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Cold River
The lucky number thirteenth entry in Cemetery Dance's novella series — a brand new novella written exclusively for the series by Rick Hautala!
After the death of his wife, Ben Skillings is a man on the edge. Haunted by grief and unable to sleep, he spends most of his nights sitting on a park bench on the river's edge. But there are things that happen late at night in the town of Northbrook, Maine... Things that come out of the river after dark... Things that no living person should see. And when Ben sees them — even if he can't be sure whether or not they're real — they're certainly real enough to come after him. They're real enough to want to make him become one of them and join them as they prowl the night.
After the death of his wife, Ben Skillings is a man on the edge. Haunted by grief and unable to sleep, he spends most of his nights sitting on a park bench on the river's edge. But there are things that happen late at night in the town of Northbrook, Maine... Things that come out of the river after dark... Things that no living person should see. And when Ben sees them — even if he can't be sure whether or not they're real — they're certainly real enough to come after him. They're real enough to want to make him become one of them and join them as they prowl the night.
- GenresHorror
107 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2003
42 people want to read
About the author
Rick Hautala
137 books125 followersAKA A.J. Matthews
Rick Hautala has more than thirty published books to his credit, including the million copy, international best-seller Nightstone, as well as Twilight Time, Little Brothers, Cold Whisper, Impulse, and The Wildman. He has also published four novels—The White Room, Looking Glass, Unbroken, and Follow—using the pseudonym A. J. Matthews. His more than sixty published short stories have appeared in national and international anthologies and magazines. His short story collection Bedbugs was selected as one of the best horror books of the year in 2003.
A novella titled Reunion was published by PS Publications in December, 2009; and Occasional Demons, a short story collection, is due in 2010 from CD Publications. He wrote the screenplays for several short films, including the multiple award-winning The Ugly Film, based on the short story by Ed Gorman, as well as Peekers, based on a short story by Kealan Patrick Burke, and Dead @ 17, based on the graphic novel by Josh Howard.
A graduate of the University of Maine in Orono with a Master of Art in English Literature (Renaissance and Medieval Literature), Hautala lives in southern Maine with author Holly Newstein. His three sons have all grown up and (mostly) moved out of the house. He served terms as Vice President and Trustee for the Horror Writers Association.
Sadly, Rick died on March 21, 2013.
Rick Hautala has more than thirty published books to his credit, including the million copy, international best-seller Nightstone, as well as Twilight Time, Little Brothers, Cold Whisper, Impulse, and The Wildman. He has also published four novels—The White Room, Looking Glass, Unbroken, and Follow—using the pseudonym A. J. Matthews. His more than sixty published short stories have appeared in national and international anthologies and magazines. His short story collection Bedbugs was selected as one of the best horror books of the year in 2003.
A novella titled Reunion was published by PS Publications in December, 2009; and Occasional Demons, a short story collection, is due in 2010 from CD Publications. He wrote the screenplays for several short films, including the multiple award-winning The Ugly Film, based on the short story by Ed Gorman, as well as Peekers, based on a short story by Kealan Patrick Burke, and Dead @ 17, based on the graphic novel by Josh Howard.
A graduate of the University of Maine in Orono with a Master of Art in English Literature (Renaissance and Medieval Literature), Hautala lives in southern Maine with author Holly Newstein. His three sons have all grown up and (mostly) moved out of the house. He served terms as Vice President and Trustee for the Horror Writers Association.
Sadly, Rick died on March 21, 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 19, 2016
Quite possibly my favorite thing of his I've read.
July 4, 2015
Great creation of atmosphere. Was it all a dream or did it really happen? Rick creates a heart broken and draws his character into a mist of confusion, with question of what is real. The suspense build to a denouement that will leave you thinking wow A great tale that can be read in one sitting
March 26, 2023
Ben hadn't slept since his wife died 3 months ago. He would sit on a bench by the river and sense something near him, when he walked it would move, when he stopped it would stop. He was feeling he was having a mental breakdown. A deep scary paranoia was engulfing him. Thinking of a bunch of leaves as a human like creature that wanted him. He saw creatures coming out of the river, fish smelling, lingering, leaving back oily slicks on the pavement. He will feel himself at the bottom of the river with creatures grabbing on to him. Eerie, melancholic, atmospheric setting. Signed copy 253/750.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews