When the Devil Calls: A Collection of Horror Stories

by Bethany Russo

When the Devil Calls includes two novellas, four short stories and three previously published stories.

Aliens cause havoc at a service station in Lancaster, and continue to terrorise the cleaners at two hotels in Plymouth. A woman recounts the horrors that lurked in the woods at her favourite childhood campsite in Dorset. Two women fight their way from Ambleside to Grasmere on the first day of the zombie apocalypse. A man takes part in the Chippenham scarecrow trail. With a human-looking scarecrow on his front garden, he’s surprised one night when it’s missing and is then interrupted by a knock at the door. Two new friends pay a visit to Sally in the Woods in their hometown of Bath, only to discover the woods hold more than just a creepy ghost story.

329 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 26, 2026

About the author

Bethany Russo is an indie horror, poetry and fantasy author from the South West of England. She lives with her husband, son and their two cats.

When not writing, you can usually find her spending time with her family/animals and getting outside for a long walk. One of her favourite ways to spend her spare time is reading. Russo's favourite genres are horror and dark fantasy. She has a special love for all things weird and wonderful, especially if it includes folklore/myths.

Follow Russo on Instagram: @bethanyrussowrites

Reviews

[Jessica Huntley · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was not one story story/novella in this collection that I didn't like. There's something for everyone to be it zombies, giant bats, aliens or just evil humans. It's a great horror collection!

[H. Everend · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 / 5
*Review to Come*

[Emlynn McDermott · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the Devil Calls is a collection of short stories and novellas by Bethany Russo, and true to form, this multi-talented writer takes us where most modern horror authors dare not tread. There’s all the spine-tingling shivers you’d expect from the genre, as well as some requisite gore, but Russo’s tales stand out from the competition because she packs her atmospheric stories with deeper psychological meaning. That’s easy enough for a seasoned writer to accomplish in a full-length novel, but infinitely harder when the medium is short form. Luckily for picky horror readers such as myself, Russo is up to the challenge. Behind every jump-scare there’s a ton of heart and more than a few souls—not to mention an occasional touch of subtle humor. With a collection this good, it’s difficult to choose a single favorite. I simply adored “Bat Out of Hell,” which hooked me with the opening line, “Meatloaf, darling?” would not let go. Talk about the perfect ending to a deeply emotional story! But I equally enjoyed “Forden Service Station,” the out-of-this-world horror-science fiction blend that opens the book, and the modern-day parable “What About Tomorrow,” which asks the timely question, “Fuck, what’s worse… men or zombies?” Collections this creative don’t some around often. When the Devil Calls, you simply must answer!

[Gina R. Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man oh man... Bethany Russo has done it again! After reading many of Russo's previous works, I was eager to get my hands on this gory beauty and was lucky to recieve an ARC. The aspects of Russo's prose that make her stand out in the horror genre are strong as ever in this collection. We've got thoroughly defined characters (How does Russo make me care so much about a character within, like, two sentences? Is it witchcraft?), poignant griefy plot lines, sharp dialogue, a keen sense of nostalgia... and, of course, Russo knows how to paint a picture that scares the shit out of me. Trust me, you're not going to want to take that job at the local service station or put up a scarecrow in your yard after this one...
It's hard to pick a favorite story because I do feel like those work so well as a whole and each bring something different to the table. However, I will say that "What About Tomorrow" will stick with me for a looong long time. Not only did I attach to the characters, but the story explores many of the elements of the zombie trope that I was always curious about.
Literary. Razor-sharp. Pyschological. This is a horror collection that has something for everyone.
May I make just one request?
Bethany Russo, don't ever stop writing.

[Lee Coates · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love horror anthologies, but only if they're done well. And Bethany Russo's latest collection is a prime example of how to do it. Not only that, she has raised the bar for other horror writers. I loved every single story, they were all killer, with no filler. Similarly, all the characters that appeared in the macabre tales were fleshed out and fully formed, not just there to serve the story. This is why Stephen King is the master of what he does, he puts characters first and dares you not to care about them. Talking of the King, one of Beth's stories, the Pisces Brothers felt exactly like I was reading one of his offerings, it was that good. I'd hate to pick a favourite, but if forced, I would probably single out Forden Service Station. It was such a unique (and quintessentially British) setting and brilliantly written. And anyone who's ventured into a ill lit service station in the dead of night will know how such a place can give you the heebie jeebies. This is a great anthology and I can't wait to see what warped tales Beth comes up with next.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely incredible horror collection from Bethany Russo. It’s everything a horror fan could ask for. Some of these long short stories are fun, some of scary, and some are truly heartbreaking.

There isn’t a bad story anywhere in these pages but What About Tomorrow is a stand-out story on a complete other level to the rest. Ironically, considering it’s a zombie story, it has a lot of humanity at its core. The two main characters are thrown into this survival scenario yet their existing problems, wants, and every day fears don’t simply disappear. They remain and linger, adding depth and emotion to the story.

[Kate Gawi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a huge reader of horror, I went into this ARC copy from rhe author blind. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I white’s the darker pages I kept turning, wanting to find out more. Shirt stories that kept me entertained included much more than just horror - the psychology behind trauma, deep emotions - she does it so well, Bethany. I particularly liked the first short story which reminded me of Stranger Things.