What Hides in the Dark: 20 Tales of Terror

by Blair Daniels

EMERGENCY Do not enter your basement. Stay above ground.

My husband keeps texting me. He’s been dead for 5 years.

I can’t remember how I met my best friend. And she's been acting so strange...

You are now entering a Mandatory Smile Zone.

WHAT HIDES IN THE DARK is full of terrifying tales that delve into the darkest depths of your imagination. Tales of stores with horrific wares, entities following you home from the woods, and more fill the pages. Read... if you dare.

Praise for the Tales of Terror series
"Wonderfully chilling tales which bring to mind old Stephen King."

"Blair Daniels is an amazing storyteller."

"Genuine creepypasta vibes, disturbing moments hitting all the right spots, even if you read the book in one sitting!"

"Blair Daniels' work needs to be translated to the screen. Goosebumps for grown-ups. Think Ray Bradbury, Richard Matheson, Charles Beaumont, even a little M.R. James (especially in this volume), with a distinctly modern woman's voice."

About Black Widow Press
We're passionate about scares, thrills, and all things that go bump in the night. Stay tuned for more books this year to keep you up all night! Don't Scream and other Black Widow books contain mild to moderate violence and sexual content not suitable for those under 18 years of age.

Genres: Horror, Anthologies

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 17, 2025

Reviews

[John Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good!

This was a bit of a roller coaster of a read, from the sublime to the ridiculous but, rather enjoyable nevertheless. The stories were out of this world, weird but in a good way. Blair Daniels must have one heck of an imagination to come up with tales such as these.

The individual stories were not scary as such, creepy - certainly! No extreme violence, nothing explicitly gory, just tales that stretched the limits of imagination. These stories questioned just what is normal life and how strong is your grip on everyday reality.

I'll keep my eye out for other books by this author.

[Ruby Dosier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my new favorite short horror story collection!

Every single one of these stories were so exciting, and kept me interested until the very end. My favorite story was the story about all of the artifacts in the haunted shop :)

I loved this and I would totally recommend!

[Kris-Posey · Rating 5 out of 5]

CONSUMED—

This book completely consumed me from the very first page!!

The horror was dark and delectably twisted, and I found myself thinking about each and every one of them well after the fact!

It’s rare, but I cannot think one complaint or even one thing I’d change about this one!

Eerily enthralling!

How, have I not heard of Blair Daniels sooner?! I will be remedying that fact immediately from this very second!

[Alanna Metz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of short stories. I devoured it in one sitting, as once I started I couldn't stop. I hope this author eventually writes a full book. The writing is very engaging, with great pacing and just the right amount of description. A few of these stories I haven't stopped thinking about since reading. It's always a great day when there's a new Blair Daniels story to read!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first book I read by Blair Daniels was Attention, Shoppers and it 100% is a book that I will always recommend to those looking to start exploring horror books. From there I've kept an eye out for more new stuff from her, and I can only say I have yet to be disappointed by her writing! With this anthology there are so many different twists, turns and feelings. While not dragging anything out or pushing the boundaries so far that you feel like you're venturing into the realm of Splatterpunk, the horror is definitely well done! There's just something about the way Blair Daniels writes that puts you in the moment and makes you feel all the things her characters do...if you can think of an emotion its probably in this anthology. 4.75/5 (rated a 5 because well I can only pick a whole number when rating/how it's shown to others.) If you're just hearing about Blair Daniels I highly suggest that you pick up literally any book she's written and see what all my hype has been about!

My personal favorites were the opener (I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed the entire collection though) ...
-I can't remember how I met my best friend...cause come on we all meet at least one person through our lives that we can't quite remember how we met them and kinda just accept it.
-I think I'm stuck in a YouTube ad was definitely interesting considering how much time most of spend on things like YouTube would we even notice if something was off, considering how quick most of us are to click that skip button?
-Low Battery, I wish this was a full novel. The whole plot, story everything is perfect for something much longer but this was so well done that I love it the way it is.
-You Are Now Entering a Mandatory Smile Zone, I could see this happening with the way things in real life are going and it genuinely made me pause and think for a bit.
-Rustic Cabin Getaway with Views to Die For. $89/Night, for sure made me uncomfy in the best way. I keep telling my husband that if he wants me to go camping we have to rent a cabin....this story 100% has me rethinking that idea.

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITES AND MUST READS are...
-Aunt Gigi's Thrift Shop of Horrors...I really hope that we get more stories from Nadia!
-I found an open Toys-R-Us...I definitely felt my age with this one and cannot explain the dread that I felt with this story...what would you do if a walk down memory lane was anything but that?

What are you waiting for? Come see what hides in the dark...

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Eddie Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blair Daniels once again proves she's a master of bite-sized horror with What Hides in the Dark. This collection of 20 chilling tales sinks its claws into you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. Each story is short enough to read in a single sitting, but the dread lingers long after the last line—perfect for fans of quick, unsettling reads that burrow into your thoughts.

What makes Daniels’ work stand out is her ability to craft deeply unsettling scenarios from everyday situations—turning the ordinary into the unthinkable. From cursed objects to eerie children and twisted games, there's a little something here to haunt every kind of reader. Some tales are deeply psychological, while others dip into the supernatural or surreal. The pacing is tight, and the endings are often sharp and unexpected—much like the stories themselves.

If you enjoy horror that plays with your mind as much as your emotions, Daniels delivers. This collection feels like the literary version of sitting around a campfire, telling stories that make you check the shadows—and maybe sleep with the lights on. A great pick for a quiet night alone… though you might appreciate someone nearby when the shadows start to feel a little too thick.

Highly recommended for lovers of modern, twisty horror. Just don’t be surprised if you start seeing things move in the dark.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun collection from this author. I love the premise of all these stories, that they are quick reads (10 minutes or less for most of them), and there wasn't a single story I DISLIKED in the whole collection which is always a plus with short as Tory collections as they are often a mixed bag. But everything here is solid.

My favorites from this collection are:

I Found an Open Toys-R-Us
Aunt Gigi's Thrift Shop of Horrors
Playground
Emergency Alert: Do Not Enter Your Basement Stay Above Ground

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun collection of short scary stories. I really enjoyed Low Battery , it was so engrossing and disturbing. My all time favorite is Aunt Gigi’s Thrift Shop of Horrors - I hope there are more stories set here!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Danielle Hennessy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. The stories were so good and some of them would make great full length novels or even a series of novels. I particularly liked the concept shown in Low Battery. Great book of stories!

[Bookishlyvenus ⋆˚࿔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ★

some of the stories were lowkey confusing to follow along but i liked a lot of them as well

[Not Now...Mommy's Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a quick read of short horror stories, I think you’ll find What Hides In the Dark to be entertaining and enjoyable. I was originally going to leave a rating of 3.8 due to some of the stories feeling unfinished to me but changed my mind after reading Aunt Gigi’s Thrift Shop of Horrors, Low Battery, Hosting A Dinner Party, You Are Now Entering a Mandatory Smile Zone, and Rustic Cabin Getaway. Each of these stories should actually be full-length novels and Aunt Gigi’s Thrift Shop of Horrors would make a great series! That story alone is a strong 5 star rating to me! Low Battery? Short but packed a powerful punch! I wanted to know more about this world and how it “operated”. Hosting A Dinner Party was spectacularly funny and was reminiscent of The September House. Mandatory Smile Zone I really wanted answers to some lingering questions and would have loved to know more about the “zoning” and “consequences”. I’m a huge fan of Rules Horror so Rustic Cabin Getaway was another 5-star story to me that I would love to see turned into a full-length novel. I loved that the story was told in a review format, unique storytelling. As far as the horror factor, I would say most of the stories were more creepy than scary. Now the cover? The cover is downright terrifying to me! All in all, I will definitely be reading more of Blair Daniels’ works.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[KD · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best nosleep style anthology from Daniels to date. I desperately need a longer/novelized version of “Low Battery”!!!!

[Praveen (பிரவீண்) KR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Check out my review @ https://kalaikoodam.blogspot.com/2025...

As usual, the author provides some interesting ideas as stories. This is one of the main factors that makes me seek out more of Blair's books. She does not disappoint this time either. Not all the stories have hit the right mark, but the ideas amaze me nevertheless. We get a feel of reading a bunch of creepypasta stories by finishing the book. Most of the stories are very short with no start or end. They are just presented as a couple of scenes, which might irk some readers. There are only two stories that seem to cover a few pages, and they did impress me. The reading is simple and can be finished within a couple of hours. I would not say the book is scary, but there are instances where a few stories can be a little creepy. As I told earlier, some stories were total misses for me. At the same time, some of them did find their mark.
Horror short stories have always enthralled me with their crazy storylines and the thrill they give me whenever I read them. This book also gives me the same experience, even though there are a few stories that missed their mark. A decent enough read from Blair Daniels that would satisfy horror readers.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[PlotTwist&Tea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let’s get one thing straight: this isn’t your average “spooky campfire stories” collection. No, this is more like if your intrusive thoughts wrote horror fiction after binge-watching Black Mirror, The Haunting of Hill House, and a few too many late-night Reddit threads. Blair Daniels delivers bite-sized brain glitches wrapped in ordinary settings that make you question everything from your attic to your best friend to your damn yoga app.

From haunted houses that literally breathe (deeply unsettling) to besties who seem to exist only in your nightmares—or maybe don’t exist at all—this book is a paranoia-inducing buffet of terror. Each story builds tension fast, often ending with a sucker-punch twist that leaves you staring at the wall like, “Am I next?”

The standout for me? The “I’m stuck in a YouTube ad” story. It’s like The Truman Show meets late-stage capitalism, complete with torture-by-brand-slogan. If you weren’t afraid of tech before, congratulations—you are now. Also, can we talk about the “half-my-face-is-aging” lady? That’s not skincare horror. That’s existential dread with a side of body horror.

Blair has a knack for making you laugh nervously while clutching your blanket like a life raft. The humor is dark, the scares are personal, and the horror often comes from stuff that hits a little too close to home. Think: cursed cabinets, forgotten friends, and parenthood with a paranormal twist.

Final Verdict:
Blair Daniels doesn’t just show you what hides in the dark—she makes sure it follows you home, crawls under your bed, and whispers in your ear at 3:27 a.m. Read with the lights on, and maybe unplug your smart devices. Just to be safe.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sun-young Peony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I definitely won't be reading this book at night with the lights off!

This horror collection is a wild ride! Each story in this collection is like a little creepy treat! You get a quick burst of chills and thrills with every single one. Some of the stories have ideas that really made me think "what if?". I like that they don't explain everything. I mean, it really lets your imagination fill in the blanks.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS BOOK?
- The variety of scares is something I really appreciated.
- There were different kinds of horror here, like creepy suspense and moments that just felt wrong. And I couldn't stop reading.
- They're more than just short stories; they feel like real experiences that you'll remember long after you're done reading.
- Perfect Horror collection if you're looking for something gripping that you can easily pick up and put down... if you dare!
- The cover art? Seriously haunting and absolutely perfect for the stories within. It honestly gave me the creeps just looking at it! Haha!

For anyone who loves horror that gets under your skin and makes you wonder, this collection is a must-read. The author is so good at coming up with creepy stuff. And this book proves it! I'm already waiting for the author's next book.

---------------------
NOTE: This is my personal opinion about the book. My goal is to share my experience, not to change anyone's perspective. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent creepypasta collection, wide-ranging but always unsettling, clever and occasionally quite scary! I'd only read one of the tales before ("Playground"), but I enjoyed them all. I have favorites, however: the opening story, "I can’t remember how I met my best friend," hopefully won't happen in real life but the whole thing felt very plausible; "Our house is breathing," a deeply disturbing spin on the haunted house trope; "Aunt Gigi’s Thrift Shop of Horrors," a great story of the SCP Foundation type; "Hosting a dinner party in a haunted house is really stressful. 0/10, do not recommend," hilarious dark comedy; "There’s an intercom in my house," short and impactful, in fact very very creepy, probably my number one favorite in the collection; "You Are Now Entering a Mandatory Smile Zone," this felt like the Smile movie but in reverse; "Rustic Cabin Getaway with Views to Die For, $89/Night," an awesome story told in revew posts format, hair-raising in its implications; and "My husband keeps texting me. He’s been dead for 5 years," a beautiful ghost story."

The collection has something for everyone and I eagerly recommend it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cat Treadwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd hugely enjoyed Blair Daniels' novella collections recently, and so was intrigued to see what their cunning horror brain came up with on the short-story front.

And my goodness...!

These are some genuinely thought-provoking, chilling tales, with such imagination on display that I found myself often unable to look away while dreading what would come next! In the great tradition of campfire horror, the overarching question of 'Just what the EFF is going on?!' wasn't answered - we're left to wonder, as each protagonist is. We can guess, and that's part of the journey. After the story is done, we're left like Wile E Coyote waiting to fall from midair, having rushed off the cliff.

I think that is my only nitpick - quite a few of these stories were just too short, and I'd love to have stayed in their worlds a little longer. Perhaps that means they struck a masochistic chord with me...!

Either way, another great collection from a horror writer to watch.

I was kindly sent an early copy of this collection by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.

[Paperwitches ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this after a very long break from reading, as I usually already love Blair's work. I decided to read this during a thunderstorm at night, as usually I'm not a person who gets too creeped out - and it was able to actually have me looking over my shoulder (especially during I don't remember how I met my bestfriend).

My absolute favorite story was Aunt Gigi's Thrift Shop of Horrors, and I really would love to see a full book written on this as a follow up. It reminded me of SCP's, but a lot more entertaining. A close second was Rustic Cabin Getaway. I do wish that one was longer - and I adored the unique style it was written in.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Garnet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed all of the anthologies I have read by this author. However, this was definitely a stand out. Unlike a lot of her previous works, there were a good amount of longer stories in this one, and that really worked. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I enjoyed most of the stories. A few were mediocre, as is with any anthology. However, I don’t think there were any that I actively disliked, and I will definitely be reading this in the future.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lizzy Carr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection! The story lengths were varied which I thought was nice, and it was easy to get into each one. My favorites was definitely "Aunt Gigi's Thrift Shop of Horrors" - I'd totally read more stories set in this shop/world! But I also really enjoyed "I Took Something From the Forest" and "My Husband Keeps Texting Me." Would definitely recommend this if you like horror or supernatural works.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Margot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each short story, even those just a few pages long, brings the reader into the world and the characters' feelings. Many leave you with a sense of unease or uncertainty, which reflects the skill and creativity of the author. After having followed this author on Reddit, it was a true delight to read this collection.



I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blair Daniels is my favorite author when it comes to short scary stories. No one does it like Daniels. I always have the best time reading these collections and What Hides in the Dark was the same way. Fast pace but very creepy stories in this collection. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys scary stories and wants to actually be creeped out but still have an absolute blast while reading them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michael Nickerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another quality collection from Blair Daniels! Keeps you turning the pages!

A nice mix of short vignettes and almost novella style horrors. There’s a healthy mix of different subjects in her to keep you entertained!

The longer stories are where this collection shines, giving her time to flesh the world out and really explore the “monsters”.

Any fans of her writing will not want to miss this!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Raynekitten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blair Daniels has carved out a distinct space in the world of horror fiction, and her collection of short stories is a testament to her mastery of psychological suspense and creeping dread. These tales are not for the faint of heart.They’re creepy, unsettling, and packed with just the right amount of horror to keep you awake long a fter you’ve turned the last page. I am always looking forward to the next book.

[Ava · Rating 1 out of 5]

.25 ⭐️ This was genuinely so bad. These were all written like a bad two-sentence horror story that someone posts on Reddit at 3 AM after two days of not sleeping thinking it is the peak of literature, only to finally look at it again after sleeping for more than two hours and realize that it is the worst thing they've ever written, but leave it up anyway for the goof and gag. I wish I DNF'ed this deeply. I want to give this zero stars.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book of short stories completely surprised me. I'm usually not a huge fan of short stories as I feel that format usually doesn't allow sufficient space or time for proper character development or a convincing plot. But, every short story in this book was riveting and terrifying, so much so that I blazed through it in a couple of days. Guess it's time to hunt down more works from this incredibly talented author. 4.5 stars.

[IL · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll read anything Blair Daniels puts out, this anthology is no different. Lots of creepy concepts in here that make the read enjoyable. My favorite story in here is about an odd shop owned by the main character's aunt, full of mysterious trinkets and items. The world-building in this one was so fun that I wish there was an entire series about it! I'd read this book again just to immerse myself in that story.

[C.J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was just thinking that Blair should have released another book about now and I opened my email and there it was, “what hides in the dark.” I was so excited when I saw it, I’m not done with it yet but I love what I’m reading so far. It’s great as usual.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Fatimah Gunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Tales of Terror

I usually don’t read short stories because I like to be invested in the story and characters. However, this collection was put together so well…each story so different but just long enough to intrigue you. I will look for other books by this author. Well done!!!!

[Chelsea Fickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute page turner and each story was more unsettling than the last! I couldn't put it down and the stories kept me on the edge of my seat as always.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.