Evil Stalks the Night

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

Twenty years ago psychic Sarah Summers fled from the evil that lurked in the woods behind her childhood home after it killed most of her family, but a nasty divorce and financial hardships forced her back when nothing else could. With her son, Jeremy, she returns to her grandmother’s dilapidated house and tries to begin a new life. She meets an eligible man, police detective, Ben, who falls for her, and she prays her fresh visions of bloodshed and death deep among the dark trees are not true. Then the murders begin again and Sarah is hurtled back into the same nightmare that has haunted her her whole life. The evil in the woods is awake again…and this time it wants her last remaining brother, her son…and her. With Ben’s and Jim’s help can she defeat it this time…and live?

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Paranormal, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery

457 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

About Kathryn Meyer Griffith 2023
Since childhood I’ve been an artist, and have worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over fifty-one years ago now, and have had thirty-five (romantic horror, horror novels, romantic SF horror, romantic suspense, romantic time travel, historical romance, thrillers, one non-fiction short story collection, dinosaur books, and murder mysteries) previous novels and thirteen short stories published from various traditional publishers since 1984. But I’ve gone into self-publishing in a big way since 2012; and upon getting all my previous books’ full rights back for the first time in 36 years, have self-published all of them. My seven Dinosaur Lake novels and Spookie Town Murder Mysteries (Scraps of Paper, All Things Slip Away, Ghosts Beneath Us, Witches Among Us, What Lies Beneath the Graves, All Those Who Came Before, When the Fireflies Returned, and Echoes of Other Times) are my best-sellers.
I was married to Russell for over forty-three years; have a son, two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. I live in a small quaint town in Illinois. I have a quirky cat, Sasha, and we live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk/classic rock singer in my youth with my late brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.
2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *Finalist* for her horror novel The Last Vampire ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS * Finalist * for her thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.

*All Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s books can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/ld4jlow
*All her Audible.com audio books here:
http://tinyurl.com/oz7c4or

Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:
Evil Stalks the Night, The Heart of the Rose, Blood Forged, Vampire Blood, The Last Vampire (2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Horror category), Witches, Witches II: Apocalypse, Witches plus Witches II: Apocalypse, The Nameless One erotic horror short story, The Calling, Scraps of Paper (The First Spookie Town Murder Mystery), All Things Slip Away (The Second Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Ghosts Beneath Us (The Third Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Witches Among Us (The Fourth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), What Lies Beneath the Graves (The Fifth Spookie Town Murder Mystery; sixth, All Who Came Before, When the Fireflies Returned (the seventh Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Echoes of Other Times (the eighth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Egyptian Heart, Winter’s Journey, The Ice Bridge, Don’t Look Back, Agnes, A Time of Demons and Angels, The Woman in Crimson, Human No Longer, Six Spooky Short Stories Collection, Forever and Always Romantic Novella, Night Carnival Short Story, Dinosaur Lake (2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Thriller/Adventure category), Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising, Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation and Dinosaur Lake IV: Dinosaur Wars, Dinosaur Lake V: Survivors, Dinosaur Lake VI: The Alien Connection, Dinosaur Lake VII: The Aliens Return, Memories of My Childhood, and Christmas Magic 1959.

Her Websites:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathrynG64
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Reviews

[Tara Rock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll thank friend Peter, our Horror aficionado, for directing me to this book which is an old fashioned, scary tale from the 80's. An excellent read which I very much enjoyed.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, what a story. An evil entity extinguishes a whole family. Only two persons remain. Sarah and her brother Jimmy. After her divorce Sarah moves back to Suncrest and evil starts anew. Sarah has a son, Jeremy, who's on the list of the unknown evil that stalks the woods surrounding their house. I really liked the eerie atmosphere, the different perspectives (you'll even have one from within the evil entity), the 80s touch, the frustration that there seems to be no cure against the evil force and the interesting denouement described in Jimmy's journal (I also like the description of life itself). There are also some cheesy romantic passages (to me) like Sarah's involvement with Jonathan and later on Ben. I also would have read more about grandmother's role in protecting Sarah and the ring (even though it was a massive novel those details were missing). Sometimes chapters ended with bad forebodings (the author didn't have to refer to that stylistic device, her narration made it already clear). The author also could have shortened down the story a bit. But overall a classic read from the Golden Age of Horror. You get the full package here. Really recommended!

[Sherry Fundin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhh, summer vacation. The memories. BUT…she felt like she was being watched.

DON’T GO IN THE WOODS! How many times must we be told. LOL

Her terror starts early. What do you see in the woods? Shadows? Flickers of life? Sarah knows what she see all those years ago, though no one believed her. She believes she is in this alone.

I love the feeling of dread that hangs on every word, every sentence, every page. I love that Sarah studies everything about the supernatural that she can get her hands on, preparing for what is to come. She believes in her God and loved her Catholic school days. She walks in both worlds. She is older than her years, strong, determined to keep those she loves safe.

Life had been hard for her, so much pain and loss. She has her son and her brother, Jimmy. Everyone else is gone. She had left, but it called her home and it was time to finish it. They are trapped and I can feel her, gathering herself, preparing to fight to the death. The big question, who will survive. I will be worrying, not just about the evil, but Kathryn Meyer Griffith too. She isn’t afraid to kill off her characters.

At times, the fun dialogue made me forget the danger. That is how good Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s writing is to me. I look at the story as an adventure and I am just along for the ride, and a wild ride it is.

Kathryn Meyer Griffith has the ability to lull me into a sense of complacency even when I know evil is to come. Life goes on in a normal fashion…until, wham, bam…I don’t know how many times I thought I knew what was going to happen or that the end was near, only to be given more, another terror, another event of devastating proportions.

Shades of her true life share some of the pages, but I hope she doesn’t walk the woods at night looking for evil anywhere but in her mind! LOL

Wowed. Amazed. And she broke my heart.

See more at fundinmental

[Quentin Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Not a bad horror novel. This came out in the 80s, and this the time of novel I would file under the "Paperbacks from Hell" tagline as the 80s had so many weird and wonderful horror novels.

This dealt with a monster in the woods and the family that its haunted for years (centuries?) I didn't see the ending coming, and there were plenty of creepy and suspenseful moments. There were a few silly moments as well.

One that stuck out to me was when there was a child murderer loose, and the main character and her brother let her child go out to play. When he doesn't show up by dark, do they start a frantic search? Nah, they cook dinner. When the child isn't back by dinner, THEN they start a search, right? Nah, they eat dinner and keep the kid's warm from when he shows up. So, after hours of the kid missing with a child murderer on the loose, one that they fear will specifically target him, they decide they better contact the police. Oh, and then the kid shows up. Maybe I missed something here, but that scene was a real head scratcher.

But overall this is a good read and I've enjoyed everything by Ms. Griffith that I've read. If you like classic 80's horror paperbacks, it's worth a read.

[Laura Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title for this book is perfect and so is the cover. Something stalks Sarah and her family. History is repeating itself as evil stirs in the woods and children are once again the victims of it’s wrath. Could the curse be true? And can they stop the evil before it kills again?

Kathryn never fails to keep me totally immersed in her stories. She always gives me genuine characters. And her descriptions of their lives echoes my own childhood memories. Not the scary stuff though.

The evil that stalks these people is terrifying. How the author describes the malevolent entity that can’t be seen raises the hairs on my neck. The fortitude and bravery of Kathryn’s character’s gave me hope they could vanquish the evil that has stalked their family for generations. But as things go from bad to the worst possible I had my doubts.

The fact that Sarah is a psychic and can see what may have already happened and what might be going to happen doesn’t always help her. She can’t always determine past from present, and even when she can, it doesn’t mean help will arrive in time. This unpredictability really added to the suspense and had me flying though the book.

Kathryn is on my auto read list. And she’s given me another bone chilling read.

I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gripping story of a childhood where some fears are imagined but most aren’t. The tension builds slowly as the first pages are painted with the seemingly innocence and then abruptly, little stains and spots appear, presaging the bloodstained events.

The story is well-written, and telling in mostly from Sarah’s POV lends—with occasional asides by Jim and Jeremy—lend it a reality it might not have had if done otherwise. My one complaint is the way the story ends when the exact reason for the murderous entity is explained. How can I say more than that without committing a spoiler? Nothing really, except that I’d have much preferred staying in the present and not blaming a fatal blast from the past.

Nevertheless, this is a good, albeit frightening tale and won’t disappoint. Kathryn Meyer Griffith always pens a good tale. Read for yourself and see if you don’t agree.



Evil Stalks the Night is available from Damnation Books, www.damnationbooks.com
This novel was supplied by the author and no remuneration wasinvolved in the writingof this review.

[Lizzy Lessard · Rating 2 out of 5]

The leading lady ruined this novel for me. Sarah begins by telling her childhood. This part of the story is written passively, which I’m not a fan of, but the author writes the tragedies and horror very well, so I do enjoy it.

When Sarah switches to present day, she immediately throws a pity party. Her husband left her for another woman and seems not to care at all when Sarah and their son, Jeremy, leave and return to her childhood town. There’s quite a bit of inner drama and not much action for a rather large chunk. I feel like I’m reading a James Patterson novel, particularly when Sarah rejects her (obvious) future love interest.

About a third into the book, it’s no longer told only from Sarah’s POV. I enjoyed the “villain” and Jeremy’s POVs and if the story was told from just these two POVs, I would of rated the book much higher. I was so disappointed every time the book switched back to Sarah’s POV.

But, the horror elements were so damn good. I had goosebumps every time the villain popped up on screen and scenes from his POV were creepy and I wanted so much more of him. The author definitely knows how to write great horror, but I question her choice of protagonists. Sarah was weak-willed and so flat. There wasn’t anything special about her and I quite happily envisioned several ways of killing her off throughout the course of the novel. Considering that this was horror, there was a high possibility that the author would kill her off by the final pages. That was something to look forward to. ;)

I was never surprised by any of the twists and some of them, particularly those involving Jimmy, were downright predictable. Basically, worst case scenario came true. Considering that the worse that could happened, happened…I’m willing to overlook the fact that I figured out what would happen far before it did. It did surprise me that the author “went there” with a lot of things. Killing a whole lot of innocent children was only the start of it.

But overall, I felt that Sarah’s horrible personality and constant pity-parties clogged up a story that was pretty damn creepy. I would of preferred more of a focus on the evil lurking in the woods and less focus on Sarah’s issues. If you can handle a slower paced horror (with an annoying protagonist), then you would probably love Evil Stalks the Night.

(I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review.)

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 4.5 stars
This book made it official, I am a big fan of Kathryn Meyer Griffith! This was my third book from this author and I've loved each one. It was such a creepy story, and not at all cheesy. The book starts out a little slower, with a lot of set up for the rest of the story. It didn't take long to get really interesting though. I was hooked early in and couldn't stop listening. I love characters that have abilities of some kind, so I really liked that the main character was psychic. The narrator of the audiobook did an awesome job and was perfect for this story. I really enjoyed this audiobook, and I will be reading another book from this author soon!
I was provided this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

[BookLoversLife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Michelle Randall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Readers Favorites


Sarah has a large family, seven kids in all, but live is only good or a short time before something evil appears in the woods near her home. Sarah has the ability to recognize but no one else does because she comes from a long line of women with a gift, or curse. She is able to receive visions which to her has been as much a curse as it has been a gift. The evil that moved into the woods seems to focus on Sarah's family, and she doesn't understand why, even the visions that she has showing her the past, she is unable to understand and connect to her family until the very end. She is sure that the evil wants her and that to get rid of it, she would have to sacrifice herself. Evil Stalks the Night is a complex tale of unleashing evil and it following a person through lives taking its revenge over and over again. Author Kathryn Meyer Griffith weaves a well developed and multilayered story that is complex and compelling.

While Evil Stalks the Night focus on the evil and Sarah, there is also her brother Jimmy, who she is very close to that plays a big part in the story. The more the story goes on, the more you realize that Jimmy has more and more to do with the evil. Even her younger brother Charlie, who had his own problems in life, turns out to be a help in death. The things you think about people aren't always what you think they are and they surprise you in the end. Author Kathryn Meyer Griffith has written a detailed, complex and well developed story. Although there is no sex in the book there are a number of deaths, and although they are not described in detail, they are inferred to be quite gory. Therefore I would probably recommend this to adult readers.

[Staara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read 2 of Meyer Griffiths book I can say that there appears to be a theme going on here...

Granted the other 2 books were related, but it seems that we cannot get away from the Artist, who had a crappy job in some city, in advertising or a newspaper-or something like that.
Artist leaves that city, moves and in the new place wonders if their art only will help them pay the bills etc.
Then we've got a police hero, who seems almost immediately loves the artist and yet of course, lazy artist doesn't love him back-even if her husband did leave her. Then artist decides that she likes/misses/loves the cop but the artist is pretty dim & slow.

I read the book as I was curious what happened to the son. I found Sarah two dimensional and boring.

There was far too much of show, and nothing of tell, almost every chapter we learn that 'there is something evil out there, and if only Sarah could do something about it', which loses its value after the 13th or 17th chapter!

This author seems to revel in describing child brutality all those gruesome child murders, I mean seriously? Can you not chose victims other than children? and specialises in childhood suffering.

I read because I was on the son's side and wanted him to be alright.

The ending was, well it wasn't well rounded at all, it was a jumble of explanations and even then they were weak, the explanation given seemed to just be thought of and added to the book at the last minute.

Still it wasn't too bad, the pov of the evil character did make them seem a lot less threatening, and to be honest wasn't needed at all in the book, it added nothing to the story.

[Joanna Spock Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, I know this book is from 1984, but it was recommended as a very scary book to read, and although I did not find it terribly scary, I did enjoy it.
But. I am going to use it as an appalling example of total lack, or disinterest, in editing - this is NOT the fault of the writer, but the editor. Here ya go:
There is an 11-year-old boy, and for a number of pages, and then never again, he starts all is conversations with his mother with the words 'Jesus, Mom!'. Highly improbable, and that mother would never have put up with it. Then at one point the mother is 'walking on eggs'. Next - things do not 'come natural' they come naturally. And, no one has a 'speech defeat'. There was 'a old swing' - wow, my computer even tried to correct that one. How about 'prefered'? Parents punishing a child 'sent her to bed with supper again.' And, 'we can't go into those woods. Something out there.' Finally, he felt the water at the bottom of well'.
Some of the best books I have read have been nearly ruined by the POOR EDITING. They should be EMBARRASSED AND ASHAMED. The writers do not deserve this.

[Patricia Furstenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous read. You will go to bed with your lights on.

Kathryn Meyers Griffith is a master storyteller. The story begins with a picturesque image of a perfect childhood, that of Sarah Summers. But things will soon change and for the worst and we soon find this out through the bloodshed visions Sarah has.
Sarah and her son are living a nightmare and just like in a nightmare they seem trapped in a situation they cannot escape from. The woods near the house she was forced to move into (her childhood house, the one she fled from with her family to escape the evil) – wants her, her brother and her son. Will she be able to defeat it, at last, and escape alive?

Griffith draws you into this story and you cannot escape her amazing writing style. But, you will go to bed with the lights on and you will think twice before entering a wood again!

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twenty years ago psychic Sarah Summers fled from the evil that lurked in the woods behind her childhood home after it killed most of her family, but a nasty divorce and financial hardships forced her back when nothing else could have. With her son, Jeremy, she returns to her inheritance, her grandmother’s dilapidated house, and tries to begin a new life.

Of course, she cannot because evil awaits her and her son and her brother, who has also returned with her.

This is an excellent, frightening, tale that won't disappoint. It is somewhat complex, yet slightly predictable. Still, I found it a page turner and really enjoyed it.

[Nibor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story, Bad editing, hard too read

1st let me say the story itself was excellent. Kept you wanting to find out more. On just the story I would give it 4 points. I have heard people knock a book before because of bad editing. It usually doesn't bother me. I sorta fix it as I read. But sadly this time it could not be ignored. Sometimes I would have to go back a line or two to figure it out. I also like kindles audio where you can listen while reading. It gives the characters voices. This time the story on the audio did not match the print! It was like two different stories. So confusing. ☹

[Victoria Haugen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one! Well written, enjoyed the narration, great suspenseful story. You'll think twice about goin in the woods at night after this one! Not just surface creepy, intense creepy. If you love creepy stories, you'll enjoy this one! I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who likes the genre, I may even read it again! I admit, I was a tiny bit bored at the beginning but stuck with it and was SO GLAD I DID!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Kayla Palmeter · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok, but it definitely felt drawn out for what little actually seemed to happen in the plot. It feels more like something that would have made a good short story; it just didn't feel like it had enough substance to be as long as it was. The characters never felt really well-developed. Some parts were pretty tense, but there were some times I found myself skimming over parts just so I could get to the end quicker.

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had to mull over this awhile before reviewing it. I had a hard time believing the whole “it’s our only chance, we have to go back” thing. Something that killed most of your family and you’re heading straight to it with your child? Plus the whole time it was Jimmy’s fault and he just let so many people die. Kind of ridiculous. But the story was pretty creepy and morbid.

[Deb Randolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one really scared me!

So, I began reading this thinking it was just another scary, horror book. But, this one got me. The characters reached out to me and boom, just like that I was drawn into a very scary story. I won't spoil the plot but I will say that if you like a good horror story with lots of twists and turns you will love this book. It truly frightened me.

[Kylie Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this book down

I really enjoyed reading this book and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. Memorable, likeable characters. This story gave me the chills. I highly recommend this book. I have purchased more of this author's books and look forward to reading them all.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in high school in one night. I got sucked in by the pull of whatever was in the woods. As a child I was enchanted by the forest in our backyard and I spent hours there alone whenever I had the chance. The idea that there could be something sinister there was spooky and I can't resist a scary story.

[Caia_In_Wonderland · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25⭐️

Slow start with nice conclusion. The story was interesting and I liked the way it was explained.
The characters could have been a bit more fleshed out, and I think I expected a bit more horror and less mystery. The setting and writing was eery and moody which fit nicely the tale. Overall I liked it.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evil Stalks the Night

An absolutely amazing knuckle biting thriller! I could not stop reading. Let the phone go to the answering machine.😳 Come on, I am talking really holding your attention!!!!!! It's the good stuff. Thank you

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

I Love this author, I can’t seem to quit buying her books! I started with all the Spooky Town books, then the 2 witch books & now just finished the awesome book & yes I’m heading to Amazon for kindle for another one of her fabulous reads! She’s fantastic!!!!!

[Coleen Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! A real page turner.

Loved it! A real page turner! Sucked me in pretty quickly. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Cher riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book.

Very good book and really well written. Recommend it to everyone. Enjoyed it very much.Thank for sharing this book and this writer.

[Cindy Braatz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

This is a REALLY good story! The characters are well made. I loved reading it! The atmosphere is very eerie! I will DEFINITELY read this book, again!

[Martha F. Shean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a goody. A thriller, no doubt about it.

[PaperbacksandTiffanyLamps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! REALLY SCARY and absolutely unputdownable!

[Vicki Lambrecht · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nail biter

Great creepy book! It holds your attention and is very hard to put down. I found myself petting my cat a little aggressively in some parts of the book.