Waxwing Creek

by J.J. Walker

Built on the ruins of a house where a family was found murdered, Waxwing Creek’s legacy began with blood. From that moment, the motel has defined the town of Hunt, haunting owners, guests, and those who call it home.

With tales about a woman betting on bingo to save her life, a brother looking for justice in Hunt's dark and brutal underbelly, and a man calling on the supernatural to reunite lovers, Waxwing Creek is a collection of interconnected horror stories that uncover the motel’s most disturbing encounters.

They’re stories that examine desperation, morality, and what happens when people try to change something that should be left alone.

Genres: Horror

138 pages, Paperback

Published July 25, 2024

About the author

J.J. Walker is a horror author who loves writing unsettling stories about small towns, old houses, and characters that examine what it means to be human.

Originally from the UK, he currently calls Canada home.

Reviews

[KellyJ1028 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

I was so excited to get approved to read Waxwing Creek!! This suspense horror was a page turner and incredibly well written. The author captured the atmosphere of this spooky motel throughout the book, it was sooo eerie & captivating.

Each story provided more information towards the last reveal/ending.

This is one of the best horror short story collections I've ever read, I really enjoyed this one so much and would definitely read from this author again.

Thank you to Netgalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and J.J Walker for my eARC of this book and the opportunity to provide honest opinions.

Pub date: July 25th, 2024

[Tori Peiler · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️! This was fun! I love anything that has to do with creepy motels. I also love short stories. What was cool about this was, every short story was connected to the motel, and every story was connected to each other! It was clever that the author had the stories to in chronological time order too all the way up to 2023.

I kind of wish this was a novella instead of short stories, as the stories themselves were very short. But if this was longer, (maybe less stories but make the stories longer) it would have been even better! But still had a real fun time with this, and recommend to anyone who likes Bates Motel or anything supernatural horror! A good short read for anyone looking for something quick

[Cherise Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waxwing Creek is a place where nightmares are made of. It's a place of murder, suicide and many other strange maladies.

This is a collection of interconnecting stories all centered around one place- Waxwing Creek. The book starts off in the year 1989, where a very gruesome murder takes place. Have you ever read a book where the final sentence shocks you to the core? That was the case of the first story for me and, man did it set the scene for everything that followed.

As the years progress and, the ownership of the hotel changes, the setting never does. Each story takes on a different level of horror and among it all, is the evil that is Waxwing Creek. The stories range from murder to much darker and otherworldly occurrences. Though the characters change as well as the timeline, the story flows well and was very easy to follow.

The book was well crafted and very well written. The final story tied everything together beautifully and that final sentence once again chilled me to bone. I have never read a collection of short stories that are connected the way these stories were. I found this book to be not only refreshing but also unique. A very short, bingeable, unputdownable read with the right amount of gore and spook.

One of the best horror short story collections I've ever read, I had a really good time with this one.

Thank you to Netgalley, After Dusk Press and J.J Walker for my eARC of this book. All opinions are 100% my own.
Pub date: July 25th, 2024

[Mars · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC of this book!

Waxwing Creek by J.J. Walker is a mesmerizing collection of interconnected horror stories that revolve around a motel built on the ruins of a house marked by a gruesome family murder. This sinister legacy has shaped the town of Hunt, casting a dark shadow over its residents, visitors, and especially those tied to the motel. Each story delves into the motel's eerie past, uncovering tales of desperation, morality, and the chilling consequences of meddling with forces best left alone.

From the gripping tale of a woman who bets her life on a game of bingo to a man's desperate invocation of the supernatural to reunite star-crossed lovers, Waxwing Creek weaves a tapestry of horror that is both haunting and compelling.

I absolutely loved this interconnected short story collection from beginning to end. If this were a full-length novel, I would devour it with the same fervor. Each story captivated me right from the start, with fully fleshed-out characters and rich backstories, which is particularly impressive for a novella spanning just 138 pages.

J.J. Walker's writing is masterful, entrancing readers and keeping them on the edge of their seats, biting their nails in anticipation of what comes next. The entire collection is impeccably crafted, with each story seamlessly blending into the next, creating a cohesive and enthralling narrative.

The only critique I have is that I wish it were longer. Each story was so engaging that I found myself yearning for more, eager for further exploration of the characters and their fates. This, however, is a testament to Walker's skill in creating such a vivid and immersive world that leaves readers wanting more.

Overall, Waxwing Creek is a perfect blend of horror, suspense, and emotional depth. It is a must-read for fans of the genre, and I have no reservations in giving it a well-deserved 5-star rating. J.J. Walker has crafted a collection that is both terrifying and thought-provoking, making it a standout in contemporary horror fiction.

[Balthazarinblue · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw a ton of a really good reviews for this and I knew I had to check it out before the FOMO set in. Waxwing Creek deserves all the praise it has been getting. It is a short (I blitzed through it in an hour or so) set of interconnected stories, all centering around the Waxwing Creek motel. This is a balanced mix of supernatural horror and the more real world terrors humanity brings on itself. The collection culminates in a satisfying origin story that draws the various narratives together. Set in disparate decades and with wildly different protagonists, the author has done a great job giving each story a unique and compelling voice. A great creepy read that will have you looking over your shoulder the next time you find yourself in the woods.

I received this ARC for free on NetGalley.

[Jazmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very good horror short story collection. I love creepy motel settings, and this one had some truly disturbing moments. Often, I found the human actions even more unsettling than the paranormal ones. There were several times I had to put the book down just to process what I had read—.

Overall, a great set of entertaining, horror-filled short stories! Horror factor is a good 4.5⭐️

So why only 3⭐️?
I have to admit that despite being a great horror, it never fully captured or enthralled me. I didn’t care for anyone nor truly cared for what was going on. It’s true horror, but without any emotional pull or connection to the characters. I found myself just reading because I can’t leave a book unfinished, but I was done about halfway through.


**I received a free ARC from LibraryThing Early Reviewers in exchange for my honest and unbiased review**

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s such an American experience to have some scary old hotel that you have to drive past every so often that makes your skin crawl. These motels are so often places where people go to do things in secret, and there are a lot of secrets in Waxwing Creek.

Waxwing Creek is a satisfying collection of very short stories. Characterization was very strong for the short amount of time we spend with these characters. The reader is able to quickly connect with their feelings and motivations. Hopefully it’s not too much of a spoiler to say that I really enjoyed the stories concerning mediums. Their experiences were especially vivid.

I’d happily read an extended version!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Paige Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This isn't a story about a motel. This isn't a story about ghosts. This is a story about people, which may be the scariest thing of all."

Waxwing Creek is a collection of stories that all take place in this motel and they all interconnect with one another. The ending line gave me CHILLS. The book starts off in 1989 where a brutal murder takes place and the story completely takes off from there. Before this property was turned into a motel, there used to be a house that sat on this very property. In this house, there was a family that died in the attic. It has remained a mystery ever since.

Each story centers around the evil brewing within Waxwing Creek. The stories are all dark and eerie. For how short of a collection this was, it was written well and flowed together nicely. This can be hard to achieve with the amount of characters and timeline involved and I think Walker did a wonderful job connecting all of the pieces together.

This was a very fast-paced, one-sitting read for myself. I enjoyed my stay at Waxwing Creek very much so. ;)

Highly Recommend checking this one out when it drops!

Thank you J.J. for providing me with this ARC. Waxwing Creek will release on July 25th, 2024

[Brigit (Cosy.horror.corner) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This supernatural suspense horror novella was a page turner. Spanning across 8 timelines, and referencing the same spooky motel, I was captivated throughout! I really enjoyed the psychological depth and creepiness of characters, the unsettling atmosphere and the body horror descriptions. I loved the writing style and the references between the interconnected short stories. The stories themselves were satisfying, as they built up more information towards the reveal. And the cover is gorgeously creepy. I would definitely read more from this author.

Highly recommended

Thank you to NetGalley, J.J. Walker and After Dusk Press for this advanced digital readers copy.

Publish date: July 25, 2024

[Jessica (Read book. Repeat) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I freaking loved how every single story took place at Waxwing Creek. The connection being the motel was brilliant, and I loved how every single story was different. I also really loved how it came full circle with that last story connecting to the first and it just blew me away.

I love short story collections and anthologies, even more so when each story is connected somehow, and this one brought it! I would happily re-read this and plan to in the near future.

[Daniel Celebertti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, After Dusk Press and J.J. Walker for the eARC of this book.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

J.J. Walker warns immediately the reader that 'Waxwing Creek' is not a collection of stories, not even a collection of stories about a motel. I think he's absolutely right, and I'd consider this a short novel or a rich novella, one tale told in several parts, the same story approached from different directions in space and time, from 1989 to 2023. I enjoyed the book in all its details, and would not imagine changing anything: the pacing was brilliant, the writing even more so, the dialogue and the characters felt real, and the stories themselves were a joy to read, the whole plot placed in the perfect setting. The latter is a motel built in 1989 on top of a house where a family was found killed in the attic. What follows, jumping from year to year, is brimming with supernatural evil, sometimes presenting itself as a ghost story, a sinister haunting destroying people staying in the rooms, other times as folk horror, the cursed forest around the motel having alot to do with the sickness befalling the guests. The idea driving each story is genius: from the 1989 owners performing a seance to raise people's awareness of the motel, to a serial killer frequenting the same room once a day every year, to best friends falling out due to one deciding to sacrifice the other for gifts bestowed by the motel. The last story makes the attempt to provide some answers, and it's the best closing story I could think of!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book review for Waxwing Creek by J.J. Walker

Book summary: Built on the ruins of a house where a family was found murdered, Waxwing Creek’s legacy began with blood. From that moment, the motel has defined the town of Hunt, haunting owners, guests, and those who call it home.
With tales about a woman betting on bingo to save her life, a brother looking for justice in Hunt's dark and brutal underbelly, and a man calling on the supernatural to reunite lovers, Waxwing Creek is a collection of interconnected horror stories that uncover the motel’s most disturbing encounters.
They’re stories that examine desperation, morality, and what happens when people try to change something that should be left alone.


Book Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is an outstanding collection of interconnected horror stories. In each story, we learn about a new character that stayed at Waxwing Creek and the horrors that unfolded. The stories were a perfect blend of suspense, supernatural and horror. There were a few stories that I felt unresolved in a way. We didn’t get told what happened after the events. They just ended abruptly.
Overall, these are fantastics stories to read around a campfire, for spooky season or just when you want ti be creeped out.

Thank you to netgalley for the arc

[Athala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!
Waxwing Creek is a collection of short stories. The stories have one thing in common: the Waxwing Creek motel. Somehow the characters or the happenings are connected to it. The stories are in chronological order (first we get a glimpse in the seance in the 80's which is the source of the following events).
First I thought the stories are some random ones about the evil touch of the motel, but then the previous events get mentioned and that connects the dots. I really loved how the author gives only little glimpses. Some stories even have an open ending and I admit that it doesn't bother me! They are really great.
I think I don't spoil the book if I say that it is full of paranormal stuff. Best recipe: take a dark origin story (the Dakotas), build a motel, organise a seance, keep the motel alive (check-check-check). And the ending... PERFECT! I couldn't imagine a better one! Thank you J. J. Walker for this gem!

[Shireen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
Waxwing Creek is a quick-read compendium of fictional horror short stories all centred around a motel of the same name. Stories are shared in chronological order touching on a complex and morbidly fascinating history of brutality, disappearances, and murder. Each of the stories progressively amps up the psychological suspense and questions abound - what exactly has the Waxwing Creek motel in such a supernatural stranglehold?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book; the stories were quick, digestible, and altogether eerie. I couldn't put it down! Not a perfect 5 star rating because honestly I feel like the premise could've been taken even further and I would really have liked it to be a bit longer. But overall, it is a deliciously satisfying, macabre set of tales.

Thank you to NetGalley, J.J. Walker and After Dusk Press for this advanced digital readers copy. All opinions are my own.

[elle (taylor's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to After Dusk Press for providing me with this advanced reader copy to review. All of my ARC reviews are spoiler-free! Waxwing Creek is expected to release July 25th 2024.

Waxwing Creek is a fantastic collection of short, fast-paced horror stories set between 1989 and 2023. Each one can be read as a standalone, but all of them are connected and come together in its final moments. I loved this, I struggled to put it down at all, and so ended up reading 90% of the book in a single sitting which I really recommend for the aesthetic of the interconnected stories.

The plot stays focused without any unnecessary fluff all the way through, and it made for an incredibly pleasant reading experience. Walker’s writing is some of the best I've read in horror, both atmospheric and in some cases downright terrifying, and despite the short page count each character has a real voice that sets them apart from the last and the next.

Waxwing Creek is a short and memorable read, that I only wish had been longer and had given a little bit more to the ending. That said, I loved it, and I'll definitely be seeking out Walker's other work as it comes.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good collection of stories with the same location - a creepy hotel - over the span of several different years. It was interesting and well written for the most part but I found myself wishing for certain things, which is why I didn't rate it higher. The only connection between most of the stories is the location, but would have been nice to see more inter-connectivity although that sometimes makes it difficult to keep track.

We finally get some details on the original family in the last story, but I wish there had been more there. I also wish some stories had some resolution beyond the reader imagining something terrible - example, "The Hunt" - don't know at all what happens to Phoebe and others although it seems to be a human cause vs supernatural (yes I can kind of guess but would have been nice to get a little more here).

[erika • dead wrong reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5✨

Add this to your Halloween/Sp00py TBR list now. This quick read gives all the Bates Motel and 1408 vibes.

Each story is as creepy as the next and the amount of paranormal to gore is perfect. The only problem I had with this is that it wasn't longer, ha. I would LOVE a novella expanding on the origins of the original home/land that kicked off the hauntings.

Anywho, I plan to recommend this to anyone who will listen.

As always, thank you to NetGalley, J.J. Walker, and After Dusk Press for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Check out more on my instagram and tiktok

#netgalley

[Rosalie Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most experience I have with anthologies is a video game series I like, so this was a new type of read for me and one I highly enjoyed. Watching the threads tie together in this web, bite-sized pieces of horror separate yet one. I couldn't help wondering what made people keep visiting Waxwing Creek, why some believed themselves to be the one to change it, why is there no end? I had fun reading this, and may I never find myself in need of visiting Waxwing Creek.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Christopher Mesloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consider if you will, the Twilight Zone is real, and it exists in the Waxwing Creek motel. What an amazing collection of stories that are scary as hell. It’s very close to being a straight through novel as every story in this book is connected through the motel and it’s past. The only drawback for me was the stories ended too abruptly. It had me covering one eye for what was about to happen and it suddenly switches stories ~ that being said the stories were incredible! I can’t wait to read more of his work! Solid 4⭐️’s

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waxwing Creek is truly an incredible read for horror lovers. This series of interconnected stories offers a hauntingly disturbing view into the mysterious happenings that all, somehow, relate back to Waxwing Creek motel.

While each story can hold its own, the way they come together is truly a work of art. From beginning to end, Walker masterfully creates an air of dark mystery about this motel that will have you on the edge of your seat to learn exactly what is going on and why.

These stories are dark and you should definitely check your triggers, but you definitely won’t be disappointed when you finish reading this excellent book.

*I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

[Claudia Marcela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Todo empieza con un motel cuya gran apertura constituye las esperanzas de un matrimonio joven, pero acaba en tragedia cuando una sesión de espiritismo empieza un legado maldito que persigue a todos los propietarios e inquilinos del lugar.

8 historias interconectadas por el tenebroso motel Waxwing Creek que van del horror tipo slasher al fantasmal e incluso el demoníaco.

Mis historias favoritas son las 3 finales: The Hunt, Gloria y An attempt at Answers.

Una antología de terror bastante recomendable para pasar una noche espeluznante.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great quick read. It is a series of short stories complied into one story that all connect together. Each story left me wanting more and asking questions as to what else happened in each one.It gave me "short stories to tell in the dark" vibes and I loved it! It brought me back to my childhood of freaking out under the covers as I couldn't stop reading and wanting to know what happened next. Great book that I would recommend to others to read.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waxwing Creek Motel was built on the ruins of a house that had been the sight of a murder of a family. The original owners wanted to use it as an interest. They created a seance to get people to come and stay. There was a murder that happens there.
From then on, things kept happening in the motel. All of the stories are interconnected to each other and this was well-written and horrific to read.

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers

[Maryline Morais · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I thought this book will be like a normal evil coming as soon as called and making a mess in the name of someone but no!

This reading was... so mysterious! Until the end of the book.

Every chapter was a calling of evil. I could see out it will end and just hoping someone could find it and erase that presence.

It was more than well written and the end? Please why like that? I need more!

[Megan Wintrip · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a series of stories that are interconnected as one big story. The stories are supernatural, horror, disturbing encounters that happen at the Motel and it just makes you think "what is going on?"

I couldn't stop reading it, I was so confused but invested at the same time and I'm like how does this happen!

It's brilliantly written and I would definitely like to read more from the author as I was quite hooked on this one! I was filled with suspense on every page!

[Symantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars!

The more I think about this book, the more I love it. The chapters are short but impactful. The connections between the seperate, but intertwined stories had me flying through the book. The nightmares I had afterwards were wild.

Thank you NetGalley and After Dusk Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara Sykora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read!

I loved how there were several stories that tied Waxwing Creek together from different viewpoints and different endings.

Each story was so different from the others and it made reading this book so much better!

A great book for the horror genre!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Marissa (holdme.thrillme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection or interconnected stories about a motel called Waxwing Creek is extremely creepy! The stories are short and pack a punch as we learn more and more about the horrifying happenings at this motel. By the end we end up with some insight into how it all began, thank goodness. I had so many questions! I recommend Waxwing Creek if you want a quick read that will get you creeped out!

[Machelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horror story about a motel in the city of Hunt. Continues for a number of years with many different patrons experiencing the haunted property. Well done, and the author keeps you on the edge of your seat awaiting the next horror.