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I Found the Boogeyman Under My Brother's Crib
How do you protect your family from an urban legend?
Rachel hears a stranger laugh in her baby brother’s nursery.
She races in to see a dark figure slip beneath the crib, disappearing into an eerie reflection of her brother’s room.
Mom and Dad don’t believe her. They accuse Rachel of making excuses for breaking their strict rules about healthy sleep.
But Rachel knows what she saw.
The Boogeyman wants her baby brother.
The Boogeyman wants to drag him away into his eerie realm beneath the crib.
Rachel’s not going to let that happen.
I Found the Boogeyman Under My Brother’s Crib is a tale of urban legends, liminal spaces, and things that go bump in the night, from Ben Farthing, the “King of Creepy” (MJ Mars, author of The Suffering).
Rachel hears a stranger laugh in her baby brother’s nursery.
She races in to see a dark figure slip beneath the crib, disappearing into an eerie reflection of her brother’s room.
Mom and Dad don’t believe her. They accuse Rachel of making excuses for breaking their strict rules about healthy sleep.
But Rachel knows what she saw.
The Boogeyman wants her baby brother.
The Boogeyman wants to drag him away into his eerie realm beneath the crib.
Rachel’s not going to let that happen.
I Found the Boogeyman Under My Brother’s Crib is a tale of urban legends, liminal spaces, and things that go bump in the night, from Ben Farthing, the “King of Creepy” (MJ Mars, author of The Suffering).
112 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 24, 2024
32 people are currently reading
912 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
February 20, 2025
I didn’t mind this one. It started off really strong, but the ending felt a bit rushed.
But those parents? Infuriating. What kind of parent expects their 16-year-old kids to survive on just five hours of sleep a night? I can’t even function on less than seven, and I’m a full-grown adult!
But those parents? Infuriating. What kind of parent expects their 16-year-old kids to survive on just five hours of sleep a night? I can’t even function on less than seven, and I’m a full-grown adult!
October 6, 2024
At 112 pages, it's almost a short story, and I found myself reading the whole thing mostly in one go. It's an easy read, the story takes place over two days in which a teen girl with a controlling dad finds a strange figure in her baby brother's room. The plot is kind of fun, it's a nice little spooky read but doesn't have some of the depth of earlier I Found books. The story is almost more of a Tales From the Darkside episode and I mean that as a compliment.
November 24, 2024
- Two bizarre families, with such a weird way of educating their kids, scary imagination on our side, caching story, greeting fear, but...
I prefer to get more about the real Boogeyman, not Landon...
- Anyway, quick and joyful read!
I prefer to get more about the real Boogeyman, not Landon...
- Anyway, quick and joyful read!
March 31, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Reminded me of a Goosebumps story.
16 year old Rachel is a normal teen. Except her sleep schedule. Her parents believe all a body needs is 5 hours of sleep a night to lead a successful life. Therefore, they have a strict bedtime rule for Rachel that forces her growing body and mind to miss out on essential sleep. One night Rachel believes she sees something in her baby brothers room. A creature, that quickly disappears under the bed when spotted. Her parents write it off as her not properly following their sleep schedule. But when the creature returns night after night and her baby brothers screams, Rachel is determined to protect her brother and that it’s not just her imagination.
A boogeyman short story and the latest addition to Farthings “I found” series. While I did like this book more than the last. I still feel I have unanswered questions about the beginning of the book connecting with the end. I think there are details included that just were never officially confirmed or answered. This book did have a nice unexpected twist, that I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting. I liked that, I liked that rollercoaster drop realization feeling. But I think this book could have benefitted from another 20 pages just to finish the story properly.
Reminded me of a Goosebumps story.
16 year old Rachel is a normal teen. Except her sleep schedule. Her parents believe all a body needs is 5 hours of sleep a night to lead a successful life. Therefore, they have a strict bedtime rule for Rachel that forces her growing body and mind to miss out on essential sleep. One night Rachel believes she sees something in her baby brothers room. A creature, that quickly disappears under the bed when spotted. Her parents write it off as her not properly following their sleep schedule. But when the creature returns night after night and her baby brothers screams, Rachel is determined to protect her brother and that it’s not just her imagination.
A boogeyman short story and the latest addition to Farthings “I found” series. While I did like this book more than the last. I still feel I have unanswered questions about the beginning of the book connecting with the end. I think there are details included that just were never officially confirmed or answered. This book did have a nice unexpected twist, that I can honestly say I wasn’t expecting. I liked that, I liked that rollercoaster drop realization feeling. But I think this book could have benefitted from another 20 pages just to finish the story properly.
September 16, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
This is my first ever 'I Found Horror' read by Ben Farthing, and I don't know where the hell I've been that I haven't read these books before, and now that I know how good they are, I'm sure it will not be the last ben Farthing book I ever read.
The concept is simple enough as Ben successfully delivered a spine-chilling tale that blurred the lines between reality and nightmare, setting this book apart from the others with his ability to masterfully build suspense and tension throughout.
With Ben's vivid descriptions of The Boogeyman, with his grotesque features and too many teeth, that was more than enough for any child or grown adult to have nightmares.
The themes in this novella are also quite real and very relatable, too. From the pressure Rachel faces to meet her parents' expectations, to her desperate yet futile attempts at protecting her brother Bennett, totally make her a character that I would definitely root for.
This is a fast paced read where the creepiness and feeling of dread builds to a climax you don't expect, leaving you questioning what is real and what is imaginary even after you've read the last page.
For devout, die-hard fans of horror, this is a must-read as the story seeps into your subconscious and lingers there, even after you've read the last page.
Thanks, Ben, for reaching out to me for this ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed it and had a great time. ☠️👻🙌😬
This is my first ever 'I Found Horror' read by Ben Farthing, and I don't know where the hell I've been that I haven't read these books before, and now that I know how good they are, I'm sure it will not be the last ben Farthing book I ever read.
The concept is simple enough as Ben successfully delivered a spine-chilling tale that blurred the lines between reality and nightmare, setting this book apart from the others with his ability to masterfully build suspense and tension throughout.
With Ben's vivid descriptions of The Boogeyman, with his grotesque features and too many teeth, that was more than enough for any child or grown adult to have nightmares.
The themes in this novella are also quite real and very relatable, too. From the pressure Rachel faces to meet her parents' expectations, to her desperate yet futile attempts at protecting her brother Bennett, totally make her a character that I would definitely root for.
This is a fast paced read where the creepiness and feeling of dread builds to a climax you don't expect, leaving you questioning what is real and what is imaginary even after you've read the last page.
For devout, die-hard fans of horror, this is a must-read as the story seeps into your subconscious and lingers there, even after you've read the last page.
Thanks, Ben, for reaching out to me for this ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed it and had a great time. ☠️👻🙌😬
September 15, 2024
I'm relatively new to the world of Ben Farthing, but everything I have read by him so far has been a wonderfully creepy and unsettling experience, and I wouldn't have it any other way!
'I Found the Boogeyman' follows a young girl trying to save her baby brother from the evil man that has been visiting his room at nighttime, all while she struggles to be heard and taken seriously by her parents.
This story had a wonderful pace to it, hooking readers from the very beginning. The plot twist was unexpected and the ending will leave you rooting for the boogeyman! Ben Farthing has an incredible way with words and can build these worlds so detailed and eerily that he will leave readers on the edge of their seats with his haunting and terrifying details. Ben is one of the few horror authors that can leave me feeling uncomfortable and unsettled while reading, turning many ordinary scenarios and areas into the most horrifying and creepy of places.
The only thing I did not enjoy about this story was how the ending, in my own opinion, should have ended a scene prior. The last part of the story I don't think fit in well and took away from the horrifying plot twist. I understand why it ended as it did, as it tied a few things together towards the end, however, personally, I felt it was unnecessary and would have enjoyed if it ended without an update from further into the future.
I am a huge fan of Ben Farthing from what I have read by him so far and I look forward to reading more unsettling and horrifying works by him. I urge any horror fans to check out his work if they have not yet, because I promise you will not regret it!
Thank you so much for an ARC of this story in exchange for a completely honest review by myself.
'I Found the Boogeyman' follows a young girl trying to save her baby brother from the evil man that has been visiting his room at nighttime, all while she struggles to be heard and taken seriously by her parents.
This story had a wonderful pace to it, hooking readers from the very beginning. The plot twist was unexpected and the ending will leave you rooting for the boogeyman! Ben Farthing has an incredible way with words and can build these worlds so detailed and eerily that he will leave readers on the edge of their seats with his haunting and terrifying details. Ben is one of the few horror authors that can leave me feeling uncomfortable and unsettled while reading, turning many ordinary scenarios and areas into the most horrifying and creepy of places.
The only thing I did not enjoy about this story was how the ending, in my own opinion, should have ended a scene prior. The last part of the story I don't think fit in well and took away from the horrifying plot twist. I understand why it ended as it did, as it tied a few things together towards the end, however, personally, I felt it was unnecessary and would have enjoyed if it ended without an update from further into the future.
I am a huge fan of Ben Farthing from what I have read by him so far and I look forward to reading more unsettling and horrifying works by him. I urge any horror fans to check out his work if they have not yet, because I promise you will not regret it!
Thank you so much for an ARC of this story in exchange for a completely honest review by myself.
November 23, 2024
"I Found the Boogeyman Under my Brother's Crib" is the newest horror novel from Ben Farthing, and the fifth book in the I Found Horror series. It's about a girl who thinks there is a monster who lives under her brother's crib trying to harm him when no one else believes her.
Like all the books in this series, these are great intro-level horror stories for those looking for a lighter read, or looking to get into the genre. They're not overly violent or graphic or disturbing, while injecting some very cool concepts and some creepy imagery. Like all his books, I love the title and the cover art and the premise for this spooky little read.
Ultimately, this book just didn't work for me personally. I couldn't really connect with our protagonist all too well cause the story might be too short for its own good. It takes some twists in the end, and while I feel it will work for a lot of people, it just wasn't the direction I wanted out of the story. Not bad by any means, just not my favorite.
I think if you're into cool concepts with some creepy imagery, and a one-sitting, almost Goosebumps style book for a more teen audience, then this might be the book for you.
2.5 rounded up
Like all the books in this series, these are great intro-level horror stories for those looking for a lighter read, or looking to get into the genre. They're not overly violent or graphic or disturbing, while injecting some very cool concepts and some creepy imagery. Like all his books, I love the title and the cover art and the premise for this spooky little read.
Ultimately, this book just didn't work for me personally. I couldn't really connect with our protagonist all too well cause the story might be too short for its own good. It takes some twists in the end, and while I feel it will work for a lot of people, it just wasn't the direction I wanted out of the story. Not bad by any means, just not my favorite.
I think if you're into cool concepts with some creepy imagery, and a one-sitting, almost Goosebumps style book for a more teen audience, then this might be the book for you.
2.5 rounded up
October 4, 2024
I Found the Boogeyman Under My Brother's Crib by Ben Farthing is yet another fun addition to the I Found series, showcasing the author’s knack for creating imaginative and engaging narratives that explore childhood fears. This installment offers a fresh perspective on a typical childhood monster.
What I love most about the I Found series is its ability to present stories that feel unique while maintaining a cohesive thread that connects them all. Farthing has an impressive talent for crafting distinct narratives that explore different aspects of fear and imagination. In this latest book, he takes the concept of the boogeyman and adds layers of depth that make it both relatable and intriguing.
The story expertly captures the essence of childhood anxieties, and I appreciated how it plays with the idea of what lurks beneath a child’s crib. Farthing's portrayal of the boogeyman is clever, allowing readers to engage with this childhood monster in a new light.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative, I did find some of the character motivations to be a bit bizarre. However, this minor issue did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. The charm and creativity of Farthing’s writing shine through, and I was captivated by the unfolding events and the unique perspective on a familiar theme. I can’t wait to see what Farthing “finds” in his next story!
What I love most about the I Found series is its ability to present stories that feel unique while maintaining a cohesive thread that connects them all. Farthing has an impressive talent for crafting distinct narratives that explore different aspects of fear and imagination. In this latest book, he takes the concept of the boogeyman and adds layers of depth that make it both relatable and intriguing.
The story expertly captures the essence of childhood anxieties, and I appreciated how it plays with the idea of what lurks beneath a child’s crib. Farthing's portrayal of the boogeyman is clever, allowing readers to engage with this childhood monster in a new light.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the narrative, I did find some of the character motivations to be a bit bizarre. However, this minor issue did not detract from my overall enjoyment of the story. The charm and creativity of Farthing’s writing shine through, and I was captivated by the unfolding events and the unique perspective on a familiar theme. I can’t wait to see what Farthing “finds” in his next story!
September 12, 2024
Rachel's parents are tough. They have her on a strict 5 hour sleeping schedule. No more and no less! One day when she sees a horrible set of teeth and eyes under her 2 year old brothers bed, Rachel doesn't know if she's sleep deprived or if the boogeyman is really out to get her brother.
Landon is Rachel's neighbor and her friend. His mom is also strict and Landon needs to be a good boy and obey the rules, always. When Rachel tells them about the boogeyman she's seeing, they tell her a tell that happened in her own house years ago.
This was a fun spooky story. Rachel's parents were really something. Their parenting was....interesting. I almost wish we got more visuals of the boogeyman but overall, this was a quick and fun read!
Landon is Rachel's neighbor and her friend. His mom is also strict and Landon needs to be a good boy and obey the rules, always. When Rachel tells them about the boogeyman she's seeing, they tell her a tell that happened in her own house years ago.
This was a fun spooky story. Rachel's parents were really something. Their parenting was....interesting. I almost wish we got more visuals of the boogeyman but overall, this was a quick and fun read!
September 20, 2024
Ben Farthing has the art of creepy places and spaces down so well! You’re not going to be terrified reading this story but you’ll feel that little nagging creepy feeling on your neck and the little hairs sticking up!
Rachel is such a likeable character and you just want to slap her parents around a bit for the weird sleeping rules! How insane! I could feel the love they have for her but what a weird way to show it. They need therapy. 🤣
I do wish these books had artwork ! I don’t normally feel that way about books but this one especially out of his “I Found…” stories would have some badass imagery.
Thank you to the author for reaching out and sending me a digital ARC. Check him out! Happy reading. 📚
Rachel is such a likeable character and you just want to slap her parents around a bit for the weird sleeping rules! How insane! I could feel the love they have for her but what a weird way to show it. They need therapy. 🤣
I do wish these books had artwork ! I don’t normally feel that way about books but this one especially out of his “I Found…” stories would have some badass imagery.
Thank you to the author for reaching out and sending me a digital ARC. Check him out! Happy reading. 📚
April 10, 2025
This book was really creepy. Coincidentally I have not been sleeping well this week, so I really got what the narrator was saying and felt right in this story. Only having 5 hours to sleep sounds like such a nightmare to me. Anyway, I liked the eerie, unsettling feeling this whole story had and trying to figure out what would happen next. It was really interesting but I don't want to get into much because I don't want to spoil a thing. I did really enjoy reading it. I have really liked a few books by this author now and am excited to read more. They always give me some things to think about along with the spooky fun.
April 10, 2025
Much like the fun I Saw Christmas Lights Slithering down my Street. This poor gal is surrounded by weird parents and even weirder neighbors. What's with the bizarre sleep schedule stuff??? I kept thinking certain reveals would tie this in somehow more. You have to say this story is definitely unique at any rate. I enjoyed as much as the Christmas one, although that one may have been slightly better. So far the I Found Horror books continue to be a hoot.
September 12, 2024
16-year-old Rachel battles the boogeyman - and the plight of an anxious young person not living up to unrealistic expectations - in Ben Farthing’s new addition to the I Found Horror series. You can always count on Ben Farthing to explore some of our most common shared fears through the lens of a perspective that might be brand new to us.
Thanks so much to the author for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
Thanks so much to the author for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!
September 19, 2024
Another fantastically creepy book, Ben Farthing did it again! So much craziness in the parents of this book, making me think perhaps I am not too crazy as a parent. Loved it!
September 22, 2024
A truly special experience, there's something here for everyone. Young readers will find a story not afraid to scare the hell out of you, those new to the genre will root for a young girl struggling under the weight of her parents expectations, and veterans will discover a new and interesting take on an age old tale. Not to be missed, the latest in the "I Found" horror series cements Ben Farthing as a writer who transcends any one audience.
September 25, 2024
I received this book as part of a promotion to read and review by publishing day.
I’ve read all of the ‘I Found…’ series so far and I thought this one had rather strong Goosebumps vibes (parents having weird rules, idiosyncratic moments that make sense at the end. And when I say Goosebumps vibes please understand that is the highest of praise from a former Creepy Kid™️). I thought this one could have used a bit more of the paranormal aspect (not giving away spoilers here), but this was still a fun and quick read, as are all of the ‘I Found…’ series.
I’ve read all of the ‘I Found…’ series so far and I thought this one had rather strong Goosebumps vibes (parents having weird rules, idiosyncratic moments that make sense at the end. And when I say Goosebumps vibes please understand that is the highest of praise from a former Creepy Kid™️). I thought this one could have used a bit more of the paranormal aspect (not giving away spoilers here), but this was still a fun and quick read, as are all of the ‘I Found…’ series.
October 10, 2024
Not quite as magical
Loved all the other books in the I found horror series, this one started off great but quickly became more silly than creepy, I feel like it became a totally different level of goofy compared to the others in the series
Some of my favorite things about these books is they skip the small details, you can fill in the gaps with your imagination because it isn't important to the story, but the way the story unfolded just made it all so confusing and took me out of the story
In this one the progression of the story just didn't make that much sense to me, and the ending straight up made me laugh out loud, I'm really disappointed and was hoping for a different path entirely
Loved all the other books in the I found horror series, this one started off great but quickly became more silly than creepy, I feel like it became a totally different level of goofy compared to the others in the series
Some of my favorite things about these books is they skip the small details, you can fill in the gaps with your imagination because it isn't important to the story, but the way the story unfolded just made it all so confusing and took me out of the story
In this one the progression of the story just didn't make that much sense to me, and the ending straight up made me laugh out loud, I'm really disappointed and was hoping for a different path entirely
March 19, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Wow, wow! This book took me for a ride. Totally unexpected. I thought I knew where this was going but boy was I wrong. Ben Farthing is such an excellent writer!
Wow, wow! This book took me for a ride. Totally unexpected. I thought I knew where this was going but boy was I wrong. Ben Farthing is such an excellent writer!
October 21, 2025
3.5⭐️ This was a fun short read. it reminded me a lot of the classic r/nosleep stories
July 20, 2025
This book was a decent read. I didn’t exactly find it scary but it did what I wanted it too which was fill a gap before I brought another book to continue on with the summer challenge. I will say that I found the parents in this book to be super weird and strange. Like who only lets their kid sleep a maximum of 5 hours and wake up at 4am? Either way it was a decent short read. I would definitely recommend this to people looking to start reading horror or wanting something scary but not too scary. Kind of like beginners horror
September 24, 2024
From Folklore to Real Life
Rachel is exhausted. For the past six months she has only been allowed five hours of sleep each night. While this sounds like cruel punishment, it is actually a strict routine instituted by her highly productive and motivated parents. After all, if they can thrive, well rested and mentally refreshed after five hours, then their daughter should be able to as well. She is attempting to adjust to this new routine but is failing miserably and has even taken to sneaking naps on her neighbor’s porch. When she wakes one night to her baby brother whining and crying in his crib she cannot believe her tired eyes when she sees a pair of red eyes glaring maliciously back at her from underneath his crib. When she confides to her neighbor and his grandmother about the occurrences they tell a story of the family who used to live where her house stands now. The story is well known to Landon and his grandmother as it involves her cousin and the story involves of all things, a boogeyman showing up when her cousin had snuck out of the house. Rachel, in an already sleep deprived state is not sure what to believe resolves to protect her baby brother at all costs. When the mystery creature makes another appearance, she gives resolves to catch him and even chases them into parts of her house she never even knew existed. When the truth is finally revealed, it’s enough to give even Rachel and her parents nightmares.
I Found The Boogeyman Under My Brother’s Crib is the newest in the “I Found Horror” series of novellas by Ben Farthing. While previous I Found books were a bit on the whimsical and bizarre side, Farthing really amps up the dread with this title. Where ideas such as lost hallways appearing in shopping malls or circus tents filled with sinister sadistic clowns are quite the stretch the legend of the boogeyman is something that pretty much every walk of life on has some version on. This familiarity helps to amp up the drama and suspense as I'm sure everyone who reads this will do so with their childhood version of the legend firmly in their mind. As the story unfolds, and Rachel’s boogeyman is finally revealed it makes for a truly “WTF” type moment in the story. Not a long story, I Found The Boogeyman Under My Brother’s Crib will drag you in with the first sentences and will have you racing to the end to find out what happens to Rachel and Bennet.
If you like a fast-paced creepy horror that pulls from known lore and adds a twist that really hypes up the already sinister vibe, I Found The Boogeyman Under My Brother’s Crib” is highly recommended. And check out all of the other books in the I Found series for more weird creatures, forgotten dimensions, and murderous creatures.
Full disclosure - I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author or their representative but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own
Rachel is exhausted. For the past six months she has only been allowed five hours of sleep each night. While this sounds like cruel punishment, it is actually a strict routine instituted by her highly productive and motivated parents. After all, if they can thrive, well rested and mentally refreshed after five hours, then their daughter should be able to as well. She is attempting to adjust to this new routine but is failing miserably and has even taken to sneaking naps on her neighbor’s porch. When she wakes one night to her baby brother whining and crying in his crib she cannot believe her tired eyes when she sees a pair of red eyes glaring maliciously back at her from underneath his crib. When she confides to her neighbor and his grandmother about the occurrences they tell a story of the family who used to live where her house stands now. The story is well known to Landon and his grandmother as it involves her cousin and the story involves of all things, a boogeyman showing up when her cousin had snuck out of the house. Rachel, in an already sleep deprived state is not sure what to believe resolves to protect her baby brother at all costs. When the mystery creature makes another appearance, she gives resolves to catch him and even chases them into parts of her house she never even knew existed. When the truth is finally revealed, it’s enough to give even Rachel and her parents nightmares.
I Found The Boogeyman Under My Brother’s Crib is the newest in the “I Found Horror” series of novellas by Ben Farthing. While previous I Found books were a bit on the whimsical and bizarre side, Farthing really amps up the dread with this title. Where ideas such as lost hallways appearing in shopping malls or circus tents filled with sinister sadistic clowns are quite the stretch the legend of the boogeyman is something that pretty much every walk of life on has some version on. This familiarity helps to amp up the drama and suspense as I'm sure everyone who reads this will do so with their childhood version of the legend firmly in their mind. As the story unfolds, and Rachel’s boogeyman is finally revealed it makes for a truly “WTF” type moment in the story. Not a long story, I Found The Boogeyman Under My Brother’s Crib will drag you in with the first sentences and will have you racing to the end to find out what happens to Rachel and Bennet.
If you like a fast-paced creepy horror that pulls from known lore and adds a twist that really hypes up the already sinister vibe, I Found The Boogeyman Under My Brother’s Crib” is highly recommended. And check out all of the other books in the I Found series for more weird creatures, forgotten dimensions, and murderous creatures.
Full disclosure - I was provided an advanced reader’s copy of this book by the author or their representative but have voluntarily provided a review. All opinions are my own
February 19, 2025
“In some of these cultures, the boogeyman gets more creative than making off with disobedient children. He might change his face to look like someone you know, or walk straight through a wall without leaving a mark.”
A healthy fear of what wanders in the night is a normal part of childhood for countless children, but what happens when the monster is hidden beneath human skin? Rachel is trying to adjust to the five hour sleeping times her oarents began enforcing when she first turned sixteen and she fears its keaving her exhausted and delirious. When her baby brother Bennett first began crying out in the middle of the night, she never expected to see the Boogeyman holding him and terrifying him. Determined more than ever to catch the monster in the act, she disobeyed her parents and would stay awake long into the night for several in a row before she would fall asleep under the strain. When she awoke and tried to escape her brother's closet, she found herself barricaded in by a bookshelf and her parents would find the baby missing from his crib. Terrified she failed him by instigating the local legend, it would turn out all she needed to do was lift a piece of the flooring up to discover the tubbels into the basement that was filled in over sixty years prior. A monster that haunted the previous tenants of their home with the grayish skin and dozens of unnatural teeth. Landon Foster, her neighbor who had a crush on her was the man behind the monster who she would see holding her brother in the darkness basement. Trying to convince him to let Bennett go he would learn not to play as the real Boogeyman would appear behind him and drag him deeper into the tubbels never to be seen again. Reunited with her brother and with a fear still heavy in all their hearts, they would take turns staying beside his crib while he slept as they prayed nobody would ever return to fuel that nightmare. Now, she's recently graduated from high school and is preparing for college, and still the stories and lures of the Boogeyman never left her mind.
I saw—and there was no longer any doubt that what I was seeing was real—a bulky man in a tattered yellow raincoat stained with something dark and something grass green. Its arms were both too long and too fat. Its elbows were down by its waist. The sleeves of the yellow raincoat were ripped where flannel elbows beneath had burst through. There was no muscular shape to the bulk, but instead it reminded me of boa constrictors that I'd seen on our educational trip to the zoo.
A healthy fear of what wanders in the night is a normal part of childhood for countless children, but what happens when the monster is hidden beneath human skin? Rachel is trying to adjust to the five hour sleeping times her oarents began enforcing when she first turned sixteen and she fears its keaving her exhausted and delirious. When her baby brother Bennett first began crying out in the middle of the night, she never expected to see the Boogeyman holding him and terrifying him. Determined more than ever to catch the monster in the act, she disobeyed her parents and would stay awake long into the night for several in a row before she would fall asleep under the strain. When she awoke and tried to escape her brother's closet, she found herself barricaded in by a bookshelf and her parents would find the baby missing from his crib. Terrified she failed him by instigating the local legend, it would turn out all she needed to do was lift a piece of the flooring up to discover the tubbels into the basement that was filled in over sixty years prior. A monster that haunted the previous tenants of their home with the grayish skin and dozens of unnatural teeth. Landon Foster, her neighbor who had a crush on her was the man behind the monster who she would see holding her brother in the darkness basement. Trying to convince him to let Bennett go he would learn not to play as the real Boogeyman would appear behind him and drag him deeper into the tubbels never to be seen again. Reunited with her brother and with a fear still heavy in all their hearts, they would take turns staying beside his crib while he slept as they prayed nobody would ever return to fuel that nightmare. Now, she's recently graduated from high school and is preparing for college, and still the stories and lures of the Boogeyman never left her mind.
I saw—and there was no longer any doubt that what I was seeing was real—a bulky man in a tattered yellow raincoat stained with something dark and something grass green. Its arms were both too long and too fat. Its elbows were down by its waist. The sleeves of the yellow raincoat were ripped where flannel elbows beneath had burst through. There was no muscular shape to the bulk, but instead it reminded me of boa constrictors that I'd seen on our educational trip to the zoo.
October 3, 2024
These short little horror stories by Ben Farthing are always a quick little romp in the dark. They might start out with the feel of an old Goosebumps book and bring nostalgia to those, like me, who read some of those (and also read safer options with those to her classroom once upon a time). However, Farthing goes into darker and more grotesque corners with his stories. I have considered reading some of his older, longer works, and may in the future.
We all have heard of the Boogeyman, and many of us worried about the things that went bump in the night as we went to sleep. Lord knows, I remember being a child and hiding under the covers from monsters. There were times, too, I recall flipping on and off a light switch in desperation, only to learn that we didn't have power. Of course, I woke up in the darkness, and then my terrified heart beat pathetically in my chest until I passed out under the protective cover of bed linens.
In this short novel, Farthing poses a question: What happens if the Boogeyman was real, you saw it, and no one believed you when you said something? Combine this terrifying reality with the fact that your parents have an odd house rule where you're only allowed five hours of sleep a night. What happens, then? Can you even trust yourself? If you're sleep deprived, you're prone to hallucinations. So, are you really sure you're seeing someone sneak into your baby brother's room at night? And what if by trying to protect him, you end up actually hurting your brother? There's a scene in the book I was worried was going to twist into that, but Farthing keeps it squarely in the realm of fantasy/horror. I appreciated that, like I appreciated the 'horror.'
It was a fun story that made me want to read to find out what weird thing was happening in Farthing's world of wonders this time. It wasn't puppets, and it wasn't a circus tent of horror, so what is it?
He doesn't take his books too seriously. It's kind of a breath of fresh air.
We all have heard of the Boogeyman, and many of us worried about the things that went bump in the night as we went to sleep. Lord knows, I remember being a child and hiding under the covers from monsters. There were times, too, I recall flipping on and off a light switch in desperation, only to learn that we didn't have power. Of course, I woke up in the darkness, and then my terrified heart beat pathetically in my chest until I passed out under the protective cover of bed linens.
In this short novel, Farthing poses a question: What happens if the Boogeyman was real, you saw it, and no one believed you when you said something? Combine this terrifying reality with the fact that your parents have an odd house rule where you're only allowed five hours of sleep a night. What happens, then? Can you even trust yourself? If you're sleep deprived, you're prone to hallucinations. So, are you really sure you're seeing someone sneak into your baby brother's room at night? And what if by trying to protect him, you end up actually hurting your brother? There's a scene in the book I was worried was going to twist into that, but Farthing keeps it squarely in the realm of fantasy/horror. I appreciated that, like I appreciated the 'horror.'
It was a fun story that made me want to read to find out what weird thing was happening in Farthing's world of wonders this time. It wasn't puppets, and it wasn't a circus tent of horror, so what is it?
He doesn't take his books too seriously. It's kind of a breath of fresh air.
October 30, 2025
Nobody can get away with being naughty forever.
The narrator captured the frustration of being a sixteen-year-old who doesn’t always feel like adults are listening to her well. While my parents were thankfully nothing like Rachel’s, just about every teenager at least occasionally has a conversation with their parents that doesn’t make sense. Sometimes you grow up and understand the adult perspective better, but not all parents make the sorts of decisions that are in their children’s best interests and that can be seen from another perspective in five, ten, or twenty years.
This novella would have benefited from more character and plot development. The premise was strong in the beginning but later scenes didn’t build on it in the ways I hoped they would. It petered out instead of explaining why the characters behaved the way they did and what the boogeyman was truly capable of which was disappointing to me. I had been anticipating this novella all autumn due to how much I enjoy this series in general and expected to give it a much higher rating than I ultimately did.
With that being said, I thought the ideas in this tale were interesting ones and could see how they may have been meant to fit together. It was interesting to learn the historical context of the boogeyman in this universe and what people hoped would happen when they talked about him. There was a twist involving this antagonist that was fun and would have encouraged me to go for a higher rating if it had been given more time to develop.
This is part of the I Found series that can be read in any order.
I Found the Boogeyman under My Brother’s Crib had a creative premise.
The narrator captured the frustration of being a sixteen-year-old who doesn’t always feel like adults are listening to her well. While my parents were thankfully nothing like Rachel’s, just about every teenager at least occasionally has a conversation with their parents that doesn’t make sense. Sometimes you grow up and understand the adult perspective better, but not all parents make the sorts of decisions that are in their children’s best interests and that can be seen from another perspective in five, ten, or twenty years.
This novella would have benefited from more character and plot development. The premise was strong in the beginning but later scenes didn’t build on it in the ways I hoped they would. It petered out instead of explaining why the characters behaved the way they did and what the boogeyman was truly capable of which was disappointing to me. I had been anticipating this novella all autumn due to how much I enjoy this series in general and expected to give it a much higher rating than I ultimately did.
With that being said, I thought the ideas in this tale were interesting ones and could see how they may have been meant to fit together. It was interesting to learn the historical context of the boogeyman in this universe and what people hoped would happen when they talked about him. There was a twist involving this antagonist that was fun and would have encouraged me to go for a higher rating if it had been given more time to develop.
This is part of the I Found series that can be read in any order.
I Found the Boogeyman under My Brother’s Crib had a creative premise.
September 13, 2024
𝐁𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐲𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧'𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐚 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞, 𝐈 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲.
This series is one of my absolute favorites, and after some gentle pestering on my part, the author agreed to add me to his ARC list!
Rachel's parents have an odd rule: because they can function of five hours of sleep, they decide that's all their teenage daughter needs too. After months of existing in a sleep-deprived state, Rachel is sure that she's started to hallucinate. Because when she checks on her brother Bennet in the middle of the night, she sees something under his crib that she knows isn't real. She confides in her neighbor and good friend Landon, and when his mother finds out, she has her own story to share with Rachel.
What I love about this series is that so much is left to the reader's imagination. There wasn't a vivid description of what exactly is lurking under Bennet's crib; instead, I could easily visualize my own childish fears that followed me into adulthood. The parenting style described in the book may seem oppressive and odd, but again, I related it to my own strict upbringing.
This author can take the most innocuous of things--a circus tent or Christmas lights, for example--and turn them into the most visceral, primal fears. While you're waiting for this one to publish on September 24, 2024, remember never to let your feet dangle off the bed, always sleep with the closet door shut, and always, always look behind the shower curtain.
This series is one of my absolute favorites, and after some gentle pestering on my part, the author agreed to add me to his ARC list!
Rachel's parents have an odd rule: because they can function of five hours of sleep, they decide that's all their teenage daughter needs too. After months of existing in a sleep-deprived state, Rachel is sure that she's started to hallucinate. Because when she checks on her brother Bennet in the middle of the night, she sees something under his crib that she knows isn't real. She confides in her neighbor and good friend Landon, and when his mother finds out, she has her own story to share with Rachel.
What I love about this series is that so much is left to the reader's imagination. There wasn't a vivid description of what exactly is lurking under Bennet's crib; instead, I could easily visualize my own childish fears that followed me into adulthood. The parenting style described in the book may seem oppressive and odd, but again, I related it to my own strict upbringing.
This author can take the most innocuous of things--a circus tent or Christmas lights, for example--and turn them into the most visceral, primal fears. While you're waiting for this one to publish on September 24, 2024, remember never to let your feet dangle off the bed, always sleep with the closet door shut, and always, always look behind the shower curtain.
August 30, 2025
“I Found the Boogeyman under my Brother’s Crib”
Tengo sentimientos encontrados con esta lectura, y no es que no sea buena o que no tenga un buen twist; el problema para mí, y hablo de una cuestión completamente personal; es que las historias cortas no las disfruto igual que las largas. Me quedo siempre con ganas de saber más de los personajes y en este caso el escritor podría haber explotado inmensamente cada uno de ellos.
A los padres de la protagonista los odié durante toda la lectura y a ella (Rachel) tuve ganas en un par de ocasiones de darle unas buenas cachetas como a Bella de Crepúsculo.
La realidad es que no empaticé con ninguno de los personajes, pero vuelvo a lo mismo, es un tema completamente personal.
Sinopsis:
“How do you protect your family from an urban legend?
Rachel hears a stranger laugh in her baby brother’s nursery.
She races in to see a dark figure slip beneath the crib, disappearing into an eerie reflection of her brother’s room.
Mom and Dad don’t believe her. They accuse Rachel of making excuses for breaking their strict rules about healthy sleep.
But Rachel knows what she saw.
The Boogeyman wants her baby brother.
The Boogeyman wants to drag him away into his eerie realm beneath the crib.
Rachel’s not going to let that happen”.
A pesar de preferir historias ricas en el desarrollo de los personajes y algo más de antecedentes de los lugares donde se desarrolla la trama, la califico con ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (por el twist) 👍🏻
Tengo sentimientos encontrados con esta lectura, y no es que no sea buena o que no tenga un buen twist; el problema para mí, y hablo de una cuestión completamente personal; es que las historias cortas no las disfruto igual que las largas. Me quedo siempre con ganas de saber más de los personajes y en este caso el escritor podría haber explotado inmensamente cada uno de ellos.
A los padres de la protagonista los odié durante toda la lectura y a ella (Rachel) tuve ganas en un par de ocasiones de darle unas buenas cachetas como a Bella de Crepúsculo.
La realidad es que no empaticé con ninguno de los personajes, pero vuelvo a lo mismo, es un tema completamente personal.
Sinopsis:
“How do you protect your family from an urban legend?
Rachel hears a stranger laugh in her baby brother’s nursery.
She races in to see a dark figure slip beneath the crib, disappearing into an eerie reflection of her brother’s room.
Mom and Dad don’t believe her. They accuse Rachel of making excuses for breaking their strict rules about healthy sleep.
But Rachel knows what she saw.
The Boogeyman wants her baby brother.
The Boogeyman wants to drag him away into his eerie realm beneath the crib.
Rachel’s not going to let that happen”.
A pesar de preferir historias ricas en el desarrollo de los personajes y algo más de antecedentes de los lugares donde se desarrolla la trama, la califico con ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (por el twist) 👍🏻
September 25, 2024
First Ben scared me away from malls, now he's making me reconsider sleeping in my bed! Just like with songs or TV shows or really anything else creative, just because you enjoy one from a particular creator doesn't mean you'll care for the next. In this case, I think I actually liked this one better than I Found a Lost Hallway in a Dying Mall. They are similar in the sense that he does such a good job of developing the environment that you can see it in your mind's eye. The characters are interesting, and even if you think you have it figured out (as I did with this one), he still manages to surprise you in the end. What made this work better for me is that the reality behind the conflict felt more relatable in this story. I also appreciate that his stories - or at least this series - are a happy medium between kid friendly Goosebumps and the works of someone like Stephen King. I could easily see this story becoming a successful feature film. (Note: I did receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book).
November 10, 2024
You are always in for a good time when it comes to the I Found… Series.
Boogeyman is great because it’s something most of us already have/do fear. In this case, Rachel hears something in her baby brother’s room late at night and we she goes to investigate she sees an unnatural shape leaning over the crib.
Her parents don’t believe her and she’s starting to doubt herself too, blaming it on sleep deprivation. (Side note— I really disliked those parents for forcing Rachel to limit her sleep like that.)
She confides in her neighbor Landon about the incident and he tells her how the previous inhabitants of that house saw the figure too. It’s the Boogeyman.
The ending is equal parts satisfying and surprising. And the description of the Boogeyman is truly horrifying: “I described how it looked in its tattered yellow raincoat, thick stiff arms but simple human hands, gray, rotting skin on its face, eyes that looked blurry like they were fading away, and that disturbing ring of scant teeth that pierced through the skin around its mouth.”
Boogeyman is great because it’s something most of us already have/do fear. In this case, Rachel hears something in her baby brother’s room late at night and we she goes to investigate she sees an unnatural shape leaning over the crib.
Her parents don’t believe her and she’s starting to doubt herself too, blaming it on sleep deprivation. (Side note— I really disliked those parents for forcing Rachel to limit her sleep like that.)
She confides in her neighbor Landon about the incident and he tells her how the previous inhabitants of that house saw the figure too. It’s the Boogeyman.
The ending is equal parts satisfying and surprising. And the description of the Boogeyman is truly horrifying: “I described how it looked in its tattered yellow raincoat, thick stiff arms but simple human hands, gray, rotting skin on its face, eyes that looked blurry like they were fading away, and that disturbing ring of scant teeth that pierced through the skin around its mouth.”
May 13, 2025
In the latest installment of Ben Farthing's I Found Horror series, Rachel believes the boogeyman is stalking her little brother. Of course, it could just be the chronic sleep deprivation caused by her parent's draconian rules about 5 hours per night, no more, no less. In fact, her parents are a bit top-heavy on more than just the number of hours of sleep per night...but I digress.
This is a very quick read. It's fun and enjoyable. It's creepy, which is right in line with the other in this series. It's not the best. That remains the claim of I Found Puppets Living in My Apartment Walls. (#puppetapocalypse) It's also the second in the series to star a female protagonist. I read it while soaking in the tub, and what I liked is how creepy the theme happens to be. Every person has had a concern with The Boogeyman so we can all relate. But...it falls a little short on development. I wanted to know more about the , and so much more! At under 100 pages, there was a lot of space to flesh out some of the story a bit more.
This is a very quick read. It's fun and enjoyable. It's creepy, which is right in line with the other in this series. It's not the best. That remains the claim of I Found Puppets Living in My Apartment Walls. (#puppetapocalypse) It's also the second in the series to star a female protagonist. I read it while soaking in the tub, and what I liked is how creepy the theme happens to be. Every person has had a concern with The Boogeyman so we can all relate. But...it falls a little short on development. I wanted to know more about the , and so much more! At under 100 pages, there was a lot of space to flesh out some of the story a bit more.
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