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Crossroads
Local legend says it was a church. Campfire whispers claim devil worship and unconsecrated land. Old timers explain the lone grave as remnants of evil.
Having watched far too many horror movies, a group of teens wander into the woods with a Ouija board, planning to play with the dead and scaring each other in the process. But the group quickly learns ghosts of the past are not the only dangers, as the present can be much more haunting.
Having watched far too many horror movies, a group of teens wander into the woods with a Ouija board, planning to play with the dead and scaring each other in the process. But the group quickly learns ghosts of the past are not the only dangers, as the present can be much more haunting.
- GenresHorror
61 pages, Paperback
First published April 25, 2014
43 people want to read
About the author
Kelli Owen
52 books152 followersKelli Owen writes dark fiction, thrillers, and suspense that explore characters, consequences, and the uneasy shadows of everyday life. Her novels dig into psychological tension, while her short fiction has earned her a reputation for sharp, character-driven storytelling in bite-sized doses of dread.
She has been a reviewer, editor, podcaster, and indie film producer, and has spoken at countless conventions and events, including the CIA Headquarters in Langley, VA about the craft and field of writing. Her work has appeared in anthologies and magazines alongside authors such as Stephen King, Robert McCammon, F. Paul Wilson, and Josh Malerman, and in multiple Bram Stoker Award-nominated collections.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Kelli now lives in the dark woods of Pennsylvania. For news, updates, and the occasional ramble, visit www.kelliowen.com
She has been a reviewer, editor, podcaster, and indie film producer, and has spoken at countless conventions and events, including the CIA Headquarters in Langley, VA about the craft and field of writing. Her work has appeared in anthologies and magazines alongside authors such as Stephen King, Robert McCammon, F. Paul Wilson, and Josh Malerman, and in multiple Bram Stoker Award-nominated collections.
Born and raised in Wisconsin, Kelli now lives in the dark woods of Pennsylvania. For news, updates, and the occasional ramble, visit www.kelliowen.com
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 13, 2025
This was very ok for me. What threw me off was the immediate, immense amount of dialogue, without any context or introduction. Just sort of jumped right into the story, which was already in progress, and that made it hard to follow from the start. The style of writing pretty much kept to that same demeanor throughout, with very little scene, emotional, character, etc development. Just a ton of dialogue and jumping around. There were some spooky moments, but a lot of it just got lost among everything else. And the pacing was extremely quick. Not a bad reading experience, but I found more to be critical of, rather than enjoy.
December 17, 2014
Dean, Tucker, Stephenson, Bobbie, and Jody take off in Dean's pickup onto a back road in search of an old church and graveyard, with a ouija board in tow. Oh, Ouija. You and your abominable deviltry. Now, maybe you were subjected to that PG-13 horror flick, Ouija, this fall and are in no mood to be twice disappointed by hackneyed attempts at horror. Well, fear not, for Kelli Owen is responsible for this tale and she does not f**k around with any PG nonsense. Nor does she let you get to comfortable in how you think this story is going to play out, because it diverges from the predictable and offers up horror from a different source.
The conflicts and cowardice and contradictions found in each of the five characters are wrought out through much of the story, both in its preamble to the ghost play in the woods and after the surprise that lays in wait for them rears its head and scares the bejesus out of them. With the limited time, Kelli afforded herself in writing this novella, she manages to wring each character for all they're worth, though there were a few moments that could've have been stretched, but that's just me getting wrapped up in the interactions when the sh*t hits the fan.
It's a genuine heartpounder.
The conflicts and cowardice and contradictions found in each of the five characters are wrought out through much of the story, both in its preamble to the ghost play in the woods and after the surprise that lays in wait for them rears its head and scares the bejesus out of them. With the limited time, Kelli afforded herself in writing this novella, she manages to wring each character for all they're worth, though there were a few moments that could've have been stretched, but that's just me getting wrapped up in the interactions when the sh*t hits the fan.
It's a genuine heartpounder.
March 20, 2020
Crossroads by Kelli Owen is a dark and creepy “young adult horror” story, but honestly, it is a great read for anyone who enjoys suspenseful scary stories.
This is a fast-paced and compelling story. I read it in one sitting about 20 minutes ago with a bag of popcorn. It is the perfect break from your day for any horror or thriller fan.
Kelli Owen’s way with words and characters weaves a tale of a group of young people who are their own worst enemies in spite of being friends, as is so often the case in the real world. The setting, the characters, the sequences, and the backstory are all masterfully done, as one expects of Kelli Owen.
Get it. Read it. Enjoy the ride. Watch out for the deer.
This is a fast-paced and compelling story. I read it in one sitting about 20 minutes ago with a bag of popcorn. It is the perfect break from your day for any horror or thriller fan.
Kelli Owen’s way with words and characters weaves a tale of a group of young people who are their own worst enemies in spite of being friends, as is so often the case in the real world. The setting, the characters, the sequences, and the backstory are all masterfully done, as one expects of Kelli Owen.
Get it. Read it. Enjoy the ride. Watch out for the deer.
November 25, 2014
nice short story by kelli. I wasn't sure what way things would go. even up till the very end. could be a perfect short film. intense and a bit of horror.
October 12, 2017
Nice pick for Halloween
Excellent novella to read for the Halloween season. Ms. Owen has done it again, giving us a highly compelling story!
Excellent novella to read for the Halloween season. Ms. Owen has done it again, giving us a highly compelling story!
November 2, 2017
Shivers
Really creepy ghost story set in the woods. Great realism here. Real characters, real scenarios, and a good ending. Check it out!
Really creepy ghost story set in the woods. Great realism here. Real characters, real scenarios, and a good ending. Check it out!
July 18, 2024
Five friends venture into the woods in search of ghosts and what follows changes their lives forever. Crossroads is short, but the story never feels rushed or unfinished like can be the case in some novellas. This is also my first Kelli Owen book, and it is a really good place to start if you haven’t read her either. A little eerie, a little tragic, Crossroads is an excellent read.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews