Tales From Grimlock Cove: Volume 1

by Oscar Whiting, Brett Savory (Editor)

A collections of thrilling, new short stories and novellas. Paranormal tales from the quiet town of Grimlock Cove.

"Unforgettable..." (Kevin P.)

"Too scary to read at night..." (Emily T.)

"I couldn't put it down..." (Dalita M.S.)

---

It’s a funny thing how houses of healing make room for the dead. Churches have their graveyards; hospitals have their morgues. After an accident, Dex Maddox fights to regain his hearing, but as he recovers, he finds something sinister at Grimlock Memorial a creature is stalking him from the shadows. Mei finds herself on an empty red-eye flight with only a peculiar flight attendant and an unsettling stranger with a violent past. An otherworldly ally reaches out for her, but will Mei survive the red-eye to nowhere? As D'Andre scrolls through selfies of his best friend Chonks and his girlfriend Amber, he sees a stranger step into the photos. Death ensues, and D’Andre scrambles to save who he can from the stranger in his phone. Discover a small town where dreams blur with reality, new worlds open up, and evil steps out of the shadows. These are the tales from Grimlock Cove.

Genres: Horror, Anthologies, Short Stories

260 pages, Paperback

Published October 13, 2023

Reviews

[Casey Carter]

A great easy read that pulls you in and doesn’t let go. A collection of short stories revolving around Grimlock Cove. Each one spooky or creepy in its own right that gives way to the next. I do wish they had been in year order rather than jumping around but it didn’t make it difficult to read. Just a personal preference I would’ve liked. I do hope there are more volumes as I would love to read more!

[Steph Warren]

*I received a free DRC of this book, with thanks to the author and Jenn at Travelling Pages. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

My main take-away from this collection of horror stories, all set in Grimlock Cove is – as with my feeling about Sunnydale from TV’s Buffy – don’t go to Grimlock Cove!

The book contains nine stories set in the fictional town (technically twelve, but the last two are both two-parters) and they are all very plausible urban legends or campfire creep-outs, warning readers away from the hotel, church and hospital in what can only be some kind of hell-mouth, cursed town.

Each story differs in tone, content and time period, but there are some similarities too: the witch features in many, if not all, of the tales, and happy-ever-afters are very, very thin on the ground. Expect murder and malevolence, ghosts and old gods, demons and bad dreams, all pitched at teens or young adults looking for a fictional fright.

I couldn’t even pick a favourite story, as I enjoyed every one – not a bad one in the bunch – and I’m pretty sure they will be featuring in my nightmares for weeks to come. So, by all means pick up this creepy collection, but if you want my advice do NOT go to Grimlock Cove: keep driving, don’t stop, because there must ALWAYS be a sacrifice and if not your life, it might be your sanity!

Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...

[Cole Mergenthaler]

Really good. Every story brought in a different element into the lore of Grimlock Cove. It was a great read to start off the spooky season.

[Rachelle LeBlanc]

Summary:

This is a collection of short stories based in Grimlock Cove with most taking place at St. Julian’s Catholic Church.


My Thoughts:

This was my first horror read. The stories were not too scary and I enjoyed each of them.

Each story was captivating and sucked me in. Whiting has a nice writing style that fits this genre and type of book.

I will read more from Oscar Whiting but I just don’t think horror is a genre for me.

Thank you TravellingPagesPR and Oscar Whiting for the complimentary copy of Tales From Grimlock Cove.

[S. Jeyran Main]

“Tales From Grimlock Cove” by Oscar Whiting is a masterful collection of stories that skillfully weaves together elements of horror, mystery, and the supernatural. Each story is a unique and engaging exploration of the darker aspects of human nature and the unknown, set against the backdrop of the enigmatic town of Grimlock Cove.

From the haunting echoes of “The Sacrifice at St. Julian’s” to the eerie journey of “The Red-Eye to Nowhere,” Whiting captivates the reader with vivid imagery and compelling narratives. The stories are diverse, yet they share a common thread of suspense and an undercurrent of dread that pulls you deeper into the world of Grimlock Cove. “The Stranger In My Phone” and “The Many-Eyed Motel” stand out for their innovative takes on technology and fame, blending contemporary fears with age-old horror tropes. Meanwhile, “The Forgotten Fairgrounds” and “The Touch of Broken Glass” delve into personal trauma and recovery, adding layers of emotional depth to the spine-chilling plots.

Whiting’s ability to create a haunting atmosphere is unmatched. His characters are well-drawn, each with their own fears and desires that drive the stories forward. The settings are described with such detail that Grimlock Cove itself becomes a character, its dark history and secrets lurking behind every corner.

The concluding stories, “The Investigation at St. Julian’s” and “The Halloween Miracle,” bring the collection full circle, tying together loose ends and revealing the sinister forces at play in Grimlock Cove. “The Provenance” and “The Wolves and the Sheep” further expand the universe, exploring themes of art, belief, and deception.

“Tales From Grimlock Cove” is not just a horror anthology; it’s an exploration of the human psyche, a commentary on society, and a testament to the power of storytelling. Oscar Whiting has crafted a world that is both terrifying and mesmerizing, one that will linger in the minds of readers long after the last page is turned. For fans of horror and supernatural fiction, this collection is a must-read, offering a fresh and compelling take on the genre.

[SUSAN]

This is a collection of stories that occur in an unlucky place called Grimlock Cove. I'm not quite sure how the real estate agents spin it, but one wonders if the housing prices go up or down when some one... survive a night in town? In my mind I try to imagine Rick Steves going here for a vacation, but yeah that's a bit ridiculous. I digress...

The stories begin at the local church and it's just the perfect setting for the creepiness to ooze its way into your brain. There are differing years where events occur and the stories are not chronological, but it doesn't take away anything overall unless you have some sort of literary OCD condition. There are a variety of characters that undergo eerie occurrences and while the title of the book makes you think of cozy New England type ghost stories, these are much more modern and seem to give you a bit of a look into the author's mind. I think he's having fun writing a few of these stories, it would be interesting to hear him read the Red Eye story out loud I think.

Anyway, I'm not really giving much away... you will just have to read the tales and oh... watch out for the local evil entity...

[Cheryl]

I enjoyed this collection of short stories. There is a reoccurring theme of a silver haired witch. So, if you ever encounter her run as fast as you can.

Some of my favorite stories were:

The Red-Eye to Nowhere
This story is like the movie Groundhog's Day, yet make it scary. It is not one that I would want to relive over and over again. Yet, there was a reason Mei was reliving it over and over again. She just needed to figure out the reason why before it is too late.

The Forgotten Fairgrounds
This was actually like of a sad story. I really felt for the characters in this one. Thus I was invested in this short story.

The Investigation at St, Julian's
This is another story where I was invested in it right away. It had its creep moments. The ending does leave you thinking about the story even after it is finished.

The Halloween Miracle
This Halloween night belongs to the children and don't you forget it. Lest you find yourself in a scary predicament.

The Provenance
This story kind of gave me Dorian Gray vibes. All for this story.

[Stephanie]

Tales From Grimlock Cove is a collection of stories centered around the titular town, taking place across decades and even centuries. Readers will enjoy tales of a man who becomes deaf after a car accident, a woman on a nearly empty red-eye flight on her way to see her sister in Grimlock Cove, a teen who sees something violently inexplicable in the pictures on his phone, a woman who’s attempt at finding the provenance of a painting getting more than she bargained for, and many more. This was a fun group of stories that had little connections interwoven throughout. What I loved most about this was the wide variety of concepts. Each story presented a unique aspect of the not-so-quaint small town. My personal favorites were The Stranger in my Phone, The Forgotten Fairgrounds, The Provenance, and The Wolves and the Sheep, but there wasn’t one I didn’t like. I highly recommend for anyone who likes horror collections!

[Lizzie]

I’ve read a fair few short story collections recently, and usually the collection is linked by a particular theme or narrative. This is an unusual case, in that the collection is linked by a fictional setting, and I thought it worked really well!

All of the stories are set at different times in the mysterious Grimlock Cove. From the very first story we learn to expect the unexpected as strange and spooky things happen. While I would have liked a few more connections between the stories, they all definitely felt rooted in the same setting and with the same sense of mystery and creepiness. They also varied in length which I really liked, with some shorter ones to get us into the spirit (no pun intended) and some longer ones at the end with a bit more plot to them.

Overall this was a really fun read, a great introduction to Grimlock Cove and a fresh approach to the short story collection as a medium.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

[Chelsie Kane]

I liked the writing well enough but the storyline Itself was a bit discombobulated. So many threads of stories & different time lines... Any of them could have been fleshed out for an entire novel... A visitor getting taken to the pirate ship every 6 years, a possessed painting, a devil incarnate... Maybe the next book will tie it together better...?
After reading a couple other reviews I now understand it's a compilation of short stories. Nowhere on the cover, title pages or description does it say short stories. I wouldn't have picked it up if I had known. Short stories always feel too short & incomplete to me. I can't stand them.

[Inmybooktote]

These reminded me of creepy, quirky bedtime stories! Some of the endings were really unexpected 😱Although separate stories, there were clear elements that worked its way throughout. I almost wish I knew more of the backstory, but hey, the book is marked volume one, so maybe there are more of these to come!

I think this would be a fun and quick read for a book club or a buddy read, and absolutely perfect for around Halloween! 🎃

[Melissa Algood]

In complete transparency, I did totally judge this book by its cover, which is why I purchased it, and also because the author is a pretty cool dude.

I went into this relatively blind, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was like Stephen King meets twilight zone meets black mirror.

The gore was excellent, you could really feel yourself in the setting as his pros is very poetic. My two favorite selections from the collection were the Many eyed Motel and the Halloween miracle.

[Staceywh_17]

Tales from Grimlock Cove is the first installment in a new series of books by Whiting.

The stories/novellas are quite short so it was an easy book to dip in and out of throughout the day. I had no idea what to expect so was pleasantly surprised by the stories and found myself enjoying the book more than I expected too.

I love a good paranormal, spooky type read, so these were perfect. They weren't scary or anything, well not for me, but I'm guessing they could be for others.

Beware the silver haired witch, as you'll find her lurking and waiting to pounce throughout the pages!!

A highly enjoyable, entertaining and page turning read, best read at night, under the covers, with a torch or by candlelight.

[Jeff Folschinsky]

This was a great collection of short stories. I love that they all take place in the same area. It gives everything a theme, but the stories themselves exist independently. Each one takes place at a different time than the others. I recommend it to anyone who likes a little variety with their spooky stories.

[William Grooms]

This was a wonderful book. Let it be known, I generally hate anthologies of any kind, but I met Mr. Whiting at the 2026 Texas Horror Literature Festival, and he described his work so I thought I would give it a shot. Thankfully I did, because it was fantastic. I could read about 40 more volumes. I hope the town of Grimlock continues to be a mainstay on my shelf for many years to come.

[Kelly]

Quite enjoyable stories with pretty dark twists. Some had more happy endings and some were beautifully cruel; it was a nice mix for a horror short story collection. It's even more impressive because it's a debut release for this author.

[Alyssa (Cozy.Soul.Reads)]

This book was amazing! Short spooky stories on kindle unlimited and the a description of each location haunted me deeply! The Shadows had pulses and followed me long after the stories ended.

[Danielle Bush]

I really enjoyed this anthology of spooky stories all centered around the strange little town of Grimlock Cove.
The stories are all set in different years, and each seems almost entirely plausible, which I think makes them all the more creepy and spooky. While I liked some of the stories more than others, I enjoyed them all, and if we get more stories set in Grimlock Cove I would read them.

[Molly Anderson]

I found this one in the Little Free Library near me! I loved all of the stories!

[Melissa B]

I had a blast reading these stories! the author really knows how to grip you with each turn.

[Samantha Evans]

Grimlock Cove is such a spooky little town that also manages to be eerily cozy; it makes you want to visit despite knowing it would for sure end poorly for you. This was the perfect campfire book, just the right amount of horror, and will be a yearly October re-read for me!