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The Mound
Not yet published
Expected 16 Feb 33My name is Clint Blackwell.
I have only a few hours to live, and I figured I get my story out to you before I swing from the limb, so to speak.
They say I'm a cruel man. That what I told them wasn't the truth. They called me a madman among other titles. But they're the delusional ones. They're the unbelievers. They'll go their whole lives never believing what really emerged from the mound that night.
I have only a few hours to live, and I figured I get my story out to you before I swing from the limb, so to speak.
They say I'm a cruel man. That what I told them wasn't the truth. They called me a madman among other titles. But they're the delusional ones. They're the unbelievers. They'll go their whole lives never believing what really emerged from the mound that night.
53 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 16, 2023
17 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Brian G. Berry
56 books286 followersa.k.a Brian Berry
Brian G Berry is new to the world of writing. He writes everything from 1980s inspired horror, SCIFI/Action-horror, to the strange. His biggest influences are the writers of the weird including Lovecraft, Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, to the pulp horror authors of the golden age 70s/80s- and a splattering of others. Author of The Pail, A Bloody Christmas, Splatter Fiend Series, Slasherback Series, Campfire Tales Beneath a Pallid Moon, Accursed Ground, Blood Lanes, The Night Mutilator, Thanksgiving Day Massacre, and his newest: SNOW SHARK.
Brian G Berry is new to the world of writing. He writes everything from 1980s inspired horror, SCIFI/Action-horror, to the strange. His biggest influences are the writers of the weird including Lovecraft, Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, to the pulp horror authors of the golden age 70s/80s- and a splattering of others. Author of The Pail, A Bloody Christmas, Splatter Fiend Series, Slasherback Series, Campfire Tales Beneath a Pallid Moon, Accursed Ground, Blood Lanes, The Night Mutilator, Thanksgiving Day Massacre, and his newest: SNOW SHARK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 4, 2025
We've Arrived...
THE MOUND (Spatter Madness Book 1)
by Brian Berry
3 1/2 stars. Clint Blackwell sits on death row in the town of Jackson Springs, awaiting execution in just a couple of hours...
He's known as the Butcher of Jackson Springs. A child killer with many other colorful names...
He was never asked for his side of the story, so he's compelled to write it out now before he dies in the gas chamber...
He's been called an evil demon, but no one saw the real evil that rose from that mound...
Everyone who witnessed the plague going into town, infecting innocent children, are all dead except Clint...
The dead ones were altered as a result of the plague rising from mound...
It started...
On a warm September evening. Clint, a retiree, was sitting on his porch reading one of his dime store western paperbacks...
Jackson Springs had no violent crime...
It was a town of tinkling wind chimes, ice cream sold on the main street, and the aroma of bacon, coffee, and pancakes wafting from the diner...
As he finished the last chapter of his book, he felt a rumble from beneath his porch, and a tremor nearly knocked him off his chair...
Looking back...
It felt like an omen...
As the moon rose, he noticed a mound in the grassy field of the elementary school behind his backyard...
Under the moonlight, it looked like a newly turned grave mound in a cemetery...
Then...
Clint saw what he thought was a young boy standing stock still next to the mound...
But it wasn't a boy...
It was a dead thing with eyes the color of the moon and teeth that were black...
The boy-thing heard the mound say: We've arrived and we want to show you something...
The first half of this story was excellent. It was creepy with the finding of the mound in the moonlight.
The bloodbath dump during the second half felt rushed and uninspired with many questions unanswered by the end of the story.
The twist at the end was good, but not at all surprising. I would say the end seemed like the author had painted himself into a corner, and he was trying to find a way out to conclude the story.
The end of the story wasn't very inspired, but the first half was well worth the ride getting there.
THE MOUND (Spatter Madness Book 1)
by Brian Berry
3 1/2 stars. Clint Blackwell sits on death row in the town of Jackson Springs, awaiting execution in just a couple of hours...
He's known as the Butcher of Jackson Springs. A child killer with many other colorful names...
He was never asked for his side of the story, so he's compelled to write it out now before he dies in the gas chamber...
He's been called an evil demon, but no one saw the real evil that rose from that mound...
Everyone who witnessed the plague going into town, infecting innocent children, are all dead except Clint...
The dead ones were altered as a result of the plague rising from mound...
It started...
On a warm September evening. Clint, a retiree, was sitting on his porch reading one of his dime store western paperbacks...
Jackson Springs had no violent crime...
It was a town of tinkling wind chimes, ice cream sold on the main street, and the aroma of bacon, coffee, and pancakes wafting from the diner...
As he finished the last chapter of his book, he felt a rumble from beneath his porch, and a tremor nearly knocked him off his chair...
Looking back...
It felt like an omen...
As the moon rose, he noticed a mound in the grassy field of the elementary school behind his backyard...
Under the moonlight, it looked like a newly turned grave mound in a cemetery...
Then...
Clint saw what he thought was a young boy standing stock still next to the mound...
But it wasn't a boy...
It was a dead thing with eyes the color of the moon and teeth that were black...
The boy-thing heard the mound say: We've arrived and we want to show you something...
The first half of this story was excellent. It was creepy with the finding of the mound in the moonlight.
The bloodbath dump during the second half felt rushed and uninspired with many questions unanswered by the end of the story.
The twist at the end was good, but not at all surprising. I would say the end seemed like the author had painted himself into a corner, and he was trying to find a way out to conclude the story.
The end of the story wasn't very inspired, but the first half was well worth the ride getting there.
February 28, 2023
If I had had the dream that inspired this novella, I would have woken up both myself and my husband with a very loud scream. It's happened before, because of a book. And I NEVER get scared (so I liked to believe). This story is a nightmare come true. I am now avoiding anything resembling a mound. Of anything. Newp, newp, newp.
3.5 exploded brains.
3.5 exploded brains.
June 6, 2023
A short but hugely entertaining horror story, which just has to be read in one sitting.
Very much had a B-Movie feel to it, and I really enjoyed stepping in to this nightmare!
Original, brilliantly done, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
Very much had a B-Movie feel to it, and I really enjoyed stepping in to this nightmare!
Original, brilliantly done, and I look forward to reading more from this author.
February 28, 2023
Review to come!
February 25, 2023
Brian G. Berry has taken a nightmare and successfully transferred it into a novella. Reading it was like having the nightmare. It is beautiful, and very, very terrifying.
Mutants and monsters and a shocking ending. Everything I love about the horror genre!
Mutants and monsters and a shocking ending. Everything I love about the horror genre!
February 25, 2023
My first BGB story and I loved it! It was a quick fun read that kept me on the edge of my seat!
February 19, 2023
Another well written story from Brian G. Berry. Based on a dream he had, he wrote this little entertaining bloddy creeper.
Let me just tell you, I'm glad I don't have the dreams as Mr. Berry does.
I love the writing style; I feel this IS a story told by an old man at the fall of his life (in this case the winter), with lots of humor in the tale.
I immediately read this with an dialect in my mind...the wrong one undoubtedly, but that doesn't matter, what matters is Brian Berry is such a great writer, he pulls you right into the middle of it from the start.
I'm a fan!
Let me just tell you, I'm glad I don't have the dreams as Mr. Berry does.
I love the writing style; I feel this IS a story told by an old man at the fall of his life (in this case the winter), with lots of humor in the tale.
I immediately read this with an dialect in my mind...the wrong one undoubtedly, but that doesn't matter, what matters is Brian Berry is such a great writer, he pulls you right into the middle of it from the start.
I'm a fan!
February 21, 2023
Holy smokes!
What makes this story good was Clint. I absolutely loved him. He was real if that makes sense. A definite adrenaline rush. And I want to end this review by saying I believe you Clint!
What makes this story good was Clint. I absolutely loved him. He was real if that makes sense. A definite adrenaline rush. And I want to end this review by saying I believe you Clint!
February 18, 2023
I was very impressed with The Mound. All around solid storytelling. Brian does a really great job of getting the reader inside Clint’s mind, seeing how he thinks, and then experiencing the ride through his eyes. It’s violent, creepy, super weird, and most importantly it’s original.
March 12, 2023
Holy geez I’m glad I don’t have dreams like these. I’m guessing the author eats to much cheesecake before bed time Anyways, this was a great little story with a wicked ending that really made me think…..
February 18, 2023
Wow! This short story was non stop Cosmic goodness, soaked in gore. Highly recommend!
September 8, 2023
I loved The Mound it reminded of a black and white b-movie mixed with a creature feature from the late 80s. Great story with hints of Lovecraftian goodness it be a great film!!
February 20, 2023
What a story! It really pulls you in and keeps you interested and then that ending damm!
March 11, 2023
Man, I really dig this. At first it was the cool cover that did me in, but this was a really fun short story. The writing is really great and has an almost Lovecraftian quality about it. It’s also very splattery and a fun monster-type of story. It’s a really fun, short investment of time for something that is really well paced and written. Also, I’m all for indie horror authors, and this was a great surprise.
February 20, 2023
This is inspired! I enjoyed the story immensely, the language, the pacing; the narrative flowed easily, it kept me engaged to see it through. Brian G. Berry has a really inventive mind! Will definitely be checking out other stories by Brian. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
March 4, 2023
A great short story that kept me interested....bloody,gory,well written and extremely descriptive. Brian G.Berry has a fantastic mind. I loved this book.
May 18, 2023
Mr. Berry does it again. White knuckle fun.
April 12, 2023
Makes me want to write my weird dreams into novels!
April 10, 2023
A “B movie” book, fun! Lol
July 9, 2023
Wow! I loved the direction Berry took with this one! For some reason, there was a line in the beginning the character said that reminded me of Eugene from The Walking Dead series. So, from that moment on, that's the voice I heard telling his tale. And what a tale of horror it was!
March 27, 2023
Very fun and action packed cosmic horror in the vein of The Thing. The story never stops moving. Go go go!
February 18, 2023
It’s killer children versus the kindly neighborhood old man in this newest release from Brian G. Berry and his always entertaining VHS trash series.
As usual, Berry excels in putting together a blisteringly fast paced, exceedingly well written and descriptive novella, packed together in a measly 53 pages that evokes both Keene and Curran. This time however, the entire thing reads in first person POV (a new for Berry) and leaves the reader with a question of reality or a twisted tale of an unreliable narrator.
Should I be surprised I liked this short story? Hell no!
Berry has had a ridiculous track record of consistently good publications and continues to get better and more adept with each new story. And for a short based on a twisted a spooky dream, The Mound is no exception.
As usual, Berry excels in putting together a blisteringly fast paced, exceedingly well written and descriptive novella, packed together in a measly 53 pages that evokes both Keene and Curran. This time however, the entire thing reads in first person POV (a new for Berry) and leaves the reader with a question of reality or a twisted tale of an unreliable narrator.
Should I be surprised I liked this short story? Hell no!
Berry has had a ridiculous track record of consistently good publications and continues to get better and more adept with each new story. And for a short based on a twisted a spooky dream, The Mound is no exception.
March 25, 2023
The author mentions this story was inspired by a dream and it had to put into words ... and, well, if I had dreams like this I may never sleep again. Excuse me while I drive to Springwod, Ohio and beg every doctor in town for some Hypnocil now.
December 18, 2023
Clint was known as a lunatic, evil, a monster, the butcher, the killer of children. One quiet night, an earthquake throwing things around the house. A malignant contagion coming out of the earth, spewing vapors into the sky. A neighbor will have flesh ripped apart by claw like knives, insides torn out and consumed greedily, sausage intestines turned into bloody juice. The head gone like it was never actually attached. Another victim with blood sprayed like a fountain into the ceiling. Fantasy and reality blending together?
March 20, 2023
An old man awaits his execution for a crime he didn't commit discusses in detail what happened that gruesome night. It was alright not my favorite Brian Berry book.
February 26, 2023
Mound
Was what he saw real or was it all a hallucination? There is blood on his hands either way! That was a wild ride for sure.
Was what he saw real or was it all a hallucination? There is blood on his hands either way! That was a wild ride for sure.
March 18, 2023
Well written, fast-paced, and scary. Based on a nightmare, but the real nightmares were the twists towards the end.
April 30, 2023
Full review available at The Mort Report:
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
Whether it was meant to or not, the cover of this book made me think:
Ernest Borgnine!
And now there will be millennials scratching their heads saying: “The what-now?”
Well, if you are part of the younger generation, the only movie I can think of where you would have seen this actor was R.E.D. (The Willis/Malkovic/Freeman etc) – I think he was either 90 already or very close to it.
But go back a few years, and that generation will tell you he was the guy from the TV show AIRWOLF.
Then go back another generation and they will tell you he was in one of the greatest war movies ever made – THE DIRTY DOZEN.
And then you go back to the generation who thinks cowboy movies was the shit, and…
I am totally getting off the subject. Basically, Google the name Ernest Borgnine (if you don’t know what he looks like) and then try to read this book without picturing him as the main character, Clint Blackwell.
This one is not very long and, in the greater scheme of things if you are a Berry fan, not as gory as some of his work, but there is enough blood, snot and violence to still keep the splatterpunkers happy.
Enjoyed this tale a lot, especially with the ending, and will recommend it to the usual crowd – even though it is not his usual offering.
4.5 Stars
https://www.uncomfortablydark.com/bla...
Whether it was meant to or not, the cover of this book made me think:
Ernest Borgnine!
And now there will be millennials scratching their heads saying: “The what-now?”
Well, if you are part of the younger generation, the only movie I can think of where you would have seen this actor was R.E.D. (The Willis/Malkovic/Freeman etc) – I think he was either 90 already or very close to it.
But go back a few years, and that generation will tell you he was the guy from the TV show AIRWOLF.
Then go back another generation and they will tell you he was in one of the greatest war movies ever made – THE DIRTY DOZEN.
And then you go back to the generation who thinks cowboy movies was the shit, and…
I am totally getting off the subject. Basically, Google the name Ernest Borgnine (if you don’t know what he looks like) and then try to read this book without picturing him as the main character, Clint Blackwell.
This one is not very long and, in the greater scheme of things if you are a Berry fan, not as gory as some of his work, but there is enough blood, snot and violence to still keep the splatterpunkers happy.
Enjoyed this tale a lot, especially with the ending, and will recommend it to the usual crowd – even though it is not his usual offering.
4.5 Stars
February 23, 2023
I've seen the name Brian G. Berry floating around the horror community more often and my interest was piqued by the simple titles and cool covers. The Mound is my first exposure to the author and he has lived up to the hype.
The Mound is a first-person narrative focused on a man who is on death row for committing horrible atrocities. He recounts an entertaining tale about a dread-inducing mound that shows up in his small town and the horrors that rise from the center of it. This short story takes subtle cues from Southern Fried Horror authors Ronald Kelly and Joe R. Lansdale. Throw in some Arthur Machen-like flavor along with influence from T.E.D. Klein's "Children of the Kingdom" novella, and you'll have a good idea of what you're getting here.
This is a fun, bloody, and propulsive tale that was easy to digest and enhanced my day tenfold. I'll definitely be reading more of Berry's work and I'm curious to see what he can do in the novella or novel format. Highly recommended.
The Mound is a first-person narrative focused on a man who is on death row for committing horrible atrocities. He recounts an entertaining tale about a dread-inducing mound that shows up in his small town and the horrors that rise from the center of it. This short story takes subtle cues from Southern Fried Horror authors Ronald Kelly and Joe R. Lansdale. Throw in some Arthur Machen-like flavor along with influence from T.E.D. Klein's "Children of the Kingdom" novella, and you'll have a good idea of what you're getting here.
This is a fun, bloody, and propulsive tale that was easy to digest and enhanced my day tenfold. I'll definitely be reading more of Berry's work and I'm curious to see what he can do in the novella or novel format. Highly recommended.
September 6, 2023
Clint Blackwell is going to be executed soon. Why, you'll see when you read his story. It started with a kind of earthquake and continued with mutant children. What really happened in the area? Why were the neighbors and some more people killed? The story started strong but soon it became a bit too verbose to that what really happened (yes, even for such a short tale). Besides it was a bit predictable and the ingredients were too often used. Fans of the author will read it anyway :-) Not bad, but nothing too extraordinary either. Great cover!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews