A Flock of Crows: And Other Short Stories

by Devin Cabrera

A couple wins an all-expense-paid trip to an underwater hotel, but their dream vacation turns into a nightmare when an earthquake unleashes an ancient sea creature from its deep sea prison. Trapped beneath the ocean’s surface, they must fight for their lives against a monstrous predator that should have remained buried forever.

A boy moves into a house by the swamp, only to discover that the marsh hides a dark secret. As night falls, a mysterious beast emerges, preying on the children that dare enter its territory.

When giant, malevolent clowns invade Earth, a teenage girl is thrust into a world of chaos and carnage. With humanity on the brink of extinction, she must outsmart and outrun the bloodthirsty clowns before she becomes their next meal.

A prank gone wrong leads a group of friends into a cornfield after they egg the wrong house, but the field is haunted by an evil scarecrow that will do anything to protect its crops.

These and more stories await within the pages of this bone-chilling collection. Are you brave enough to turn the page?

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Audiobook, Fiction

138 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 14, 2024

Reviews

[Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ones of those rare short story collects where I liked every story. 4 stars or more on all of them. Perfect for this time of year.

[Kate Victoria RescueandReading · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought I’d encounter a story with Clown Kaijus, but here we are… and it was so good too!

I’ve really enjoyed this collection by Devin, and it really has a huge range of tales including: oceanic monsters, aliens, body horror, possessed puppets, murderous Santa, a devilish scarecrow, and an evil ice cream man.

Some of the stories could definitely be expanded upon; with such interesting ideas from the writer I could see a few of them even expanded into full length novels (Clown Kaijus! Clown Kaijus! Clown Kaijus!).

[Amanda Ruzsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolutely Unputdownable collection by the author of WELCOME TO NIGHTMARE ISLAND and JONES 1963, Devin Cabrera. Cabrera skillfully packs all the fear and dread of a novel into each of these little bites of horror. I wholeheartedly recommend reading this one. As I read it cover to cover in one sitting.

The Nautical Hotel: Winning an all-expenses paid trip to an exclusive resort with fantastic ocean views turns out to be much more than this couple bargained for.

The Marshland Monster: At first, it’s just a marsh and chasing a dog into its depths is the first mistake our narrator makes. I can still feel the mud sucking me down in this one.

The Clowns Walk Among Us: as if clowns aren’t terrifying enough, these bad boys come from the depths and are giant; as is their bloodlust. Nothing funny about this one.

When the Sun goes Down: You don’t want to be out after dark, and one boat owner renting to a group of idiots finds out firsthand why.

Bunker Buddies: probably my favorite post-eow story this far; imagine the whole world disappearing, being all alone for weeks and then meeting a survivor and taking a perilous journey to safety.

The Ice Cream Man: there’s a time and place for ice cream, and this story definitely clings to you after consumption, sticking to your brain and melting down your spine in a wave of eerie dread.

The ToyMaker: Revenge is a dish best served softly and without hesitation, and boy does this tale pack a punch!

There’s Something Inside Me: just no. Don’t go in the ocean, and if your partner does and reappears, there might be something not quite right when they finally return.

The Naughty List: Santa is real… serious about the naughty list. One too many lumps of coal had stretched him and his elves beyond the point of jolly understanding. Santa has a new job now.

A Flock of Crows: it’s all fun and games until safety lies in the rows of corn guarded by an absolutely terrifying scarecrow.

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

I enjoyed every single one of these stories. I love how they ran the gamut of different when it comes to horror and Cabrera touched on a lot of different subgenres within these pages. I can't pick a favourite because I honestly enjoyed every single one and they're all so different to each other. One that I still think about is the Clowns. That was something I'd never seen before and it was genuinely creepy as.
This collection really shows Cabrera's ability as an author and I can't wait to devour his back catalogue.

[Kassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 138 pages Devin Cabrera managed to thoroughly send a chill down my spine. There were certain stories that were only 10 pages long and in that length of time I managed to get spooked. My favorite stories were the Nautical Hotel and Bunker Buddies. If you want a fresh story every 10 pages or so with a touch of spook then this is the place to be.

I will literally read anything Cabrera writes at this point. If you haven’t already read them I highly suggest, “Welcome to Nightmare Island” and “Jones 1963” both were well written and perfect for any time of the year.

5/5 stars ⭐️

[Bernadette Seifert Leonard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved all ten of the short stories! My favorite was The Ice Cream Man! Scary good! Highly recommend! I read it in one day!

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Devin Cabrera's collection in one sitting, having sweet fun from start to finish! His writing is consistently easy to read and his ideas crystal clear, the premise of each story both horrific and hugely entertaining, their developments creepy, suspenseful, and nightmarish - if truth be told, every tale felt like the telling of a very realistic and very plausible nightmare, from getting trapped in the bottom of the sea to getting attacked by flocks of birds to getting devoured from the inside! Ten stories, each different from the other, a motley of timeless, familiar fears and perennial terrors, all with Cabrera's distinctively dark humor, trenchant imagery, and disturbing endings! A few words on each story:

- "The Nautical Hotel": a married couple happy to leave their kids behind for once, and enjoy an all paid vacation in a classy resort in the bottom of the sea, have to deal with more than they bargained for when a physical disaster strikes. (I recommend not looking too closely into the physics of water pressure in this story lol - just enjoy the adventure and be happy you're reading this from a safe distance!)

- "The Marshland Monster": a classic creature feature set in the Louisiana bayou.

- "The Clowns Walk Among Us": kaiju-clowns! Enough said!

- "When the Sun goes Down": sea-horror, a delightful tale of friends going fishing on a boat, getting drunk, ignoring the warnings of the boat's owner, and finding out that monsters need their fun too!

- "Bunker Buddies": this one had me laughing out loud, especially the ending - Dumb and Dumber meet Survivor in an apocalyptic Earth!

- "The Ice Cream Man": giving off strong creepypasta vibes, this story takes the familiar horror of the ice-cream truck blasting through the neighborhood at three a.m. and ... well, you get the idea!

- "The ToyMaker": a dark fairy tale of bloody revenge - Release the Puppet!

- "There’s Something Inside Me": a body horror short - a couple go swimming in the ocean, one of them vanishes, then he comes back, but... This is why you should never go diving with your mouth open!

- "The Naughty List": Wow, never pictured Santa as the star of a gory slasher! Jolly Santa decides to handle the Naughty List himself directly - this one is purely creepy holiday horror, and Cabrera goes straight to my own Nice List!

- "A Flock of Crows": this one begun posing as a revenge story - but then the bullies make a fatal mistake, they all get lost in a corn field, and they come across a friendly scarecrow, and they all live happily ever after... #NOT

Grab this horror collection immediately and enjoy these well-crafted stories yourself - then go find some children (preferably your own) and share the joy of good horror all around! I'm sure everything will work out.

[Jessie Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS is a collection. Monsters, aliens and giant ass killer clowns your cup of tea?
This is a collection of 10 short stories and EVERY one packs a punch.
Nautical hotel - a couple win an exclusive holiday and the hotel is UNDERWATER. If that doesn’t scream carnage I don’t know what does.
Marshland monster - a little boy moves into a new home where he is told not to go to the swamp at night. Yet this dude does! I felt eerie the whole time reading this one
The clowns walk among us - giant killer clowns. That is all. Try survive that
Bunker buddies - something wipes out the population aside from 2 boys that join forces. Until they get a call. This was their first mistake
Ice cream man - don’t go get ice cream if it’s 3am!!!!
The toy maker - puppet gets revenge for his master. Lord help me
There’s something inside me - yeah there is. If you are suspicious about your partner entering the ocean and returning expect them to be a LITTLE different 😅
The naughty list - Santa gets serious about the naughty list 😩 creepy ass santa but the suspense man!
A flock of crows - scarecrows make you feel weird? Read this and you will LOVE them even more! One crazy farmer, some annoying kids (we’ve all been there) and as pictures on the front cover a scary scarecrow. Won’t look at them the same way now 😂

Releasing 14th July! Not to be missed if you want nightmares!

[SpookyKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

It wasn't surprising that this collection of stories by Devin just sucked you right in.

This anthology was very eclectic, which I loved. We had sea monsters, clowns, aliens, and just overall creepiness.

Some of the stories that I really enjoyed:

The Ice Cream Man: if the ice cream truck stops outside your house at 3am, YOU DON'T NEED TO GO OUT AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON. Back in my hometown, there is an ice cream truck that is frequently out in the evening hours, with that awful song playing... I know he is up to no good. Neither was this guy.

The ToyMaker: when all else fails, have a puppet seek revenge for you. The way I pictured the final scenes of this were rather unsettling.

A Flock of Crows: I just... loved this. Crazy farmer, idiot kids, a bunch of birds, and a terrifying scarecrow. I will not be wandering around the cornfields near my house.

[Catriona Mowat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of 10 short stories ranging from hotels on the sea bed and giant sea monsters to scarecrows in a field and every form of monster (or alien) in between: this book has it all, and all delivered with Devin’s signature punch, and wicked sense of humour. Every character is pretty well developed for short stories, Devin is seriously skilled at making you care about people, and making his characters relatable. Personally I have never related more than to the character waking up at 3am needing an ice cream.
I flew through this collection like the devil was chasing me…or a swamp monster, take your pick.

Essentially: this is a really entertaining read and a great collection of shorts!

[Melanie Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a diverse collection from this up and coming horror author! Devin shows his growth through each of these stories which makes me so excited to see what the future holds for him.

The collection contains stories for land & sea, good days & bad, & even a holiday bit. I have three favorites: Ice Cream Man, There's Something Inside Me, and Flock of Crows. But I can honestly say, there isn't one story that I DON'T like, which is unusual.

Here is a collection I would feel confident recommending to someone with kids. No vulgarity, no extreme gore, no sexual situations. It would be a great one to read to the kids at bedtime mwahahahahaha!

I can't wait to see what's next!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you liked Welcome to Nightmare Island and Jones 1963, you'll love this collection of short stories.

I got hooked right away with the first story, The Nautical Hotel - a couple wins an all expenses paid vacation that doesn't turn out so relaxing. It has everything you could want in it Clowns, Sea Creatures, Puppets, Scarecrows, and so much more. Every story in this collection was so good.

My favorites were

The Nautical Hotel
The Clowns Walk Among Us
The Ice Cream Man
When The Sun Goes Down
The Naughty List
A Flock Of Crows

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Devin Cabrera's book of short stories is fantastic! I definitely think some of them could go on to be longer stories as well. My favorites were: When the Sun Goes Down, The ToyMaker, The Naughty List, and the title story - A Flock of Crows. These are the kinds of stories you can read in one sitting and some make you wonder what might come next for the character! Even though it may seem obvious...but is it?? Great book of stories! I'm glad to have to add to my collection of his other books I have!

[Kathryn Grace Loves Horror · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun collection, the highlight here is the title story about some misbehaving teens who end up in the wrong cornfield, fleeing from both an angry gun nut and an evil scarecrow. There's some pretty good gore here and some decently creepy imagery. This one has a fun slasher vibe and was my personal favorite.

Other highlights include "The Clowns Walk Among Us" (clown kaijus), "The Toymaker" (satisfying tale of revenge), "The Naughty List" (a slasher with Santa as the killer), and "The Nautical Hotel" (giant underwater creature feature).

[Barb Smith Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short story collection grabs you by the throat right away and never let’s go. I enjoyed every single story - there’s not a bad one in the bunch. The first one starts off with a bang - not enough money in this world to get me to stay at that hotel! If you’re looking for entertainingly creepy and well written stories, look no further than A Flock of Crows and Other Short Stories.

[Dez Nemec · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories are always a mixed bag, but these were such fun! I think The Toy Maker was my favorite.

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this collection, but call outs were
Nautical Hotel, this was so hauntingly horrifying to me, a super slow burn of just horror.

Bunker Buddies, this one started off kinda funny and stupid horror and quicky turned very freaking serious in a split second. Damn

Clowns Walk Among Us, i have never read anything like this, and it was horrifying, the descriptions of the clowns and how they act, and react...it was true horror.

This book came in clutch especially with the way things are going right now.. loved this

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked these stories all so very different but the first one got to me a bit as I can’t swim because I nearly drown as a kid I cudnt imagine me living for a holiday under water I think I’d have a heart attack lol go read it’s a must nice one devin

[myreadingescapism · Rating 4 out of 5]

An actually decent collection of stories, I would like some full books from some of them.

[slowandsteadyreads (Kirsty) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one averaged out to 5/10

The Nautical Hotel - 7/10
The ocean is terrifying honestly so the second they got in that submarine it was a no from me. The claustrophobic atmosphere of this story was incredible and I genuinely felt like I couldn’t breathe. I do think there was too much cramped into the story and the earthquake / tsunami storyline wasn’t really necessary.

The Marshland Monster - 2/10
This one was honestly such a ‘nothing’ story. The creature wasn’t described enough to be scary at all. I was also distracted by the fact that a little kid was out with the dog at 3am.. just stupid.

The Clowns Walk Among Us - 8/10
Firstly, clowns are TERRIFYING. I nearly cried at one point with the mere description of them. That’s part of the reason that this one really worked for me. That and the fact that it had ‘Fantasticland’ vibes and that book was incredible! Alsoooo, in a world of killer clowns and somehow men just as bad. Why am I not surprised? Them getting what they deserved though.. 🤌🏻

When The Sun Goes Down - 6/10
I don’t think this one worked for me because it’s an ocean story, like the first one and while the claustrophobic atmosphere of the first one worked for me I don’t like stories set at sea so I could’ve done without this one. However.. the detail about the creatures reminded me of Tusk which creeped me out of the end and the little bit of gore in this story was great.

Bunker Buddies - 5/10
This one was very matter of fact with no tension
I thought this one was going to be a commentary about politicians that is scarily relevant but it took a turn and ended up being a very matter-of-fact story with no tension. The ending would’ve been great had I not seen it coming.

The Ice Cream Man - 9/10
This one was great! Short, sweet and to the point and genuinely creeped me out!

The ToyMaker - 7/10
I loved the historical feeling atmosphere of this one. I find dolls creepy as hell too. Sir Henry got what he deserved for SURE! There was also a scene that reminded me of Hereditary

There’s Something Inside Me - 6/10
This one was kinda creepy but it was also way too short and needed more explanation.

The Naughty List - 5/10
This one was pretty average. I didn’t find it scary, or creepy and a killer Santa has potential to be that for sure. It also ended in the middle of the story and left no resolution which was frustrating

A Flock of Crows - DNF
I DNF’d this one. I just didn’t care about the characters and there was nothing keeping me hooked. I feel like this one was too long with a lot of the story repeating the same situation

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't my first book by Devin, and it won't be my last. I stumbled across other works of his in a group on fb called "Books of Horror" it is an amazing group of people that really support the horror genre industry. I've found new authors, follow some on fb, and really enjoy their works. I'm always looking for the next best thing, and their support of Indie authors is the best!

In this book, Devin takes the reader on multiple horror journeys as it is a collection of short stories. I read it before bed, and then my dreams were filled with fantastic things such as underwater earthquakes, giant squid, killer clowns (but not like the ones from the movie, think more along the lines of the movie "Troll", just scarier), characters from our childhood that aren't all cute stories and more! So much packed into these pages, I didn't want to stop reading, and as a shorter book, it was a perfect quick pick me up read.

So for all my horror loving friends, read this! Support Devin! I just got notification yesterday my signed copy of his new release is on its way, so more fun reading is in store!

[Shannon Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're looking for a thrilling read that will leave you sleeping with the lights on

A Flock of Crows: And Other Short Stories by Devin Cabrera is a collection of horror tales that will leave you breathless. With each story, Cabrera shows his mastery of the genre, crafting a world of fear and dread that will keep you on the edge of your seat. From the couple trapped in an underwater hotel during an earthquake to the teenage girl fighting for survival in a world overrun by malevolent clowns, each story is a perfectly crafted slice of horror. Even the seemingly innocent ice cream man becomes a source of terror in Cabrera's skilled hands. If you're looking for a thrilling read that will leave you sleeping with the lights on, A Flock of Crows: And Other Short Stories is the book for you.

[Erica Robyn Metcalf · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the very first page of A Flock of Crows: And Other Short Stories by Devin Cabrera, you’ll find yourself immersed in stories that begin with the comforting familiarity of everyday life, only to veer into the dark, unsettling unknown. Whether you’re a fan of psychological suspense or grotesque terror, this collection has it all. So, buckle up — you’re about to take a thrilling, unpredictable ride through the many faces of fear.

The eerie shift from the ordinary to the horrifying is what makes this anthology fun! There’s also a great variety of horror. Each story offers something different: sci-fi horror, creature features, suspense, apocalyptic horror, supernatural horror, slasher, body horror, holiday horror, and more!

Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/a-flo...

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an extremely satisfying collection of stories! I found myself glued to my phone reading each story because I had to know what was going to happen.

I don't even know how to pick a favourite; all the stories were so fun to read! I guess if I had to, it would be Flock of Crows because it's a great example of how a situation can go so wrong so quickly. Nautical Hotel and When the Sun Goes Down were great, too! I always love a good water horror, especially if it's a creature feature.

There's something here for everyone, really, and even subgenres that you might not be as into are done so well that you get pulled in anyway. Devin's got a gem here, and it's a quick read; a great way to pass an evening!

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Devin’s novels so this collection of short stories has been on my TBR list for far too long!

As with his long form work, the atmospherics are fantastic, the descriptions immense and that ability to twist and shock always there.

My stand out favourites in the collection were:

Bunker Buddies. I laughed so much reading this that the ending slapped me in the face like a wet kipper.

The Ice Cream Man. This has to be the start of an urban legend by kids around the campfire and had me screaming for more.

The Naughty List. I’ve decided I’m going to read this to my next door neighbours’ child. People have to know the truth! (And he might stop screaming through the walls, just sayin’)

A Flock of Crows. It ain’t what you think and that’s all I’m saying, no spoilers here. Sweet !

[Angel Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

These were a fun set of short stories. Each had a different flavor, ranging from sea monsters to killer clowns to even an evil Santa Claus. None of these were too slow, which is important for short stories. While all of them were great, there were a few that really won me over. These were the best stories in my opinion.

The Clowns Walk Among Us
The Naughty List
A Flock of Crows

My absolute favorite was The Naughty List. All I can say is, if you don't believe in Santa Claus, you better start believing because I never knew he could be such a vengeful old man, hehe.

Honestly though, you can't go wrong with any of the stories.

[Joan Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Devin Cabrera

This collection of these ten short stories was epic. It's unusual that all the stories are good within the collection. This one is a very rare one.

The two stories that stood out the most were The Nautical Hotel, a man who wins an undersea hotel stay. It has a Lovecraftian vibe. The second is The Ice Cream Man. It's a creepy story about screaming for ice screams.

[Perfectly Imperfect · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nearly all stories are solid. The writing was appealing and the narration was smooth.

Definitely my new favourite author. However, I have seen many authors who wrote short stories brilliantly but failed full-lengthy novels miserably.

I hope Devin Cabrera will focus on his strength and make much impact before he ventures into other domains. And his excellent strength is the creativity in writing short horror stories vividly.

Best wishes to the authors,

5 stars (not rounded up).

[Brittani Button · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily a book I can recommend to most readers who enjoy all sorts of spooky things! This book really shows Devin's depth and creativity as a writer. The stories has some sci-fi and subgenre horror elements, along with some very silly moments.

Overall, my top three favorites are "The Naughty List", Clowns Walk Amongst Us", and "A Flock of Crows."

[Sammi Dyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Flock of Crows is collection of short horror stories from the horrifically talented mind of Devin Cabrera. My favorite of the ten stories was “There’s Something Inside Me”. All ten stories were good but there was just something special inside that story that crawled into the spot of my favorite out of them all. Bunker Buddies was a close second.