The Grief Frequency

by Kealan Patrick Burke

After losing his wife in a car accident, a husband struggles with survivor's guilt. But in the dark, he realizes that the dead are never very far away. Not when there are secrets yet to be uncovered. Because Paul hasn't lost everything. Not yet. And as he struggles to separate dreams from reality, he is forced to answer the ultimate question: How far would you go to get back those you've lost?

Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Short Stories, Novella, Fiction, Ghosts

30 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 24, 2011

About the author

Hailed by Booklist as “one of the most clever and original talents in contemporary horror,” Kealan Patrick Burke was born and raised in Ireland and emigrated to the United States a few weeks before 9/11.

Since then, he has written six novels, among them the popular southern gothic Kin, and over two hundred short stories and novellas, many of which are in various stages of development for film/TV.

In 2005, Burke won the Bram Stoker Award for his coming-of-age novella The Turtle Boy, the first book in the acclaimed Timmy Quinn series.

As editor, he helmed the anthologies Night Visions 12, Taverns of the Dead, and Quietly Now, a tribute anthology to one of Burke’s influences, the late Charles L. Grant.

More recently, he wrote the screenplays for Sour Candy (based on his novella), and the remake of the iconic horror film The Changeling (1980), for the original film's producer, Joel B. Michaels.

He also adapted Sour Candy as a graphic novel for John Carpenter's Night Terrors.

His most recent release is Cottonmouth, a prequel to Kin. The Widows of Winding Gale, a maritime horror novel set in Ireland, is due for release in October as a signed limited edition from Earthling Publications.

Kealan is represented by Valarie Phillips at Verve Talent & Literary Agency.

He lives in Ohio with a Scooby Doo lookalike rescue named Red.

Reviews

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant little story from KPB. I hesitate to call this horror so much as it is paranormal, but I think it could easily appeal to fans of both, so for all intents and purposes, etc. This story blends Kealan's particular brand of creepiness and sorrow that I've come to love so much, packing an incredibly well-rounded story into just a few pages and culminating in what I thought was a bittersweet but ultimately very satisfying ending.

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Kindle short story was free. Thank you, Mr. Burke!
This short is a poignant one. I could feel the pain of the protagonist who lost his wife in a gruesome car accident. That wasn't all he lost. But what can he do to make things right again? Read it and find out.
This author is a master at making you feel whatever he wants you to feel. In this story, he shows off that talent yet again.
Highly recommended!

[Kenneth McKinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guilt. It can eat you from the inside out until you're hollow inside. Paul learns first-hand the power guilt can have over you when he convinces his wife that they should attempt to drive home instead of waiting for a storm to pass. As luck would have it, Paul loses control and his wife is killed in the accident. What ensues is wave after wave of immense grief that is escalated over the breaking point by his father-in-law, who piles it on by blaming Paul for killing his daughter.

Burke really creates a dark and morbid atmosphere here. I can't imagine what this poor guy had to be going through, but Burke does a great job at putting the reader in his shoes. His descriptive ability and vocabulary in Grief Frequency is indeed impressive. I've always thought Burke could be an upper echelon writer. The problem I've had with some of his other efforts has been the suspension of disbelief. I simply had a hard time buying what his characters were doing. In Grief Frequency, he puts it all together and it packs an impressive punch to the midsection.

4 1/2 mangled guard rails out of 5


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https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com

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[Frank Errington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novelette from one of the finest writers working in the Horror genre today. Kealan Patrick Burke's work includes Currency of Souls (which I loved) and more recently, Kin, which is on my "to be read" list, as well as the Bram Stoker award winning novella The Turtle Boy.

The Grief Frequency is about the aftermath of a terrible automobile accident where Paul's wife Caitlin is killed. Paul is deeply distraught and, to make it worse, his Father-in-law, Bill, blames him for the accident.

In a way, Paul is haunted by his wife and all this pressure causes him to take actions that lead to terrible consequences.

What makes this such a great story is the telling of the tale. Burke deftly takes us into the grieving mind of a man who loved his wife with his whole being and we get to see what happens as he slowly unravels when he learns more about her condition.

Well crafted, with a perfect ending, this is an excellent way to introduce someone to the work of a wonderful author. It's currently available for free from a number of sources.

[Tressa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Burke's literary style of writing. This is a wonderful short story about guilt and grief in a marriage and over a death. The car accident is especially well written and detailed and it felt like I was in the car with them. I didn't find the husband that likable, and I'm not sure I was supposed to. This fact only made the in-laws' struggle for understanding and forgiveness all that more real and admirable.

[David Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Suppose you were to lose the love of your life in an horrendous accident, it's difficult even to imagine how one would cope. This is what happens to Paul, the protagonist in Kealan Patrick Burke's The Grief Frequency. However, amid the self-loathing and guilt over his wife's untimely death, and the scathing bitterness of in-laws who hold him personally responsible for the loss of their daughter, Paul learns something that may be the final straw leading to a breakdown (if, indeed, he is actually experiencing a mental collapse?).
Paul finds out that, even if his wife hadn't died, their lives were about to take a major turn.

Contrary to what you may think when viewing the cover - and given Kealan Burke's successes within the genre - The Grief Frequency isn't a horror story (at least not in any recognized sense). However, it is a very good tale of one man struggling to cope following the loss of a partner who gave meaning to his life. KPB's prose fully succeeds in capturing the pain of Paul's plight, and the pacing of the story is spot on throughout.
Is The Grief Frequency a real phenomenon? Well, possibly, but either way, it is a superb title.

[Roxie Voorhees · Rating 5 out of 5]

2020: The Grief Frequency

Short and not so sweet, The Grief Frequency tore what is left of my cold black heart right out my chest.  Our main character is forced to live through the hardest days of his life.  Its beautifully haunting and a light sigh of gratitude escaped when it was over. 

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this short story immediately after Sour Candy. A tough one to measure up to as far a creeps go.

I guess this wasn't really meant to be horror, but more of a dark look at grief.
It was pretty good.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hauntingly poignant, Kealan Patrick Burke writes about love and loss, and what haunts those who are left behind. Finely crafted short story, from one of the sharpest talents in modern horror today.

[Stephen Cordingley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought The Grief Frequency based on it being by Kealan Patrick Burke, and given the cover I expected a tale of ghostly unease. But this is not that book. However, what it is is a very solid story about the feelings of guilt and loneliness that accompany the losing of a loved one. In Paul's case, the trauma of losing his wife is further intensified by the manner of her death, and the disdain in which he is now held by her parents. The final straw comes when Paul learns a new truth about his lost relationship, and it is something that could well break him.
This was a good short story.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another great story by Kealan. His writing never disappoints.

[Adam Light · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had only recently become aware of Burke while browsing short stories on my Kindle Fire. I downloaded this due to the great reviews all of his work seems to garner.

I was not disappointed. This was an emotional story, perfectly paced. I could feel the grief the main character was experiencing, and found that the choices he made were very realistic in the face of his tragedy.

This was not a horror story, which is what I was looking for, but I have to say I don't mind that at all. I am eager to read his other stories.

Excellent story.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gahhh, I love this author. This was tragic, beautiful, heartfelt, and deeply emotional. This is how a short story should be and then some. After so many meh stories I've read, something as simple but meaningful as this made me happy. I loved too that after the brutal violence of Kin which was amazeballs I read something by him that could be just as special.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Grief Frequency is an amazing short story. It's a story that will chill you to the bone without the need of blood, gore, and monsters. This story plays on the fear of loss and guilt, and will send your emotions reeling.

Paul loses his wife in an auto accident in which he was the driver. As if dealing with the loss of his wife isn't enough, her father hates him for it. With guilt and grief eating away at him, he begins to have hallucinations and drowns his sorrows with alcohol. Her father, Bill, drops a bomb on Paul about a secret that his wife had been keeping from him. This drives Paul over the edge.

Like I said before, this was a great short story. Even if you don't normally read horror, you can/will enjoy this story. The Grief Frequency can be downloaded on Kindle for FREE right now! Please don't miss reading this great story.

[John Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite writers. If you haven't read KPB yet, give it a shot.

[11811 (Eleven) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another achingly beautiful story from KPB.

[Gef · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Jason Parent · Rating 4 out of 5]

More moving than terrifying from my perspective, but solid writing and another great tale from Mr. Burke. Explores grief and loss and how the mind adapts to it.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a tale of grief and guilt, Kealan really makes you feel those emotions with his skillful writing that transports you right into the narrative. The horror is subtle but there is still raw pain throughout the book, and as a husband and father I felt actual dread as I read through this fantastic book.

[Mia DeMeo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooof this was SO DARK!
Very reminiscent of the authors novella “blankey”
Loved the ending as well 👻

[Joe Hempel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review courtesy of horrornovelreviews(dot)com



I admit that I'm only familiar with the fantastic Turtle Boy series by Kealan Patrick Burke. I enjoyed those quite a bit, so when I saw that this short story was free, I was quick to grab it and read it in between my other novel reads. I wasn't sorry I did.

The Grief Frequency revolves around Paul, and a horrific car accident that took the life of his beloved wife in a very graphic manner. There is a very intimate look inside Paul's mind as he deals with life without her.

He is haunted by her ghost, real or imagined. He hears and see children crying, or he wakes up with children in his arms and sees his dead wife nearby, reliving conversations from the past.

A meeting with his father-in-law, and news he receives from him sends him over the edge, and it's heartbreaking to see his downward spiral from there.

While only 30 pages in length, Kealan proves why he is a master story tell as his characters reach inside your chest and grab a hold of your heart.

As horrific and haunting as it is beautiful, the conclusion to this terrifying fiction may just bring you to tears.

An easy 5 out of 5 stars from me. I won't be forgetting this for a long time to come.

[Julianne Snow · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Inside it was as I’d left it, hollow and draped in blue-black shadows like oil paintings of bruises. With more courage than I could claim in daylight or sobriety, I peeked over the back of the sofa and found no one there.”

The Grief Frequency by Kealan Patrick Burke is a gripping story of pain, regret, and deliverance. From the first word to the last, I was enthralled. To give you a glimpse into the context of the story, here is the synopsis from Amazon -

After losing his wife in a car accident, a husband struggles with survivor's guilt. But in the dark, he realizes that the dead are never very far away. Not when there are secrets yet to be uncovered. Because Paul hasn't lost everything. Not yet. And as he struggles to separate dreams from reality, he is forced to answer the ultimate question: How far would you go to get back those you've lost?

To read the rest of my review, please visit http://theflipsideofjulianne.wordpres...

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Grief Frequency is a short story by Kealan Patrick Burke, and in all honesty, it’s the saddest thing I have ever read by him. He normally does brutal, in your face horror, but this was definitely a lot different.

The story is about a man named Paul. Paul was in a car accident with his wife and father-in-law. Two of them survived, one did not. Now Paul is haunted by the memories of what happened that night. Grief overtakes him, and when he learns of something he did not expect, the sadness and guilt he feels becomes overwhelming and he decides it’s time to end it all.

What happens is not quite what Paul wanted, but by the time the story ends, Paul seems happier than he has since the accident.

The ending made me feel even sadder, though. It was a really angsty and depressing short story. And if you have triggers, you may not want to read this. Just a warning.

Not a bad story, but I think I’ll stick to KPB’s horror novels now for awhile instead.

[Rachael Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read a Burke short story once before (Turtle Boy) I just couldn’t resist giving this one a whirl, and let me tell you - I wasn’t disappointed. Burke manages to paint an atmospheric picture and takes you on a sorrowful, dark journey with some very captivating prose along the way.

Now, the reason this story didn’t get a 5 star rating from me was because I wasn’t wholly certain of Paul’s motivation at the end (was his grief was too much to bear that he was giving up, or was he trying to recreate the events of the fatal night he lost his wife in an attempt to change the overall outcome?)

Either way, Burke’s descriptive flare and realistic dialogue make for a very pleasurable read. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - Burke is a name to watch for!

[Elusive · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The Grief Frequency’ is about Paul who struggles to move on after causing the death of his wife, Caitlin. The accident replays in his mind and soon he begins seeing visions of her and a child at home.

The tone of the story was deeply melancholic and Paul’s pain was conveyed very well indeed. His thoughts mirrored the way one who’s plagued by guilt and regret would think. His flashbacks to a few good and bad moments he shared with Caitlin were well-written too. The transition from one scene to another was seamless and everything that Paul experienced was realistic. The themes of self-blame and love were explored decently in this short story.

Overall, ‘The Grief Frequency’ is a meaningful, emotional story which is worth reading.

[Mike Limon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Grief Frequency by Kealan Patrick Burke is a short story where the main character Paul finds out first hand the true meaning of grief under terrible circumstances. His wife is killed when he tries to drive home through a storm much to her objection. It's bad enough that he is carrying this tremendous guilt, but he suffers from nightmares and haunting reminders from his father-in-law who pushes him over the edge in the tradition of The Twilight Zone. Soon Paul had trouble trying to figure out what is real, and what isn't. Burke allows the reader to feel the grief that Paul is experiencing in his writing. This page turner is a great read!

[???!!! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every sentence I read I'm more amazed by the ability the author has in pulling you into the vortex of the characters emotions, intensity of the story, and the complexity of the relationships btwn characters. If I really have to be picky I would say I wasn't really scared by the the book but more the pain by the character. Though it's a horror it didn't have the eerie ness that some other horror masters deployed in their book. Furthermore, though the introduction was remarkable somehow the ending was incomparable.

[Kristy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good short story read. Sad, emotional, and heartbreaking. And the idea of "the grief frequency" is unique...I really liked it. The ending scene was awesome: the whole "Paul took his first step" thing. Very nice way to wrap up the story.

[Krystl Louwagie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short, "Twilight Zone" type story. And maybe not that exceptional of one, but the writing was more imaginative than I'm used to. Very original and descriptive in odd ways, a bit poetic but not enough to be annoying. Fun little read.