Costs of Living: A Whisper House Press Horror Anthology

by Steve Capone Jr. (Editor), Michael Subjack (Contributor)

Unnerving, hilarious, grotesque, and emotionally gripping, this collection of social, psychological, and suburban horror expresses what disturbs us most about our experiences internally and interactions with the world around us-including with the HOA, our landlords, live-ins (human or otherwise), neighbors, or, in the end, our eternity with the undying ones. Costs of Living is an inclusive collection with stories from brand-new writers as well as old-hand award winners, including...




Summer Alexis, Beth Kette Anderson, Abby Andresen, Robert Bagnall, J.M. Bask, Melissa Bobe, Tiffany Michelle Brown, John Bukowski, Rob Francis, G. Gormley, Christina Griffith, Kay Hanifen, Tyler John Kasishke, Jordan King-Lacroix, Spencer Koelle, Andrew Kozma, C.R. Langille, Jon Lasser, Daniel Lumpkin, John Mahoney, Lena Ng, Gevera Bert Piedmont, Stephen S. Power, Nigel Quinlan, Jonathan Reddoch, Vanessa Reid, Michael Allen Rose, Jesse Rowell, J.D. Simpson, Katlina Sommerberg, Michael Subjack, Elizabeth Suggs, William Wandless, Sam Weller, Angela E. Zolner

Genres: Horror

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2025

About the author

Founder of Whisper House Press, whose Costs of Living and Dread Mondays horror anthologies released in the fall of 2025, Steve Capone Jr. is an award-winning, Utah-based writer hailing from the Rust Belt. A recipient of the Denis Diderot grant in support of his summer 2025 residency at Chateau d’Orquevaux in rural France, Steve self-published his first YA historical fiction novel, Max in the Capital of Spies, in 2024. Jimmy vs. Communism is due out from Gibbs Smith soon and has horror novels in the works. He frequently organizes events for the literary communities throughout Utah. You can find his short fiction in multiple anthologies and literary magazines. His “Cure for Creativity” won Best Short Screenplay at the Bloody Mirror Film Festival in 2024, and it was elsewhere nominated for multiple other awards. He’s a pizza advocate, dog helper with Arctic Rescue, and a proud member of the Horror Writers Association and League of Utah Writers. You can find his incorporeal footprint on his website at www.stevecaponejr.com or at https://linktr.ee/stevecaponejr.

Reviews

[Sophia]

This anthology thrilled me. It is a collection of stories by many authors who have written short horror stories and which have been combined into one collection.

There are truly a lot of stories and it is great that each one is interesting in its own way. It is great that there is a visible difference in these stories because each of these authors has their own version of what horror is in their head and they are certainly different and not similar in anything. Of course, there are already some familiar situations that have already been seen and read, but there are also novelties that I have not come across anywhere before. I must even admit that I prefer to read several short stories like this than one long one.

Most of the stories are simply written and told. Unfortunately, some stories are quite difficult to read because they use slightly more difficult words and I personally got a little lost in the meaning and what the writer wanted to say. But there were really a small percentage of them. But because of that I will have to give 4 stars.

I hope that another anthology will be published because it amuses us readers and greatly helps the authors.

Thank you very much to the publisher and BookSirens for allowing me to read this collection of stories. My review is voluntary and has not been influenced by anyone.

[Tig Jackson]

Generally above average anotholgy with a few minor editorial errors.

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

Not all functions work on Kindle such but perfectly readable.

[Lola Jansen]

This was such a good horror anthology!

I really enjoyed reading all of the stories and seeing the differences in writing and tropes.

All stories were at least 4 star reads with a few 5 stars in there. My favorites were the second and fourth story!

Definitely recommend this one!

[Robert Bagnall]

A mixed bag, but a very big bag, so something here for everyone. Dip in. Personal favourites: Christina Griffith’s Ira Levin/Jordan Peele pastiche, and Rob Francis’ ‘Home Comforts’. Full disclosure: my flash ‘One, Two, Three’ is included.

[Smutty Demi]

This was a great, unnerving anthology with objects and topics found in everyday life. Some stories stay in your head for a long time

[Just Another Final Girl Review (Brittany) Levely-Connolly]

“Cardinal rule of parenting: do not touch strangers or strangers’ kids. Unless they are in danger.”
-Jesse Rowell ‘ Sounds of Summer’

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this anthology but it was actually so accurate and horrifying. It was a collection of DOMESTIC Horror short stories, divided into 4 subsections: the suburbs, city life,out in the sticks and alone.This book has a little bit of everything: human monsters, werewolves, aliens, etc and each story has unpredictable and unique conclusions. I honestly don't think I could have predicted a single one so far.

“The neighborhood seemed quiet and unassuming, and I felt I could fit
in without much difficulty. I would bother no one if no one bothered me. My home was a place to put down roots, my safe space, my sacred place. I would take care of it, and through the growth of its value, it would take care of me.”-Lena Ng ‘A Sacred Place’


I found it very well written and enjoyed the pacing and order of the various stories and authors. I received this book one book format from book siren’s but the editor also reached out to me and sent a physical copy for me to read and review. I had becer heard of the indie publishing company Whisper House Press prior to this anthology and was very impressed by the collection.

Contents

The Suburbs
Incident with the Barqueleigh Square Court Homeowners Association Gevera Bert Piedmont
The Physical Impossibility of Love in the Heart of Someone Wanting Stephen S. Power
Watching Over Her House Abby Andresen
One, Two, Three Robert Bagnall
Hoodlums Kay Hanifen
Off Label Jon Lasser
Decorations J.D. Simpson
Shadows in Renovation Elizabeth Suggs
Everything is Fine Angela E. Zolner
Just Checking In Michael Subjack
A Sacred Place Lena Ng
Sounds of Summer Jesse Rowell
Idols of Godless Men Daniel Lumpkin
Just Being Neighborly Jordan King-Lacroix
The Geese of Bronson
Boulevard Tyler John Kasishke

2. City Life
Creepy Crawly Sam Weller
The Scream Melissa Bobe
The Customer Is Always Wrong Tiffany Michelle Brown
If I Go Missing Summer Alexis
The Humming Refrigerator is Almost Purring Katlina Sommerberg
The Stain Michael Allen
Rose In Darkness Left Behind Spencer Koelle
Couch Surfing Jonathan Reddoch
Hanging Meat on the Bones Andrew Kozma

III. Out in the Sticks
M Go Blue John Bukowski
The Annual Family Reunion Christina Griffith
I’m Not From Here J.M. Bask
Sacrifice Beth Kette Anderson
The Morning After William Wandless
Mother’s Day Vanessa Reid

4.Alone
Impact John Mahoney
The Grave of the Quiet Nigel Quinlan
Ambrosia C.R. Langille
Home Comforts Rob Francis
The God of Three-Four-Twelve G. Gormley

[Andrew Pixton]

The story by Liz Suggs about a stalker neighbor was probably my favorite scary horror, the opening story about the HOA was the funniest. Such is this collection, a mix of fun and macabre.

[Naito Diamond]

Costs of Living is exactly what the title promises — an anthology of contemporary horror rooted in the everyday, the ordinary, and the absurd. I loved how it took familiar situations and twisted them into something chilling (or hilarious). The opening story set the tone perfectly, turning a usual horror story event into a bureaucratic HOA fee notice that had me laughing even while feeling unsettled.

Hoodlums was another standout — a sharp and funny take on a “Karen” that I honestly couldn’t read with a straight face. Decorations worked well as a cautionary tale, reminding us that when you move into a neighborhood, you’d better understand the rules that come with it.

Not all the stories leaned into humor, though. Everything is Fine stood out as a psychological thriller, capturing the way we so often ignore warning signs and convince ourselves everything is okay — until it isn’t. That balance between the satirical and the serious is what made this anthology so strong.

What I appreciated most is that Costs of Living never relied on gore or cheap shock value. Instead, it turned the lens on our everyday lives — HOAs, nosy neighbors, rules, appearances — and showed how horror is already lurking there.

It’s clever, unsettling, and sometimes wickedly funny. For readers who enjoy horror that digs into social commentary and the mundane turned terrifying, this anthology is a must-read.

[Books For Decaying Millennials]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
-
It's important that we recognize that when we hear the phrase"The Cost of Living", no matter who you are, you will have some kind visceral reaction. Whether it's used in official terminology regarding rates of pay, housing costs, keep yourself and those you care about fed...Whatever the case, it's a loaded term.
It became apparent to me, very early on in reading this book, that editor Steve Capone could have found no other title that fit this anthology so well. Just as we all have our own reactions to the phrase "The Cost of Living", so do will everyone reading
Costs of Living be effected by something they read therein. I don't feel I can stress this enough, whatever your path in life, whatever your story is, there will be tales in this book that will hit you. I've spoken at length, in previous reviews, regarding my long standing appreciation of story anthologies. Costs of Living just further solidifies my opinion on this medium. It is a book that can, and should be read cover to cover. Yet, like any good anthology, it's organized in such a way that you can easily go a section and story to re-read or reference later.

This forthcoming anthology will not be published until later this year. It's definitely a title to watch for once it drops.

[N.J. Gallegos]

As a contributor to Whisper House Press's "Dread Mondays" anthology (which was one of my top 10 reads of the year, btw), I had to pick up this one. This anthology covers "The Costs of Living" whether that be in suburbia, the big city, out in the sticks, and also tackles the horrors of isolation. Several stories truly tickled my fancy. The first story covers a scientist's experiment of teacup raptors who run amuck during a child's birthday party (incurring a myriad of HOA fines) and is a nice companion piece to the first story in "Dread Mondays" that also covers the workplace drama of the teacup raptors' aftermath. Tiffany Michelle Brown's story "The Customer is Always Wrong" had me laughing hard... nothing is worse than working with the demanding public. Another story covers a rivalry between The Ohio State (blech) and Michigan with deadly consequences.

Highly recommend this anthology. Not a bad story in the bunch!

[Cassie]

This was a really great horror anthology. It was really interesting to read all the different stories told by the different authors. It brought together a lot of different perspectives and writing styles. It was interesting how the authors were able to talk seemingly ordinary situations and turn them into something weird and strange (in a good way!). Overall, i enjoyed this read and would suggest to others looking for something fun in the horror genre.

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

[Donna Roberts]

This is a great collection of short stories around a theme of different types of living, the book is in 4 different sections each story is about family/life all I can say is I’m so glad I live in a country without a HOA! Read this book you won’t be disappointed! Can’t wait for the next one! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gianna V]

An eclectic collection of horror shorts—some better than others. The concept of horror related to different living areas is unique and done quite well by some of the authors. It was a fairly enjoyable read, and I think many readers will like it as well.

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

[Robert Foland]

"Costs of Living" is a diverse collection of short horror stories. Ranging from fun to terrifying, this anthology delivers captivating writing on every page, ensuring enjoyment with every twist and turn.

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

[Emily Haynes]

All types of horrors await you imagined and real. Creepy spine chilling tales.

[Becca’s Korner Shelf]

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

Great collection of short stories

[Steve]

Well, I've read it six or seven times, and it gets better and better! I'm not an unbiased reviewer, but I think this collection was totally rockin.