Devil's Night: A Halloween Short Story

by Richard Chizmar

It all started on a wind-blown Friday night in October. It was the night before Halloween, the night we always called Wreck Night or Devil's Night back when we were kids and Halloween was second in our hearts only to Christmas. At least the newspapers got that much right. The day, I mean. They pretty much screwed up the rest of the story. I was there that night. Let me tell you what really happened…

Genres: Horror, Halloween, Short Stories, Thriller, Ebooks

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 28, 2012

About the author

Richard Chizmar is a New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Amazon, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author.

He is the co-author (with Stephen King) of the bestselling novella, Gwendy’s Button Box and the founder/publisher of Cemetery Dance magazine and the Cemetery Dance Publications book imprint. He has edited more than 35 anthologies and his short fiction has appeared in dozens of publications, including multiple editions of Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine and The Year’s 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories. He has won two World Fantasy awards, four International Horror Guild awards, and the HWA’s Board of Trustee’s award.

Chizmar (in collaboration with Johnathon Schaech) has also written screenplays and teleplays for United Artists, Sony Screen Gems, Lions Gate, Showtime, NBC, and many other companies. He has adapted the works of many bestselling authors including Stephen King, Peter Straub, and Bentley Little.

Chizmar is also the creator/writer of the online website, Stephen King Revisited. His fourth short story collection, The Long Way Home, was published in 2019. With Brian Freeman, Chizmar is co-editor of the acclaimed Dark Screams horror anthology series published by Random House imprint, Hydra.

His latest book, The Girl on the Porch, was released in hardcover by Subterranean Press, and Widow’s Point, a chilling novella about a haunted lighthouse written with his son, Billy Chizmar, was recently adapted into a feature film.

Chizmar’s work has been translated into more than fifteen languages throughout the world, and he has appeared at numerous conferences as a writing instructor, guest speaker, panelist, and guest of honor.

Reviews

[LTJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Devil's Night: A Halloween Short Story” by Richard Chizmar is one of those books I’ve had stashed on my TBR for a while that I never got around to. Now that 2024 is here, I wanted to start the new year by reading all the short stories and novellas on my TBR so when I hit the 800-1,200+ page tomes on my TBR (I’m looking at you, The Dark Tower series), I have a head start.

What better way to start the new year than by a short story by Chizmar? I’m a huge fan of his and always enjoy reading his content. He’s one of the best horror authors out there and over time, I will eventually read every single thing he’s written. Now, when it comes to this Halloween-inspired short story, this was a decent one but unfortunately, not as scary as I had hoped it would be.

It started great but then went from horror into more of a suspenseful thriller. Don’t get me wrong, I love Chizmar’s excellent style of writing and always will. It’s just with this short story at just 32 pages, it was a decent read with a good plot twist and pacing but needed a bigger dose of horror to check all the boxes for me.

I give “Devil's Night: A Halloween Short Story” by Richard Chizmar a 3/5 as it was an okay book but nowhere near as evil or terrifying as I was hoping for. It’s a quick short story that is fun for the most part but is more on the thriller/suspense side of the spectrum than actual horror. The characters are good as is the story but if you’re looking for something to creep you out or keep you up late at night horrified, this probably won’t do it for you.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good short story, but it wasn't scary. The book is about a teacher at a high school that witnesses a murder and his thoughts on what he should do about it. The story moves along at a fast pace, but there was no scare factor involved in this book. Giving it three stars.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A high school teacher who often goes for little drives at night spots someone in costume carry a dead girl into the woods on what happens to be Devil's Night. When he decides to investigate instead of reporting it to the police, he finds answers he never expected.
While solidly written, the story is really more of a thriller than horror, the Halloween season aside. 3.5/5*

[Janette Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Creepy Chizmar short story before going to bed. I’m soooo ready for spooky season!!!

[kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. McKay is a husband, a father, a teacher. He is out driving around town the night before Halloween—Devil’s Night, a night for mischief—to clear his head when he witnesses something disturbing that links back to the high school.
5⭐️ Chizmar has a true gift for creating an astonishing, foreboding atmosphere, even in a few short pages. I originally read this story as part of the Halloween Carnival Volume 5

[DA · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisty little tale

I liked this story simply because you really don't know where it's going. A tense Halloween story with an ending that is not what you're expecting.

[Jeff O'Brien · Rating 2 out of 5]

Isn't Cemetery Dance supposed to be one of the most prestigious horror publications out there? There were typos on almost every other page of this story. Wrong words, missing words, etc. The story might have been okay but the lack of editing and resulting nonsensical sentences kept me from really getting into it and left me spending more time trying to decipher what the author intended to say.

Nothing against the author. I know he's good. Just very disappointed in the publisher.

[The_5ft_reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting short story, nkt scary but a quick who Dunn it!

[Martin Meek · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a wind Cool Chrisp Friday in October is when it all started. It was Halloween eve night when it all began. Then night they call Devils Night. This was when the main characters held Halloween big only second to Christmas. a high school English teacher who witnesses a violent incident on the night before Halloween, forever changing his perspective on the nature of evil.
Richard chizmar knows how to craft a short story second to none to Stephen King. The characters are crafted and rounded in a sentence. The scenery and setting are well detailed for a short story. Richard pulls you into the short story and holds you till the end. I read the story he wrote with Stephen King and this is my first non collaboration even though it is a short story. If you are looking for a story to get you hooked on Richard chizmar try this short story today...

[Megan Wintrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been really enjoying Richard Chizmar's books at the moment and I stumbled across this on the kindle store, so naturally I had to get it and I love Halloween so the pumpkin pulled me in!

This story was brilliant, it really captivated me and kept me wanting more. It's a short story with a punch! Brilliant!

[Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devil’s Night by Richard Chizmar
Rating (5/5) 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃
Short read for the Halloween season!

The story itself, keeps you gripped from beginning to end. I did not see that end coming at all.

[Jenelle Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grabbed this story a few months ago and saved it for today! So in honor of Devil's night, I read it. :D


Holy crap. This book scared me. Somewhere in the middle of the story, I thought "I should talk to my kid about being careful about the boys she dates". By the end I realized that wouldn't always help would it? You can't help it if the boy dated a crazy chick before you.

For a short story, Devil's Night did a great job pulling me and plopping me right into the story. The main characters late night drives, the Halloween dance...I could picture all of it. The characters seemed to capture teenagers perfectly. This whole story just felt really real. And it scared me.

I really really hope my kids grow up to be nerds who would skip the dance.

[Gabi Porcz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books about Halloween interest me greatly and this one was no exception.

It kinda reminded me a little bit, at a certain point, of Fear Street - Halloween Party by R. L. Stine. The twist was enjoyable and the character that brought about the death of the female student was vicious, to say the least.

I also enjoyed the slight end 'reveal' as to what actually happened. Also, the main character (Mr. McKay) seeing the faces of the other characters in his mind was a very nice visual touch at the end.

Four Stars.

And in case you didn't know, the author, Richard Chizmar, is the founder of Cemetery Dance Publications. Go and check out their website for more excellent hardcovers, paperbacks and ebooks.

[J.C. Brennan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ah, high school, a time of growth, of leaning, of love and broken hearts. The last story in the Four Halloweens is a must read.
A teacher, Mr. McKay, goes out for a drive on Devil’s night to clear his head. He is parked in an old post office parking lot smoking a cigarette when a car pulls in, a man stumbles out and begins heaving. Mr. McKay finds it humors until the man gets up, goes to his truck and he sees what the man had pulled out. Devil’s night, the night of mischief or not, this is too much for the teacher. Mr. McKay cannot let it go. Devil's night will never been the same.
Wow, Richard Chizmar truly knows how to tell a story! This one had me biting my nails until the end.

[Jamie Johnson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't understand how and why people constantly proclaim that "man killing man" is included in the horror genre. No its is simply put, murder. This short story holds absolutely no supernatural or paranormal element. When a person kills another person that is murder. There is nothing within these pages that makes this a horror fiction short story. I am very disappointed that I allowed myself to be fooled by the cover and the books synopsis

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this short story. It was very well written. Characters were well developed (which can be difficult in short stories) and enjoyed reading it around Halloween time! It was not really scary or what I would consider "horror" but a well written good story. This is first I have read by this author and I will definitely read more that he has written.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty good for a short story.

I've never read Richard Chizmar before, although I'd heard good things about his writing. If Devil's Night is a good example, I must read more by him.

This story would have made a good episode of Twilight Zone. All the elements are there, and the characters are reasonably filled out.

I wasn't surprised by the ending, though.

[Kay Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chizmar is a literary genius. How have I not read his work before??? This short story was haunting and the characters were excellent. And just when you think it's over and solved, BOOM! a twist. Perfect for Halloween.

[Brandon Reviews Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and Sweet

A really great quick read about a teacher who finds the body of one of his students. Richard Chizmar really knows how to grab you and keep you turning the pages, and wishing there was more after the last one.

[Christopher Adkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sensational

This is another sensational story by Richard Chizmar. Once you start reading you won't be able to put it down. The plot seems cliché at first but then you are sent down a dark and twisted path that you couldn't see coming from a mile away.

[Sean Peltier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect Spooky Story

Richard has a way to transform you to the locations he describes.

The story, although a short one, has excellent pacing, a great story and got me ready for spooky season! I highly recommend this one and his other works as well!

[Pamela Abel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprised

This was a good short story. Just when I thought it was over ,there was a twist. I would recommend this

[SHARON LUCILLE ALEXANDER · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice twist to the story

This quick tale was entertaining (written in the 1st person) with an unexpected twist — and a milque -toast ending, but still it was a fun read.

[Scott Sarley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect, quick October read!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good writing

I am so impressed with this short story. The writing is excellent. I wish that I could do it this efficiently and entertaining. Great Halloween stuff.

[Wendi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good short story for passing time when you’re waiting for something/someone or when you can’t sleep. Predictable, but I love how Chizmar writes.

[MR ALEXANDER DICKINSON · Rating 4 out of 5]

So so Halloween story. The amount of detail crammed into the 32 pages is remarkable. The twist wasn’t wholly unexpected.

[Joseph Vinci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story

Taken in the context of the mid-atlantic region, and today's headlines, it scares you to think about smart kids killing.

[Roland Deschain · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun little spooky season story.
I to enjoy Richard Chizmar's writing style.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cut and fast crime read with little depth but still enjoyable. Kinda cozy.