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Bloody Bones
YOU CAN'T KILL WHAT'S ALREADY DEAD.
Listen... do you hear the squeaking swing?
Bloody Bones is on the porch,
and he's coming to get you.
Thirty years ago, the stranger came to the sleepy southern town of Farnsworth and the killings began. Wearing a black suit and passing himself off as a traveling preacher, the Dark Man targeted children. But when he took the daughter of the local hoodoo woman, she exacted a terrible revenge.
Listen... do you hear the creaking door?
Bloody Bones is in the house,
and he's coming to get you.
Bound to a ploughshare at the bottom of a quicksand hole and unable to die, the Dark Man raged as his body rotted to bones.
Three decades later, a murder and a gruesome burial resurrects the stranger. Now, two boys, a witch, and a deputy will attempt to keep the Dark man from sating his monstrous appetite.
Listen! Do you hear the
blood dripping on your bed?
Bloody Bones is here, and he's...
GOTCHA!
“Garrett Boatman’s Bloody Bones transported me back to those scary twilight tales told by my folks when I was a small child. This rendition of the Bones, however, was considerably more frightening and emotionally charged than the fables that kept me away from the cellar door when I was five. Boatman’s storytelling skills breathes new life into the sanguine boogeyman, providing an excellent excuse to huddle beneath the covers at night and listen for the sound of skeletal footsteps upon the floorboards next to your bed.”
-- Ronald Kelly, author of Fear and Undertaker’s Moon
"Garrett Boatman's Bloody Bones is the scariest, darkest, most entertaining story he has written yet. The best horror book of the year (maybe the next five years) is here!" -- Judith Sonnet, author of The Home
Listen... do you hear the squeaking swing?
Bloody Bones is on the porch,
and he's coming to get you.
Thirty years ago, the stranger came to the sleepy southern town of Farnsworth and the killings began. Wearing a black suit and passing himself off as a traveling preacher, the Dark Man targeted children. But when he took the daughter of the local hoodoo woman, she exacted a terrible revenge.
Listen... do you hear the creaking door?
Bloody Bones is in the house,
and he's coming to get you.
Bound to a ploughshare at the bottom of a quicksand hole and unable to die, the Dark Man raged as his body rotted to bones.
Three decades later, a murder and a gruesome burial resurrects the stranger. Now, two boys, a witch, and a deputy will attempt to keep the Dark man from sating his monstrous appetite.
Listen! Do you hear the
blood dripping on your bed?
Bloody Bones is here, and he's...
GOTCHA!
“Garrett Boatman’s Bloody Bones transported me back to those scary twilight tales told by my folks when I was a small child. This rendition of the Bones, however, was considerably more frightening and emotionally charged than the fables that kept me away from the cellar door when I was five. Boatman’s storytelling skills breathes new life into the sanguine boogeyman, providing an excellent excuse to huddle beneath the covers at night and listen for the sound of skeletal footsteps upon the floorboards next to your bed.”
-- Ronald Kelly, author of Fear and Undertaker’s Moon
"Garrett Boatman's Bloody Bones is the scariest, darkest, most entertaining story he has written yet. The best horror book of the year (maybe the next five years) is here!" -- Judith Sonnet, author of The Home
- GenresHorror
208 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 29, 2025
3 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 1, 2025
Bloody Bones is a jarring, distressing, occult horror. It made my heart hurt.
I am not even going to talk about the plot. I am only going to say that it concerns an abomination from the past that is reawakened by a depraved act 30 years later, told in graphic detail.
It is very dark, disturbing, and upsetting. I feel like I watched someone's soul get crushed when their hope was ripped away by evil. I have always said the best horror can make you feel something.
The writing is skillful, the storytelling is excellent, and I'm sitting here stunned. Never have I ever, until Bloody Bones, read a book that made me wish with all my might that the children in it would die. To be clear, I didn't just want them to die I wanted them to suffer first. Even the thought that they might get away with what they did filled me with such rage that I had to take a break and check my blood pressure.
Even though this is likely to end up on my best horror of the year list for 2025 I would cautiously recommend it to those who think they can handle it. It strained my own boundaries very close to the breaking point.
My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications for the e-ARC.
5 out of 5 stars
I am not even going to talk about the plot. I am only going to say that it concerns an abomination from the past that is reawakened by a depraved act 30 years later, told in graphic detail.
It is very dark, disturbing, and upsetting. I feel like I watched someone's soul get crushed when their hope was ripped away by evil. I have always said the best horror can make you feel something.
The writing is skillful, the storytelling is excellent, and I'm sitting here stunned. Never have I ever, until Bloody Bones, read a book that made me wish with all my might that the children in it would die. To be clear, I didn't just want them to die I wanted them to suffer first. Even the thought that they might get away with what they did filled me with such rage that I had to take a break and check my blood pressure.
Even though this is likely to end up on my best horror of the year list for 2025 I would cautiously recommend it to those who think they can handle it. It strained my own boundaries very close to the breaking point.
My thanks to Cemetery Dance Publications for the e-ARC.
5 out of 5 stars
August 9, 2025
"Bloody Bones" has that "Paperbacks from Hell" feel nailed down, only Boatman has notched it up a bit by including graphic descriptions of gore and violence bordering on contemporary extreme horror. The fact that the story revolves around kids, and teenage violence in particular, is just a bonus - if you're a dedicated horror lover, that is; otherwise, the book will upset your stomach, as well as irk and disturb your more sensitive sensibilities. But this is a classic "sorry not sorry" situation.
In fact, a list of triggers might easily summarize the plot in a handily way: child death, animal death (both violent), even more child and animal death (this second time, I confess I found it justified - damn you, Garrett Boatman LOL), domestic abuse, SA (mentioned twice), psychological, emotional and mental abuse, and, of course, lots of gory killings, walking corpses, and flapping skin over emptied out stomachs. That said, the book also has an incredibly compelling cast of caring parents, a local hoodoo woman who's been already involved in the nastiness transpiring throughout the novel, and a sheriff you'll simply love to hate; plus very well-drawn characters, a strong coming-of-age theme, wonderful rural settings (OK, just a swamp, but it's important to the story), and terrific writing (unusually well placed flashbacks, few and exactly when needed) - I actually finished the book in one sitting, wondering how such an intricately plotted story would resolve itself. I wish the ending felt less rushed, it felt too abrupt, but perhaps there are details I missed.
The villain deserves special mention: powerful, unsympathetic, terrifying! Also totally insane; it was quite refreshing, to me at least, that the book wholly skipped any explanation of his point of view, and made no effort to make his actions understandable or relatable. He's just an ugly piece of work, driven by the desire to survive - at any cost!
This is not a typical kids-in-peril horror story; it's dark and often anxiety-inducing. I recommend it highly to experienced horror readers, or anyone who enjoys horror with an older feel, though also eager to risk their soul and sanity!
In fact, a list of triggers might easily summarize the plot in a handily way: child death, animal death (both violent), even more child and animal death (this second time, I confess I found it justified - damn you, Garrett Boatman LOL), domestic abuse, SA (mentioned twice), psychological, emotional and mental abuse, and, of course, lots of gory killings, walking corpses, and flapping skin over emptied out stomachs. That said, the book also has an incredibly compelling cast of caring parents, a local hoodoo woman who's been already involved in the nastiness transpiring throughout the novel, and a sheriff you'll simply love to hate; plus very well-drawn characters, a strong coming-of-age theme, wonderful rural settings (OK, just a swamp, but it's important to the story), and terrific writing (unusually well placed flashbacks, few and exactly when needed) - I actually finished the book in one sitting, wondering how such an intricately plotted story would resolve itself. I wish the ending felt less rushed, it felt too abrupt, but perhaps there are details I missed.
The villain deserves special mention: powerful, unsympathetic, terrifying! Also totally insane; it was quite refreshing, to me at least, that the book wholly skipped any explanation of his point of view, and made no effort to make his actions understandable or relatable. He's just an ugly piece of work, driven by the desire to survive - at any cost!
This is not a typical kids-in-peril horror story; it's dark and often anxiety-inducing. I recommend it highly to experienced horror readers, or anyone who enjoys horror with an older feel, though also eager to risk their soul and sanity!
July 29, 2025
Bones
A small town with a unique urban legend of Bloody Bones. A tale everyone knows. A group of kids are in the middle of the legend now. Three is something happening to them one by one. Bloody Bones is coming to get ya. The friends must try and survive. Great coming of age read full of love and horror.
A small town with a unique urban legend of Bloody Bones. A tale everyone knows. A group of kids are in the middle of the legend now. Three is something happening to them one by one. Bloody Bones is coming to get ya. The friends must try and survive. Great coming of age read full of love and horror.
July 28, 2025
It’s obvious from page 1 that Garrett Boatman’s Bloody Bones is not going to be the sanitized (if still scary) version of folk tales you heard on your mamaw’s porch. And that’s (mostly) a good thing - just be ready for the darkness.
Boatman exponentially dials up the fear by telling the story through three perspectives: the children’s - through whose eyes we are reminded of our own childhood fears, bullies, parents fighting, and the thing in the dark; the adults - easily relatable as adult readers, fear for your family’s safety, the day to day of providing for them, grief of those lost over the years; and - perhaps most chillingly of all - through the eyes of Bloody Bones himself, insatiable and powered by hoodoo.
Perfect for anyone who enjoys telling scary stories around the campfire or reading under your blanket with a flashlight on - though I’d suggest turning all the lights in the house on for this one.
Thanks to Cemetery Dance for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Boatman exponentially dials up the fear by telling the story through three perspectives: the children’s - through whose eyes we are reminded of our own childhood fears, bullies, parents fighting, and the thing in the dark; the adults - easily relatable as adult readers, fear for your family’s safety, the day to day of providing for them, grief of those lost over the years; and - perhaps most chillingly of all - through the eyes of Bloody Bones himself, insatiable and powered by hoodoo.
Perfect for anyone who enjoys telling scary stories around the campfire or reading under your blanket with a flashlight on - though I’d suggest turning all the lights in the house on for this one.
Thanks to Cemetery Dance for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 26, 2025
Thank you to the author and the publisher or publishers for all your hard work! I'm leaving this review voluntarily and happily! Take a look!
This was a book filled with hatred, death, and gore. It's been a while since I've read a book like this. Even with those listed above, there is much more to it than that. There are children that are going through something awful, families that are suffering, and an evil that has arrived angry and ready to cause as much chaos and pain as it can. The characters in this book I did have a hard time connecting to one of them. Even so, I loved the change and growth they went through. There are deaths that I wish didn't happen, and some that im so glad that did.
I don't wish to spoil anything, so im not going to go much more into any details, but there are some triggering things. Death of children, animal death, and rape. There is very dark imagery in this book, and it's something to not take lightly. With that, I still enjoyed the lore of Bloody Bones and know others will, too.
This was a book filled with hatred, death, and gore. It's been a while since I've read a book like this. Even with those listed above, there is much more to it than that. There are children that are going through something awful, families that are suffering, and an evil that has arrived angry and ready to cause as much chaos and pain as it can. The characters in this book I did have a hard time connecting to one of them. Even so, I loved the change and growth they went through. There are deaths that I wish didn't happen, and some that im so glad that did.
I don't wish to spoil anything, so im not going to go much more into any details, but there are some triggering things. Death of children, animal death, and rape. There is very dark imagery in this book, and it's something to not take lightly. With that, I still enjoyed the lore of Bloody Bones and know others will, too.
August 16, 2025
Bloody bones is a great folklore to tell for camping. Be sure to make sure he don't get ya! This folklore everyone has heard and still gives you goosebumps!
July 27, 2025
This book was amazing! I loved the Hoo doo aspects brought into this. The folklore behind Bloody Bones and how the Bocor came to be in this poor little town drew me in. This was so well written. I never wanted to put this down. Horror perfection.
August 16, 2025
Bloody Bones was creepy, disturbing, eerie story. This is one of those stories that would be amazing around a campfire. After a young child is murdered and the murder is covered up, the young boys' parents is desperate to know what happened to their son. They seek out some sort of supernatural seer and after she tells them what happens, she tells them that she may be able to bring him back and explains that but it won't fully be him. What ends up happening is a resurrection of a dark spirit, the Dark man. Thirty years ago, the Dark Man came to the town of Fransworth and targeted children. But when he takes the daughter of a local hoodoo woman, she takes revenge and places some sort of spell on him. Now, he's been been resurrected and his spirit is picking up right where he left off. Now the children of the town must survive.
This story is very well written and keeps you hooked. I enjoyed the way in which the story was told. The details are so descriptive t gives you perfect imagery of what's happening. I recommend giving this a read!
This story is very well written and keeps you hooked. I enjoyed the way in which the story was told. The details are so descriptive t gives you perfect imagery of what's happening. I recommend giving this a read!
August 12, 2025
Bloody Bones is a brutal, uncompromising tour-de-force that shocks and chills you with its depiction of evil and what it is capable of.
The story is not for the faint of heart. It is confronting, and contains triggers around child and animal death, SA and assault. If you can get past that then you are in for a ride reminiscent of some of the older 80s/90s horror books. It is fast paced, contains some despicable characters and often feels overwhelmingly gloomy but that just serves to make the story more effective and bring the horror of to life.
The evil that pervades this small town is truly horrifying, and the Bloody Bones character is one that thrives on hate and its own desires and will stop at nothing to get what it wants. It has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, making it one of the most memorable villains of the books I've read this year.
If you are able to handle the heavy themes involved, this book will suit those that lean more towards extreme horror or the old school fans of the paperbacks from hell. If that sounds like you, then you will enjoy this one.
The story is not for the faint of heart. It is confronting, and contains triggers around child and animal death, SA and assault. If you can get past that then you are in for a ride reminiscent of some of the older 80s/90s horror books. It is fast paced, contains some despicable characters and often feels overwhelmingly gloomy but that just serves to make the story more effective and bring the horror of to life.
The evil that pervades this small town is truly horrifying, and the Bloody Bones character is one that thrives on hate and its own desires and will stop at nothing to get what it wants. It has no redeeming qualities whatsoever, making it one of the most memorable villains of the books I've read this year.
If you are able to handle the heavy themes involved, this book will suit those that lean more towards extreme horror or the old school fans of the paperbacks from hell. If that sounds like you, then you will enjoy this one.
September 12, 2025
I read this book with so much indication that it would be an excellent story. I was right. From the opening prologue to the last sentence; I was impressed with this author’s storytelling. Bloody Bones sounds like a name made up to keep mischievous children in line. The story starts out like this but then turns into something so much worse. The children of this story were some good and bad mannered children and would soon find out that sometimes there is truth to those stories granny tells. I was thoroughly entertained when the story came out about how Bloody Bones came to be. I felt the horrible grief by parents whom had lost their children. Although what these boys had done to Lamar was terrible the consequences far exceeded the crime. But this was fiction so the story is supposed to give the reader “beware of your behavior” vibes.
August 4, 2025
Brisk, engaging and deftly written horror novella that will grab your attention from the shocking opening chapter and grip you until its slightly abrupt ending. Fans of small town horror and old school Stephen King will eat this right the hell up.
Apparently Bloody Bones itself is a folk creature dreamt up to scare American nippers. Here in Australia we just had spiders the size of dinner plates and the deadly marsupials of Drop Bear season.
Apparently Bloody Bones itself is a folk creature dreamt up to scare American nippers. Here in Australia we just had spiders the size of dinner plates and the deadly marsupials of Drop Bear season.
August 10, 2025
3.5 stars. Voodoo and revenge in the swamps brings Mr Bloody Bones back for some small town revenge
August 19, 2025
With Bloody Bones, we continue to herald the triumphant return of Garrett Boatman to horror. Starting with its tense opening, this book brims with gory menace, and it never lets up. This is the kind of novel that reminds me why I love reading horror.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews