To Hell and Back

by Joe Mynhardt (Editor), Jeff Strand, Nick Roberts

Step into the abyss of horror and dark fiction with To Hell and Back…where each story is a gateway to the unimaginable.

To Hell and Back serves as a mosaic of contemporary fears and timeless terrors, curated and edited by the Bram Stoker Award-winning Joe Mynhardt. This collection of horror stories brings together a diverse array of tales from both beloved and emerging voices in the horror genre, each story a unique exploration of the dark corners of the human psyche.

With an introduction by Lee Murray, this horror anthology includes disturbing tales by Jeff Strand, Gage Greenwood, Gregg Stewart, Jasper Bark, Kenneth W. Cain, James Aquilone, Taylor Grant, Colin J. Northwood, Chad Lutzke, Felix Blackwell, J.P. Behrens, Bridget Nelson, Jay Bechtol, Nick Roberts, Kyle Toucher, Diana Olney, Devin Cabrera, Naching T. Kassa, John Durgin, Francesca Maria, James H. Longmore, and Rowan Hill.


To Hell and Back invites readers on a journey through cityscapes and small towns, into office blocks and family homes, along lonely roads, and wooded trails. It confronts external threats like predators and cults as well as internal battles with ambition, mental illness, and moral weakness. Themes of road rage, childhood trauma, the horrors of war, and the supernatural intertwine, offering a chilling snapshot of contemporary societal fears. With stories that range from political and cultural tensions to tales of creeping unease, this anthology not only aims to terrify but also to offer a means of confronting and reflecting on our fears from a safe distance.

Uncover the shadows lurking within and beyond with To Hell and Back—dare to turn the page and confront your darkest fears.

Genres: Horror

403 pages, Paperback

Published February 29, 2024

Reviews

[Danielle Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

How has this not been spammed all over my feed yet?! 👀 I know it just came out but 10/10 recommend. Go grab it now. 🏃🏻‍♀️ The lineup for this anthology is straight fking insanity. Every single story HITSSSSSS. 🤌🏼 (Yes. All 22 of them!) Each one is quite different and so many sub genres are touched upon. It’s truly a bookgasm. I have no other way to even begin to describe it other than that. 😅

“Personally, I love a good anthology with their dark chocolate-box story selections on a theme. They’re the perfect sampler, the ideal gift for that someone who has everything because you can be sure that in a deluxe box of chocolates there will be something to satisfy even the fussiest palate.” -Lee Murray

Anthology of horror featuring the following:
Lee Murray
Jeff Strand
Gage Greenwood
Gregg Stewart
Jasper Bark
Kenneth W. Cain
James Aquilone
Taylor Grant
Colin J. Northwood
Chad Lutzke
Felix Blackwell
J.P. Behrens
Bridget Nelson
Jay Bechtol
Nick Roberts
Kyle Toucher
Diana Olney
Devin Cabrera
Naching T. Kassa
John Durgin
Francesca Maria
James H. Longmore
Rowan Hill

[Irene Well Worth A Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love short horror stories and was thrilled to be invited to read this latest anthology from Hellbound Books.

There are 22 eclectic tales. Some are supernatural, in others, the evils are merely mortal. A couple were too gross even for me so consider yourself warned. I won't go into that though and will just mention a few of my favorites.

Jeff Strand kicks things off with Fix Her- about an entitled frat boy who has his daddy send a "fixer" after he gets into serious trouble when he parties a little too hard. As always you can count on Strand for some dark humor along with the death and mayhem.

The Air We Breathe by Gage Greenwood takes a more melancholy mood when a man comes home to find his whole family dead and nobody is talking except his daughter's doll.

Bunny by Gregg Stewart is about a 15-year-old babysitter enjoying movies while she watches a little 6-year-old girl in the home of a very wealthy couple. What could go wrong? Wait, who is that outside the window?

Steel Horses by Kenneth W. Cain is a road rage story with a twist. This one was super creepy and unexpected.

Get John Flagg by James Aquilone -It began when John Flagg got fired but damned if that wasn't the high point of his day. Things went dangerously downhill fast after that.

Enough and Then Some by Chad Lutzke is a beautiful love story... until it isn't. Elizabeth begins to worry that she might outlive her husband. Her worry turns to obsession, terrified of the thought of ever having to live without him. So what's a husband to do?

The Man From The Woods by Devin Cabrera - Poor Katie is having car trouble but luckily a good Samaritan just happens to be passing by... on foot... in the woods. I'm sure everything will work out.

A woman finally meets her biological mother in Promise For Rosa Lee by Naching T. Kassa. She brings with her something special that her adopted mother has made her promise to give her, should she decide to contact her.

Mount Chocura by John Durgin finds a heartbroken man camping out in a forbidden area in memory of his deceased son who always wanted to see the sunrise there.

There were lots of great stories but these were my favorites.

4 out of 5 stars

My thanks to Hellbound Books

[Sophia Cauduro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, believe it or not, this book was a little out of my comfort zone but I really wanted to take a chance on it to prove my pre-conceived notions wrong. I’m so glad I did!

I usually really struggle with anthology books, particularity those in the horror genre. My last two anthologies were DNF with one putting me in the biggest reading slump of my life. But this one was different and that pleasantly surprised me.

The curated authors of To Hell and Back offered a variety of unique voices to satisfy every horror fan. The first story really sets the tone for what’s to come including gore, suspense, action and a little bit of comedic characterization. You are easily hooked in by the first story and the momentum of the stories continues to build and build offering a wide variety of genres and tropes.

Some stand outs for me was The Cooper Thieves about a group of criminals stealing copper out of an old grave site. It was a great addition to the paranormal horror genre and genuinely haunting when read before bed in the darkness of your house. The other stand out is definitely The Man From the Woods. A classic twist on the tales I grew up with telling my friends behind the portables of our elementary school. This story reminds me of the head beams story from Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark or the man with the hook hand.

Whether you are looking for good old fashion horror, extremism (Hot for Cold), sci-fi (Come Save Us Uberman), action (Steel Horses), paranormal (A Promise for Rosa Lee), demons (Fire Escape), psychological thriller (The Air we Breathe) or the craziest cult story reminiscent of Junji Ito (Our New Church) this collection has pretty much everything and I highly recommend checking it out!

[Arielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Wow, wow.

I can't sing enough praise about this book, I loved it from the very first page.
22 short stories, all covering various themes and all horrifying in their own way.

Many of these stories left me unsettled, with my skin crawling at both the mundane and otherworldly horrors that are presented here. It takes a really talented writer to make you scared to be alive, lol.

I didn't like every story, with only 2 of them of leaving me kind of bored, but every story is well thought out and expertly crafted and shows off the writing talents of the authors who participated in this anthology.

Kudos to everyone who worked on this book. It's a masterpiece of horror works. 4.5/5 spookies 👻

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was sent this anthology and just devoured it. I usually have a hard time with anthology, the stories being a hit or a miss for me. But not this one. I can honestly say that i loved each story. They made me feel uneasy and creeped out. 10/10 would highly recommend. Would definitely help you get out of a reading rut.

[Sky Crist · Rating 5 out of 5]

These stories did an amazing job doing what they were meant to do; making me unsettled and making my skin crawl. Some were fun and spooky, some were chilling, and a few were downright disgusting and I enjoyed every part of it! Another absolute win from HellBound Books!

[Purple S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow
I was invited by Hellbound books to review To Hell and Back, a Horror Anthology edited by Joe Mynhardt.

There’s so much I can say and so much I shouldn’t say( so I don’t spoil) about this anthology.
In the preface, Lee Murray compared an Anthology to a box of chocolates, something for everyone. They also spoke about the fact that this particular anthology didn’t have a theme, but thought that a horror anthology didn’t need one because it spoke about fears of the current moment.
I truly couldn’t agree more with either sentiment.

This anthology has something for everyone, you have the stories that truly bring the fear on little by little, you have the grotesque story line, you have the classic tales of horror. In this anthology you have the truly odd and weird! Each story holds something so entirely different that even if you think you know what’s coming, you really don’t.

It’s hard to talk about favorites, because I feel as though the reasons the stories became favorites would give them away to a degree.

Certain favorites were favorites because of how shockingly disturbing they became. Others became favorites for the artistry they exhibited or the true twists they encompassed!

One of the stories that truly kept me on the edge of my seat was Steel Horses by Kenneth W Cain. The way the author kept readers on edge was amazing. Other stories crept along similarly but for me didn’t hit the spot this story did.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This anthology was quite the mix of stories. Some of these left me unsettled, disgusted, and uncomfortable (as horror stories should), and I really enjoyed them! There were some stories that just weren't my cup of tea. The best part of anthologies is the variety offered, there is definitely something for everyone included. Some of these stories I kept thinking "I want a movie of this" and was already casting who I wanted. The last one specifically made me 😬🫣🤢 and was possibly my favorite of them all. If you're into a variety of horror stories, I definitely recommend checking this book out 👍🏻

[Kylee Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

i truly believed that i didn’t like short story collections before reading this. apparently i’ve just been reading the wrong ones. each story in this collection was very captivating and hooked me from the beginning. i’m definitely going to pick up more horror anthologies from this publisher.

[Jesse Bollinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty good collection. It had a mix of authors I knew and others I had never heard of. Some very creepy images in this one.

[Han · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first time reading anthologies of various authors in one book as an adult. I devoured these stories, they were alarming, entertaining, and beautifully written. The anthologies included some of the most grotesque descriptions I’ve ever read, yet the wonderfully crafted imagery kept me in awe. I am not a horror fan typically, but I am a huge fan of the written word, which is where these stories hooked me. I believe this has something for everyone from dungeon sex rooms for sex slaves of the rich (Bunny, Gregg Stewart) or the bony fingers of your dead biological mothers running through your hair (A Promise for Rosa Lee, Naching T. Kassa) there is something sure to make your skin crawl. 

At the end of each story, I was left staring at the whites of the pages where the words did not reach just wanting more. Not because of the lack of but for the talent before my eyes being ripped away before I am ready to let go.  In the foreword, Lee Murray perfectly describes the appeal of anthologies, stating, “When crafted with skill, short fiction can have all the punch of longer works only without the extended commitment.” I wholeheartedly agree- some stories left a deeper impression on me than many 600-page books have, highlighting the unique power of anthologies to deliver memorable and impactful narratives quickly and conveniently. This exposed me to over a dozen talented writers who opened me to a whole new genre I never thought I'd enjoy this much. I highly recommend this to anyone new to horror reads or who would like to explore authors. ‘To Hell and Back’ truly lives up to its name, taking readers to Hell from cover to cover.

[Maryanne Chappell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the To Hell and Back anthology, edited by Joe Mynhardt and loved it. Some of the authors featured in this anthology I've read and really enjoyed their contributions along with those I hadn't yet. Some of the best stories in my opinion were by Diana Olney, Nick Roberts, Bridgett Nelson, Felix Blackwell, Chad Lutzke, Jeff Strand, John Durgin, Kenneth W. Cain James Aquilone and so many others. Highly recommend this book it has so many great short horror stories!

[Vermillion · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this title a 4 because I think it was the Audible Narrator’s performance, rather than the stories themselves, that took the bite out of this anthology. I honestly think the Virtual Voice narrator would have done a better job.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a quick listen but even more fun because it was an anthology! It was perfectly creepy and just enough to push it to that limit because they were all short stories! All of the authors were brilliant and the narrators did a great job! Thank you Hellbound Books!

[Marina Moorkamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one! I like anthology collections because there is something for everyone. There were a couple that I just couldn’t get through, but the ones I loved made up for it. Short stories are awesome in their own way, as they have such a small window to build a plot. These bite-sized horror stories had me hooked! To Hell and Back feels like an adult version of Scary Stories to Tell in The Dark.

My favorites were: Bunny, Copper Thieves, and Fire Escape.

[David Stephens · Rating 3 out of 5]

To Hell and Back is an anthology of horror stories put out by Hellbound Books. The connecting thread is ostensibly some of the terrors of modernity–post-pandemic anxiety, guilt, unfair power dynamics, uncanny feelings–and these elements are present throughout the collection, but most of the social commentary is pretty superficial. A story about grave robbing opioid addicts is heavy on the reanimated corpses and light on the influence of the pharmaceutical industry.

In reality, these are tales of pulp horror that sometimes veer into fantasy or satire and have a healthy dose of dark humor. And some of them are quite fun. “Bunny” by Gregg Stewart depicts a babysitter who gets stuck between defending a young girl and finding out the truth about the parents she is working for, and it makes some nice use of misdirection to keep the story lively. Similarly, “One Way or the Other” by Jay Bechtol puts a nice spin (a moderately hopeful one at that) on a basic ghost story.

“Hot for Cold” by Bridget Nelson doesn’t hold back telling the story of a teenager with an amorous proclivity for dead things. “The Air We Breathe” by Gage Greenwood does the most commendable job developing a character and his overwhelming feelings of survivor’s guilt. But by far the best story of the bunch is “Come, Save Us, Uberman!” by Jasper Bark. It’s some kind of bizarro Superman parody that is structured perfectly so that every little detail comes into play. I have not laughed this hard in a long time.

Unfortunately, too many of them become basic stories of revenge where a protagonist has done something wrong in the past and a ghost or a killer or the devil himself comes back to exact revenge in the most predictable way imaginable.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hellbound Books is amazing about sending horror books/ stories to review. I did not like this group of stories as much as the last but it still had amazing graphic details I won’t forget: like a man realizing his fate in a sewer or a drug lord becoming part of a church and worshipping a different “lord”. These images will stay in my mind forever.

[jody scheppmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!

Defines you a must read! Original stories and outcomes and well written...I would love a book 2! Or even 3!