Malignant

by Uilleam Whitedale

A ghost story for the ages. Callie Bellingham needs to break away. For years she has been obsessed with a man whom she rejected for social appearances, a man she tried to ruin to keep from admitting her love for him. Her guilt plagues her endlessly. That is until Lawrence Schlimme appears, suspiciously at the most opportune time. A seemingly traditional, Christian man, like the ones she has known her whole life, Lawrence has some dark secrets. Is he her path to forgetting her past and finding a new life, or is he a grave mistake?

94 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 30, 2025

About the author

Teacher and New Jersey author of horror and the dystopian, who, for some reason, primarily reads nonfiction but writes fiction: horror, dystopian, pseudo-memoir. My stories are based in social criticism and are heavy in allegory. I also write poetry and children's lit, when the mood strikes.

Reviews

[Eamonn Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say about this one?! It had me screaming at my kindle and in a good way! The characters, each flawed, would drive you to near insanity and you want to keep reading because it’s so close to real life, destructive relationships that makes it addictive reading! Well written, balanced and paced this is one you won’t put down. Recommend!

[Steve Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uncomfortable, tense, disturbing exploration of the motivations maintaining extremely unhealthy relationships. Whitedale digs into his characters’ psyches to present a cautionary tale for our times that gets right under the skin and chills to the bone.

To say any more would be to risk spoilers. It’s a lean, mean, yet satisfying little shocker that could be enjoyed (or should that be endured?) in one sitting.

[D.S. LaLonde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story of a possessive psychopath’s efforts to draw a woman in, entangling her in his sordid desires. In a way, it’s a character study of a scumbag, as well as the woman unfortunate enough to cross his path.

The subject matter is dark and true to life, but the author keeps the story moving along nicely without getting bogged down with the evil schemes or poor choices that are made.

Great ending. Fun, creepy, and entirely unexpected.

If one’s of a mind to draw lessons from horror, Malignant could be viewed as a cautionary tale to be wary and trust your instincts about someone you meet over social media.

[Drew McDowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark with an emotional focus

This was a nice short read. The characters are all well defined.

I would have given it five stars, but I did not connect with the flow of the story.

I would suggest this for fans of character centered work, and those who like to get into the darker aspect of the human mind.

[Laura Barnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Haunting Ghost Story

A haunting ghost story that begins as a psychological thriller and descends into a chilling supernatural mystery—one that challenges our understanding of what the world allows. This is a tale that lingers long after the final page, raising more questions than it answers and daring readers to glance over their shoulder.
Uilleam Whitedale is a masterful storyteller, known for crafting eerie, immersive settings and emotionally layered characters. His fascination with the hazy threshold between the real and the unreal allows him to build narratives that are as intellectually provocative as they are unsettling. His work consistently explores the fragile boundaries of perception, making him a distinctive voice in modern supernatural fiction.

[Jan Miklaszewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A grim and memorable read. The narrative style is denser than I’m used to but works so well with what is a deep and unsettling dive into the psychology of a deranged pervert and his unfortunate mark. The author clearly knows what he is doing and delivers the chills with expert precision. Bravo.