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Dead Leaves: 9 Tales from the Witching Season
Two brothers find themselves drawn to the only house in the neighborhood not decorated for Halloween…A man returns to his hometown to bury his overbearing mother, and finds more than memories awaiting him in the shadows of his childhood home…A young girl walks a lonely country road, recalling a rhyme that brings with it memories of death…A teenager hoping for romance gets more than he bargained for when the object of his desire introduces him to the object of hers…An aging millionaire awakes buried in a cheap coffin with only a lamp and a bell for company…The son of a woman accused of being a witch accepts the villagers' peace offering at her funeral, but all is not quite as it seems…A woman with a violent past realizes that this year's Halloween party may be coming for her…and a lonely trick-or-treater awakes in a house rumored to be a place of death.
From Bram Stoker Award-winning author Kealan Patrick Burke comes the second in his series of seasonal collections. Featuring a brand new story "The Toll", a new introduction, and rounded out by the author's recommended Halloween reading and watching lists, DEAD LEAVES makes for the perfect autumnal read.
From Bram Stoker Award-winning author Kealan Patrick Burke comes the second in his series of seasonal collections. Featuring a brand new story "The Toll", a new introduction, and rounded out by the author's recommended Halloween reading and watching lists, DEAD LEAVES makes for the perfect autumnal read.
117 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2011
117 people are currently reading
3555 people want to read
About the author
Kealan Patrick Burke
194 books2,328 followersHailed 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.
A five-time nominee, Burke won the Bram Stoker Award in 2005 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 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 Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House.
He lives in Ohio with a Scooby Doo lookalike rescue named Red.
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.
A five-time nominee, Burke won the Bram Stoker Award in 2005 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 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 Merrilee Heifetz at Writers House.
He lives in Ohio with a Scooby Doo lookalike rescue named Red.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 406 reviews
April 26, 2019
“When they come out of the corn, they’ll come close enough for him to see their faces.”
A collection of nine short stories inspired by the witching season 🎃
Anytime I start reading anything by Burke I am quickly reminded how frickin’ amazing his writing is. Sure, he’s a great storyteller too, but there’s something special about his writing - it’s so incredibly atmospheric and he has a way of describing things that really makes you feel like you’re right there. He really excels in this collection with regards to his depiction of autumn and Halloween. So many quotes left me heart-eyed!!
I’d say I really enjoyed the majority of the stories in this collection. My favourites were Someone to Carve the Pumpkins, The Toll and The One Night of the Year!
The Toll was particularly great - any story that centres around being buried alive makes me feel so claustrophobic. Although, the standout story for me was definitely The One Night of the Year. This was CHILLING and so unsettling. It made me think of The Children of the Corn and also 1922 by King in terms of both the creep factor and the setting, but it was also quite melancholic too! Absolutely loved this story!
Dead Leaves also has a fantastic introduction by Burke where he discusses why we all love Halloween so much! There’s also recommendations at the back for other horror movies and books to check out as well. It was fun to go through and check off the ones I’ve already watched or read - and now I know what to seek out next!!
Overall, a really fun collection that demands to be read at the best time of year! 3.5 stars
A collection of nine short stories inspired by the witching season 🎃
Anytime I start reading anything by Burke I am quickly reminded how frickin’ amazing his writing is. Sure, he’s a great storyteller too, but there’s something special about his writing - it’s so incredibly atmospheric and he has a way of describing things that really makes you feel like you’re right there. He really excels in this collection with regards to his depiction of autumn and Halloween. So many quotes left me heart-eyed!!
I’d say I really enjoyed the majority of the stories in this collection. My favourites were Someone to Carve the Pumpkins, The Toll and The One Night of the Year!
The Toll was particularly great - any story that centres around being buried alive makes me feel so claustrophobic. Although, the standout story for me was definitely The One Night of the Year. This was CHILLING and so unsettling. It made me think of The Children of the Corn and also 1922 by King in terms of both the creep factor and the setting, but it was also quite melancholic too! Absolutely loved this story!
Dead Leaves also has a fantastic introduction by Burke where he discusses why we all love Halloween so much! There’s also recommendations at the back for other horror movies and books to check out as well. It was fun to go through and check off the ones I’ve already watched or read - and now I know what to seek out next!!
Overall, a really fun collection that demands to be read at the best time of year! 3.5 stars
October 19, 2018
*This review is going to read more like an exhortation on why certain authors are just the best.
Kealan Patrick Burke is the whole package. My first recommendation is that you follow him on Twitter and Instagram:
https://twitter.com/KealanBurke
https://www.instagram.com/kealanpatrick/
The reason for this is because not only is KPB a talented #horror author and you should stay up to date on all his bookish activity but he is very generous with his praise of other talented horror authors and I have found scores of excellent books & authors from his recommendations alone (movie and TV show recs as well).
My second recommendation is that if you're a horror fan, you should just automatically assume that anything KPB releases is worthy of your time and money. Just buy it. If you haven't read anything by him, I always suggest my first KPB read which was BLANKY. I read it on Halloween night last year and it was sheer, Halloween magic.
Kealan can write novellas, short stories, novels and probably an advertisement on the back of a cereal box and it would probably be just as compelling as everything else he writes.
This particular collection, DEAD LEAVES was everything one would want out of an October/Seasonal book but it's so much more than a Halloween novelty--these stories can be read anytime, out of season and be enjoyed all the same. A variety of scares that tug on your heart and claw at your psyche. Some of them were more inspiring than others but I only say that because I've come to recognize a few signature tricks KPB has up his sleeve and I appreciate those moments more than if I don't see that move in a story--
The standouts here were:
Andromeda
The Tradition
The Toll
and
The One Night of the Year
Kealan Patrick Burke is the whole package. My first recommendation is that you follow him on Twitter and Instagram:
https://twitter.com/KealanBurke
https://www.instagram.com/kealanpatrick/
The reason for this is because not only is KPB a talented #horror author and you should stay up to date on all his bookish activity but he is very generous with his praise of other talented horror authors and I have found scores of excellent books & authors from his recommendations alone (movie and TV show recs as well).
My second recommendation is that if you're a horror fan, you should just automatically assume that anything KPB releases is worthy of your time and money. Just buy it. If you haven't read anything by him, I always suggest my first KPB read which was BLANKY. I read it on Halloween night last year and it was sheer, Halloween magic.
Kealan can write novellas, short stories, novels and probably an advertisement on the back of a cereal box and it would probably be just as compelling as everything else he writes.
This particular collection, DEAD LEAVES was everything one would want out of an October/Seasonal book but it's so much more than a Halloween novelty--these stories can be read anytime, out of season and be enjoyed all the same. A variety of scares that tug on your heart and claw at your psyche. Some of them were more inspiring than others but I only say that because I've come to recognize a few signature tricks KPB has up his sleeve and I appreciate those moments more than if I don't see that move in a story--
The standouts here were:
Andromeda
The Tradition
The Toll
and
The One Night of the Year
February 25, 2020
I had mixed reactions to the stories in this collection. I liked four of nine but I like those a lot. Those were all entertaining but only the first one I list frightened me.
Five stars for the cover, which may have been designed by the author, whose bio says his company designs book covers. The design inside is good as well, except for that annoying flaw one finds in short-story compilations when the name of the story does not appear at the top of the recto. Sure, some short stories have long names but work it out, people. Voyager 1 is over 13 billion miles from earth, surely you can work out how to put the name of the story at the top of the page.
Favorites, in order:
"How the Night Receives Them": in which a hooded girl walks a dark road at night with an enigmatic man in a car who shows up regularly. Fear factor and the perfect amount of ambiguity done well.
"Someone to Carve the Pumpkins": Every Halloween she's back, the spooky old lady knitting in her rocking chair outside the only house in the neighborhood with no decorations. Here come the kids. This one story would fit right into Trick r Treat, one of my favorite horror movies; it has the same vibe.
"The Tradition": Shirley jackson likely would have liked this one and no it's not like anything of hers. Not giving anything away; it unfolds like a curled-up snake and bites you in the end.
"The Toll": a new and creepy twist on that buried-alive thing Poe created in literature, with a nod at Poe. I love a good nod at Poe and abhor the bad ones. (Indeed I, myself, often nod at Poe. Please don't unfriend me for that, I never said I was sane.)
B-Sides:
"Tonight the Moon is Ours": like Lovecraft without the Lovecraft
"Andromeda" one of those short stories that makes you go huh?
"Haven" -- got me missing Norman Bates
"Will You Tell Them I Died Quietly" and "The One Night of the Year" -- been there, read those, only better
Overall I say my favorite stories and the cover make this collection worth it, but they can also be found in other anthologies. I will read more of Burke's work.
Bonus content:
A list of horror books and one of horror films. I found it random but some will say, Treat!
Five stars for the cover, which may have been designed by the author, whose bio says his company designs book covers. The design inside is good as well, except for that annoying flaw one finds in short-story compilations when the name of the story does not appear at the top of the recto. Sure, some short stories have long names but work it out, people. Voyager 1 is over 13 billion miles from earth, surely you can work out how to put the name of the story at the top of the page.
Favorites, in order:
"How the Night Receives Them": in which a hooded girl walks a dark road at night with an enigmatic man in a car who shows up regularly. Fear factor and the perfect amount of ambiguity done well.
"Someone to Carve the Pumpkins": Every Halloween she's back, the spooky old lady knitting in her rocking chair outside the only house in the neighborhood with no decorations. Here come the kids. This one story would fit right into Trick r Treat, one of my favorite horror movies; it has the same vibe.
"The Tradition": Shirley jackson likely would have liked this one and no it's not like anything of hers. Not giving anything away; it unfolds like a curled-up snake and bites you in the end.
"The Toll": a new and creepy twist on that buried-alive thing Poe created in literature, with a nod at Poe. I love a good nod at Poe and abhor the bad ones. (Indeed I, myself, often nod at Poe. Please don't unfriend me for that, I never said I was sane.)
B-Sides:
"Tonight the Moon is Ours": like Lovecraft without the Lovecraft
"Andromeda" one of those short stories that makes you go huh?
"Haven" -- got me missing Norman Bates
"Will You Tell Them I Died Quietly" and "The One Night of the Year" -- been there, read those, only better
Overall I say my favorite stories and the cover make this collection worth it, but they can also be found in other anthologies. I will read more of Burke's work.
Bonus content:
A list of horror books and one of horror films. I found it random but some will say, Treat!
May 17, 2025
”Halloween is controllable horror. We allow the monsters their time in the moonlight until we send them away.”
The comfort Halloween (and this time of the year) brings is vastly important to so many of us. Kealan Patrick Burke’s introduction to this collection of short stories explains this incredibly well. 🎃🖤
The collection consists of 9 short stories for the Halloween season; Andromeda, Someone To Carve The Pumpkins, Haven, How The Night Receives Them, Tonight The Moon Is Ours, The Toll, Will You Tell Them I Died Quietly?, The Tradition and The One Night Of The Year.
The stand out story for me was ”Haven”, which is just written so very well, about a man returning to his childhood home after his mother’s death, haunted by the bad memories evoked by the place. Haunted by his past.
A solid 5 stars from me, as I am a fan of Burke’s writing style, and each story did not disappoint.
The comfort Halloween (and this time of the year) brings is vastly important to so many of us. Kealan Patrick Burke’s introduction to this collection of short stories explains this incredibly well. 🎃🖤
The collection consists of 9 short stories for the Halloween season; Andromeda, Someone To Carve The Pumpkins, Haven, How The Night Receives Them, Tonight The Moon Is Ours, The Toll, Will You Tell Them I Died Quietly?, The Tradition and The One Night Of The Year.
The stand out story for me was ”Haven”, which is just written so very well, about a man returning to his childhood home after his mother’s death, haunted by the bad memories evoked by the place. Haunted by his past.
A solid 5 stars from me, as I am a fan of Burke’s writing style, and each story did not disappoint.
August 15, 2020
Does anyone else have an author (or a few) whose work you’ve never read, yet you just know they’re going to be a perfect fit for you? Kealan Patrick Burke has been right at the top of that list for me. Between how cool his stories sound, how much I love the covers he designs, and what an all-around great guy he strikes me as, I knew that was going to be really sad if I didn’t love his writing.
Thankfully, I was worried for nothing, because this Halloween-themed collection of stories is literally flawless. I enjoyed every single story immensely and was so sad when the collection came to an end, because I needed more! Kealan has such a distinctive writing voice and his ideas are so unique and clever, but they’re also incredibly emotional at points, and I love a horror author who can creep me out and make me feel things at the same time.
The collection picks up with Andromeda, where a teen girl is glued to her phone when she begins to receive some very strange messages, just before the world around her becomes very bizarre. Then, the first moment of sadness strikes in Someone to Carve the Pumpkins, when two brothers come across an elderly woman they suspect is a ghost. In Haven, a man finds relief when his mother passes, but returning to his childhood home stirs painful and terrifying memories.
We’re brought back down to a moment of quiet heartache for How the Night Receives Them, in which a young girl wanders a lonely road at night, seeking out the detective whose poetry keeps her company. In Tonight the Moon is Ours, a taste of fantasy enters the mix when a boy’s friends convince him to visit a fairy stone in rural Ireland, their motives filling him with a dread he can’t shake. The Toll shifts to an air that is, unexpectedly, a little bit humorous—the plot of an old businessman finding himself buried alive shouldn’t be funny, but something about his devil-may-care view of the situation made me smile.
The strangest story of the bunch for me was Will You Tell Them I Died Quietly?: a young man’s mother has passed away and he’s agreed to allow a local religious group to host her funeral, despite a life-long feud between the group and his family, but there’s a very peculiar history there, after all. The next-to-last story was a tie for my favorite—in The Tradition, a young woman wakes in a decrepit old house, unsure of how she got there, but as her memories slowly return to her, we’re treated to a surprisingly unsettling moment of body horror mixed with a fantastically immersive atmosphere.
Finally, the collection rounds out with my other favorite: The One Night of the Year. An elderly widower sits on his porch every Halloween night with a bucket of candy, a shotgun, and his dog, waiting to greet the only three visitors he will receive. I can’t say anything about this story without spoiling the ending, but for those of you who know the piece, I’ll say that I found myself choking back tears with the biggest smile on my face.
On top of the wonderful stories, the end of the collection contains a list of Kealan’s personal recommendations for horror reads and films, and I’ll just say that I recognized a lot of books I love, but the movie list? Flawless. I love almost all of the films he listed, so I’ll be checking out the ones I haven’t seen. I thought it was such a great idea to add in those recommendations, and it really adds a personal touch to the collection.
So, like I said, nothing about this collection disappointed me. This is one of the easiest 5-star ratings I have ever given in a collection or anthology review, and I am so happy to say that I have finally officially joined the ranks of Kealan’s fans. I will eagerly be picking up more work from him as soon as possible, and one hundred percent recommend adding this to your TBR. At right around a hundred pages, Dead Leaves is a quick and immersive read that would be perfect for Halloween night.
Halloween provides us with the choice to be scared, or to scare others. It allows us to vicariously slip behind the mask and see the world through the eyes of things that evoke fear in others. It allows us to be scared out of our wits, safe in the knowledge that it isn’t real.
Thankfully, I was worried for nothing, because this Halloween-themed collection of stories is literally flawless. I enjoyed every single story immensely and was so sad when the collection came to an end, because I needed more! Kealan has such a distinctive writing voice and his ideas are so unique and clever, but they’re also incredibly emotional at points, and I love a horror author who can creep me out and make me feel things at the same time.
The collection picks up with Andromeda, where a teen girl is glued to her phone when she begins to receive some very strange messages, just before the world around her becomes very bizarre. Then, the first moment of sadness strikes in Someone to Carve the Pumpkins, when two brothers come across an elderly woman they suspect is a ghost. In Haven, a man finds relief when his mother passes, but returning to his childhood home stirs painful and terrifying memories.
We’re brought back down to a moment of quiet heartache for How the Night Receives Them, in which a young girl wanders a lonely road at night, seeking out the detective whose poetry keeps her company. In Tonight the Moon is Ours, a taste of fantasy enters the mix when a boy’s friends convince him to visit a fairy stone in rural Ireland, their motives filling him with a dread he can’t shake. The Toll shifts to an air that is, unexpectedly, a little bit humorous—the plot of an old businessman finding himself buried alive shouldn’t be funny, but something about his devil-may-care view of the situation made me smile.
The strangest story of the bunch for me was Will You Tell Them I Died Quietly?: a young man’s mother has passed away and he’s agreed to allow a local religious group to host her funeral, despite a life-long feud between the group and his family, but there’s a very peculiar history there, after all. The next-to-last story was a tie for my favorite—in The Tradition, a young woman wakes in a decrepit old house, unsure of how she got there, but as her memories slowly return to her, we’re treated to a surprisingly unsettling moment of body horror mixed with a fantastically immersive atmosphere.
Finally, the collection rounds out with my other favorite: The One Night of the Year. An elderly widower sits on his porch every Halloween night with a bucket of candy, a shotgun, and his dog, waiting to greet the only three visitors he will receive. I can’t say anything about this story without spoiling the ending, but for those of you who know the piece, I’ll say that I found myself choking back tears with the biggest smile on my face.
She wanted a boy, a soul, anyone.
Someone to carve the pumpkins.
On top of the wonderful stories, the end of the collection contains a list of Kealan’s personal recommendations for horror reads and films, and I’ll just say that I recognized a lot of books I love, but the movie list? Flawless. I love almost all of the films he listed, so I’ll be checking out the ones I haven’t seen. I thought it was such a great idea to add in those recommendations, and it really adds a personal touch to the collection.
So, like I said, nothing about this collection disappointed me. This is one of the easiest 5-star ratings I have ever given in a collection or anthology review, and I am so happy to say that I have finally officially joined the ranks of Kealan’s fans. I will eagerly be picking up more work from him as soon as possible, and one hundred percent recommend adding this to your TBR. At right around a hundred pages, Dead Leaves is a quick and immersive read that would be perfect for Halloween night.
October 2, 2015
www.melissa413readsalot.blogspot.com
What an awesome book to start out Oct 1, Woot!
I loved this book. I liked all of the stories but some I loved more than others. They are so creepy, I will never understand how someone can write something so creepy with just a little bit of words :)
The first story is: Someone To Carve The Pumpkins
This one is about brothers Joe and Chuck, they are spying on an old lady sitting on her porch knitting. She knits all of the time, day and late at night......
The second is: Haven
Tommy Marrow comes home to bury his mom. He hasn't been home in years and it seems like he isn't alone....
The third is: How The Night Receives Them
This story is about Carrie.. who is Carrie.. what happened to her... why does she keep walking...
The fourth is: Tonight The Moon Is Ours
Evan, Yvonne and Colm sneak out at night to hang out and smoke in the field. What is it they go see... what happens when they get there...
The fifth is: The Toll
This is about Miles and he might not have been so good in his life or maybe he trusted the wrong people... what is happening to him...
The sixth is: Will You Tell Them I Died Quietly
What in the world did Elias do to his mother Veronica.....
The seventh is: Not While I'm Around
Um.. yeah.. you have Rachel and her husband Bill, but who is Jeff and what has he done in the past and what is he going to do now...
The eight is: The Tradition
All Evelyn wanted was to have friends. She thought Jessica, Alex and Chad were her friends... she thought wrong.. some times though.. a little vengeance is good...
I absolutely loved all of them but I didn't like The Toll as much as the others. I think the author did an awesome job with these stories. All of you spooky readers check this one out!
What an awesome book to start out Oct 1, Woot!
I loved this book. I liked all of the stories but some I loved more than others. They are so creepy, I will never understand how someone can write something so creepy with just a little bit of words :)
The first story is: Someone To Carve The Pumpkins
This one is about brothers Joe and Chuck, they are spying on an old lady sitting on her porch knitting. She knits all of the time, day and late at night......
The second is: Haven
Tommy Marrow comes home to bury his mom. He hasn't been home in years and it seems like he isn't alone....
The third is: How The Night Receives Them
This story is about Carrie.. who is Carrie.. what happened to her... why does she keep walking...
The fourth is: Tonight The Moon Is Ours
Evan, Yvonne and Colm sneak out at night to hang out and smoke in the field. What is it they go see... what happens when they get there...
The fifth is: The Toll
This is about Miles and he might not have been so good in his life or maybe he trusted the wrong people... what is happening to him...
The sixth is: Will You Tell Them I Died Quietly
What in the world did Elias do to his mother Veronica.....
The seventh is: Not While I'm Around
Um.. yeah.. you have Rachel and her husband Bill, but who is Jeff and what has he done in the past and what is he going to do now...
The eight is: The Tradition
All Evelyn wanted was to have friends. She thought Jessica, Alex and Chad were her friends... she thought wrong.. some times though.. a little vengeance is good...
I absolutely loved all of them but I didn't like The Toll as much as the others. I think the author did an awesome job with these stories. All of you spooky readers check this one out!
October 4, 2015
Eight short stories for Halloween, all penned by Kealan Patrick Burke. A nice collection with two definite standouts for me.
The Toll takes on a double meaning with this very clever tale of a premature burial. The irony is awesome!
The Tradition is the story of a ghostly girl with 'eyes that no longer need to see' who likes to keep her friends close.
Nothing too scary for newcomers to horror. Go ahead, wade on in.
The Toll takes on a double meaning with this very clever tale of a premature burial. The irony is awesome!
The Tradition is the story of a ghostly girl with 'eyes that no longer need to see' who likes to keep her friends close.
Nothing too scary for newcomers to horror. Go ahead, wade on in.
October 12, 2018
I saw this collection shortly before October and I immediately knew I needed to get it for my October TBR. Even if it wasn't a Halloween collection I would have bought it. Anytime Burke releases something it's a no-brainer buy.
This is a delightful collection of 9 short stories, a list of recommended horror books, and a list of recommended horror movies. The last time I was this excited by an author suggesting books and movies in a book was Dasnse Macabre by Stephen King. I read that book sometime during my high school years, and I was so excited about King's lists that I actually wrote down a number of his suggestions to take to the library. I actually still have that list. Brilliant call, Mr. Burke. You're recommendations are always top notch.
As for the stories, once again they are everything I have come to expect from Burke. Two of them I had read in a previous collection, but I didn't skip over them and enjoyed them even more the second time. It's hard to list stand out stories in such a short collection, but I think my favorite is Andromeda. It's such a perfect commentary on today's smart phone obsession. Not to mention it was creepy and unsettling in all the right places.
If you are like me and a lot of other horror fans, and you're looking for books to celebrate the Halloween season, you should definitely pick this one up. A number of the stories even take place on Halloween, so it's a perfect addition to every horror lover's October reading.
This is a delightful collection of 9 short stories, a list of recommended horror books, and a list of recommended horror movies. The last time I was this excited by an author suggesting books and movies in a book was Dasnse Macabre by Stephen King. I read that book sometime during my high school years, and I was so excited about King's lists that I actually wrote down a number of his suggestions to take to the library. I actually still have that list. Brilliant call, Mr. Burke. You're recommendations are always top notch.
As for the stories, once again they are everything I have come to expect from Burke. Two of them I had read in a previous collection, but I didn't skip over them and enjoyed them even more the second time. It's hard to list stand out stories in such a short collection, but I think my favorite is Andromeda. It's such a perfect commentary on today's smart phone obsession. Not to mention it was creepy and unsettling in all the right places.
If you are like me and a lot of other horror fans, and you're looking for books to celebrate the Halloween season, you should definitely pick this one up. A number of the stories even take place on Halloween, so it's a perfect addition to every horror lover's October reading.
October 13, 2018
"On Halloween, we invite the monsters in, permit them their one night to terrorize us before slinking back to their graves and crypts."
Dead Leaves is a collection of "9 Tales from the Witching Season" by Kealan Patrick Burke. These stories were really fun, and this collection is a great October read. I rated all the stories between 3-4.5⭐.
My top 3 stories were Andromeda, The Toll, and The Tradition. There's a good variety here, and it didn't feel repetitive like some Halloween books do. The only one that I found to be creepy was Andromeda, so I wouldn't really call this collection scary, but it was quite entertaining.
I would also like to mention that Kealan kindly added pages of Halloween book & movie recommendations at the end of the collection, and this was such a cool thing to do for readers.
Dead Leaves is a collection of "9 Tales from the Witching Season" by Kealan Patrick Burke. These stories were really fun, and this collection is a great October read. I rated all the stories between 3-4.5⭐.
My top 3 stories were Andromeda, The Toll, and The Tradition. There's a good variety here, and it didn't feel repetitive like some Halloween books do. The only one that I found to be creepy was Andromeda, so I wouldn't really call this collection scary, but it was quite entertaining.
I would also like to mention that Kealan kindly added pages of Halloween book & movie recommendations at the end of the collection, and this was such a cool thing to do for readers.
October 10, 2022
He loved autumn; the way the leaves turned a panoply of colors before the trees let them go; the earthy aroma the breeze ferried across the fields; the crackle of frost, the clean taste of the air, the way the streets looked after the rain had come and gone… It seemed to swirl around them with its cape of dead leaves, hiding them from the rest of the world.”
Four novellas and one short story collection later, and I remain very torn on Kealen Patrick Burke. He just hasn’t been consistent for me, and this collection is a fine example of this.
Overall, it’s not a bad collection of Halloween and Fall-themed horror stories. None of these stories suck, but some are pretty weak. His writing isn’t consistent either…sometimes it’s quite good, other times, not so much. The dialogue in particular often isn’t believable, or just feels a bit, contrived maybe? The first story, and the weakest, is a prime example of this.
I did very much enjoy The Toll, Haven, and The One Night of the Year. How The Moon Receives Us had some excellent Irish autumn imagery that I really liked. Burke is a writer with great ideas; big and scary ideas that I love, but I’ve found that there is often something lacking in the execution. I do however think this collection was enjoyable enough to keep my attention and get me ready for Halloween—it’s also quite short, which may have helped. The book also contained an introduction that I really loved and could relate to as a horror fan.
Four novellas and one short story collection later, and I remain very torn on Kealen Patrick Burke. He just hasn’t been consistent for me, and this collection is a fine example of this.
Overall, it’s not a bad collection of Halloween and Fall-themed horror stories. None of these stories suck, but some are pretty weak. His writing isn’t consistent either…sometimes it’s quite good, other times, not so much. The dialogue in particular often isn’t believable, or just feels a bit, contrived maybe? The first story, and the weakest, is a prime example of this.
I did very much enjoy The Toll, Haven, and The One Night of the Year. How The Moon Receives Us had some excellent Irish autumn imagery that I really liked. Burke is a writer with great ideas; big and scary ideas that I love, but I’ve found that there is often something lacking in the execution. I do however think this collection was enjoyable enough to keep my attention and get me ready for Halloween—it’s also quite short, which may have helped. The book also contained an introduction that I really loved and could relate to as a horror fan.
October 29, 2025
This collection of short stories was a bit of a mixed bag for me. Some stories I absolutely loved while other ones just left me feeling indifferent. Not to say I disliked them, they just didn’t really make me feel anything and seemed a bit flowery compared to Burke’s usual standards and unlike his other writing. But the stories I did enjoy were beyond excellent and cement why I love Burke’s work as an author so much. The atmosphere of fear and underlying dread he manages to create within so few pages with certain stories in this collection astounds me. I’ve mostly read longer novellas by him so far and to see that he can apply the same skill he does with those longer stories with shorter stories is impressive, to pack so much into so few words takes a lot of skill. So while I didn’t absolutely love every story I still definitely recommend this collection for the spooky season; there’s a few real gems in here and the stories I didn’t enjoy weren’t bad, just not my personal taste!
October 28, 2023
This is a solid book of spooky short stories perfect for the season. Burke's ability to encompass a descriptive and complete story in just a few pages is a unique talent, not leaving the reader wishing for more. I enjoyed every story and some definitely gave me the chills. Well done!
December 3, 2019
Παρακολουθώντας την τέχνη της διήγησης, μέσα από ταινίες και βιβλία, έρχομαι συχνά αντιμέτωπος με το εξής ερώτημα: τι κάνει τελικά μια εξιστόρηση καλή; Ταινίες και βιβλία από δημιουργούς αφανείς λειτουργούν εξαιρετικά, κόντρα στις προσδοκίες του κοινού, όπως κόντρα στις προσδοκίες του κοινού, πράγματα που θα έπρεπε να είναι καλά, καταλήγουν μέτρια. Έρχομαι ολοένα και πιο κοντά στην απάντηση, η οποία είναι χρήσιμη, γιατί μπορεί να εφαρμοστεί σε πάμπολλες εκφάνσεις της καθημερινότητάς μας, και η οποία χονδροειδώς είναι η εξής: να μην κάνεις εκπτώσεις σε καμιά πτυχή της περαίωσης του οράματός σου. Δεν αρκεί να γράφεις καλά, ούτε να έχεις μια εξαιρετική ιστορία, ούτε να έχεις το δικός σου ύφος. Πρέπει να τα έχεις όλα αυτά, και άλλα τόσα (π.χ. πείσμα, τύχη, γνώσεις). Χοντρικά; Όσοι είναι εξαιρετικά καλοί σε κάτι, είναι πολύ καλοί και σε πολλά μικρά άλλα πράγματα που συνθέτουν το όλον αυτού με το οποίο έχουν καταπιαστεί. Δεν ξέρω για εσάς, αλλά εγώ αυτό το θεωρώ σπάνιο. Μάλλον για αυτό είναι τόσο λίγοι οι καλοί και τόσο πολλοί οι μέτριοι σ' αυτήν την ζωή.
Σ' αυτό το βιβλίο το Kealan Patrick Burke, τον οποίον δεν ήξερα αλλά είμαι τόσο χαρούμενος που γνώρισα, δουλεύουν όλο τόσο καλά, που το θεωρώ ως την καλύτερη συλλογή τρόμου που διάβασα φέτος. Όπως ο τίτλος και το εξώφυλλο εύγλωττα λένε, οι ιστορίες έχουν ένα κοινό θέμα, την εποχή το Χάλογουιν ή γενικότερα το Φθινόπωρο. Παρότι Ιρλανδός, ο Burker, γράφει εξαιρετικά πειστικές ιστορίες της Αμερικάνικης επαρχίας. Επίσης γράφει με αυτοσυγκράτηση, ακριβώς αυτά που χρειάζεται η ιστορία, και δεν αναλώνεται σε πολυλογίες, πράμα που εκτιμώ πολύ.
Όσοι αγαπάτε τον τρόμο, διαβάστε άφοβα Burke. Την στιγμή που γράφονται αυτές οι γραμμές, έχω ήδη διαβάσει (απανωτά) τέσσερα βιβλία του, και είμαι παραπάνω από ικανοποιημένος. Είναι άλλο ένα όνομα που προσθέτω στους άξιους, νέους συγραφείς του είδους.
Σ' αυτό το βιβλίο το Kealan Patrick Burke, τον οποίον δεν ήξερα αλλά είμαι τόσο χαρούμενος που γνώρισα, δουλεύουν όλο τόσο καλά, που το θεωρώ ως την καλύτερη συλλογή τρόμου που διάβασα φέτος. Όπως ο τίτλος και το εξώφυλλο εύγλωττα λένε, οι ιστορίες έχουν ένα κοινό θέμα, την εποχή το Χάλογουιν ή γενικότερα το Φθινόπωρο. Παρότι Ιρλανδός, ο Burker, γράφει εξαιρετικά πειστικές ιστορίες της Αμερικάνικης επαρχίας. Επίσης γράφει με αυτοσυγκράτηση, ακριβώς αυτά που χρειάζεται η ιστορία, και δεν αναλώνεται σε πολυλογίες, πράμα που εκτιμώ πολύ.
Όσοι αγαπάτε τον τρόμο, διαβάστε άφοβα Burke. Την στιγμή που γράφονται αυτές οι γραμμές, έχω ήδη διαβάσει (απανωτά) τέσσερα βιβλία του, και είμαι παραπάνω από ικανοποιημένος. Είναι άλλο ένα όνομα που προσθέτω στους άξιους, νέους συγραφείς του είδους.
January 27, 2016
Buddy Read with Horror Aficionados Group
Currently free e-book on Amazon for the Halloween Season
Halloween is the perfect time of the year to whip out horror books, snuggle on the couch and watch horror flicks, turn on cheesy horror music, and eat too much candy. Kealan Patrick Burke indulges readers with an anthology featuring eight different short stories that may not all cater around Halloween, but which all fit a spooky October mood.
Some of the stories are a little similar but they mainly stand on their own.
Someone to Carve the Pumpkins is a good opener, although somewhat sad. Great opening for Halloween and that supernatural feel. Haven was twisted and odd, think half the surreal thing flew over my head...How The Night Receives Them spends its time mystifying the reader until it tosses out the twist answer in the end. Tonight The Moon Is Ours is my favorite story - surreal and twisted stuff, I dug the dark fairy tale feel. The Toll, one of the longer offerings, shows what happens to a demented man in a demented situation. In-depth characterization feel.
Will You Tell Them I Died Quietly was also lengthy and witch-touched. A lot of people loved this one with it's Lovecraftian tone, but I didn't get into it as much. Not While I'm Around is the weakest stint - not really a story but a cheesy scene that doesn't offer much reading hope. Finally The Tradition ends the anthology with a semi-bang - there's irony and the supernatural involved.
Overall some winners mixed in with lukewarm, but still good, supernatural tales. The anthology is clever and imaginatively achieved, so if you're looking for a Halloween themed anthology, this one is worth checking out.
October 12, 2015
Fantastic collection of 8 short tales by Kealan Patrick Burke--perfect to get into that Halloween season.
I really enjoyed most of the stories in this book, but two stood out the most: THE TOLL--a story about a cruel business man's almost "calm" reaction to the horrible situation he finds himself him. This one reached out emotionally. The hatred you feel for the man continues to build, as he contemplates how he will cheat death and remain victorious. The ending for this one is so subtle--yet perfectly designed--I couldn't envision a better, more appropriate conclusion if I tried! This one I wish I could award 10 stars to!
The next favorite of mine was THE TRADITION--something about this poignant, haunted-house tale just drew me into it instantly. Bittersweet, but very memorable because of it.
Several others were all worth mentioning (in fact, there was only one that didn't capture my attention as well). Since the collection is comprised of only eight stories, I'll leave the rest for future readers to discover. Pick this one up on a crisp, Autumn day--you won't regret it.
Highly recommended!
I really enjoyed most of the stories in this book, but two stood out the most: THE TOLL--a story about a cruel business man's almost "calm" reaction to the horrible situation he finds himself him. This one reached out emotionally. The hatred you feel for the man continues to build, as he contemplates how he will cheat death and remain victorious. The ending for this one is so subtle--yet perfectly designed--I couldn't envision a better, more appropriate conclusion if I tried! This one I wish I could award 10 stars to!
The next favorite of mine was THE TRADITION--something about this poignant, haunted-house tale just drew me into it instantly. Bittersweet, but very memorable because of it.
Several others were all worth mentioning (in fact, there was only one that didn't capture my attention as well). Since the collection is comprised of only eight stories, I'll leave the rest for future readers to discover. Pick this one up on a crisp, Autumn day--you won't regret it.
Highly recommended!
October 4, 2021
Wonderful anthology! Perfect Halloween read!
October 25, 2020
I am a seasonal reader. Some books just need to be read at a certain time of the year. I wanted to read this collection in the spring but it just didn’t feel right. I can tell you that Dead Leaves was worth the wait.
My favorite stories in this collection are “How the Night Receives Them,” “The Toll,” and “The One Night of the Year.”
I loved the introduction too, a celebration of horror and Halloween. The collection ends in a list of recommended books and movies perfect for reading and watching during those spooky nights of the Halloween season.
My favorite stories in this collection are “How the Night Receives Them,” “The Toll,” and “The One Night of the Year.”
I loved the introduction too, a celebration of horror and Halloween. The collection ends in a list of recommended books and movies perfect for reading and watching during those spooky nights of the Halloween season.
April 10, 2020
Loved this book. The stories in it are well written and super creepy. Perfect short-read book for the Halloween season! 🎃
October 14, 2022
3.5* No doubt KPB is an *incredible* writer. Some of these stories were better than others for me, but overall I enjoyed this and the spooky autumn vibes were on point!
March 27, 2021
I was going to save this one to read in October, but, you know, it was just sitting there on the shelf all unguarded and beckoning and I figured that Easter would qualify... It's a collection of nine stories unified, more or less, with a Halloween theme. The back cover says The Toll is new to the book, but the copyright page lists it as originally appearing in a C.D. book, so I dunno... but, the original sources are so diffuse that I'm sure most of the stories would be new to most readers. Andromeda was my favorite of the lot, a really different sf invasion/horror mash-up. Someone to Carve the Pumpkins is a chilling haunted house story, Haven is a good ghost story, How the Night Receives Them is a very well done take on a traditional campfire-ghost legend, Tonight the Moon is Ours is a traditional fantasy folk lore tale with a dark twist, and The Toll is a re-telling of the traditional premature burial story. Will You Tell Them I Died Quietly? is okay, a very moody thing, The Tradition is another nice haunted house story, and the last story, The One Night of the Year, is another one of the best written, as well as one of the best at fitting the theme. Good stories; I enjoyed them even in the off season. Pick a dark and windy night to help with the mood. The book concludes with several pages of Burke's recommendations of books to read and movies to watch for the season, and, as always with such lists, it's fun to pick and choose and wonder how he could list -this- but miss -that-.
October 15, 2018
I am all about autumn—the best time of the year. It makes sense that Halloween falls during this transitional period, a time of change, leaves turning from a summer green to the bright burn of orange and red, the last harvest, and all the while a chill in the air reminding us of the spiral toward the inevitable conclusion of winter, and death.
Burke has these themes in mind in his nine short stories of this collection (previously published in e-book format a few years ago, but now with one new story). It is a great little October read.
While I did enjoy the atmosphere the stories created, I found most of them overwritten in parts, focusing so much on fancy word choice, overwrought scene dressing, and dialogue that came off as stilted and unnatural that I was pulled out of the narratives. I don’t have anything against beautiful writing, but the mechanics of writing shouldn’t overwhelm the story.
On the level of plot, there are spooky and dark themes at work and I found his ideas original and entertaining. Several of the stories did follow a similar format of over-explaining at the end, which I don’t personally think is a great short story technique, especially when the story is only taking up a few pages. That isn’t much time to create a world and compelling characters, and as a reader, I’ve always found it more effective to let the characters speak rather than offering an an exposition dump.
I’m glad I picked up this collection because I really can’t get enough of stories about fall and Halloween, but these stories didn’t quite hit the spot for me.
I can tell that Burke has a dark and imaginative mind though, and I have heard a lot of good things about his novels. I am looking forward to reading one of those next.
Burke has these themes in mind in his nine short stories of this collection (previously published in e-book format a few years ago, but now with one new story). It is a great little October read.
While I did enjoy the atmosphere the stories created, I found most of them overwritten in parts, focusing so much on fancy word choice, overwrought scene dressing, and dialogue that came off as stilted and unnatural that I was pulled out of the narratives. I don’t have anything against beautiful writing, but the mechanics of writing shouldn’t overwhelm the story.
On the level of plot, there are spooky and dark themes at work and I found his ideas original and entertaining. Several of the stories did follow a similar format of over-explaining at the end, which I don’t personally think is a great short story technique, especially when the story is only taking up a few pages. That isn’t much time to create a world and compelling characters, and as a reader, I’ve always found it more effective to let the characters speak rather than offering an an exposition dump.
I’m glad I picked up this collection because I really can’t get enough of stories about fall and Halloween, but these stories didn’t quite hit the spot for me.
I can tell that Burke has a dark and imaginative mind though, and I have heard a lot of good things about his novels. I am looking forward to reading one of those next.
September 27, 2016
I enjoyed reading this group of stories perfect for this time of year (just before Halloween). I gave Dead Leaves 3 1/2 stars.
October 6, 2018
"Sometimes there's enough darkness in the world without adding to it under the guise of something pretty."
I have been meaning to read Kealan Patrick Burke for some time now. This is one example of the ol' Bookstagram machine charming me! He comes highly recommended in the community & as a bonus, seems like a pretty rad dude. When I saw his announcement for Dead Leaves on Twitter, I finally pulled the figurative trigger & bought my first book by this beloved horror writer. I'm happy to say, it won't be my last!
"The graveyard yawned wide revealing crooked stone teeth set on green-capped gums of misshapen earth."
This was a fun collection to read with my favorite season descending upon us! The slow tension that works its way throughout is perfect for this time of the year.
It is a great little anthology for those who want to read something a bit spookier, but aren't into anything too horrifying. These stories mostly play on the mental aspect, rather than outright physical terror.
Dead Leaves is haunting, suffocating, atmospheric & dripping in sadness. Many of these stories felt incredibly melancholic. They were surprisingly emotional.. like a stake to the heart! Fucking hell.
My favorites were:
-How the Night Receives Them
-Tonight the Moon is Ours
-The Toll
-The Tradition
-The One Night of the Year
I cannot wait to dive into some more of KPB's work. I'm glad I began with Dead Leaves, because it is a wonderful starting point. This was a glimpse into what type of writer he is. Now I'm interested in grasping onto more of his longer stories & seeing what his individual, more-detailed characterizations are like!
I have been meaning to read Kealan Patrick Burke for some time now. This is one example of the ol' Bookstagram machine charming me! He comes highly recommended in the community & as a bonus, seems like a pretty rad dude. When I saw his announcement for Dead Leaves on Twitter, I finally pulled the figurative trigger & bought my first book by this beloved horror writer. I'm happy to say, it won't be my last!
"The graveyard yawned wide revealing crooked stone teeth set on green-capped gums of misshapen earth."
This was a fun collection to read with my favorite season descending upon us! The slow tension that works its way throughout is perfect for this time of the year.
It is a great little anthology for those who want to read something a bit spookier, but aren't into anything too horrifying. These stories mostly play on the mental aspect, rather than outright physical terror.
Dead Leaves is haunting, suffocating, atmospheric & dripping in sadness. Many of these stories felt incredibly melancholic. They were surprisingly emotional.. like a stake to the heart! Fucking hell.
My favorites were:
-How the Night Receives Them
-Tonight the Moon is Ours
-The Toll
-The Tradition
-The One Night of the Year
I cannot wait to dive into some more of KPB's work. I'm glad I began with Dead Leaves, because it is a wonderful starting point. This was a glimpse into what type of writer he is. Now I'm interested in grasping onto more of his longer stories & seeing what his individual, more-detailed characterizations are like!
October 12, 2020
I have been in such a fall mood lately. All I want to do is read scary stories, watch scary movies, drink pumpkin flavored coffee, and walk in these cooler temperatures while watching the leaves change.
Fall is my favorite season. 🎃
With that said, I was looking forward to reading this creepy book filled with short stories and sadly it fell a little flat for me.
A few of the stories, I did actually enjoy, and felt they were perfectly creepy for halloween; but some of them were just a bit too strange and just didn’t make sense to me. By too strange, I mean they just were stories that were way out there and just kind of ended without a purpose.
3.5 ⭐️
#bookstagram #books #bookcommunity #halloween
Fall is my favorite season. 🎃
With that said, I was looking forward to reading this creepy book filled with short stories and sadly it fell a little flat for me.
A few of the stories, I did actually enjoy, and felt they were perfectly creepy for halloween; but some of them were just a bit too strange and just didn’t make sense to me. By too strange, I mean they just were stories that were way out there and just kind of ended without a purpose.
3.5 ⭐️
#bookstagram #books #bookcommunity #halloween
October 16, 2021
These were perfect short horror stories for fall. I would not say they are really halloween heavy stories which was a bit of a let down since I wanted more Halloween atmosphere and see more things related to the spooky season.
Really enjoyed the variety of topics in the stories and the great book and movie recommendation list for Halloween. That was excellent to see.
Really enjoyed the variety of topics in the stories and the great book and movie recommendation list for Halloween. That was excellent to see.
May 10, 2022
Blog Review: https://letsgetgalactic.com/2018/10/1...
“SOMETIMES THERE’S ENOUGH DARKNESS IN THE WORLD WITHOUT ADDING TO IT UNDER THE GUISE OF SOMETHING PRETTY.”
Kealan Patrick Burke is one of the more recent authors I’ve discovered through the amazing bookstagram community, and he was very quickly added to my “auto-buy authors” list – a list that consists of authors that could release anything – ANYTHING, from poetry to cookbooks – and I’d buy it and read it eagerly. The first thing I read by him was one of his novellas, ‘SOUR CANDY‘, and I immediately bought a few more ebooks by him!
With DEAD LEAVES, I’d seen it around on Instagram and Goodreads, and it looked perfect for my October TBR, so I grabbed the ebook on sale for my Kindle. Two stories into it, I knew it was something I wanted to have a physical copy of on my shelves, so I used part of my birthday book gift card and scooped it up! The spookiness of Burke’s writing lends itself perfectly to the creepiness of each story, and I found it difficult to choose a favorite – or even a couple!
There are 9 stories in total collected here, with one of them being published for the first time. The short book packs an even bigger punch than just with the great stories, too – Burke also includes an introduction, as well as a list of his recommended horror movies and books, perfect for anyone looking to broaden their viewing & reading horizons into the macabre.
I’ve included a brief description of a few of the stories I liked best on my blog, so make sure to follow the link – although I started with 7 of 9 and had to keep downsizing to get here, so honestly, they’re all worth reading!
“SOMETIMES THERE’S ENOUGH DARKNESS IN THE WORLD WITHOUT ADDING TO IT UNDER THE GUISE OF SOMETHING PRETTY.”
Kealan Patrick Burke is one of the more recent authors I’ve discovered through the amazing bookstagram community, and he was very quickly added to my “auto-buy authors” list – a list that consists of authors that could release anything – ANYTHING, from poetry to cookbooks – and I’d buy it and read it eagerly. The first thing I read by him was one of his novellas, ‘SOUR CANDY‘, and I immediately bought a few more ebooks by him!
With DEAD LEAVES, I’d seen it around on Instagram and Goodreads, and it looked perfect for my October TBR, so I grabbed the ebook on sale for my Kindle. Two stories into it, I knew it was something I wanted to have a physical copy of on my shelves, so I used part of my birthday book gift card and scooped it up! The spookiness of Burke’s writing lends itself perfectly to the creepiness of each story, and I found it difficult to choose a favorite – or even a couple!
There are 9 stories in total collected here, with one of them being published for the first time. The short book packs an even bigger punch than just with the great stories, too – Burke also includes an introduction, as well as a list of his recommended horror movies and books, perfect for anyone looking to broaden their viewing & reading horizons into the macabre.
I’ve included a brief description of a few of the stories I liked best on my blog, so make sure to follow the link – although I started with 7 of 9 and had to keep downsizing to get here, so honestly, they’re all worth reading!
October 6, 2015
A good collection of Halloween tales. As with any collection of this sort, some stories were better than others.
I personally enjoyed Someone to Carve the Pumpkins, The Toll, Tonight the Moon is Ours, Not While I'm Around and The Tradition best. Those are most straight forward horror stories. Some may say those are the more predictable, but I still thought they accomplished what the writer wanted them to.
The other stories weren't bad, but some of them weren't as clear cut and didn't pack the punch of the stories mentioned above.
The author seems very talented, and many of the stories could have been expanded into longer works and been even more enjoyable. Overall, a great read for the Halloween season that I recommend.
I personally enjoyed Someone to Carve the Pumpkins, The Toll, Tonight the Moon is Ours, Not While I'm Around and The Tradition best. Those are most straight forward horror stories. Some may say those are the more predictable, but I still thought they accomplished what the writer wanted them to.
The other stories weren't bad, but some of them weren't as clear cut and didn't pack the punch of the stories mentioned above.
The author seems very talented, and many of the stories could have been expanded into longer works and been even more enjoyable. Overall, a great read for the Halloween season that I recommend.
October 8, 2018
This book is Autumn in book form!! I absolutely love KPB’s writing. It is so rich and atmospheric! Full of the smells and sounds of Fall and Halloween!
My absolute favorite short story is Someone to Carve the Pumpkins. Falling a close second is The One Night of the Year, which filled me with such sadness while having a creepy factor that chilled me to the bone!
If you have not read Kealan Patrick Burke’s work please stop reading this and go rectify this, you will not regret it!!!
My absolute favorite short story is Someone to Carve the Pumpkins. Falling a close second is The One Night of the Year, which filled me with such sadness while having a creepy factor that chilled me to the bone!
If you have not read Kealan Patrick Burke’s work please stop reading this and go rectify this, you will not regret it!!!
March 12, 2015
These were short but sweet scary stories that were a treat to read. I was going to save this for Halloween time, but let's face it... I needed room on my Kindle. A couple of these stories were outstanding and could have made excellent books, others were okay, but still a great quick Halloween read.
October 15, 2015
Great anthology of spooky halloween short tales:
Someone to carve the Pumpkins 4/5 ★★★★
Haven 3/5 ★★★
How the night receives them 2/5 ★★
Tonight the moon is ours 4/5 ★★★★
The toll 3/5 ★★★
Will you tell them I died quietly 5/5 ★★★★★(The lovecraftian "yawning man" and the town in the story really deserve a full-lenght novel!!!)
Not while I'm around 4/5 ★★★★
The tradition 5/5 ★★★★★
This is my firstKealan Patrick Burke's book and I really enjoyed it. Need to read more of this author as soon as possible.
A must read for horror lovers.
Someone to carve the Pumpkins 4/5 ★★★★
Haven 3/5 ★★★
How the night receives them 2/5 ★★
Tonight the moon is ours 4/5 ★★★★
The toll 3/5 ★★★
Will you tell them I died quietly 5/5 ★★★★★(The lovecraftian "yawning man" and the town in the story really deserve a full-lenght novel!!!)
Not while I'm around 4/5 ★★★★
The tradition 5/5 ★★★★★
This is my firstKealan Patrick Burke's book and I really enjoyed it. Need to read more of this author as soon as possible.
A must read for horror lovers.
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