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Keeper of Corpses: 27 Tales of Horror, Revenge, and the Supernatural
"Each tale left me jaw-dropped by the end. Cassandra expertly sets a stage before plunging the knife straight into your heart."--Brad Ricks, author of Fear Not the Dead
A girl is tutored by an elderly neighbor to strengthen her ability to leave her body.
A man wanders a bizarre and seemingly unending airport.
An antique mirror lures a girl into a sinister alternate realm.
An elderly Polish woman confesses a dark crime to a doll.
A young man encounters strange and unnatural teachers at his new school.
A fun, zombie-themed 5K turns into a terrifying fight for survival when the undead turn out to be all too real.
From the depths of grief and the thirst for revenge to the terror of supernatural forces and the fight for survival, these stories and others delve into the darkest corners of our world where the lines between reality and nightmare blur, and the only certainty is that nothing is quite as it seems.
“Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar knows how to write fear and anxiety. She creates a creeping sense of dread in every story. The terror within these pages will be with you long after you close the book.”--Joe Scipione, bestselling author of Mr. Nightmare and Never Dead
“There is something for every reader, from revenge to despair, unsettling mystery to out and out gore. With so many stories there is plenty to accommodate every taste.”--MJ Mars, author of The Suffering and We've Already Gone Too Far
A girl is tutored by an elderly neighbor to strengthen her ability to leave her body.
A man wanders a bizarre and seemingly unending airport.
An antique mirror lures a girl into a sinister alternate realm.
An elderly Polish woman confesses a dark crime to a doll.
A young man encounters strange and unnatural teachers at his new school.
A fun, zombie-themed 5K turns into a terrifying fight for survival when the undead turn out to be all too real.
From the depths of grief and the thirst for revenge to the terror of supernatural forces and the fight for survival, these stories and others delve into the darkest corners of our world where the lines between reality and nightmare blur, and the only certainty is that nothing is quite as it seems.
“Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar knows how to write fear and anxiety. She creates a creeping sense of dread in every story. The terror within these pages will be with you long after you close the book.”--Joe Scipione, bestselling author of Mr. Nightmare and Never Dead
“There is something for every reader, from revenge to despair, unsettling mystery to out and out gore. With so many stories there is plenty to accommodate every taste.”--MJ Mars, author of The Suffering and We've Already Gone Too Far
- GenresHorror
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2024
23 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 29, 2024
Well, how many times can someone be positively surprised by a short story in a collection? In this case 27 times, as many as the tales in this collection! I wasn’t bored or dissatisfied once after reading these short stories and I loved each one of them!
Each story is very different, with some creatively disrupted horror tropes and some in ways I’d never have predicted! I particularly appreciated how easily the author created that chilling atmosphere with such an elegant and fluid writing, and this in just a few pages. These are seriously short stories, but the amount of goodness that’s in them is scary!
I have to say I unlocked several fears after reading these stories (thank you for that!), whilst I explored some I already had. This is the perfect read for a horror fan as there is a bit of everything, from perfectly executed revenge, zombies, underestimated precognition, a school with a twist, body horror and so much more!
Some of these stories made me think, some made me sad and others had me seriously creeped out! So, next time someone invites you to a fun 5k run, if the weather forecast advises not to be on the road, or if someone fancy a wine tasting session in the middle of nowhere, please just stay the hell out of it!
And if you want to know why, go and read this collection!
Thanks to the author for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
Each story is very different, with some creatively disrupted horror tropes and some in ways I’d never have predicted! I particularly appreciated how easily the author created that chilling atmosphere with such an elegant and fluid writing, and this in just a few pages. These are seriously short stories, but the amount of goodness that’s in them is scary!
I have to say I unlocked several fears after reading these stories (thank you for that!), whilst I explored some I already had. This is the perfect read for a horror fan as there is a bit of everything, from perfectly executed revenge, zombies, underestimated precognition, a school with a twist, body horror and so much more!
Some of these stories made me think, some made me sad and others had me seriously creeped out! So, next time someone invites you to a fun 5k run, if the weather forecast advises not to be on the road, or if someone fancy a wine tasting session in the middle of nowhere, please just stay the hell out of it!
And if you want to know why, go and read this collection!
Thanks to the author for a copy and this is my honest opinion.
August 4, 2024
I was absolutely blown away by this amazing collection of 27 impressive short stories. The book itself is set up to read in 4 different sections that represent each season of the year. Very clever and I thought this was a brilliant idea. Each season reflects each story based on the setting and overall nature of the story that completely sets the mood. Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar did a PHENOMENAL job crafting this collection. The presentation was marvelously delivered and every story was equally enjoyable. Never a dull moment in this collection and I was completely glued from the very beginning. This was such an original and completely captivating collection of stories that I will remember for many years to come and I will always recommend this when I get the chance. This is the ultimate horror lover's paradise right here! Perfect for spooky season or for the full timer spookers like myself ;)
I didn't want to leave a single story out as I enjoyed this collection immensely. So, let's dive in shall we?
Spring:
-Keeper of Corpses
This is how you open a collection right here folks... WOW. This story had me in a chokehold and never let go. A grieving mother who's lost her son is devising a plan to get revenge.
-Soothsayer
Two best friends have a falling out when the other is perceptive of future events. Later on in life Hannah decides to ignore her premonitions and ends up ultimately regretting it. I went through all of the emotions in this story. Poor Hannah...
-Untenanted
Familiar with the movie 'Insidious?' Hailey can travel in and out of her body and over the years she grows more experienced with her abilities. One day her abilities come to an abrupt hold and she finds herself in quite the predicament. Again, absolutely devoured this story!
-Budget Wine Tour
A husband and wife are on vacation and decide to splurge on a winery tour. Once they get to the winery they learn that they are the only tourists there for the day. The owners explain that this is a very special day and every year they open the winery for one lucky couple to experience without the worry of other strangers and ultimately enjoying a very intimate evening to themselves learning about the history of the winery and tasting the different wines. However, once they start the wine tasting they start to notice something isn't right. When they wake up they are in for a frightening experience. Holy crap... this story was absolutely insane and had me gasping for air! What a story...
-And They Marched On
I'm all for these couple vacationing stories! In this story a couple is vacationing in Bolivia. There is a local festival going on that they decide to go and check out and see what the hype is. Once this husband and wife make it inside the festival they learn that they most likely won't be going home afterwards...
-Skin Deep
This story was super sad to read. An older woman and odd woman out in her workplace finds herself wishing she could be just like her younger co-workers and not be excluded and alone. When the younger ones go out for an after work happy hour, Jean stays behind to work on a plan to feel like she's young again... WOW. This story was sad but extremely chilling!
Summer:
-From the Sea to the Sea
Marina is with her husband soaking it up somewhere in the Mediterranean. Marina had a rough upbringing and she continues to carry this eating disorder into her new life that she developed from her mother as a young girl. Marina is reflecting on her life now and how she feels like she made it in life and if her mother could see her now, she would be jealous to see the life of luxury that Marina is living. It's not all great though, she still feels pressured to count calories as her husband likes her to stay fit and healthy. We readers, learn how her mother passes and how her death continues to haunt Marina and land her in an unfortunate situation on her Mediterranean vacay.
-(IN)TERMINA(B)L(E)
This story was one of the biggest MINDFUCKS. This ended up being a favorite of mine from the collection. A man leaves on a work trip after losing his wife and daughter due to his overbearing personality and controlling mannerisms. He finds himself having trouble getting through this airport and is in a constant state of irritability and panic for not making his flight in time.
-A Gift For Avery
This story gave strong 'Chucky' and 'Annabelle' vibes. I love a good creepy haunted doll story and this one didn't disappoint. A single mother buys a doll for her daughter that turns out to be a nuisance. Strange things begin to occur in the household and the mother and daughter are ultimately fighting for their lives. This story ended up giving me nightmares...
-Itch
This was one of the scariest body horror stories that I've ever read...
A man wakes up with a huge raised boil wound on his leg that is leaking green puss. However, this turns out to be way worse than just an infection lingering in his body. This history behind this story was JAW DROPPING.
-Crawl Space
I think we are all familiar with the term calling someone a "Karen." Well this Karen is in for a rude awakening. When a man moves in to the house next door to this woman, his dog becomes a constant problem affecting both of their lives. How far would you go to save your dog?
-The Mirror
I love possession stories and this one fulfilled my expectations and more!
A mother buys her daughter an antique mirror for her bedroom but once they hang this mirror in her room, the daughter finds out that she isn't alone. The next morning the girl is nowhere to be found. Where did she go?
-The Cigarette-Mouthed Man
A woman meets a handsome mysterious man at her workplace. She is a bartender. One night, she takes the man to her apartment to enact on their strong feelings toward one another, *wink wink*. This man harbors a sinister secret that this woman finds out way too late.
-Tunnel Vision
A husband and wife outgrow their marriage and the wife has only one option if she wants to get out of this marriage for good...
This was WILD.
Fall:
-Matka Loves You
This story was another favorite of mine...
A woman loses her daughter pinning it as her husbands fault. What she does in the aftermath of her daughters death is shocking and equally sad.
-Under the Apple Tree
Okay this story had me in tears...
An innocent gentle giant is wrongly blamed in this heartbreaking story.
-Night School
When a mother runs out of choices for her disobedient son and finds herself out of a solution when he's expelled from one of the last schools she has put him through, she is brought a new opportunity from the school's principle. There is a night school that would be perfect for her trouble-maker son. Once the boy gets to this school, he is immediately shaped into the perfect son when faced with pure terror and grave consequences if he doesn't obey.
-Glitch in the System
A professor finally gets the karma she deserves after many years of escaping it.
-When the Truth Comes Crashing Down
This story was full of drama and one freak accident!
A recently divorced woman goes out with her friend to a local bar that has a show going on. A freak accident occurs just as she was about to tell her friend an important secret.
-Run!
Okay this one was absolutely TERRIFYING. Solid story right here.
Two couples are running in a zombie themed 5 k but shortly after starting they realize that things start to actually appear as they seem...
-House of Screams
This was another favorite. I love haunted house stories!
Two young couples decide to go to a haunted house but one couple gets bad directions from their outdated GPS and it takes them to a VERY different haunted house.
Winter:
-Not A Cat Guy
Okay this story had me hollering...
After a woman loses her husband she decides to put herself out there and start dating again. She meets a new guy she really likes but her cat doesn't feel the same way. This cat is no ordinary cat either...
-Christmas Market Massacre
This story was brutal! I really enjoyed it.
Two friends are vacationing in Germany during Christmas and are out together drinking a popular German holiday wine drink. Only one of the friends decides to get one more round before they close up and it's this friend that suffers the consequences soonly after...
-Hungry Christmas
Another favorite of mine in the collection!
Two friends are on their way home for the holidays but get stuck due to their windshield freezing up from the extreme weather conditions. They also have zero cell service to call for help. As they sit in the car waiting for a vehicle to approach they fall asleep. They wake up when a snow plow pushes their car off the cliff. Their car was buried in snow and the snow plow didn't see it. This is when the story turns for the worse...
-Together For Christmas
This was another sad story but the grieving husband ends up seeing his wife again after many years of her passing.
-Getaway
This story was pretty crazy...
Tormented by guilt, two friends return to the scene of the crime where they lost their best friend decades ago. One of the friends decides to throw the other off guard when she starts chanting a spell to bring their friend back to get closure. This story was one wild ride and had me on the edge of my seat!
-I’ll Sleep Tomorrow
This was also another favorite!
A professor has been consumed by work for many years at the university and now is trying to get tenure. He has his packet ready to go for tomorrow mornings meeting. However, when he goes to his car to go home for the night, the folder blows away and he's in a frenzy of panic chasing it down. He gets the folder back but finds himself in a giant hole with no way to get out. He also doesn't have his phone with him. He waits it out until morning but falls asleep. When he wakes up things have taken a turn for the worse...
Thank you, Cassandra, for this ARC! Keeper of Corpses will be released on September 13th, 2024.
I didn't want to leave a single story out as I enjoyed this collection immensely. So, let's dive in shall we?
Spring:
-Keeper of Corpses
This is how you open a collection right here folks... WOW. This story had me in a chokehold and never let go. A grieving mother who's lost her son is devising a plan to get revenge.
-Soothsayer
Two best friends have a falling out when the other is perceptive of future events. Later on in life Hannah decides to ignore her premonitions and ends up ultimately regretting it. I went through all of the emotions in this story. Poor Hannah...
-Untenanted
Familiar with the movie 'Insidious?' Hailey can travel in and out of her body and over the years she grows more experienced with her abilities. One day her abilities come to an abrupt hold and she finds herself in quite the predicament. Again, absolutely devoured this story!
-Budget Wine Tour
A husband and wife are on vacation and decide to splurge on a winery tour. Once they get to the winery they learn that they are the only tourists there for the day. The owners explain that this is a very special day and every year they open the winery for one lucky couple to experience without the worry of other strangers and ultimately enjoying a very intimate evening to themselves learning about the history of the winery and tasting the different wines. However, once they start the wine tasting they start to notice something isn't right. When they wake up they are in for a frightening experience. Holy crap... this story was absolutely insane and had me gasping for air! What a story...
-And They Marched On
I'm all for these couple vacationing stories! In this story a couple is vacationing in Bolivia. There is a local festival going on that they decide to go and check out and see what the hype is. Once this husband and wife make it inside the festival they learn that they most likely won't be going home afterwards...
-Skin Deep
This story was super sad to read. An older woman and odd woman out in her workplace finds herself wishing she could be just like her younger co-workers and not be excluded and alone. When the younger ones go out for an after work happy hour, Jean stays behind to work on a plan to feel like she's young again... WOW. This story was sad but extremely chilling!
Summer:
-From the Sea to the Sea
Marina is with her husband soaking it up somewhere in the Mediterranean. Marina had a rough upbringing and she continues to carry this eating disorder into her new life that she developed from her mother as a young girl. Marina is reflecting on her life now and how she feels like she made it in life and if her mother could see her now, she would be jealous to see the life of luxury that Marina is living. It's not all great though, she still feels pressured to count calories as her husband likes her to stay fit and healthy. We readers, learn how her mother passes and how her death continues to haunt Marina and land her in an unfortunate situation on her Mediterranean vacay.
-(IN)TERMINA(B)L(E)
This story was one of the biggest MINDFUCKS. This ended up being a favorite of mine from the collection. A man leaves on a work trip after losing his wife and daughter due to his overbearing personality and controlling mannerisms. He finds himself having trouble getting through this airport and is in a constant state of irritability and panic for not making his flight in time.
-A Gift For Avery
This story gave strong 'Chucky' and 'Annabelle' vibes. I love a good creepy haunted doll story and this one didn't disappoint. A single mother buys a doll for her daughter that turns out to be a nuisance. Strange things begin to occur in the household and the mother and daughter are ultimately fighting for their lives. This story ended up giving me nightmares...
-Itch
This was one of the scariest body horror stories that I've ever read...
A man wakes up with a huge raised boil wound on his leg that is leaking green puss. However, this turns out to be way worse than just an infection lingering in his body. This history behind this story was JAW DROPPING.
-Crawl Space
I think we are all familiar with the term calling someone a "Karen." Well this Karen is in for a rude awakening. When a man moves in to the house next door to this woman, his dog becomes a constant problem affecting both of their lives. How far would you go to save your dog?
-The Mirror
I love possession stories and this one fulfilled my expectations and more!
A mother buys her daughter an antique mirror for her bedroom but once they hang this mirror in her room, the daughter finds out that she isn't alone. The next morning the girl is nowhere to be found. Where did she go?
-The Cigarette-Mouthed Man
A woman meets a handsome mysterious man at her workplace. She is a bartender. One night, she takes the man to her apartment to enact on their strong feelings toward one another, *wink wink*. This man harbors a sinister secret that this woman finds out way too late.
-Tunnel Vision
A husband and wife outgrow their marriage and the wife has only one option if she wants to get out of this marriage for good...
This was WILD.
Fall:
-Matka Loves You
This story was another favorite of mine...
A woman loses her daughter pinning it as her husbands fault. What she does in the aftermath of her daughters death is shocking and equally sad.
-Under the Apple Tree
Okay this story had me in tears...
An innocent gentle giant is wrongly blamed in this heartbreaking story.
-Night School
When a mother runs out of choices for her disobedient son and finds herself out of a solution when he's expelled from one of the last schools she has put him through, she is brought a new opportunity from the school's principle. There is a night school that would be perfect for her trouble-maker son. Once the boy gets to this school, he is immediately shaped into the perfect son when faced with pure terror and grave consequences if he doesn't obey.
-Glitch in the System
A professor finally gets the karma she deserves after many years of escaping it.
-When the Truth Comes Crashing Down
This story was full of drama and one freak accident!
A recently divorced woman goes out with her friend to a local bar that has a show going on. A freak accident occurs just as she was about to tell her friend an important secret.
-Run!
Okay this one was absolutely TERRIFYING. Solid story right here.
Two couples are running in a zombie themed 5 k but shortly after starting they realize that things start to actually appear as they seem...
-House of Screams
This was another favorite. I love haunted house stories!
Two young couples decide to go to a haunted house but one couple gets bad directions from their outdated GPS and it takes them to a VERY different haunted house.
Winter:
-Not A Cat Guy
Okay this story had me hollering...
After a woman loses her husband she decides to put herself out there and start dating again. She meets a new guy she really likes but her cat doesn't feel the same way. This cat is no ordinary cat either...
-Christmas Market Massacre
This story was brutal! I really enjoyed it.
Two friends are vacationing in Germany during Christmas and are out together drinking a popular German holiday wine drink. Only one of the friends decides to get one more round before they close up and it's this friend that suffers the consequences soonly after...
-Hungry Christmas
Another favorite of mine in the collection!
Two friends are on their way home for the holidays but get stuck due to their windshield freezing up from the extreme weather conditions. They also have zero cell service to call for help. As they sit in the car waiting for a vehicle to approach they fall asleep. They wake up when a snow plow pushes their car off the cliff. Their car was buried in snow and the snow plow didn't see it. This is when the story turns for the worse...
-Together For Christmas
This was another sad story but the grieving husband ends up seeing his wife again after many years of her passing.
-Getaway
This story was pretty crazy...
Tormented by guilt, two friends return to the scene of the crime where they lost their best friend decades ago. One of the friends decides to throw the other off guard when she starts chanting a spell to bring their friend back to get closure. This story was one wild ride and had me on the edge of my seat!
-I’ll Sleep Tomorrow
This was also another favorite!
A professor has been consumed by work for many years at the university and now is trying to get tenure. He has his packet ready to go for tomorrow mornings meeting. However, when he goes to his car to go home for the night, the folder blows away and he's in a frenzy of panic chasing it down. He gets the folder back but finds himself in a giant hole with no way to get out. He also doesn't have his phone with him. He waits it out until morning but falls asleep. When he wakes up things have taken a turn for the worse...
Thank you, Cassandra, for this ARC! Keeper of Corpses will be released on September 13th, 2024.
September 5, 2024
Keeper of Corpses by Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
There are 27 amazingly written short horror stories in this book, and they are all fantastic! Each story is unique with its own type of horror- from supernatural, grief, gore and general spookiness!
It’s very neat how the book is split up into season themed stories; spring, summer, fall & winter.
Here’s a few of my favorite stories:
Keeper of Corpses
Untenanted
Interminable
A gift for Avery
Itch
Crawl space
The mirror
Night school
House of screams
I’ll sleep tomorrow
Thank you to Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar for an arc copy of this excellent book of creeper stories!!
This book comes out September 13th, so grab yours!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
There are 27 amazingly written short horror stories in this book, and they are all fantastic! Each story is unique with its own type of horror- from supernatural, grief, gore and general spookiness!
It’s very neat how the book is split up into season themed stories; spring, summer, fall & winter.
Here’s a few of my favorite stories:
Keeper of Corpses
Untenanted
Interminable
A gift for Avery
Itch
Crawl space
The mirror
Night school
House of screams
I’ll sleep tomorrow
Thank you to Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar for an arc copy of this excellent book of creeper stories!!
This book comes out September 13th, so grab yours!!
August 14, 2024
✨This book releases on September 13th, 2024!
This collection of 27 stories was so fun! Reading the afterward in this book from the author and learning how each story came about made me enjoy them even more. There are a ton of horror tropes out there and this collection checks the box on so many of them.
The stories are broken down into 4 sections, represented by the 4 seasons. While I could touch on all 27, I’ll touch on my favorite one from each section.
🌿Spring🌿
“Skin Deep”
Jean has been working at the same office for 40 years. Never went to college, same low salary for years and living a simple life. Fresh and young faces have been hired and Jean doesn’t fit in anywhere and is often the butt of everyone’s jokes. Jean finally snaps… how can she ever live up to today’s unrealistic beauty standards? She’s going to use whatever is around to try, even if it kills her.
☀️Summer☀️
“Itch”
Although they are one of the most annoying insects, most people get to walk away from mosquito bites unscathed. Colby works outside so he’s had his fair share of bites. This new one though, itches more than anything ever has. And it’s growing.. his skin is getting increasingly more red and angry and looks ready to burst! Colby knows it’s time to squeeze and see what comes out but nothing will prepare him for what happens next.
🍂Fall🍂
“Run!”
Alex and her sister Sam, along with their husbands, are taking on a zombie themed 5K. The goal is to try and make it through to the end with all 3 of your life flags still secured on your race belt. The race starts and the sisters stick together as tensions seem high with both married couples. Alex and Sam have always been good runners but as unexpected and horrific events unfold, they’ll have to run faster than they ever have before.
❄️Winter❄️
“Getaway”
Callie and Meri were best friends growing up. Over the years they have lost touch but manage to still check in. Meri calls Callie and this time they have a trip they need to make. This trip involves closure. As teenagers, this twosome used to be a threesome with their friend Dawn. Everyone thinks Dawn disappeared without a trace but Callie and Meri know the real truth. Returning to the beach where it all happened brings back more than anyone bargained for.
Happy reading 📖 I received this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you the author and Velox Books.
This collection of 27 stories was so fun! Reading the afterward in this book from the author and learning how each story came about made me enjoy them even more. There are a ton of horror tropes out there and this collection checks the box on so many of them.
The stories are broken down into 4 sections, represented by the 4 seasons. While I could touch on all 27, I’ll touch on my favorite one from each section.
🌿Spring🌿
“Skin Deep”
Jean has been working at the same office for 40 years. Never went to college, same low salary for years and living a simple life. Fresh and young faces have been hired and Jean doesn’t fit in anywhere and is often the butt of everyone’s jokes. Jean finally snaps… how can she ever live up to today’s unrealistic beauty standards? She’s going to use whatever is around to try, even if it kills her.
☀️Summer☀️
“Itch”
Although they are one of the most annoying insects, most people get to walk away from mosquito bites unscathed. Colby works outside so he’s had his fair share of bites. This new one though, itches more than anything ever has. And it’s growing.. his skin is getting increasingly more red and angry and looks ready to burst! Colby knows it’s time to squeeze and see what comes out but nothing will prepare him for what happens next.
🍂Fall🍂
“Run!”
Alex and her sister Sam, along with their husbands, are taking on a zombie themed 5K. The goal is to try and make it through to the end with all 3 of your life flags still secured on your race belt. The race starts and the sisters stick together as tensions seem high with both married couples. Alex and Sam have always been good runners but as unexpected and horrific events unfold, they’ll have to run faster than they ever have before.
❄️Winter❄️
“Getaway”
Callie and Meri were best friends growing up. Over the years they have lost touch but manage to still check in. Meri calls Callie and this time they have a trip they need to make. This trip involves closure. As teenagers, this twosome used to be a threesome with their friend Dawn. Everyone thinks Dawn disappeared without a trace but Callie and Meri know the real truth. Returning to the beach where it all happened brings back more than anyone bargained for.
Happy reading 📖 I received this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you the author and Velox Books.
September 8, 2024
Cassandra O’Sullivan Sachar knows how to write fear and anxiety. She creates a creeping sense of dread in every story. The terror within these pages will be with you long after you close the book.
July 29, 2024
Loved this collection! Each story was totally different from the other, the variety was truly stunning, and the writing is so good it's addictive from start to finish. There's folk and body horror, parables on the afterlife, zombies, serial killers, cannibals, demons, creepy dolls, haunted mirrors, friendships turning sour in unpredictable and horrific ways, family reunions from the grave, and school discipline of the most worrisome kind! (And that's just half of the book.)
I enjoyed every story in the collection, but some of them in particular stood out for me and would recommend them to everyone, whether new to the horror genre or veteran:
-"Keeper of Corpses": the opening story, a tale of revenge with a bite. A short and swift experience of a mother settling a score in her very own, knowledgeable way.
-"Run!": easilyone of the creepiest stories in the collection, taking a zombie-themed 5K marathon and turning into a bloodbath. Great writing.
-"House of Screams": Hell House LLC meets the Wrong Turn. Wow!
-"Not a Cat Guy": a somewhat familiar kind of horror comedy or satire, but the voice of the narrator sounds so authentic, if I was told it was based on a true story I'd believe it!
-"Christmas Market Massacre": dark, dark, dark! Loved the ending and the premise. A couple of female friends visit the Christmas Market in Zurich and only one comes back.
-"Hungry Christmas": better have a strong stomach (pun intended!) for this little tale of a couple of male friends caught in snowstorm while driving a Lexus. Enter the snow plow.
-"I'll Sleep Tomorrow": the closing story, obviously infused with the author's first hand experience of professors seeking tenure. I'm unsure if we're meant to cry or laught in the end. Perhaps both. Great story either way!
O'Sullivan Sachar has an incredibly creative mind, equally capable of conconcting deliciously disturbing, dark twists, and messing with horror stereotypes till they transform into something entirely new and unfamiliar. This is definitely a writer to watch, both for her daring storytelling and her entrancing ideas!
I enjoyed every story in the collection, but some of them in particular stood out for me and would recommend them to everyone, whether new to the horror genre or veteran:
-"Keeper of Corpses": the opening story, a tale of revenge with a bite. A short and swift experience of a mother settling a score in her very own, knowledgeable way.
-"Run!": easilyone of the creepiest stories in the collection, taking a zombie-themed 5K marathon and turning into a bloodbath. Great writing.
-"House of Screams": Hell House LLC meets the Wrong Turn. Wow!
-"Not a Cat Guy": a somewhat familiar kind of horror comedy or satire, but the voice of the narrator sounds so authentic, if I was told it was based on a true story I'd believe it!
-"Christmas Market Massacre": dark, dark, dark! Loved the ending and the premise. A couple of female friends visit the Christmas Market in Zurich and only one comes back.
-"Hungry Christmas": better have a strong stomach (pun intended!) for this little tale of a couple of male friends caught in snowstorm while driving a Lexus. Enter the snow plow.
-"I'll Sleep Tomorrow": the closing story, obviously infused with the author's first hand experience of professors seeking tenure. I'm unsure if we're meant to cry or laught in the end. Perhaps both. Great story either way!
O'Sullivan Sachar has an incredibly creative mind, equally capable of conconcting deliciously disturbing, dark twists, and messing with horror stereotypes till they transform into something entirely new and unfamiliar. This is definitely a writer to watch, both for her daring storytelling and her entrancing ideas!
October 4, 2024
I want to give a huge thank you to the author for providing me an ebook in exchange for an honest review
This was an enjoyable collection of eclectic short stories.
My favorites were Soothsayer, Untenanted, A Gift For Avery, When the Truth Comes Crashing Down, Together for Christmas, and Run!
This collection was full of shocking twists, lovable/hateable characters, and truly original stories.
One of my favorite parts of the collection were the Easter eggs/callbacks to other short stories in the collection, so reading them in order adds to the experience!
Overall, this collection gets a solid 4⭐️s. I have every short story individually rated below. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys originality, solid stories, and a wide variety of genres in their collections.
Keeper of Corpses 4.5
Soothsayer 5
Untenanted 5
Budget Wine Tour 4.5
And They Marched On 3.5
Skin Deep 3.5
From The Sea to The Sea 4
(In)termina(b)l(e) 4
A Gift For Avery 5
Itch 4.5
Crawl Space 4
The Mirror 4.5
The Cigarette-Mouthed Man 3.5
Tunnel Vision 3
Matka Loves You 4
Under the Apple Tree 4
Night School 4.5
Glitch in the System 4.5
When the Truth Comes Crashing Down 5
Run! 4.5
House of Screams 4
Not a Cat Guy 4.5
Christmas Market Massacre 3.5
Hungry Christmas 4
Together for Christmas 5
Getaway 3.5
I'll Sleep Tomorrow 4
This was an enjoyable collection of eclectic short stories.
My favorites were Soothsayer, Untenanted, A Gift For Avery, When the Truth Comes Crashing Down, Together for Christmas, and Run!
This collection was full of shocking twists, lovable/hateable characters, and truly original stories.
One of my favorite parts of the collection were the Easter eggs/callbacks to other short stories in the collection, so reading them in order adds to the experience!
Overall, this collection gets a solid 4⭐️s. I have every short story individually rated below. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys originality, solid stories, and a wide variety of genres in their collections.
Keeper of Corpses 4.5
Soothsayer 5
Untenanted 5
Budget Wine Tour 4.5
And They Marched On 3.5
Skin Deep 3.5
From The Sea to The Sea 4
(In)termina(b)l(e) 4
A Gift For Avery 5
Itch 4.5
Crawl Space 4
The Mirror 4.5
The Cigarette-Mouthed Man 3.5
Tunnel Vision 3
Matka Loves You 4
Under the Apple Tree 4
Night School 4.5
Glitch in the System 4.5
When the Truth Comes Crashing Down 5
Run! 4.5
House of Screams 4
Not a Cat Guy 4.5
Christmas Market Massacre 3.5
Hungry Christmas 4
Together for Christmas 5
Getaway 3.5
I'll Sleep Tomorrow 4
September 13, 2024
This was a great starter to get into my fall, spooky read vibes. This book contained 27 chilling stories. Each story is different and some of them gave me the chills. Once I started this book, I couldn't put it down. The stories are so captivating, they held my attention. Some of my favorite stories within this anthology were
Keeper of corpses - a mother gets her revenge
Untenanted - a girl who has out of body experiences gets locked out of her body
Skin deep - a woman realizes she doesn't look like she thought she did and gave herself a "makeover"
A gift for Avery - a mother accidentally buys a possessed doll
Itch - a man wakes up with a huge bump on his skin.... but what comes out is horrifying ( I get chills thinking about it)
Crawl space - a great area for hiding bodies??
The mirror - a portal with no way back
Run - zombies and a 5k
Hungry Christmas - survival skills I didn't want
These were just a few of the stories in there... but definitely recommend this if you're looking to give yourself chills.
Keeper of corpses - a mother gets her revenge
Untenanted - a girl who has out of body experiences gets locked out of her body
Skin deep - a woman realizes she doesn't look like she thought she did and gave herself a "makeover"
A gift for Avery - a mother accidentally buys a possessed doll
Itch - a man wakes up with a huge bump on his skin.... but what comes out is horrifying ( I get chills thinking about it)
Crawl space - a great area for hiding bodies??
The mirror - a portal with no way back
Run - zombies and a 5k
Hungry Christmas - survival skills I didn't want
These were just a few of the stories in there... but definitely recommend this if you're looking to give yourself chills.
April 18, 2025
An enjoyable array of horror stories—some sad, some satisfying, some kinda funny.
All the stories are pretty short. The longer ones are about 10-11 pages, but most are 4-7 pages. This made it extremely hard for me to stop reading, because it's so easy to say "Just a few more pages...just a few more..." A few of the stories felt too short, but on the whole, I liked the short lengths.
My particular favorites:
"Untenanted" — Reading this one actually made my stomach hurt. That's all I'll say.
"Not a Cat Guy" — I enjoyed this one for its strong voice, which was entirely different from the rest of the stories. The author explains in the afterword that this story was her first attempt at first-person from a man's perspective, and that her goal was for the voice to sound different. She succeeded!
All the stories are pretty short. The longer ones are about 10-11 pages, but most are 4-7 pages. This made it extremely hard for me to stop reading, because it's so easy to say "Just a few more pages...just a few more..." A few of the stories felt too short, but on the whole, I liked the short lengths.
My particular favorites:
"Untenanted" — Reading this one actually made my stomach hurt. That's all I'll say.
"Not a Cat Guy" — I enjoyed this one for its strong voice, which was entirely different from the rest of the stories. The author explains in the afterword that this story was her first attempt at first-person from a man's perspective, and that her goal was for the voice to sound different. She succeeded!
February 18, 2025
Keeper of the Corpses has various short stories from horror to thriller and suspense. The writing kept me hooked. The stories were really simplistic, but well varied in the way she delivered each story. There was just the right amount of creepy in some stories, always a plus for an avid horror reader. One thing you won't find, is a lot of overwhelming gore. She can write, and I mean write clearly and well, she doesn't need to resort to that. This is my second book from this author. Close the Door was a great thriller and I read it in one sitting. Another great read and one I highly recommend. I definitely look forward to reading more of her work.
Oh, the covers are pretty darn cool too.
Oh, the covers are pretty darn cool too.
December 31, 2024
27 short but amazing stories. The book is split into 4 sections Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Here are my favorite story's from each.🪷Spring
Keeper of the Corpses... The first story in the book will blow your mind. Very creepy and very sad.
☀️ Summer
Itch... was a very creepy read. You will never look at a Mosquitoe 🦟 the same.
🍁Fall
Run... A fun little 5k zombie run turns out to be a day from hell.
❄️Winter
Christmas market Massacre ... I've always wanted to go to a market in Germany for Christmas.... not so much now. This story was savage.
Keeper of the Corpses... The first story in the book will blow your mind. Very creepy and very sad.
☀️ Summer
Itch... was a very creepy read. You will never look at a Mosquitoe 🦟 the same.
🍁Fall
Run... A fun little 5k zombie run turns out to be a day from hell.
❄️Winter
Christmas market Massacre ... I've always wanted to go to a market in Germany for Christmas.... not so much now. This story was savage.
March 7, 2025
Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar compiled a variety of 27 short stories divided into four seasonal sections. The engaging stories and clear presentation caught my attention right away, making for an exciting reading experience. There is really a story for any level and topic of horror reader.
I don't want to spoil the book, but here are a few of my favorites...
Keeper of Corpses
Skin Deep
A gift for Avery
Itch
Matka loves you
Crawl space
Under the apple tree.
I don't want to spoil the book, but here are a few of my favorites...
Keeper of Corpses
Skin Deep
A gift for Avery
Itch
Matka loves you
Crawl space
Under the apple tree.
March 24, 2025
Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar does a fantastic job in writing this collection of stories. Each story worked well with the theming and worked with the horror genre. I was invested in each book and how each story was written. I enjoyed how good Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar wrote this and excited to read more like this.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 23, 2025
I recently had the pleasure of reading my first book by Cassandra O’Sullivan, and the experience was truly delightful. The 27 stories, skillfully presented within the framework of different seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter), was an aspect that I particularly enjoyed. Upon reflection, I realize that I do not have a single favorite story from this collection, as each one was equally engaging.
June 25, 2024
I was fortunate to get an early copy of this gem. Each tale left me jaw dropped by the end. Cassandra expertly sets a stage before plunging the knife straight into your heart. Every story was well crafted. She takes great care in making you feel the characters.
This was a great experience and I highly recommend it.
This was a great experience and I highly recommend it.
July 22, 2024
Wow, I'm a short story / anthology junkie, so when I see a good one, I get excited haha.
This one was great, alternate reality in a mirrorverse 0.0 ✅
Super creepy teachers ✅
Zombie 5k??? Also ✅
This was my first venture into Cassandra's world and I really hope it won't be my last.
Keeper of Corpses
Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar
4/5 stars
This one was great, alternate reality in a mirrorverse 0.0 ✅
Super creepy teachers ✅
Zombie 5k??? Also ✅
This was my first venture into Cassandra's world and I really hope it won't be my last.
Keeper of Corpses
Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar
4/5 stars
October 27, 2024
Keeper of Corpses is a worthwhile collection of horrifying tales. Whether you are a longstanding fan of horror, or new to the genre, this is the perfect spooky season read. Delectable tales of macabre happenings will plague your soul, drawing your further into the nightmarish web Cassandra so expertly weaves. Some of my favorite stories were Keeper of Corpses, House of Screams, and Soothsayer.
June 11, 2025
The range and depth of short stories delivered in this book is impressive. One story for every type of emotion, one for every type of horror niche, every type of ending you could ask for. How can one author provide so much variety? Because she’s the G.O.A.T. — that’s why! I could not pick a favorite because they were all so good, and I was happy to spend a day in jury duty reading it.
October 2, 2025
What a riveting and spooky adventure this collection was! I enjoyed every tale, but especially Crawl Space. The title alone gets you excited knowing we’re dealing with the horror genre here, but boy oh boy did this story stick with me. Untenanted and Keeper of Corpses were also standouts in a series of well written stories.
October 2, 2025
I personally am a fan of when an author does short stories as I like to read in bite size pieces at times, and this collection did a great job at making me want a whole meal. The stories added up to a beautiful buffet and I was on the edge of my seat with fear at times, and close to tears of laughter at others. “Itch” still haunts my dreams.
October 6, 2024
I enjoyed every story in this collection. All of them were different and unique, and they all took you on one heck of a ride. A great collection that I highly recommend! I can’t wait to see what this author has up her sleeve next.
February 22, 2025
I love this collection of short horror stories! The fact that it is spread over different seasons is very unique and nicely done. The stories are all different so you won't be bored for a moment. Definitely recommended!
September 29, 2025
Oh my, I wasn’t ready for the short sharp stories presented in the book. A perfect book to prepare for the spooky ghoulish Halloween season. Each short story left me wanting more. Confronting, intended to scare us, and the stories didn’t disappoint.
August 13, 2024
An eclectic collection of horror stories that run the gamut from slightly creepy and spook to utterly terrifying! A must read!
September 13, 2024
Tales
A man is trapped in a airport with no end. Strange teachers at a new school. What if the zombies in your fun run where real? These and other tales to terrify you.
A man is trapped in a airport with no end. Strange teachers at a new school. What if the zombies in your fun run where real? These and other tales to terrify you.
September 20, 2024
So many great characters, so many grisly endings. A real page turner from start to finish!
November 4, 2024
Keeper of Corpses might just be my favorite collection of short stories ever!
Cassandra sets the stage perfectly and just wrecked me with every single time.
Cassandra sets the stage perfectly and just wrecked me with every single time.
June 27, 2025
Wow!
Very good book;very absorbing! The stories are not too long and not too short, just right! Very interesting and scary too, good job!
Very good book;very absorbing! The stories are not too long and not too short, just right! Very interesting and scary too, good job!
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