes!

Phew, the terrors this anthology cooks up is intense!

My favorites from the collection include:

Here are my quick thoughts on each tale –

When someone comes to claim revenge for their lady after she goes missing, this evil man faces revenge in more ways than one!

What an unsettling tale to kick things off with!

When a man goes to Hell, he stays calm and tries to work out a bargain with the devil. But will he be able to follow through?

This was so much fun! The hellscape was terrifying, but I loved seeing what one character was up to!

While on a trip, this family’s car breaks down. Of course, they have to go search for a gas station, but on the way, they’re attacked.

This story had me so nervous for the family… and what an ending! 

A man stuck in an institution struggles to get through the monotonous days, trying to remember why he is there. 

I loved how this one truly seemed like it was straight out of a nightmare. 

Trying to learn to leave her body and ascend to another realm, she’s warned against trying to do so alone. But she doesn’t listen. 

This one was some serious body horror! I was equally frustrated by and heartbroken for this girl. 

When sent to set up a computer classroom and then teach, this professor is immediately haunted by the legend of the school. But the darkness is even closer than he thought. 

This one was so eerie! It felt very dark immediately. Such a great gothic horror! 

Waking up in the hospital, this woman struggles to remember herself. When she heals from her injuries quickly, the staff learns something new. 

While the getting ill scene set off my sympathetic puking (woof), I loved how dedicate and kind the nurse was. 

Determined to bring his wife back, this man goes on a quest to save her. But in the end, can either of them be saved?

This one was so heartbreaking and terrifying. And that ending! The ending makes me question everything. Was this the man’s loop he was stuck in or did things really play out as they did in the end because he tried to fix things?

When a man trying to get away winds up on a long road that somehow leads him to a carnival, he’s in for a rude awakening when he realizes what is going on. 

A carnival in hell? Yes please. I would happily take a whole book about different people that end up here. 

Forced into a role she had no interest in, this girl learns some harsh truths and has to choose how she will react. 

At first, with her “my father will hear about this” attitude, I was irked. But later, I was in awe of this girls bravery. 

Entering tunnels below the Loch, this man is set on revenge. But with his goal, he realizes he has a bigger fear than the creature he’s hunting. 

Phew. This one will get peoples’ blood boiling! There’s nothing worse than a horrible boss. 

When a woman with a certain knack crosses paths with someone that has a big offer for her, she has to decide if she will take it. 

This tale was so fun! I loved the plot and the horror mixed with humor. Give me a statue of Copperhead! She’s certainly someone I could look up to like a saint. She absolutely rules!

Phew! This was a beautiful story of overcoming grief and healing wrapped up in a tale of terror. What a great one to end the collection with! 

My favorite passage comes from the story, Copperhead by Mo Donovan:

If you’re looking for an anthology to get totally immersed in, but one that is sure to give you nightmares of your own personal hell… then this is a book for you!

I had a blast reading through these stories though I couldn’t imagine being in any of these situations…

Diet Riot: A Fatterpunk Anthology edited by Nico Bell and Sonora Taylor is a collection of fat-positive horror tales that serves up the freshest horrors without cutting anyone down. Well, at least not in regard to appearance. With their lives? That’s another story…

This collection includes life-threatening elements that range from zombies and curses, to a bizarre cosmic terror, and more! But this book goes much deeper than the horror. This is a huge step in the right direction on the path of how address we all talk about the bodies of ourselves and others not just on the page, but in everyday life!

Let’s dive in!

These tales, while right up my alley with their horror themes, also made me tear up time and time again as I wanted to cheer for the writing. It was so nice to see bodies described like they were here.

I’ve been trying for hours to put my exact feelings into words, and I just can’t find the right ones… So I will just leave these notes here:

I’m so grateful that I have this book now.

Everyone has stories about people negatively commenting on their body. And as the body keeps the score, none of those experiences ever really go away. The only thing we can do, is process them the best way we can.

I absolutely loved each and every tale in this anthology! They all brought something so unique to the table!

My favorite stories include:

Now, let’s get to my thoughts about each story-

When a girl sick of being judged for her weight calls upon a demon, the being that arrives teaches her how to see herself without a shadow of hatred. 

This tale was wonderfully heartwarming overall, but it still had a lovely dash of horror! 

“If you got the power to alter your body however you wanted, I’d want you to wish for gills or wings or something fun, not anything about weight.”

When sent to a camp to lose weight, the girls are put through grueling workouts. As the girls start dropping like flies, the main character starts to worry that something else is going on.

This one will get your blood boiling! Not only the fact that places like this existed, but that there are still TV shows that make losing weight a contest. These poor girls! The end was so chilling! 

When two women literally collide in a park, they’re immediately drawn to one another. They quickly move in together, with a slew of cats. One of them has a room that she doesn’t want the other to ever go in. But of course, she goes into the room and things take a turn.

I absolutely loved the pacing of this one! It starts out so lovely but based on the opening paragraph, you know it’s going to turn dark soon enough.

Scrambling to get boxes out of a basement and to dryer ground when things start flooding, the tension quickly bubbles over and truths come out. But the truth bombs aren’t the only dangers lurking in the watery basement. 

I felt so bad for the main character! I wanted to give her a hug so badly. After what she was told, I wanted to cheer for the decision she made moments later. 

This one jumps into a heartbreaking real world horror in the beginning as the main character volunteers at a hospital. But then things take a darker turn…

When uprooted to go live with her aunt and uncle, this teenager is surprised to learn about a couple in school that seems to have everyone drawn to them. One thing leads to another, and this couple brings her to share in their magic.

This tale certainly makes readers question what they would do in this main characters shoes!

When a babysitter arrives at a home, she is told the child is already asleep. But when a child appears and tells her to leave, she tries to get him to go back to bed. But then things go sideways.

This one was SO spooky! I’m obsessed with the ending! 

The figures of a man and a woman appeared on the other side of the closet. Chloe’s heart was pounding now; she hoped they could not hear it. She held her breath for ten seconds at a time, trying not to make any noise at all.

Working to clean the tracks in the tube, this crew discovers something that they bring to management. But will it be looked into before it’s too late? 

This was so unsettling! This one is screaming for an adaptation on Creep Show or something! My goodness. 

“Sometimes everything about the job was unsettling. From the commuters pouring out of the last train like steam to evaporate into the night, to the clatter and echo deep within the tunnels even after the journeys were done for the night and the power had been switched off.”

This thief has one rule, get in and get out. But when her curiosity gets the best of her, she finds herself stuck in quite the dangerous situation!

This one was so much fun! I loved how determined she was, and even though she didn’t listen to her gut at first, she certainly did later on! 

“There comes a time in your life where you have to choose between standing and fighting or running away like a coward. Well, heroism might immortalize you as a legend, but cowards live longer. I ran.” 

When two teens shopping at a local mall stumble across a strange pendant, one thinks it’s creepy, but one is drawn to it. The shop owner tells them a tale and the girl that was interested leaves the shop with it. But once she puts it on, things get dangerous. 

I loved the friendship in this one so much! And oh boy, once things start getting weird, it gets darker and darker by the page!

When a night of celebrating leads two teams of roller derby girls to a cemetery to watch a meteor shower, the celebration quickly turns to a fight for their lives as the meteors start striking the ground around them. 

This one was so intense! The character development here was so perfect and the plot was terrifying! A wonderful play on the childhood game!

Brought in to be on a bake off, these contestants are shocked to learn what the show actually is.

MY GOODNESS. Sonora brings the terror here in such a wonderful way. Please try not to read any spoilers about this one. You need to go into it dark! I’m obsessed with this tale. From start to finish, I was totally hooked and love the arc that the storyline took. I need a limited tv series created around this ASAP.

This was such a refreshing collection. I hope any author that needs to do work with body positivity takes note and gives this one a read immediately.

Thank you, thank you, to Sonora and Nico for organizing this, and thank you to all of the authors that took part and got your amazing stories out into the world.

Diet Riot: A Fatterpunk Anthology is a must read for all!

Parachute by Holly Rae Garcia is a fast-paced tale of teenage curiosity, terror, and the old gym-class favorite, the parachute, that will have you gripping your book, afraid to let go of the edges as if you had a piece of the fabric in hand.

When a group of teens head a school that was left abandoned after it was flooded, they plan to spend the evening chilling on the roof. But as they get to talking, they reminisce about the only thing better than when a teacher rolls out the tv stand; the parachute.

Determined to see if there was a parachute left behind, they break into the school. Shocked to have actually found one in great shape, they try it out immediately. They’re expecting to go under and see each other’s grinning faces, but something else happens.

Even though the parachute can only be twenty feet across, they suddenly couldn’t see one another. When they come back out, they chalk it up to a bad trip. Maybe something was mixed in to the weed.

Tempted too much with their teenage curiosity, they can’t help but go back under the parachute. But they should have left it in the box…

This tale starts out like any ordinary night. Just a group of teens looking for something to do. But then a little harmless breaking and entering turns into a horrific nightmare. Once the terror kicks in, it’s a full on sprint to the end!

I loved that each situation they found themselves in was so different, but also terrifying in its own right. I felt so bad for these kids, and I was so anxious to see what was going to happen next. The author serves up shock after shock here!

Angela’s gray 1984 Mercury Cougar limped down the highway like a dying elephant. She used to refer to it as “The Boat,” but her best friend Valerie Linscomb had once called it “The Silver Bullet” as a joke and the name stuck. It wasn’t pretty, but it got her from point A to point B and that was really all she needed. Well, she could do without the air conditioner that leaked ice-cold water on her feet every time she took a sharp left turn.

Val tripped but managed to hold onto the fabric. Laughing, she was the last to sit on her piece of the parachute, making her also the last to see what happened.

“We have to be dreaming. Otherwise, what the fuck is going on? This shit doesn’t happen in real life. We don’t live in a goddamn Wes Craven movie,” said Jason, shaking his head and standing up.

Whether you were a fan or dreaded the day the parachute came out in gym class as a kid, this tale is sure to chill you!

I highly recommend this one to fans of horror novellas that will leave you with a deep sense of unease.

 

Home & Other Stories by P.J. Blakey-Novis is a collection of chilling short stories that will make readers question if they are truly safe in their own homes. After all, who knows what the previous owners were up to…

These short stories were all incredible.

I actually had to stand up from my chair and go do something after reading each one as the imagery and plot of each tale really dug it’s claws into me! PHEW.

Per usual, here are my notes on each story:

Obsessed with things like earthquakes since childhood, when presented with a sudden gift of money, this man travels under the guise of volunteer work in order to experience a quake for himself. While there, a large one hits, and he can’t help himself but to go explore the crack in the earth that was created. 

Ugh, my gosh this one had me so claustrophobic! What happens next was even more terrifying!

Cemetery of the Living –

This man has a cemetery growing in his backyard. Only one of the many issues? The people aren’t yet dead when he buried them. 

This man is absolutely unhinged! 

Deep Breaths –

Killing four people following a trend of water, air, earth, and fire, we see this character kill his first two victims. 

This one was brutal! Content Warning for animal abuse that, of course, turns into killing people. 

Shielded –

When a freak weather occurrence leaves a caravan park in shambles, the one person unaffected was a little boy, who sat right in the middle of it all. Determined to save his mom, the boy has to make a tough choice. 

This one was heartbreaking! This poor kid. 

The Flames of Hell Are Coming –

After discovering some items in the attic that we’re left behind by previous owners, something comes over one of the twins, sending this family into a living nightmare.

Another heartbreaking one! This poor family. 

Burt’s Rage –

Burt is one that you certainly do NOT want to make angry! If you do, there will be fiery consequences! 

This one was intense! I struggle with internal rage and my goodness… if I was like this man, it would be bad.

Home –

When a girl is warned away from a well, she can’t help but be drawn to it. Determined to find out how deep it is, she comes up with a plan. But later, something comes out of the well.

This one was so heartbreaking! These poor little girls. 

While on a trip, a local offers to bring this couple to a waterfall at night. But once there, they realize they’re stuck! But there’s something lurking in the water that they don’t know about yet.

This one was so creepy! There were so many red flags! But that ending. Phew! 

There’s an amazing range in this collection! Many will leave you chilled to the bone as you look at your living space with a fresh set of very paranoid eyes.

I cannot recommend this one highly enough to fans of horror! There’s something here for everyone!

Four by P.J. Blakey-Novis is a novella broken out by the four stories that a group of friends tell around the campfire. Each tale has an element of truth, but do any of these stories have more truth than they think?

CW: Brief mentions of sexual assault and rape.

When a group of friends, that are admittedly, not that close, decide to go on an overnight trip, things start off a bit rocky. But once in nature, they all start loosening up a bit.

When the camp is made and the sun sets, the friends all take turns telling campfire stories. In each tale, the friends start out on their camping trip before things take a turn. As each friend tells their story, we get a slasher, an alien encounter, a ghost story, and a gory tale of revenge. But then things become a little too real…

As I absolutely loved the format here, I have some notes on each section that I have added below –

Part One: The Four
After reading just the first paragraph, I was already so glad that I didn’t have any camping plans coming up any time soon! I mean, how ominous is this section:

“Yes, camping, like any other getaway, provides an escape from daily life. But it also provides an escape from the safety of daily life. The protection of one’s house or flat is now gone. You are exposed, not just to the elements, but also to whatever creatures may be lurking nearby. Not to mention the most dangerous monsters of all – other people.“

This was a great set up! I was immediately nervous to see what would happen next in each of their stories. 

Part Two: Steven’s Story –
Steven tells a slasher-like tale where the friends end up running for their lives.

This one spooked me! It was terrifying and gory! This was a great first tale to set off the theme of the night for the friend group.

Part Three: Daniel’s Story –
Daniel is hesitant and asks for a theme to get him going. When an alien story is recommended, he takes a minute to think, then he begins a wild tale of something falling from the sky that the group can’t help but investigate. 

This one took an intense turn! Phew!

Part Four: Noah’s Story –
Diving right in to a ghost story, while these friends are on a hike near the sea, they see a storm blowing in. Rather than risking the tents, they sleep in a structure that was built into the ground. But when they wake up, everything has changed. 

This one was so eerie! I loved guessing at what was going on, but having no idea until it was all laid out. 

Part Five: Martha’s Story –
Promising more gore, Martha tells a tale that certainly keeps that promise!

This one starts building the dread slowly and then it just keeps piling on until the weight of the dread snaps and the tale takes a huge turn.

Part Six: Time To Leave –
Faced with a tricky decision, what will happen when they walk out of the woods?

PHEW, what an explosive ending!

What could be more enjoyable than eating meat from a portable grill, with a choice of cremated or dangerously pink in the middle?

Yes, camping, like any other getaway, provides an escape from daily life. But it also provides an escape from the safety of daily life. The protection of one’s house or flat is now gone. You are exposed, not just to the elements, but also to whatever creatures may be lurking nearby. Not to mention the most dangerous monsters of all – other people.

It was so easy that it made me realise just how much we trust people not to do us any harm, every day.

My goodness. This novella doesn’t just pack a punch of horror; it has a quick combination of a jab, a cross, and a hook, before finishing with an uppercut!

Once I started reading this tale, I didn’t look up from the pages until I hit the final sentence.

DO NOT READ THIS ONE WHILE CAMPING! There are so many fears here all bundled into one. If I ever go on a camping trip again, I will certainly be side-eyeing everyone constantly and I will not ask everyone to share their scary stories.

Horror fans, go pick up a copy of this one today!

Ten Years Gone by H.P. Newquist is a tense crime horror novel centered around a decade of murders. But what’s more terrifying than the Death Day and the murders themselves, is the detail that the police are keeping from the public…

CW: Dog torture and death, brief fatphobia.

Another year, and another body of a girl has been found hanging in a tree in Kerrville, Pennsylvania. The police are beyond ready for this decade of killings to end when they hit the tenth murder in ten years, but they also dread the loss of another teenager.  

The next year, Year Ten, two producers, Daria Pegler and Neenah Bernberg, that work at Crime Scene Now research to come up with a new series stumble upon the case. They quickly make a plan to meet with the lead investigator, Roland Mattocks, and head to Kerrville.

After convincing Mattocks to work with them, they later have to go back on their word, which destroys their relationship with a few of the locals. Even so, they press forward, not caring who in the town they offend with their presence.

Meanwhile, Mattocks isn’t going to let this case go. He was there from Day One, and he will see it through getting the monster behind bars.

This storyline hooked me in immediately! I was so unsettled with the thought of one teenage girl being killed each year like clockwork, while the town was helpless to do anything. Sure, they could try to keep their teens inside on Death Night, but we all know that you can’t get all teens to listen.

The small town the author created here felt very real. I loved seeing the relationships between the towns people and how they reacted to this film crew coming in. I also loved that one of the characters specifically, Bev, didn’t hesitate to give the big city folk sass after they talked down to her.

I was rooting for Mattocks and Bev from the start, and even though I typically love documentaries, I was rooting for this one to fail. The people running it were all just so nasty!

He shrugged. “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.”

I read this in one sitting. I just could not tear myself away from this tense tale, hoping they would find the killer before they claimed their tenth victim.

I recommend this one to fans of tense crime horror that don’t mind dipping their toes into some blood-boiling situations.