Greetings From The Barracuda Hotel

by Ronaldo Katwaroo

NGC BOCAS Youth Writer Award nominated author Ronaldo Katwaroo presents... Greetings From The Barracuda Hotel , a collection of Caribbean horror short stories guaranteed to leave a lasting impression. With award nominated stories ' Making Conversation ' and ' Soucouyant Shore ' Katwaroo showcases both his passion for the genre as well as his passion for Caribbean representation.

The Barracuda Hotel is a resort unlike any other, with some of the most bizarre happenings. It's a pernicious paradise that you can't seem to look away from. No matter how hard you try!

Shortlisted in 2022 for the NGC BOCAS Youth Writer Award at the age of 19, Ronaldo Katwaroo looks to leave his mark with Greetings From The Barracuda Hotel and establish himself within the horror genre and Caribbean region alike.

Genres: Horror

177 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2026

About the author

Ronaldo Katwaroo is a Caribbean Author hailing from the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago. For the longest while he has been fascinated with the macabre and all things horror, whether its film or literature. Inspired by writers such as H.P Lovecraft, Bram Stoker and Stephen King, Katwaroo takes a unique approach when it comes to his writing. An advocate for women’s rights, he was awarded for his essay on gender equality by his regional corporation in 2021, the same year that his tropical short story “Making Conversation,” was accepted and narrated by DarkLit Horrors on their Youtube channel as a part of their bite-sized horror playlist where it has since garnered hundreds of views, granting Katwaroo a place within the horror community and giving him notoriety amongst his peers. In 2022, his short story “Soucouyant Shore,” was published in Darklit Press’ Anthology “Beach Bodies.” His debut collection “Disingenuous Solace Volume 1,” packs a heavy punch and showcases his love for the horror genre with tales paying homage to Legendary films such as “Scream,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” and “The Shining.” As his career continues to mature, he aspires to one day leave his mark on the horror industry like so many greats before him and proudly represent his Caribbean heritage.

Reviews

[Elford Alley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Katwaroo returns us to the fictional Barracuda Hotel, but always infuses each story with something real and genuine. From cursed sea witches to Trinidadian werewolves, there is a darkness in every tale that extends way beyond monsters and folklore!

[bibliothalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It kept me wanting more from beginning to end. I experienced a wide range of emotions throughout, from feeling genuinely creeped out, to being darkly amused, to wincing at some of the more graphic moments. On top of that, the storytelling was so vivid that I could picture every scene with ease. I would absolutely watch Greetings from the Barracuda Hotel if it were adapted into a film.

I also think it’s an impressive achievement to write Caribbean horror. Horror isn’t always the easiest genre to pull off, and giving it a distinctly Trinidadian flavour made it even more enjoyable.

Katwaroo has definitely earned a spot on my list of authors to watch, and I’m looking forward to seeing what he writes next.

[Alyha Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I picked up Greetings From the Barracuda Hotel, I knew I was stepping into a world unlike anything I’d read before. Ronaldo Katwaroo delivers a collection that embraces Caribbean folklore and transforms it into something eerie, imaginative, and unforgettable.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its atmosphere. Every story carries a sense of mystery and suspense, making it difficult to predict what lies around the next corner. The Barracuda Hotel serves as more than just a setting—it becomes a character in its own right, tying the stories together with an unsettling charm that lingers long after you’ve finished reading.

What I appreciated most was the celebration of Caribbean culture. Horror is often dominated by Western myths and legends, but this collection shines by drawing inspiration from our own folklore and storytelling traditions. It feels authentic, refreshing, and uniquely Caribbean, giving readers a chance to experience familiar legends in a new and thrilling way.

Katwaroo’s writing is vivid and engaging, balancing suspense with rich imagery that makes each story easy to visualize. Whether you’re already a fan of horror or simply looking to explore something different, this collection offers an entertaining reading experience that highlights the creativity and depth of Caribbean fiction.

I would highly recommend Greetings From the Barracuda Hotel to readers who enjoy horror, mystery, supernatural fiction, and short story collections. More importantly, I believe it’s a book that showcases the strength of Caribbean voices in modern literature and deserves recognition from readers both within and beyond the region.

Thank you, Ronaldo Katwaroo, for creating a collection that celebrates Caribbean storytelling while delivering chills, suspense, and unforgettable tales. I look forward to seeing what you write next.

[Aminah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author deserves all his flowers 💐 .

I love how the author spoke about putting this book together came with ups and downs in his life but was led by passion and determination to complete it.

Before we enter into the resort we are welcomed by a bit of poetry i would probably say it is an ode to letting go something being setting one's self free from loss, conflict or turmoil or whatever it may be.

I am not much of a horror fan but I enjoyed the different stories that encompassed this body of work. Some stories transported me into the resort where I felt like I was a silent watcher but I couldn't be for too long because I might be the visitor ending up with my own story, loll.

I love how the stories were led by specific themes like the future of a paradise aka climate change, folklore surrounding the commonwealth witch; i felt like i could read more of her, anyday loll. And omggg that spider story had me freaked but the author wrote it so well.

Big up this trini author, his work didn't disappoint 📖🔖✨️. I will revisit this collection again and that's a true statement.


My favourite quote from the book - “Paracide,” he continues and the word echoes in my brain as a remnant of my nightmare. “Noun. The future death of the Caribbean, the poisoning of
our paradise brought on by our inability to learn and grow from
the past. It’s coming to get us.”

I ADOREE THIS SO MUCHHH, it's meaning speaks not only from a tourism aspect packaged as the new sort of colonialism but it also tells us that we haven't outgrown the mentality to regenerate our own independence from it !!!!

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three words: WHAT THE F*CK????

This is a horror anthology that dives into the absolute darkest, grittiest side of Trinidadian folklore. It takes the jumbie stories we all know and adds a level of gore and atmospheric horror that I personally haven’t seen done like this in Caribbean horror before. It’s raw, it’s intense, and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart.

I have to be real with you guys: It’s been so long since I’ve read a book by a local author who uses our way of speaking so heavily in their writing. Honestly? It was a bit jarring at first. My brain is so used to the "proper" version of English that I had to reread parts just to catch the rhythm and the soul of the dialogue.

It wasn't a bad experience at all—in fact, it was kind of refreshing—but it definitely made me slow down and actually process what I was reading.

[Selena · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t the genre I usually go for but I’m glad I gave it a try and I was really glad i did, I liked the timeline the story was set in, this took me back to my childhood it was like learning about the folklores all over again and it gave me the creeps, a very scary creative read that somehow left me wanting more

[Erica Robyn Metcalf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Greetings From The Barracuda Hotel by Ronaldo Katwaroo is a collection of tales that cover some seriously horrific ground; from grisly murder and spiders that are too numerous and far too large, to a voice calling from the sea and a dog who isn’t just a dog, you never knew what to expect!

Inside this collection also lives my favorite tale from Ronaldo so far. Readers, prepare yourselves for what lies within the text of Stegodyphus.

I’m already obsessed with Ronaldo’s work, but this is truly something special. I was absolutely in awe of how these tales all carefully tied together in one way or another and how fast I fell into each and every one of them. Combine the absolutely perfect pacing of the collection with the fact that we’re getting to see Ronaldo include various bits of Caribbean and Trinidadian culture, and you can’t help but be hooked!

Horror fans, you gotta grab this one ASAP!

Check out my full review here: https://www.ericarobynreads.com/greet...