Old Haunts

by Mark Towse, Nathan D. Ludwig

‘Insidious’ meets ‘The Three Stooges’

Introducing Roy Bingham, Bruce Suffolk, and Kenneth Dristan: three ex-cons with a new lease on life. Ghost-hunting is their latest hustle, all for the sake of their YouTube show, 'Is it Real?' Things are looking up; the show's a hit, and their social presence is skyrocketing. But knowing viewer loyalty only stretches so far, Roy is more than aware that all good things can come to a crashing end, especially when every place they scope turns out to be a hoax. He wants more. Ken wants to fake it. Bruce wants a beer and a nap.

A cryptic and anonymous text out of the blue, claiming to have access to the real deal, along with talk of a 'cursed stash of cash,' has Roy more than a little excited. Kicking and screaming, his colleagues are coerced into coming along for the ride, a terrifying odyssey into a horrific world of ghosts, demons and alternate dimensions.

Things are about to get sinister in this hilarious and chilling spookshow from Mark Towse and Nathan D. Ludwig.

183 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2025

About the author

Mark Towse is an English horror writer living in Australia. He would sell his soul to the devil or anyone buying if it meant he could write full-time. Alas, he left it very late to begin this journey, penning his first story since primary school at the ripe old age of forty-five. Since then, he's been published in over two hundred journals and anthologies, had his work made into full theatrical productions for shows such as The No Sleep Podcast and Tales to Terrify, and has penned fourteen novellas, including Nana, Gone to the Dogs, 3:33, and Crows. He also has two very well-received story collections, 'There's Something Wrong with Aunty Beth,' and 'You Only Live Once.' Chasing The Dragon is his debut novel.

'Mark Towse is an exciting new discovery. His stories are hidden gems that glint in the darkness. His characters draw you into their worlds, making you care, then plunge you into the abyss, leaving only a memory of warmth. These tales will linger in your mind long after the telling. His are heart-felt stories with an icy edge. Highly recommended.'
Trevor Denyer – Editor and Publisher – Midnight Street Press

https://twitter.com/MarkTowsey12
https://www.facebook.com/mark.towse.75
https://marktowsedarkfiction.wordpres...

Reviews

[Ga.selle (Semi-hiatus) Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Psychics? Planes? Killing a dead man? This is Stephen King on acid territory. Are you fucking mad?"


☠️ a horror-comedy described as "'Insidious' meets 'The Three Stooges.'"
☠️ fast-paced, humorous, and scary adventure that takes a group of cynical ghost-hunters from faking it on YouTube to fighting for their lives in a demonic dimension.
The fast pace and bizarre circumstances create a feeling of being captivated and eager to know what ridiculous and terrifying thing will happen next. Even though the protagonists are deeply flawed, cynical criminals, can't help but to root for them to survive as they face literal hell.


I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Horror Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Described as Insidious meets the Three Stooges, this one lives up to that description and it's a whirlwind story of supernatural shenanigans and a great sense of humor.

Three ex-cons on the straight and narrow have a hit ghost hunting channel. But mostly, they debunk these ghostly haunts. Looking for the real thing, they accept an offer from a pair of twin psychics and are thrust into the all too real world of the undead where viscious things lurk around every corner trying to kill them.

The three main characters are a foul mouthed but loveable enough group. Their conversations and back and forth bring some fantastic laughs to the story. But the hair raising supernatural creatures balance the humor with some awesome action filled sequences and creepy as hell monsterous beings.

You'll definitely want to pick this up and I highly recommend it. I received a copy of this book through Booksirens. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Towse really has a talent when it comes to writing an entertaining story. I love that this story isn't too serious, I love that his books can unnerve me and still make me giggle.

Seriously, Towse is an insta read for me....Everytime he puts out a new book I can't wait to read it, especially when it comes to horror about old people and horror comedy...no one else does it quite like him!

[Alenna Burleson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple of x cons get out and decide they are going to make a ghost hunting tv show with each other. When they get invited by a strange person to come over they don’t know what to expect, when they get there they meet two twin physic sisters. They need their help with their “dirty work”. Unfortunately for them this means demons other dimensions and lot of scary stuff.


This was a fun read. The characters were constantly having witty banter, which if you aren’t into that this might not be the book for you. The concepts were super cool and I really didn’t know where this book was going at any point! Definitely would recommend if you are into horror comedy’s and want something fresh!

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got to check this out and I’m a bit obsessed with it, I’ve read multiple things from both Nathan and Mark, but this might be one of my top picks from both of them now, this just had me immediately invested from the first few pages.

Three ex-cons turned ghost hunters, who all have three different ideas of what they want out of this venture after it gets popular.

Is it crazy I kinda of loved the guys?

The way they “investigated” just had me crying laughing half the time.

However, weird texts has Roy ready to go head first into what could be a real actual haunting, no hoaxes or crazy stuff like the others turned out to be.

But this couldn’t possibly go normal, nope this got wildly insane but also hilarious in a way that fit.
The guys trudge through site after site investigating weird places only to keep finding out its all fake..

Possessed Vacuum? Had me howling.

Nothing is what you suspect, or is it, I mean everything else has been a hoax so far, so what makes this any different?

All three found out real quick.

This was such a good read and a good time.

[Nathan Ludwig · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does Evil Dead 2, Ghostbusters, The Three Stooges, and Insidious all have in common?

This here book!

Dive in, fellow horror comedy afficionado!

[Balthazarinblue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not the perfect audience for this novella. The authors were 100% upfront when they pitched this as ‘Insidious’ meets ‘The Three Stooges’. That kind of old school slapstick physical comedy isn't my kind of thing, but 'youtube ghost hunters find real ghosts' is my favourite trope so I knew I had to give this a try anyway.

I was totally hooked by the prologue. It was creepy and atmospheric. It set the scene well and got me interested immediately. Throughout, I thought the plot was well-constructed. I liked the various settings: creepy houses, misty swamps, soul destroying void. My only complaint was how similar some of the character voices were. Only one character (if I read correctly) was actually British, but they all talked like old geezers down the pub. It made it a little difficult to parse who was who when they were all talking over each other at moments of high stress.

Ultimately humour is subjective. The fart jokes and constant bickering didn't tickle my funny bone but it was exactly what the blurb promised so I feel bad rating OLD HAUNTS harshly simply because the comedy didn't land for me. If you picked this up because that's the kind of humour that makes you laugh, this could be a five star read for you!

I received this ARC for free through BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow all the hype is absolutely justified! This is pure dynamite! I had such a blast with it, and it delivers exactly what it promises: you got everything from The Conjuring, Ghostbusters and Hell House, to the Three Stooges and (occasionally) Dumb and Dumber. But the main influence seems to be the first Insidious movie: take that lovely old lady, the psychic Elise, give her a twin, turn her paranormal investigators Specs and Tucker into a trio of ex-cons who've taken on ghosthunting - and let Tarantino direct it! And yet, seriously, "Old Haunts" is even better than any imagined outcome: the ex-cons are hilarious, non-stop bickering among themselves, the old ladies are a couple of nasty birds with an agenda, and the villains of the piece take no prisoners!

This is one hell of a trip, with many surprises, lots of dark humor, and full of creepy shenanigans revolving around sinister ghosts, hellish guardians of the afterlife, and hidden treasures! The ending is totally satisfying, hopefully setting the stage for a sequel! Highly recommend!

[Dan Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was something of a rollercoaster for me. The premise is simple but enjoyable; Three ex-cons running a ghost finding/debunking YouTube for a bit of cash. Simple, enjoyable, I'm sold.

The characters themselves were a lot of fun once I had warmed to them. Roy, the leader and voice of reason, Bruce, the coward with a secret heart of gold, and Ken, foul-mouthed Brit who's no stranger to a scrap.

The dynamic between the chaps felt real and engaging. I think each needed their individual voices fine-tuning a little, as without names attached it was often hard to tell which one was speaking. Regardless though they bounced off each other well and really gave a genuine mates vibe.

The plot took a turn I wasn't expecting, but wound up being a ton of fun. The comedy drastically overshadows any horror, but by no means is a bad thing.

I started off unsure of the characters but as the book went on they started to shine, and by the end I was clamouring for another installment of these three morons and their down to earth hijinks.

To up this to a 5-star for me, I think the characters need to have more distinct voices, and the settings could sometimes use more detailing. Minor nitpicks really for an otherwise very enjoyable read.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you mixed in a bit of horror with a liberal dose of comedy? Well, if like me, you hadn’t really thought of it don’t worry! You’re in luck! This book brings both!

Roy, Bruce, and Ken are ex-cons with a new lease on life after their YouTube show takes them on various jobs to try to prove the existence of ghosts and spirits. After a series of jobs that turn out to be more Spirit Halloween than anything, they meet “the twins” who make a deal with the men. All they need to do is keep their end of the deal. This job will not be like anything they’ve ever done before. Roll cameras!

It was a quick, interesting ride and I pretty much devoured it in almost a day. It’s a lot of fun!

[Hayley Bernard-Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a fun horror comedy?
“Old Haunts” by Mark Towse and Nathan D. Ludwig is the story of three lovable but uncouth ex-cons turned ghost hunters. They take an offer from twin psychics to retrieve a buried treasure from a dark netherworld occupied by some pretty shady characters. What could possibly go wrong?
This fast-paced horror comedy was highly entertaining. I love that the three guys bickered often; it was all witty banter and hilarious. I found myself rooting for them along the way. I think my favorite was Bruce but they were very well written characters.
If you’re looking for a page-turner with supernatural shenanigans and a lot of humor and heart, I highly suggest this novel!

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off strong with the first chapter but the premise seemed really far- fetched and the bickering between the three main characters got old really quick. For a novella it dragged on and I didn't find any of the characters likable. Gave it three stars because I'm sure there are others that would really enjoy this, it's just not my taste.

Thank you BookSirens!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Allyssa Gaines · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun story! Plenty of scary moments, along with great humor. I loved the dynamic of our three leads. I think my favorite character was Ken, he was hilarious. If you’re a fan of the Three Stooges, plus a fan of some paranormal stuff (think Insidious), then definitely check this book out.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘If we’re going to end up being chased by something akin to a possessed vacuum cleaner, I expect it to be in the itinerary’ 🤣

Three ex-cons turned paranormal investigators, debunking hauntings on their streaming channel - it doesn’t stop them being hilariously terrified as they investigate . Heaven forbid what would happen if they confronted a real entity!

Good fun with some hapless characters and some snorting laughter.

[Ameriah Rain · Rating 5 out of 5]

What happens when three ex cons decide to go on the straight and narrow after they are released? They become Paranormal investigators or in their case debunkers. Old Haunts is the perfect amount of funny between the three ex cons and their bickering while investigating. This book is where three guys think of the three studies but more vulgar meet Insidious the horror movie. Plenty of twists and unexpected turns keeps you reading.

[Pan | Book Reviews and Recommendations · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do I spend my time off work aka summer holidays? The answer couldn't be simpler : Devouring the utterly hilarious and action packed terrifier of a book by the awesome Mark Towse and Nathan D. Ludwig  who were kind enough to send me a copy of ' Old Haunts'. 


Get your seat belt on and get ready to join Roy Bingham, Bruce Suffolk, and Kenneth Dristan, three ex-cons with a new lease on life, on a ghost-hunting, thrill-ride extravaganza. This is their latest hustle after incarceration , all for the sake of their YouTube show, 'Is it Real?' Things are looking up; the show's a hit, and their social presence is skyrocketing. Still, they want to take it to the next level. 


That's when a  cryptic and anonymous text out of the blue, claiming to have access to the real deal, along with talk of a 'cursed stash of cash,' has the gang embarking on a terrifying odyssey into a horrific world of ghosts, demons, monsters, corpses coming back to life, apparitions and alternate dimensions.


This hilarious and chilling spookshow from Towse and Ludwig will entertain you and creep you out at the same time. The Writing is impeccable and hits in waves of horror and humor (and sometimes all together) like a cinematic mashup of 3 Stooges meets  Insidious meets Pirates of the Caribbean meets Scooby Doo (minus the animals).


The opening scene will grab you from the hair and pull you in like a huge horror magnet and keep you hooked until the very end.  


If the experience of having : 'three ex-cons turned ghost hunters, in the afterlife, standing in front of the door to a dead kiddy-fiddler while their bodies lay all but dormant in the kitchen of a shitty little house uptown' , doesn't scream edge of your seat then I don't know what does. 


It's short and sharp and will definitely entertain you to the fullest. I've read it in one sitting by the pool and wished I had a sequel right after. 

[Paul G. Grammatico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indie writers Mark Towse and Nathan D. Ludwig team up to offer us OLD HAUNTS. This horror/comedy is an easy and joyful read where psychic twin sisters Sofia and Grace, and three ex-cons by the names of Roy, Bruce, and Ken, whose lives collide in the hunting and killing of ghosts. The three men who host their ghost hunting channel "Is it True?" explore various sites that are considered haunted but expose and disprove every one of them. The psychic twin sisters conduct seances to summon the spirit of Peter and Melanie Denderson's son Sammy back from the dead. Instead of Sammy, the twin sisters have summoned a maniacal and murderous spirit, Frederick, an antagonist from their past. They enlist the help of the three ex-conmen to dispose of the evil spirit, enticing them with a carrot of endless riches from The Iceman King Parsons, a dead gangster whose treasure is buried somewhere in the Maurepas Swamp. Roy, Bruce, and Ken agree to go on these adventures where ghosts and hijinks abound.

I enjoyed this story with its witty repartee and terror around every corner, where literally anything can happen. Its twists and turns make for an engaging and fun read. If you like ghosts, ghouls, and demons mixed with screwball comedy, pick up this quick read of a novella. It's a fun one.

[Brian Mcclain · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are times that my experiences in horror lead me to reading about bad people who do bad things and are hard to root for. That makes the alternative appealing at times. Old Haunts fall into that category. This combination of three stooges and insidious gave me wolf hunt by Jeff Strand flashbacks. Low level bad guys who are unfortunate enough to have had experiences with far worse just trying to get by and yet they get pulled into horror beyond their comprehension. And yet in the face of that they're still a couple of friends till the end taking on the world and other side.
For a novella these characters are fleshed out and realistic with a fair amount of depth. Those they encounter are nuanced and interesting. And there is plenty of atmospheric dread and action to satiate readers looking for any of that.
I want more of these characters, of this setting, but mostly of this tone. Horror comedy with likable hapless characters who despite misdeeds in their past you can't hope but root for like the underdogs they are. This was imminently readable and enjoyable and flew by.
Thank you to the authors for providing an arc, I'm voluntarily providing an honest review.

[DA · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I heard Towse and Ludwig were teaming up for a book I was so excited! Both of them are amazing authors and I knew that it would be a banger. And I was right!
First I want to say I want to hang out with Bruce, Ken and Roy. The group's dynamic was hilarious with a love language of insults. Each one of them felt real and you could definitely empathize with them. If I had to make a list of favorite book characters they would surely be on it.
Second I want to say this book was a creepy supernatural adventure with mishaps, left out information thanks to twin psychics Grace and Sofia, and tense otherworldly situations where you wonder who's going to make it out alive.
One of my favorite parts about this book was when they were in the swamp. That whole section was a an adrenaline rush and non stop action. Like dang give those three ex-cons a break!
Yeah this book has a lot going on, but it's all perfectly pieced together like a wacky, ghostly, creature filled tapestry of friendship and old haunts.

[Christina Pfeiffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

OLD HAUNTS
By: Nathan D. Ludwig and Mark Towse
Release: 8/29/25
Page count: 158
KU: TBD Hoopla: TBD

Synopsis: Twin psychics must rid themselves of an old enemy by utilizing the “brains and brawn” of three ex-convicts turned ghost hunters. What could possibly go wrong?

First line: “The expectant, worry-filled eyes of Mr. and Mrs. Denderson affix on Sofia, sending her skin into a tizzy of goose flesh and impending doom.”

Favorite line: “Dum. Dum. Dum. That’s not for tension; that’s just my overall opinion of Brucey Boy.”

Thoughts: I haven’t laughed this much through a book in a long time. Between the hilarious ex-convict banter and the oddly wholesome characters (not the psychics…), to the side eyes you give to certain characters, OLD HAUNTS is a super fun read. The last third of the book I read so damn quick because I had to know what was about to happen. A great author team up that I hope to see more of in the future.

Rating: 5/5

Other recommendations: Nathan - LOVE POTION #666, Mark - NANA

[Richard Beauchamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently had the pleasure of receiving an ARC for this hilarious co-written novella, the devilish, dead-pan humor hellspawn of @towseywrites and @loogenhausen .

Take three down on their luck ex-cons trying to make it big in the world of content creators, with the hopes of going viral with their ghost hunting channel, and one legitimately haunted location, and a horrible history dating back to two sisters who can communicate with the dead, and you have “Old Haunts”.

Imagine hell house with the three stooges as the main cast. Now imagine it directed by Quinton Tarantino. Now imagine all that but in book form.

Don’t let the humor fool you though. There’s plenty of blood and violence to go with the nihilistic humor.

4.5/5 stars.

It’s a short, novella length read, and my only gripe is I wish this would’ve been novel length. I was having too much fun laughing at the expense of Roy, Ken, and Bruce for it to end as quick as it did

[Tifany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three ex-cons come together to form a YouTube show called, "Is It Real?" The premise of the show is to find paranormal activity, but it has only led to debunking the claims. When an opportunity arises from an unknown number, they decide to go for it -- it's time they get something real. Adventure ensues. :)

This is a fun read and really leans into the Insidious meets Three Stooges comparison. Roy, Bruce, and Kenneth are constantly at odds. Bruce and Ken have the most beef and are constantly squabbling, which makes it difficult to make progress when they're working (but hilarious for the reader). From the comedy to the action, Old Haunts did a great job of capturing and keeping my attention. A 4.5 star read from me!

Thanks so much to the authors for a copy of an eARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why have I been utterly charmed by a group of old ex-cons debunking haunted places???? Wth Mark and Nathan!

Old Haunts is just a fun read! It had me laughing to see this group of guys go in all these weird creepy places only to find out it's all a hoax. The behind the scenes look at their show was really interesting to read, too.

And the sisters! We finally get the genuine psychic article, and they're the literal worst! I saw it coming but I was still shocked when it happened! I very much so need to see them get their karma, because karma's a real sandy beach!

I really hope Mark and Nathan write more in this world! I had so much fun with these characters, and I NEED to know where they go from here. And Ambrosia, of course, the poor girl lol

[Evan Baughfman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many of my favorite horror films are flush with humor, too. Horror and comedy are cousins- one could get by without the other, but when they're together, it's one helluva fun time. And this story, OLD HAUNTS, is one helluva fun read!

Nathan D. Ludwig and Mark Towse have crafted some genuinely hilarious dialogue and narration here. I absolutely loved the use of hyperbole (and figurative language in general) throughout this book!

The horror elements hit, also. The "otherworld" depicted in the latter half of the story... A truly eerie place, full of nasty entities and nightmares! My favorite adversary: the Cerberus-thing, whatever the hell it was!

Looking for something new, entertaining, and surprising to read? Visit OLD HAUNTS!

[Dan Mckeithan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want a hilarious dark comedy with edges of the Three Stooges, Insidious, and Ghostbusters then this is the story for you. Mark and Nathan take us on a ride with three Excon's-Roy, Bruce, Kenneth that are trying to debunk things that go bump in the night. They carry all the witty banter of stooges and continually get into a mess. They are contacted by a set of twin psychic sisters who send them on a task that leads to ghosts, demons, and even alternate dimensions. They think they are in this for a cursed stack of cash and by the ending they are quite surprised. Funny read that keeps you turning the pages.

[Mark Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three ex-cons turned ghost hunters, twin psychics and one buried treasure. What could possibly go wrong?

Separately, Mark Towse and Nathan D Ludwig have made a name for themselves with their individual brands of comedy horror. With their powers combined, what you have here is the literary equivalent of a supergroup.

The writing of this book must have been a blast because it shines through on reading it. The easy back and forth banter between the three stooges mirrors what I imagine the passing of pages was to the writers.

Scares that care come to mind as we follow our hapless heroes into the afterlife. Pick this one up, you won’t be disappointed.

[Vincent Vinas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A trio of ex-cons who host a ghost hunting show get more than they bargained for while seeking a big pay day and the supernatural proves to be all too real (and dangerous) for them. The description had me anticipating a Three Stooges/Ghostbusters kind of vibe, which it had, but I wasn’t expecting some really high stakes moments of danger and dread, mixed with tender moments of sentimentality that hit just as effectively. If you’re into anything related to wacky ghost hunting adventure comedies that could also hit you with a stone cold dramatic moment in the midst of the chaos, you would love this. Highly recommended!!

[Terry Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the power of m*therf*cking Grayskull! Old Haunts by Nathan D. Ludwig and Mark Towse is a highly enjoyable novella from The Evil Cookie Publishing. You got ghosts, psychics, curses, and three babbling ex-convicts making a living debunking your friendly neighborhood ghost stories. But one thing leads to another and the crew find themselves at the mercy of their own greed when they wind up in the afterlife searching for a cursed stash. Unfortunately, nothing ever goes as planned, and this novella offers that lesson in a genuinely entertaining and fun romp!

[Nicolle Persoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read, had me laughing out loud and even teary-eyed when one of our ghosthunters almost became a permanent inhabitant of the world of the dead.

3 great characters turn ghosthunters for money, 2 psyschics who want payback for what was done to them and 1 Ambrosia.

Loved it, with its weird inhabitants of the other world, the hilarious banter between the guys and nerdy remarks on movies. Mentioning Andre the Giant is always a plus in my book, so thanks guys.

I received an arc and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this from the tagline of "Insidious Meets the Three Stooges" and this book didn't disappoint. The overall feel worked with something that I wanted and enjoyed the overall feel of this. It had characters that I was invested in and enjoyed how good the supernatural element was used in this. Mark Towse has a strong writing style and am excited for more from him. It uses the horror thriller element perfectly and enjoyed the overall concept from this and how the story was told.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.