Ding Dong Witch

by Matt Heart

Stephen thought his life was off to a fresh start when he moved to Hollows Creek. But some towns never let go of their past. Some names are never meant to be spoken. And some doors should never be opened.

The town holds dark secrets, whispered through the years—a warning disguised as a nursery rhyme.

Good night, sleep tight.
Don't forget to brush your teeth.
If you eat her candy, you'll smell like treats.
If the doorbell rings thrice,
Don't look, don't peek.
She's hungry now… it's Maggie Sweets.

Children vanish. Parents pretend not to remember. But Maggie never forgets. Together with a group of unlikely friends, Stephen uncovers a truth far worse than any legend. She's real. She's watching. And she's waiting.

Ding Dong Witch will make you question every knock at the door. And after the last page… you'll never answer it again.

Genres: Horror

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2025

About the author

Matt Heart is a BMA award-winning international singer-songwriter and the author of the Cold Fever Books universe—an ever-growing collection of horror, thriller, and supernatural novels for both young adults and adults. His catalog ranges from chilling YA classics like Nightmare in a Toy Store and the Cold Fever series to darker, hard-hitting adult titles such as The Boney Man, Ash Wednesday, Iniquity, Tender Eyes, Ding Dong Witch, and The Incredible Bobbi Myers

With a passion for storytelling that spans more than three decades, Matt masterfully blends elements of horror, mystery, suspense, and psychological depth, crafting unforgettable characters and vivid, atmospheric worlds. His books are known for their cinematic pacing, bold twists, and emotional punch—drawing readers deep into stories that linger long after the last page.

When he’s not writing, Matt enjoys traveling, creating music, and spending time with his family. Married to his high-school sweetheart for over 31 years, he is a dedicated husband, father, and grandfather. His life experiences, musical background, and love for storytelling all feed into his imaginative fiction.

Whether you love the eerie fun of Goosebumps-style adventures or the intense, visceral storytelling of adult horror, Matt Heart delivers.

Discover more at www.ColdFeverBooks.com and step into worlds where nothing is what it seems—and every page has a pulse.

Reviews

[Haly Hoards Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun retreat to the time of my childhood and to the horror novels of the 1980s. Ding Dong Witch is full of dark mystery, darker secrets and the right touch of gore.

For each of the terror filled encounters with Maggie Sweets, Heart masterfully built up the tension. For every knock on a door or late night telephone call the build up was so high that the creaks in my own house had me jumping.

Heart creates such relatable characters that they become alive, with all of their foibles and endearing traits. Ding Dong Witch is a novel that is equally driven by its characters and plot line.

The novel is more than a horror story. It is a tale of deep friendship, acceptance and facing fears head on.

[Leigh Reads Horror · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welp this was a trip! I noticed alot of troops from old horror novels. The premise of the witch who rings the doorbell three times to come in super fun. What I'm wondering is why is everyone answering the fucking door? One character mentioned that nobody answers the door bell but the characters all are.I do have a bias with Stephen due to the dipshit fucking with a Ouija board. I got a thing about that lol. The deaths on this were just a whole bunch of fun. The way it went about things not only made me giggle but made me wonder what the fuck is wrong with me. Now the ending felt off to me. I can't put my finger on it. it felt like a combination of feeling rushed with out of place. You get earth shattering news and I honestly didn't have much emotion about it. I felt like it could have been longer with more put in. There was details in the beginning and middle that felt right to me but then the ending came and just didn't hit the spot.
This opinion might change next time I read it. I do have a habit of rereading something and not care for it to loving it.

[Amber Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scared from the get go!

This book had me scared from the get go. I loved it. Except when I was at home reading alone. I had all the feels I would have if I would have experienced this in the 90s as a childhood story.

[Addison Ottaway-Ketcham · Rating 2 out of 5]

Felt like reading a knockoff IT with characters from a Christopher Pike novel who are too old to be kids and simultaneously too dumb to be adults. It samples elements from all kinds of 80’s and 90’s horror, and doesn’t quite seem to know itself. For it to be as long as it was, there could have been more plot and character development. The underlying backstory has so much potential for a well balanced tale.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It totally creeps me out. Maggie Sweets...Need I say more? Omg my worst nightmare as a child come to life in this book. I could not put this down, I love the 80's reference and I think more writers should take notice and venture out of their comfort zones. I will be reading more from this author💯❤️

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book in a goodreads drawing.

Decent horror novel set in small twon Massachusetts. It seems an entity with a Freddie Kreuger type origin is biting the heads of teens if they answer the door.

Sometimes creepy, but not as scary as some.

[Carly Mcgehee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Won this as a giveaway. Fun, scary read. Not well written, but the content was fun and scary enough that I was able to tolerate it.

Good for a quick read that'll make you want to sleep with the lights on.