Invasive Entities: Collected Horror Stories

by Paul Avery Tindol

They're all around you.

In your new rental house with a tragic backstory... under the surface of Caddo Lake... looking in through your windows... with things that should've stayed buried... in something even as harmless as a sourdough starter... and in many other places you'd least expect.

These invasive entities come in all forms, and in these collected horror stories from Paul Avery Tindol, you'll find them lurking behind every page.

Genres: Horror

186 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2025

About the author

Paul Avery Tindol is an East Texas horror author. Paul has been writing stories since he could pick up a pencil, and obsessed with all things spooky since his babysitter showed him A Nightmare on Elm Street. His known works include Hunting Snipe: and Other Notes on the East Texas Cattle Mutilations, This House Will Never Be Warm, There's Something Upstairs, and In The Pines, as well as multiple short stories that's have also been featured on podcasts like Creepy, NoSleep, and Someone Just Like You.

Reviews

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Avery Tindol's short story collection, "Invasive Entities," is a real creepfest, designed to disturb and unsettle readers by offering nine tales of purely supernatural bent, reminiscent of Twilight Zone episodes or Tales of the Crypt, only shorter. The author prefers open-endedness and ambiguity rather than explanation or closure. This allows him to focus on classic horror themes (hauntings, entities in closets, smilers, sea creatures, ghosts, cryptids) with a single aim only: to provoke fear and anxiety in the reader as quickly as possible. This works wonderfully in such tales as "Peeping Thomas" (a peeping tom approaches a playwright with the express purpose of showing him what being a peeping tom is really all about) and "Man's Best Friend" (a weird story about dogs going inexplicably missing in the neighborhood), but not so much in "A Discreet Landscaping Job," a gravedigging tale which ends so abruptly as to make very little sense overall (at least to me). That said, "The Onalaska Horror," a story based on the author's personal knowledge and the longest one in the volume, has everything a horror fan might ask from a haunted house tale: all the familiar features are there (knockings on the wall, doors closing on their own, mysterious footsteps, sinister sightings) and employed in imaginative and hair-raising ways, with a very dark ending. In sum, this is a strange and horrifying collection, one I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone who enjoys fast and creepy tales. You'll find a new author to add to your must-read list!

[Rhonda Bobbitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This creepy and very haunting collection of short stories will have you begging for more. 9 fabulous story.
My favorites are...
The Onalaska Horror is my top favorite. It's creepy and terrifying. I spent many summers on Lake Onalaska, so this was a great little treat.
Through the Murk and Moss... another favorite. "Praying isn't gonna help today, son."
Although I have favorites, every story is unique and haunting.

[Rhiannon Boyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5⭐, rounded up

I first read Tindol 3 months ago with Hunting Snipe: and Other Notes on the East Texas Cattle Mutilations (which was incredible, btw) and so I was excited to get into some of his short fiction. This is a great and varied collection of nine shorts – and I say varied because Tindol has an amazing ability to write excellent and compelling horror from several different sub-genres: cosmic, creature, hauntings, cults, urban legends…

Highlights for me were:

The Weight was a brutal opener that for my reasonably flexible Canadian sensibilities was still a bit jarring despite, unfortunately, confirming my sometimes Morally-Superior-Canadian biases (I know, I know) towards guns. By the end of the 8th paragraph I just knew we must be in Texas (confirmed). Sigh. But! This story was far sneakier than I was expecting it to be. It subtly and cleverly morphed from the horror of ‘what have I done’ to ‘why am I not a hero’ to the inevitable weight of crushing guilt.

Peeping Thomas This has old school Stephen King short story vibes to it... The kind of story that turns into urban legend.

King Tut’s Majik Sourdough Starter funny and creepy and how will I ever be able to have bread bowl spinach dip again? I guess I’ll just have to join the cult…

Through The Murk And Moss a great creature feature that again has elements of urban (swamp?) legend that immediately feels strongly rooted in the deep south.

Man’s Best Friend will forever have me looking suspiciously at our canine companions…

“No one had a clue what they were doing with the dogs.”

And I was immediately worried, but it’s not what you think…

The Onalaska Horror was a very impressive haunted-house story (the lengthiest in this collection) with something of an interdimensional/cosmic twist that left me wanting more (and thinking of haunting images of other-worldly doorways from Prince of Darkness and Legend.) As satisfying as the ending was, I’d love to see this story expanded – should Tindol have more to tell…

I find the best writing is that which ends up taking up permanent residence in your subconscious, popping out at you in the most unexpected and inconvenient of times. Tindol’s stories do that. Much to the discomfiture of my peace of mind…

My thanks to the author for the advanced reader copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ben Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul’s writing has a depth that takes most authors a long time to reach (if ever), and it gives you this sense that the stories are alive in his imagination and he’s gone to painstaking effort to sharpen them to needlepoints before he jams them in your eyes. There’s a surefootedness there, too. A honed and balanced approach to detail and character and pacing. (Oh, and he didn’t force me to say any of this *wink).
​I have faith Paul will enjoy a long and prolific writing career, and the stories in this book are proof of his capability.

[Eduardo Serna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been eagerly awaiting this release and I am happy to say it didn’t disappoint. Several of them really stick out and remained in my head after putting the book down, without going into much detail I want to go over a few that I loved.

Some that were my favorite are ‘Peeping Thomas’ and King Tuts Majik Sourdough Starter. Peeping Thomas puts us close to the danger, so close we can feel their violent urge of the subject ready to pop and that perhaps we, or the character, should just leave it be. King Tuts Majik Sourdough Starter is such an odd piece of horror it almost sounds like it wouldn’t translate well into a horror piece, but through graphic and trippy scenes it satisfies that appetite.

Through The Murk and Moss is a good example of the humor that Paul interjects in his stories. With characters that can be placed into a Saturday morning cartoon. It draws you in then the sucker punches you with some great imagery and are in fear as much as the characters.

Finally, Onalaska was probably my favorite, from the strong gruesome opening to the bittersweet ending. It was a joy to read and gripping all the way through. Maybe I loved it the most since it satisfied the completionist part of my brain. But it is hard to deny this shows the how well-honed Paul is in the craft. The other tales do also deserve recognition, as they all have something haunting about them, I highly recommend reading this one, especially if you have a stormy night in your forecast.

[Summer R Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author and the publisher or publishers for all your hard work! I'm leaving this review voluntarily and happily! Take a look!

This is the second book I've read from this author, and i don't tend to read books like this, but I'm going to try and read more in 2025. I will say each story is very different from one another. They are unsettling and leave you wondering what I just read. Some of them could even be real.... it's just unsettling how some of the stories can make you feel. To know that something or someone could be doing the things in these stories is horrific, and I hope never to experience any of it.

There are so many things, places, or even people. They lurk, they hide, they might even be out in the very open. There are so many of them, some we know and many we don't. Entities. There are so many stories some told and some not. Here in this book are some of their tales. Read and be warned that once you've read this, you'll definitely be looking over your shoulder to be sure nothing is following or looking at you.

I definitely enjoyed reading through this. I enjoyed a few of the stories while otheres I wish had a bit more to them. Of course, the haunted house story was my favorite. It was the longest one in the book. I'm just a book girly.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invasive Entities by Paul Avery Tindall, is a short story horror collection and even the ones I deemed not so great we’re still pretty awesome like the waiting. A man wakes up to find someone in his kitchen and he shoots him dead. Although everyone agrees he did the right thing And he himself thinks he did what was necessary to protect his wife and his self, but the fallout from the shooting is not something he can live with. that is the story if I had to put one not tight for the top spot but all the rest especially UnAlaska we’re truly awesome awesome stories. NyQuil In The Living Room, it is a very short story with a definite OMG ending. Peeping Thomas in my opinion was very humorous as well as A Discrete Landscaping Job, but please do not take me not mentioning the story for it not being a good one because I can honestly say all of them are worth reading and most of them are really really awesome. I really was entertained by every story and read it from beginning to end not something I normally do with the short story collection.#TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #PaulAveryTindall#InvasiveEntities,

[Jamie Cassidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

* Invasive Entities - Paul Avery Tindol * ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

I was absolutely elated to have the opportunity to read & review Paul's first short story collection. I loved both 'Hunting Snipe' & 'This House Will Never Be Warm' so my expectations were UFO high for this book of stories.

This collection has a great mix of horrific entities ranging from evil spirits, human monsters, unrelenting guilt & of course...Paul's bread & butter, Extraterrestrial beings.

While every story is enjoyable, the novelette "The Onalaska Horror" is worth the price of admission. Tindol takes the classic haunted house trope and makes it feel fresh, chilling & personal. Other highlights include "Man's Best Friend" & "Peeping Thomas"

This collection releases on 1/31 and it should immediately find it's way into your cart. Paul Avery Tindol is a Must Read indie author and I am so excited to consume every piece of fiction he produces!

[Ali O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Invasive Entities by Paul Avery Tindol
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is an amazingly fantastic collection of creepy short stories! There are 9 stories and all are excellent! Lots of the stories are dark, creepy and haunting!
They are very original and entertaining and I was hooked on each one!

A few of my standout favorites are -
-The Weight
-King Tut’s Majik Sourdough Starter
-Man’s Best Friend
-The Onalaska Horror is hands down my number 1 favorite. This haunted house story is the longest in the collection and is based on a true story from the author’s life! 🏚️

Paul Avery Tindol is one of my must read authors! I love his writing style and the way he tells a story!
Thank you to Paul Avery Tindol for an arc of this spectacular collection!
*It’s is out now and I highly recommend giving this a read!!*

[Kayla Frederick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Paul Avery Tindol delivers a five-star read, though at this point, I’m hardly surprised. After devouring Hunting Snipe and This House Will Never Be Warm, I can confidently say he has a true talent for weaving unsettling, eerie tales.

Invasive Entities is a captivating collection of short stories, each more intriguing than the last. My personal favorites were Peeping Thomas and King Tut’s Majik Sourdough Starter. Though they were worlds apart in tone and setting, they both fit seamlessly into the anthology’s dark and eerie theme.

This collection is sure to become an instant favorite for anyone who loves stories that linger in the mind, creeping under your skin and staying there long after the last page is turned.

[Cindy Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by Paul Avery Tindol, and it did not disappoint. Invasive Entities is a collection of 9 unsettling short stories. Each one makes the reader stop and think about what they just read. "Did I really just read about haunted sourdough?"
The longest story in the collection was my favorite and might just keep me awake tonight! The entire collection is well written and is easily devoured in one sitting.

[Dawn Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story collection was fresh and interesting. It was well written and polished. My favorite story was The Onalaska Horror. Everyone is guaranteed to find something they like between these covers. Paul is one to watch.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love short story collections and this one is really top notch. When you can get lost in a short story and the characters have depth and there's a decent pace, you know you have a winner. There wasn't a single story in this one that I skimmed.

The Onalaska Horror is my favorite though. The longest in the collection at around 70 pages, I fell in love with the characters and had chills at a few points. It's hard for me to feel heartbreak in most shorts, but this one definitely struck a nerve.

Thank you to the author @paulaverytindol for an ARC, I enjoyed every minute of reading it and can't wait to see more from you in the future!

[sugarnsass_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5🌟
A well written, creepy, hair on the back of the neck raising, anthology of 9 short horror stories that has me side eyeing my pets, tightly closing the curtains, and questioning mysterious noises in the dark.

Each story drew me in, quickly hitting the fear button and then just as suddenly, the story ends; effectively intensifying angst and fear. My absolute favorites were The Weight, Peeping Thomas, Man’s Best Friend, The Shed, Through The Murk and Moss and The Onalaska Horror (based on the real life experience of the author and family) although each story is superbly creepy. I found this collection to be rousing and really appreciated the ambiguity of each. Another great read by Paul Avery Tindol!

[Danielle Meier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invasive Entities was a fantastic quick read with a few stories that will make your hair stand on end. As always Tindol has a way to suck you in and not let go. The Onalaska Horror was my personal favorite of the collection. I would give anything to have this written into a full book to read. Next up was King Tut's Majik Sourdough Starter. This story gave me the Heebie Jeebies and even made my stomach turn some, it had hit a cord for me.
Paul Avery Tindol is, without a doubt, going to go far with his writing. I cannot wait to watch as he continues to grow and evolve within the Indie Author Horror community.

[Leighah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little collection of stories with a few twists I didn't see coming. I have to admit the one about the sour dough cracked me up. This one is definitely worth the read. I believe this author could write a horror story on any subject.

[Leigh Kenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Avery Tindol continues to show his scope and versatility in his short story collection Invasive Entities.

Ever since reading This House Will Never Be Warm, I've been telling anyone who'll listen that Tindol is a writer to watch. And he continues to prove me right. From creature features to human monsters, humour to grief, Tindol displays his writing chops without apology. The longest story in the collection, more a novella really - The Onolaska Horror - is hands down my favourite. The ending blew me away and really elevated what was already a strong piece.

Invasive Entities releases at the end of this month, and you're gonna want to add this one to the list.

I've said it before, and I'll continue to say it: Paul Avery Tindol is one to watch!

[EllyAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I sought out more of Paul Avery Tindol’s work after finishing his incredible novel ‘Hunting Snipe: and Other Notes on the East Texas Cattle Mutilations’ (which became an instant favourite) and was overjoyed to find this collection of short horror stories (arguably the best way to consume spooky stories).

I’m not sure how he does it, but Tindol manages to create characters that feel so real in such unrealistic situations, and in only a handful of pages. The dialogue and personalities he offers show his natural talent in story-telling, to the point that I don’t think he’s actually capable of writing a cliche, one-dimensional character even if he tried. Not once did I find myself rolling my eyes at a painfully predictable plot, which kept me entirely enthralled throughout this short and easy read.

This collection of stories is full of refreshing diversity, with a story for any horror fan; serial killers, creature features, ghosts, body horror, and the gluten-intolerant.

The Weight (4.5/5)
Following a disturbing home invasion cultivating in a necessary, yet traumatic headshot, a man suffers with the ongoing haunting from the intensely creepy invader. Everyone assumes his problems are psychological, born from the weight of the guilt he should be carrying.

A Discreet Landscaping Job (3.5/5)
Some great comedic relief sprinkled with genuinely creepy moments. A discreet landscaping job in a cemetery, the deceased unwilling to part with a treasured belonging, and a ridiculous golden toilet seat.

Peeping Thomas (5/5)
A playwright finds a great opportunity in a self-titled Peeping Tom, offering information that would help him write a disturbing play from his POV. But when a woman and her partner are brutally murdered, his encounter takes a horrifying turn.

King Tut’s Majik Sourdough Starter (3/5)
A budding baker takes to his first sourdough, using an ancient starter composed of the bones of Egyptian bodies. As it takes life and grows with regular feedings, it itself feeds until it is all-consuming. A good bit of weird horror.

The Shed (3/5)
An alluring presence within a pit within a shed, and ultimately, within her head.

Through the Murk and Moss (3.5/5)
A beautiful beast haunts the swamp that is being used to settle an outstanding debt. Two men set out to kill another, and all three meet their gory fate within the jaws of a monstrous gator.

Man’s Best Friend (4/5)
Some insane alien experimentation on kidnapped neighbourhood dogs, turning them into pets that you would definitely not want to be sleeping in your home with.

The Onalaska Horror (4.5/5)
A mix of tropes (time warping, weird architecture, avoidant neighbours) playing out within the primary horror trope: a haunted house.

NyQuil in the Living Room (5/5)
An explosive domestic fight ends with a knife, a hidden body, an unhealthy dose of denial, and a desperate attempt to chase sleep.

Overall, I give it a 4.5 stars!

[Craig Matthews · Rating 4 out of 5]

After enjoying This House Will Never Be Warm, I had Tindol on my radar as an author to read more of ASAP; when I had the opportunity to read his new short story collection, I jumped at the opportunity. While it's not a long book, fitting 9 stories into 150 Kindle pages or so—some clocking in at only a few pages—this doesn't make the tales within any less effective. It takes real talent to write horror that can get under your skin so quickly.

Invasive Entities is a fitting title for a collection that includes so many of them. Whether it's a home invader, the supernatural, hints at cosmic or unknowable beings, or even a sourdough starter, Tindol manages to zero in on the fears and anxieties that haunt so many horror readers. The most effective here—for me, anyway—are those that have the protagonist question their own reality, whether they can trust their own mind. The opening story, The Weight, and the closing Nyquil In The Living Room, are the best examples of these.

It's also worth singling out the collection's penultimate tale, The Onalaska Horror, for praise. The longest story here, taking up almost half of the page count by itself, is a classic haunted house tale with a real darkness running through it. A malevolent spirit, echoes of those who have suffered there before, exorcisms and locals issuing warnings—the tropes are familiar but the author puts his own stamp on the subgenre. Factor in a wonderful ending executed to perfection, and this story—and the collection in general—makes it clear that Tindol has a bright future in the horror realm ahead of him.

[PlotTwist_Addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of 9 short stories that will take you on a creepy walk through evil spirts to evil men and monsters


The weight
Oh this one has such great imagery and a creepy air about it. What states as a home invasion slowly becomes a creepy haunting story.

A discreet landscaping job
When grave robbing gets spooky

Pepping Thomas
What makes one want to look into other windows? Is it sexual? Is it curiosity? Or is it some much more sinister.. Murder mystery’s and intrigue

King Tut’s Majik Sourdough Starter First
This one reminds me why I don’t make bread no more. You’re always feeding that sourdough starter until it’s time to consume it but it consumes you in the days it takes to make it, only to do it all again.

The shed
What lies in the shed will bring you down with it

Through The Murk And Moss
A swamp song comes to life like something out of the creature of the black lagoon.

Man’s best friend
Will make you question you dog

The Onalaska Horror
based on the author's personal knowledge. This the longest tale in the book. The prefect little haunted house book

NyQuil in the Living Room
This don’t sound like a bad idea until it is

[D.Z. Hollow · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a creative concept and execution! With 9 shorts, 8 stories, and 1 novella, there is something for everyone. The stories are unique and vary in mood and direction. Some are dark and brooding, while others are quirky and entertaining. I know most reviews have highlighted the Onalaska Horror (the longest at 82 pages), but the other stories are exceptional as well.
I loved The Weight (the opener) because of the mood and storyline, and A Discreet Landscaping Job because of the entertaining ending. I found Peeping Thomas fun and quirky. My two favorites were The Shed and Through the Murk and Moss. Both of these left me wanting more. I would love to see Through the Murk and Moss as a novella. This one was my favorite!
Invasive entities reflect every aspect of Tindol's creative writing skills. My only criticism is I wish a few of the stories had a little more detail; the action and unfolding were flawless across the board; I just found myself wanting a tad bit more imagery on a few of them.
However, every story delivers a hefty punch. Invasive Entities will be a candidate for collection of the year as Paul Avery Tindol continues to impress. 4/5.

[Horror Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a a really good collection of short horror stories. I always enjoy these kinds of books. Single author collections can be hit or miss but this author really put together stories which are vastly different from each other so it never gets stale. Written in first person, third person, and even second person, the themes of the tales differ and hold your attention throughout.

The longest story is one of the creepiest haunted house stories you'll read with an angle that makes it even more horrific. We also have stories of two would be grave robbers, a neighborhood where dogs are mysteriously going missing, a peeping Tom, and a bottle of NyQuil! Plus others, of course.

This book only runs around a hundred pages or so and the stories are just that satisfying length you want in a collection. Easy to digest whenever you have a few minutes, entertaining, and frightening. If you like a solid collection of horror stories I highly recommend this one.

[Jim Donohue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first opportunity I've had to read Mr. Tindol's work, and I must say it was an enjoyable one. This anthology, 9 stories in total, explores the entities that can invade our minds, from other-worldly beings, to the grief of losing a loved one, to the incredible pain of guilt, and much muh more.
The standout here is The Onalaska Horror, which falls more under the novella, or even the novelette category. It's a marvelous story that I would like to see the author invite us to read more about in future endeavors. I also really enjoyed NyQuil in the Living Room, Man's Best Friend, and The Shed. To be honest, there's not a negative thing to say about any of the 9 tales in this book. I must say that my first experience with Mr. Tindol's work was a success, and I look forward to reading more from him.

[Flutter By Night · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul Avery Tindol is here to stay. This was my first time reading his work and it was a pleasure.

Invasive Entities is a solid creepy collection of short stories that are not only well-written, but also dimensional with unique spins. There was only one story I didn’t quite get about gravediggers, yet the remaining stories more than eclipsed my puzzlement at that one.

Peeping Thomas is deeply chilling. It left me feeling disturbed and acutely uneasy. Truly a brilliant piece of writing—for me it was the clear winner from this collection. I don’t know what awards are out there, but I wish I knew so I could nominate it for consideration!

The Weight, King Tut’s Sourdough Starter (involuntary shudder), Man’s Best Friend, and Through The Murk and Moss keep twisting around in my brain. The final story, The Onalaska, was much lengthier than the rest, and could have easily become a fine novella.

Overall, a strong 4.25/5.

[Lauren Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every minute of this collection!! This author has knocked it out of the park for me for the third time! My top three favorites from the book are The Weight, Peeping Thomas and The onalaska horror.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection was great overall - unsettling, dark, and memorable. I thoroughly enjoyed each story, though "The Onalaska Horror" was a clear stand-out. Paul Avery Tindol's particular brand of horror is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

[Vaishali Muzumdar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice collection of horror stories each one have different concept I like them all but one with Haunted House became my favourite I enjoyed it so much. It took me actually in that Haunted House

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

Loved it! Review to come.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

the first story was phenomenal, but I found the rest mediocre and really had to force myself to finish.