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This Damned House
This Damned House is a collection of four novelettes bound with a wraparound story of the strange man who lives in the house upon the hill, forever obsessing over the people of Greenwood Planes. Clean Freak
Growing up in filth can make a clean freak out of anyone, but what can even the most avid housekeeper do against a verminous invasion that seems to come out of nowhere? Behind the Greasepaint
Brazzy the Clown is a drunk. After another abysmal birthday party, she decides to finally commit to killing herself, only she finds that Death doesn’t want her yet. As I Lay Rotting
What happens when a couple of aging goths start to rot from the outside in? Can they get away from the threat at their door that wants their putrid flesh? Photo-Graphic Content
It started with a picture of his son molesting the family dog. Then more pictures showed up. Then videos. Soon a tight-knit family of four turn on one another as horrific secrets are unveiled.
Growing up in filth can make a clean freak out of anyone, but what can even the most avid housekeeper do against a verminous invasion that seems to come out of nowhere? Behind the Greasepaint
Brazzy the Clown is a drunk. After another abysmal birthday party, she decides to finally commit to killing herself, only she finds that Death doesn’t want her yet. As I Lay Rotting
What happens when a couple of aging goths start to rot from the outside in? Can they get away from the threat at their door that wants their putrid flesh? Photo-Graphic Content
It started with a picture of his son molesting the family dog. Then more pictures showed up. Then videos. Soon a tight-knit family of four turn on one another as horrific secrets are unveiled.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
131 pages, Paperback
Published August 16, 2023
10 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Robert Essig
93 books277 followersRobert Essig is the author of 30 books such as Baby Fights, Disco Rice, and Master of Bodies, which was nominated for a Splatterpunk Award. He has published over 130 short stories and edited three anthologies. Robert lives with his family in east Tennessee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
April 17, 2024
Fantastic!
My first read by Essig; it will not be my last. This dude is simply the real deal. I enjoyed all these stories, but my favorite was the last one, "Photo-Graphic Content." THIS DAMNED HOUSE is a harrowing, masterful collection. Highly recommended for fans of intense horror!
My first read by Essig; it will not be my last. This dude is simply the real deal. I enjoyed all these stories, but my favorite was the last one, "Photo-Graphic Content." THIS DAMNED HOUSE is a harrowing, masterful collection. Highly recommended for fans of intense horror!
April 29, 2024
This book is a collection of 4 shorter stories, all with a connected storyline woven through, and let me tell you right now….it's incredible!! 🖤
Markus is the guy in the background, he lives in the house atop the hill, all alone. Apart from the models that is, the models he takes great pride in and uses only the best materials to make. He watches the town below in the early hours of the morning, imagining what folk are up to behind their closed doors, doors that he owns….
As a child, Markus had a lot of time on his hands, and we all know the Devil makes light work of idle hands….
🪳CLEAN FREAK🪳 Vince is the clean freak, Tom, not so much, he despairs of coming home to the eye-watering stench of bleach and other chemicals his partner loves so much! (He much prefers a dirty innuendo!😉) On returning from a meal out, they notice the house smells slightly funky, which in turn brings back horrible childhood memories for Vince, and explains why he is the way he is. But, it's not just memories that arrive with the stink….
From 0 to horrific in no time at all, this was gooey, gross and stomach churning! It also made me itch! So much! Heck, I'm still itching weeks later thinking about it! It really messed with my head too, and had me seeing things out of the corner of my eye, I felt the panic and fear for real!
🤡BEHIND THE GREASEPAINT🤡 Lindsay is done with kids parties, and life in general. She's decided to end things once and for all. She's an alcoholic, that much she admits to herself, she works as a clown, entertaining others, hiding all her sorrows behind the painted on smile. An incident at the latest party pushes her over the edge, allowing Brazzy to take control, with not so happy consequences! Lindsay literally bleeds alcohol and is drowning in despair! I felt this one deeply! It was dark and emotional!
🤢AS I LAY ROTTING🤢 Reed and Angela are soul mates, a post-goth couple who haven't been apart since they first met. They do everything together, including rot! It comes on out of nowhere and spreads really damned quickly, a strange mark turning into a painful, sickening, hell on earth. A horrible way to go, but they go together, just like they wanted….kind of….
This was some pretty gross nightmare fuel! 🖤
📸PHOTO-GRAPHIC CONTENT📸 When Bruce finds a photo of his son in a compromising situation with the family dog, to say it ruins his day is an understatement. But it's not the only photo that is found, and as each one is discovered, the hatred and disgust amplify, until the consequences become brutal and sinister, causing a once loving family to turn on each other in the most horrific ways…
For some of these stories, the characters have underlying tales of child abuse, neglect and addiction, seeping into their adult lives. For others, weird random acts of horror, where death wants to stretch itself out for as long as possible, with no explanations, and once the terrifying events start to occur, they are unable to leave. Extremely strange goings on, yet the explanation, when revealed, is even stranger….
This book gave me nightmares! Which is always a bonus for me, but it also left a mark on my soul, and an itch under my skin that I'll probably never get rid of!!
So much gunk and mush and pus and yuckiness! And the smells!! 🤢
A quartet of horrifying, hallucinatory fever dreams! I LOVED IT!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤
Markus is the guy in the background, he lives in the house atop the hill, all alone. Apart from the models that is, the models he takes great pride in and uses only the best materials to make. He watches the town below in the early hours of the morning, imagining what folk are up to behind their closed doors, doors that he owns….
As a child, Markus had a lot of time on his hands, and we all know the Devil makes light work of idle hands….
🪳CLEAN FREAK🪳 Vince is the clean freak, Tom, not so much, he despairs of coming home to the eye-watering stench of bleach and other chemicals his partner loves so much! (He much prefers a dirty innuendo!😉) On returning from a meal out, they notice the house smells slightly funky, which in turn brings back horrible childhood memories for Vince, and explains why he is the way he is. But, it's not just memories that arrive with the stink….
From 0 to horrific in no time at all, this was gooey, gross and stomach churning! It also made me itch! So much! Heck, I'm still itching weeks later thinking about it! It really messed with my head too, and had me seeing things out of the corner of my eye, I felt the panic and fear for real!
🤡BEHIND THE GREASEPAINT🤡 Lindsay is done with kids parties, and life in general. She's decided to end things once and for all. She's an alcoholic, that much she admits to herself, she works as a clown, entertaining others, hiding all her sorrows behind the painted on smile. An incident at the latest party pushes her over the edge, allowing Brazzy to take control, with not so happy consequences! Lindsay literally bleeds alcohol and is drowning in despair! I felt this one deeply! It was dark and emotional!
🤢AS I LAY ROTTING🤢 Reed and Angela are soul mates, a post-goth couple who haven't been apart since they first met. They do everything together, including rot! It comes on out of nowhere and spreads really damned quickly, a strange mark turning into a painful, sickening, hell on earth. A horrible way to go, but they go together, just like they wanted….kind of….
This was some pretty gross nightmare fuel! 🖤
📸PHOTO-GRAPHIC CONTENT📸 When Bruce finds a photo of his son in a compromising situation with the family dog, to say it ruins his day is an understatement. But it's not the only photo that is found, and as each one is discovered, the hatred and disgust amplify, until the consequences become brutal and sinister, causing a once loving family to turn on each other in the most horrific ways…
For some of these stories, the characters have underlying tales of child abuse, neglect and addiction, seeping into their adult lives. For others, weird random acts of horror, where death wants to stretch itself out for as long as possible, with no explanations, and once the terrifying events start to occur, they are unable to leave. Extremely strange goings on, yet the explanation, when revealed, is even stranger….
This book gave me nightmares! Which is always a bonus for me, but it also left a mark on my soul, and an itch under my skin that I'll probably never get rid of!!
So much gunk and mush and pus and yuckiness! And the smells!! 🤢
A quartet of horrifying, hallucinatory fever dreams! I LOVED IT!! 🖤🖤🖤🖤
November 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for letting me read this ebook.
I have read Robert’s work before so I knew what I was getting into. But still! This book grabbed me completely and it still has a hold on me still.
This book is a collection of short stories that connects at the end. And the last main story is not for weak stomachs. It pushes the envelope for sure to wrap it all up in this crazy bow. I suggest you don’t eat while you read this book.
It was amazing.
I have read Robert’s work before so I knew what I was getting into. But still! This book grabbed me completely and it still has a hold on me still.
This book is a collection of short stories that connects at the end. And the last main story is not for weak stomachs. It pushes the envelope for sure to wrap it all up in this crazy bow. I suggest you don’t eat while you read this book.
It was amazing.
August 22, 2023
This. Is. Horror.
This Damned House by Robert Essig will mess you up. It messed me up. This is many layers of intensity and horror skillfully put together by Robert Essig to mess you up.
The synopsis blurb is an excellent representation of the book as a whole and the stories within. But what it doesn’t tell you is how viscerally evocative it is. In addition to the numerous horrors and horror triggers the stories contain is Essig’s extraordinary writing style. The stories are not only visual and horrifying, they wring mental, emotional, and physical responses from you. You feel the terror in your every muscle and the devastation in your chest. I swear I almost cried. I am sticking with almost because you can’t prove otherwise.
The thing about the wraparound story that connects the novelettes into one cohesive book is the suspense and intrigue it builds with each interlude. It makes the novelettes that much more impactful and the book as a whole incredibly compelling. This Damned House is for readers of strong intestinal fortitude and high trigger thresholds, but it is definitely a 5-star recommended read.
Bibliophilia Templum Review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2023/08/19/this-damned-house/
This Damned House by Robert Essig will mess you up. It messed me up. This is many layers of intensity and horror skillfully put together by Robert Essig to mess you up.
The synopsis blurb is an excellent representation of the book as a whole and the stories within. But what it doesn’t tell you is how viscerally evocative it is. In addition to the numerous horrors and horror triggers the stories contain is Essig’s extraordinary writing style. The stories are not only visual and horrifying, they wring mental, emotional, and physical responses from you. You feel the terror in your every muscle and the devastation in your chest. I swear I almost cried. I am sticking with almost because you can’t prove otherwise.
The thing about the wraparound story that connects the novelettes into one cohesive book is the suspense and intrigue it builds with each interlude. It makes the novelettes that much more impactful and the book as a whole incredibly compelling. This Damned House is for readers of strong intestinal fortitude and high trigger thresholds, but it is definitely a 5-star recommended read.
Bibliophilia Templum Review
https://bibliophiliatemplum.wordpress.com/2023/08/19/this-damned-house/
August 26, 2023
A Horror Bookworm Recommendation
This Damned House by Robert Essig
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Two dating soulmates have decided to take the next step and move in together. When a discolored patch of skin appears and takes a turn for the worst, the couple decide to get medical attention. Little did they know Death’s embrace has come to visit their apartment.
Vince and Tom have an over indulgence for cleanliness. The OCD behavior is soon tainted by an infestation of cockroaches. The usual harmful agents of urine, feces and regurgitated fluids these tiny bugs leave behind can be transmitted to humans in more ways than one.
Repulsive Polaroid photos and disturbing VHS tapes are discovered within a families household. The sickening images of brutal violence and unsettling violations are enough to lead the family members to their own deadly resolutions. “Photos don’t lie.”
Author Robert Essig is holding an open house to the public and sharing a celebration of his man-made fourplex apartment building. Following the trials and tribulations of the occupants are the infrastructure of This Damned House. These multifamily homes are disturbingly designed with the most vile body horrors and critter features living under one demented roof.
This Damned House brings the goosebumps that burrow under the flesh and secrete some of the most disturbing images I have read in a good while. If I had to describe Robert Essig’s writing style it would be…”Essig writes using all the colors of the rainbow…mainly infected grays, putrid greens and decomposing blacks.” Oh, and let’s not forget the grease painted clown providing backyard entertainment that would make Pogo The Clown think twice about his own personal performances.
There is a good handful of authors that you can’t go wrong with. Robert Essig is one of those. So adjust that tracking on your VCR and grab the rubber gloves, ammonia and bleach…you’re gonna need it to enjoy these gruesome foursomes.
In closing… If Hitchcock’s The Birds were an extreme/splatter story, Robert Essig would be writer, director and producer. I say we start a GoFundMe for the story, As I Lay Rotting. Who’s with me?! A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
This Damned House by Robert Essig
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/
Two dating soulmates have decided to take the next step and move in together. When a discolored patch of skin appears and takes a turn for the worst, the couple decide to get medical attention. Little did they know Death’s embrace has come to visit their apartment.
Vince and Tom have an over indulgence for cleanliness. The OCD behavior is soon tainted by an infestation of cockroaches. The usual harmful agents of urine, feces and regurgitated fluids these tiny bugs leave behind can be transmitted to humans in more ways than one.
Repulsive Polaroid photos and disturbing VHS tapes are discovered within a families household. The sickening images of brutal violence and unsettling violations are enough to lead the family members to their own deadly resolutions. “Photos don’t lie.”
Author Robert Essig is holding an open house to the public and sharing a celebration of his man-made fourplex apartment building. Following the trials and tribulations of the occupants are the infrastructure of This Damned House. These multifamily homes are disturbingly designed with the most vile body horrors and critter features living under one demented roof.
This Damned House brings the goosebumps that burrow under the flesh and secrete some of the most disturbing images I have read in a good while. If I had to describe Robert Essig’s writing style it would be…”Essig writes using all the colors of the rainbow…mainly infected grays, putrid greens and decomposing blacks.” Oh, and let’s not forget the grease painted clown providing backyard entertainment that would make Pogo The Clown think twice about his own personal performances.
There is a good handful of authors that you can’t go wrong with. Robert Essig is one of those. So adjust that tracking on your VCR and grab the rubber gloves, ammonia and bleach…you’re gonna need it to enjoy these gruesome foursomes.
In closing… If Hitchcock’s The Birds were an extreme/splatter story, Robert Essig would be writer, director and producer. I say we start a GoFundMe for the story, As I Lay Rotting. Who’s with me?! A five star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Horror Bookworm Recommendation.
November 26, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for letting me read this ebook.
I have read Robert’s work before so I knew what I was getting into. But still! This book grabbed me completely and it still has a hold on me still.
This book is a collection of short stories that connects at the end. And the last main story is not for weak stomachs. It pushes the envelope for sure to wrap it all up in this crazy bow. I suggest you don’t eat while you read this book.
It was amazing.
I have read Robert’s work before so I knew what I was getting into. But still! This book grabbed me completely and it still has a hold on me still.
This book is a collection of short stories that connects at the end. And the last main story is not for weak stomachs. It pushes the envelope for sure to wrap it all up in this crazy bow. I suggest you don’t eat while you read this book.
It was amazing.
April 23, 2024
Such a unique book! This is definitely a fourplex from hell. Each tenant has their own devastating story and could easily stand on its own. However, the ending ties their stories together seamlessly.
Full review coming soon!
Full review coming soon!
May 27, 2024
Had some really good stories in this. One story in particular made me have goosebumps, kept thinking things were crawling on me 🤣 awesome book.
December 12, 2023
This is my first time reading Essig, and it won’t be my last—this collection of four connected short stories was great.
I thoroughly enjoyed all of them, but my favorite was “Clean Freak.” That story had me itchy! If you hate bugs, you’ll hate reading this 😬
Essig created a cohesive book of stories that not only has body horror, but a great deal of psychological horror as well—it was a perfect combo.
I highly recommend this to any splatterpunk or extreme horror fan!
I thoroughly enjoyed all of them, but my favorite was “Clean Freak.” That story had me itchy! If you hate bugs, you’ll hate reading this 😬
Essig created a cohesive book of stories that not only has body horror, but a great deal of psychological horror as well—it was a perfect combo.
I highly recommend this to any splatterpunk or extreme horror fan!
January 7, 2024
"The only indication of their hidden acts was the gentle glowing light through a curtained window."
This Damned House is a short story collection revolving around four groups of people living in the same apartment building that's been newly patched up by the owner.
Every story draws out a fear that links the characters' past or issues, and the house materializes these in the most disgusting way, making the most out of all the possible body horror scenarios out there. The anthology deals with bugs, alcoholism, abuse, the obsession with death, and Essig saved the most gruesome story for the last, Photo-Graphic Content. My favorite story is probably Clean Freak.
I'm a bit iffy on the writing style because sometimes it feels a bit too much telling via dialogue instead of showing. But this is the horror book to read if you want short stories that are intertwined neatly with an overall bigger narrative. Prepare to be disgusted.
Thank you NetGalley and Infected Voices Publishing for the copy.
This Damned House is a short story collection revolving around four groups of people living in the same apartment building that's been newly patched up by the owner.
Every story draws out a fear that links the characters' past or issues, and the house materializes these in the most disgusting way, making the most out of all the possible body horror scenarios out there. The anthology deals with bugs, alcoholism, abuse, the obsession with death, and Essig saved the most gruesome story for the last, Photo-Graphic Content. My favorite story is probably Clean Freak.
I'm a bit iffy on the writing style because sometimes it feels a bit too much telling via dialogue instead of showing. But this is the horror book to read if you want short stories that are intertwined neatly with an overall bigger narrative. Prepare to be disgusted.
Thank you NetGalley and Infected Voices Publishing for the copy.
December 10, 2023
This book is so good! Every story had me on the edge of my seat. Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!
August 25, 2024
Dang! I have been sleeping on Robert Essig books! I enjoyed this book a ton. I didn’t know going in what it was about or that it was 4 novelettes AND a bonus wrap around story. There is something about the author’s writing that is just different. Something that stands out. I will do my best to describe it. The writing is done well but there is no fluff. There are not pages and pages of descriptions yet you can easily place yourself in the story. I felt like it was realistic even though the stories contain situations that are not. I probably am not making sense so I’m just going to say this: read this book! There’s some gore, rot, creepy crawlies, grief, trauma and some plain ol’ “wtf?”.
Happy reading 🖤
Happy reading 🖤
February 11, 2025
This Damned House got me far more than anything I ever thought could. It's taken me days to sort out what I wanted to say in this review because I had to work through all the anxiety this book gave me.
Let's talk cockroaches! I absolutely despise bugs and I've never had such a visceral reaction to bugs in horror than I did here. So much so that the night I read this book, I had a vivid dream about cockroaches popping out of my own skin and spent half the next day convinced that my face was swollen. Then the poor lady underneath that apartment who realized that she had a lot left to live for far too late.
Next was the vultures.....and the rot. The whole time I was reading this story, I had a major case of the skin shivers. Robert has a way with describing body horror that about took me apart. Then everything got so much worse once the vultures broke in. Even typing my review all these days later, it's still making my skin itch. And finally, the incriminating photos. This story, while still very horrifying, was really sad. Seeing what some horrible photos and being stuck in the same space can do to people and their psyche was really disheartening.
Robert brought it all together so well and I loved how each story related to each other. That poor apartment building, though! They never stood a chance and they didn't even know why things were happening. Overall, they were a likeable cast and that made it even harder to read about these horrifying seemingly random things happening to them.
I can't wait to read the next book, though maybe in broad daylight and not right before I'm going to bed. No one needs more ultra vivid cockroach nightmares......
Let's talk cockroaches! I absolutely despise bugs and I've never had such a visceral reaction to bugs in horror than I did here. So much so that the night I read this book, I had a vivid dream about cockroaches popping out of my own skin and spent half the next day convinced that my face was swollen. Then the poor lady underneath that apartment who realized that she had a lot left to live for far too late.
Next was the vultures.....and the rot. The whole time I was reading this story, I had a major case of the skin shivers. Robert has a way with describing body horror that about took me apart. Then everything got so much worse once the vultures broke in. Even typing my review all these days later, it's still making my skin itch. And finally, the incriminating photos. This story, while still very horrifying, was really sad. Seeing what some horrible photos and being stuck in the same space can do to people and their psyche was really disheartening.
Robert brought it all together so well and I loved how each story related to each other. That poor apartment building, though! They never stood a chance and they didn't even know why things were happening. Overall, they were a likeable cast and that made it even harder to read about these horrifying seemingly random things happening to them.
I can't wait to read the next book, though maybe in broad daylight and not right before I'm going to bed. No one needs more ultra vivid cockroach nightmares......
August 22, 2023
‘This Damned House’ by Robert Essig - this book is nasty! Four novelettes, one building, four apartments: two couples, a loner, and one family - everybody innocent, all ultimately destroyed. The how is not a pretty picture. The ending explains the why: a wraparound story about the owner of the eponymous “Damned House” reveals, in five short interludes, what’s going on behind the freakish downward spirals these people are forced to go through. Prepare yourself to be surprised: Essig has outdone himself! If you haven’t read Essig before, this is the perfect introduction.
A word on each tale: the first story is “Clean Freak”; it has roaches, lots of roaches. You won’t guess it from the title but it’s not for the squeamish. Read this one to your clean freak friends – they will LOVE it! The second story, “Behind the Greasepaint”, has one clown and vodka; lots of vodka. I felt very sorry for this poor soul – Essig does not like clowns, I think. Third story: “As I Lay Rotting.” This one could have been a love story. It’s not. It has rot; lots of rot. The ending freaked me out! The fourth story, “Photo-Graphic Content”, was my favorite. I can’t imagine it not being everybody’s favorite: it has Polaroids; not lots of Polaroids, but enough to undo everything that makes a happy family. I asked myself what might happen if I found one of these cursed things: what would I do as a family man? It’s very easy to identify with the father in this story. It’s a very smart story, well-written, but ultimately very sick. Pure Essig. Read it and judge for yourself!
A word on each tale: the first story is “Clean Freak”; it has roaches, lots of roaches. You won’t guess it from the title but it’s not for the squeamish. Read this one to your clean freak friends – they will LOVE it! The second story, “Behind the Greasepaint”, has one clown and vodka; lots of vodka. I felt very sorry for this poor soul – Essig does not like clowns, I think. Third story: “As I Lay Rotting.” This one could have been a love story. It’s not. It has rot; lots of rot. The ending freaked me out! The fourth story, “Photo-Graphic Content”, was my favorite. I can’t imagine it not being everybody’s favorite: it has Polaroids; not lots of Polaroids, but enough to undo everything that makes a happy family. I asked myself what might happen if I found one of these cursed things: what would I do as a family man? It’s very easy to identify with the father in this story. It’s a very smart story, well-written, but ultimately very sick. Pure Essig. Read it and judge for yourself!
December 19, 2025
This is my first impression of this author, and while I don't typically seek out short story collections, this one I ddin't realize was that when I selected it.
I will say, Essig impressed me with this little collection. It feels like one messed up domestic nightmare only intensifed by the next. Imagine the town that surrounds the house in Psycho, but then focus on the lives of those families. The connective tissue that weaves these seemingly random stories together is fantastic and I wasn't sure what I reading reading at first, by by the end I was a bit grossed out by the last story, and slow-clapping for the ones before it. At 121 pages this short story collection feels like listneing to a long song as it builds up and gets more dramatic before the music hits an epic climax just to turn your stomach... bravo, Robert... bravo.
I will say, Essig impressed me with this little collection. It feels like one messed up domestic nightmare only intensifed by the next. Imagine the town that surrounds the house in Psycho, but then focus on the lives of those families. The connective tissue that weaves these seemingly random stories together is fantastic and I wasn't sure what I reading reading at first, by by the end I was a bit grossed out by the last story, and slow-clapping for the ones before it. At 121 pages this short story collection feels like listneing to a long song as it builds up and gets more dramatic before the music hits an epic climax just to turn your stomach... bravo, Robert... bravo.
May 28, 2024
A great collection of four novellas with a wrap around story. In a small apartment house with four units there are strange things occurring. Nothing that can be explained though there is a central cause namely the guy who owns the whole town.
Highly recommended, definitely going to grab the sequel.
Highly recommended, definitely going to grab the sequel.
July 24, 2024
This book is four short stories tied together with mini blurbs. Each story is separate but in the end it all makes sense and brings them together. These stories are creepy and disturbing and have a tales from the crypt/twilight zone vibe to them! The descriptions are so good that I could see, feel, and smell what was going on!
Be aware of triggers, some gore, and lots of gross out.
Be aware of triggers, some gore, and lots of gross out.
November 19, 2023
This Damned House was shocking and disturbing and terrifying and creepy and (the list truly goes on and on)!!
The first thing to know about this book and the stories it contains is that - THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART! It pushes the boundaries and as a fan of Robert Essig, I knew some of what to expect, but this took a new thrilling perspective that I wasn't expecting. (And Readers are going to love this even more because of it)!
This story follows a cursed home and perhaps an even more cursed family (depending on how you look at it). Nevertheless, each story in this collection is connected via this cursed home, and you'll be racing to discover how each story is connected.
I don't want to give too much away. But here are some of my favorite take aways from this truly devastating collection. I physically recoiled and actually gagged reading a few parts. This writing made me actually ill. I screamed at this book during one particular climax in a story. I felt horrified and disgusted.
All of these components combine to make a truly harrowing and terrifying thrill ride and extreme horror readers everywhere are going to devour this with a sickening glee. Check it out!
Perfect for fans of Aron Beauregard, Duncan Ralston, and Kristopher Triana!
The first thing to know about this book and the stories it contains is that - THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART! It pushes the boundaries and as a fan of Robert Essig, I knew some of what to expect, but this took a new thrilling perspective that I wasn't expecting. (And Readers are going to love this even more because of it)!
This story follows a cursed home and perhaps an even more cursed family (depending on how you look at it). Nevertheless, each story in this collection is connected via this cursed home, and you'll be racing to discover how each story is connected.
I don't want to give too much away. But here are some of my favorite take aways from this truly devastating collection. I physically recoiled and actually gagged reading a few parts. This writing made me actually ill. I screamed at this book during one particular climax in a story. I felt horrified and disgusted.
All of these components combine to make a truly harrowing and terrifying thrill ride and extreme horror readers everywhere are going to devour this with a sickening glee. Check it out!
Perfect for fans of Aron Beauregard, Duncan Ralston, and Kristopher Triana!
August 17, 2024
My absolute favorite book by Robert Essig!
This a collection of 4 stories, all connected together by the 4 apartments in the same complex and the landlord that watches over them...
I don't even know where to begin with this one. Each story is very different but disturbing in their own way. We go back and forth between these stories and the landlord that owns the apartment complex.
The standout tale to me is the last one, where a family is finding photos and films of each doing things they don't remember doing. It was absolutely amazing!
The other stories are perfect as well, one is particularly nasty, another being very depressing, and the other being weird and crazy!
But the most intriguing thing about the whole book is the backstory with the landlord, and I can't tell you how much I loved this!
5/5
This is only the fourth book I have given a 5!
This a collection of 4 stories, all connected together by the 4 apartments in the same complex and the landlord that watches over them...
I don't even know where to begin with this one. Each story is very different but disturbing in their own way. We go back and forth between these stories and the landlord that owns the apartment complex.
The standout tale to me is the last one, where a family is finding photos and films of each doing things they don't remember doing. It was absolutely amazing!
The other stories are perfect as well, one is particularly nasty, another being very depressing, and the other being weird and crazy!
But the most intriguing thing about the whole book is the backstory with the landlord, and I can't tell you how much I loved this!
5/5
This is only the fourth book I have given a 5!
January 5, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC to review!
3.75 stars!!! rounded up
I really enjoyed these, some more than others but really liked how different each story was with their own characters but still kept the dark and disturbing content amped up
My fave was probably Photo-Graphic content just for how wild and messed up it was but also how it was just nothing but bleak too.
3.75 stars!!! rounded up
I really enjoyed these, some more than others but really liked how different each story was with their own characters but still kept the dark and disturbing content amped up
My fave was probably Photo-Graphic content just for how wild and messed up it was but also how it was just nothing but bleak too.
April 16, 2024
In this book we follow an apartment complex that has four apartments in it. In each of those apartments, there’s tenants. Each one of the tenants has a story. From alcoholic clowns to skin hungry vultures, this complex has a lot going on.
Such a good, fun read the way the story ties together is absolutely stunning. Such gross but fun stories. Definitely can’t wait for the second book in the series!
Such a good, fun read the way the story ties together is absolutely stunning. Such gross but fun stories. Definitely can’t wait for the second book in the series!
July 30, 2025
I won a signed copy of this Robert Essig book when my Horror Flash Fiction story won Grand Prize at the end of last year. Sadly, I’ve only now gotten around to reading it.
The book consists of four novelettes with a interlinked story of a weird man who lives on a hill overlooking the town of Greenwood Planes.
Here’s a few words that I jotted down whilst reading each novelette …
Clean Freak.
Vile. Stomach churning. Vomit and phobia inducing. I think I need to empty my bins.
Behind the Greasepaint.
Friggin’ weird. Waking from an alcoholic induced nightmare of a life. Realisation of her shitty life worse than anything she’d experienced.
As I Lay Rotting.
Necrosis. Putrefaction. Everything you’d need to see your dinner again. Dying alongside your loved one should be romantic, right? Wrong.
Photo-Graphic Content.
Erm. First line. What a way to start a story.
Poor Bruce.
Poor Biscuits
Poor … Oh, I give up. I’m lost for words.
I went into this book blind. No reviews. Nothing. And I’m so glad I did.
These are some of the best horrific novelettes I’ve ever read, and the wraparound story just adds that extra little touch to bind it all together. Absolutely brilliant!
This isn’t a good review because I won the book; this is a good review because it’s a damn good book.
This was my first Robert Essig book, but it won’t be my last.
Five out of five damned apartment skulls 💀💀💀💀💀
The book consists of four novelettes with a interlinked story of a weird man who lives on a hill overlooking the town of Greenwood Planes.
Here’s a few words that I jotted down whilst reading each novelette …
Clean Freak.
Vile. Stomach churning. Vomit and phobia inducing. I think I need to empty my bins.
Behind the Greasepaint.
Friggin’ weird. Waking from an alcoholic induced nightmare of a life. Realisation of her shitty life worse than anything she’d experienced.
As I Lay Rotting.
Necrosis. Putrefaction. Everything you’d need to see your dinner again. Dying alongside your loved one should be romantic, right? Wrong.
Photo-Graphic Content.
Erm. First line. What a way to start a story.
Poor Bruce.
Poor Biscuits
Poor … Oh, I give up. I’m lost for words.
I went into this book blind. No reviews. Nothing. And I’m so glad I did.
These are some of the best horrific novelettes I’ve ever read, and the wraparound story just adds that extra little touch to bind it all together. Absolutely brilliant!
This isn’t a good review because I won the book; this is a good review because it’s a damn good book.
This was my first Robert Essig book, but it won’t be my last.
Five out of five damned apartment skulls 💀💀💀💀💀
November 13, 2023
“She winced and reached for her leg, just above the foot that looked like spoiled meat.”
Essig gives us a dark and gritty collection of intertwined tales in this new story. From roaches, to alcoholism, to decaying while alive, to horrifying family secrets exposed- there are many things to terrify the reader found within the pages.
As you delve further into the book, there are short segments about a man named Markus and the models he creates and works on in his attic. You’ll soon learn how he and all the stories connect and it’s a very interesting concept.
I did find the first and second stories a little underwhelming. Some of the characters in the tales felt superficial; I get it, these are short stories, but I wanted to understand Tom and Angela more especially.
“The meat mallet felt heavier than Emily expected, but comfortable in her grasp. She didn’t think about what she did. It didn’t come naturally, but more as a result of extreme trauma and heartache. A lashing out. A reprieve for her tormented soul.”
The last tale, “Photo-Graphic Content” was the most extreme, and I think my favourite part of the book (despite the vileness within the tale). It was so terrible how the family started to doubt each other as the photos showed up, and the ensuing chaos turned brutal and bloody.
Thank you to NetGalley, & Robert Essig for a copy!
Essig gives us a dark and gritty collection of intertwined tales in this new story. From roaches, to alcoholism, to decaying while alive, to horrifying family secrets exposed- there are many things to terrify the reader found within the pages.
As you delve further into the book, there are short segments about a man named Markus and the models he creates and works on in his attic. You’ll soon learn how he and all the stories connect and it’s a very interesting concept.
I did find the first and second stories a little underwhelming. Some of the characters in the tales felt superficial; I get it, these are short stories, but I wanted to understand Tom and Angela more especially.
“The meat mallet felt heavier than Emily expected, but comfortable in her grasp. She didn’t think about what she did. It didn’t come naturally, but more as a result of extreme trauma and heartache. A lashing out. A reprieve for her tormented soul.”
The last tale, “Photo-Graphic Content” was the most extreme, and I think my favourite part of the book (despite the vileness within the tale). It was so terrible how the family started to doubt each other as the photos showed up, and the ensuing chaos turned brutal and bloody.
Thank you to NetGalley, & Robert Essig for a copy!
November 27, 2024
Great little novella in which four main stories are interconnected by an overarching story. Each of the four takes place inside a different apartment suite rental in a house. Each of the horrors visited upon each group of tenants exploits their own worst fears and triggers in the most gruesome and emotionally devastating of ways. Bugs, loneliness and addiction, mistrust, and literal decay all feature prominently in the quartets. The 'fifth' connecting story does a good job of intriguing you while setting your nerves on edge.
Well written with just the right amount of grim and ghastly detail to make this a decent 'light' extreme (ok, medium, but honestly it wasn't that extreme) horror book, I also found the 'why is this happening' reveal to be quite intriguing (I'd love to see more of that arc explored.) It put me in mind of the classic Creepshow crossed with Beetlejuice.
I look forward to reading more of this author.
My thanks to the author for the complimentary copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Well written with just the right amount of grim and ghastly detail to make this a decent 'light' extreme (ok, medium, but honestly it wasn't that extreme) horror book, I also found the 'why is this happening' reveal to be quite intriguing (I'd love to see more of that arc explored.) It put me in mind of the classic Creepshow crossed with Beetlejuice.
I look forward to reading more of this author.
My thanks to the author for the complimentary copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 27, 2023
The roaches, dear god the roaches. It’s been a while since a story made my skin crawl like that. I nearly, nearly had to stop and I can stomach reading any kind of gross but that nearly had me.
Those kind of stories made me squirm and itch but then there’s some one liners that just stop you in your tracks and you just have to, well I’m at a loss what you’re supposed to do. Poor Biscuits.
I wondered how Markus’s story was relevant to the others and when I finished and found out I felt shellshocked.
I finished these linked stories in one afternoon worrying what the next story would bring and was not disappointed with the level of depravity therein.
I feel haunted by the things that happened in this house and want to have my tea but think I will have to have a stiff drink first or maybe Diazepam!
Mr Essig hit on fears I never even knew I had and completely rattled all my nerves. Bravo is all I can say whilst I sit rocking back forth in the darkness trying to recover.
Those kind of stories made me squirm and itch but then there’s some one liners that just stop you in your tracks and you just have to, well I’m at a loss what you’re supposed to do. Poor Biscuits.
I wondered how Markus’s story was relevant to the others and when I finished and found out I felt shellshocked.
I finished these linked stories in one afternoon worrying what the next story would bring and was not disappointed with the level of depravity therein.
I feel haunted by the things that happened in this house and want to have my tea but think I will have to have a stiff drink first or maybe Diazepam!
Mr Essig hit on fears I never even knew I had and completely rattled all my nerves. Bravo is all I can say whilst I sit rocking back forth in the darkness trying to recover.
August 31, 2023
4⭐️
I was not prepared. And it just kept getting worse.
4 stories that are all tied together and explained at the end.
Clean Freak- 4 stars. My skin was crawling. I felt itchy and wanted to scratch.
Behind the Greasepaint- 3 stars. Solid read, but I was a bit luke warm on this one (just MY personal opinion. It was still well written).
As I Lay Rotting- 5 stars. My favorite one. I would have absolutely loved a longer version of this. That said, I still feel it was perfectly done. Everything was there. The ending was horrifying. Amazingly done.
Photo-Graphic Content- 5 stars. Second favorite. Well written. Depraved. I really felt for everyone in this story.
Absolutely loved this book. I flew through it. I wouldn’t recommend reading it while eating though 😂
Thank you to Robert Essig for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved it!
I was not prepared. And it just kept getting worse.
4 stories that are all tied together and explained at the end.
Clean Freak- 4 stars. My skin was crawling. I felt itchy and wanted to scratch.
Behind the Greasepaint- 3 stars. Solid read, but I was a bit luke warm on this one (just MY personal opinion. It was still well written).
As I Lay Rotting- 5 stars. My favorite one. I would have absolutely loved a longer version of this. That said, I still feel it was perfectly done. Everything was there. The ending was horrifying. Amazingly done.
Photo-Graphic Content- 5 stars. Second favorite. Well written. Depraved. I really felt for everyone in this story.
Absolutely loved this book. I flew through it. I wouldn’t recommend reading it while eating though 😂
Thank you to Robert Essig for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. I loved it!
December 9, 2023
I needed several breaks to get through these 4 stories 🤣 Robert definitely delivered gross from beginning to end! From gross smelly bugs, to a creepy alcoholic clown, to literal rot, and finally disturbing family photos/videos ..I suggest y'all don't eat while reading this!
This is one 4plex that's truly messed up....but I did enjoy this gross ride! I'm excited to pick up more from Robert!
"The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, the worms play pinochle on your snout. They'll eat your eyes, they'll eat your nose..." -I loved that he put this in! And also ...🤢🤢 I enjoyed the ride, even if it was an icky one! Definitely recommend
This is one 4plex that's truly messed up....but I did enjoy this gross ride! I'm excited to pick up more from Robert!
"The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, the worms play pinochle on your snout. They'll eat your eyes, they'll eat your nose..." -I loved that he put this in! And also ...🤢🤢 I enjoyed the ride, even if it was an icky one! Definitely recommend
November 24, 2024
Fantastic, gory and horrifying, that's the words that come to mind for this one, but also, fantastic.
Clean Freak got under my skin, ha ha.. Ha but really holy shit that story was a rough one for me and that also makes it's my favorite.
This was four little novelette type stories tied together by the crazy guy that obsesses over the people of Greenwood, I have a little thing for connecting stories and it's so interesting when you start really connecting the dots..
I loved this and would love more little novelette collections like this, it reminded me of 13 Storeys or Goblin how it all comes together and bam you realize..
Thanks for the chance to read this.
Clean Freak got under my skin, ha ha.. Ha but really holy shit that story was a rough one for me and that also makes it's my favorite.
This was four little novelette type stories tied together by the crazy guy that obsesses over the people of Greenwood, I have a little thing for connecting stories and it's so interesting when you start really connecting the dots..
I loved this and would love more little novelette collections like this, it reminded me of 13 Storeys or Goblin how it all comes together and bam you realize..
Thanks for the chance to read this.
January 11, 2025
My first Essig book. This book was absolutely insane, beginning to end. With four stories of people who find themselves in bizarre situations that take place in their apartments, this book really delivers on stories that will stay with you. Essig delivers each story through graphic and vivid imagery. I can’t shake the imagery from Clean Freak from my head… 🤢 The “hook” for each story was also incredible and definitely made me want to read more to find out what the heck was going on. Amazing storytelling. If you’re wanting some crazy, messed up, disturbing splatterpunk stories, definitely check this one out.
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