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Ugly Stories About Terrible People Doing Horrible Things #1
Ugly Stories About Terrible People Doing Horrible Things, Volume One
UGLY STORIES
Enter the fevered imagination of Tobin Elliott. Ten awful stories await you. Tales of love, tales of hate, tales of wonder, tales of horror.
Ugly stories. About terrible people. Doing horrible things.
TERRIBLE PEOPLE
In this first collection, you'll find some terribly awful people—some friends, some family, some enemies, and some lovers.
Some are just starting out, whether its testing their newfound powers, or their newfound hungers, and claiming their first victims. Others you'll find at the end of their long, fruitful career of evil, looking back on their past deeds.
HORRIBLE THINGS
You will, however, find more that just bad beginnings and awful endings. No, you'll find angels and demons, waiting to be awoken, there's beasts that hunt man, and hunters who may find they've stalked the wrong prey. There's even one who manipulates time to bring peace, perhaps to only awaken violence instead.
Welcome to ten of Tobin Elliott's nightmares. We think you're gonna like them.
Just don't scream too loud...you'll wake the things best left dreaming.
Enter the fevered imagination of Tobin Elliott. Ten awful stories await you. Tales of love, tales of hate, tales of wonder, tales of horror.
Ugly stories. About terrible people. Doing horrible things.
TERRIBLE PEOPLE
In this first collection, you'll find some terribly awful people—some friends, some family, some enemies, and some lovers.
Some are just starting out, whether its testing their newfound powers, or their newfound hungers, and claiming their first victims. Others you'll find at the end of their long, fruitful career of evil, looking back on their past deeds.
HORRIBLE THINGS
You will, however, find more that just bad beginnings and awful endings. No, you'll find angels and demons, waiting to be awoken, there's beasts that hunt man, and hunters who may find they've stalked the wrong prey. There's even one who manipulates time to bring peace, perhaps to only awaken violence instead.
Welcome to ten of Tobin Elliott's nightmares. We think you're gonna like them.
Just don't scream too loud...you'll wake the things best left dreaming.
- GenresHorror
257 pages, Paperback
Published August 6, 2024
1 person is currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Tobin Elliott
22 books178 followersTobin was destined for horror. This became obvious when, in the span of two weeks, he built a working model of a guillotine out of popsicle sticks and a razor blade — which his Grade Five teacher didn't seem to appreciate as much as he did — and he also learned to tie a noose and proudly hung one from their apartment balcony — which his mother and the superintendent didn't seem to appreciate as much as he did.
Eventually, he learned to focus the horror into stories. His friends and neighbours likely appreciated the lesser PDH (Public Displays of Horror).
Besides writing ugly stories about bad people doing horrible things, Tobin also
- taught Creative Writing at both Durham College and Trent University (Oshawa Campus) for two decades
- was a founding board member of the Writers' Community of Simcoe County (WCSC)
- was a member of the Writers' Community of Durham Region (WCDR)
- for five crazy years, took part in the annual Muskoka Novel Marathon, a three-day writing marathon to raise money for adult literacy programs in the Simcoe/Muskoka region.
Tobin has been lucky enough to see quite a few works published in the past decade or so...
- his first published work, a horror novella called Vanishing Hope, was through Burning Effigy Press
- Stealing Corey was a semi-finalist in the Whispered Words contest and was published in the subsequent Whispered Words anthology, published by Piquant Press
- the third novella-length installment of the Sam Truman Mysteries, Soft Kiss Hard Death, was published by Abattoir Press
- this, along with the first two novellas, were later collected into the The Sam Truman Mysteries Omnibus Volume 1
- his novella, The Wrong was the final book published by Burning Effigy before they went into extended hibernation (Tobin tends to have that effect on people and publishers)
- Prison Break was published in the Nancy Kilpatrick-edited anthology, Expiration Date, published by Edge SF & Fantasy Publishing, and was singled out by Ellen Datlow in The Best Horror of the Year Volume Eight as one of the standout stories
- Fight or Flight was published in Purgatorium: The Element of Horror anthology, by ID Press
- Nightingale was published in Allucinor: The Element of Romance anthology, by ID Press
- The Riff was published in Nefariam: The Element of Crime anthology, by ID Press
- Horse Guts Horse Guts was published in Released: A Horror Anthology, by No Bad Books Press
- Giving Up The Ghost was published in Doors of Darkness, by Terrorcore Publishing
- possibly his weirdest bit of writing, "EGR 181: Cyclopean Architecture" was published in Nafallen University 2022-2023 Course Catalog, by Madness Heart Press
Since COVID-19 pressed the great pause button, Tobin managed to complete his six-book APHOTIC horror series (which he's delighted to be able to call a "hexalogy") and are being released at two-month intervals.
The Six Books of the Aphotic
- Bad Blood
- Out For Blood
- Blood Loss
- Blood Pact
- Blood Relations
- Flesh and Blood
Tobin has been married for 33 years, and has one son and one daughter, and one relatively brainless dog. He's retired from a large Canadian telecom company where he was a Communications Specialist.
Tobin counts embarrassing his wife and kids, pointing out the stupidities of others, being dumb to kind animals and killing plants among his hobbies.
Finally, Tobin loves feedback, either positive or negative, on his writing. You can find all his links here
Eventually, he learned to focus the horror into stories. His friends and neighbours likely appreciated the lesser PDH (Public Displays of Horror).
Besides writing ugly stories about bad people doing horrible things, Tobin also
- taught Creative Writing at both Durham College and Trent University (Oshawa Campus) for two decades
- was a founding board member of the Writers' Community of Simcoe County (WCSC)
- was a member of the Writers' Community of Durham Region (WCDR)
- for five crazy years, took part in the annual Muskoka Novel Marathon, a three-day writing marathon to raise money for adult literacy programs in the Simcoe/Muskoka region.
Tobin has been lucky enough to see quite a few works published in the past decade or so...
- his first published work, a horror novella called Vanishing Hope, was through Burning Effigy Press
- Stealing Corey was a semi-finalist in the Whispered Words contest and was published in the subsequent Whispered Words anthology, published by Piquant Press
- the third novella-length installment of the Sam Truman Mysteries, Soft Kiss Hard Death, was published by Abattoir Press
- this, along with the first two novellas, were later collected into the The Sam Truman Mysteries Omnibus Volume 1
- his novella, The Wrong was the final book published by Burning Effigy before they went into extended hibernation (Tobin tends to have that effect on people and publishers)
- Prison Break was published in the Nancy Kilpatrick-edited anthology, Expiration Date, published by Edge SF & Fantasy Publishing, and was singled out by Ellen Datlow in The Best Horror of the Year Volume Eight as one of the standout stories
- Fight or Flight was published in Purgatorium: The Element of Horror anthology, by ID Press
- Nightingale was published in Allucinor: The Element of Romance anthology, by ID Press
- The Riff was published in Nefariam: The Element of Crime anthology, by ID Press
- Horse Guts Horse Guts was published in Released: A Horror Anthology, by No Bad Books Press
- Giving Up The Ghost was published in Doors of Darkness, by Terrorcore Publishing
- possibly his weirdest bit of writing, "EGR 181: Cyclopean Architecture" was published in Nafallen University 2022-2023 Course Catalog, by Madness Heart Press
Since COVID-19 pressed the great pause button, Tobin managed to complete his six-book APHOTIC horror series (which he's delighted to be able to call a "hexalogy") and are being released at two-month intervals.
The Six Books of the Aphotic
- Bad Blood
- Out For Blood
- Blood Loss
- Blood Pact
- Blood Relations
- Flesh and Blood
Tobin has been married for 33 years, and has one son and one daughter, and one relatively brainless dog. He's retired from a large Canadian telecom company where he was a Communications Specialist.
Tobin counts embarrassing his wife and kids, pointing out the stupidities of others, being dumb to kind animals and killing plants among his hobbies.
Finally, Tobin loves feedback, either positive or negative, on his writing. You can find all his links here
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
July 2, 2024
Monstrous. Macabre. Marvellously disturbed.
Aside from the alliteration, one thing that these words have in common is that they perfectly encapsulate the stories in Tobin Elliott's Ugly Stories About Terrible People Doing Horrible Things Vol. 1.
Ugly Stories About Terrible People Doing Horrible Things Vol. 1 is an impressive collection of short fiction with a decidedly disturbing (like, seriously disturbing) undercurrent. Each story is unique in tone and topic, showcasing the breadth of Elliott's skill in drawing readers into the lives of these terrible people and their horrible deeds, even if only for a brief, unsettling glimpse. I was kept on my toes from story to story, not knowing if I'd be getting werewolves, serial killers, some amalgamation of them both, or something completely out of this world when I turn the page. Any horror fan knows that maintaining an aura of the unexpected is vital for maximum enjoyment and thrills, and I'm pleased to say that Elliott managed to achieve just that.
The stories in this collection stand as a testament to Elliott's talent to disturb, provoke, and linger in the reader's mind long after the last sentence is read. His ability to weave horror - whether it be psychological or supernatural - with the human experience makes this collection a must-read for any fan of the genre. That being said, I truly believe that there is something for everyone in this collection, though the same can also be true of the reverse. There are most definitely some scenes, or even some full stories, that might be a step (or 10) too far for some readers. While I enjoyed the diversity of the stories and the twisted content from the recesses of Elliott's mind, I can see how some readers may be a bit *too* disturbed. To each their own!
Looking forward to Volume 2.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of Ugly Stories About Terrible People Doing Horrible Things Vol. 1 in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by any third parties.
Aside from the alliteration, one thing that these words have in common is that they perfectly encapsulate the stories in Tobin Elliott's Ugly Stories About Terrible People Doing Horrible Things Vol. 1.
Ugly Stories About Terrible People Doing Horrible Things Vol. 1 is an impressive collection of short fiction with a decidedly disturbing (like, seriously disturbing) undercurrent. Each story is unique in tone and topic, showcasing the breadth of Elliott's skill in drawing readers into the lives of these terrible people and their horrible deeds, even if only for a brief, unsettling glimpse. I was kept on my toes from story to story, not knowing if I'd be getting werewolves, serial killers, some amalgamation of them both, or something completely out of this world when I turn the page. Any horror fan knows that maintaining an aura of the unexpected is vital for maximum enjoyment and thrills, and I'm pleased to say that Elliott managed to achieve just that.
The stories in this collection stand as a testament to Elliott's talent to disturb, provoke, and linger in the reader's mind long after the last sentence is read. His ability to weave horror - whether it be psychological or supernatural - with the human experience makes this collection a must-read for any fan of the genre. That being said, I truly believe that there is something for everyone in this collection, though the same can also be true of the reverse. There are most definitely some scenes, or even some full stories, that might be a step (or 10) too far for some readers. While I enjoyed the diversity of the stories and the twisted content from the recesses of Elliott's mind, I can see how some readers may be a bit *too* disturbed. To each their own!
Looking forward to Volume 2.
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of Ugly Stories About Terrible People Doing Horrible Things Vol. 1 in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by any third parties.
August 2, 2025
Stumbled upon this collection by accident after loving Tobin’s Aphotic series, and I’m glad I took the chance. The stories are varied in setting and theme, and every single one is well-crafted, no weak links here.
That said, the title and cover led me to expect something much darker: relentless gore, psychological terror, and visceral horror. Instead, most of these tales lean toward unsettling rather than outright brutal (with one glaring exception—the rape story. That was genuinely disturbing). Surprisingly, many of the stories have a somewhat hopeful or resolved ending.
The longer stories stand out as the strongest, offering more depth and immersion. And after reading this, I’d love to see Tobin tackle a (full) fantasy novel—their world-building and pacing would shine in that genre.
A solid collection, just not the blood-soaked nightmare the packaging suggests. 5 Stars of course.
The TOC of the Kobo-Version is wrong though. A revision would be good to make the single stories selectable from there.
That said, the title and cover led me to expect something much darker: relentless gore, psychological terror, and visceral horror. Instead, most of these tales lean toward unsettling rather than outright brutal (with one glaring exception—the rape story. That was genuinely disturbing). Surprisingly, many of the stories have a somewhat hopeful or resolved ending.
The longer stories stand out as the strongest, offering more depth and immersion. And after reading this, I’d love to see Tobin tackle a (full) fantasy novel—their world-building and pacing would shine in that genre.
A solid collection, just not the blood-soaked nightmare the packaging suggests. 5 Stars of course.
The TOC of the Kobo-Version is wrong though. A revision would be good to make the single stories selectable from there.
August 23, 2024
The title of this collection of horror stories, by Tobin Elliott, tells you exactly what you're getting yourself into.The range of stories guarantees that there's something for everyone. And then some. As always, my favourites...
Volume 1
~Angel (crushing and beautiful)
~The Last Tree In the Garden (love the originality)
~Red Rain (vicious)
The story notes at the end of each piece are interesting and revealing.
Volume 1
~Angel (crushing and beautiful)
~The Last Tree In the Garden (love the originality)
~Red Rain (vicious)
The story notes at the end of each piece are interesting and revealing.
May 20, 2025
Once again, the time has come for me to review a book that I wrote. Once again, for the benefit of those who have accused me of "looking like I eat meth for breakfast" and of being a "f*****g parody of a male writer" for being so bold as to review and give my books a five star rating, I will state, for the record, this review has nothing to do with the content held between the covers.
No, this review, yet again, is for the audiobook version, and my incomparable narrator, Jenn Johnson.
Jenn dives into these ten stories, and literally becomes, not the narrator, not even the storyteller, but the living embodiment of the stories. I have no idea how she does it, but she adds an indefinable quality through her voice that raises these stories to heights I could never accomplish with my words.
Jenn's absolutely incredible, and a wonderful person as well.
Oh, and you get to hear my sweet-as-salt voice on the story notes for each one...or you can skip those and avoid the inevitable headache.
I should also point out that, even if you're reading this a couple of years down the line, I have free promo codes for anyone who wants to give this a listen in exchange for an honest (no, not a glowing one, but an honest) review.
No, this review, yet again, is for the audiobook version, and my incomparable narrator, Jenn Johnson.
Jenn dives into these ten stories, and literally becomes, not the narrator, not even the storyteller, but the living embodiment of the stories. I have no idea how she does it, but she adds an indefinable quality through her voice that raises these stories to heights I could never accomplish with my words.
Jenn's absolutely incredible, and a wonderful person as well.
Oh, and you get to hear my sweet-as-salt voice on the story notes for each one...or you can skip those and avoid the inevitable headache.
I should also point out that, even if you're reading this a couple of years down the line, I have free promo codes for anyone who wants to give this a listen in exchange for an honest (no, not a glowing one, but an honest) review.
June 9, 2024
Tobin Elliott is quickly rising to the top of my favorite authors list!!! After devouring Book One of his Aphotic Series, I knew more of his books would be on my shelves. Then I had the amazing opportunity to read Ugly Stories About Terrible People Doing Horrible Things, Volume 1 (and 2 - that I'm just starting today!). This book will have you liking characters that you would otherwise hate, cheering for victims of "horrible things", and enjoying stories that make you wonder if there is something wrong with you for loving it so much!!! I could go on and on but you have a Book Set to buy and I have more to read..... 💞
July 7, 2024
I really enjoyed reading these volumes by Tobin Elliot. Some of my favourite horror type books to read are ones that are so close to everyday normal things, but somehow they have a dark twist to them. Tobin uses real-life experiences in these stories, which is part of what makes them that much more creepy and harrowing. Keeping short stories like these that lean more towards realism type horror is a major balancing act. Too much, and it's starts to feel made up and not believable. Too little, and the reader is left looking for where the horror aspect of the story went. To be able to do that multiple times is a feat in and of itself.
I will say that one of my favourite parts of these books is the story notes written after. I've been an avid reader since the minute I could read pretty much anything. With that, I've always been curious how some of my favourite authors have come up with their stories or even where they got their inspiration. Not only do you get that from the story notes, but you also get to experience more and more of the author's personality. For me, that is worth its weight in gold.
If you're looking for a horror book that will make you feel uncomfortable, give you the creeps and check over your shoulder... I highly recommend
recommend giving these books a chance.
I will say that one of my favourite parts of these books is the story notes written after. I've been an avid reader since the minute I could read pretty much anything. With that, I've always been curious how some of my favourite authors have come up with their stories or even where they got their inspiration. Not only do you get that from the story notes, but you also get to experience more and more of the author's personality. For me, that is worth its weight in gold.
If you're looking for a horror book that will make you feel uncomfortable, give you the creeps and check over your shoulder... I highly recommend
recommend giving these books a chance.
January 29, 2025
A collection of truly twisted tales. The title is what you get. A compilation of short horror stories of terrible people doing truly awful things. They unveil the darkest urges of humanity, the very real demons that haunt and stalk in the open on unsuspecting victims.
I especially enjoyed the commentary after each story explaining the development and inspirations for such darkness. “I write horror to take control of the demons.”
These stories were intense.
I especially enjoyed the commentary after each story explaining the development and inspirations for such darkness. “I write horror to take control of the demons.”
These stories were intense.
July 2, 2024
"Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win."
-Stephen King
Once again, Tobin blows me away.
You might think it strange that I open my review of a Canadian indie author's work with a quote by Stephen King, but let me explain.
A theme within Tobin’s writing that I think really drives me to his work is his examination of the evil that men (and women) do. Even when it comes to his supernatural monsters, their evils always feel so mortal and real to me.
The art that I REALLY fuck with, be it paint, song or the written word, is that I feel. Emotions of the artist transferring to you through the particular medium and that's what I love so much about Tobin's work.
Tobin is a man who has a found a way to scrape the dark recesses of his mind and clear out what I believe to be a little of the darkness he has in himself, out.
Tobin's monsters are real and his ghosts are real, too, but, I think anyway, Tobin just might be winning this time.
Are all the stories 5 star stories (Past Sins, Since Passed and The Last Tree in the Garden are though)? Absolutely not, but this collection is 100% a 5 star venture cover to cover.
-Stephen King
Once again, Tobin blows me away.
You might think it strange that I open my review of a Canadian indie author's work with a quote by Stephen King, but let me explain.
A theme within Tobin’s writing that I think really drives me to his work is his examination of the evil that men (and women) do. Even when it comes to his supernatural monsters, their evils always feel so mortal and real to me.
The art that I REALLY fuck with, be it paint, song or the written word, is that I feel. Emotions of the artist transferring to you through the particular medium and that's what I love so much about Tobin's work.
Tobin is a man who has a found a way to scrape the dark recesses of his mind and clear out what I believe to be a little of the darkness he has in himself, out.
Tobin's monsters are real and his ghosts are real, too, but, I think anyway, Tobin just might be winning this time.
Are all the stories 5 star stories (Past Sins, Since Passed and The Last Tree in the Garden are though)? Absolutely not, but this collection is 100% a 5 star venture cover to cover.
July 4, 2024
All monsters are human...
Truly a wonderful collection of dark stories showcasing the very WORST in humanity! While these tales may be macabre and disturbing, they also feature some memorable characters and moments. Author Tobin Elliot masterfully weaves dark tales that will make even the most desensitized horror fan shiver, all while keeping you hooked for each story!
Reading the author notes after each tale is a great way to get inside the mind of Tobin Elliot, and I found his words to he very insightful as a reader!
I can't reccomend this collection enough, especially if you like your horror to feature the absolute WORST humanity has to offer! 💀
Truly a wonderful collection of dark stories showcasing the very WORST in humanity! While these tales may be macabre and disturbing, they also feature some memorable characters and moments. Author Tobin Elliot masterfully weaves dark tales that will make even the most desensitized horror fan shiver, all while keeping you hooked for each story!
Reading the author notes after each tale is a great way to get inside the mind of Tobin Elliot, and I found his words to he very insightful as a reader!
I can't reccomend this collection enough, especially if you like your horror to feature the absolute WORST humanity has to offer! 💀
November 12, 2024
Awesome book,very twisted mine. Loved the story note's great insight
June 10, 2024
Good story collections are like banger playlists; , placement matters. tonal changes that build, crest and plummet to the end serve to pull and purge the gamut of emotions.
If Ugly Stories About Terrible People Doing Horrible Things vol 1 by Tobin Elliott was a mixtape, it’s one you’d definitely bootleg copies for for all your friends (obviously this is an analogy, don’t pirate the book, just go buy it like a civilized adult.)
Fans of Elliott’s Aphotic series will appreciate the primordial ooze that would become beloved characters/ scenes in the series.
New readers will find plenty of variety to sink into. Demons and murder, time travel and music. Red rain and lovecraftian horror.
This collection is compulsively bingeable. The story notes following each entry provide not only the perfect aftercare, but contextualize the story and what he was exploring while writing it leaving it up to the reader to decide if the execution was successful.
These are not just stories.
These are a trauma informed hellish landscape filled with real, imagined (and projected) monsters. Elliott has taken his life experiences, his demons and his curiosities and banished them into a book where we can all witness the blood sport.
If Ugly Stories About Terrible People Doing Horrible Things vol 1 by Tobin Elliott was a mixtape, it’s one you’d definitely bootleg copies for for all your friends (obviously this is an analogy, don’t pirate the book, just go buy it like a civilized adult.)
Fans of Elliott’s Aphotic series will appreciate the primordial ooze that would become beloved characters/ scenes in the series.
New readers will find plenty of variety to sink into. Demons and murder, time travel and music. Red rain and lovecraftian horror.
This collection is compulsively bingeable. The story notes following each entry provide not only the perfect aftercare, but contextualize the story and what he was exploring while writing it leaving it up to the reader to decide if the execution was successful.
These are not just stories.
These are a trauma informed hellish landscape filled with real, imagined (and projected) monsters. Elliott has taken his life experiences, his demons and his curiosities and banished them into a book where we can all witness the blood sport.
June 28, 2024
An impressive collection of short fiction with a decidedly disturbing undercurrent awaits the reader in this first volume of Ugly Stories. Each offering was unique in tone and Tobin Elliott certainly has the skill set to pull the reader into the lives of these terrible people, if only for a brief glimpse of their horrible deeds.
As a dedicated reader of prologues, afterwords and authors notes, I was thrilled with the story notes after each offering. It provided an opportunity to connect with the author that is usually only experienced at in person events and made for an even more intense reading experience!
As a dedicated reader of prologues, afterwords and authors notes, I was thrilled with the story notes after each offering. It provided an opportunity to connect with the author that is usually only experienced at in person events and made for an even more intense reading experience!
June 24, 2024
I devoured this incredible book of short stories on a 2-hour flight and I'm already in the mood to revisit it. Tobin has filled this book with heart-tugging, gut-wrenching stories, written in a voice I've long admired; tales that pull you in and make you forget that they're fiction, even when they completely sidestep reality.
Even though I'm prone to skipping author's notes, I enjoyed reading through the memories of where each of these stories came from. It turns the treat of the stories themselves into a full meal of feelings and inspiration. What a delight.
Even though I'm prone to skipping author's notes, I enjoyed reading through the memories of where each of these stories came from. It turns the treat of the stories themselves into a full meal of feelings and inspiration. What a delight.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews