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October
A magician and a dark evil at Halloween come together in an intriguing coming-of-age thriller.
Readers of Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes and All Hallows by Christopher Golden will love this. In 1970, four boys on the cusp of becoming teenagers notice strange events occurring in Maplewood, NH, timed with the late-night arrival of an old magician who has taken up residence in a boarding house in their neighborhood where one of the tenants is a reclusive pulp horror writer. The writer’s fears have kept him from venturing outside in over forty years, fears linked to the magician’s previous visit. As children go missing in town, the four boys try to piece together seemingly unrelated phenomena and realize dark forces are at work, but no one will believe them.
Readers of Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes and All Hallows by Christopher Golden will love this. In 1970, four boys on the cusp of becoming teenagers notice strange events occurring in Maplewood, NH, timed with the late-night arrival of an old magician who has taken up residence in a boarding house in their neighborhood where one of the tenants is a reclusive pulp horror writer. The writer’s fears have kept him from venturing outside in over forty years, fears linked to the magician’s previous visit. As children go missing in town, the four boys try to piece together seemingly unrelated phenomena and realize dark forces are at work, but no one will believe them.
384 pages, Paperback
Published October 8, 2024
4 people are currently reading
4332 people want to read
About the author
Gregory Bastianelli
8 books80 followersGregory Bastianelli , a New Hampshire native, graduated from the University of New Hampshire where he studied writing under instructors Mark Smith, Thomas Williams and Theodore Weesner.
He worked for nearly two decades at a small daily newspaper where the highlights of his career were interviewing shock rocker Alice Cooper and B-movie icon Bruce Campbell.
He is the author of the novels, "Jokers Club," "Loonies," "Snowball," "Shadow Flicker," and "October."
His pulp horror novella "Lair of the Mole People" appears in the anthology "Men of Mystery Vol. II"
He lives in New Hampshire.
He worked for nearly two decades at a small daily newspaper where the highlights of his career were interviewing shock rocker Alice Cooper and B-movie icon Bruce Campbell.
He is the author of the novels, "Jokers Club," "Loonies," "Snowball," "Shadow Flicker," and "October."
His pulp horror novella "Lair of the Mole People" appears in the anthology "Men of Mystery Vol. II"
He lives in New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
May 13, 2025
It's October 1970 in the small New England town of Maplewood New Hampshire when a freight train that never carries passengers or stops there comes to a halt. A boy watches an elderly man in a top hat and cape disembark. What does his arrival have to do with a shut in who has not left the boarding house where he has resided for these past four decades? Why are children going missing? And what is in those pumpkins? You will have to read to find out!
Four boys coming of age in 1970 are going to have the most memorable October of their lives. Strange happenings, bizarre deaths and mysterious disappearances will plague the town. Even if they can figure out the cause, with the help of a retired horror writer who has been afraid to go outside in 40 years who would possibly believe them?
This is a story that simmers slowly at first as we are introduced to the unusual characters of the town, including the former side show fat lady, the boys from the wrong side of the tracks, and even a poor unloved dog who has lost his boy. I love small-town horror, so this was a huge hit with me. The setting was perfect! The 70's vibe was complete with Hammer House films and Dark Shadows. The closer we get to Halloween, the scarier it gets. I couldn't have loved it more!
Four boys coming of age in 1970 are going to have the most memorable October of their lives. Strange happenings, bizarre deaths and mysterious disappearances will plague the town. Even if they can figure out the cause, with the help of a retired horror writer who has been afraid to go outside in 40 years who would possibly believe them?
This is a story that simmers slowly at first as we are introduced to the unusual characters of the town, including the former side show fat lady, the boys from the wrong side of the tracks, and even a poor unloved dog who has lost his boy. I love small-town horror, so this was a huge hit with me. The setting was perfect! The 70's vibe was complete with Hammer House films and Dark Shadows. The closer we get to Halloween, the scarier it gets. I couldn't have loved it more!
July 13, 2024
This is a different kind of Halloween story and the inclusion of magic really sets it apart. While the limax takes place on Halloween, this is just a really good horror novel which you can enjoy anytime of the year.
A magician with actual magical abilities performs a trick with his son. His son disappears (that was the trick) but never returns (as he should have). The magician spends the next forty years seeking out people with magical knowledge all over the world to help him get his son back.
And he does but things don't go as planned. Some other things have also come back to our world and they are hungry and vengeful.
A group of pre-teen friends start to realise something is very wrong with their town, and it started with the arrival of the old magician. Children start disappearing, they see and experience things which are terrifying and impossible. Of course, nobody will believe them so they must figure it out together and discover what's wrong and how to stop it. But they'll be in over their heads and they might not survive to tell the tale.
This novel covers small town horror, supernatural terrors, and some magic realism to tell this twisty turny story. It's full of surprises and various characters and most have some dark secrets of their own.
It's a creepy novel which doesn't rely on gratuitous blood and gore but rather world building to tell. And it's very effective.
I highly recommend this one. I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
A magician with actual magical abilities performs a trick with his son. His son disappears (that was the trick) but never returns (as he should have). The magician spends the next forty years seeking out people with magical knowledge all over the world to help him get his son back.
And he does but things don't go as planned. Some other things have also come back to our world and they are hungry and vengeful.
A group of pre-teen friends start to realise something is very wrong with their town, and it started with the arrival of the old magician. Children start disappearing, they see and experience things which are terrifying and impossible. Of course, nobody will believe them so they must figure it out together and discover what's wrong and how to stop it. But they'll be in over their heads and they might not survive to tell the tale.
This novel covers small town horror, supernatural terrors, and some magic realism to tell this twisty turny story. It's full of surprises and various characters and most have some dark secrets of their own.
It's a creepy novel which doesn't rely on gratuitous blood and gore but rather world building to tell. And it's very effective.
I highly recommend this one. I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
November 1, 2024
October 1st, 1970. Maplewood. A quiet New Hampshire town where nothing much ever happens. But this night an elderly magician arrives on a freight train, bringing with him memories of an earlier time - and inadvertently opening up a crack into another world.
Meanwhile a group of teenagers in town start to notice odd things happening; kids going missing, pumpkins getting smashed, moving scarecrows, strange events which all started when the magician arrived in town. They know something isn’t right in Maplewood - but how on earth can they fix it?
My oh my, where do I even begin? Readers, this is THE perfect book for spooky season. The story begins on the 1st October and culminates in an explosive finale at Halloween. So, as the skies slowly darken and as the leaves curl and fall, the tension and unease steadily creeps until wham, Halloween becomes a night to remember.
October is a tightly woven tale of community, friendship and dark magic. This small town story is bursting with fascinating characters, who all bring something to the table. It’s written beautifully too, filled with moments of tenderness alongside fear and suspense. I don’t really want to compare Bastianelli’s writing to others but there are definitely shades of Stand by Me and Chasing the Boogeyman here (both hugely favourite reads of mine).
A dark and dazzling story. I loved every single page. The ending is quite abrupt, be warned, I think I would have appreciated an epilogue, but I’m still giving this one all the stars, it really deserves them.
Meanwhile a group of teenagers in town start to notice odd things happening; kids going missing, pumpkins getting smashed, moving scarecrows, strange events which all started when the magician arrived in town. They know something isn’t right in Maplewood - but how on earth can they fix it?
My oh my, where do I even begin? Readers, this is THE perfect book for spooky season. The story begins on the 1st October and culminates in an explosive finale at Halloween. So, as the skies slowly darken and as the leaves curl and fall, the tension and unease steadily creeps until wham, Halloween becomes a night to remember.
October is a tightly woven tale of community, friendship and dark magic. This small town story is bursting with fascinating characters, who all bring something to the table. It’s written beautifully too, filled with moments of tenderness alongside fear and suspense. I don’t really want to compare Bastianelli’s writing to others but there are definitely shades of Stand by Me and Chasing the Boogeyman here (both hugely favourite reads of mine).
A dark and dazzling story. I loved every single page. The ending is quite abrupt, be warned, I think I would have appreciated an epilogue, but I’m still giving this one all the stars, it really deserves them.
September 10, 2024
October by Gregory Bastianelli is a book that serves as a perfect love letter to the Halloween season. It wraps nostalgia and terror beautifully within its crisp fall pages.
This would make a killer horror film or series! I’m so grateful I was able to give this an early read as it really helped me get into gear for fall!
What a perfect read for the ‘ber months! This one will have you reaching for your favorite fall beverage and perhaps an extra light to light up that darkened corner of your room.
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/octob...
This would make a killer horror film or series! I’m so grateful I was able to give this an early read as it really helped me get into gear for fall!
What a perfect read for the ‘ber months! This one will have you reaching for your favorite fall beverage and perhaps an extra light to light up that darkened corner of your room.
Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/octob...
August 27, 2024
3.5⭐
Set in 1970s Maplewood, NH, this tale follows four boys on the verge of adolescence as they uncover a chilling mystery brimming with magic and eerie happenings. The town's unsettling events lead them into a suspenseful adventure that blends nostalgic elements with thrilling twists. Though not overwhelmingly dark, the story manages to deliver a satisfying level of spookiness, making it a fun read for fans of magical mysteries and coming-of-age stories.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press, and Gregory Bastianelli for the opportunity to read and review “October” prior to its publication date.
Set in 1970s Maplewood, NH, this tale follows four boys on the verge of adolescence as they uncover a chilling mystery brimming with magic and eerie happenings. The town's unsettling events lead them into a suspenseful adventure that blends nostalgic elements with thrilling twists. Though not overwhelmingly dark, the story manages to deliver a satisfying level of spookiness, making it a fun read for fans of magical mysteries and coming-of-age stories.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Flame Tree Press, and Gregory Bastianelli for the opportunity to read and review “October” prior to its publication date.
October 8, 2024
October is guaranteed to give you all of the Stephen King vibes this Fall!
Gregory Bastianelli’s latest novel encapsulates the essence of autumn horror with incredible precision. From the very start, it immerses readers in an atmospheric journey through a small town in October, where each chapter represents a day on the calendar. This structure not only enhances the storytelling but also maintains a brisk pace that keeps the narrative engaging. The extensive cast of characters offers a wide range of perspectives, which was one of my favorite aspects of the book. It’s richly character-driven, yet the story progresses seamlessly, delivering an array of suspenseful moments and chilling scares that will keep readers captivated.
The story is ambitious, with several intriguing plotlines that Bastianelli carefully introduces. While I wasn’t certain how all these threads would come together, in true horror fashion, not every storyline needed a neat resolution. Some unravel unexpectedly, adding a sense of chaos and dread that enhances the horror elements and keeps readers on edge.
Fans of Something Wicked This Way Comes and Needful Things will find much to enjoy here. With its perfect seasonal atmosphere and suspenseful storytelling, this novel is a must-read for horror enthusiasts. You won’t be disappointed!
Gregory Bastianelli’s latest novel encapsulates the essence of autumn horror with incredible precision. From the very start, it immerses readers in an atmospheric journey through a small town in October, where each chapter represents a day on the calendar. This structure not only enhances the storytelling but also maintains a brisk pace that keeps the narrative engaging. The extensive cast of characters offers a wide range of perspectives, which was one of my favorite aspects of the book. It’s richly character-driven, yet the story progresses seamlessly, delivering an array of suspenseful moments and chilling scares that will keep readers captivated.
The story is ambitious, with several intriguing plotlines that Bastianelli carefully introduces. While I wasn’t certain how all these threads would come together, in true horror fashion, not every storyline needed a neat resolution. Some unravel unexpectedly, adding a sense of chaos and dread that enhances the horror elements and keeps readers on edge.
Fans of Something Wicked This Way Comes and Needful Things will find much to enjoy here. With its perfect seasonal atmosphere and suspenseful storytelling, this novel is a must-read for horror enthusiasts. You won’t be disappointed!
October 19, 2024
This is a slow burn horror. The book is so creepy and so many unthinkable creepy things happens. Slowly and gradually, the book completely gripped me. And I connected with some characters. Set in 1970s, strange things are happening in the town of Maplewood. There is a mystery of the magician, children are going missing, scarecrow walks, a strange mysterious man appears and many more strange occurrences happens. Love the autumnal, creepy and halloween vibes. A magicians magic trick takes an unexpected turn and it takes years for him to solve the mystery. A group of teen friends try to solve the mystery. This book is filled with creepy happenings, mystery, suspense, action and twists and turns
Thanks to publisher, author and random things tours
Thanks to publisher, author and random things tours
October 13, 2025
The perfect creepy Halloween book!
October 21, 2024
October is a spine chilling Halloween horror that had me absolutely hooked from beginning to end. I'm a huge lover of horror and things that go bump in the night.
The book takes us through a moderately paced month of October and counts down the events and creepy occurrences that are taking place in Maplewood right up to Halloween night where a curse is waiting to be broken.
It's a coming of age story unlike any I've ever read before. It has some fascinating characters, just the right amount of spook and is the perfect countdown to Halloween read.
The book takes us through a moderately paced month of October and counts down the events and creepy occurrences that are taking place in Maplewood right up to Halloween night where a curse is waiting to be broken.
It's a coming of age story unlike any I've ever read before. It has some fascinating characters, just the right amount of spook and is the perfect countdown to Halloween read.
August 29, 2024
Four boys attempt to piece together the reason behind the disappearance of several children from their small-town during the Halloween of 1970 in this fun pulpy tale that mixes magicians, magic and old evils.
The book is a coming-of-age thriller in the vein of Christopher Golden's All Hallows and Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes and fondly captures the spirit of stories from that era.
A good choice for those in the mood for a fun, pulpy horror for the Halloween season.
The book is a coming-of-age thriller in the vein of Christopher Golden's All Hallows and Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes and fondly captures the spirit of stories from that era.
A good choice for those in the mood for a fun, pulpy horror for the Halloween season.
October 7, 2025
I'm always on the lookout for Halloween fiction because it's hard to find amidst all the general horror recommendations. While most of those seasonal titles are short story collections, Halloween novels are a rarity. With the comparisons to Something Wicked This Way Comes and All Hallows, October was my most anticipated read for Halloween and I was thrilled to finally read it this year.
In 1970, four preteen boys notice strange occurrences happening in their neighborhood when an old magician arrives to stay with a reclusive pulp horror writer who hasn't been outside in over forty years. As children go missing, the four boys try to uncover the dark forces happening around town.
October lived up to the comparisons to classic Halloween novels. It felt like Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes with a mix Christopher Golden's All Hallows, and even Stephen King.
Although the small town horror featuring kid characters wasn't new, I didn't mind because Halloween and nostalgia go hand-in-hand. While I usually enjoy multiple POVs, much like All Hallows, October jumped around to the perspectives of various townspeople. Unfortunately, the characterization was a bit thin. However, the mystery and supernatural elements made up for it. I liked how the strange happenings involved characters' fears (reminding me of It) and how it related to the magician and the enigmatic House of Embers. And I liked the subtle dread and suspense rather than outright scares. While it started off well, the middle dragged a bit, though it picked up in the end. Unfortunately, the ending needed a final scene of declining action because it felt too abrupt and left some things unresolved. Finally, I couldn't ignore the lackluster writing which made this read like an earlier draft. If this went through more revisions, it'd be amazing because it has the ingredients to be one of the best Halloween novels. Nonetheless, if you're looking for a Halloween novel with Stephen King vibes, October is worth it for the entertainment value.
In 1970, four preteen boys notice strange occurrences happening in their neighborhood when an old magician arrives to stay with a reclusive pulp horror writer who hasn't been outside in over forty years. As children go missing, the four boys try to uncover the dark forces happening around town.
October lived up to the comparisons to classic Halloween novels. It felt like Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes with a mix Christopher Golden's All Hallows, and even Stephen King.
Although the small town horror featuring kid characters wasn't new, I didn't mind because Halloween and nostalgia go hand-in-hand. While I usually enjoy multiple POVs, much like All Hallows, October jumped around to the perspectives of various townspeople. Unfortunately, the characterization was a bit thin. However, the mystery and supernatural elements made up for it. I liked how the strange happenings involved characters' fears (reminding me of It) and how it related to the magician and the enigmatic House of Embers. And I liked the subtle dread and suspense rather than outright scares. While it started off well, the middle dragged a bit, though it picked up in the end. Unfortunately, the ending needed a final scene of declining action because it felt too abrupt and left some things unresolved. Finally, I couldn't ignore the lackluster writing which made this read like an earlier draft. If this went through more revisions, it'd be amazing because it has the ingredients to be one of the best Halloween novels. Nonetheless, if you're looking for a Halloween novel with Stephen King vibes, October is worth it for the entertainment value.
October 3, 2024
Think Stephen King meets ‘Stranger Things’ meets ‘Goosebumps’ meets ‘Gremlins’ and you might be halfway to knowing what you’ll encounter when you start reading this book! If this sounds appealing, then you are guaranteed to love “October” by Gregory Bastianelli.
There’s not many books in the horror genre that actually give me the chills, due to either being too unrealistic or not creative enough in its atmospheric descriptions but with this book I felt like I was actually in the town of Maplewood, living with the residents themselves.
I loved the time setting, portrayed through the whole of October, 1970 and the location of the New Hampshire town, with the freight trains rumbling through and the quirky residents living in the boarding house, each with their own backstory. The way the kids stuck together to try and discover why the town had gone bad was enjoyable to read and Ryan’s memories of his twin brother was heartbreaking. Things take a very eerie and sinister turn in Maplewood once a magician returns to the town after forty years and as this is the main premise to the story, it just gets more and more chilling as the story progresses.
I did find the ending a little abrupt but there was a very tense and action filled denouement to make up for it. One thing is for certain though, I won’t be looking at Halloween pumpkins the same way and defy you to either, once you’ve read this book!
An excellent novel with high quality writing, an atmospheric setting, scares a plenty and spine chilling characters. Not to be missed!
#October - 4.5 stars
There’s not many books in the horror genre that actually give me the chills, due to either being too unrealistic or not creative enough in its atmospheric descriptions but with this book I felt like I was actually in the town of Maplewood, living with the residents themselves.
I loved the time setting, portrayed through the whole of October, 1970 and the location of the New Hampshire town, with the freight trains rumbling through and the quirky residents living in the boarding house, each with their own backstory. The way the kids stuck together to try and discover why the town had gone bad was enjoyable to read and Ryan’s memories of his twin brother was heartbreaking. Things take a very eerie and sinister turn in Maplewood once a magician returns to the town after forty years and as this is the main premise to the story, it just gets more and more chilling as the story progresses.
I did find the ending a little abrupt but there was a very tense and action filled denouement to make up for it. One thing is for certain though, I won’t be looking at Halloween pumpkins the same way and defy you to either, once you’ve read this book!
An excellent novel with high quality writing, an atmospheric setting, scares a plenty and spine chilling characters. Not to be missed!
#October - 4.5 stars
June 4, 2025
Gregory Bastianelli's fifth novel is a fun, suspenseful ride that will feel both unique and familiar to horror fans. The 1970 setting (the entire novel takes place day-by-day through October 1970) provides a perfect opportunity to show kids exploring neighborhoods on bikes and getting in trouble on paper routes, along with the boardinghouse culture and pulp horror fiction of even earlier eras. Fans will absolutely love the summaries of not one, but two Hammer horror films the author provides in different scenes at the local movie theater, where readers can enjoy a play-by-play of The Vampire Lovers and House of Dark Shadows through the eyes of the seventh-grade protagonists.
While the various bump-in-the-night suspense scenes will no doubt feel comforting to fans of the genre, I most enjoyed the novel's early chapters, where the magician's mysterious appearance and backstory are masterfully revealed little by little juxtaposed with the chilling House of Embers scenes. The mystery of where the House of Embers came from also makes for a compelling read, where Bastianelli cleverly inserts some regional New Hampshire history that I won't spoil here.
All in all, October makes for a fun, compelling read.
While the various bump-in-the-night suspense scenes will no doubt feel comforting to fans of the genre, I most enjoyed the novel's early chapters, where the magician's mysterious appearance and backstory are masterfully revealed little by little juxtaposed with the chilling House of Embers scenes. The mystery of where the House of Embers came from also makes for a compelling read, where Bastianelli cleverly inserts some regional New Hampshire history that I won't spoil here.
All in all, October makes for a fun, compelling read.
October 9, 2024
Wow, what a book. I don’t really know what I was expecting to be honest but this was just brilliant. I love the fact that it is almost diary like with each day in October being detailed. Within each day though we hear part of each of our central characters stories, seemingly unrelated.
I thought that the storyline was so unique, it had me gripped as I was so intrigued as to what was happening within each persons story. The characters were really well written and there was times when I thought that they were all hiding something. Some I felt more sorry for especially Ryan as he had already lost his brother and then had all this going on. But I think it was Harold that I felt most sorry for as he was so scared about what he had seen all those years ago and had never left the house since that one night.
I loved the way that it built up towards the ending and I loved those scenes in the house near the end, it had all built up towards that point but I still really wasn't sure what the outcome would be. I loved the mysteriousness of the whole story, it honestly had me so captivated. I loved the writing style of it and couldn't put it down.
I thought that the storyline was so unique, it had me gripped as I was so intrigued as to what was happening within each persons story. The characters were really well written and there was times when I thought that they were all hiding something. Some I felt more sorry for especially Ryan as he had already lost his brother and then had all this going on. But I think it was Harold that I felt most sorry for as he was so scared about what he had seen all those years ago and had never left the house since that one night.
I loved the way that it built up towards the ending and I loved those scenes in the house near the end, it had all built up towards that point but I still really wasn't sure what the outcome would be. I loved the mysteriousness of the whole story, it honestly had me so captivated. I loved the writing style of it and couldn't put it down.
February 13, 2025
Content Warnings:
Animal death
Cancer
Fatphobia
Hate of a dog
Child hostage
Light gore
Loss of child (described)
Loss of parent
Loss of sibling
Missing children
Parent abandons family
Suicide attempt
Representation:
Black
LGBT (F/F) - brief in a movie a character sees
Words that may bother some readers:
A
Ass - 1 time
Asshole - 2 times
B
Balls - 1 time
Bastard - 4 times
Bitch - 2 times
Boob - 5 times
Breast - 17 times
C
Christ (not religious) - 8 times
D
Damn - 20 times
Damnation - 1 time
E
Erect - 1 time
Erection - 1 time
F
Fuck - 2 times
G
God (not religious) - 17 times
God (religious) - 1 time
H
Hard-ass - 1 time
Hell - 37 times
Hobo - 10 times
Hoochie-Coochie - 1 time
J
Jesus (not religious) - 5 times
M
Molest - 1 time
N
Necking - 1 time
P
Piss - 6 times
Prick - 1 time
S
Screw - 3 times
Shit - 17 times
T
Tits - 1 time
W
Wiseass - 1 time
Animal death
Cancer
Fatphobia
Hate of a dog
Child hostage
Light gore
Loss of child (described)
Loss of parent
Loss of sibling
Missing children
Parent abandons family
Suicide attempt
Representation:
Black
LGBT (F/F) - brief in a movie a character sees
Words that may bother some readers:
A
Ass - 1 time
Asshole - 2 times
B
Balls - 1 time
Bastard - 4 times
Bitch - 2 times
Boob - 5 times
Breast - 17 times
C
Christ (not religious) - 8 times
D
Damn - 20 times
Damnation - 1 time
E
Erect - 1 time
Erection - 1 time
F
Fuck - 2 times
G
God (not religious) - 17 times
God (religious) - 1 time
H
Hard-ass - 1 time
Hell - 37 times
Hobo - 10 times
Hoochie-Coochie - 1 time
J
Jesus (not religious) - 5 times
M
Molest - 1 time
N
Necking - 1 time
P
Piss - 6 times
Prick - 1 time
S
Screw - 3 times
Shit - 17 times
T
Tits - 1 time
W
Wiseass - 1 time
March 7, 2025
Not only is the title of the book ‘October’, it is also the month of Halloween and the current month. The book is taking us through what happens every day of this fateful month in the small place that is named Maplewood.
You see, this small place could have been like a thousand other small places during Halloween. However, some unfortunate events from the past didn’t want to stay hidden.👀
As we follow four boy’s suspicions towards the mysterious man in black that disembarked the train in their neck of the woods, a place the train never stops, and more and more troublesome events take place.
Knowing that as things unravel and escalate, it will all
go down October 31st.
The night the veil between the living and the dead is at is weakest.
We get to know characters who have suffered loss and guilt are now trying to survive this last day of October. And my heart needs a little heading.
I think this is a good read for a build up to Halloween.🎃
And do we really want to follow the white rabbit?
What was that noise?
You see, this small place could have been like a thousand other small places during Halloween. However, some unfortunate events from the past didn’t want to stay hidden.👀
As we follow four boy’s suspicions towards the mysterious man in black that disembarked the train in their neck of the woods, a place the train never stops, and more and more troublesome events take place.
Knowing that as things unravel and escalate, it will all
go down October 31st.
The night the veil between the living and the dead is at is weakest.
We get to know characters who have suffered loss and guilt are now trying to survive this last day of October. And my heart needs a little heading.
I think this is a good read for a build up to Halloween.🎃
And do we really want to follow the white rabbit?
What was that noise?
October 15, 2024
An old magician performs a magic trick that goes wrong, and it haunts him for his entire life.
Four friends end up in a spooky Halloween adventure around their town, but can they stop the evil before Halloween night?
I really enjoyed this book, so i would recommend it if you love a great coming of age thriller. I love how atmospheric this book is. It went from the boys in the cinema, making me laugh, and then, within seconds, the atmosphere changed, and it's creepy again.
From Jack o lanterns to wait, did that skeleton move? It's a story that moves along at a fast, creepy pace. This is perfect for a Halloween read, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Gregory brings out next.
It's a book that you want to keep reading, I didn't want to put it down near the end. I loved this, and being so close to Halloween made it even better.
Four friends end up in a spooky Halloween adventure around their town, but can they stop the evil before Halloween night?
I really enjoyed this book, so i would recommend it if you love a great coming of age thriller. I love how atmospheric this book is. It went from the boys in the cinema, making me laugh, and then, within seconds, the atmosphere changed, and it's creepy again.
From Jack o lanterns to wait, did that skeleton move? It's a story that moves along at a fast, creepy pace. This is perfect for a Halloween read, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Gregory brings out next.
It's a book that you want to keep reading, I didn't want to put it down near the end. I loved this, and being so close to Halloween made it even better.
October 11, 2024
This is yet another cracking book published by
Flame Tree Press!
I utterly adore this cover artwork! It's extremely aesthetic, creeky and just intrigued me so much!
The story focuses on 4 boys in the 1970s, mysterious happenings of Maplewood, and children going missing... oh, and a magician... what is going on?
This was an incredibly dark and creepy book and again, perfect for Spooky Season!
The story jumps around all the key characters, so you see a detailed picture of what is going on, and boy, is it detailed! You just fly in out around the town, which makes it an extremely interesting concept - chatacter development of the days is fab too!
The whole story weaves itself together for the finale and what a finale it is!
Great for spooky season!
Flame Tree Press!
I utterly adore this cover artwork! It's extremely aesthetic, creeky and just intrigued me so much!
The story focuses on 4 boys in the 1970s, mysterious happenings of Maplewood, and children going missing... oh, and a magician... what is going on?
This was an incredibly dark and creepy book and again, perfect for Spooky Season!
The story jumps around all the key characters, so you see a detailed picture of what is going on, and boy, is it detailed! You just fly in out around the town, which makes it an extremely interesting concept - chatacter development of the days is fab too!
The whole story weaves itself together for the finale and what a finale it is!
Great for spooky season!
October 21, 2024
Has every Halloween theme you can think of - evil pumpkins and skeletons, scarecrows and cornfields, full moons and goblins...
I really enjoyed this book for the month of October as it hit all the right notes for the month. And yet, there were things that felt a bit forced, like the constant mention of the tv show Dark Shadows being used to remind us that this is the early '70s, or the reminders of Ryan's twin brother being all of 10 minutes older than him. And the disappearance of several children and the death of other characters felt less than scary, it felt incomplete, like something was missing. Maybe that was a set up for other stories to come from the town, I don't know. Still a good read for the month, just don't expect something new or original in Halloween scares.
I really enjoyed this book for the month of October as it hit all the right notes for the month. And yet, there were things that felt a bit forced, like the constant mention of the tv show Dark Shadows being used to remind us that this is the early '70s, or the reminders of Ryan's twin brother being all of 10 minutes older than him. And the disappearance of several children and the death of other characters felt less than scary, it felt incomplete, like something was missing. Maybe that was a set up for other stories to come from the town, I don't know. Still a good read for the month, just don't expect something new or original in Halloween scares.
May 22, 2025
Note: The version I read was an ARC and some things may have been changed for the final published version.
This book really gave off Stephen King's IT vibes. I liked it for the most part. However, in the first half there are way too many characters to keep up with and it bounces from all of their different perspectives making the book feel disjointed and more difficult to connect to. Also, while I believe having a chapter for every day in October is fun in theory, for this particular plot, it just made everything seem more drown out and felt like it took forever to get anywhere.
That being said, the book was entertaining for the most part, especially the second half.
Thanks to the publisher/Netgalley for my chance to read this one!
This book really gave off Stephen King's IT vibes. I liked it for the most part. However, in the first half there are way too many characters to keep up with and it bounces from all of their different perspectives making the book feel disjointed and more difficult to connect to. Also, while I believe having a chapter for every day in October is fun in theory, for this particular plot, it just made everything seem more drown out and felt like it took forever to get anywhere.
That being said, the book was entertaining for the most part, especially the second half.
Thanks to the publisher/Netgalley for my chance to read this one!
October 22, 2024
Great read for spooky season! Magic, demonic Jack-o-Laterns, coming-of-age horror.
Lots of characters to keep track of, but I didn’t feel overwhelmed. Loved the kid characters, Ryan, Lance and Russel. Of course they noticed things were wrong before their parents. My favorite character was the agoraphobic, Mr. Lothrop. A horrid writer whose goblin monsters came to life. Yes, he hid himself away and was labeled a coward. But he did some pretty courageous things near the end.
Story takes off on the October 31st chapter and just pounds you with all kinds of Halloween horror.
Lots of characters to keep track of, but I didn’t feel overwhelmed. Loved the kid characters, Ryan, Lance and Russel. Of course they noticed things were wrong before their parents. My favorite character was the agoraphobic, Mr. Lothrop. A horrid writer whose goblin monsters came to life. Yes, he hid himself away and was labeled a coward. But he did some pretty courageous things near the end.
Story takes off on the October 31st chapter and just pounds you with all kinds of Halloween horror.
October 10, 2024
Four boys in the 1970s are having a rough October as strange events in their small town escalate. Each chapter is a day in October, and we see the boys dealing with the creepy events as they unfold. This hits a bit of coming of age and a bit of horror from the boys’ point of view and was a good spooky season read.
Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 14, 2024
I was given this book as an ARC on NetGalley. Thank you! I’’m reallly enjoying it. It has 31 chapters so I’m reading it as an advent reading for Halloween…..one chapter a day. How fun! I haven’t finished it yet (almost halfway through) but promised to leave a timely review so doing so now. The storyline is good, the characters are engaging and the setting is spooky. Really fun read for Halloween!
September 23, 2025
What a creepy read for spooky season! i love how this entertwined all the people in the story and things seemed to piece together the further you went. Smokey made me sad, but the storyline was kind of perfect. Wondering if they'll ever be a sequel since Daimon got away... Happy Halloween!
October 20, 2024
Excellent fun Halloween read.
April 10, 2025
A very good coming of age horror novel
For a full review, please go to https://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/... and follow me on X @josenher
For a full review, please go to https://areviewerdarkly.blogspot.com/... and follow me on X @josenher
August 14, 2025
The ending was not as great as I expected. Probably would have gotten a 4 if it hadn’t been for the bleh ending.
October 10, 2025
I'm shocked that this book has such a low readership.... it is an absolute gem.... this book is the PERFECT Halloween read. it has everything you could ever want in a seasonal spooky read!
Read
November 1, 2025Stay away from magicians.
December 14, 2024
SO GOOD, SO GOOD, SO VERY VERY GOOD!!
This story begins on October 1, 1970 and needs on October 31st and is the perfect book for the Halloween Season.
Four boys who are the closest of friends are enjoying their childhood and unburdened lives until the night the tall, old stranger dressed in all black wearing a cape and top hat arrives in Maplewood New Hampshire. The man rents a room in the only boarding house along with several other seniors living there including an old pulp horror writer who hasn't left the home in over forty years believing that some of his horror stories came true and the entities he knows he saw are still out there searching for him and he has been in hiding all this time. The boys love this author's books and visit him on a regular basis and now they want to find all the information he can share about this dark stranger.
Peculiar events started happening the day that man arrived and every day that passes a darkness envelops the town and now children are disappearing plus a few other people yet the adults don't connect the dots and find anything unusual until it's too late.
Will the boys convince people that they need help to stop the evil that's taking over their once safe and comfortable town or will everyone be swallowed up by the darkness that refuses to leave Maplewood and seems to have huge plans that will take place on Halloween night especially for all the trick or treaters and anyone else who dares to be out on October 31st!
This book was deliciously atmospheric, entertaining, enjoyable and well-written. An intriguing coming of age story for the boys and a great nod to the older generation as well. The characters are very well developed with delightful humor thrown in as well as the eerie darkness that encompasses every chapter. This book was hard to put down since I was enjoying it so much and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. This was my second book by this author 'Gregory Bastianelli' which was called "Snowball" and I highly recommend reading that if you enjoy a great Christmas or winter horror novel.
I wasn't sure how everything would come together by the end of the story but it all played out with many questions answered. The parts I didn't care for happened at the end of the book, maybe I wanted it to end more seamlessly although I believe it had more of a horror effect since it didn't wrap up with a pretty bow the way I expected. Horror books are very subjective and they don't always play out the way the reader wants it too but believe me this was a fantastic, fun, creepy, frightening horror book that I recommend to all horror readers!
I want to thank the publisher "Flame Tree Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this exciting horror novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 CREEPY AND SPOOKALICIOUS 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
This story begins on October 1, 1970 and needs on October 31st and is the perfect book for the Halloween Season.
Four boys who are the closest of friends are enjoying their childhood and unburdened lives until the night the tall, old stranger dressed in all black wearing a cape and top hat arrives in Maplewood New Hampshire. The man rents a room in the only boarding house along with several other seniors living there including an old pulp horror writer who hasn't left the home in over forty years believing that some of his horror stories came true and the entities he knows he saw are still out there searching for him and he has been in hiding all this time. The boys love this author's books and visit him on a regular basis and now they want to find all the information he can share about this dark stranger.
Peculiar events started happening the day that man arrived and every day that passes a darkness envelops the town and now children are disappearing plus a few other people yet the adults don't connect the dots and find anything unusual until it's too late.
Will the boys convince people that they need help to stop the evil that's taking over their once safe and comfortable town or will everyone be swallowed up by the darkness that refuses to leave Maplewood and seems to have huge plans that will take place on Halloween night especially for all the trick or treaters and anyone else who dares to be out on October 31st!
This book was deliciously atmospheric, entertaining, enjoyable and well-written. An intriguing coming of age story for the boys and a great nod to the older generation as well. The characters are very well developed with delightful humor thrown in as well as the eerie darkness that encompasses every chapter. This book was hard to put down since I was enjoying it so much and couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. This was my second book by this author 'Gregory Bastianelli' which was called "Snowball" and I highly recommend reading that if you enjoy a great Christmas or winter horror novel.
I wasn't sure how everything would come together by the end of the story but it all played out with many questions answered. The parts I didn't care for happened at the end of the book, maybe I wanted it to end more seamlessly although I believe it had more of a horror effect since it didn't wrap up with a pretty bow the way I expected. Horror books are very subjective and they don't always play out the way the reader wants it too but believe me this was a fantastic, fun, creepy, frightening horror book that I recommend to all horror readers!
I want to thank the publisher "Flame Tree Press" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this exciting horror novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!
I have given a rating of 4 CREEPY AND SPOOKALICIOUS 🌟🌟🌟🌟 STARS!!
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