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You Can't Hide: 30 Tales of Terror

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I found a note I don't remember writing.
It says 'Don't look under the bed.'

"ATTENTION Please hide at the back of the store immediately."

I created a chatbot. It said some deeply disturbing things.

I was in a bus crash with five other passengers. After the crash, there were six.

YOU CAN'T HIDE brings you 30 terrifying tales for your darkest nights. This collection has every flavor of horror, from murderous husbands to malevolent doppelgangers, from terrifying photos to sinister board games. Read... if you dare.

Praise for You Can't Hide
"This was absolutely fantastic, from start to finish."

"This suspenseful collection of short stories perfectly captures the energy of sitting around a campfire, telling gruesome tales of horror."

"A few of these stories had some AMAZING twists that I never expected."

"You Can't Hide" is a superb work of horror fiction that'll appeal to aficionados of "Are You Afraid of the Dark?", "Scary Stories", and "Goosebumps," but with decidedly mature twist."

"Blair Daniels never disappoints me. Her stories are short, sharp, and devious."

About Black Widow Press
We're passionate about scares, thrills, and all things that go bump in the night. Stay tuned for more books this year to keep you up all night! Don't Scream and other Black Widow books contain mild to moderate violence and sexual content not suitable for those under 18 years of age.

203 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 5, 2023

316 people are currently reading
152 people want to read

About the author

Blair Daniels

45 books167 followers

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Community Reviews

5 stars
238 (43%)
4 stars
169 (30%)
3 stars
116 (21%)
2 stars
19 (3%)
1 star
7 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
Profile Image for Troy Baker.
1 review1 follower
March 25, 2023
This was absolutely fantastic, from start to finish. The stories are short and engaging, and although I intended to only read a few stories at a time, I finished it in two sittings because I simply could not stop reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Hunter Hirth.
634 reviews1 follower
October 6, 2023
4.5 stars!

I realllly really liked this! I loved that these were cold open, truly short-stories. They were the perfect length in my opinion. Short story collections are hit or miss for me but I would definitely read from her again. I FLEW through these 30 stories, and they were exactly what I needed after TSH almost put me in a reading slump.

My only complaint is that like three stories said "She let out the breath she didn't know she was holding" which really grinds my gears. But, to be fair, she said it so many times maybe it was supposed to be satirical that way?
1,456 reviews1 follower
October 21, 2023
...creepy covers give me chills...

Yes! This was exactly what I wanted to read for the spooky season! I struggle to find anthologies that have decent stories that aren't so weird that I have trouble understanding what was going on. This was perfect! I got each story and they were creepy enough I had to look over my shoulder a few times!

I would highly recommend this for anyone looking to read some spooky stories throughout the month of October!
Profile Image for Milt Theo.
1,877 reviews156 followers
April 5, 2023
I've known Blair Daniels' work on Reddit and have read several of her collections of stories. She holds to a pattern, one I definitely like, that's why I keep coming back to her stories. Here, once again, we have a great variety of situations and characters, though all find themselves in some kind of bind. The tales are quite short, so don't expect complex plotlines or deep characterization; still, if twists and unexpected turns are your thing, this is a must-read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4 reviews
April 6, 2023
You Can't Hide is a collection of thirty "No Sleep" style horror short stories. The stories were good, each containing an engaging mystery and many giving me the desired creeped-out, "something is behind me" feeling a reader wants from a horror story. The greatest strength the stories have, in my opinion, is that each is given a unique premise from which the story unfolds. My favorite example is "The Uncanny Valley" which explores the question of why humans developed the "uncanny valley" feeling or rather what might have caused us to develop it and what if it were still out there.

The stories do have one major weakness, which is endings. I do appreciate when an author resists the urge to let a story sprawl out of control, but some of the tales in "You Can't Hide" seemed to end just as the story was getting interesting. Perhaps it's the famous J. J. Abrams problem of being good at setting up engaging mysteries, but not so good at paying them off. So, instead of paying then off, some of them just end abruptly. But don't let that discourage you from picking the book up. Endings aside, the stories are good and the collection makes excellent bedtime reading if you're not the type to be kept up by a good horror story.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Joey.
74 reviews
March 28, 2023
The stories in this collection exemplify the spirit of r/ShortScaryStories. There’s not a lot of character development or world-building, but there’s an intriguing premise, a suspenseful buildup, and usually a kind of “sinking-feeling” twist at the end. They range from two to five minutes to read, each packing a satisfying punch. The horror ranges from supernatural to psychological to…simply uncanny. The endings often leave room for the imagination to fill in, and the author writes well enough that the reader feels invited to do so. “My Neighbors Have Been Dancing For 5 Hours,” “Are You Dreaming Right Now?,” and “My Grandma is Acting Odd” are three of the standouts, while “After My Friend Died” breaks the mold in an affecting way. Three stars isn’t quite the right rating; this is a B+, not just a B.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
10 reviews
April 5, 2023
"You Can't Hide: 30 Tales of Terror" is an exceptional assortment of short stories from Blair Daniels that showcases the author's honed writing skills. These stories are a masterful balance of emotions and themes that'll leave the reader on the edge of their seat. From eerie and uncanny to outright horrific, each story is a unique experience that'll make your heart pound.
Daniels delves deep into the fears and anxieties that women and mothers face in Western culture. These tales are incredibly cinematic, with a striking visual impact that could easily be intepreted on screen.
"You Can't Hide" is a superb work of horror fiction that'll appeal to aficionados of "Are You Afraid of the Dark?", "Scary Stories", and "Goosebumps," but with decidedly mature twist.
I got my copy early on Booksprout and am writing this with a few stories left in book!
1 review
April 8, 2023
While the writing and storytelling are smooth, the flow of how paragraphs are shaped is lovely, the stories themselves are lacking.

When a story fills like it is getting ready to hit the climax, it's over and the next story starts. There are far too many questions left hanging in the air and feel like they're missing crucial information or even proper endings.
The few that did have endings felt slapped on or shallow, as if the ending wasn't a natural conclusion, but tacked on as an afterthought.

There's promise in great story telling, intriguing characters, and entertaining plots, but the endings feel like they still need a little more attention and polish before they reach their true potential.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
29 reviews
March 30, 2023
This is a delightful collection of short horror stories. Each one is just a few pages long, so you can pick it up whenever, even if you don't have a lot of free time for reading. But they're also incredibly bingeable! Daniels' style has a great flow to it, her stories are engaging and thrilling, and each one has a unique and creative concept. I'm also impressed with her ability to create empathetic protagonists over the course of such short stories -- alongside the expected feelings of dread and terror, I actually found myself emotional at several of these stories.

If you're into horror, definitely get this book!.

*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Danelle✍🏽 Reviewer.
63 reviews4 followers
April 5, 2023
You Can't Hide: 30 Tales of Terror by Blair Daniels reminds me of R. L Stine's Fear Street series. It was genuinely scary AND intriguing with MY NEIGHBOURS HAVE BEEN DANCING FOR 5 HOURS, WATER TORTURE, and WOCKET IN MY POCKET just being a few of my favourites! Each story had its own unique feel and I loved the idea of checking your watch instead of pinching yourself to ensure that you are truly awake in ARE YOU DREAMING RIGHT NOW? I found it pretty cool and interesting. Even the girl on the cover is eerie. I would definitely recommend 30 Tales of Terror to everyone who loves telling spooky stories and listening to them. It would be great to take with on a camping trip, too!

*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Sentinelle23.
2,068 reviews33 followers
April 7, 2023
❤😰😱 BIG CRUSH!


1) "Don't look under the bed" :
In the bathroom, the young woman removed a note taped to the mirror: "don't look under the bed".

That's her handwriting...
But how is this possible?...

----------------

Excellent mystery story that takes the reader into a totally captivating plot.

I loved !

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All 30 stories in this book are of the same genre: extraordinary!

I read it all, without even realizing it, totally captivated by all these scary and captivatingly realistic plots!

Several times during my reading I turned around or looked over my shoulder, or I had goosebumps...

Scary atmosphere and suspense guaranteed for this incredible collection of stories!

Do not miss it !

12 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2023
Like any anthology, some of these stories were better than others. My favorites were "The Uncanny Valley," "My Grandma is Acting Odd," and "Wocket in my Pocket," I thought these all had interesting premises and resolved nicely by the end of the story.
For some of the ones I liked less, I felt like they had an interesting concept, but the story itself didn't feel quite finished. There was sometimes a plot hole or details introduced at random that distracted me from the overall story, or they seemed to end before things had been resolved fully. I still enjoyed reading these stories, but I would say quality-wise they were a bit hit or miss.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Joshua Hair.
Author 1 book106 followers
April 8, 2023
Blair Daniels never disappoints me. Her stories are short, sharp, and devious. I’ve enjoyed every collection I’ve read from her thus far, and You Can’t Hide is no exception. Miss Daniels writes stories that are meant to be consumed in one quick, unpleasant bite. She has a knack for taking simple or sometimes even silly setups and turning them into terrifying little vignettes. Readers will also find classic campfire urban legends referenced or rewritten entirely with new twists. Overall You Can’t Hide is another standout collection in a series of excellent samplings from an author horror lovers need to know about.

P. S. I was offered an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
1 review
March 29, 2023
Blair has an interesting way of writing that captured you working the first couple sentences & it is hard to stop reading! The short stories are perfect for me as I am trying to rediscover my love for reading & I have always LOVED the horror genre.
I recommend this book to anyone who’s a fan of horror, suspense, creepiness or the unknown as it includes all of the above and more! The way you can feel like you really know a character after only 1-3 pages is fascinating & I cannot wait for more stories from Blair.
Profile Image for Paige.
5 reviews
March 28, 2023
I love Blair Daniel's books! I have been reviewing for a few years now and I am continuously impressed. A few of these stories had some AMAZING twists that I never expected. I have been a huge horror fan and NoSleep lover, so sometimes it is hard to surprise me. But these tales certainly did! Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kevin Chen.
1 review1 follower
April 12, 2023
I have only been recently starting to read horror on Reddit's group "nosleep." Ever since I read one of Blair Daniels' posts, I instantly followed and read almost all of their posts on Reddit. Their stories are very well written with a lot of attention to detail to make you feel the actual tension and horror. I would definitely recommend anyone who likes horror to read this collection of short stories.

Profile Image for Rachel.
498 reviews77 followers
March 6, 2024
3.5 stars*

i liked this collection, but not as much as i liked another short story collection from this author, Don’t Look. a lot of the initial stories were just okay for me, but they got better as the collection went on. however, while quick to get through, many of the stories felt incomplete. i don’t think every story needs a tidy ending, but i wanted more from many stories in this collection. i will however continue to read from this author!
1 review1 follower
March 27, 2023
It was an amazing book to read! It kept me in suspense and some stories were longer than others but I loved not knowing what to expect next or what to hope for. Overall it was a great book and I’d recommend it to everyone!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
993 reviews12 followers
April 8, 2023
Thirty terrifying tales

All the stories are original and some are chilling to the extreme. Creepy dolls, a scary board game, haunted places and scary creatures are the stuff to instill nightmares. Some places are best avoided and some are points of no return. A treat for horror lovers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
324 reviews8 followers
Read
May 2, 2023
Really good book

Ok, this is a really good book of short stories. Most, are too short. That's the only reason I gave it 4 stars, instead of 5. I wanna know more. While my tastes tend to lean more toward the more gore the better type of horror, I did enjoy this one, and would definitely recommend it.
3 reviews
March 30, 2023
I have followed this author from Reddit and I love her stories. They are short and simple, yet mind bending. I'd love to see more longer stories. This was definitely worth my time. High recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
346 reviews5 followers
April 9, 2023
This is a very good book I really enjoyed all the 30 stories in this book it is a very good read a very well written page turner stories.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Kat M.
5,272 reviews18 followers
April 11, 2023
This was a great collection of horror tales. I was engaged with the concept and glad I got to read this. Blair Daniels does a great writing style and I look forward to more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
31 reviews1 follower
April 19, 2023
I enjoyed every one of the stories, which is unusual for me. I love short stories, but there always seems to be one or two that I just can't get into. These were all really good, really creepy stories. I will definitely be reading more of her books!
Profile Image for Amanda.
353 reviews
May 6, 2023
Could not put this down! Only the second book in my life to give me chills, i'm definitely reading more by Blake Daniels now. Each story is engaging from the start, from creepy creatures to WTF. Love it
Profile Image for Ashley springs.
45 reviews1 follower
May 11, 2023
It was entertaining I’m not gonna lie ! I would rate it 3.75 stars because out of the 30 stories in this collection I throughly enjoyed at least 20 of them !
So many great ideas with this authors story telling style !
9 reviews
June 6, 2023
I'm really enjoying books of short fiction by the same author. If it's a writer you're not that familiar with, you can get a nicely rounded view of their style and voice.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for N.J. Gallegos.
Author 35 books103 followers
September 15, 2023
I work a lot of night shifts so I'll come home and read on my Kindle. This collection is perfect because I can read two or three stories and go to sleep. Each tale is chilling in its own way but no two are alike. Looking forward to more by Blair Daniels!
Profile Image for Amber Martin.
230 reviews
October 29, 2023
Wow, the was such a fun book to read during Halloween!!!! For a nostalgic read, the style of this book definitely took me back to a place of childhood!!!! I absolutely loved the short stories and how easy and quick this was to read!!! 4 SPOOKY stars for You Can't Hide!!!!
Profile Image for The Beloved Bibliophile.
1,648 reviews
November 28, 2023
This was a mixture of so many different horror genres and frightful tales! I enjoyed some and others kind of didn’t frighten me but I still have to give it a 5/5. I would definitely reread this!! Also, read when it’s dark outside, makes it even more fun!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews

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