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Fifteen Eyes
Solomon Northcutt enjoys the simple things in a nice sweater vest, trivia night with co-workers, and using the eyeballs of the deceased to transcribe horrific deaths for his bosses' reading pleasure.
Tag along with our happy-go-lucky tour guide, Solomon, as he cracks open a fresh batch of 15 sordid tales. There’ll be all sorts of fun stuff inside…
Astrology cults. Bodily theft. Cowboys. A whole ton of ants. Cosmic gods the size of skyscrapers. Religious pilgrimages. Arsonists. A traveling guitar player who grants wishes. Desert cannibals. People floating away on balloons. Addiction. A trip to Heaven. Mental hellscapes. The end of the world. A puppet made from decaying body parts and household appliances. Oh, and maybe a werewolf.
Dress Business casual. Just try to keep the murder to a minimum.
Tag along with our happy-go-lucky tour guide, Solomon, as he cracks open a fresh batch of 15 sordid tales. There’ll be all sorts of fun stuff inside…
Astrology cults. Bodily theft. Cowboys. A whole ton of ants. Cosmic gods the size of skyscrapers. Religious pilgrimages. Arsonists. A traveling guitar player who grants wishes. Desert cannibals. People floating away on balloons. Addiction. A trip to Heaven. Mental hellscapes. The end of the world. A puppet made from decaying body parts and household appliances. Oh, and maybe a werewolf.
Dress Business casual. Just try to keep the murder to a minimum.
- GenresHorrorShort Stories
320 pages, Paperback
Published July 20, 2025
44 people are currently reading
157 people want to read
About the author
Tyler Downs
2 books24 followersTyler Downs is a long-time writer and avid reader who's new to the author scene. He currently resides in Maryland, and he loves writing weird, dark stories that give his imagination an excuse to run wild.
His debut short story collection, Fifteen Eyes, was released in August of 2025, and he has two novels planned for early 2026.
For anyone interested in staying up to date or being eligible for future ARCs, be sure to follow him on social media or visit his website at www.tylerdowns.org and subscribe to his newsletter. Signed copies are available for purchase there as well.
Facebook: Tyler Downs
IG & TikTok: tyler_s_downs
His debut short story collection, Fifteen Eyes, was released in August of 2025, and he has two novels planned for early 2026.
For anyone interested in staying up to date or being eligible for future ARCs, be sure to follow him on social media or visit his website at www.tylerdowns.org and subscribe to his newsletter. Signed copies are available for purchase there as well.
Facebook: Tyler Downs
IG & TikTok: tyler_s_downs
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 2, 2025
Fantastic collection of short stories with Fifteen Eyes. I definitely had a favourite story...there's something sickly satisfying about that particular niche/way of changing your "outfit" stuck with me!
December 22, 2025
Beware! This debut horror collection is dangerous: totally immersive and completely addictive, you gonna forget to breathe! What's more, the stories actually feel like genuine nightmares: from the get go, the surprising visuals (a naked man cooking in an office's communal kitchen; a black-eyed ten-year-old girl holding a cigarette - to mention just a few in the very first pages, without spoiling anything) combine with an incomparable sense of unease - and this only increases as the tales get more and more complex, more and more intense! It's a reading experience I've very rarely had with a collection, this feeling of subtle recognition ("it feels like a dream I had"), the hammer dropping left and right ("how did he come up with this?"), the imagery so unnerving (eyes opening on an arm, a hand offering a cube out of a closet, spider legs crawling out of a severed head), the night terrors atmosphere ("welp, I think I'm in a nightmare!") - the cover with the fifteen eyeballs was just a bonus!
Avoiding spoilers, I'll mention my top five stories, stories worth the price of the collection alone: "Method," a stunning tale of intricate body horror, whose premise was very much reminiscent of the obscure 2013 Scarlett Johansson horror film Under the Skin; "Lonesome Lake," an incredibly suspenseful story of online dating going wrong, whose ambiguities are integral part of the plot; "Anthill," an excellent deployment of the creepy child trope; "Happy," a brilliant, sinister version of Up for horror fans; and "Seventh House," a darkly humorous trip of astrology satire and cult horror with cosmic horror overtones.
If you're into horror as a way to work through your fears, well forget it - this book will even give you some new ones! Highly, very highly recommended!
Avoiding spoilers, I'll mention my top five stories, stories worth the price of the collection alone: "Method," a stunning tale of intricate body horror, whose premise was very much reminiscent of the obscure 2013 Scarlett Johansson horror film Under the Skin; "Lonesome Lake," an incredibly suspenseful story of online dating going wrong, whose ambiguities are integral part of the plot; "Anthill," an excellent deployment of the creepy child trope; "Happy," a brilliant, sinister version of Up for horror fans; and "Seventh House," a darkly humorous trip of astrology satire and cult horror with cosmic horror overtones.
If you're into horror as a way to work through your fears, well forget it - this book will even give you some new ones! Highly, very highly recommended!
December 18, 2025
4.5 stars
I picked up Fifteen Eyes already interested just from the cover. Eyes always get me. I also really enjoy short story collections, so this felt like something I’d have a good time with, and I did.
What really worked for me was the structure. Solomon guiding you through the stories ended up being something I appreciated more than I expected. It gave the book a sense of continuity that made it easier to sink into, even when each story went in a different direction.
There are fifteen stories total, and I liked a lot of them. Method, Missing, Machine, and Happy were the ones that pulled me in right away. But The Gates of Icarus, Seventh House, and Paradise were the clear standouts for me. Those are the stories I kept going back to in my head after I finished.
As I was reading, I found it easy to keep going. I didn’t feel the urge to put it down or space the stories out. That doesn’t always happen for me with collections, so I noticed it here. I liked not knowing what I was going to get next while still feeling grounded in the book.
If you enjoy weird horror and short fiction, this is one I’d recommend. It also gave me Elias Witherow vibes, which made me smile. By the time I finished, I was really glad I’d picked it up
I picked up Fifteen Eyes already interested just from the cover. Eyes always get me. I also really enjoy short story collections, so this felt like something I’d have a good time with, and I did.
What really worked for me was the structure. Solomon guiding you through the stories ended up being something I appreciated more than I expected. It gave the book a sense of continuity that made it easier to sink into, even when each story went in a different direction.
There are fifteen stories total, and I liked a lot of them. Method, Missing, Machine, and Happy were the ones that pulled me in right away. But The Gates of Icarus, Seventh House, and Paradise were the clear standouts for me. Those are the stories I kept going back to in my head after I finished.
As I was reading, I found it easy to keep going. I didn’t feel the urge to put it down or space the stories out. That doesn’t always happen for me with collections, so I noticed it here. I liked not knowing what I was going to get next while still feeling grounded in the book.
If you enjoy weird horror and short fiction, this is one I’d recommend. It also gave me Elias Witherow vibes, which made me smile. By the time I finished, I was really glad I’d picked it up
October 17, 2025
Is Fifteen Eyes one of the best short story collections I've ever read? 👁️ ABSOLUTELY 👁️
Tyler Downs has crafted a collection of tales that feel both fresh and captivating. I devoured each story, and sadly.. did not have to discipline to savor each deliciously horrific bite.
Imagine if Nathan Ballingrud wrote 'Night Shift' while on the set of 'Cabin in the Woods' and then sprinkled it with some magic Clive Barker dust... that's Fifteen Eyes.
Combine a brilliant framework to house these stories (seriously) with some disturbing, heart-wrenching and downright bizarre tales of demise, and you're left with a truly special book.
The contents are broad, ranging from classic monsters to dark fantasy, cosmic horror to the dark depths of humanity. There is something in here for all fans of spooky reads.
Tyler Downs has gifted us an all-time great collection of stories on his FIRST release. He deserves so much accolade, and I hope that everyone picks up a copy of this essential work of horror.
Indie Horror continues to ascend through the emergence of new authors, and I believe Tyler Downs has the talent to be one of the best. You better keep your eyes (all fifteen of them) out for anything he writes.
Long live Sol!
Tyler Downs has crafted a collection of tales that feel both fresh and captivating. I devoured each story, and sadly.. did not have to discipline to savor each deliciously horrific bite.
Imagine if Nathan Ballingrud wrote 'Night Shift' while on the set of 'Cabin in the Woods' and then sprinkled it with some magic Clive Barker dust... that's Fifteen Eyes.
Combine a brilliant framework to house these stories (seriously) with some disturbing, heart-wrenching and downright bizarre tales of demise, and you're left with a truly special book.
The contents are broad, ranging from classic monsters to dark fantasy, cosmic horror to the dark depths of humanity. There is something in here for all fans of spooky reads.
Tyler Downs has gifted us an all-time great collection of stories on his FIRST release. He deserves so much accolade, and I hope that everyone picks up a copy of this essential work of horror.
Indie Horror continues to ascend through the emergence of new authors, and I believe Tyler Downs has the talent to be one of the best. You better keep your eyes (all fifteen of them) out for anything he writes.
Long live Sol!
December 27, 2025
What an outstanding collection.
Tyler Downs is going places. If a publisher doesn’t pick him up at some point, they’re idiots. His prose is punchy, witty, and clean.
This collection is unique, weird, and engaging. I felt like I was reading something new and fresh. My favorite aspect is that every story has something to say. Downs threads in themes like self-image, online dating, and our insignificant motivations in the grand scheme of things. My personal favorites were Method, Lonesome Lake, and Missing.
If you’re looking for something well written and original, look no further than Fifteen Eyes.
Tyler Downs is going places. If a publisher doesn’t pick him up at some point, they’re idiots. His prose is punchy, witty, and clean.
This collection is unique, weird, and engaging. I felt like I was reading something new and fresh. My favorite aspect is that every story has something to say. Downs threads in themes like self-image, online dating, and our insignificant motivations in the grand scheme of things. My personal favorites were Method, Lonesome Lake, and Missing.
If you’re looking for something well written and original, look no further than Fifteen Eyes.
October 9, 2025
Fifteen Eyes by Tyler Downs
5/5
Fifteen Eyes is Tales from the Crypt for smart kids, and I mean that in the best possible way.
It's very possible to go one way or the other when creating a collection of short stories, where they can be too samey or feel like a hodgepodge of ideas that were thrown together on a whim.
Tyler strikes a perfect balance here, all of his stories are varied and manage to keep you guessing what's next, while still feeling like they're cut from the same cloth.
There's a term that I look for when I'm scanning through reviews, and it's 'literary horror.' I sometimes hesitate to use is it because I don't want to sound like a snob, but I'll use it here. I'll use the term to describe Tyler's writing because he's earned it. This is an excellent book.
I'll go one further for you. There's some writers that I put on pedestal for their short story collections. Authors who hit the exact right notes for me. That list goes Tyler Jones, Nathan Ballingrud and Gage Greenwood. Tyler Downs belongs in that conversation.
It's a fine line between being clever for the sake of showing off and telling a great story that makes a reader feel smarter when they're done.
It's a rare treat to pick up a book by a person you've only heard of here and there and feel like you've discovered a rare gem.
I'm excited to see what's next, whatever it is, I have no doubt that Tyler's going to smash it.
5/5
Fifteen Eyes is Tales from the Crypt for smart kids, and I mean that in the best possible way.
It's very possible to go one way or the other when creating a collection of short stories, where they can be too samey or feel like a hodgepodge of ideas that were thrown together on a whim.
Tyler strikes a perfect balance here, all of his stories are varied and manage to keep you guessing what's next, while still feeling like they're cut from the same cloth.
There's a term that I look for when I'm scanning through reviews, and it's 'literary horror.' I sometimes hesitate to use is it because I don't want to sound like a snob, but I'll use it here. I'll use the term to describe Tyler's writing because he's earned it. This is an excellent book.
I'll go one further for you. There's some writers that I put on pedestal for their short story collections. Authors who hit the exact right notes for me. That list goes Tyler Jones, Nathan Ballingrud and Gage Greenwood. Tyler Downs belongs in that conversation.
It's a fine line between being clever for the sake of showing off and telling a great story that makes a reader feel smarter when they're done.
It's a rare treat to pick up a book by a person you've only heard of here and there and feel like you've discovered a rare gem.
I'm excited to see what's next, whatever it is, I have no doubt that Tyler's going to smash it.
December 12, 2025
Fifteen Eyes hosts fifteen short stories; each with wildly different flavors of horror. Some are dread soaked, some blood soaked, some outright stupefying, and some drift straight into fever dream territory. This might as well be a collection of my favorite short stories, tbh.
Tyler Downs crafts fifteen tales that feel like they’re happening on entirely different planets, yet they’re all tethered by one brilliant and unsettling throughline. Every story dropped me into a new world with its own terrifying alternate reality. I didn’t want to step through a single door (eye?), but I savored every one.
The horror swings from obscene body horror (hello, marionettes, my mortal enemy) to the shocking and downright deranged. Some stories simmer with slow building dread; others hit like a freight train.
I usually struggle with collections. I tend to adore a few and side eye the rest (ha). Buy every one of these grabbed me. Sure some resonated more than others, but don’t ask me to pick a favorite. I won’t. I refuse.
This is an author I’ll be watching. Thank you to Tyler Downs for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own.
Tyler Downs crafts fifteen tales that feel like they’re happening on entirely different planets, yet they’re all tethered by one brilliant and unsettling throughline. Every story dropped me into a new world with its own terrifying alternate reality. I didn’t want to step through a single door (eye?), but I savored every one.
The horror swings from obscene body horror (hello, marionettes, my mortal enemy) to the shocking and downright deranged. Some stories simmer with slow building dread; others hit like a freight train.
I usually struggle with collections. I tend to adore a few and side eye the rest (ha). Buy every one of these grabbed me. Sure some resonated more than others, but don’t ask me to pick a favorite. I won’t. I refuse.
This is an author I’ll be watching. Thank you to Tyler Downs for the gifted copy — all opinions are my own.
November 20, 2025
Listen, I can't make any sense out of the fact that this is Tyler's first book. Seriously. I was absolutely hooked from story one. The characters and locations are so beautifully written, it is easy to feel like you're right there with them... Despite the fact that one of them has no head. Each story unfolds at exactly the right pace and the endings all hit just right. I can't even complain about any of them. My favorite one, however, was Gates of Icarus. This book moved right up onto my favorites list and I highly recommend you read it
December 16, 2025
One of the best short story collections I’ve ever read.
Truly enjoyed every page.
Will be back soon with a proper review!
Truly enjoyed every page.
Will be back soon with a proper review!
October 16, 2025
Unique stories that I didn’t want to end. One of my favorite books I’ve read this year.
September 2, 2025
One of the best books I've read in years.
If you're reading this right now, I'm assuming you haven't read Fifteen Eyes yet. If so, consider yourself lucky, because you still get to read this book for the first time. You know that feeling? When you finish a book, and wish you could go back and read it for the first time all over again? I was blown away by this book. The stories and characters are truly unique, and the author manages to hook you in from page one. As a fellow indie author, I was impressed by the creativity, writing style, and how polished this short story collection is overall. I found myself spacing out my reading sessions, purely because I didn't want it to be over. I'm honestly not a huge fan of short stories as a reader; I prefer novels myself, but I loved this book. It reminded me of reading some of the Roald Dahl short story collections I loved as a kid, only, you know, a grown-up, sort of ****ed -up version. I couldn't wait to find out what weirdness was going to ensue next. If you love existential dread, cosmic horror, all things spooky and weird, and have a sense of humor, I know you'll love this book too. These are stories that will stick with you, and unfortunately, you can only read them for the first time once. So, what are you doing still reading this review? Read the book already!
If you're reading this right now, I'm assuming you haven't read Fifteen Eyes yet. If so, consider yourself lucky, because you still get to read this book for the first time. You know that feeling? When you finish a book, and wish you could go back and read it for the first time all over again? I was blown away by this book. The stories and characters are truly unique, and the author manages to hook you in from page one. As a fellow indie author, I was impressed by the creativity, writing style, and how polished this short story collection is overall. I found myself spacing out my reading sessions, purely because I didn't want it to be over. I'm honestly not a huge fan of short stories as a reader; I prefer novels myself, but I loved this book. It reminded me of reading some of the Roald Dahl short story collections I loved as a kid, only, you know, a grown-up, sort of ****ed -up version. I couldn't wait to find out what weirdness was going to ensue next. If you love existential dread, cosmic horror, all things spooky and weird, and have a sense of humor, I know you'll love this book too. These are stories that will stick with you, and unfortunately, you can only read them for the first time once. So, what are you doing still reading this review? Read the book already!
December 19, 2025
Fifteen eyes. Fifteen doorways to the tortured souls that previously wore those eyes. Eyes that held and wrestled with every imaginable human emotion throughout their lives and during their horrific, tormented deaths.
I love how Tyler Downs states that he had no idea of the basis for his story collection until he saw James Hutton’s cover art. Those juicy eyeballs glistened with inspiration, which filled Tyler’s head with “… eyeball-inspired visions” that became Solomon’s fifteen stories.
You may be asking, who is Solomon? Well, Solomon Northcutt is a Case File Assessor, but these are no ordinary files, at least, not in the way they are stored. This is no ordinary data storage system. There are no punch cards, magnetic tapes, hard drives, floppy disks, CDs, or USBs. There is simply just eyes; eyes in their neat little storage units, plopped into a jar like reluctant, slimy tadpoles.
Solomon extracts or, more accurately, views the data—the soul—from these eyeballs and writes a story based on each to present to his boss. So, from just seeing that eyeball cover, Tyler gives us a tremendous story collection throughline; the central, bloody thread that binds each story together.
It would be too easy for me to inadvertently inject a spoiler into this review as, after all, these are short stories. Therefore, I’m not going to describe them. That’s something for you, unsuspecting reader, to delve into yourselves; to sink into the myriad depths of Tyler’s mind and leave the world behind, if just for one, mind-blowing moment.
As a debut, Tyler’s collection of stories is a masterclass in literary entertainment worthy of high praise indeed. There were some issues, and Tyler openly admits he self-edited this collection, so that is the only area that faltered slightly for me. That said, with writing this good, it was easy to overlook them.
I especially loved the first story, ‘Method,’ and the intermission where we slide out of the eyeball’s focus and switch back to Solomon [“Bless you”].
‘Eye’ly recommended.
I love how Tyler Downs states that he had no idea of the basis for his story collection until he saw James Hutton’s cover art. Those juicy eyeballs glistened with inspiration, which filled Tyler’s head with “… eyeball-inspired visions” that became Solomon’s fifteen stories.
You may be asking, who is Solomon? Well, Solomon Northcutt is a Case File Assessor, but these are no ordinary files, at least, not in the way they are stored. This is no ordinary data storage system. There are no punch cards, magnetic tapes, hard drives, floppy disks, CDs, or USBs. There is simply just eyes; eyes in their neat little storage units, plopped into a jar like reluctant, slimy tadpoles.
Solomon extracts or, more accurately, views the data—the soul—from these eyeballs and writes a story based on each to present to his boss. So, from just seeing that eyeball cover, Tyler gives us a tremendous story collection throughline; the central, bloody thread that binds each story together.
It would be too easy for me to inadvertently inject a spoiler into this review as, after all, these are short stories. Therefore, I’m not going to describe them. That’s something for you, unsuspecting reader, to delve into yourselves; to sink into the myriad depths of Tyler’s mind and leave the world behind, if just for one, mind-blowing moment.
As a debut, Tyler’s collection of stories is a masterclass in literary entertainment worthy of high praise indeed. There were some issues, and Tyler openly admits he self-edited this collection, so that is the only area that faltered slightly for me. That said, with writing this good, it was easy to overlook them.
I especially loved the first story, ‘Method,’ and the intermission where we slide out of the eyeball’s focus and switch back to Solomon [“Bless you”].
‘Eye’ly recommended.
January 3, 2026
Join Solomon —a cheerful chap—as he pops other peoples eyeballs into his socket to reveal their final moments.
Fifteen eyes. Solomon then transcribes his sights for his boss to get her jollies.
Is Solomon who says he is though?
Will his boss accept his work for the day?
These stories have it all. Murder, cosmic entities, werewolves, body snatchers, you name it! It goes hand in hand with the obscure characters and their quirks.
My favorites of the collection were: Method, Anthill, and paradise.
I loved the overarching story that connects all shorts from beginning to end, creating a bizzare, unreal reality.
This is a complete grab bag of stories, which one will be your favorite?
It was truly a refreshing, funny, horrific read. It’s insane that this is Tyler’s first release, I’m excited for what his future holds.
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Fifteen eyes. Solomon then transcribes his sights for his boss to get her jollies.
Is Solomon who says he is though?
Will his boss accept his work for the day?
These stories have it all. Murder, cosmic entities, werewolves, body snatchers, you name it! It goes hand in hand with the obscure characters and their quirks.
My favorites of the collection were: Method, Anthill, and paradise.
I loved the overarching story that connects all shorts from beginning to end, creating a bizzare, unreal reality.
This is a complete grab bag of stories, which one will be your favorite?
It was truly a refreshing, funny, horrific read. It’s insane that this is Tyler’s first release, I’m excited for what his future holds.
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 17, 2025
This is a book to be savoured. Read one of the stories, then take some time to get over it before moving on to the next one. It is fun, superbly written, and always a sign of a good book – towards the end you don’t want it to stop and you hope there is another one being written. I had such a smile on my face while reading one of these stories that the people with me on the Metro started to get worried.
I really do recommend getting a proper book with real pages rather than flicking through a screen. For the price of a couple of coffees, you will have a much better reading experience, and something you definitely want to keep on your bookshelf. If there is a follow-up to Fifteen Eyes, I will be right at the front of the queue.
Brilliant.
I really do recommend getting a proper book with real pages rather than flicking through a screen. For the price of a couple of coffees, you will have a much better reading experience, and something you definitely want to keep on your bookshelf. If there is a follow-up to Fifteen Eyes, I will be right at the front of the queue.
Brilliant.
October 30, 2025
This was a fun set of stories, creepy and horrific, but in a good way. My favorite stories in this one were the Astrology cult one and the one where the MC goes to heaven only to find it's too perfect. Each story has a creative edge to it and has it's own surprise. The stories are as crazy as the cover, which I admit was the reason I got the book. This has the feeling of Tales from the Crypt with the Solomon character, loved the show BTW.
If you enjoy short story collections, this needs to be on your list like right now. The cover is fire, but the stories inside are even better.
If you enjoy short story collections, this needs to be on your list like right now. The cover is fire, but the stories inside are even better.
January 8, 2026
This is an excellent self-published horror collection that offers an impressive variety of subgenres. It features everything from crafty Western horror and lament configuration style tales to thought-provoking speculative fiction about heaven. "Seventh House" is easily one of my favorite short stories of 2025. I’m eagerly looking forward to the author's contribution to "A Chronicle of Horrors", another anthology set for release on January 10th.
Major props to James Hutton as well for creating some killer cover art.
Major props to James Hutton as well for creating some killer cover art.
September 4, 2025
This collection of short stories captivated me.
Tyler Downs is a breath of fresh air in the horror genre. These are the kind of stories that stick in your mind long after you’ve read them.
Particular stand outs for me are Method, Lonesome Lake, Missing and as for Monarch? A masterpiece.
Tyler Downs is a breath of fresh air in the horror genre. These are the kind of stories that stick in your mind long after you’ve read them.
Particular stand outs for me are Method, Lonesome Lake, Missing and as for Monarch? A masterpiece.
January 5, 2026
Excellent read
Well-written, unique, creative, bizarre... All good ways to describe this book. I enjoyed it immensely. This book is a must read if you're looking for something a bit different.
Well-written, unique, creative, bizarre... All good ways to describe this book. I enjoyed it immensely. This book is a must read if you're looking for something a bit different.
January 13, 2026
These stories were something else. Weird, supernatural, gross and so beautifully written. It's incredible that this was this author's first book, I can't wait to see what else Tyler Downs has in store for us!
August 28, 2025
This was a fun, weird, creepy, fantastic read. I loved Sol’s character and the world he exists in. Can’t wait to read whatever comes next!
December 30, 2025
This is a set of short horror stories and I honestly had the best time. They’re all creepy in their own way but they all came together and connected somehow in the end and I loved it!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews