What do you think?
Rate this book
Nightsound
The collection NIGHTSOUND is a wealth of terror and humanity, like opening a treasure chest and gaping at the delights within. From a vampire with heart to brothers so natural you will feel you knew them back when. Twins with an awful secret, zombie tales packed with emotion, worms with attitude, walls with sounds, and werewolves with rhythm.
188 pages, Hardcover
First published July 28, 2012
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 11, 2012
I read this collection because I edited all of these stories as a favor to the author. Being a busy writer myself, I would not have gone to that time and trouble for more than a year unless I felt his stories were really worth it. I can honestly state that I believe this horror collection to be something special; in fact, I think it is truly exceptional. I also believe that Jerry W. McKinney's writing is worth your time to read. You won't regret it if you are a horror fan. Even if you are not, there is a very personal touch and down-to-earth sincerity to McKinney's style that cannot help but affect you. Each tale in this book is unique and different, conveying its own glimpse into the dark depths of a writer's mind and soul. His words will move you, twist you, whisper to you, and surprise you as they flow like a pot of spilled honey off the page into your life then transform into a buzzing bear-shaped bee-monster who will live in your closet and watch you in the dark!!!
The collection NIGHTSOUND is a wealth of terror and humanity, like opening a treasure chest and gaping at the delights within. From a vampire with heart to brothers so natural you will feel you knew them back when. Twins with an awful secret, zombie tales packed with emotion, worms with attitude, walls with sounds, and werewolves with rhythm. A serial killer rivaling Norman Bates for creepiness, another driven mad by clocks, and a third . . . well, you just have to read "I.C.U." for yourself; it is an incredible achievement that I followed eagerly from its inception! All of this and more awaits you in this book of riches, for it is a genuinely superb accomplishment from start to finish, the odyssey and bold statement of an author who has arrived in full force -- like a baby emerging from the womb feet first, kicking, screaming, wearing a beard and swinging a mean fist. I urge you to be brave. Be strong. You will quite possibly be changed by this experience. But no, you will not be sorry!
The collection NIGHTSOUND is a wealth of terror and humanity, like opening a treasure chest and gaping at the delights within. From a vampire with heart to brothers so natural you will feel you knew them back when. Twins with an awful secret, zombie tales packed with emotion, worms with attitude, walls with sounds, and werewolves with rhythm. A serial killer rivaling Norman Bates for creepiness, another driven mad by clocks, and a third . . . well, you just have to read "I.C.U." for yourself; it is an incredible achievement that I followed eagerly from its inception! All of this and more awaits you in this book of riches, for it is a genuinely superb accomplishment from start to finish, the odyssey and bold statement of an author who has arrived in full force -- like a baby emerging from the womb feet first, kicking, screaming, wearing a beard and swinging a mean fist. I urge you to be brave. Be strong. You will quite possibly be changed by this experience. But no, you will not be sorry!
Read
October 28, 2024I really enjoyed the story Paperwork. It puts on display a lot of areas where this author is skilled. For one, the dialogue is very natural. There is nothing robotic about it. The author also makes you know these characters. We have all had some version of a boss like this that is intolerable. We also know or have been the employee who has been around forever that does all the intangible tasks without recognition.
Every word in Paperwork is necessary to understand what is going on. Admittedly, I had to go back and close read it a few times to 'get it', but it was worth it, and I was intrigued enough to do so. Those are the types of stories that I enjoy. They require a little extra effort and some fun detective work. Especially because the story Paperwork was short length, such re-reading seemed par for the course and intentional. Good stuff.
Chekov's gun narrative technique used at a high-level here.
Every word in Paperwork is necessary to understand what is going on. Admittedly, I had to go back and close read it a few times to 'get it', but it was worth it, and I was intrigued enough to do so. Those are the types of stories that I enjoy. They require a little extra effort and some fun detective work. Especially because the story Paperwork was short length, such re-reading seemed par for the course and intentional. Good stuff.
Chekov's gun narrative technique used at a high-level here.
November 19, 2012
Nightsounds by Jerry W. McKinney
Reviewed by Lucy Pireel
I love to be frightened. Freaked Out even. Yes, that is capitalised and on purpose, because these shorts will scare the panties off of you. Get your knickers in a twist and have you looking under the bed, in the closet and double checking the locks on doors and windows. Knowing the things that go bump in the night will not be stopped by such trivial matters as locks or closed doors. But when that is done you’ll happily crawl back in bed to pull the covers over your head and read on.
If you like your fear served in bite-sized portions, ready to be devoured in bed while darkness surrounds you and nightsounds are audible in the house, you should definitely get this collection. It will change your perspective on certain things, and will definitely put you off from certain scents, or even places. I know I’ll not be very comfortable around big orderlies for a long time.
This collection of short and scary stories is certainly a must read if you have a craving for the disturbing horrors of Nightsounds and creatures unknown to you before.
Reviewed by Lucy Pireel
I love to be frightened. Freaked Out even. Yes, that is capitalised and on purpose, because these shorts will scare the panties off of you. Get your knickers in a twist and have you looking under the bed, in the closet and double checking the locks on doors and windows. Knowing the things that go bump in the night will not be stopped by such trivial matters as locks or closed doors. But when that is done you’ll happily crawl back in bed to pull the covers over your head and read on.
If you like your fear served in bite-sized portions, ready to be devoured in bed while darkness surrounds you and nightsounds are audible in the house, you should definitely get this collection. It will change your perspective on certain things, and will definitely put you off from certain scents, or even places. I know I’ll not be very comfortable around big orderlies for a long time.
This collection of short and scary stories is certainly a must read if you have a craving for the disturbing horrors of Nightsounds and creatures unknown to you before.
November 11, 2012
This book is terrifying, from the opening words in the first story until the closing of the back cover. Each story is scarier than the preceding one. Jerry McKinney weaves a web of horror that will suck you in and not let you go until you’re drenched in sweat and flicking your eyes back and forth looking for the things in the book that have come to life. This is a hidden master of horror, and he even manages to sneak in little heartbreaking moments here and there that will bring tears to the eyes until the next page where those tears of sorrow turn to tears of fright.
Jerry McKinney has got the touch, the scare-bone, down to a science. Nightsound is a perfect indication of how scary things can be when you look under the covers at night or don’t latch the closet door, or even when you’re enjoying a nice sunny day at the beach.
Jerry McKinney has got the touch, the scare-bone, down to a science. Nightsound is a perfect indication of how scary things can be when you look under the covers at night or don’t latch the closet door, or even when you’re enjoying a nice sunny day at the beach.
August 15, 2012
What an excellent collection of stories by Jerry McKinney. If you need some good horror stories, look no further as Jerry has you covered with some of the most unique stories, I have ever read. Some of my favorites are contained in this paperback and some new ones that I have never read I finally got to indulge in and I again, I am amazed at his talent. A quiet day at the beach ended in something between sci-fi and horror as I read Takers and I will never forget this tale. In Paperwork, I liked the ending- oh so clever. So many more, but you need to read them yourself. You will definitely find something in this collection of 15 stories to give you the creeps or to leave you second guessing yourself.
April 13, 2013
The author generously offerred to send me a free copy of this anthology, which always makes me feel a bit of trepidation about agreeing to write a review - I know that's how it works but personally I would feel bad if I ended up not enjoying the book and leaving a negative review. Thankfully my worries were unfounded, this is a great collection of short stories that I found highly entertaining and in a lot of cases pretty original. Like most anthologies there were a few stories I didn't care for as much - Death Bonds comes to mind- but overall it is a great collection. Stand outs for me include In Extremis, Lie Canthropy, Flesh and Blood and Christmas Spirit. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author, and I'm glad he contacted me.
January 31, 2013
This is a collection of Jerry McKinney's work and it is one of the best collections I have ever read. Each story in the books gives you characters that you are not only able to relate too but characters that get into your heart and mind and you will never be able to forget. In each story you are able to feel the passion of the authors heart as he brings each world to life and shares them with us all and you get many worlds. There are vampires, ghosts, zombies and so much more in this collection so you are able to find something you love or maybe find something new that you never thought you might like.
January 25, 2013
Well, I was snared with the introduction! What a unique way to begin a book and it was not misleading! This is a collection of stories that easily send chills down your spine! A full assortment of all things that go bump in the night: vampires, pods, evil twins... I must say my favorite is ICU, what an amazing twist at the end! You will definitely not be bored with this brilliant book! A fresh return to horror stories of old!
January 30, 2013
An amazing collection of short stories. All solid, all well written, all thought provoking. Favorites included Christmas Spirit, I.C.U., Patchouli and Paperwork. Mr. McKinney simply tells my kind of story.
April 12, 2013
This collection of short stories is great! Each story is filled with twists and turns and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat until complete. The action and suspense does not let up in the entire book. Love it. Have read it twice and will definitely read it again.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews