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IT'S DARK IN THEIR MINDS: HORROR ANTHOLOGY VOL I
ARE YOU READY FOR THESE TALES OF HORROR?
OPENWIDE, Stuart Phillips shares a gripping encounter of a back-woods Mississippi man and a dentist.
CLAUDIA, Mariah Southworth gives a chilling take on birthdays.
WAITING FOR THE FULL MOON, Toshiya Kamei provides a fascinating tale where two girls must “Pray the gay away.”
TRAPPED WITH A KILLER, Carl Bluesy spins a yarn of murder for us.
ICE CREAM MAN, Leslie Kurt shows a different kind of hero who defends the children.
DINNER DATE, Eddie Spohn presents a gala dinner in Hampton Bay with a fiery woman’s family.
SEVEN QUESTIONS, Sean MacKendrick shows the day-to-day work of a sociopath.
COULROPHOBIA, Ann O’Mara Heyward … and why do we fear clowns?
SOMETHING WITHIN THE WATCH HOUSE, Sarah Crabtree takes us on an otherworldly adventure.
THE FARE, Travis Earl shares a fascinating journey you won’t easily forget.
“THESE TALES INCLUDE EXTREME ACTS OF VIOLENCE”
Editing by Rod Gilley & Gabriella Fortunato
Cover art by Rod Gilley & Saffron Asteria
This anthology of scary stories brought to you by
the Hearts and Imaginations of Real Writers who Cherish their Craft.
*NO AI WAS USED IN THIS PUBLICATION.*
Honest Reviews are the Life’s Blood for us Writers
Be Looking For
HORROR ANTHOLOGY VOL II AND VOL III COMING SOON!
OPENWIDE, Stuart Phillips shares a gripping encounter of a back-woods Mississippi man and a dentist.
CLAUDIA, Mariah Southworth gives a chilling take on birthdays.
WAITING FOR THE FULL MOON, Toshiya Kamei provides a fascinating tale where two girls must “Pray the gay away.”
TRAPPED WITH A KILLER, Carl Bluesy spins a yarn of murder for us.
ICE CREAM MAN, Leslie Kurt shows a different kind of hero who defends the children.
DINNER DATE, Eddie Spohn presents a gala dinner in Hampton Bay with a fiery woman’s family.
SEVEN QUESTIONS, Sean MacKendrick shows the day-to-day work of a sociopath.
COULROPHOBIA, Ann O’Mara Heyward … and why do we fear clowns?
SOMETHING WITHIN THE WATCH HOUSE, Sarah Crabtree takes us on an otherworldly adventure.
THE FARE, Travis Earl shares a fascinating journey you won’t easily forget.
“THESE TALES INCLUDE EXTREME ACTS OF VIOLENCE”
Editing by Rod Gilley & Gabriella Fortunato
Cover art by Rod Gilley & Saffron Asteria
This anthology of scary stories brought to you by
the Hearts and Imaginations of Real Writers who Cherish their Craft.
*NO AI WAS USED IN THIS PUBLICATION.*
Honest Reviews are the Life’s Blood for us Writers
Be Looking For
HORROR ANTHOLOGY VOL II AND VOL III COMING SOON!
150 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 15, 2025
12 people want to read
About the author
Leslie Kurt
9 books26 followersLeslie Kurt is an award-nominated author of extreme and erotic horror.
He grew up in eastern Ohio near the West Virginia border, right on the bank of the Ohio River. This is where he developed his Charles Manson accent, which he has been unable to shake.
He grew up hunting, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors. When he isn’t writing, you can find him outdoors doing those same activities he loved growing up, or playing with his Black Labrador Retriever, “Shadow.”
Leslie is a marketer who writes ad copy, blogs, and magazine articles. He also has a background as an engineer.
Most of his stories are set in the suburbs of Atlanta and northern rural Georgia. This is where he has lived and where he lives now, respectively.
He grew up in eastern Ohio near the West Virginia border, right on the bank of the Ohio River. This is where he developed his Charles Manson accent, which he has been unable to shake.
He grew up hunting, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors. When he isn’t writing, you can find him outdoors doing those same activities he loved growing up, or playing with his Black Labrador Retriever, “Shadow.”
Leslie is a marketer who writes ad copy, blogs, and magazine articles. He also has a background as an engineer.
Most of his stories are set in the suburbs of Atlanta and northern rural Georgia. This is where he has lived and where he lives now, respectively.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 24, 2025
1. OPEN WIDE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a grate first story for this collection. Right from the start it had me hooked! This story was beautifully written and so atmospheric. It really pulled me in to the dark world of the outdoors and murder.
2. CLAUDIA ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
There’s always something entertaining when the protagonist is not exactly a likable person. It makes their problems all the more entertaining. This one is a little bit of a slow start, but once things picked up, it was such a wild ride!
3. WAITING FOR THE FULL MOON ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book took the time to set up the characterization just right. It made for a deep dive into the struggle, society put on certain members of society and pain it can cause. It made for a degree unique and deep monster tale that sticks out from the rest.
4. TRAPPED WITH A KILLER
That was one of the first stories I’ve ever wrote. After countless edits and several title changes it finally reached the quality that I was ready to start submitting it for publication. I cannot be happier with how the final version came out and that Trapped with a Killer found its home in this wonderful collection besides so many talented writers and their terrifying stories.
5. ICE CREAM MAN ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Right from the start you get the sense that something isn’t right. Like you’re not sure what. As the story quit selling to become more of what’s going on in a great display suspects.
This was a truly well writing story that was incredibly captivating!
6. DINNER DATE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I like my meat raw.” She smiled.
This is a delightfully, disturbing story of food, romance, and death. They were the cutest interacted with each other‘s really dry you in and once the horror kicks off it leaves you shocked in the best way possible.
7. SEVEN QUESTIONS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m not sure what you would call this trope. The one the main character is strapped to a chair or table in some room where they can’t see and can only talk one unknown voice.
Regardless, what that trope is called, I am a sucker for it. It is such a good deep dive and focus into it character with plenty of suspense.
That is definitely the case with this story. It was ripping from the start and exciting to read all the way through.
8. COULROPHOBIA ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Clowns have always had a strong place in horror, I’ve never seen clowns use in such a unique way.
The story has many angles where you sort the story more than you think would be possible. Yet the this story pulls off and by the end everything clicks in the place for a
Twist and thrilling finish.
9. SOMETHING WITHIN THE WATCH HOUSE ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was an interesting written story. It keeps in the dark and makes you guess a lot. And while there’s nothing wrong with this style. That I often enjoy it, just stick with me here.
It’s one of the cases where the author is trying go in different directions and push limits. Which is something definitely worth doing and makes me more intrigued to read more of their stuff. I much prefer to read from authors, who are willing to take a risk over the ones who always play it safe.
10. THE FARE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a great story to end it on! There wants suspense and dry he keeps you in the heat all the way through. It was a very clean, written story that really strong emotions and connections with their character.
What a grate first story for this collection. Right from the start it had me hooked! This story was beautifully written and so atmospheric. It really pulled me in to the dark world of the outdoors and murder.
2. CLAUDIA ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
There’s always something entertaining when the protagonist is not exactly a likable person. It makes their problems all the more entertaining. This one is a little bit of a slow start, but once things picked up, it was such a wild ride!
3. WAITING FOR THE FULL MOON ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book took the time to set up the characterization just right. It made for a deep dive into the struggle, society put on certain members of society and pain it can cause. It made for a degree unique and deep monster tale that sticks out from the rest.
4. TRAPPED WITH A KILLER
That was one of the first stories I’ve ever wrote. After countless edits and several title changes it finally reached the quality that I was ready to start submitting it for publication. I cannot be happier with how the final version came out and that Trapped with a Killer found its home in this wonderful collection besides so many talented writers and their terrifying stories.
5. ICE CREAM MAN ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Right from the start you get the sense that something isn’t right. Like you’re not sure what. As the story quit selling to become more of what’s going on in a great display suspects.
This was a truly well writing story that was incredibly captivating!
6. DINNER DATE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“I like my meat raw.” She smiled.
This is a delightfully, disturbing story of food, romance, and death. They were the cutest interacted with each other‘s really dry you in and once the horror kicks off it leaves you shocked in the best way possible.
7. SEVEN QUESTIONS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’m not sure what you would call this trope. The one the main character is strapped to a chair or table in some room where they can’t see and can only talk one unknown voice.
Regardless, what that trope is called, I am a sucker for it. It is such a good deep dive and focus into it character with plenty of suspense.
That is definitely the case with this story. It was ripping from the start and exciting to read all the way through.
8. COULROPHOBIA ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Clowns have always had a strong place in horror, I’ve never seen clowns use in such a unique way.
The story has many angles where you sort the story more than you think would be possible. Yet the this story pulls off and by the end everything clicks in the place for a
Twist and thrilling finish.
9. SOMETHING WITHIN THE WATCH HOUSE ⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was an interesting written story. It keeps in the dark and makes you guess a lot. And while there’s nothing wrong with this style. That I often enjoy it, just stick with me here.
It’s one of the cases where the author is trying go in different directions and push limits. Which is something definitely worth doing and makes me more intrigued to read more of their stuff. I much prefer to read from authors, who are willing to take a risk over the ones who always play it safe.
10. THE FARE ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a great story to end it on! There wants suspense and dry he keeps you in the heat all the way through. It was a very clean, written story that really strong emotions and connections with their character.
May 21, 2025
Full disclosure: I wrote a story that appeared in this anthology, Ice Cream Man. To be fair, I will base my review on the other nine stories. I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Rod Gilley, with RDG Books Press, for the opportunity to be one of the first readers to get a chance with your debut anthology. I don’t know any of the other authors who contributed to this work, and all views are my own.
Individual story reviews
Open Wide 3.5
Pacing was initially slow, with an overabundance of description, then it time-hopped a bit, which was a little jarring. The main character wasn’t likable, and his grouchiness made him quite predictable and cliché. Otherwise, it was well-written.
Claudia 5.0
This story showed some great creativity, and it surprised me. This is honestly not something I would’ve ever thought of penning. Very original.
Waiting For The Full Moon 5.0
This started out rough for me, as there was quite a bit of Spanish dialogue in the beginning (I really wish I knew what they were saying). The story redeemed itself with a new twist on the werewolf trope. Loved it!
Trapped With A Killer 4.5
This one started out jarring as if it were a scene cut from a larger horror novel. The action started out of nowhere. To be fair, I know many presses demand this with short story submissions. It caught me off guard with a nice twist after it built up momentum.
Ice Cream Man NA
I did not review this story as I wrote it.
Dinner Date 4.5
This was a neat spin on an old trope. I won’t mention what it was, as that’ll spoil it. This was nearly perfect, other than some of the bridge scenes and other spots had a very rapid pace to them. Aside from erratic pacing, this one was great.
Seven Questions 5.0
This was unconventional, to say the least. I’ve never read anything like this. Initially, I disliked it because it's 100% dialogue, and writers are often advised to avoid “talking head syndrome” when writing. I guess it was just me being judgmental with the “Hey, you’re not allowed to do that” thinking (shame on me). After thinking about this for some time, I decided the story kept my interest the entire time, and I was able to filter out every distraction around me. I also love dialogue in stories. If you enjoy dialogue-heavy stories, you will love it. I suppose rules are meant to be broken, and if it’s done well, then the product turns out to be great. It's risky to do this, but without risk, there is no reward.
Coulrophobia 4.0
This one was good. Again, another original idea. It was actually a short story, which consisted of several other short stories that didn’t seem connected, except that the theme was a fear of clowns. I would’ve liked it more had the stories been expanded into longer, short stories in a collection or possibly a novella. By the time I got into a story, it abruptly changed to the next story. Great writing and very engaging.
Something Within The Watch House 2.0
This one didn’t hit well with me. I read it through twice to be fair, and it didn’t change my opinion. It bounced around in time, space, and the protagonist’s thoughts. Maybe it’ll read differently for others.
The Fare 5.0
This story evoked a constant sense of dread. It was both creepy and creative. This story had me in awe.
This averages out to (3.5+5.0+5.0+4.5+4.5+5.0+4.0+2.0+5.0)/9=4.28
Overall, this is a great anthology of stories, featuring diverse styles and a little something for everyone. Thanks again to RDG Books Press for the opportunity to contribute a story and an advanced review copy of the book.
Individual story reviews
Open Wide 3.5
Pacing was initially slow, with an overabundance of description, then it time-hopped a bit, which was a little jarring. The main character wasn’t likable, and his grouchiness made him quite predictable and cliché. Otherwise, it was well-written.
Claudia 5.0
This story showed some great creativity, and it surprised me. This is honestly not something I would’ve ever thought of penning. Very original.
Waiting For The Full Moon 5.0
This started out rough for me, as there was quite a bit of Spanish dialogue in the beginning (I really wish I knew what they were saying). The story redeemed itself with a new twist on the werewolf trope. Loved it!
Trapped With A Killer 4.5
This one started out jarring as if it were a scene cut from a larger horror novel. The action started out of nowhere. To be fair, I know many presses demand this with short story submissions. It caught me off guard with a nice twist after it built up momentum.
Ice Cream Man NA
I did not review this story as I wrote it.
Dinner Date 4.5
This was a neat spin on an old trope. I won’t mention what it was, as that’ll spoil it. This was nearly perfect, other than some of the bridge scenes and other spots had a very rapid pace to them. Aside from erratic pacing, this one was great.
Seven Questions 5.0
This was unconventional, to say the least. I’ve never read anything like this. Initially, I disliked it because it's 100% dialogue, and writers are often advised to avoid “talking head syndrome” when writing. I guess it was just me being judgmental with the “Hey, you’re not allowed to do that” thinking (shame on me). After thinking about this for some time, I decided the story kept my interest the entire time, and I was able to filter out every distraction around me. I also love dialogue in stories. If you enjoy dialogue-heavy stories, you will love it. I suppose rules are meant to be broken, and if it’s done well, then the product turns out to be great. It's risky to do this, but without risk, there is no reward.
Coulrophobia 4.0
This one was good. Again, another original idea. It was actually a short story, which consisted of several other short stories that didn’t seem connected, except that the theme was a fear of clowns. I would’ve liked it more had the stories been expanded into longer, short stories in a collection or possibly a novella. By the time I got into a story, it abruptly changed to the next story. Great writing and very engaging.
Something Within The Watch House 2.0
This one didn’t hit well with me. I read it through twice to be fair, and it didn’t change my opinion. It bounced around in time, space, and the protagonist’s thoughts. Maybe it’ll read differently for others.
The Fare 5.0
This story evoked a constant sense of dread. It was both creepy and creative. This story had me in awe.
This averages out to (3.5+5.0+5.0+4.5+4.5+5.0+4.0+2.0+5.0)/9=4.28
Overall, this is a great anthology of stories, featuring diverse styles and a little something for everyone. Thanks again to RDG Books Press for the opportunity to contribute a story and an advanced review copy of the book.
May 27, 2025
Thank you to Rod, for the opportunity to review prior to release! Every now and then you read something that makes you sit and think. Each story is unique in tone, setting, and writing style, but all share the same beautifully unsettling qualities you could hope to find in a horror anthology.
I have reviewed and rated each story individually and averaged the scores for the overall rating.
Overall rating: 4.4
1. Open Wide: Short and sweet. A great opening and an easy read. Score: 5/5
2. Claudia: This one got my heart racing with the “scuttling” and delightfully creepy descriptions and then - a sadness. Another great read. 5/5
3. Waiting for the full moon: There was a lot going on with this one. Roman Mythology/native folklore was an odd combo for me. There was almost an emphasis on too many things - so it was hard to discern which direction the story was going. That could have been the point though💁🏼♀️ Score: 3/5
4. Trapped with a killer: A tense standoff that kept me on the edge of my seat. 5/5
5. Ice Cream Man: Karma in the form of a burly ice cream man. The bad apples truly get their just deserts! 🥳 Score: 5/5
6. Dinner Date: Interesting and well written. I wanted the story to continue. 5/5
7. Seven Questions: Had me second guessing the outcome - score: 4/5
8. Coulrophobia: A very interesting take on death. What used to be romanticized is now dreaded and feared. I appreciate that life & death is cyclical, and the story comes full circle. 5/5
9. Something within the watch house: Difficult to follow - flashbacks? It reminds me of childhood memories that become disjointed as we grow older. Writing is still very beautiful. 3/5
10. The Fare: I liked the modern take on a classic story. The vivid descriptions of the seedy character made all the difference. 4/5
I have reviewed and rated each story individually and averaged the scores for the overall rating.
Overall rating: 4.4
1. Open Wide: Short and sweet. A great opening and an easy read. Score: 5/5
2. Claudia: This one got my heart racing with the “scuttling” and delightfully creepy descriptions and then - a sadness. Another great read. 5/5
3. Waiting for the full moon: There was a lot going on with this one. Roman Mythology/native folklore was an odd combo for me. There was almost an emphasis on too many things - so it was hard to discern which direction the story was going. That could have been the point though💁🏼♀️ Score: 3/5
4. Trapped with a killer: A tense standoff that kept me on the edge of my seat. 5/5
5. Ice Cream Man: Karma in the form of a burly ice cream man. The bad apples truly get their just deserts! 🥳 Score: 5/5
6. Dinner Date: Interesting and well written. I wanted the story to continue. 5/5
7. Seven Questions: Had me second guessing the outcome - score: 4/5
8. Coulrophobia: A very interesting take on death. What used to be romanticized is now dreaded and feared. I appreciate that life & death is cyclical, and the story comes full circle. 5/5
9. Something within the watch house: Difficult to follow - flashbacks? It reminds me of childhood memories that become disjointed as we grow older. Writing is still very beautiful. 3/5
10. The Fare: I liked the modern take on a classic story. The vivid descriptions of the seedy character made all the difference. 4/5
November 29, 2025
You don't have to explain it
May 20, 2025
*EDITORIAL REVIEW*
"I just wanted to share a few thoughts about this anthology. These stories are written by human authors, not AI, and they poured their hearts and imaginations into this project.
There is a great variety of stories and writing styles here. It was my hope to show you HORROR from every possible angle I could. I hope you love the genre as much as I do.
Will every single story inspire you to rate it 5-STARS? I'm guessing, not likely. You will love some, like others, and maybe one or two just won't work for you. I think this is true of most all collections and anthologies. I truly hope that when you put the book down, you smile." - Rod Gilley, senior editor of this project - founder and CEO of RDG BOOKS PRESS
"I just wanted to share a few thoughts about this anthology. These stories are written by human authors, not AI, and they poured their hearts and imaginations into this project.
There is a great variety of stories and writing styles here. It was my hope to show you HORROR from every possible angle I could. I hope you love the genre as much as I do.
Will every single story inspire you to rate it 5-STARS? I'm guessing, not likely. You will love some, like others, and maybe one or two just won't work for you. I think this is true of most all collections and anthologies. I truly hope that when you put the book down, you smile." - Rod Gilley, senior editor of this project - founder and CEO of RDG BOOKS PRESS
July 3, 2025
This collection takes the reader down some dark and twisted paths as we are served a concoction of deliciously macabre tales. ‘Open Wide’ provides a thoroughly unlikeable narrator in a thriller with a sprinkling of gross-out gore. ‘Claudia’ is hauntingly eerie, while we’re delivered a tale of lycanthropic love in ‘Waiting For The Full Moon,’ with ‘Dinner Date’ also sitting firmly in the same sub-genre. ‘Trapped With A Killer’ twists and turns as the reader is thrown into a murderous encounter between two strangers, while ‘Ice Cream Man’ provides an unlikely champion for vulnerable children.
Seven Questions’ is mysteriously claustrophobic, with some intriguing and engaging dialogue between a psychopath and his captive, while ‘Coulrophobia’ provides an incredibly creepy look at Clowns being the harbingers of death and chaos. ‘Something Within The Watch House’ is a dark-fantasy fairytale of sorts, and finally ‘The Fare’ supplies a vampire story based around a curious premise - and is nicely gruesome throughout as it provides a highly satisfying conclusion to the anthology.
Seven Questions’ is mysteriously claustrophobic, with some intriguing and engaging dialogue between a psychopath and his captive, while ‘Coulrophobia’ provides an incredibly creepy look at Clowns being the harbingers of death and chaos. ‘Something Within The Watch House’ is a dark-fantasy fairytale of sorts, and finally ‘The Fare’ supplies a vampire story based around a curious premise - and is nicely gruesome throughout as it provides a highly satisfying conclusion to the anthology.
June 29, 2025
As a child growing up with anthologies like Creepshow and Bodybags thanks to my uncle, this one really drew my attention. An all time favorite, Leslie Kurt, coming in hot with Ice Cream Man that reads like Tom Savini's newspaper man exacting revenge on the bullies, to Toshiya Kamei's story, Waiting For The Full Moon, the whole collection fells like an early 2000s anthology series. Combining realistic feeling phobias like Trapped With A Killer by Carl Bluesy, and Coulrophobia by Ann O'Mara Heyward, this anthology will have you reading nonstop page to page waiting to know the outcome. I usually equate the stories I read to movies I have watched. If you are a fan of any horror anthology, or enjoy a good story with a mysterious spooky character that may lead you to danger, this is definitely one to check out.
May 21, 2025
I was kindly gifted the opportunity to read this anthology in advance of its release. I jumped at the chance to be able to read it because I LOVE a horror anthology, and this bad boy was on my TBR list from the moment I heard about it.
I want to share my thoughts on my favourite of these stories, as I'm a great believer that (much like parents and their kids) there are always ones that you love more than others. What I appreciated about this collection was the range. It shares a great range of different styles of storytelling, with different sub-genres throughout. With a mix of paranormal, violence, phobias, vampires and werewolves - there's a lot to offer from this anthology.
1. Open Wide - This particular story was reminiscent of the best side of /nosleep on Reddit. I absolutely LOVE this type of 'MC loses their mind and crumbles before our eyes at a rapid pace' type of tale.
2. Claudia - I made the fatal mistake of reading this story during an epic storm here in Texas. I've gotta say. If you're freaked out by thunder and want to make it so so much worse - read this story during a storm. Holy toots. The visceral imagery in this one spoke to my spooked out soul and I had to take a little break afterward. I love extreme horror (this isn't in that category) but there are descriptions of things that go 'bump' in the night when you're home alone that scare me far more than the more extreme end of the horror scale. Bravo Mariah Southworth.
3. Ice Cream Man - I love Leslie Kurt's storytelling and I was thrilled to see one of his tales featured in this collection. There were some twitchy moments for me that had me worried about the kid, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story. To give further detail would simply spoil it, but I'm sure that note will resonate with anyone that reads it.
4. Trapped With a Killer - This story gave me whiplash. I actually went back and read it twice because I couldn't believe I missed some of the details. This would make an excellent short film.
5. Seven Questions - This one is delicious. The back and forth between the two main characters is fascinating. I felt like I was in a dank, musty basement watching as a fly on the wall. I loved the journey I went on as a reader.
6. The Fare - I used to be a cab driver, so this one was an absolute riot. Gory, gruesome, greedy and left me wondering if I'd take the payment from this Fare. I'm still not sure whether I would or not.
All in all, I think that the range in this collection has something for a big portion of the horror book lovers out there. I would definitely recommend this to any horror book fans.
Can't wait for the next volume!
I want to share my thoughts on my favourite of these stories, as I'm a great believer that (much like parents and their kids) there are always ones that you love more than others. What I appreciated about this collection was the range. It shares a great range of different styles of storytelling, with different sub-genres throughout. With a mix of paranormal, violence, phobias, vampires and werewolves - there's a lot to offer from this anthology.
1. Open Wide - This particular story was reminiscent of the best side of /nosleep on Reddit. I absolutely LOVE this type of 'MC loses their mind and crumbles before our eyes at a rapid pace' type of tale.
2. Claudia - I made the fatal mistake of reading this story during an epic storm here in Texas. I've gotta say. If you're freaked out by thunder and want to make it so so much worse - read this story during a storm. Holy toots. The visceral imagery in this one spoke to my spooked out soul and I had to take a little break afterward. I love extreme horror (this isn't in that category) but there are descriptions of things that go 'bump' in the night when you're home alone that scare me far more than the more extreme end of the horror scale. Bravo Mariah Southworth.
3. Ice Cream Man - I love Leslie Kurt's storytelling and I was thrilled to see one of his tales featured in this collection. There were some twitchy moments for me that had me worried about the kid, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story. To give further detail would simply spoil it, but I'm sure that note will resonate with anyone that reads it.
4. Trapped With a Killer - This story gave me whiplash. I actually went back and read it twice because I couldn't believe I missed some of the details. This would make an excellent short film.
5. Seven Questions - This one is delicious. The back and forth between the two main characters is fascinating. I felt like I was in a dank, musty basement watching as a fly on the wall. I loved the journey I went on as a reader.
6. The Fare - I used to be a cab driver, so this one was an absolute riot. Gory, gruesome, greedy and left me wondering if I'd take the payment from this Fare. I'm still not sure whether I would or not.
All in all, I think that the range in this collection has something for a big portion of the horror book lovers out there. I would definitely recommend this to any horror book fans.
Can't wait for the next volume!
July 24, 2025
For me, a great anthology does two things: it provides little bite-sized pleasures of reading delight when not in the mood for a novel and introduces new writers. I’m happy to say this one hits the mark.
Honestly, there’s not a bad story in the ten that feature in this collection. Editor Rod Gilley has a great eye.
And the variety of horror is pitched just right. We have revenge killings and zombies, guilt-ghosts and werewolves, serial killers and hit men, clowns and vampires.
I know what you’re thinking: where’s the originality? But these takes don’t retread old ground. Oh no, the beauty of these tales is you have no idea where the story will go based on the set up. And these are bang up to date. I’d bet good money you won’t guess how any of the stories end from the first page.
I also guarantee you’ll want to read more from these indie writers and that they all have a bright future.
Honestly, there’s not a bad story in the ten that feature in this collection. Editor Rod Gilley has a great eye.
And the variety of horror is pitched just right. We have revenge killings and zombies, guilt-ghosts and werewolves, serial killers and hit men, clowns and vampires.
I know what you’re thinking: where’s the originality? But these takes don’t retread old ground. Oh no, the beauty of these tales is you have no idea where the story will go based on the set up. And these are bang up to date. I’d bet good money you won’t guess how any of the stories end from the first page.
I also guarantee you’ll want to read more from these indie writers and that they all have a bright future.
May 23, 2025
First, I'd like to thank Rod for my ARC copy... This title, IT'S DARK IN THEIR MINDS, made me curious... I've been known to have a dark mind from time-to-time. It's an antho of ten stories, only one author that I've ever heard of, but I can guarantee you that there are a few upcoming stars in these pages....
The first few stories didn't grab me , but then I absolutely adored the next few stories..... I'm sure that's a me thing. Most anthos I read seem to be that way... I seemed to enjoy the bloodier stories. And with anthos you get a grab bag and variety of dif types of horror. Bloody horror, creature horror, ghost horror, etc.... I would definitely recommend this book to horror readers that are in the mood for a diverse range of scares....
The first few stories didn't grab me , but then I absolutely adored the next few stories..... I'm sure that's a me thing. Most anthos I read seem to be that way... I seemed to enjoy the bloodier stories. And with anthos you get a grab bag and variety of dif types of horror. Bloody horror, creature horror, ghost horror, etc.... I would definitely recommend this book to horror readers that are in the mood for a diverse range of scares....
July 6, 2025
I'm featured in this anthology but this review is for the other stories included in the collection. This is an amazingly-entertaining collection of stories. From dinner dates where more than breadsticks are served up, to the origins of a boy's fear of Clowns, to an avenging Ice Cream Man, this compendium delivers the goods for fans of classic EC-style horror tales. There's never a dull moment in this highly-entertaining read. I'm looking forward to what the next volume in the series has to offer.
July 2, 2025
This was a fantastic Horror Anthology! I was lucky enough to get an ARK for this and dang did it not disappoint! I really enjoyed each story so much and they are all so different. You get a taste of all kinds of horror, from creepy clowns, shapeshifting wolfs, a crazy ice cream man and many more. My absolute 4 favorite stories are, Open Wide, Waiting for the Full Moon, Ice Cream Man, and Seven Questions. If you are a horror fan do yourself a favor and pick this up!!
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