D7

by Philip Fracassi

A haunted jukebox at an out-of-the-way dive bar not only lures patrons, but it doesn't allow them to leave.

This haunting novelette comes from the author of the novels Don’t Let Them Get You Down, A Child Alone with Strangers, Gothic, and Boys in the Valley.

"Nobody is safe in a Fracassi story" Laird Barron

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fiction, Ghosts, Novella, Paranormal, Adult

46 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 27, 2025

About the author

PHILIP FRACASSI is the Bram Stoker and British Fantasy Award-nominated author of the novels A Child Alone with Strangers, Gothic, Boys in the Valley, The Third Rule of Time Travel, and The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre. He is also the author of the story collections Behold the Void, Beneath a Pale Sky, and No One is Safe!

His stories have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Black Static, Best Horror of the Year, Nightmare Magazine, Interzone, and Southwest Review.

Philip lives in Los Angeles and is represented by Copps Literary Services, Circle M + P, and WME. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky, or visit pfracassi.com.

Reviews

[Vicki Herbert - Vacation until Jan 2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone Get On Your Feet and Dance!

D7
by Philip Fracassi

3 Stars. Paul and Diane had just finished dinner at a greasy spoon diner in the middle of nowhere...

They were anxious to get back on the road, driving from Los Angeles to their new Pennsylvania home...

On their way back to their hotel, long after sunset...

The countryside, which had seemed innocuous during the day, appeared weird now that the darkness obscured the view...

They were on a road unfamiliar to the car's GPS system, and dense forest encrouched on the narrow roadway...

Up ahead, they saw a beckoning light...

It led them to a bar in the middle of nowhere, it's gravel parking lot full of cars. They had arrived at Happy's Bar and Grill...

Paul wanted to stop in for a nightcap before heading back to their hotel...

A sign on the door read:
No guns
No knives
No fighting

The couple entered the bar, and the door swung closed, then locked itself...

Everyone stared at them...

Inside, the bar, although full to capacity, was strangely quiet except for the jukebox hunched along the rear wall...

Everyone get on your feet and dance!

The first part of this short story was stellar, and I was hooked. The second half fell into familiar territory for this kind of story, leaving me disappointed.

In some ways, it was like watching an episode of Rod Serling's NIGHT GALLERY. There was even an episode on that series, which was very much like this story, but I would've liked a few things explained by the end of the story.

I like just about everything by this author, but for me, this one wasn't one of his best.

[David Swisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, not surprised that this was an excellent story. Philip Fracassi just gets old school horror, and in this novelette he delivers yet another great read. The setting is vivid, the dread is palpable, and the plot is perfect.

[Char · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having become a fan of Phil Fracassi's after reading the incredible Boys in the Valley, when I saw this short story available from Shortwave Publishing, I purchased the paperback: because I'm a fan of them too. I do not regret this decision!

This was a short ghost story and it packs a bit of a wallop. But I ask you, what horror fan can turn their back to a story about a haunted jukebox? Obviously, I could NOT!

Highly recommended!

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow clap.

Trapped in a bar from hell with smelly strangers. Little food. Tap water. *shudders*

For me, most of this quick read was a solid 3 stars, but I bumped it up to 4 because I liked the ending. Recommended.

[Marguerite Turley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The dread factor in this one goes to 11! Philip Fracassi pulled me into this story immediately and drug me straight through to the other side! This is a story about a couple who’s lost and happen upon a dive bar, but something in here is not quite right. I don’t want to say too much because it’s quick, but a lot of things happen. Totally freaked me out and was incredibly compelling. My only complaint was I wish it was longer!! I loved it regardless. Philip is one of those authors I just love to read!

[thevampireslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love everything Philip writes, this was short but packs a punch, I love the haunted object trope (gothic is a fav of mine) this was fast paced and a ton of fun, I've never looked at a coke vending machine the same since reading The Tommyknockers and I'll be giving jukeboxes a side eye from now on too 😅

[Milt Theo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific ghost story, suspenseful, eerie, with a punchline ending. Recommended!

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting horror story that can be read in one sitting. Short but definitely not sweet, given the morbid reason this jukebox keeps patrons from leaving. The short story had so much potential, though. I wish it had been longer to give us more character development, because I really liked our two MCs, Diane and Paul! It’s still worth reading for the undeniable creep factor and mystery behind a haunted jukebox right out of an episode of The Twilight Zone. I look forward to reading more from this author for sure!!

[Matt M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philip Fracassi is a modern master of old-school horror tales. D7, about a haunted jukebox and a couple trapped there, is another great example of this. I absolutely love his novels for their memorable, fleshed our characters and tight plotting. His short fiction highlights his tight storytelling - his ability to pack a lot of punch into a small number of pages.

Fracassi’s characters can’t stop dancing. You wont be able to stop turning the pages.

Thank you to Shortwave for providing me with an digital copy of this book!

[Caleb Fogler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Philip Fracassi is probably my favorite horror author so anything of his I instantly buy, but D7 just wasn’t for me. It’s about a couple driving across the country when they wander into a bar for a quick rest and drink but get stuck by a dive bar that is haunted by its past.

This just felt too short. It’s only 50ish pages but felt more like an unfinished novel idea and not a short story. I don’t like how the author tried to tie the main female’s history as a medium suddenly. It’s a more important part of the story and felt like it should have been explored more. Overall I’d say the elements for a great story are there, just it’s too short to develop interest in the characters or events that happen in the bar.

[See Kritz Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down

I loved the set up/first half of this story, but then it got a bit silly for me.

[Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I swear to god yall will never catch me driving through the middle of nowhere

[destiny ♡ howling libraries · Rating 5 out of 5]

As of March 2025, you can find my reviews on…
→ booktube
→ bookstagram
→ hardcover
→ storygraph
→ threads
→ bluesky
→ blog

[Stay Fetters · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Hey, you’re handsome. You wanna dance?"

Now I know to never go to a bar in the middle of nowhere.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very predictable.
But bro what was the ending? Or more so the lack of it.

[Marisa (marisalynnreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you give Marisa a novella/novelette, she WILL devour it.

D7 is a quirky horror novelette about a couple who wander upon an out-of-the-way dive bar full of patrons who just can't stop dancing!

Don't let the mere seventy six pages fool you, this story definitely isn't lacking in character or wit. This would be the perfect short read for those who want to dip their toes in the genre.

This was my first Philip Fracassi book, but it definitely won't be my last!

Huge thank you to Shortwave for the gifted ebook!

[Jody Blanchette · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have been thinking about trying out Philip Fracassi’s books, this is a great introduction. D7 is 53 pages, a very quick read. Just because it’s short, doesn’t mean is lacking. Every page is filled with Fracassi’s magic. The terror starts almost immediately.
Paul and Diane are the main characters, but they are not the story. Sure you want them to survive, because it’s the right way to feel. But once you get deeper into the story, you will be rooting for the horror. It’s hard not to side with a haunted jukebox, lol. It just wants you to dance and feel the beat.

[Carrie (scary.carrie.reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

D7 is a well-crafted, fun little ditty about a haunted jukebox. This story would make a perfect episode of the Twilight Zone. I could almost picture it being played out in black and white…and red, lots of red.

[Emma Rieley-Scrivens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short read from the wonderful Philip Fracassi. The detail delivers such a vivid image of the setting and characters and the sense of dread builds slowly until it feels palpable.
Highly recommend!

[ThatBookish_deviant · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

[Deanna Rodriguez (Cook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting story.

[Josh Lieberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

B O R I N G - and honestly not scary or spooky just dumb

[Katie (DeathByPaperbacks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

D7 was a fun little story. It would be a great introduction into the horror genre for someone looking to read something haunting. I’m a very seasoned horror reader so it felt extremely predictable to me but I absolutely adored Philip Fracassi’s writing and story telling ability. The characters, setting, and dilemma were perfectly put and Sally was a hoot!

I highly recommend checking this out if you’re looking for a quick read that packs a punch.

[B. Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great little story. Should have been included in the collection “no one is safe”. Like alot of short stuff that I love, I wish it was longer but I’m fully satisfied with this one.

[Chad Boyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Philip Fracassi’s D7 is a taut, atmospheric novelette that wastes no time plunging readers into its nightmarish premise. When Paul and Diane step into a nearly forgotten dive bar for a quiet drink, they instead find themselves trapped in a surreal and terrifying encounter centered around a haunted jukebox.  Fracassi masterfully builds suspense with minimal setup, using the claustrophobic setting and eerie ambiance to steadily crank up the tension.
Despite its brevity, D7 delivers a fully realized story with compelling, well-drawn characters and a mounting sense of dread that lingers long after the final page.  Fracassi’s writing is sharp, evocative, and cinematic, making this a standout piece of short horror fiction. I’m eager to dive deeper into his other works. Thank you again to Philip Fracassi and to Shortwave Publishing for the read.

[Hannah | Reading Under Covers · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up!

"Whatever's fueling this place...it ain't the power company. And it ain't natural."

D7 by Philip Fracassi is the latest from the Shortwave Media novella collection and, like all the others I've read, it's a true banger.

The setting, the atmosphere, and just how quickly Fracassi paces the story to land those punches made for this to be such an enjoyable read!

This is very much a "read-in-one-sitting" story and reminded me a lot of sitting around a campfire and telling ghost stories.

I wish this book was longer, but it still managed a whole lot in the pages it did have.

Thanks to Shortwave Media for the early copy for review - out May 27!

[Shelby Denison · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short story feels more like the skeleton of an idea than a finished piece. The premise, a haunted jukebox in a dive bar that traps its patrons, had real potential to be eerie and memorable. Instead, it barely scratches the surface before fizzling out. At only 46 pages, it reads like a teaser for a story that never comes. The setup hints at cosmic horror or a last-man-standing nightmare, but the payoff is dull and the ending feels like an afterthought. It is frustrating because the concept could have been great with more time and development. I have come to expect better from this author, but this one just feels lazy, more like a discarded draft than a fully realized story.

[Tobin Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fantastic premise, and great Twilight Zone-ish set up, but then it felt a little like it lost its way. Once the explanation was offered for what was going on (prior to the interesting twist at the end), it took a little of the wind out of the sails, and Diane's certain ability came out of nowhere, but Fracassi made up for it with a good touch of characterization for Sally.

But Elroy seemed to be kind of forgotten in the mix. Yes, he came back into focus a bit later on, but not enough. And honestly? What the hell was the D7 song?

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fracassi is one of my new favorites in horror. I recently read Boys in the Valley and it was so scary and reminiscent of The Exorcist that I've been on the lookout for anything else by him that I can get my hands on.

When Alan at Shortwave Publishing sent me the eARC of D7 to review, I immediately opened it and read. All I can say about it is that I wish there was more! It was spooky and such a cool idea for a story. Any horror story that is music-related is always great.

Be sure to grab this one from Shortwave!

[Christine Harrold · Rating 5 out of 5]

A frantic and disturbing novelette about a haunted honky-tonk. Fracassi examines guilt, diffusion of responsibility, jealousy and anger. It hits hard and leaves you breathless. A fabulous read.